Friday 1st February 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

The weather remained fine.

Pte. William Hewitt (25172) (see 31^st December 1917) suffered an accidental injury whilst in the front line. He “went to bring a shovel from an old dugout which was very deep. He caught hold of a post to help himself up and it gave way. The side fell in and buried him. He was got out as soon as possible and taken to the Medical Officer”. Hewitt was found to have suffered a sprained left ankle, but remained at duty.

Just two weeks after re-joining the Battalion L.Cpl. Jesse Merritt (see 19^th January) was again taken ill; he was admitted via 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 66^th General Hospital at Bordighera, suffering from a recurrence of the symptoms which had previously seen him hospitalised for two months.

At some point in February Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 21^st November 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September 1917, was pictured in a photograph of a ‘concert party’ taken at Bigadon V.A. Hospital, Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (seated centre) with other officers

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

A payment of £5 12s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the L.Cpl. Thomas Mullaney (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.

Thursday 31st January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

Lt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker (see 14^th November 1917) was promoted Captain.

Pte. Norman Greenwood (200695) was admitted, via 69^th Field Ambulance, to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from a facial abscess; five days later he would be evacuated onboard no.18 Ambulance Train (details and destination unknown). Pte. Greenwood had previously served with 1^st/4^th DWR and had been posted to France with the Battalion in April 1915. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of Pte. Greenwood or to establish when and under what circumstances he had had joined 10DWR.

Ptes. Jesse Barker MM (see 17^th December 1917), Jesse Ferns (see 5^th October 1917) and William Masters (see 5^th October 1917) departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Pte. Edgar Baron (see 16^th December 1917) was reported by CSM Fred Pattison (see 8^th September 1917) and Sgt. John William Wardman MM (see 18^th January) as having been drunk; on the orders of Borrow he would be deprived of seven days’ pay and undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Sgt. John William Dickinson (see 6^th January) was posted from ‘E’ Base Depot at Le Havre to join 137 Prisoner of War Company. However, before joining his new unit he would have two weeks’ leave to England.

The Infantry Record Office in York replied to the recent War Office enquiry regarding Pte. John William Midgley (see 26^th January), who had been in hospital in Scotland having suffered wounds to his head and both legs in May 1917. They now confirmed that Midgley was still in hospital, but that they had made enquiries regarding his probable date of release and his fitness for civil employment, as had been requested by the War Office.

Pte. William Kay (see 10^th January) who had been in England having suffered severe wounds to his abdomen and right thigh on 7^th June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 16s. 6d., with his case to be reviewed in one year.

A payment of £2 8s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the Pte. Joseph William Sutcliffe (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Willie.

The only casualty recorded during the month was the death from wounds of L.Cpl. Gilbert Swift Greenwood (see 25^th January). The official cumulative casualty figures for the Battalion since arriving in France were thus:

Killed                                   275

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  21

Wounded                       1,280

Accidentally wounded       53

Missing                               178

Wednesday 30th January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

Cpl. William Dennison MM (see 21^st January), who had been held in detention for the previous ten days having been arrested on a charge of having been drunk, was tried by Field General Court Martial; he was found guilty and was reduced to the ranks and fined £1.

L.Cpl. Robert Whitaker (see 6^th December 1917) began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

1^st/5^th DWR was amalgamated with 2^nd/5^th and the new unit re-designated 5^th Battalion; Ptes. Clifford Midwood (see 17^th August 1917) and James Young McDonald (see 11^th June 1917), formerly of 10DWR but now serving with 1^st/5^th DWR, were thus transferred. 

Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 22^nd January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported absent off his final leave pass; he would return to duty at 9.30pm on 4^th February; he would forfeit seven days’ pay and undergo six days’ Field Punishment No.2.

Ptes. Herbert Ridley (see 31^st December 1917) and Richard Marsden (see 27^th September 1917) were both reported absent off leave from 3DWR at North Shields; they would return to duty on 5^th and 6^th February respectively and would forfeit five and six days’ pay and undergo the same period of Field Punishment No.2. 

