Sunday 12th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

The second part of the Brigade sports competition was held and it was noted that, “A large number of officers from outside formations attended, including H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Italy and the Commander of the 6^th Italian Army”. The event was to be held on the hilltop of Monte Verlaldo, north-east of Cornedo; it was noted that the venue was “about 1 ½ hours steep climb on foot from Cornedo”.

In the morning, to take advantage of favourable conditions, there was to be a heliograph signalling competition, but the main events were to begin from mid-afternoon. Starting at 3pm, there was to be a pack mule competition, simulating the transport of ammunition and supplies by 16 mules per unit to the top of Monte Verlaldo, with marks awarded for turnout, march discipline, loading and unloading. The same scenario was to be used for a Yukon pack carrying competition, involving 12 NCO’s and men from each Battalion. There were also Lewis Gun competitions for battalions and also for attached Italian Lewis Gun Companies. At 4pm, starting at the top of the hill, there was to be a khud race, with teams comprising of 40 officers and men from each battalion, followed half an hour later by a similar event for ‘novices’ (defined as being “men who have joined the Brigade since it arrival in Italy”) in teams of 20. For a further 10 officers and men who had not competed in the khud races there was to be a relay race. In addition to the silver and bronze medals which were to be awarded for each of the events, points would also be won towards the overall award of the Brigade trophy, in the form of the shield which Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 11^th May),  had originally provided for Brigade Sports held in March 1917. The massed bands of the Brigade provided entertainment.

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 4^th May) remembered that, “The second part of the Brigade sports was held at which the Prince of Wales was present.  We won the relay and Khud races”. This is confirmed by the Brigade War Diary, which also records that the Battalion teams were placed third in the Lewis Gun competition and fourth in the Yukon pack event. Overall, across the whole range of events conducted since March the Battalion finished second to the 11West Yorks.

Pte. Herbert Bibby (see 16^th December 1917) was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty after two days.

Pte. Arthur Walton (see 11^th January 1917) was reported by Sgt., Harry Smith (12240) (see 29^th April)  L.Sgt. Thomas Craven Patchett (see below) and Cpl. Thomas Anthony Swale (see 22^nd January) as ‘absent from roll call at 9pm’; he would not return until 7pm on 14^th May. On the orders of Maj. William Norman Town (see 10^th May), he would undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Thomas Craven Patchett was an original member of the Battalion; he had enlisted in 1914 aged 35 years old, at which time he had been married and working in Bradford as a sewage labourer. 

Cpl. Josias Bailey MM (see 16^th August 1917) departed on 14 days’ leave to Rome.

Pte. Robert Ellis Clayton (see 20^th July 1917), serving in France with 1^st/7^thDWR, was reported for ‘failing to comply with an order given by an NCO’; he would be ordered to undergo ten days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 24^th August 1917), serving in France with 266^th Area Employment Company, was reported for ‘wastage of food and insolence to a senior NCO’; he would be reprimanded but would suffer no further sanction.

Cpl. Michael Kenefick MM (see 22^nd March), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1917, was formally transferred to 3DWR and posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to the School of Instruction at York.