Tuesday 1st April 1919

The cadre of the Battalion continued their train journey across France, travelling via Malesherbes and reaching Juvisy-sur-Orge, just south of Paris.

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 6^th March), was discharged from 2^nd General Hospital at Le Havre and re-posted to Italy; he would arrive at the GHQ Concentration Camp at Tavernelle one week later.

Pte. John William Addison (see 22^nd March) was discharged from Keighley War Hospital and demobilized. 

Pte. John William Mallinson (see 11^th February), on attachment to 151^st Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps, was officially struck off the strength of his unit and posted to Newcastle for demobilization. The unexpired portion of the sentence of imprisonment which had been imposed on him whilst serving with 10DWR was now formally remitted.

Lt. Ernest Cyril Coke (see 18^th December 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally released from the Army, with the formalities completed at no.1 Dispersal Unit at Crystal Palace. Lt. Coke’s address on discharge would be Enfield Lodge, Christchurch Road, Folkestone. He would return to his pre-war occupation as a civil engineer.

Pte. Edgar Baron (see 1^st March) was released from active service; having originally enlisted on a Territorial Force attestation, he was recorded as having been ‘disembodied’, rather than transferred to Class Z.

Pte. Wilfred Barrett (see 20^th September 1917) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Ernest Bottom was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. He was 31 years old and from Huddersfield, where, before enlisting in 1916, he had worked as a chocolate maker. He had originally served with 2DWR before being transferred to 10DWR and had, at some point (date and details unknown) suffered wounds to his back. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish more detail of his service beyond the fact that he had still been serving with 10DWR in Italy in February 1919.

Pte. Harry Martin (see 25^th October 1915), who had been serving with the ASC, was also transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Charles Smith (12380) (see 26^th June 1918), serving in England with the Royal Defence Corps, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was assessed as having suffered a 50% disability on account of the wounds he had suffered in July 1916 and was awarded an Army pension of 13s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Eber Casson Sykes (see 2^nd March), who had been serving in France with 298^th Reserve Labour Company, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. Having been wounded in July 1916, he was awarded an Army pension of 5s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

A payment of £6 3s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Thomas Henry Hemingway (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Ann.

A payment of £33 18s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £24 10s.) to the late Pte. Squire Topham; (see 27^th December 1918), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his father, Edward.

Monday 31st March 1919

The cadre of the Battalion continued their train journey towards England, travelling via Modane and Montmelian to reach Saint Germain au Mont d’Or, north of Lyons.

Sgts. John William Binks (see 19^th October 1918) and Harold Howlett (see 1^st March) and Ptes. Frank Dunn (see 1^st March), Bertram Edwin Earney (see 1^st March) and Charles Henry Russell (see 1^st March) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Ernest Thorn (see 25^th February), who had been serving in France with 1^st/7^thDWR, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. George Clegg (see 1^st January 1918) who had been repatriated to England in January having been taken prisoner in July 1916, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. Charles Robert Scarber (see 18^th November 1918), who had died from pneumonia in September 1918; his mother, Mary Anne, was awarded 8s. per week.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Walter Limmer (see 6^th February), who had died of wounds in September 1918; his widow, Alice, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Pte. Walter Limmer

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Sunday 30th March 1919

Tavernelle

The cadre of the Battalion entrained at Tavernelle to begin their journey to England; the first days’ travelling took them via Voghera and Alessandria to Turin. 

Ptes. James Henry Lomax (see 4^th March), Walter Gee Wardley (see 18^th February) and William Herbert Websdale (see 18^th February), serving in Fiume with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Lt. Eric John Lassen (see 28^th August 1918), who had briefly served with the Battalion in May/June 1916, formally relinquished his commission.