William Leach (see 4^th April 1917), who had been discharged from the Army due to wounds in August 1916, had his case reviewed by an Army Medical Board. The Board found that his disability was now between 5 and 10% and awarded him a gratuity of £55 in lieu of any further pension payments. Since being discharged from the Army he had been employed firstly as a postman in his home area of Cross Roads, near Keighley, and subsequently as a fireman with the Bradford Corporation Fire Brigade.

William Leach

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

A payment of £1 5s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Nicholson Braddock (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Ann.

A payment of £1 8s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Hancock (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Samuel.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Mark Ruckledge (see 14^th November 1917), who had been killed in action on 19^th July 1917; his widow, Sarah, was awarded 22s. 11d. per week for herself and her two children.

Tuesday 29th January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 25^th January) returned from leave and resumed command of 69^th Brigade.

69^th Brigade football team played against 70^th Brigade; the game ended 0-0.


Pte. Thomas George Coates (see 8^th January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as having been ‘absent from tattoo until reporting himself to NCO of guard at 10.15pm’; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 18^th January) reported to Northern Command Depot at Ripon and was immediately admitted to hospital for further treatment to the injuries to his right arm.

2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 2^nd May 1917), who had been severely wounded at le Sars in October 1916, losing an eye, wrote to request payment for “two artificial eyes purchased by me and necessitated by gun shot wounds received in action on October 5^th 1916”. The sum involved was £4 4s.

Following a recent enquiry to the Infantry Records Office, Thomas Irvin Wood MM (see 8^th January) received, by post, the Military Medal which he had been awarded for his conduct at Veldhoek on 20^th September 1917.

Pte. Lewis Larkins (see 2^nd January), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, thereafter reducing to 8s. 3d. per week and to be reviewed in one years’ time.

A payment of £4 18s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Cpl. George Herbert Moody (see 21^st September 1917), who had been killed in action on 21^st September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Annie.

A payment of £6 7s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Cpl. Joseph Rawnsley (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Sarah.

A further payment was made in respect of the pay and allowances due to the late Pte. John Smith (13382) (see 25^th August 1917); payments of £1 11s. 7d. to each of his five sisters had been made in August 1917. The final share had been due to his brother, Thomas, but was now issued, at the request of Thomas, to his sister, Emma.

Monday 28th January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

The case of Pte. Reginald Dayson (see 18^th January) who had recently been convicted on a charge of, “when on active service leaving his post without orders from his superior officer” and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, was reviewed by Maj. Genl. Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, commanding 23^rd Division. His decision was to remit five years of Dayson’s sentence.

Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 21^st October 1917), now serving in France with the ASC, and attached to 57^th Division, was confirmed as having been “tested as a ‘wheeler’ and in every way has been found competent to act as such; being graded 3^rd Class”.

2^nd/6^th DWR was disbanded in France, necessitating the transfer of a number of ex-10DWR men. L.Cpl. John Dalby (see 15^th December 1917) was promoted Corporal and transferred to 2^nd/4^th DWR. L.Cpl. Thomas Lloyd (see 23^rd December 1917), on attachment from 2^nd/6^th DWR to 457^th Field Company, Royal Engineers, was transferred to 2^nd/7^th DWR. Cpl. Joseph Dunn (see 29^th October 1917), L.Cpl.  James Edward Simpson (see 7^th September 1917), and Ptes. William Henry Gray (see 29^th December 1917), John Oldfield Greenwood (see 29^th December 1917) and Fred Kershaw (see 30^th July), were also re-posted from 2^nd/6^th DWR to 2^nd/7^th DWR.

Pte. Ernest Fozard (see 10^th September 1917), who had also been serving with 2^nd/6^th DWR, was posted back to England.

Capt. Herbert Sparling MC (see 18^th January), who had been severely wounded on 18^th October 1917, having his left leg amputated below the knee, was declared permanently unfit for any further military service, other than category Cii. He was awarded a wound gratuity of £250. His case would be re-considered in six months.

Pte. Harry Bradley (see 9^th January), who had been wounded on 4^th October 1916, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 22s. and to be reviewed in one year.

