Wednesday 24th April 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino

The day was punctuated with heavy thunderstorms and it would be noted that, for the early part of the stay at Cornedo “owing to the bad weather very little training could be carried out, but in spite of this a large amount was done on improvised ranges and bayonet fighting courses”. The Brigade War Diary noted that, “On arrival in this area there were few training facilities and some difficulty was found in choosing good training grounds owing to cultivation. However, after careful reconnaissance one, 100 yards range per Battalion and one Divisional range, up to 1,200 yards, were constructed. Also, one bullet and bayonet course was made in the Brigade area. Schemes in hill warfare were practised on several occasions and a good deal of work with the helio was put in, there being no telephone communications whatever in this area”.

Despite the inauspicious start, Pte. Harold Charnock (see 21^st April) would later recall that, “At Cornedo, which was in beautiful country amid the foothills, we made and used a rifle range, practiced hill warfare and enjoyed good billets”. It was also noted that, “The weather here has been very changeable just lately, plenty of rain but we have had it hot now and again. We can get plenty to eat were we are just now, such as fruit and eggs. The scenery is also very pretty”.

Ptes. Clarence Smith (see 11^th September 1917) and Benjamin Tetley (see 15^th April) were appointed Lance Corporal.

Pte. Willie Holmes (see 21^st March) was reported by CQMS Edgar Shuttleworth (see 23^rd September 1917) for “losing by neglect clasp knife and bully beef”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 23rd April) he was to be deprived of seven days’ pay and to pay for the lost items. 

Pte. Edwin Haley (see 16^th December 1917) was reported by CQMS. Thomas Winder (see 14th March) for “losing by neglect his toothbrush”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 24^th March) he was to pay for the lost item.

Pte. Arthur Walter Williams (see 23^rd April) was reported by CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 12^th October 1917), Sgts. William Henry Dobson MM (see 17^th December 1917, it is not known when he had been promoted Sergeant) and Edward Isger (see 15^th April) as being “deficient of clasp knife and biscuits”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see above) he was to be deprived of seven days’ pay and to pay for the lost items.

Pte. James Grubb (see 25^th November 1917) was reported by Sgt. William Walker Rossall MM (see 6^th April) as being “late on parade and hesitating to obey an order, ie hesitating to fall in when required to”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see above) he was to undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Ptes. Joseph Foulkes (see 5^th October 1917), Richard Henry Harris (see 3^rd December 1917) and John William Mallinson (see 30^th March) were also ordered to be deprived of seven days’pay; the details of their offences are unknown.

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 13^th April) was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion; he had been suffering from diarrhoea.

Pte. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 18^th April) re-joined the Battalion, having been on attachment for almost a year to 223^rd Employment Company.

Pte. George Albert Wright (see 4^th October 1917), serving with 148^th Labour Company, Labour Corps, was transferred to 9^th Labour Company.

Pte. Albert Ellis (see 1^st May 1917), serving in England 26^th Durham Light Infantry, was admitted to Hill House Military Hospital in Ramsgate, suffering from synovitis in his left knee; he would be discharged to duty after 14 days.

A payment of 10s. 11d. was issued to Anthony Gallagher, brother of the Pte. Michael Gallagher (see 9th November 1917), who had been killed in action on 22^nd May 1917. This was the final payment to one of Gallagher’s siblings, the other payments having been issued in August 1917.

A payment of £16 3s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walter Robinson (14753) (see 4^th January), who had been killed in action while serving with 1^st/6^th DWR in France; the payment would go to his father, Albert.

Pte. Walter Robinson

A second payment, of £1, was authorised on the account of the late Pte. James Herbert Armstrong (see 21^st February) who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother and father, Mary and James, as joint legatees. His mother was also awarded an Army pension of 6s. per week.

A second payment, of 11s. 11d., was authorised, on the account of the late Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 26^th February) who had been killed in action on 9^th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, John.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Cpl. Joseph Smith (12748) MM (see 19^th April 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his mother, Emma, was awarded 7s. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Joseph William Henley (see 27^th March 1918) who had been killed in action in October 1917; his widow, Lilian, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Henry Harry Jolly (see 20^th September 1917), who had been officially missing in action since 20^th September 1917; his widow, Ada, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Henry Harry Jolly