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.