Wednesday 2nd January 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello.

In the early hours L.Cpl. Gilbert Swift Greenwood (see 1^st January), who had been wounded the previous day, died of his wounds at one of the local Casualty Clearing Stations. Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 18^th December 1917) would later write to the family, “Allow me to express to you my deep sympathy in the death of your son, L.Cpl. G.S. Greenwood, the first man in this battalion to give his life for his country on the Italian Front. Your son was commanding a guard over his company headquarters in the front line, and was hit by a shell. He died without pain a few hours after. Your boy was a very gallant soldier and had always acquitted himself with credit in action. I, in common with all the other officers who knew him, greatly regret his loss”. Greenwood would be buried at Biadene Communal Cemetery Extension, ¾ mile NE of Montebelluna; his remains would subsequently be exhumed and re-buried at Giavera British Cemetery.

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 15^th December 1918) was tried by Field General Court Martial on charges of, “when on active service disobeying, in such a manner as to show wilful defiance of authority, a lawful command given personally by his superior officer in the execution of his office” and also “using insubordinate language to his superior officer”. He was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour; the sentence would be confirmed at Brigade level three days later, but it was directed that Pte. Wilson should not be committed to prison until further orders.

Pte. William Havery (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from “P.U.O.” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin); he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after eleven days.

Pte. Harry Moore (16991) (see 16^th December 1917) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station and no.41 Ambulance Train to 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona, suffering from trench foot.

Pte. Lewis Larkins (see 3^rd October 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

Pte. Ben Hutchinson (see 13^th December 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20^th September, 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 £2 8s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Henry Richardson Oddy (see 20^th September 1917); the payment would go to his mother, Eleanor. She would also receive a package of his personal effects comprising of, “wallet, photos, safety razor, steel mirror, cigarette case”.