Thursday 1st August 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

Pte. Simpson Phillips (see 30^th May) was reported by Cpl. Reginald Robinson (see 17^th May) as “absent off parade from 8pm until found in his billet at 9.45pm; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 31^st July) he would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Cpl. Alexander Wallace (see 3^rd June) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia; he was suffering from diarrhoea.

Cpl. Horace Dewis MM (see 1^st April), serving with the RAF, was appointed Acting Sergeant (unpaid).

2Lt. Arthur Lilley (see 22^nd June), in training in England with the RAF, was promoted Lieutenant (Observer). 

Pte. Sidney Best (see 10^th July 1917), who had been wounded in July 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

A payment of £10 4s. was authorised, being the part of the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walton Thomas (see 12^th April), who had been killed in action in April while serving with 1^st/7^th DWR; the payment would go to his father, John.

Wednesday 31st July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

L.Cpl. Cain Rothera MM (see 10^th June) was reported by CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see 27^th May; it is not known exactly when he had been promoted) and CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 10^th June) for “not complying with Battalion orders, ie wearing his SD cap before 6pm”; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 28^th July) he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to the rank of Private.

Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 10^th June) was reported by A/L.Sgt. Percival John Munn (21^st June) and CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see above) as being “absent off pass” from 10.30pm; he would return to duty at 5pm the following day. On the orders of Maj. Borrow he would undergo three days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Arthur Thomas Wilford (see 21^st June), who was at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, reported sick, suffering from ‘inflamed lymph glands’; he would be admitted to one of the local hospitals and treated for ten days before being discharged to duty.

Pte. Matthew Stone (see 19^th June), who was currently under medical treatment with the RAMC (details and location unknown) was reported as “absent from billets from 9pm until 10pm whilst undergoing medical treatment”; he would be reported again the following day on a similar charge, from 11am until 8.30pm and would be ordered to undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Thomas Henry Cox (25806) (see 29^th May) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

2Lt. Archibald (Archie) Allen (see 21^st June), who had left the Battalion after suffering severe shrapnel injuries to his left arm and chest on 21^st June, was evacuated to England from Le Havre. On arrival in England he would be admitted to 1^st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham.

Pte. Percy Burrows (see 2^nd July), who had also been wounded on 21^st June, was evacuated to England from 81^st General Hospital in Marseilles, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Carisbroke Castle. On arrival in England he would be admitted to the King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London.

Pte. Albert John Start (see 16^th July), who had been posted back to England two weeks previously, was transferred to the Non Combatant Labour Corps; he would have ten days’ leave before taking up his new posting.

The Battalion War Diary noted the following honours and awards :

Italian Silver Medal for Valour to Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 23^rd July).

Italian Bronze Medal for Valour to Pte. Joseph Alfred Formby (see 19^th June 1916).

Italian Croce di Guerre to 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 21^st July) and 2Lt. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 21^st June).

The awards to Lt. Col. Lethbridge and 2Lt. Thomson are known to derive from the raid which had been conducted on 21^st June, but no details are known for the awards to 2Lt. Bain and Pte. Formby.

Casualties for the month were officially recorded as being:

Killed                                 0 (1 other rank died, not battle casualty (Pte. Alfred Baker (see 20^th July)

Accidentally killed           0

Died of wounds               0

Wounded                          5 (see 18^th July)

Accidentally wounded    0

Missing                              0

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

Killed                                   277

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  21

Wounded                       1,317

Accidentally wounded      53

Missing                               181

Tuesday 30th July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

The more relaxed conditions at Grumo allowed time for other activities. Many years later 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 26^th July) would relate to his niece and nephew how he remembered being taught to ride,

