Sunday 12th January 1919

Billets at Grumolo and Montecchia di Crosara

It appears to have been around mid to late January, although the exact date cannot be confirmed, that a series of photographs were taken at Montecchia. Two of the photographs survive amongst the collection of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 17^th December 1918)  and two others have been obtained independently.

One image was captioned by Capt. Bolton as “Sgts of A Coy 10 DofW at Montecchia di Crosara” and has seven of the eight men identified as (standing) ‘Vickers, Nichols, Exley, Hoggarth’ (seated) ‘Maunders, Odell, Briggs’. The eighth man (standing to the right) is not named by Capt. Bolton. The identities of Sgts. Lionel Vickers (see 6^th November 1918), Willie Nichols (see 1^st December 1918), Sydney Alec Exley (see 23^rd May 1918; it is not known when he had been promoted), Albert Hoggarth (see 20^th November 1918), Bob Maunders (see 5th December 1918) and CSM Ernest James Odell (see 5^th January) are quite clear. However, I am unable to identify any ‘Sgt. Briggs’ as serving with 10DWR at this time. I believe the eight (unnamed) man to be Sgt. James Walker MM (see 6^th January).

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

All eight of these men also feature in a second photograph, captioned by Capt. Bolton as, “Senior NCO’s 10^th DofW Regt. at Montecchia di Crosara, Feb. (sic.) 1919”. This group photograph is clearly taken outside the church in Montecchia. Also among those identified in this photograph are RSM Charles Edward Parker, DCM, MM (see 14^th December 1918) and RQMS Frank Stephenson (see 27^th November 1918) (seated fourth and fifth from the left respectively). These two are flanked by the four Company Segeant Majors, three of whom I believe to be, second left, A/CSM Middleton Busfield MSM (see 7^th January) (note the medal ribbon of the Meritorious Service Medal, but also the absence of CSM sleeve badge, as he held the rank on an acting basis); third left, CSM Odell (see above); and seventh left, CSM Alfred Dolding (see 23^rd December 1918) (note the wound stripe on the lower left sleeve). The remaining men are, as yet, unidentified. 

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

In addition to these two photographs, copies of two further images have been identified, taken in the same location and presumably on the same day. These appear to show the men of two companies, assembled ahead of the increasing departure of men for demobilization.

The first image is clearly ‘A’ Company, as the eight sergeants identified by Capt. Bolton are seated across the front row, together with RQMS Stephenson (see above), who had been CQMS to ‘A’ Company prior to being promoted to his regimental post. I believe the two officers to be, on the left, 2Lt. Albert Joseph Acarnley MC (see 26^th October 1918) and, on the right, Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 5^th January). The remaining men are, as yet, unidentified.

The second image, I believe to be ‘B’ Company, with Capt. Henry Kelly VC, MC (see 31st October 1918), seated five from the left, and CSM Busfield, seated third left. The other officers seated along the front row I believe to be from fourth left, 2Lt. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson MC (see 2^nd December 1918) (note the Military Cross ribbon), Capt. Kelly (see above), Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 6^th January), Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 6^th January), Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 6^th January), Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 6^th January), and two, as yet unidentified officers.

Pte. Walter James Biddle (see 22^nd November 1918) was discharged from hospital (details unknown) in Marseilles and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.   

Pte. Fred Teal (see 8^th December 1918), who was on leave in England, was officially struck off the strength of 10DWR.