Tuesday 11th March 1919

Billets at Montecchia di Crosara

Battalion Medical Officer Capt. Norman Robert Davis (see 7^th December 1918) left the Battalion.

Lt. Stanley Reginald Wilson (see 26^th February) wrote to the father of 2Lt. Samuel Whitaker (see 26^th February) who had died from ‘influenza and broncho-pneumonia’ shortly after returning home from Italy:

“I am terribly grieved at the loss of your son and earnestly wish to tender sincerest condolences.

I perhaps knew poor Whitaker better than anyone in the 10^th Dukes as he was in my Company. Furthermore, we met at Havre on our way home, travelling to Clipstone together, where he was demobilized and said goodbye together at Mansfield Station. I was not demobilized but returned to my unit. 

I could write much about the very bad conditions we all were subjected to en route home, perhaps these details would be too lengthy and harrowing. One outstanding element, however, was the frightfully bad organisation at Havre, when about 2,000 officers and men were marched down from no.1 Camp at night in the pouring rain and, on arrival at the quay, waited there in the perishing cold and rain for many hours, only to be told eventually that there was no boat. We all were in an exhausted state and had to retrace our footsteps back to the Camp in the small hours of the morning and there await further orders. This fact alone is worthy of being referred to a higher authority, as we never should have been despatched there, the authorities knowing there was no boat in. 

We had a comfortable trip across, your son and myself in the same cabin. I must say he then seemed very restless, but nevertheless in a good humour. Our arrival at Clipstone in my opinion added the fatal touch. Doubtless you will remember, it was pouring in torrents, still we had to go through the process of demobilization, walking round and round the Camp all night. I became soaked through and felt perished. The elements turned to snow, which made it awful. Your son I know for a fact had no rest or cover at all that night or morning. While we waited in the snow at Mansfield Station, Whitaker seemed to me in a curious state of mind, but we nevertheless parted quite cheerily. 

I hate to have to mention it to you but there have been many big rows over the way troops are humbugged about coming home and now the conditions are different. All my brother officers are horrified at poor Whitaker’s fate, as he was, needless to say, much liked. If I can do any further in this matter I shall be only too happy to do so. Please again accept my sentiments”.

The following day, Maj. William Norman Town (see 23^rd January) would also write to Mr. Whitaker:

“I was greatly shocked to hear of your son’s death. I saw him off at the station when he left the Battalion and he seemed in quite good health then. I was hoping to have seen him again when I got home. May I express my sympathy and that of the other officers still left with us here in your great loss. We all liked him and felt when he joined us that we had got a good officer. He was always cheerful, unassuming yet ready and able to do whatever he was asked to do. He joined us so late that he had no opportunity of going into action with the Battalion, but I am quite sure that he would have done well if he had had the chance. No doubt his old Battalion could speak on that point. With us, he was looked upon as a well qualified and thoroughly reliable officer. Beside the ordinary regimental duties he acted for a time as our Education Officer and during the whole of our education period he taught book-keeping and, for a time, arithmetic. It seems very sad that after going right through the War in safety he should be cut off just as he left the Army. We can ill afford as a nation to lose young men of promise like 2^nd Lieut. Whitaker when there is such a call to rebuild the nation. To yourself the blow is a heavy one but you have the proud memory of a life well lived, of duty wholeheartedly done, and of an honourable record”.

Pte. Farrand Kayley (see 5^th October 1918), brother of Tunstill’s recruits James (see 4^th January 1918) and Job Kayley (see 29^th July 1916), who was serving in France with 1^st/6^th Battalion West Ridings as a transport driver, was posted back to England for demobilization; he would be demobilized from Clipstone.

A/Capt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 21^st February), who was in England after returning from service in Egypt with 2/22^nd Battalion London Regiment was formally released from the Army.

Pte. Fred Benn (see 25^th September 1917), who had been severely wounded in September 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to his wounds; his disability was assessed as being 80% and he was awarded an Army pension of 22s. per week for life.

Cpl. Joseph Edward Robinson (see 7^th February), L.Cpls. Louis Feather MM (see 7^th February) and William Robinson (see 6^th February) and Ptes. Francis Barrett (see 7^th February), Arthur Briscoe (see 8^th September 1917), James Grubb (see 29^th January), Arthur Leeming (see 18^th August 1918) and William Wills (see 5^th July 1917) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.


A pension award was made in the case of late Pte. Frank Harrison (19068) (see 9^th May 1917) who had been killed in the shelling of Ypres in January 1917; his mother, Emily, was awarded 6s. per week, backdated to 6^th November 1918.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of Italian medals for gallantry; the Italian Silver Medal for Valour had been awarded to Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 7^th February) and Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne DSO, MC (see 28^th January); the Bronze Medal to Lt. William Johnson Simpson MC (see 1^st February) and 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain MC (see 25^th January); and the Croce di Guerra to Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 21^st February), CSM Frank Shelah Gilleard MC (see 13^th February), CSM Edward Arthur Myers DSO (see 5^th December 1918) and CSM Fred Pattison DCM (see 14^th December 1918).