Friday 4th October 1918

Billets in Creazzo.

Training continued.

Pte. William Edmond Smith (see 1^st April) was reported by Pte. George Wheatley (see 23^rd June), Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 23^rd September) and Capt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 20^th September) for ‘not complying with an order’ and being ‘absent off parade’; on the orders of Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 3^rd October) he would be confined to barracks for seven days. 

Pte. Percival William Hall (see 24^th August), serving at XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia, was posted for duty at the GHQ Scouting School, also based at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Richard Henry Harris (see 7^th September), who had suffered a wound to his left hand on 26^th August, was transferred from 81^st Stationary Hospital in Marseilles to 16^th Convalescent Depot, also in Marseilles.

Pte. Frederick McKell (see 11^th June) was discharged from the Camp Hospital at Northern Command Depot, Ripon and posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

L.Cpl. Alfred Edward Wybrow MM (see 18^th September), serving at the Regimental Depot in Halifax, was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

Having failed to report for duty with 3DWR on the expiry of his one week leave, Pte. John Stenson (see 27^th September) was formally reported as having deserted.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 24^th September), who had recently been re-classified as category Cii, wrote to the War Office confirming that he wished to apply for “No particular work. I feel I can do any light work, not wholly of a sedentary nature”.

A further medical report was added on the condition of L.Cpl. Dennis Waller MM (see 28^th September), who had been severely wounded in action on 8^th August while serving in serving in France with 2DWR, suffering a compound fracture of his left femur. He was being treated at Edmonton General Military Hospital, where it was noted that, “General condition satisfactory; temperature unsettled; shortening (of left leg) 1½cm”.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of the death of Pte. Walter Limmer (see 12^th September), who had died of wounds on 12^th September.

GRASSINGTON FAMILY'S SACRIFICE - FOUR SONS: TWO KILLED, ONE WOUNDED

It is with deep sympathy and regret that we report the death in action of Private Walter Limmer, the youngest son of Mrs. Limmer, Grassington, and the second to fall in action. Another brother is wounded in hospital, and one is serving in France. Pte. Limmer enlisted in September 1914, went out to France in August 1915, and was transferred to Italy in November of last year. He came home on leave on August 10th in the best of health. He was a fine type of manhood. He was married whilst at home and much sympathy is extended to his young wife. He had acted as officer's servant, and in a letter to his wife his officer says the sad event took place on September 11^th while serving with the British Expeditionary Force in Italy.

The letter adds:- "I write on behalf of No. 4 Platoon and myself to express my deep sympathy in your great bereavement. I personally feel the loss very much, as perhaps you know he has been my batman for some months now, and consequently we have been much together in the trenches, and naturally got to know each other very well. We had just moved to a new camp on the 11^th , and your husband had only reported an hour before to me from leave. He had just finished tea when a shell came over that gave us no chance, and burst in the midst of us. Walter, I found, was badly wounded in his head. We immediately dressed his wounds and rushed off to the doctor, but I don't think he ever regained consciousness until the following day, when he died at 4-30; at any rate he did not suffer any pain. I assure you we all miss him very much because he was always cheerful and willing to do anything I asked of him. You will be glad to know that he is buried in a very pretty cemetery in a pine wood. We have made a very nice cross for his grave. Be assured his resting place will be looked after as far as we are able. Yours very truly, G.C. Sugden.

Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Lethbridge, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, writes very appreciatively of the deceased soldier, and says:- "He was a good and a gallant soldier, and it is particularly sad that he should have been hit just after returning from leave. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of myself and all my fellow officers in your terrible bereavement. Your consolation must be that your husband died doing his duty for his King and Country."

In another letter a pal says:- "He was always one of the cheeriest, best and bravest - an example of what a really good soldier should be. The regiment can ill afford to lose men of his type.

There were also reports of memorial services which had recently been held to remember, among others, Pte. Albert Christopher Benson (see 29^th September), and 2Lt. Harley Bentham (see 29^th September).

COWLING

A Memorial Service was held on Sunday morning at the Cowling Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar, to the memory of the late Signaller A.C. Benson and Corporal James Binns, both of whom have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.

HELLIFIELD - Memorial Service

A service in memory of the late Second-Lieutenant H. Bentham, whose death was reported last week, was held in the Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday evening. A large congregation included the local members of the 6th West Riding Cadets, in charge of Lieuts.H. Bilton and T. Holmes. The service was conducted by Mr. J.V. Harger, of Settle, who paid a glowing tribute to the deceased officer's character, and made sympathetic reference to the bereaved. Special hymns were sung, and at the close the 'Dead March' in 'Saul' was played by the organist, Miss A. Thompson. The 'Last Post' was sounded by Lieut. Bilton.

There was also a brief report regarding Pte. William Watson (see 21^st September 1914), who had recently been home on leave.

“Pte. W. Watson, Duke of Wellington’s Regt., after spending a furlough with his parents in West Bradford, returned en route for Italy on Wednesday”.