Tuesday 16th April 1918

Front line trenches between San Sisto and Poslen.

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

2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 23^rd March) re-joined the Battalion having spent the previous three weeks on “a course of instruction” (details unknown).

Pte. Erwin Wilkinson (see 24^th March) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Harold Jennison (see 8^th July 1916), serving in France with 12^th/13^th Northumberland Fusiliers was one of more than 300 men from his Battalion recorded as casualties following a German attack on the British lines near Wytschaete; he would subsequently be confirmed as having been taken prisoner and would be held at Friedrichsfeld Camp.

Pte. Bertie Constantine (see 30^th March), serving in France with 1^st/7^thDWR, was evacuated to England having been wounded in action, suffering wounds to his ‘right upper extremity’; the date, circumstances and details of his having been wounded are unknown.

Pte. Greenwood Speak (see 16^th August 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 10^th June 1917, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

A payment of £5 17s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Joseph Fox (see 16^th October), who had been killed in action on 16^th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Mary. 

A payment of £4 4s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Henry Leech (see 18^th October), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Harriett. She would also receive a package of his personal effects, comprising of, “Bible, prayer book, wallet, note book, photos, cards, letters”.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Herbert Horatio Millican (see 26^th January 1918), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; his mother, Emily, was awarded 6s. 6d. per week.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Albert Edward Everitt (see 11^th January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his father, Henry, was awarded 10s. per week.
A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. John Joseph Walker (see 12^th February 1918) who had been killed in action in September 1917; his mother, Sarah, was awarded 8s. per week.



A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Ernest Frederick Warner (see 23^rd January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his mother, Mary Ann, was awarded 5s. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Frank Woodall (see 28^th March), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his mother, Lilian, was awarded 7s. 6d. per week.

John Pashley, brother of the late L.Sgt. Fred Light Pashley (see 15^th March), wrote to the Infantry Records Office regarding the affairs of his late brother:

“I got sound information from Corporal Keeling (Cpl. George William Keeling MM, see 1^st April) that he was killed 20^th September 1917 at Menin Road and have previously sent the copy of Keeling’s letter as asked for and still get nothing only missing and hoping to hear of something more definite. I also beg to inform you that owing to trouble with his wife, Fred lived with his mother and family for above 12 months before enlistment. He did not pay any money to his wife during that period and had no dealings with her. He said she should not have anything belonging to him after his death and made a will to his mother that all was left to her. Trusting you will do the right thing and not pay any money to his wife seeing all is made out for his mother at his death which can be proved by the will in our possession or there might be trouble”

Samuel Irving Bell died aged 61; he was the father of Pte. William Irving Bell (see 20^th October 1916) and also of Pte. Joseph Bell, who had been killed in August 1916 while serving in France with the Australian Imperial Forces.