Wednesday 30th April 1919

Cpl. Alfred Bradbury MM (see 29^th March), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1918, was discharged from Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield; he would be referred for further orthopaedic treatment to the Edgar Allan Institute in Sheffield.

Pte. Donald McColl (see 24^th October 1918) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. John William Addison (see 17^th April), who had recently been demobilized, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. John William Mallinson (see 1^st April), who had been on attachment to 151^st Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. John Henry Markham (see 5^th July 1916), who had served with the Labour Corps after having been wounded in July 1916, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

The War Office wrote to Maj. William Norman Town (see 20^th April), at his home address, ‘Chymnour’, Reanance Rad, Falmouth, regarding 2Lt. Lawrence Tindill MM (see 27^th March), who had been officially missing in action since 21^st June 1918: “I am directed to inform you that it has been brought to the attention of this department that you can give evidence regarding the recovery of the body of an officer believed to be that of Second Lieutenant L. Tindill, 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was reported missing 21^st June 1918 after a raid on the Ave Sector. No official information has been received concerning this officer since he was reported as missing and I am, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to furnish a statement showing any information which would establish his fate”. 

A request, in similar vein, was also sent to GOC, British Forces in Italy, “I am directed to inform you that the following unofficial report has been received concerning Second Lieutenant L. Tindill, 10^th Battalion West Riding Regiment, who was officially reported as missing on 21^st June 1918: 

‘This officer took part in a raid organised by his Battalion on the night of June 21^st on the Austrian positions on the Ave sector and when the raid was over it was found that Lt. Tindill and Pte Goodship (Pte. John James Goodship, see 27^th March) were missing. Pte Goodship is now officially known to be a prisoner in the hands of the Austrians. On 21^st August (sic.; recte 26^th August) the above Battalion carried out another raid on the Austrian positions in the same sector and in the course of the operations some Austrian officers were captured, one of whom in examination stated that on the night of 21^st June they captured an English officer and a private and the description he gave was a correct one of Lt. Tindill. The Austrian officer stated that Lt. Tindill had several times been taken up to points of observation by his captors with a view to obtaining information as to the British positions, which information Lt. Tindill had refused to give’.

An unofficial report has also been received that the body of an officer had been found after the armistice that presumably the officer was Liutenant Tindill. I am therefore to request that you will be good enough to cause enquiries to be made as to whether Second Lieutenant Tindill was the only officer who took part in this raid and also to ascertain whether the Austrian officer who gave the information regarding Second Lieutenant Tindill can now be traced. I am further to request that you will furnish a report showing any information which would establish the ultimate fate of this officer. I am to add that Private Goodship states that he can give no information on the subject”.

The Infantry Record Office in Warwick wrote to Rev. A. Tattersall, minister of the Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bristol, regarding Pte. Walter William Ford (see 12^th April), who had died from influenza whilst at his home in Bristol; Rev. Tattersall had been in communication with the authorities on behalf of Pte. Ford’s widow. “I shall be glad if you will kindly give me the Regimental Number and also the Regiment to which Pte. Ford belonged as I am unable to trace him in the Gloucester Regiment and, until I have these particulars, together with the cause of death, I am unable to take any action in this matter. Probably Pte. Ford was attached to the Gloucester Regiment from another Corps. The particulars taken at the Dispersal Station were inaccurate”.

Tuesday 29th April 1919

Pte. Frederick William Warner (see 29^th March) was discharged from a convalescent hospital (details unknown) following treatment for scabies and impetigo; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting for duty with 3DWR.

Pte. Harry Moore (16991) (see 29^th March) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. John Henry Barraclough (see 20^th September 1917), who had been serving with the Labour Corps, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of sickness; he was awarded the Silver War Badge but would have a claim for an Army pension rejected.

CSM Edward George John Cooke (see 23^rd Februar), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z two months previously, appeared before an Army Medical Board; the Board found that ‘he complains of swelling of right leg and pain in leg after heavy work. Through and through wounds and operation scar 2” below crest of right illium; wounds soundly healed. No swelling of thigh or leg. Movements at hip joint fine and full. No impairment’. He was awarded a gratuity payment of £5 but was to receive no pension.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L. Cpl. Charles Dowson (see 26^th August 1918), who had been presumed dead having been reported missing in action in August 1918; his aunt, Ellen Wood, was awarded 7s. per week.

