Wednesday 19th December 1917

Front line trenches on the Montello.

Fine, warm and muggy, but very muddy underfoot.

It was at some point during this tour in the front line that Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson (see 20^th September) painted a view from the British front line, overlooking the Piave. Wilson had studied at Goldsmiths College before the war and, equipped with only a few tubes of watercolour, a roll of paper and a solitary brush he would paint close to the frontline, often in considerable danger. Fearing his works would be confiscated he produced them in secret and on their completion he posted them to the family home in Blackheath.

Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Ptes. Harold Dale (see 5^th December) and John Henry Evison (see 8^th December), both of whom had been wounded on 20^th September, were discharged from 3^rd Convalescent Depot at Le Treport and posted to the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre; three days later they would be posted back to 10DWR in Italy. Pte. William Hewitt (25172) (see 18^th September) was discharged from 7^th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples and posted to the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre; three days later he would be posted back to 10DWR.

Sgt. Richard Farrar (see 29^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was posted back to England (reason unknown).

Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 12^th July), who had been in England since having been wounded on 7^th June, was discharged from hospital and posted to 3DWR at North Shields. 

Pte. Harry Hartley (see 17^th November), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported absent off his final embarkation leave; he would return to duty five days later.

A payment of £1 17s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Richard Nelson (see 7^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his mother, Emma. She would also receive a parcel of her late son’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘notebook, photos, postcards’.

A further payment of £1 was authorised, being an additional amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George William Cook (see 14th December), who had been killed in action on 7^th June; the payment would go to his father, John.