Monday 1st April 1918

Billetted in huts at Granezza.

The recent snow turned to rain, making conditions at Granezza even more unpleasant.

On 1^st April a reorganisation of the Machine Gun Corps, which had been decided upon in December 1917, came into effect; this combined the machine gun company from each Brigade in the Division into the 23^rd Battalion Machine Gun Corps. The restructuring also required a considerable number of additional personnel in addition to those already serving. It seems very likely, though the date has not been confirmed for certain, that it was at this point that a number of men serving with 10DWR were transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. Those known to have been transferred were (with their original DWR service numbers followed by their new MGC service numbers):

Pte. Christopher George Church (13344; 148283) (see 19^th October 1914); Pte. Joseph Fletcher (29828; 148284) (in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man); Pte. George Glenton (3997; 266530; 148285) (I am unable to make a positive identification of this man); Pte. Arthur Greenbank (29625; 148286) (see 20^th August 1917); Pte. Thomas Charnley (29680; 148287) (see 16^th January 1917); Pte. George Henry Haigh (29275; 148288) (see 16^th January 1917); Pte. Walter Hepworth (29316; 148289) (see 16^th January 1917); and L.Cpl. Joseph Herbert Kenworthy MM (268541; 148290) (see 17^th December 1917).

Pte. Joseph Barber Taylor (see 15^th September 1917) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty a week later.

A/Sgt. George William Keeling MM (see 17^th December) relinquished his appointment as Acting Sergeant and reverted to Corporal.

Pte. Frank Easterby (see 18^th March) was transferred from 23^rd Division Rest Station, where he had been treated for scabies, via 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona; his condition was now simply described as ‘sick, not yet diagnosed’.

Pte. James Austin (see 25^th January), serving at the Signal School at GHQ, Italy, was transferred to 273^rd Employment Company.

Pte. William Edmond Smith (see 17^th March), who was on leave in England, had his leave extended for a further week ‘on account of his mother’s illness’.

Cpl. Horace Dewis MM (see 22^nd January) was transferred to the RAF.

2Lt. Eric Dixon (see 21^st March), serving with the Royal Flying Corps, was promoted Lieutenant (Observer).


Pte. Wilfred Wood (see 17^th October 1917), serving with ‘D’ Company, 17^th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, was admitted via 51^st Field Ambulance at Warloy to 3^rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Doullens, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his legs; the further details of his treatment are unknown.

Ten-year-old Harry Lawton died at the Royal Infirmary in Huddersfield; he was the eldest of the four children of Sgt. Herbert Lawton (see 27^th December 1917) who was with his son when he died. Harry’s cause of death was stated as being “acute periostitis of femur and septicaemia”.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Arthur Hird (see 28^th January), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September 1917; his widow, Margaret, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.