A payment of £3 14s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Meggison Bonass (see 21^st September 1917), who had died of wounds on 21^st September 1917; the payment would be divided in three equal shares to his mother Sophia, his sister, Laura and Miss Ethel Clark, who had presumably been his sweetheart.

A payment of £3 18s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John Driver (see 18^th October 1917), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Mabel.

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

A payment of £2 4s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Hird (see 22^nd September 1917), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Margaret. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “disc, photos, ring, 5 religious medallions, 2 religious books, rosary, cigarette case, cap badge, note book”.

Sunday 27th January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 14 and 19.

2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 4^th January) remembered that, “Our trenches were on the edge of a big stretch of shingle spreading from the river and the Austrians were on the other side, perhaps half to three quarters of a mile away. I was very thrilled. I hadn’t come to hate war so much then. I remember the first time I had to go out on the shingle visiting sentry posts and the feeling that there was no-one between me and the Austrians. I also remember two or three of us, young officers, getting into trouble for putting bottles on the wire entanglements and potting at them with our revolvers”. Conditions would remain very quiet, as Pte. Harold Charnock (see 20^th January) later recalled, “This was a distinctly quiet time. The Piave was crossed three or four times but little information was gained as the country was quite unsuitable. The river was very swift and patrols returned covered with icicles”.  

Pte. Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 26^th December 1917), who had been in hospital for the previous six weeks, was discharged to duty from 66^th General Hospital at Bordighera.

Pte. Charles Edward Berry (see 29^th October 1917) was posted back to England for further medical treatment; he was suffering from severe haemorrhoids. The details of his previous treatment in Italy are unknown.

From her home in Gosberton, near Spalding, Elsie Alice Prestwood, widow of the late Pte. Arthur Prestwood (see 4^th November 1917), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September 1917, wrote to the War Office for a second time to confirm that she had already sent to the Infantry Records Office, some three months previously, birth and marriage certificates, which they were still requesting from her. The War Office had also recently received confirmation that, although Elsie’s eldest child, Eric Henry Briggs, was not Arthur Prestwood’s son, “the child was being maintained by Prestwood prior to his enlistment”.

Saturday 26th January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

Overnight 26^th/27^th the Battalion would relieve 11WYR as the right battalion in the left sector of the Divisional front line. This sector ran from the area of Road 14 westwards to the western flank of the Montello, near Road 19. Three Companies and a further two platoons went into the front line proper, with the remaining two platoons in close support. Battalion HQ was at Ciano and the Transport Lines at Venegazzu.

Pte. Robert Russell (see 29^th October 1917) was evacuated to England suffering from nephritis; the circumstances under which he had been taken ill and the details of his treatment are unknown.

L.Cpl. Martin Reddington (see 23^rd September 1917) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 66^th General Hospital, suffering from debility.

Pte. Thomas Henry Fearn (see 24^th November 1917) was discharged from 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona and posted to the Depot at Arquata Scrivia, en route to a return to active service.

Pte. Harry Hartley (see 29^th December 1917), serving in France with 8DWR, was transferred to 1^st Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers.

Pte. Harry Hartley

Pte. James Moran (see 21^st November 1917), serving in France with 4^th Labour Company, Labour Corps, was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Lt. Charles Frederick Wolfe (see 23^rd November 1917), former Transport Officer to 10DWR, who had subsequently served with the Army Service Corps, was formally transferred to the ASC.

Pte. Frank Blakeborough (see 12^th November 1917) was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

The War Office wrote requesting information regarding Pte. John William Midgley (see 25^th September 1917), who had been in hospital in Scotland having suffered wounds to his head and both legs in May 1917. The War Office now enquired whether he had “been discharged from the 1^st Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen, and is sufficiently recovered to proceed to civil employment with Messrs. Hill, France and Gardner”.

A payment of £5 9s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John William Henry Bower Clark (see 9th July 1917), who had been killed in action while serving in France with 8DWR in December 1916; the payment would be divided between his mother, Annie (£2 14s. 7d.) and brother Albert and married sisters Srah Walker and Martha Garside (18s. 2d. each).

A payment of £1 17s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Henry Cox (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Eunice Smith.

