Tuesday 30th April 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

There was a marked improvement in the weather and the day became very hot.

It was reflected that “The area as a whole was perhaps more ‘out of the war’ and restful than any the Division had lived in since September 1914. Billets were good and the inhabitants most friendly and hospitable … games could be played in the few fields left free of vines, and evenings could be spent at the Arzignano Theatre listening to the latest performance of the ‘Dumps’ (the Divisional Concert Party)”.

L.Cpl. James Edward Hollingworth (see 26^th April) was reported by Sgt. Frank Shelah Gilleard (see 8^th January) as being “absent off CO’s parade, ie, lecture to Officers and NCOs at 5.30pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 29^th April) he was deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to Private.

Pte. Fred Clayton (see 7^th March) was reported by Cpl. Mark Butler (see 5^th October 1917) as having an ‘untidy bed’; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 26^th March) he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

The Battalion War Diary noted the award of the Military Medal to Cpl. Alexander Wallace (see 1^st November 1917), presumably for his conduct in the most recent tour in the front line but the circumstances under which he had gained the award are unknown.

Pte. James Tuddenham, known to all as ‘Tudd’ (see 21^st July 1916), who had been wounded while serving with 10DWR in July 1916, was killed in action while serving with 1^st/6^th DWR. The circumstances of his death were reported in a letter to his family from letter from Lt. H.E. Lowther, commanding ‘A’ Company; "He was killed by a shell in the early morning of April 30th and can have suffered no pain whatever. He was buried with two of his comrades, and the grave was marked by a cross made by the men of his own platoon. He was one of our company stretcher bearers who are always men picked specially for their bravery. He always did the job well, however dangerous the circumstances, and always thought of the wounded men he tended before himself. I know how hard it will be for you, but I want you to realise how deeply we feel his loss. 'A' Company will never forget 'Tudd', as he was known to everyone”. The site of James Tuddenham’s grave would be lost in subsequent fighting and he is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

2Lt. William Swift (see 27^th November 1917), West Yorkshire Regiment and formerly of 10DWR, joined 1^st/7^th DWR; he was on attachment from the West Yorkshire Regiment.

L.Cpl. Alfred John Davis (see 3^rd April), serving in France with 179^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, was admitted to to 2^nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport (cause unknown).

Cpl. John Henry Eastwood (see 8^th December 1917), serving in France with 860^th Area Employment Company, Labour Corps, was transferred to the Chinese Labour Corps.

CSM Albert Edgar Palmer (see 9^th November 1917) was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant and would be posted to 51^st (Graduated) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, a training battalion based at Thoresby Camp. On the same day, he was married, at Grimethorpe Parish Church, to Clara Monkman. At some point (date unknown) he would be posted to France to join 8^th West Yorks. 

A/Sgt. Thomas Walsh (see 6^th October 1917) was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant and would be posted to 3DWR at North Shields, before then being posted to France to join 2DWR (exact date unknown). The report at the conclusion of his training stated: “standard of education poor, military knowledge – below average; power of command and leadership – good; below average all round but has made fair progress”.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. James Scott MM (14445) (see 9^th April 1918); who had been killed in action in October 1917; his widow, Leah, was awarded £1 2s. 11d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Harry Hancock (see 30^th January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his mother, Ada, was awarded 9s. per week.

Casualties for the month were officially recorded as being:

Killed                                 0

Accidentally killed           0

Died of wounds               0 

Wounded                          7 (1 in action; 4 at duty; 2 self-inflicted)

Accidentally wounded    0

Missing                              0

The official cumulative casualty figures since arriving in France in August 1915 were thus: 

Killed                                   275

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  21

Wounded                       1,287

Accidentally wounded      53

Missing                              178