Thursday 5th December 1918

Billets at Arzignano

Cpl. George Alma Cook (see 25^th May) was promoted Lance Sergeant.

Ptes. Edward Henry Chant (see 18^th November) and Josiah Charles (see 20^th November) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Pte. William Andrew Leiper Long (see 12^th July 1917) was reported by Sgt. Bob Maunders (see 22^nd November) as having a ‘dirty rifle on 8.30am parade’; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 2^nd December) he would be confined to barracks for five days.

Pte. John Henshall (see 26^th November), who had spent the previous ten days in hospital while serving in India with 1DWR, was transferred to hospital in Rawalpindi; he had originally been treated for ‘headache’ and a high temperature, but was now re-dagnosed as suffering from sepsis arising from the wound he had had suffered in July 1916.

Pte. James Kilburn (see 13^th November), who had been absent without leave 3DWR at North Shields since 13^th November, reported back to his Battalion. He would be ordered to undergo 23 days’ detention and to forfeit 23 days’ pay.

Pte. John Stenson (see 23^rd November), who had been under arrest awaiting trial by court martial as a deserter from 3DWR, signed a confession as to his being guilty of the offence of desertion. As a consequence the trial was dispensed with and it was ordered simply that, “all prior service should be forfeited; service now reckons from 5^th December 1918”. However, Stenson suffered no further punishment.

Lt. Harold Lockhart Waite (see 9^th October), serving with the RAF, was declared permanently unfit for General Service, but fit for Home Service, with flying.

A second payment, of £8 12s. 8d. was authorised, being a further amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John Richard Newell (see 16^th November), who had died from influenza on 8^th August; the payment would go to his widow, Caroline, but specifically for the benefit of James, the youngest of their three sons. 

The London Gazette published official notice of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see 26^th August 1918), awarded for his conduct during the trench raid on 26^th August: ““After two officers of his Company had been wounded he led two platoons through heavy fire against a strongly held position. He was subsequently badly wounded but refused to be carried back until the signal to return had been given. He showed great coolness and initiative throughout”.