Monday 28th April 1919

L.Cpl. George Mitchell (see 5^th March 1918), serving with L Signals Battalion, Royal Engineers, was posted back to England for demobilization.

Pte. Milton Wood (see 26^th November 1918), serving in France with 2^nd/5^th DWR, was posted to England for demobilization.

Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 16^th November 1918) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Alfred Pass snr., the father of 2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 26^th August 1918), who had been officially missing in action since the raid on the Asiago Plateau in August 1918, wrote to the War Office, “On 1^st March 1919 you wrote to me saying nothing further could be reported about my son ‘missing and wounded’. You gave the name of Lt. K.S. Bain (2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain MC, see 11^th March). I have seen this officer and he told me that he left my son, as he feels sure, dead. He could not give me the slightest hope. Under these circumstances if you could presume death I should be much obliged”. 

2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass

A payment of £30 10s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £17 10s.) to the late L.Cpl. Albert Edward Smith (see 27^th October 1918) who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Annie, with two thirds of the amount expressly stated to be for their children.

Sunday 27th April 1919

Pte. Alfred Whittaker (see 24^th April), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was reported as having been ‘drunk in his billet’; he would be ordered to forfeit three days’ pay.

L.Cpl. Herman Tutty (see 18^th February) and Ptes. Walter Clarke (see 15^th April), Edwin Haley (see 18^th February) and Arthur Thomas Wilford (see 18^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Pte. Michael Langley (see 10^th January), who had been struck off the strength of 10DWR whilst on leave in January, was posted to 3DWR.

Cpl. Henry Markham (see 11^th October 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded in January 1917, was formally discharged to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was assessed as having less than 20% disability due to his wounds and was awarded an Army pension of 6s. 4d.per week.

Saturday 26th April 1919

Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 12^th March), who been serving with 1^st Garrison Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; having been wounded, he was awarded a gratuity of £35.

Pte. George Smith (12330) (see 24^th June 1917), who had been serving with the Labour Corps, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.


Pte. Frank Hewitt was formally discharged from the Army as no loger physically fit for service on account of illness; he was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability due to nephritis and was awarded an Army pension of 12s. per week. He was 23 years old and from Marsden; he had been called up in December 1916 and had been posted (date and details unknown) to 10DWR, but, in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish any details of his service.

A payment of £22 11s. 3d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £13) to the late Pte. Arthur Flowers (see 24^th April) who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Emma. She would also receive a package of her son’s remaining personal effects, comprising of, “wallet, photos and cards”; she would acknowledge receipt of the items and in replying ask, “if you have got his watch I should be pleased to have it as it was a gift from his dead brother”.

Friday 25th April 1919

Cpl. Lawrence William Hinchcliffe (see 25^th December 1918; it is not known when he had been promoted) (40052) and Ptes. Fred Kenneth Carter (see 4^th November 1918) (40947), Albert William Cogger (see below) (40003), Edwin John Collard (see 23^rd October 1918) (40624), , John Dowkes (see below) (40080), Gordon Field (see 26^th October 1918) (40906), George Edmund Hockley (see below) (40619), Will Lee (see 28^th October 1917) (40621), Albert Leeson (see 5^th June 1918), Adam Shore (see 27^th October 1918), Samuel Slone (see 11^th January 1918), Herbert Stott (see 1^st February), George William Tombs (see 23^rd May 1918) (40530), and Arthur J. Webb (see 29^th October 1917) (40081) were transferred to 1^st (Garrison) Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, serving in Italy.

Albert William Cogger had previously served with 12^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and with 9DWR; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish for certain when he had joined 10DWR, but it seems likely that it had been in September/October 1917.

John Dowkes was 30 years old and from Brighouse, where he had worked before the war as a cotton twiner; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when he had joined 10DWR or any details of his service.

George Edmund Hockley was a 36 year-old gardener from Shipley; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when he had joined 10DWR or any details of his service.

Pte. Herbert Stott

Image by kind permission of Barry Gartside

Sgt. Thomas H.C. Bevan (see 29^th October 1917; it is not known when he had been promoted) and Pte. Bertie Cox (see 12^th March) were also due to have been transferred but it would appear that neither actually joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Sgt. Bevan would be transferred to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, with the rank of Acting Corporal and Pte. Cox remained with 10DWR.
Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 10^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was reported as having been ‘absent from roll call from 9pm until reporting to the Corporal of the Guard at 9.50pm’; he would be confined to barracks for three days.

