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.