A payment of 18s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Stanley Roebuck Hutton (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Mary Alice. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “pocket wallet, photos, postcards, cigarette cards”.

A payment of £2 8d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Jefferson (see 21^st September), who had been killed in action on 21^st September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Ellen.

A payment of £3 2s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Herbert Horatio Millican (see 20^th September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Emily. His mother would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “pocket Bible, photos, cards, 3 religious books, letters, 2 religious books”.

A payment of £4 18s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Hector Salembier (see 15^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June 1917; the payment would be directed to the Consul General of France, as Salembier’s family were French citizens from Croix, north-east of Lille, which was under German occupation.

Friday 25th January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva.

Sgt. Christopher Clapham (see 6^th October 1917) was reported as having been, “absent without leave from billets after lights out”; he would be reprimanded by Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 11^th January).

Pte. James Austin (see 29^th October 1917) was reclassified as being medically fit only for Permanent Base Duty and transferred to the Signal School at GHQ, Italy.

Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 5^th January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, wrote to his sister, who had evidently written to him after hearing about his intention to return to active service with 10DWR in Italy. In fact it would be some months before he would return. His letter suggests that Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 18^th January), who was currently in England on leave, had written to Perks requesting that he take up a post,

“It is about time I wrote I must admit but I have been busy writing to the Brigadier (Lambert) and also I have been decidedly off colour lately. I went to see the doctor yesterday.  He says my chest is a little wrong and he suspects my throat.  I am to go to a Newcastle specialist on throats but it is not supposed to be serious in any case and will not keep me from Italy. (Not even indoors).

I am sorry my announcement was rather in the nature of a bomb shell but surely you knew I was fed up with this and would ask to go soon?  When a general writes to tell you he wants you to go to him and in Italy of all places too – well I ask you?

I hear from Italy that it is a gorgeous front.  A broad river in front of you with the Austrians at least a mile away with only one casualty (due to great bad luck) in a long tour of trenches (L.Cpl. Gilbert Swift Greenwood, see 6^th January).  Cold and frosty but sunshine all day but only rain once since they have been there.  Leave to England I fear is very slow but leave to Rome, Naples etc. quite frequently.

I have paid a fee and had one lesson in Dutton’s shorthand but I am going off now of course.

Yes, I shall be home after a few days on my way to the port of embarkation”.

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to allow me to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

Pte. Edgar Johnson (see 4^th January), who had had his left leg amputated below the knee having been wounded in the actions at Le Sars in October 1916, was formally discharged from the Army. He was granted a lifetime pension; this was to be paid at a rate of 27s. 6d. per week for nine weeks, after which it would reduce to 13s. 9d.

Thursday 24th January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

A Brigade competition was held in the transport lines to judge the standard of saddlery and harness. The competition was won by 10DWR, securing the first prize of 100 lira.

Pte. Frank Dodgson (see 6^th January) was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion.

Ptes. Newton Dobson (see 2^nd October 1916), Michael Langley (see 5^th October 1917) and Edward Percy Webb (see 29^th October 1917) departed for England on two weeks leave. 

Ptes. George Bernard Hardy (see 7^th December 1917), Harold Parsons (see 26^th October 1917), Arthur Wideman (see 21^st November) and Herbert Wood (see 1^st December 1917) were posted back to France from 3DWR at North Shields; they would join 2DWR.

A payment of £1 2s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Stanley Broadbent (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Albert.

A payment of £14 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Ernest Nussey (see 5^th October 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Thomas.

Wednesday 23rd January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

Pte. Michael Hannigan (see 15^th October 1917) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering problems with his teeth.

Pte. Harry Moore (16991) (see 2^nd January) was transferred from 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona to 11^th General Hospital in Genoa; he was suffering from trench foot. After a week he would be transferred to 51^st Stationary Hospital at Arquata Scrivia.

Lt. Sydney Charles Ernest Farrance (see 20^th November 1917) was appointed probationery Lieutenant in the Indian Army.

A payment of £1 18s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Clifford Gough (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Margaret.

A payment of £2 2s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Oliver (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Martha.

A payment of £1 1s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Samuel Potter MM (see 17^th December 1917), who had died of wounds on 17^th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Harriet.

