Wednesday 20th March 1918

Billets at Marola

A Brigade “Aeroplane Contact Patrol” exercise was carried out; “During this practice troops carried small coloured flags with which to signal their positions to the aeroplane. This means of communication was not found to be satisfactory as only white flags could be clearly seen”.

The final of the Brigade football competition was held, between 11West Yorks and 9Yorks; the play-off for third place between 10DWR and 8Yorks ended in a draw. 

Pte. Joseph Hadley (see 14^th March) was reported for the third time in a week; on this occasion by Sgt. Herbert Wheyland (see 9^th February) for having “dirty and untidy equipment on parade”. On the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 18^th March) he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. John Collins (see 21^st January) was reported by Sgt. Harry Holmes MM (see 11^th January), Cpl. Alfred Frankland (see below), Cpl. Reginald Robinson (see below), L.Cpl. Charles Bates (see 20^th September 1917) and L.Cpl. Albert Edward Smith (see below) as “absent from roll call at 9pm until reporting himself at 9.55pm” and for “insolence to an NCO”. On the following morning he would be further reported as “absent off Company Orderly Room parade at 8.30am”; he would remain absent until “reporting himself at 8pm on 23^rd March”. He would be ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

L.Cpl. Frederick William Warner (see 14^th February) was reported by L.Cpl. Frederick James Lynch (see 2^nd March) and Cpl. Reginald Robinson (see below) as, “absent from roll call at 9am until reporting himself at 9.40pm” and for “breaking out of billets whilst on sick”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 2^nd March) he was deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reverted to Private.

Cpl. Reginald Robinson was an original member of the Battalion; he was 27 years old and from Huddersfield. His older brother, Ernest, who had been serving with the Machine Gun Corps, had been officially missing in action since October 1916.

Pte. William Hissett (see 15^th August 1917), serving in France with 9DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. William Noble (20175) (see 13th February 1917), who had suffered severe wounds in October 1916 resulting in the amputation of his right leg, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service; he was awarded a pension of £1 7s. 6d. per week for ten weeks, reducing thereafter to 16s. 6d. per week.

A second payment, of £1 7d., was authorised, on the account of the late Pte. Arthur Samuel Potter MM (see 23^rd January), who had died of wounds on 17^th October 1917; this payment, like the first, would go to his mother, Harriet.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Arthur Charles Elkington MM (see 19^th January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his widow, Ellen, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Robert Arthur Watkinson (see 8^th January) who had been killed in action on 18^th September 1917; his widow, Elizabeth, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week for herself and her daughter.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Joseph Honeyble (see 22^nd February 1918) who had died of wounds in October 1917; his widow, Rose, was awarded 22s. 11d. per week.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Harold Peel (see 11^th February 1918) who had been killed in action in September 1917; his widow, Edith, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.
A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Harry Stillwell (see 14^th January), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his widow, Ada, was awarded 18s. 9d. per week.