Sgt. James Henry Howarth (see 1^st March), L.Cpl. Horace Dunn (see 28^th February) and Ptes. Harry Bailey (14133) (see 1^st March), Mortimer Banks (see 1^st March), Thomas Butler (see 31^st January), Fred Wilson Fawcett (see 1^st March), Joe Mallinson Lancaster (see 24^th September 1918), Richard Metcalfe (see 1^st March), Fred Morrell (see 1^st March), William Francis Murphy (see 2th January), John Smallwood (see 28^th November 1918) and John Edward Smith (12299) (see 11^th June 1918)  were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A/Sgt. Thomas Anthony Swale (see 26^th January), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Saturday 29th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. Thomas Henry Cox (25806) (see 29^th September 1918) was posted to 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio.

The cadre of the Battalion proceeded to the Concentration Camp at Tavernelle to entrain for Le Havre from where they would return to England. The officers of the cadre were Maj. William Norman Town (see 11^th March), Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 27^th February), Lt. Ronald Ferguson (see 9^th February) and 2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar (see 1^st February). 

There appear to have been around 50 men remaining with the Battalion at this point. Those positively identified as being among the cadre are CSM Fred Pattison DCM (see 11^th March), A/CSM Middleton Busfield MSM (see 12^th January), A/CQMS George Alfred Giles (see 25^th March); Sgts. Herbert Grayshon (see 28^th September 1918), John Scott (see 18^th October 1918), Harry Smith (12240) (see 6^th January), George Edward Smitham (see 28^th March) and James Wilcox (see below); L.Sgt. Harold Bray (18231) (see 25^th March), Cpls. Charles Brown (see below) and John William Warner (see 27^th February), L.Cpls. Harry Leaper (see 25^th March), Percy Simpson (see 25^th March) and Victor Lawson Smith (see 25^th March); and Ptes. John Stanley Armitage (see 26^th December 1918), William John Beeby (see below), Joe Arthur Bentley (see 25^th March), John Blackburn (see 25^th March), James Butterworth (see 29^th March), Samuel Cordingley (see 25^th March), David Eli Dyson (see below), Albert Edon (see 25^th March), Joseph Alfred Formby (see 26^th November 1918), James Albert Garbutt (see 25^th March), Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 25^th March), George Green (22749) (see 27^th March), James Knight (see below), Louis Frank Lewis (see 25^th March), Albert Mellor (see 25^th March), Tom Midgley (see 25^th March), Maurice Paignton (see 25^th March), Henry Pike (see 25^th March), Tom Platts MM (see 22^nd August 1918), James Proctor (see below), William Edmond Smith (see 4^th October 1918), Eddy Speak (see below), Alfred Spence (see below), Samuel Stansfield (see 25^th March), William Stokes (see 25^th March), Harry Sugden (see 25^th March), Albert Edward Trevor (see 10^th November 1918), Fred Melton Vasey (see 25^th March), George Wheatley (see 25^th March), Arthur Walter Williams (see 25^th March) and Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 25^th March).

William John Beeby was 29 years old; he was an original member of the Battalion and had, before the war, served four years with 6^th (Territorial) Battalion DWR. He was originally from Appleby, but had lived in Bradford, where he had worked as a railway clerk. David Eli Dyson was a 22 year-old textile worker from Slaithwaite; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when he had joined 10DWR or any details of his service. Eddy Speak was 29 years old and originally from Kelbrook where he had worked as a ‘foreman painter’. He had originally served with 9DWR, going to France in December 1916, but had served overseas for only six weeks before being invalided back to England suffering from piles. The date and circumstances of his joining 10DWR are unknown. Charles Brown, James Knight, James Proctor and Alfred Spence were all original members of the Battalion but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of any of these men or establish any details of their service. I am also unable to identify or to establish any detals of the service of James Wilcox.

Pte. Harry Moore (16991) (see 24^th June 1918), who had been serving at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, was also posted back to England for demobilization.

A/Sgt. Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 21^st March) and Charles Knight (see 5^th March) serving with 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio, were formally taken on to the strength of the unit having previously been on attachment from 10DWR. Sgt. John Stephenson (see 5^th March), also on attachment to the same unit, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Cpl. Arthur Lee MM (see 18^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., was formally reported as ‘absent without leave’ having failed to return from leave to England.

Pte. Frederick William Warner (see 27^th February) was discharged from Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester and posted to a convalescent hospital (details unknown); he was recovering from scabies and impetigo.