“It was somewhere about now I learnt to ride a horse and I had some rather funny adventures. I was one of several who went out each morning with the Adjutant (Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC see 27^th July) on a ride and he taught us how to hold our feet and handle the reins and so on. One morning I was riding a horse called Tommy when the Adjutant stopped his horse by a stream with very high and steep banks and by a very narrow bridge over the stream. It was really just a flattened tree trunk with small railings along each side and one or two steps led up to it from the ground on each side. When you stood on this narrow bridge you could see the water quite a little way below you – I suppose say 20 feet or so. Well, the Adjutant stopped and we all gathered round him and he tried to get his horse to go up the steps and across the bridge, but it wouldn’t. Then someone said they thought Tommy had been across. So everyone looked to see who was on Tommy and there I sat. The Adjutant said, “Come on Garside, try Tommy”. Well! My heart popped up into my mouth but of course I couldn’t show people that and I took Tommy to the front. Then I sat on his back petting him and digging him, persuading him to go up the steps. He put first one foot forward and then another and was high enough presently to see the water running there away below the bridge. His eyes rolled about and he was frightened and I knew if he shied we might both go over. But he was a good little horse and presently he was standing on the tree trunk. Very very slowly and safely he went across and I tried so hard to keep his head up, away from looking into the water. Down the steps on the other side he went. Then I turned around and the Adjutant laughed and said, “How about coming back Garside?”. But he was really very relieved and had thought it rather foolish to call me after he had done it. So when I said, “If I’m ordered to Sir”, and laughed, he laughed back and said, “All right, go back your side of the stream”. So that was that – I did. I was very glad to be so well out of it. If Tommy had taken fright on that bridge, your uncle probably wouldn’t be writing this.

Then another day I was on the same little Tommy – who wasn’t so very little really. We had ridden some way when suddenly I slipped in my seat as we cantered – the groom had not fastened the belly band properly. This startled Tommy and off he went. And off I went too, nearly, but not in the same way. Well I struggled and struggled to keep on and Tommy went all the harder. I managed to wriggle back and tried to pull on the reins and couldn’t keep my balance – and all the harder went poor old, frightened Tommy. Finally I gave it up and made a wild grab at his neck! – for I was sure I’d be off any stride. I got old Tommy round the neck and lay forward so far I could get my arms round him and slowly I dropped and dropped until I was hanging like a weight on his neck and I was about 12 stone – which was too much for Tommy. He slowed down and finally stopped – feeling, I suppose, what a stupid little horse he’d been. Oh dear I was so relieved I had to laugh and laugh for the pair of us must have looked a very funny sight”’

2Lt. Garside also recalled relations with the locals,

“By now I was learning Italian very fast and could talk quite a lot to the inhabitants who were usually very friendly. But the poorer ones were sometimes thieves and the little bambinos (children) stole the men’s puttees and so on. This grew so bad that, when one was caught by my men, they brought him to me and to frighten him I showed him a rifle and said he would be shot if he did it again. Oh how he howled and howled and howled. But he ran off and we didn’t lose any more stuff.

Sometimes when we were out we would pass Italian peasants who said ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ – ‘good evening’ in Italian is ‘buona sera’, pronounced rather like ‘bonny Sarah’. So the Tommies – not horses! – used to reply ‘bonny Mary Ann, owd lad’ to the old man who said ‘buona sera’. They used to say other funny things too in Italian. Someone might say to the Yorkshire lads in the Dukes, “Come state”, which means, “How do you do” and is pronounced rather like “Kommy starty”. So the lads used to ask the Italians in English, “Come and start me?”, and the Italians would understand, grin, and say, “Ah, bene, bene”, which means “Very well”.

Pte. George Albert Wright (see 24^th April), serving with 9^th Labour Company Labour Corps, was transferred back to 148^th Labour Company.

Pte. Cyril Hollingsworth (see 1^st July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as “absent off 9am parade until seen on 2pm parade”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for five days.

Monday 29th July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

Sgt. James Henry Howarth (see 2^nd March) was appointed ‘Sergeant Drummer’.

L.Cpl. Herman Tutty (see 15^th March) was deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to the ranks; the reason for demotion is unknown.

Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO (see 21^st June), commanding 69^th Brigade, wrote to each of his battalion commanders,

“I wish to convey to you and your battalion my admiration of the fighting spirit shown by the Brigade since I took over command. During this period each battalion has carried out a highly successful raid. The keenness, initiative and organising ability shown by Commanding Officers and subordinate officers in these raids have greatly impressed me and have convinced me that I command a Brigade second to none in the British Army. During these raids 98 prisoners have been captured, also three machine guns and very heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy. Our own casualties have been less than 60. I look on this as a very fine record, even allowing for the quality of the troops opposed to us. That the value of these raids are appreciated by the higher authorities may be gathered from the number of decorations bestowed on the Brigade by the Commander-in-Chief and the Italians. They are as follows:

Distinguished Service Order                           1

Bar to the Distinguished Service order         1

Military Cross                                                    6

Bar to the Military Cross                                 1

Distinguished Conduct Medal                        8

Military Medal                                                28

Bar to the Military Medal                               3

Second Bar to the Military Medal                 1

Italian Decorations

Silver Medal for Valour                                  7

Bronze Medal for Valour                               7

Croce di Guerra                                             15

I should be grateful if you would allow all ranks an opportunity of seeing this letter. I would have liked to have come round and spoken to them but the present weather is not suitable for inspection parades involving troops standing for any length of time in the open”.

Pte. George Bernard Hardy (see 9^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was admitted to hospital at Etaples (cause unknown).

Pte. Menhell Hudson (see 8^th March), who had been in England since November 1917, having been taken ill with rheumatic fever while serving in France with 2/6^thDWR, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

Pte. John William Camps (see 21^st October 1917), who had been in England since October 1917 having suffered severe wounds to his left leg, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

An official notice was issued of presumption of death in the case of L.Cpl. Arthur Dyson MM (see 17^th December), who had been officially missing in action since 17^th October 1917.

Sunday 28th July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

Pte. Willie Davenport Frame (see 21^st October 1917) was reported by Sgts. Wilfred Fletcher (see 17^th March) and Frank Brierley (see 23^rd July) for “not complying with an order; ie not going to bed when ordered to do so”; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 20^th July), he was to undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. William Shirtcliffe Mallinson (see 16^th December 1917) was reported by L.Cpl. William Arthur Hutchinson (see 29^th October 1917) and Pte. Willie Cowgill (see 18^th October 1917) as having been absent from his billet between 10.30pm and 11.05pm; on the orders of Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 21^st June) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Frank Easterby (see 8th July) re-joined the Battalion from the Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia.

Sgt. Charles Marsden (see 22^nd July), L.Cpl. Louis Feather MM (see 21^st December 1917) and Ptes. Francis Barrett (see 11^th June), John Thomas Damant (see 27^th March), John Gayton (see 16^th November 1917), James Grubb (see 10^th June), William Gordon Johnston (see 7^th May), William Robinson (see 11^th January 1917) and Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 6^th February) departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. Harry Duthoit (see 7^th October 1915) was admitted via South Midland Field Ambulance to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left foot; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after ten days.

Saturday 27th July 1918

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 17^th November) reported for duty with the Battalion.

It was during the stay at Grumo that a number of photographs were taken which survive from the album collected by Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 5^th July).  (Images by kind permission of Henry Bolton).

Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Hugh Wilfrid Todd (see 5^th July); 2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar (see 14^th May) and Capt. Bolton.

Battalion Adjutant, Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 4^th May), with his groom, Pte. George Douggan; he was an original member of the Battalion and had enlisted in 1914 aged 23 while living in Greengates, Bradford.

The Battalion band, including Capt. Phillips and 2Lt. Agar (seated second and fourth from left).

NCO’s of the Battalion, including CQMS Frank Stephenson (see 5^th January), seated at front.

Unidentified

Pte. Ernest Taylor (29168) (see 25^th July), who had been severely wounded two days previously while serving in France with 1^st/6^th DWR, died of his wounds at 3^rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Esquelbecq, north-west of Poperinghe. He would be buried at the adjacent military cemetery.

