Monday 13th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

A Brigade exercise was carried to simulate a British attack against Austrian positions on the Asiago Plateau. The exercise involved 10DWR and both 8^th and 9^th Yorks. and was be carried out on the wooded slopes of the hills south-east of Cornedo Vicentino. 10DWR were to advance to the village of Madonetta Vicario, at the top of a wooded spur of land. The difficulties of operating in a highly-cultivated area were emphasised in the Brigade order which specified that, “No crops or standing grass are to be crossed. Till the woods are reached roads and tracks only will be used”.

Pte. Sidney John Rainbow (see 30^th March) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from inflammation to both legs; he would re-join the Battalion eight days later.

Pte. George Edward Chapman (see 2^nd April), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service as a result of ‘shellshock’; he was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. per week and to be reviewed in six months.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Ernest Smith (25187) (see 7^th March), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; his widow, Marian, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.