2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 22^nd August 1918) was formally discharged from his work with the Ministry of Munitions, in which he had been engaged in lieu of regimental duty; his address at the time was address 12a Colville Square, Notting Hill.

Pte. Edward Mawle (see 25^th October 1918), who had been in England since October 1918, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit due to wounds suffered in action; he was assessed as having a 60% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 16s. 6d., to be reviewed after one year. 


Pte. Reginald Jerry Northin (see 21^st February) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit due to wounds suffered in action; he was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 8s. 3d., to be reviewed after one year.

CSM Ernest James Odell (see 12^th January) and Sgt. James Walker MM (see 24^th January) were formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment of £32 8s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £27 10s.) to the late Sgt. William Allen Sayer MM (see 24^th January), who had died of wounds on 30^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Maria. She would also receive a parcel of her late husband’s personal effects comprising of, ‘letters, photos, pipe, 1 wound stripe, metal watch and chain, 1 pair of titles, 1 cap badge, whistle and strap, purse, MM brooch, farthing”.

A payment of £28 19s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £27) to the late Sgt. Percy James Dawson (see 27^th October 1918), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since the crossing of the Piave. A sum of £9 13s. 4d. was for the benefit of his widow, Mary, and she would receive a further £19 6s. 7d. expressly for their children.

A payment of £27 4s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £16) to the late Pte. Ernest Mallinson (see 30^th October 1918), who had died of wounds on 30^th October 1918; the payment would go to his father, Tom.

The London Gazette published notice of the gallantry awards relating to the crossing of the Piave. There were second awards of the Military Medal for RSM Charles Edward Parker, DCM, MM (see 26^th March) and Pte. Ned Metcalfe MM (see 18^th March). A further 18 men would also be awarded the Military Medal: Sgt. John Ratlidge (see 17^th March); Cpls. Herbert Axe (see 7^th March), Alfred Bradbury (see 8^th November 1918), William Hay Murdock (see 8^th February) and Alfred Sayer (see 5^th March); L.Cpls. Harry Bailey (25248) (see 15^th February) and Percy Simpson (see above); and Ptes. John William Bonner (see 27^th October 1918), Jack Boulter (see 28^th February), Frank Dodgson (see 15^th February), Joseph Holmes (see 12^th March), William Johnson (13666), James Palmer (see 3^rd February), Ezra Plumb (see 18^th February), George Smith (14547) (see 19^th March), Matthew Stone (see 23^rd February), Dennis Tumilty (see 27^th October 1918) and William Wigglesworth (17891) (see 28^th February).

Friday 28th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Cpl. William McGill (see 11^th December 1918); L.Cpl. Arthur Gears (see 22^nd March 1917) and Ptes. Thomas Bates (see 24^th February) and Robert Fiedler (see 25^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 26^th February), who had been in England since December 1918, having been taken ill, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was assessed as having suffered a 10% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 7s. 10d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 26^th February), who had been serving with 2DWR, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Edward Smitham, the eldest son of Sgt. George Edward Smitham (see 8^th February 1917), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class W in February 1917 and had been working for British Dyes Ltd at Huddersfield, was now formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.


Pte. Wilfred Wood (see 1^st April 1918), who had been serving with ‘D’ Company, 17^th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

The surviving personal effects of the late Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 2^nd January), who had died of wounds on 27^th October 1918, were despatched to Messrs. Cox & Co. to be forwarded to his relatives; the package comprised of, “letter, collar, field book, whistle and cord, neck tie, 7 trinkets, 2 Francs”.

A payment of £20 5s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £15) to the late Pte. Walter Eary (see 18^th November 1918), who had died on 18^th November 1918 after being treated for a laryngeal tumour. A sum of £6 15s. 5d. was for the benefit of his widow, Alice,and she would receive a further £13 10s. 6d. expressly for their daughter, Florence. Alice would also receive a single item left from her husband’s effects; his razor.

Thursday 27th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. George Green (22749) (see 5^th March) was formally transferred from 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio to the GHQ Concentration Camp at Tavernelle, where he would be re-united with the cadre of the Battalion prior to being posted back to England.

