Friday 19th April 1918

Front line trenches between San Sisto and Poslen.

The recent cold, wet weather continued, with showers of rain, sleet and snow.

Overnight 19^th/20^th another fighting patrol was sent out to investigate the Austrian strong point south of Ave which had first been reconnoitred four days previously but the post was again found to be unoccupied. 

Pte. Ernest Locker Smith (see 5^th January) was wounded, suffering a gunshot wound to his right hand; he would be treated locally in Italy (details unknown).

Ptes. James Pidgeley (see 24^th March) and John George Inshaw (see 24^th March) returned to Italy from leave; the reason for their delayed return is unclear. Inshaw was serving at the Trench Mortar School at Arquata Scrivia.

A second payment of £1 was authorised on the account of the late Cpl. Joseph Smith MM (12748) (see 7^th March), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, Thomas.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of the wounding of 2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 13^th April), serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR;

GRASSINGTON

We regret to announce that Second Lieutenant Wm. Oldfield is at present in a French hospital suffering from gunshot wounds in face, right hand, left arm and left thigh. A few days previous to being wounded he was slightly gassed and had just returned to the line.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

There was also news of the death of Gnr. Herbert Airey, brother of 2Lt. Stephen Brown Airey (see 28^th March),

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Skipton Gunner Dies of Wounds

News has been received that Gunner Herbert Airey, of the Royal Field Artillery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Airey, of 63, Otley Street, Skipton, died from wounds received on March 30th. In a letter to the deceased soldier's parents the Commanding Officer writes: "Your son was one of my best signalmen, and I feel his loss very keenly. The battery was heavily pressed, and he had been doing splendid work when a shell landed close to him, inflicting a wound, from which he died in the course of an hour. I feel wonderfully proud of his splendid courage." Gunner Airey, who was 31 years of age, enlisted in October, 1916, and had been out in France about seven months. He was formerly employed as a dyer's labourer by Mr. Torney, Alexandra Mills, Skipton. Mr. and Mrs. Airey have another son Second-Lieut. S.B. Airey, who is serving with the West Riding Regiment in Italy, and also a son-in-law, Driver F. H. Briggs, who is attached to the R.F.A.

Gnr. Herbert Airey