Sunday 5th January 1919

Billets at Grumolo and Montecchia di Crosara

According to the Brigade War Diary, “Units of the Brigade carried out training during the mornings from 9am until 12 noon. The afternoons were devoted to recreational training. Owing to frequent rain the Training Grounds and Ranges were often flooded and training greatly hampered”.

Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 22^nd September 1918) re-joined the Battalion having spent the previous three months on a senior officer’s course in England; returning with him was his servant, Pte. James Albert Garbutt (see 22^nd September 1918).

Ptes. Frank Dunn (see 18^th August 1918), Joseph Hadley (see 11^th December 1918) and George Mather (see 11^th December 1918) were reported by CSM Ernest James Odell (see 11^th August 1918) and Cpl. Martin Reddington (see 26^th December 1918) as having been “absent off 10.25am parade”; on the orders of Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 3^rd January) all would be confined to barracks for five days. 

Ptes. George William Ball (see 11^th December 1918) and Richard Henry Harris (see 3^rd December 1918) were posted from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia to join 512^th Prisoner of War Company, also based at Arquata Scrivia. Pte. William Ryan (see 13^th November 1918) also joined the same Company; he had been discharged from 16^th Convalescent Depot in Marseilles.

L.Cpl. William Arthur Hutchinson (see 29^th October 1918), who had had his left leg amputated as a result of wounds suffered on 29^th October 1918, was evacuated to England; the details of his medical treatment are unknown.

Pte. Albert Smith (25953) (see 2^nd January) underwent a medical examination at Chisledon Camp, Wilts., prior to being demobilized. He stated that he was suffering from “rheumatism which began in October 1918 through exposure”. On medical examination it was reported that, “Claims to have pain in right shoulder and inability to completely raise right arm. States that he reported sick but was not sent to hospital. In appearance shoulder is normal; little or nothing can be discerned by me to account for the pain. There is some resistance (minimal) to raising the arm above a right angle. No grating in joint; no tenderness on manipulation”. No further examination is recorded and Pte. Smith would be discharged as fit.

Lt. Arthur Poynder Garratt (see 21^st April 1918), serving with the Machine Gun Corps, was formally released from the army from the Dispersal Centre at Wimbledon.