2Lt. Christopher Longstaff (see 18^th January), serving in France with 9West Yorks, was posted to 17^th Prisoner of War Company.

Trooper Claude Darwin (see 13^th December 1918), serving in Egypt with 1^st Field Squadron, Engineers, Anzac Mounted Division, embarked at Port Said en route for England; on arrival on 11^th April he would be granted one months’ leave. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin (see 2^nd February), who had been discharged from the army.

Pte. Henry Edgar Grass (see 4^th January 1918), serving in India with 1DWR, was admitted to hospital in Quetta, suffering from suspected malaria; he would be discharged to duty after one week.

Sgt. Bob Maunders (see 12^th January), L.Cpl. John Henderson (see 25^th February) and Ptes. Vernon Barker (see 31^st January), Henry Grimshaw (see 24^th February), Alfred Shaw (see 24^th February) and Sam Shuttleworth (see 31^st January) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Farrand Kayley (see 11^th March), brother of Tunstill’s recruits James (see 27^th March 1916) and Job Kayley (see 19^th March), who had been serving in France with 1^st/6^th Battalion West Ridings as a transport driver, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. James Kilburn (see 2^nd February), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Fred Richmond (see 26^th November 1918), serving with 475^th (Home Service) Employment Company, Labour Corps at Ripon, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. Having been wounded in November 1915, he was awarded an Army pension of 5s. 6d. per week ‘until further notice’.

Pte. Joseph Laycock (see 2^nd May 1915), serving with the Labour Corps, was also formally discharged to the Army Reserve Class Z. He had originally served with 10DWR before being taken ill, suffering from rheumatism, in February 1916 (date and details unknown); at some point he had been transferred to the Labour Corps.

Further enquiries were made regarding the fate of 2Lt. Lawrence Tindill MM (see 10^th March), who had been officially missing in action since 21^st June 1918. The War Office wrote to Pte. John James Goodship (see 14^th January), who had been taken prisoner during the raid in which Lt. Tindill had been reported missing, “I am directed to inform you that it is understood in this Department that you are able to furnish information concerning 2^nd Lieutenant L. Tindill, reported missing 21^st June 1918. I am to ask you to be good enough to forward a statement to this office, showing what information you have regarding this Officer. Your statement should include: evidence showing the identity of the Officer; the date and place of death; your reasons for believing this Officer to be dead”. Goodship would reply stating that, “In regards to Mr. Tindill I am afraid that I can give you no definite information as I did not know that anything was wrong with him until after I got back into British hands again after the Armistice was signed”.

A payment of £31 18s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £25) to the late Cpl. William Frederick Ackrill (see 24^th October 1918) who had been killed in action on 24^th October 1918. The payment would go to his mother, Minnie.

A payment of £20 11s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £9 10s.) to the late Pte. Charles Simmons (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918. The payment would go to his mother, Ada; this was noted as being at the “written request of father”.

A second payment, of £12 6s. 8d. was authorised, being a further amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Milton Sutcliffe (see 3^rd March), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Agnes, but, in accordance with the terms of Pte. Sutcliffe’s will, was specifically ‘for child’s benefit’; three year-old Nora was the couple’s only child. 

The father of the late Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 30^th November 1918) wrote to the War Office regarding the settlement of his son’s affairs: “With reference to your letter of 11^th inst. will you be good enough to submit a statement showing how the sum of £239 8s. is made up. Also please note that my son was DSO and inform me whether that distinction affects the amount due. There is no trace of a will among the effects we have of my late son. If there had been one amongst his papers when he was on active service what would he have done with it? I presume I should have been of it if one had been found. The Colonel of the Battalion wrote to me and sent me one letter found upon him when he was killed and we have received a quantity of his private effects. My son never mentioned a will but as he became engaged only a few days before he last went out which was only a few weeks before he was killed I am anxious to make all enquiries before taking out Letters of Administration”.