Thursday 24th April 1919

Pte. Alfred Whittaker (see 8^th April), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was discharged from hospital and re-joined his Battalion.

A/Maj. John Atkinson (see 4^th March), second-in-command 51^st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, was appointed as Commandant, Western Divisional Reception Camp as part of the army of occupation in Germany.

Capt. John Atkinson (seated centre)

The photograph was taken in the Spring of 1916; of the six, only Atkinson and Waite survived the war.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 24^th March), returned from leave to 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth for further treatment for the wounds he had suffered in October 1918. 

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

Pte. Thomas James Hogben (see 4^th December 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR since having been wounded in August 1918, was formally discharged from the Army on account of his wounds. He was assessed as having a 40% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 11s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Pte. Ernest Normanton (see 21^st September 1918) was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. At the time of his discharge he was serving with 2DWR; the date and circumstances of his leaving 10DWR are unknown.

Pte. John Henshall (see 7^th January), who had been serving in India with 1DWR, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Reports were received at the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries confirming the reburial at Tezze British Cemetery of the remains of more than 60 British soldiers killed in the crossing of the Piave River on 27^th October 1918 and in the actions of the following days. These men had originally been buried in isolated battlefield locations or in local cemeteries. Among them were the remains of one officer and ten men from 10DWR: Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 7th April), Sgt. Frank Brierley MM (see 17^th April); L.Cpl. William George Golding (see 27^th October 1918); and Ptes. Arthur Flowers (see 27^th October 1918); James Harrison (see 27^th October 1918); William Hassall (see 27^th October 1918); Fred Heap (see 26^th March); Thomas Henry Hemingway (see 1^st April); James Isaac King (see 27^th October 1918); James Henry Quiller (see 27^th October 1918) and Squire Topham (see 1^st April).

Wednesday 23rd April 1919

Ptes. Michael Newton (see 23^rd March) and William Ryan (see 23^rd March) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Ptes. James Arthur Heap (see 23^rd March) and Mitchell Dunn (see 14^th May 1917), both of whom had been serving with the Labour Corps, were also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

2Lt. John Davis (see 11^th April) wrote to the Ministry of Pensions:

“Having been invalided from the service through wounds caused on active service I would be glad to know if I have been granted a further gratuity or pension. I have the honour to inform you that I was recently examined under a Superannuation Scheme by Dr. Sir J. Sawyer when he told me that my wound would never get any better and that the best thing I could do would be to learn to massage my arm to prevent the wound from contracting. This I do now”.

2Lt. John Davis MM

Thomas Whitaker, father of the late 2Lt. Samuel Whitaker (see 14^th April) who had died from ‘influenza and broncho-pneumonia’ shortly after returning home from Italy, wrote to the War Office: “A circular letter dated the 15^th inst. has been addressed to my son at 67 Low Street, Keighley, asking that any change of permanent address may be notified to you in writing. 2^nd. Lt. S. Whitaker died on the 26^th February 1919 and a certificate of his death was sent to the War Office on the 4^th March. Our wounds are not yet healed and I hope we may be spared unnecessary laceration by receiving further notices relating to release and calling up which only have the effect of increasing our grief”.

Tuesday 22nd April 1919

Pte. Rowland Firby (see 28^th November 1918), serving in France with 13DWR, was appointed Acting Corporal (unpaid).

Pte. Edgar Bairstow (see 8^th March), who was serving with 3DWR at Crosby, was reported as ‘absent off pass from 11.55pm’; he would report back at 10.30pm the following day and would be ordered to undergo two days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Ptes. Fred Hargreaves (29267) (see 22^nd March), Richard Henry Harris (see 17^th April) and Frank Mallinson MM (see 24^th February) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. 

Pte. Fred Hargreaves (29267)

Image by kind permission of Patrick Hargreaves

Ernest Webb, brother of Pte. Edward Percy Webb MM (see 18^th October 1918), who had been missing in action since the trench raid on 26th August 1918, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York, “My mother has received notification from the Regimental Paymaster, York, that the 7s. per week she has been receiving as allowance has now been stopped and I conclude therefore that my brother is now officially reported killed”. The Record Office would reply two days later, stating that, “Nothing officially has been received in this office to the effect that your brother has been presumed dead. When this is received it will be sent to his Mother at once”.