A payment of £1 18s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Ernest Frederick Warner (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, George.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. James William Clark (see 10^th October 1917), who had been killed in action in June 1917; his mother, Eliza, was awarded 4s. 6d.. per week, later increased to 5s. per week.

Tuesday 22nd January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

Pte. Thomas Prince (see 6^th January) re-joined the Battalion from 23^rd Division Rest Station, following treatment for inflammation of his right hand.

L.Cpl. Albert Edward White (see 12^th December 1917) was reported by Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 25th November 1917) and Thomas Anthony Swale (see 29^th December 1917) for “hesitating to comply with an order, ie when ordered to parade mess orderlies, hesitated to do so”; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 18^th January) he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s rank and reduced to Private.

Pte. Horace Trinder (see 10^th January) was transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera to 57^th General Hospital at Marseilles; he was suffering from pneumonia.

Pte. Percival Albert Wiggins (see 4^th January), who was home on leave, was admitted to 3^rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford, suffering from ‘trench foot’.

Cpl. Horace Dewis MM (see 17^th December 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September 1917, married Eliza Young in Keighley.

A request was made for Maj. Harry Robert Hildyard (see 3^rd August 1917), who had been the original senior officer of Tunstill’s Company but who was now serving with 9^th Battalion Royal Defence Corps at Easington, to be released to take up duties as an administrative officer with an Officer Cadet Battalion. The request would be rejected and Hildyard remained with the RDC.

Pte. Lewis Greenwood (see 20^th December 1917), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, re-joined his Battalion, having been posted as a deserter a month previously.

Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 19^th December 1917), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported “absent from parade at 6.15pm until 9.15pm”; he would be confined to barracks for three days. 

2Lt. Godfrey Isaacs (see 20^th November 1917) was examined by a specialist at 4^th London General Hospital (Neurological Officers Section); the specialist’s report recommended that he be “discharged from the service as unlikely to improve”. His symptoms were stated as being, “Neurasthenia: headaches, stammer, giddiness, cannot be left in open air, depressed, not improving after six months in hospital”.

A payment of £4 2s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Joseph Bowles (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September; the payment would go to his widow, Mary, for herself and their daughter.

A payment of £8 19s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Fred Davis (see 22^nd September), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September; the payment would go to his father, James.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. George Peacock (see 27^th September 1917), who had died of wounds in June 1917; his mother, Jane, was awarded 10s. per week.

Sgt. George Peacock

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. James Buckley Kenworthy (see 7^th June 1917), who had been officially missing in action since 7^th June 1917; his mother, Ada, was awarded 6s. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Christopher Tinker Sykes (see 27^th October), who had been killed in action in June 1917; his father, Anthony, was awarded 7s. 6d. per week.

Monday 21st January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

Cpl. William Dennison MM (see 30^th October 1917) was arrested on a charge of having been drunk; he was placed in detention to await trial by Field General Court Martial.

Ptes. Clarence Hubert Bolt (see 7^th January), Robert Clarke (see 29^th October 1917), John Collins (see 6^th October 1917) and James Percival (see 29^th October 1917) were reported by 2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 4^th January) and CQMS Hubert Charles Hoyle (see 25^th November 1917) for ‘creating a disturbance after lights out’; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 1^st January) they were to be confined to barracks for two days.

Pte. Andrew Davidson (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty three days later, but would not actually re-join the Battalion for a further three weeks.

Pte. William Henry Bray (see 29^th October 1917) was transferred to “A.P.M. 23^rd Division” (I am, as yet, unable to identify the meaning of the abbreviation).

Pte. Charley Norman (see 7^th June 1917), who had spent seven months at 9^th British Red Cross Hospital at Calais having suffered severe wounds on 7^th June 1917, including a compound fracture of his left forearm and injuries to his shoulder, was evacuated to England; he travelled onboard the Hospital Ship, Newhaven. Details of his treatment in England are unknown.

Pte. John Longmire (see 23^rd September), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September 1917, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 11^th January), who had been in England since having been wounded on 7^th June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 16s. 6d. and to be reviewed in a years’ time.