Capt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson

Wednesday 26th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Lt. William Johnson Simpson MC (see 23^rd March) was formally released from the Army, with the formalities completed at no.1 Dispersal Unit at Georgetown (Paisley). His address on discharge would be The Firs, Bishopthorpe, York and he would resume his pre-war occupation as a joiner and builder.

Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 21^st March), serving with 3DWR, was formally released from the Army, with the formalities completed at no.1 Dispersal Unit at Prees Heath. Lt. Evans’ address on discharge would be 36 Cowbridge Road, Bridgend. He would return to his studies and undertake post-graduate work at Jesus College, Oxford.

Lt. Arthur Lilley (see 7^th November 1918), who had been serving in France with the RAF, formally relinquished his commission.

RSM Charles Edward Parker, DCM, MM (see 12^th January); Sgt. Fred Perry MM (see 18^th October 1918) and Ptes. Ben Butler (see 23^rd February), Arthur Foster MM (see 2^nd May 1917), Robert Jackson (see 24^th February), John William Pennells (see 24^th February), Samuel Richards (see 24^th February), Herbert Sloane MM (see 24^th February) and Albert Edward White (see 15^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Reginald James Nosworthy (see 26^th February), who had been serving with 3DWR, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Sgt. William Eley MM (see 12^th March 1918), who had been at the Dukes’ Regimental Depot in Halifax, having been posted back to England in 1917 suffering from ‘neurasthenia’, was transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. He was assessed as having suffered 20% disability due to neurasthenia and deafness in his left ear and was awarded an Army pension of 6s. 10d. per week, to be reviewed in one year.

Pte. Richard Marsden (see 24^th January), who had been serving at the Regimental Depot at Halifax, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment of £18 8s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £18) to the late Pte. Fred Heap (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his father, Asa.

Tuesday 25th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

A/CQMS George Alfred Giles (see 8^th October 1918), L.Sgt. Harold Bray (18231) (see 23^rd December 1918), L.Cpls. Harry Leaper (see 31^st January), Percy Simpson (see 27^th October 1918) and Victor Lawson Smith (see 5^th March) and Ptes. Joe Arthur Bentley (see 25^th August 1918), John Blackburn (see 29^th September 1918), James Butterworth (see 23^rd July 1918), Samuel Cordingley (see 24^th August 1917), Albert Edon (see 17^th August 1917), James Albert Garbutt (see 5^th January), Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 25^th August 1918), Louis Frank Lewis (see 22^nd June 1918), Albert Mellor (see 17^th March), Tom Midgley (see 17^th March), Maurice Paignton (see 31^st March 1918), Henry Pike (see 5^th June 1918), Samuel Stansfield (see 20^th November 1918), William Stokes (see 28^th August 1917), Harry Sugden (see 18^th December 1918), Fred Melton Vasey (see 1^st September 1918), George Wheatley (see 8^th December 1918), Arthur Walter Williams (see 11^th June 1918) and Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 10^th November 1918) completed and signed their ‘Statement as to disability’ forms, which were a precursor to their being posted back to England. The completed forms, which confirmed that they did not claim to have suffered any disability in service, were witnessed by Capt. Henry Kelly VC, MC (see 13^th February). Two days later they, along with all the other men remaining with the Battalion, would all be formally taken on the strength of the GHQ Concentration Camp at Tavernelle prior to departure for England.

L.Sgt. William Edward Varley (see 14^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., was promoted Acting Sergeant.

It was confirmed that Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 5^th November 1918), serving as an officer’s servant at XIV Corps reinforcement camp, had been selected for retention in the Army, attached to the British Military Mission with Supreme Command in Italy.

Pte. James Edward Haley (see 5^th February) was posted from the Regimental Depot at Halifax to 3DWR at North Shields.

2Lt. George Henry Roberts (see 24^th February), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, formally relinquished his commission ‘on account of ill health’. His address on discharge was 136 Wakefield Road, Huddersfield.

Lt. Stephen Moss Mather (see 23^rd March) was formally released from the Army, with the formalities completed at no.1 Dispersal Unit at Heaton Park. His address would be 18 Menzies Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool and he would resume his pre-war occupation of shop assistant.