Pte. Dennis Waller (see 5^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Edwin Wood (see 17^th June), serving in France with 5DWR, was evacuated to England having suffered wounds to his left foot (details unknown).

Pte.  Arthur Wood (29040) (see 18^th March), also serving in France with 5DWR, was posted back to England (reason unknown). 

Pte. John Stenson (see 3^rd July) was transferred from the Regimental Depot in Halifax to Northern Command Depot at Ripon, where he was admitted to the Camp Hospital for further treatment for the shrapnel wounds he had suffered in September 1917.

Friday 26th July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

In the hill country the two billet locations were some distance apart and 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 3^rd June) recalled how, “We went off to another village built on a hillside and when we wanted to visit Battalion Headquarters we had to climb down several hundred feet … We had to begin doing nothing in the middle of the day because it was so hot – but we had to make up for it by training in the evening”.

Conditions over the next three weeks were to be very pleasant, as later remembered by Pte. Harold Charnock (see 21^st June), “Billets at Grumo were sufficiently pleasant and, owing largely to the exertions of our Divisional General, Major General Sir J M Babington, the canteen was well supplied.  The evenings were devoted to sport.  There was an excellent range nearby.  We had some cricket and very successful Battalion sport with a variety of mounted events.  An excellent Brigade Horse Show and rifle meetings were held and both were well attended and most popular.  The weather was very hot and nothing could be done between 1000 hours and 1630 hours.  Evening concerts by the band were much enjoyed”. 

Pte. Joseph Holmes (see 15^th January) was reported for being drunk and “absent off parade at 7.30pm”; he would be ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. William Hassall (see 22^nd November 1917) was awarded seven days’ Field Punishment no.2; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Pte. Herbert Bibby (see 12^th May) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance to 24^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from diahorrea.

Pte. Walter Barker (see 6^th June 1916) was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance, suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his right foot; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion two days later.

Pte. Walter Dey (see 17^th June), who was attached to a working party to Rocchetto Station, south-east of Verona, was ordered to be deprived of seven days’ pay; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Pte. James Duncan Foster (see 19^th March), serving in France with 2DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. Ernest Franklin (25969) (see 1^st July), serving at the Regimental Depot at Halifax, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Philip Pankhurst (see 18^th May), who had been in England since November 1917, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields. 

L.Cpl. Thomas Hemingway (see 5^th October 1917), who had been in hospital in Scotland since having been wounded in September 1917, was discharged from 2^nd Scottish General Hospital, Craigleath. He would be posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Frank Jowett (see 20^th April 1918), who had in England since having been wounded in April, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Pte. Edward Hogan (see 24^th June 1917), who had served with 10DWR before being transferred to the Labour Corps, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to illness; the details of his illness are unknown.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of an appeal for exemption from military service made on behalf of Thomas Earnshaw, brother of Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM (see 8^th March), who had been killed in June 1916.

SKIPTON URBAN TRIBUNAL - APPEALS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

A Patriotic Family

Representing the Governors, Mr. Algernon Dewhurst appealed on behalf of the gardener at the Skipton Girls' High School, 47 and married, Grade 2, and stated that the man had charge of two acres of land, 1,000 yards of which was kitchen garden, the produce being for the use of the school mistresses and boarders. The Governors has advertised for either a male or female gardener, but there was not a single female applicant. The man had also two allotments of 700 yards. He had lost a son in the Jutland Battle, another had been through the East African campaign and was now in France, while a third enlisted at the age of 14 when war broke out and took part in the retreat from Mons. Two brothers of applicant had also been killed. He was granted six months' exemption, not to drill.

Thursday 25th July 1918

Bergana Camp, south of Thiene.

Another evening march, this time commencing at 7pm, took the Battalion 13 miles further south west, via Molina, Malo and Priabona to billets at Cereda and Grumo, just south of Cornedo where they had been billeted in the Spring. They arrived at 2am on the 26^th; two companies would be billeted at Cereda and two at Grumo.

2Lts. Vincent Edwards MC (see 3^rd June) and Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 21^st June) were promoted Lieutenant.