A payment of £8 2s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. James Tunnicliffe (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, James.

A parcel of the personal effects of the late Sgt. Luke Dawson (see 20^th September 1917) was despatched to his mother, Sarah. The parcel comprised of, “watch, chain, matchbox, rosary, 2 wallets, photos, letter, cards, cigarette case, 2 coins (2d.)”. There would be no payment on Sgt. Dawson’s account as there had been a debit balance of £2 1s. at the time of his death.

Sgt. Luke Dawson (standing, left)

A payment of £2 2s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joseph Henry Woodcock (see 30^th September 1917), who had died of wounds on 30^th September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Ethel. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “disc, letters, photos, cards, purse, cigarette case (metal), knife, 9ct. gold ring, 1 button, pocket book, small note book, small key”.

Sunday 20th January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva.

As the Battalion settled down into its new routine there was time for some relaxation alongside the continued training.  Pte. Harold Charnock (see 27^th December 1917) remembered that, “There was an excellent range here and a very good Divisional rifle meeting was held.  We also had several battalion Competitions.  We also played a good deal of football, both codes, and had a battalion boxing competition.  The left of our sector was reconnoitred with a view to supporting the French and several tactical schemes for officers were carried out with this object in view”.

L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 31^st July 1917), serving with 23^rd Division Employment Company, relinquished his appointment as Lance Corporal at his own request and departed for England on two weeks leave.

Pte. James Frederick Coldwell (see 29^th October 1917), having been discharged from 4^th Stationary Hospital at Arques, was posted to ‘B’ Infantry Base Depot, pending a return to active service.

In Glasgow, Pte. James Hillhouse (see 11^th January), home on leave, was confronted with a family tragedy. At the family home in Edmund Street, a leak of coal gas killed his married sister, Mary Wallace, and her 11 year-old son David, and left his father, James, in hospital. In the absence of Mary’s husband, David Wallace, who was serving in France with the Royal Engineers, it would be left to James Hillhouse to make the arrangements for the family funerals. The Glasgow Police would send a telegram to the military authorities requesting that he be allowed an extension of his leave to put the affairs in order. His leave would be extended to 10^th February.

Saturday 19th January 1918

In Brigade Reserve at Pederiva

Periods of fog and mist made observation difficult but conditions remained “exceptionally quiet”.

Pte. Ernest Jones (see 13^th January) appeared before a Field General Court Martial on a charge of having “used insubordinate language to his superior officer”; he was found guilty and sentenced to 56 days’ Field Punishment No.1.

L.Cpl. Jesse Merritt (see 26^th November 1917) was discharged from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia, and re-joined the Battalion; he had been treated for two months for pneumonia.

Pte. Herbert Willis Pickles (see 27^th November 1917) was transferred from Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield to hospital in Chester.

Pte. Stephen Shevill (see 5^th July 1917) was formally discharged from the Army as a result of wounds suffered in action. (In the absence of his service record it has not been possible to establish any further information about when he had been wounded).

A payment of £3 3s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Arthur Charles Elkington MM (see 18^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 18^th September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Ellen.

A payment of £2 6s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Francis Seed (see 12^th June), who had been killed in action on 7^th June 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Ann. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects comprising of, “disc, cigarette case, wallet, photo, diary, cards, 2stamps (½d)”.

Friday 18th January 1918

Billets at Biadene

69^th Brigade took over the defence of left sector of the front line from 68^th Brigade; 10DWR became the Brigade reserve battalion. The Battalion marched the short distance north west to take over billets at Pederiva from 10^th Northumberland Fusiliers; the relief was completed by 5.30pm. During this period around 200 men would be employed each day on working parties with the remainder of the Battalion engaged in musketry training on the range which they had helped t build (see 3^rd December 1917).

Sgt. John William Wardman MM (see 7^th January) was admitted to hospital (cause unknown); he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after four days.

Sgt. John William Wardman MM
Image by kind permission of Paul Bishop

Pte. Reginald Dayson (see 4^th January) who had been held in confinement for the previous two weeks on a charge of, “when on active service leaving his post without orders from his superior officer” appeared before a Field General Court Martial. He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude. However, Lt. Col. Barker DSO, 11WYR, who was in temporary command of 69^th Brigade while Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 8^th January) was on leave, ordered that “the soldier be not committed to prison until further order”. The sentence of the court was to be reviewed at Divisional level.