L.Sgt. George Heeley (see 24^th February) and Ptes. John Eastwood (see 23^rd February) and George William Fletcher (see 5^th June 1918) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Richard Beattie, father of the late Lt. Thomas Beattie (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in the crossing of the Piave, secured a grant of probate of his son’s estate, which was valued at £190 8s. 3d..  

A second payment, of £11 18s. 2d. was authorised, being a further amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Alfred Baker (see 9^th December 1918), who had died, apparently of heart failure, on 7^th July 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Florence.

Monday 24th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 22^nd February), who was under treatment at 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth on account of the wounds he had suffered in October 1918, was granted one month’s leave, on the expiry of which he was to return to hospital. 

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

Pte. William George Ruddock MM (see 10^th March), who was on leave in England from 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., wrote to the War Office: “I am home on leave and due to return on 29^th of this month. While on leave my employer has applied for me and has had certain papers to fill up as he is in need of me being a farmer. Could you inform me what I am to do, whether I am to return to my Battalion?”. He would be instructed to report back to his Battalion at the conclusion of his leave.

Ptes. Francis James Barnes (see 15^th February), Alfred Bottom (see 15^th February), William George Clements (see 15^th February), Colonel Craven (see 15^th February), Maurice Doyle (see below), Tom Garnett (see 26^th October 1918), Joseph Hadley (see 15^th February), James William Hargreaves (see below) and William McEvoy (see 15^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Maurice Doyle had been an original member of the Battalion but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or establish any details of his service. James William Hargreaves had originally served with 1^st/6^th DWR before being transferred (date and details unknown) to 10DWR; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or establish any details of his service.

Pte. Herbert Smith MM (11837) (see 22^nd April 1918), who had been transferred from 10DWR to 69^th Brigade Pigeon Station, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment of 11s. 11d. from the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Willey (see 19^th November 1918), which had been authorised for payment to James Willey (brother of Harry), was now reallocated to James’ widow, Lily.

A payment of £25 8s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war grant of £21 10s.) to the late Pte. John Thomas Tull (see 28^th October 1918), who had died from influenza and broncho-pneumonia in October 1918; the payment would go to his sister and sole legatee, Ann.

A pension award was made in the case of late Pte. Noah Davis (see 28^th November 1918), who had died of pneumonia and jaundice on 1^st September 1918; his widow, Helena, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.

Sunday 23rd March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Lts. William Johnson Simpson MC (see 11^th March) and Stephen Moss Mather (see 26^th October 1918) and Ptes. Richard Henry Harris (see 14^th March), Michael Newton (see 14^th March) and William Ryan (see 14^th March) were posted back to England from the GHQ concentration camp at Tavernelle.

Capt. Frank Bryan Parker, serving in Northern Russia with 6^th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action. He was the brother of Geraldine Parker, wife of Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (see 10^th April 1918). Capt. Parker was originally buried at Bolshoi Ozerki Cemetery but the site of his grave, along with those of a number of other men also buried in the same cemetery, was subsequently lost; they are all now commemorated on the Archangel Memorial. Capt. Parker is also commemorated on a memorial erected close to the Parker family home in South Milford.

Capt. Parker (left) along with his sister Geraldine (second from right) and her husband, Capt. Gilbert Tunstill (right) and other members of the Parker family.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton.

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 28^th November 1918) was released from 7^th Military Prison at Les Attaques near Calais, on remission of the balance of his sentence of 15 years’ penal servitude and posted to one of the Base Depots at Etaples.

Pte. James Arthur Heap (see 11^th April 1918), serving in England with the Labour Corps, was struck off the strength of his unit and posted to the Dispersal Centre at Ripon in preparation for demobilization.