Pte. Joseph Blackburn (29722) (see 8^th March 1917) was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Pte. Harry Beaumont (29306) (see 30^th October 1917) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 23^rd Division Rest Station; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his neck.

Pte. Ernest Taylor (29168) (see 7^th July), serving in France with 1^st/6^th DWR, was severely wounded in action; he suffered wounds to his back, forehead and neck and would be admitted to 3^rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Esquelbecq, north-west of Poperinghe.

Pte. John Edward Bartle MM (see 20^th December 1917), serving in France with 2^nd/4^th DWR, was wounded in action; he suffered wounds to his right arm as a result of which he would be evacuated to England.

2Lt. Leopold Henry Burrow (see 23^rd June 1918), serving at no.14 Convalescent Depot at Trouville, was promoted Lieutenant.

2Lt. Thomas Arnold Woodcock (see 6^th February), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was promoted Lieutenant.

Pte. Herbert Burgess (see 19^th June), serving in England with 29^th Durham Light Infantry, was transferred to the Royal Engineers and posted to Gosport.

A note added to file at the War Office in relation to 2Lt. Frederick Millward MC (see 18^th July), who had been severely injured during a trench raid carried out in November 1916 and had had his right leg amputated above the knee, indicated that, “this officer has been admitted to Dover House for the purpose of being fitted with an artificial limb”. ‘Dover House’ refers to Queen Mary's Convalescent Auxiliary Hospital, Dover House, Putney Park Lane, Roehampton; the property had been donated by the American financier J.P. Morgan for use as a hospital for limbless officers.

The former Battalion Chaplain, Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson MC (see 6^th July), who had been severely wounded in the attack on the Messines Ridge on 7^th June, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at Fort Matilda, Greenock. The Board found that, “This officer is still suffering from the effects of the wounds to both thighs with comminuted fracture of left femur received on active service in France on 7^th June 1917. There is a 2 ½ inch shortening of the left leg – the result of the compound, comminuted fracture of the left femur. The right sciatic nerve was also injured. This officer complains of pain over the region of this nerve, walks lame and at a slow pace. He wears a surgical boot with a raised heel”. He was declared permanently unfit for any further service, having already relinquished his commission. Rev. Henderson would take up a post as Rector of Christ Church Lanark.

Rev. Wilfred Leveson Henderson MC

Image by kind permission of Rev. Drew Sheridan

A payment of £14 3s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Frederick Boulton (see 18^th October 1917) who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, Arthur.


An increase was authorised in the pension award made in the case of the late Pte. Richard Field (see 3^rd December 1917), who had been killed in May 1917; his widow, Minnie, was to be paid £1 11s. 3d. per week in place of the 18s. 9d. she had received hitherto.

Wednesday 24th July 1918

Billets at San Fortunato, just south of Fara.

With the weather now blisteringly hot, the Battalion’s march was again delayed until the cooler conditions of the evening. Starting out at 8pm they marched six miles south west to Bergana Camp, one mile south of Thiene, arriving there at 11.45pm.

Pte. Joseph Henry Haywood (see 7^th May) was reported by Sgts. Percy James Dawson (see 5^th July 1916; it is not known when he had been promoted) and James Robinson (see 22^nd April) as being “absent off 9am parade”; on the orders of Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 15^th June) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see 18^th July) was discharged from 39^th Casualty Clearing Station and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Vernon Barker (see 16^th July) was discharged from 24^th Casualty Clearing Station and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.
Pte. Tom Feather MM (see 16^th August 1917) died of wounds; he had been wounded while serving in France with 5DWR and would be buried at Sezanne Communal Cemetery, east of Paris. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when, or under what circumstances, he had left 10DWR.

Lt. Cyril William Wildy (see 21^st June), who had been accepted for transfer to the Signal Service, Royal Engineers was posted to England to join an officer training class at the Signal Service Training Centre in Bedford. Prior to his departure he had spent some time (details unknown) with 23^rd Division Signal Company.