Monday 21st April 1919

10DWR having been formally ‘disbanded’, a number of men still serving in Italy, several having been recovering from illness or wounds, were formally transferred to the ‘Details Battalion’ of the Regiment. Among them are known to have been A/CQMS John William Baird (see 24^th November 1918), Cpls. Howarth Reid (see 28^th October), and Arthur William Stobart (see 4^th March), A/Cpl. Nathaniel Bather (see 12^th March), L.Cpl. Wilfred Henry Fiddes (see 14^th December 1918) and Ptes. George William Ball (see 14^th March), Walter Gibson (see 9^th November 1918), Herbert Jacklin (see 14^th March), James Pidgeley (see 4^th March), Frank William Rabjohn (see 1^st April), George Smith (20340) (see 29^th October 1917), Mark Henry Sutcliffe (see 26^th December 1918), Frederick Thorn (see 25^th March) and Arthur Wylie (see 11^th January 1917).

Pte. Patrick Sweeney (see 23^rd March), serving at one of the Base Depots at Etaples, was also formally transferred to the ‘Details Battalion’.

Pte. James Sugden (see 18^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was appointed Acting (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Samuel Smith (see 22^nd March) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Dvr. Harry Metcalfe (see 23^rd January 1917), who had been serving with the ASC, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Dvr. Harry Metcalfe

Image by kind permission of Alan Metcalfe

John Richie Lester, first child of Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 9^th January) and his wife Marjorie Elizabeth, was born; immediately on Capt. Lester leaving the Army the couple had emigrated to Mansfield, Victoria, Australia. (Additional information by kind permission of Mike Calow).

Image by kind permission of the Trustees of the DWR Museum

Sunday 20th April 1919

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 23^rd September 1918), serving in France with 266^th Area Employment Company, was posted back to England for demobilization.

Writing in response to a request from the Infantry Records Office in York regarding Pte. Harold Deighton (see 11^th April) Maj. William Norman Town (see 5^th April) stated that, “I regret I cannot supply any information about Pte. Deighton. Many men were demobilized, granted leave etc. by the authorities at home without any reference or notification to the Battalion and no doubt this was one of those cases”.

Saturday 19th April 1919

Lt. Col. Sydney Spencer Hayne DSO (see 13^th September 1918), former CO of 10DWR, who had been CO commanding 2^nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, relinquished his temporary appointment as Lieutenant Colonel. However, as Major, he would remain in the Army and be posted to India

Sgt. Richard Farrar (see 22^nd February), serving on attachment at the Prisoner of War Camp at Brocton Camp, Staffs., was formally discharged from the Army as longer physically fit for service on account of the wounds he had suffered in October 1916; he was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 13s. 3d. per week.

L.Cpl. Arthur Lund (see 27^th November 1918) and Pte. Lewis Greenwood (see 22^nd January 1918), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, were formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Cpl. William Henry Thornton (see 19^th December 1918), serving in England with the Army Pay Corps, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. He had applied for an Army pension on the grounds of having suffered gastritis as a result of his military service; however, the Medical Board had reported that, whilst he suffered from ‘Pains in the stomach and occasional vomiting after food; there is apparently some chronic gastritis which necessitates careful diet’, this constituted no disability and his claim was rejected.

Pte. Garnet Boothroyd (see 2^nd March), who had been recently transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, was married, at the Parish Church in Honley, to May Platt.

Friday 18th April 1919

At 9.10pm Cpl. Cecil Lloyd (see 3^rd February) died at Bradford War Hospital from infection arising from the bayonet wound he had suffered in August 1918. He would be buried, with full military honours, at Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford, on 23^rd April.