Sgts. Albert Hoggarth (see 21^st February) and Herbert Parkin (see 21^st February); A/Sgt. Sydney Alec Exley (see 12^th January), L.Cpls. William Henry Bower (see 5^th April 1918) and Irvin Ward (see 14^th December 1918) and Ptes. Josiah Charles (see 31^st January), George Dunkin (see 21^st February), Joseph McDermott (see 21^st February), John Perrin (see 21^st February) and Sidney Stephen West (see 4^th June 1918), were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Charles William Hird (see 31^st December 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. Having been wounded in action and suffered from heart disease and bronchitis he was assessed as having a 40% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 11s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Saturday 22nd March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Ptes. Fred Hargreaves (29267) (see 7^th March) and Pte. Samuel Smith (see 30^th September 1918) were posted back to England for demobilization.

Pte. Fred Hargreaves (29267)

Image by kind permission of Patrick Hargreaves

Pte. John William Addison (see 18^th March), who was suffering from an abscess in his left groin was evacuated to England from 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles; on arrival in England he would be admitted to Keighley War Hospital, where a procedure would be carried out to incise the abscess.

A/Cpls. George Goodman (see 30^th November 1918) and Frederick James Lynch (see 27^th August 1918) and Ptes. Arthur William Drane (see 15^th February) and Joe Noons (see 8^th January) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Robert Ellis Clayton (see 19^th February), who had been serving with the Royal Fusiliers, was also formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Sam Tinkler (see 20^th February), who had been serving with 54^th Company, Labour Corps, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Friday 21st March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. Ernest Mudd (see 13^th December 1918) departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Cpl. Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 5^th March), who was on attachment to 505^th Prisoner of War Company, was promoted Acting Sergeant.

Pte. Reginald Dayson (see 2^nd March), who was a prisoner at no.1 Military Prison at Rouen, was admitted to 25^th Stationary Hospital in Rouen, suffering from a mild case of dysentery; he would be discharged and returned to prison after ten days.

Sgt. Wilson Allinson MM (see 24^th January), who was serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was attached to the Royal Defence Corps to serve at a Prisoner of War Camp.

Pte. Edwin Wright (see 18^th February) was formally ‘disembodied’.

L.Sgt. George Alma Cook (see 6^th February), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to the Army Reserve Class B; this class of reserve was for men who had completed their service in the regular army and were serving their normal period (typically of five years) on reserve. Section B reservists could only be called upon in the event of general mobilisation; pay was 3s. 6d. per week.

Sgt. Edward Robert Butler (see 27^th October 1917), Cpl. Alexander Wallace MM (see 30^th January) and Ptes. Tim Helliwell (see 18^th February), Reuben Serrell (see below), George Thompson MM (see 17^th December 1917) and Frank Wood MM (see 18^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Reuben Serrell was 20 years old and from Leek, Staffs.; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when or under what circumstances he had joined 10DWR or any details of his service.

Pte. John Newton (see 19^th February), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1918, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Harry Earnshaw (see 16^th February), who had been serving with 3DWR having been a prisoner of war in Germany, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

The War Office wrote in reply to the recent enquiry by Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 4^th March), serving with 3DWR, regarding his eligibility for a further wound gratuity; he was informed that “as you have already been granted the maximum gratuity of £250 you are not entitled to any further award”.

An In Memoriam notice was placed in the Craven Herald by the family of Pte. Tom Swales (see 3^rd May 1918) who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since March 1918

SWALES - In honoured and loving memory of our dearly loved son, Private Tom Swales, 9th West Riding Regiment, who was reported missing March 22nd, 1918, in his 21st year after 3½ years service.

He fought the fight, the victory won,

We weep but say "God's will be done";

But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow,

None but aching hearts can know.

From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers, Rylstone

Pte. Tom Swales

Thursday 20th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. John Whitham (see 16^th January 1917), serving in India with 1^st Garrison Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, was admitted to hospital in Bombay, suffering from malaria.

Ptes. Harry Briggs (19286) (see 18^th February), James William Lascelles (see below) and Frank Tucker (see 18^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

James William Lascelles had served with 2^nd/7^th DWR before being transferred to 10DWR; he was 28 years old and from Leeds.


L.Cpl. John Henry Crawshaw (see 18^th February), who had been serving with 1^st/7^th DWR, was posted was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Wednesday 19th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. Samuel Wilkinson (see 13^th December 1918), who had been in hospital for treatment for gonorrhoea, was transferred from 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester to Seaforth Auxiliary Hospital in Dingwall.