CSM Edward George John Cooke (see 15^th March), serving with 3DWR, was posted back to France; he was originally to have re-joined 10DWR but would instead remain at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, awaiting posting.

A payment of £13 13s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harold Dale (see 11^th April) who had been killed in action on 11^th April; the payment would be divided equally (in shares of £2 5s. 8d.) between his mother, Mary; two brothers, William and George; two unmarried sisters, Martha and Lily; and married sister, Edith Ackroyd. His mother would also receive his identity disc, which was the only surviving item of personal property.

A further payment of 3s. 7d. was made in respect of the pay and allowances due to the late Pte. Arthur Hird (see 1^st April), who had died of wounds on 22^nd September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Margaret.

Tuesday 23rd July 1918

Huts at Granezza.

Starting out at 4.30am on account of the hot weather, the Battalion marched eight miles south, descending from the plateau, via Sciessere, Campana, Lusiana and Velo to San Fortunato, just south of Fara, where they arrived at 9am. The remainder of the day was spent resting.

Ptes. James Butterworth (see 25^th April) and John Newton (see 25^th May) were reported by Sgt. Frank Brierley (see 7^th May), Cpl. Stanley Vyvyan Golledge (see 26^th May), Pte. William Arthur Birch Machin (see 8^th September 1917) and Pte. Albert Reynolds (see 15^th May) as being “absent from roll call at 9pm until reporting at 9.20pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 21^st July) they were to be confined to barracks for 14 days.

L.Sgt. Albert Hoggarth (see 8^th June) was promoted Sergeant and Lewis Gun Instructor.

Pte. Herbert Crowther Kershaw (see 15^th July), who had suffered an accidental injury eight days’ previously, was discharged from 23^rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion.

Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 25^th April), serving in France as Brigade Major to 11^th Infantry Brigade, departed for England on two weeks’ leave; he would be married the following day, in London, to Marjorie Elizabeth Richie.

2Lt. Conrad Anderson, (see 30^th November 1917), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at Tynemouth. The Board reported that, “about a year ago he began to complain of undue fatigue on exertion and occasional giddiness” but found that, “This officer has no disability in the opinion of the Board; he is perfectly sound and shows no sign of disease or illness”. He was instructed to re-join his unit.

Following two weeks’ treatment for malaria, Pte. James Wilson (see 12^th July) was discharged from the Military Hospital in Lancaster and posted to 728^th Employment Company, based at Hitchin, Herts..


A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. Luke Dawson (see 21^st January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his mother, Sarah, was awarded 10s. 6d. per week.

Sgt.Luke Dawson (standing right).

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Henry Percival Widdop (see 3^rd April), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his father, Edwin, was awarded 3s. 6d. per week.

Monday 22nd July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

In the evening the Battalion was relieved by 7^th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and marched back to huts at Granezza.

Drill uniforms and sun helmets were issued to the Battalion in anticipation of the hot weather which they would encounter on descending from the plateau.

Sgt. Charles Marsden (see 18^th February) relinquished his appointment as Pioneer Sergeant.

Pte. Alfred Ellis (see 29^th June) was admitted via 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to 11^th General Hospital in Genoa; he was suffering from impetigo.

Pte. Frederick Sharp (see 26^th May) was discharged from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. James Pidgeley (see 2^nd July) who had been wounded on 21^st June, was transferred from 81^st General Hospital in Marseilles to 16^th Convalescent Depot, also at Marseilles.

Pte. Herbert Newton (see 8^th May), serving in France with 5DWR, was reported missing in action.

Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 25^th April), serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR, was appointed Lance Corporal.

Sunday 21st July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

Pte. Norman Greenwood (17998) (see 10^th July) was reported by CQMS Hubert Charles Hoyle (see 5^th May) for “damaging by neglect one khaki drill tunic”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 13^th June) he was to pay for the damaged tunic.

