Monday 19th August 1918

Front line trenches between Roncalto and Pelly Cross.

The Brigade War Diary noted that, “Information received from various sources pointed to a withdrawal of the enemy. Vigorous patrolling was carried out. Two prisoners were obtained by 10^th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment”.

Pte. John Bayliss (see 20th September 1917) was reported 2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 28^th February) for being asleep whilst on sentry duty. This was a serious offence which could potentially carry a death penalty, though this was seldom enforced. He would be held in confinement awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial.

Pte. Walter Eary (see 10^th June) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from tonsillitis.

Pte. John William Dean (see 16^th August 1917), serving in France with 2/5^th DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave; whilst in England his leave would then be extended for a further week (reason unknown).  

Pte. Walter Limmer (see 11^th August), home on leave, married Alice Wade at Skipton Register Office.

At 11.55pm Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 2^nd July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was again reported absent off final leave; he would return to duty at 4.40pm the following day having been ordered to do so by the Military Police in Newcastle. He would be ordered to undergo two days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Frank Butler (see 24^th December 1915) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service (details unknown). He had originally served with 10DWR but had been transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and subsequently (dates and details unknown) to the Army Reserve Class W, to resume his civil employment. He would be assessed as having suffered a 20% disability whilst in service and would be awarded an Army pension of 10s. per week.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 30^th June), who had recently relinquished his commission having been severely wounded while serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds. The Board reported that 2Lt. Oldfield, “was transferred to this hospital from 2^nd London General, Chelsea, May 25^th 1918. Xray shows loss of tissue to the extent of 4 cms in right lower jaw. Maxillary cap splints have been fixed. Mastication is good with these. A special appliance will be necessary. There is no possibility of bony union. The arm is improving. He is totally blind. General health good”. It was determined that he was to remain in hospital and was to be re-examined in two months’ time.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

George Julian, father of Pte. Arthur Julian (see 21st May 1918) who had been officially reported missing in action in July 1916, wrote to the Dukes Regimental Depot in Halifax, hoping for news of his son

“We have recently seen it announced in the newspapers by a Sgt. Mallett of Bradford that there is a Sgt. Julian, an unwounded prisoner of war at Porchim, Germany. We have a son, Pte. Arthur Julian, 19278, who was reported missing on July 30/16. We have wondered whether there is any connection. So far as we know our son was a private when he went into action, but may have been given a sergeant’s uniform by the Germans afterwards as a makeshift if he is still alive. We are trying to get in touch with Sgt. Mallett. In the meantime would it be too much trouble for you to refer to your records and let us know whether there is a Sgt. Julian missing from the West Ridings. If there is, then our hopes are again dashed to the ground. Can you render any assistance such as following up the clue please? If not, what office should we apply to?” The official reply, via the Infantry Records Office in York, would inform Mr. Julian that had his son been a prisoner in German hands, then news of his fate would have been passed to him by now and that, regretfully, they were unable to offer any further assistance.

Pte. Arthur Julian