Monday 18th November 1918

In billets and tents at San Giovanni Ilarione.

Pte. Harold Wall (see 16^th November) appeared before a Field General Court Martial on a charge of “writing an officer’s name on an envelope addressed to England with intent to deceive the censor”. He was found guilty and ordered to undergo 42 days’ Field Punishment no.1. However, on review by Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO (see 1^st September), commanding 69^th Brigade, his sentence would be commuted to forfeiture of 42 days’ pay.

L.Cpl. William Henry Luke (see 6^th August) relinquished his appointment as Lance Corporal “at his own request” and reverted to Private.

Pte. John Starling (see 9^th September) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from inflammation to his right shoulder; he would return to duty after five days.

Ptes. Edward Henry Chant (see 15^th November) and William Naylor (see 6^th November) were discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. William James Nunn (see 12^th October) was discharged from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. Walter Eary (see 2^nd November), who was being treated for a laryngeal tumour, died at East Leeds War Hospital at 6.30pm. His medical notes recorded that since admission two weeks’ previously he had, “suffered from increasing frailty. Cause of death not due to, but aggravated by, active service”. He would be buried at Leeds General Cemetery, but the cemetery would be closed in 1969 and the First World war casulaties still buried there are now remembered on a memorial at Leeds (Lawnswood) Cemetery.

Pte. Henry Charles Lindsay (see 10^th October), who was serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported absent off his final leave pass; he would report at 8.30am on 20^th November and would be ordered to undergo four days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd (see 4^th October) was attached to the Ministry of Labour and was to attend a course in forestry at the Officers University and Technical Classes in Oxford.

Lt. George Stuart Hulburd

Image by kind permission of Paddy Ireland

Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 10^th May), who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service, appeared before a further Army Medical Board. The Board found that, “complains of dyspnoea; slight cough; lost flesh; right chest flattened and deficient in expansion; chest measures 32”-33”; weight 8st. 5lbs.”. He was confirmed as permanently unfit and to remain in a convalescent hospital. His pension of 27s. 6d. per week was extended for a further six months, at the expiry of which he was to be re-examined.

At home in Huddersfield, Mrs. Ruth Ann Taylor, wife of Joseph Barber Taylor (see 12^th November) died, aged 30; her cause of death was stated as being influenza and broncho-pneumonia”. She was the mother of four children, the youngest of whom was only 14 months old.

A payment of £13 15s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Sgt. Charles Robert Scarber (see 9^th September), who had died from pneumonia on 9^th September; the payment would go to his mother, Mary Anne.

The Hobart Mercury reported news of the death of Lt. Col. Ashton Alexander St. Hill DSO (see 27^th October), C.O., 11^th Northumberland Fusiliers, who had been in temporary command of 10DWR in February 1917.

“A cable message which has been received by relatives in Tasmania announces that Colonel Ashton A. St Hill, DS0 son of the late Colonel W. H. St Hill a former commander of Tasmanian forces was killed in action on the Italian Front on October 27.  Colonel Ashton St Hill was in command of the 11th Norlhumberland Fusiliers. He was well known in Hobart where he was connected with the old Southern Tasmanian Artillery. He was born in India in 1872 and entered the Imperial Army in 1896.  He saw action in the last Ashantee campaign and was also in numerous Indian frontier bouts.
He went to Tibet with General Younghusband.  In the present war he was first on the French front and was transferred to the Italian front. In addition to the DSO Colonel Ashton St Hill had received the Croix de Guerre and had been recommended for the French Legion of Honour. He married a couple of years ago Miss Lilian Carr, daughter of Mr. A.  B Carr of Rose Bay Sydney. She was attached to a Red Cross organisation in Italy and was close up to the fighting line all the time”.