2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 6^th July) and Ptes. William Belcher (see 5^th October 1917), John Bundy (see 7^th January), Ernest Reeve (25923) (see 27^th March), Albert Smith (25953) (see 29^th October 1917)  and Joseph Wilkinson (see 26th March) departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Pte. Edward Henry Chant (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from pleurisy.

Just four days after re-joining the Battalion, Pte. Reginald Dayson (see 9^th July) was re-admitted to hospital, again suffering from diarrhoea; on this occasion he was admitted via South Midland Field Ambulance to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station.

Pte. James William Kershaw MM (see 17^th December 1917) was admitted via South Midland Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to Cremona.

Saturday 20th July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

Pte. Walter William Ford (see 29^th October 1917) departed on seven days’ leave to Lake Garda.

Sgt. Lionel Vickers (see 20^th June) was admitted to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from a recurrence of the injury to his his knee which he had suffered whilst playing football in February; he would be discharged to duty after two days.

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 24^th April) was reported for “being absent from billets and stating a falsehood to the Military Police”; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 5^th July) he would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Herbert Jacklin (see 1^st July), who had been wounded on 21^st June, was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia. 

Pte. Horace Trinder (see 27^th June), serving in France with 2^nd/4^th DWR, was wounded in action, suffering shrapnel wounds to his right buttock; he would be admitted to 12^th General Hospital at Rouen and would be posted back to England on 27^th July. 

Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 10^th July), who had been in detention at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, appeared before a District Court Martial; he was charged with ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ (details unspecified) and also with ‘when under arrest, escaping’. He would be found guilty on both charges but was orered simply to be reduced to the ranks and suffered no further punishment.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 30^th March) was examined by the Medical Officer at the Officer’s Command Depot at Eastbourne, where Hulburd had been serving in the Orderly Room. The official report of his examination requested that Hulburd should be re-examined by an Army Medical Board with a view to his being classified as category Cii. Under this category he would be regarded as fit for garrison duty at home, being “free from serious organic diseases; able to walk 5 miles, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes”.

A request was made for Maj. Harry Robert Hildyard (see 1^st May) to be posted to Northern Command to undertake one month’s training in Assistant Provost duties. After some debate, authorisation was given for Hildyard to be posted as “there is no serving officer available in Northern Command and … it is desired to remove the Assistant to another area in this Command and no other officer, except Major Hildyard, is available to replace him”.

Esther Mary Heap, aged 59, died at home in Halifax as a result of ‘cardiac disease and bronchitis’; she was the mother of Pte. Fred Heap (see 29^th May).

The Halifax Weekley Courier reported news of the death of Pte. Alfred Baker (see 7^th July);

Private A. Baker (13230), WRR, who lived at 32 Victoria Street, Haley Hill, died suddenly during the night of July 6-7, the supposed cause of death being heart failure. Major W.N. Town with the Italian Expeditionary Force, has written to Mrs. Baker under date July 8. He states: “Your husband was going about apparently in his usual state of health on Saturday 6^th and was seen to come into camp about 9pm, and go to his tent. There was only one other man living in the tent and he was out on a working party that evening, and did not return until 2am. He went into the tent and laid down without making a light. On the morning of the 7^th he woke about 7 o’clock and tried to wake Pte. Baker.  He was unable to do so and called another man. They found he was dead. A doctor was called but was unable to state definitely the cause of death. He had apparently laid down just as he came in, as he was still wearing his equipment and box respirator. He was lying on his right side with his chest towards the ground, as though he had felt unwell and thrown himself down. It looked as if it was a case of heart failure or a fit”.

Friday 19th July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

Pte. Harry Robinson (see 18^th July), who had been wounded the previous day, died of his wounds at 24^th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at the nearby Cavaletto British Cemetery.

Pte. Walter James Biddle (see 15^th June) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia, suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) in his right buttock and thigh.   

Pte. Arthur Walton (see 3^rd July) was transferred from 11^th General Hospital in Genoa to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles.

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 6^th July) serving in France with 54^th Company, Labour Corps, was discharged from hospital following two weeks’ treatment for “P.U.O” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin).

