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.