Sunday 24th February 1918

Billets at Valla.

Another warm and sunny day.

In accordance with the new orders received the previous day, the Battalion, departing at 9.35am, marched three miles north, back to their former billets at Altivole. Here, according to Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18^th February), “on the excellent ground the officers beat the sergeants at football after a close game”.

Pte. Thomas Warburton (see 2^nd February 1917) was reported by Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see 23^rd February) as having been, “dirty on guard mounting”; on the orders of Capt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 23^rd February), he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Fred Sutcliffe (see 23^rd February) was reported for the third consecutive day; on this occasion Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see above) reported him for having a, “dirty rifle on guard mounting parade”. For the accumulation of the three charges Sutcliffe was ordered, by Lt. Thomas Beattie (see 31^st October 1917), to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Walter Oddy (see 9^th December 1917), serving at the Royal Engineers Special Factory Section at Les Attaques, departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Ptes. Frederick McKell (see 18^th February), Charles Oldham (see 18^th February) and Herbert Ridley (see 30^th January) were posted back to France from 3DWR and would join 5DWR.