Sgt. Christopher Clapham MM (see 16^th February), L.Sgt. Albert Reynolds (see 16^th February), Cpl. Mark Butler (see 16^th February), L.Cpls. Robert William Gough (see 10^th February) and Arthur Whincup (see 26^th August) and Ptes. Robert Henry Arnold MM (see 18^th February), Harold Clifford Ashbrook (see 15^th February), William Henry Bray (see 10^th February), Ernest George Coxall (see 8^th September 1917), Joseph Dent (see 16^th February),  Harry Duthoit (see 28^th July 1918), William Gordon Johnston (see 10^th February), Job Kayley (see 29^th July 1916), Thomas Laytham (see 9^th October 1914), Joseph Livesey (see 10^th February), James Longworth (see 18^th September 1918), Fred Metcalfe (13643) (see below) Bruce Ernest Nash (see 8^th February), Harry Nason MM (see 5^th June 1918), James Edward Parkinson (see 16^th February), William Ward Pickles (see 16^th February), John Wright Pollard (see 16^th February), Robert Frank Smith (25829) (see 10^th February), George Smith (14547) (see 27^th October 1918), and David Twigg (see 16^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Fred Metcalfe (13643) had been an original member of the Battalion but in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or establish any details of his service.

Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 31^st October 1918), who had been in England since October 1918, having suffered an accidental gunshot wound to his right foot on 25^th August 1918, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. John Willie Bannon (see 5^th June 1918) was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had at some point (date and details unknown) been transferred from 10DWR to 2DWR.

Tuesday 18th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Pte. John William Addison (see 17^th February) was transferred from 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from an abscess in his left groin.

Pte. Ernest Binns (see 10^th July 1917) who had been wounded in June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to his wounds; his degree of disability was stated to be 70% and he would be awarded an Army pension of 19s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed after one year. 

Pte. Sidney Wood (see 22^nd October 1918), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds suffered in action; his disability was assessed as 80% and he was awarded a pension of 32s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.  

Sgts. Charles Marsden (see 15^th February) and Lionel Vickers (see 18^th February); L.Cpls. Alfred Ellis (see 14^th February) and Fred Riddiough (see 14^th February) and Ptes. Arthur Clarke (see 14^th February), Thomas Fielden (see 14^th February), William Johnson (13666) (see 27^th October 1918), William Harker (see 25^th November 1918), Charles Frederick Marsden MM (see 24^th January), Ned Metcalfe MM (see 27^th October 1918) and Leonard Beaconsfield Turner (see 15^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

At home in Perth, Nellie Walker, wife of Pte. Samuel Walker (see 31^st August 1918), died from pneumonia; her husband, who was home on demobilization leave from 2DWR, was with his wife when she died.

A payment of £40 12s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war grant of £24 10s.) to the late Pte. George Carter (see 11^th October 1918), who had been killed in October 1918 while serving in France with 2^nd/6^th DWR; the payment would go to his mother, Martha. She would also receive a parcel of her late son’s personal effects comprising of, ‘letters, photos, educational certificate, cards, wallet’.

Monday 17th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

The two men who had been held in confinement since 9^th March on charges relating to being drunk and allowing prisoners access to drink, were now tried by Field General Court Martial. Pte. Tom Midgley (see 9^th March) was found guilty and ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1. Pte. Albert Mellor (see 9^th March) was also found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of 5s. and to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1. However, his sentence would be reviewed by Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO (see 7^th February), commanding 69^th Brigade, who commuted the sentence to the 5s. fine and forfeiture of 28 days’ pay.

Sgt. John Ratlidge (see 22^nd November 1918), Cpl. Ernest Reeve (25923) (see 14^th February), L.Cpl. Harry Seward (see 15^th February) and Ptes. Harold Charnock (see 26^th February) and Walter Milnes (see 14^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment of £8 16s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. William Henry Gray (see 26^th March 1918) who had been killed in action in March 1918 while serving in France with 2^nd/7^th DWR.; the payment would go to his mother, Sarah.