Thursday 17th October 1918

Billets in Noale and Stigliano.

Major General Sir James Melville Babington, who had commanded 23^rd Division since its creation, left the Division to take command of XIV Corps. He was temporarily replaced by Brigadier General J. Byron. 

Pte. Joseph Hadley (see 12^th October) was reported by 2Lt. Edwin Everingham Ison (see 23^rd August)  and Sgt. James Walker MM (see 12^th October) for “having a dirty rifle and bayonet on parade; hesitating to comply with an order, ie hesitating to clean rifle and bayonet when ordered to do so”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 16^th October) he would undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. John William Procter (see 24^th September) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Ptes. Joseph Barnes (see 4^th August) and Albert Edward Victor Harris (see 9^th June) were both admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue). In Barnes’ case to his feet, and for Harris to his knee; both would be treated for a week before returning to duty.

Pte. John Charles Clarke (see 9^th July) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to 11^th General Hospital in Genoa, suffering from influenza.

Pte. Joseph Hartley (see 20^th June) departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Cpl. Mark Butler (see 1^st October) and Pte. John Cronin (see 6^th October) were posted from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro, near Genoa to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. James Young McDonald (see 16^th March), serving in France with 5DWR, was reported wounded, suffering from gas poisoning; he would be evacuated to England eight days later, but the details of his treatment are unknown. 

A further medical report on the condition of Pte. Walter Eary (see 5^th October), who was being treated for a laryngeal tumour at Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancs., noted that “larynx involved; will probably require tracheotomy later”.

Pte. Albert Drake (see 10^th November 1917), who had been in England for almost a year after suffering from ‘neurasthnia’ (shell shock), was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

A payment of £5 7s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Leonard Mustill (see 23^rd June), who had died of wounds on 23^rd June; the payment would go to his mother, Mary Ann.