Tuesday 26th February 1918

Front line trenches on the Montello, between roads 11 and 14.

Conditions in the line remained quiet, although it was said that, “our artillery was decidedly more active than that of the enemy”. However, the Austrian artillery would become more engaged as weather conditions deteriorated over the following days. This was explained as being due to, “the rain and mist that prevailed, as it was noticeable that the poorer the visibility the more active would be the enemy’s guns – a compliment to our counter-battery work”.

It may well have been the increased artillery activity at this time to which 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 25^th February) was referring in a mention in the memoir he wrote for his young niece and nephew, “one day, as two of us were walking back to the Battalion HQ from our Company HQ, there was a sudden shrieking in the air and we dropped on our tummies in a ditch whilst a great shell passed over us. It blew the roof off a farm barn a little distance away and I felt scared then thrilled for that was my first shell”.

Sgt. Harry Clark (see 17^th January) was posted back to England to begin a course of officer training.

Pte. Wilson Hepworth (see 18^th January), on attachment to 23^rd Division HQ, was accidentally injured whilst playing rugby football; he suffered a kick to his knee and would report sick the following morning. However, the injury was not considered serious and he would remain at duty.

A payment of £3 18s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 9^th October 1917) who had been killed in action on 9^th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, John.

A payment of £2 4s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Prestwood (see 27^th January), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Elsie. She would also receive a parcel of his personal effects, comprising of, “wallet, photos, letters, cards, cap badge, notebook, testament, purse, coin, pipe”.