Pte. James Isaac King (see 11^th January), who had been absent without leave for the previous week, was apprehended by the Military Police in Padua; he would be returned to the Battalion the following day. On the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 8^th January) he would be sentenced to 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1 and to forfeit eight days’ pay.

Pte. Wilson Hepworth (see 6^th December 1916), on attachment to 23^rd Division HQ, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Military Cross to Lt. Charles Douglas Storrs (see 2^nd May 1916) who had served briefly with 10DWR in April 1916 before transferring to the Royal Engineers. The citation detailed Storrs’ actions, “He was in charge of gas operations which he carried out with complete success, standing out in the open for several hours under machine gun and rifle fire”.

Sgt. Wilfred Fletcher (see 24^th August 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded in July 1917, was posted back to France; although he was initially due to join 8DWR, he was the re-posted to re-join 10DWR in Italy. However, before embarking for Italy, he would be taken ill and admitted to hospital in Le Havre.

L.Cpl. George Oversby (see 11^th August), who had been in England since having been wounded on 29^th July 1916, was posted back to France; although he was initially due to join 8DWR, he was actually posted to 1^st/4^th DWR.

Pte. Herbert Farrand Hogley (see 11^th December 1917), who was in England having been wounded in action serving with 2/6^thDWR, was discharged from the Military Hospital in Bangor, North Wales and granted ten day’s leave before reporting to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

L.Cpl. William Stowell (see 9^th October 1917), who had been in England since having suffered a fractured skull on 20^th September, was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon; three days later he would be re-posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Cpl. Thomas Arthur Sturdy (see 28^th December 1917), who had been in England since having suffered severe wounds to his left leg on 6^th June, was formally discharged from the Army on the grounds that he was no longer physically fit for service. He was granted a pension of 30s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

A payment of £6 17s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Frederick Charles Davies (see 31st December 1917), who had died of wounds on 7^th June 1917; the payment would be divided in equal shares between his sister, Emily and his grandmother, Martha.

Thursday 17th January 1918

Billets at Biadene

Training continued

Cpl. Harry Clark (see 20^th September 1917) was promoted Sergeant.

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 10^th December 1917), who had been reported ‘wounded and missing’ on 20^th September but had subsequently (on 13^th November) been arrested by the Military Police near Dickebusch and had been held in detention for five weeks, was tried by Field General Court Martial on a charge of ‘deserting His Majesty’s service'; he was found guilty and sentenced to death. However, on the orders of General Sir Herbert Plumer, his sentence would be commuted to 15 years’ penal servitude.

Pte. George Carter (see 29^th December 1917), serving in France with 2^nd/6^th DWR, was admitted via 42^nd Casualty Clearing Station to 51^st General Hospital in Etaples; he was suffering from gonorrhoea.

L.Cpl. Norman Moorhouse (see 28^th September 1917), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Pte. Harry Gordon Binns (see 20^th June 1917) was posted back to France and would join 1^st/4^thDWR.

A payment of £2 9s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Edward Greenhalgh (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20^th September; the payment would go to his mother, Ann. 

A payment of £1 5s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Lewis Lunn (see 23^rd September 1917), who had died of wounds on 23^rd September; the payment would go to his widow, Gertrude. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “prayer book, pocket book, 3 photos, postcards, shaving soap, shaving brush, safety razor, mirror, safety razor blades, 2 pencils, cap badge, tin with cigarettes, coin (1d.)”.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Richard Spencer Howard (see 4^th October 1917), who had been killed in action in June 1917; his widow, Martha, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Richard Spencer Howard

The War Office wrote to the widow of the late Pte. Ernest Arthur Carter (see 30^th October 1917) who had been killed in action on 7^th June, requesting that she reply to their request for the completion of a form relating to her pension entitlement. They reminded her that had “already written to you for it three times” and that “your failure to return this form means delay in the issue of your pension”.