Monday 22nd April 1918

Billets at San Fortunato, just south of Fara.

At 10.25am the Battalion began a march to take them a further six miles south-west via Leva to Stecchini, between Dueville and Villaverla, where they would be accommodated overnight in tents and bivouacs, with Battalion HQ close by at Novoledo. 

L.Cpl. Joseph Henry Haywood (see 10^th April) was reported by Sgt. James Robinson (see 11^th March) as “absent from tattoo at 9.30pm until reporting himself at 11.50pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 15^th April) he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and revert to Private.

Pte. Harold Richard Denny (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from impetigo; he would be discharged to duty and re-join the Battalion after three days.

Pte. Joseph McDermott (see 9^th April) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Herbert Smith MM (11837) (see 16^th August 1917), who had been transferred from 10DWR to 69^th Brigade Pigeon Station, was reported for “drunkenness on active service”; he would be deprived of seven days’ pay.


Pte. Frederick Frank Banks (see 30^th November 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1917, was formally transferred to the Army Service Corps.

A payment of £5 5s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Jackson (10796) (see 17^th October 1917), who had been killed in action on 17^th October 1917. Although he had served under the name ‘Harry Jackson’, his real name had in fact been Morris Kayles and the payment would go to his father, Israel Kayles.

A pension award was made in the case of the late CSM Joseph Bona (see 9^th March 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his mother, Elizabeth, was awarded 6s. per week.
A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Alfred Exley (see 21^st March 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his father, Joseph, was awarded 10s. per week.
The Infantry Records Office replied to the recent letter from the family of L.Sgt. Fred Light Pashley (see 16^th April), acknowledging the letter and informing them that they would need to contact the Ministry of Pensions.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Military Cross to 2Lt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 24^th March). The citation stated: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When he was in command of a patrol reconnoitring on the farther side of the river his position was discovered, but, owing to his good leadership and initiative, he succeeded in withdrawing his patrol without loss. His patrol work has at all times been most conspicuous, and during numerous difficult crossings of the river he has displayed great courage and skill”.