Pte. Claude Wilfred Norman (see 20^th February), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A report appeared in the weekly edition of the Craven Herald concerning Pte. Sydney Hoar (see 13^th April), who had recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

MAD DRUNK AT SKIPTON - HELLIFIELD EX-SOLDIER’S FOOLISH CONDUCT

In Skipton Police Court on Monday, before Mr. R.G. Rankin (presiding) and Mr. Arthur Dewhurst, Sydney Hoar (29), grocer’s assistant, Brook Street, Hellifield, was charged in custody with being drunk and disorderly in Swadford Street, Skipton on Saturday, and also with assaulting P.C. Markham while in the discharge of his duty. Prisoner pleaded guilty to both charges, remarking that he remembered nothing about his conduct on the occasion in question, and expressing his sorrow for what had happened.

P.C. Markham gave evidence to the effect that at 9.30 pm on the previous Saturday night he was on duty in Swadford Street, Skipton, when he saw the prisoner in a drunken condition, staggering along the footpath, jostling people and insulting females. Witness spoke to him regarding his conduct, whereupon he became very offensive and began to make use of obscene and threatening language. Witness had no alternative, therefore, but to take him into custody.

In regard to the second offence, P.C. Markham stated on reaching Newmarket Street prisoner threw himself on the ground and became very violent and commenced to kick and bite him on various parts of the body, including his legs and one of his little fingers. Witness found it necessary to send to the police station for assistance, and when P.C. Jacques arrived prisoner and he (witness) were struggling on the ground. Prisoner acted like a madman and it was only with great difficulty that they were able to convey him to the police station.

P.C. Jacques stated that when he arrived in Newmarket Street at 9.10 pm prisoner was in a very violent and drunken condition on the ground. With difficulty he was taken to the Police Station where he refused to be interfered with and struck out right and lift, kicking both P.C. Markham and witness. Altogether he went on like a madman; he fell with his head on to a chair and afterwards on to a form; and he battered himself in a manner that was cruel.

Defendant expressed regret for his conduct and mentioned that he had been four and a half years in the Army without a mark against his name. Supt. Vaughan said there had been no previous charge against prisoner, who belonged to a very respectable family. He did not know whether he had been drinking whisky or not, but, to him, it looked more like a case where methylated spirits had been drunk. It was most sorrowful that such a young man should come under their notice in such a way, but he was mad drunk and the constable could do nothing else with him.

A fine of 10s. and costs was imposed in the first case, and of 40s., including costs, in the second; the Chairman offering a few words of advice to the prisoner.

Thursday 17th April 1919

Pte. Joseph Smyth (see 5^th July 1916), who had served with 9DWR after having been wounded on the Somme in July 1916, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

The Ministry of Pensions wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York regarding Pte. Richard Henry Harris (see 23^rd March), who was in England having recently been demobilized:

“I am directed by the Special Grants Committee to inform you that no further issue of separation allowance will be made to Mrs. Harris, formerly of 4, back of 48, Ledsam Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, the wife of no. 25943, Pte. R. Harris, West Riding Regiment, on account of her misconduct. The child born on 1^st March 1919 is illegitimate. I am to request that the above information may be communicated confidentially through his Commanding Officer to the soldier, who, unless he is under compulsory stoppages under Section 145 of the Army Act by reason of their being an Order or Court against him, should no longer be required to make an allotment to his wife”.

Pte. John William Addison (see 1^st April), who had recently been demobilized, was assessed for an Army pension; his claim was rejected.

Pte. Harold Drury (see 29^th June 1918), who had been formally discharged from the Army on account of wounds, underwent a medical examination in Lincoln in connection with his pension entitlement. The report of the examination noted, “Stiffness of left knee; aching in thigh; united fracture lower end of femur with some thickening of bone. Slightly limited movement in knee”; his degree of disability was reassessed as 20% rather than 30%.

A payment of £32 9s. 8d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £27 10s.) to the late Sgt. Frank Brierley MM (see 24^th January) who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would go to his father, Joe.

A payment of £16 10s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (comprising entirely of a war gratuity) to the late Pte. Ernest Franklin (25969) (see 20^th October 1918) who had been killed in action in October 1918 while serving in France with 5DWR; the payment would go to his father, Trafalgar. He would also receive a package of his late son’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘one disc, two pocket cases, wallet, photos, two cards, papers, religious card’.

A payment of £17 3s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £13) to the late Pte. Cain Rothera MM (see 27^th October 1918) who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would go to his father, Thomas. He would also receive a package of his late son’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘wallet, photos, silk card’.