Lt. John Keighley Snowden (see 1^st July 1917), serving in England with 3DWR, was appointed an “assistant instructor with a British Military Mission” (details unknown).

A grant of probate was issued in the case of the late Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 17^th March); his estate was valued at £2,994 15s. and probate was awarded to his mother Angelina and his brother Adeodata.

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira

Thursday 18th July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

Five men were wounded by Austrian shelling. Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see 5^th June) suffered shrapnel wounds to his neck and would be admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station. Pte. Harry Robinson (see 23^rd February) suffered multiple shrapnel wounds and would be evacuated to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station at Cavalletto, where a major operation would be carried out, involving surgery to his chest and abdomen. Pte. John Chadwick Taylor (see 16^th December 1917) was also wounded; he suffered shrapnel wounds to his right buttock and would be admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona.

Pte. Richard Metcalfe (see 21^st April), who was on attachment to the Royal Engineers, was ordered to be confined to barracks for two days; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Pte. Sidney Powdrill (see 23^rd June) was discharged from 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona, after suffering from influenza, and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 9^th June), serving in France with 2DWR, was wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds to his leg; the details of his treatment are unknown.

Pte. Michael Hopkins MM (see 17^th June), serving with 29^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, returned to France. 

Sgt. Rennie Hirst (see 25^th March), serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Capt. Herbert Sparling MC (see 28^th January), who had been severely wounded on 18^th October 1917, having his left leg amputated below the knee, appeared before a further Army Medical Board. The Board extended his current leave for a further three months and noted that he was “awaiting admission to Roehampton”; Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton was a specialist centre for the fitting of prosthetic limbs. 

The War Office wrote in reply to the recent letter from 2Lt. Frederick Millward MC (see 27^th June), who had been severely injured during a trench raid carried out in November 1916 and had had his right leg amputated above the knee. Millward had written enquiring about any additional financial assistance for which he might be eligible. The reply stated that, “I am directed to inform you that the £250 wound gratuity you were awarded is the maximum amount issuable under the regulations to an officer of your rank for loss of a limb. Your application for an artificial leg has been passed to the Ministry of Pensions, from whom you will hear in due course”.

Wednesday 17th July 1918

Front line trenches north-west of Mount Kaberlaba.

Pte. James Frederick Palmer (see 16^th January 1917) suffered an accidental injury to his left foot while delivering water to the front line near Mount Kaberlaba. Palmer himself declared that, “I was going with a pack mule to the front line carrying water. As I was going along the mule track I lost my footing on a rock. This happened about 5pm.” There were no direct witnesses to the accident but Pte. Henry Lindley Harvey (see below) confirmed that, “I was going up the mule track at 5.15pm and found Pte. Palmer sitting down on the side of the track. He complained about his foot being bad, saying he had caught his foot on a rock coming down the track”. It is not clear what medical treatment Palmer received.

Pte. Henry Lindley Harvey was 19 years old and from Doncaster; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when he had joined 10DWR.

Pte. Alfred Charles Dolphin (see 17^th June) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 29^th Casualty Clearing Station to 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to his left hand.

Pte. Albert Edward White (see 8^th July), who had been wounded on 15^th June, was transferred from  81^st General Hospital in Marseilles to 16^th Convalescent Depot, also in Marseilles.

Pte. William Baxter (see 15^th July), serving with 17^th Prisoner of War Company, was placed under arrest to await trial by Field General Court Martial. He would be charged with, “Quitting his post as escort without permission; drunkenness; escaping when in confinement”. At his trial on 29^th July he would be found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour (although nine months of the sentence would be remitted). A month later he would be admitted to no.1 Military prison in Rouen.
Lt. Robert Oswald Milligan (see 21^st June 1917), who had suffered severe injuries to his left arm on 7^th June 1917, was finally discharged from hospital following more than a year’s treatment. The details of his treatment and posting after discharge are unknown.

A payment of £2 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Luther Pickles (see 4^th February) who had been officially posted as missing in action since 7^th June 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Lily.