Wednesday 16th April 1919

Pte. Herbert Holt (see 9^th September 1918), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1918, was discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was assessed as having a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Pte. William Thomas Foley (see 29^th September 1918), who had been in England since having been wounded in August 1918, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was assessed as having a 40% disability due to ‘wasting of the forearm, hand weakness and parenthesis of the hand’ and was awarded an Army pension of 20s. 6d. per week for six months, reducing thereafter to 13s. 8d, and to be reviewed after one year.

A grant of probate was issued in the affairs of the late Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 28^th March), who had died of wounds on 27^th October 1918. Probate of his estate, valued at £361 3s. 7d. was granted to Balfour West Beard, who was one of the named executors in Maj. Carr West’s will; the other executor, Kathleen Beard, wife of Balfour West Beard, having renounced probate of the estate. Maj. Carr West’s medals were to be issued to his daughter, Vida Evelyn. There had been something of a dispute between Maj. Carr West’s widow and other members of his family regarding his estate.

Tuesday 15th April 1919

Ptes. Walter Clarke (see 8^th April) and John William Kirby (see 8^th April), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, were discharged from hospital and re-joined their Battalion.

Pte. Charles Oldham (see 23^rd September 1918), serving in France with 5DWR, was posted back to England for demobilization.

Ptes. Joseph Hirst (24181) (see 10^th December 1918) and Louis Hodgson (see 19^th February), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, were formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of wounds suffered in action. Pte. Hirst was assessed as having a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 11s. per week for three months, reducing thereafter to 8s. 3d. per week and to be reviewed after one year. Pte. Hodgson’s disability was assessed as being 70% and he was awarded a pension of 19s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Stanley Arthur Lucas (see 14^th January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his father, Arthur, was awarded 5s. per week, backdated to 6^th November 1918.

Monday 14th April 1919

Following a one-month voyage from India, Pte. Eli Bradley (see 10^th March), arrived in England and would be admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton; he was suffering from malaria.

Pte. Harry Smith (15201) (see 26^th May 1916) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was found to be suffering from a 20% disability due to ‘arterial sclerosis’ and would be awarded an Army pension of 12s. 8d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Messrs. Athertons, solicitors, wrote to the War Office regarding the estate of the late 2Lt. Samuel Whitaker (see 2^nd April) who had died from ‘influenza and broncho-pneumonia’ shortly after returning home from Italy, re-stating the circumstances of “2Lt. Whitaker’s death and adding that, “His lawful widow is applying for Letters of Administration of the said estate and we shall be obliged if you will kindly send the necessary recommendation for remission of duty to the Authorities at Somerset House”.

Sunday 13th April 1919

Ptes. John Chadwick Taylor (see 18^th February) and Herbert John Wicks (see 18^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, departed on two weeks’ leave to England

Pte. Ernest Townsend (see 2^nd April), serving with 3DWR in Oswestry, was reported as “overstaying special leave from 11.55pm”; he would “report himself to the CSM at 1pm on 14^th April”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days.

Pte. Whittaker Hird (see 4^th October 1916), who had been transferred to the Labour Corps (date and details unknown) since having been wounded in October 1916, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Sydney Hoar (see 28^th September 1918), who had been transferred to the Labour Corps, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment was authorised of a £200 ‘wound pension’ to 2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 14^th November 1918), who had been severely wounded in April while serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR and was still at 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Saturday 12th April 1919

A/CQMS Bertie Thurling (see 7^th December 1918; it is unclear when he had been promoted), A/Sgt. Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 29^th March) and Ptes. Thomas Henry Cox (25806) (see 29^th March) and Charles Knight (see 29^th March), who were on attachment to 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio, were officially posted to the ‘Details Battalion’ of the Dukes as a consequence of 10DWR having been disbanded.

Sgt. John William Dickinson (see 21^st November 1918), who had been serving at no.5 Military Prison at Les Attaques, was posted to England for demobilization.

Former Battalion Medical Officer Capt. Norman Robert Davis (see 11^th March) sailed onboard the SS Prinz Frederich Wilhelm from Brest, bound for the United States.

Pte. Samuel Walker (see 18^th March) was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

The Infantry Records Office in York sent to Pte. George Bernard Hardy (see 5^th February) ‘one book of War Savings Certificates, containing five receipts’; presumably they had been located and identified from one of Pte. Hardy’s previous postings, prior to his being transferred to the reserve.

Rev. A. Tattersall, minister of the Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bristol, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York on behalf of the widow of Pte. Walter William Ford (see 20^th February), who had died from influenza whilst at his home in Bristol:

“I am writing on on behalf of the widow of the late Pte. Walter William Ford, of 34 Seneca Street, St. George, Bristol. She has received the enclosed from your office. This is the third communication of a similar character that has been received and to which she has replied or I have replied. The man has been dead since 20^th February. It has been a heart-breaking experience to lose the husband, but it only intensifies the grief and opens the wound more deeply to receive inquiries concerning him on these lines after he has been passed away for so long. Please see that your records are put right as soon as you can after receiving this communication so that she may be saved the sadness and sorrow of having to reply to inquiries the Regiment he is in, remembering that he is interred”.

Two days later the Infantry Records Office would reply:

“I have to inform you that your letter was the first intimation received of the death of this man and the memo, written by me, was the first communication from this office to him. I am unable to trace Private Ford from the particulars which he gave at the Dispersal Station. These particulars being incorrect would be the cause of the widow receiving letters asking for correct particulars, which letters were probably sent by the Regimental Paymaster. Is it possible for you to kindly obtain correct regimental number and the regiment to which he belonged and also death certificate. If it is impossible to forward the latter could you state the cause of death?”

A payment of £16 3s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. Ernest Pearson MM (see 27^th October 1918) who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Sarah.

A payment of £38 2s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £24) to the late Pte. Frederick Harris MM (see 27^th October 1918), who had been officially missing in action since 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Elizabeth, with two-thirds of the amount officially for the benefit of their children.

Friday 11th April 1919

Pte. Harold Deighton (see 3^rd March) wrote to the infantry Records Office in York,

“I am writing you in answer to your letter of the 10^th inst. Before being transferred to the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s I was in the 89^th Training Reserve stationed at Cambridge Barracks. Upon reaching the base in France I was transferred to the 10^th Duke of Wellington’s in June 1917. When I left my Battalion for leave in December 1918 they were in Italy, having served 13 months there, but from what I have heard they are now in Austria (some men from the Battalion were actually serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, in former Austrian territory). I came on leave in December and on reporting back at Southampton I was sent home to get work with my old employer if it was possible. I was given a single railway warrant home and a ration book for a fortnight. My old employer wrote to the Local Advisory Committee in Scarborough to apply for me but since then we have heard nothing. I have written to the Record Office in York but got no reply from there. I have now been working for my old employer about six weeks having still over two years of my apprenticeship to serve as a bricklayer. I think this is all the information I can give you. Hoping you will do everything you can for me as I am badly in need of some money not having drawn any ration allowance or pay since coming on leave at first”.

2Lt. John Davis MM (see 27^th January) formally relinquished his commission ‘on account of ill health caused by wounds’.

2Lt. John Davis MM

Pte. Walter Robinson (15117) (see 16^th January) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds (he had had his left leg amputated); he was assessed as having suffered a 50% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 27s. 6d. for three months, reducing thereafter to 13s. 9d. for life.

Ptes. Harold Atkinson (see 20^th September 1917) and George Lownsborough (see 4^th March) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. William John Martin was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had originally served with 8DWR 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.

Pte. Fred Smith (15149) (see 27^th August 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was also formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

L.Cpl. Arthur Mason (see 9^th March 1916), who had been serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers, was also formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was also assessed as having suffered a 40% disability (details unknown) whilst in service and was awarded an Army pension of £1 per week.

Pte. Norman Greenwood (see 25^th February), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z in February, was discharged from Keighley War Hospital, following six weeks’ treatment for chronic bronchitis.

Pte. Richard Swallow (see 7^th March), who had recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, was awarded a gratuity payment of £35; his claim for a pension had been rejected on the grounds that he had suffered no lasting disability.

An official report by the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries confirmed that the remains of the late Pte. Wilfred Cornelius Allott (see 20^th April 1918), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917, had been recovered from an unmarked grave south-east of FitzClarence Farm, east of Ypres, and had been re-interred at Hooge Crater Cemetery.

A payment of £56 9s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £23) to the late L.Cpl. Dennis Waller DCM, MM (see 30^th October 1918), who had died of wounds at Edmonton General Military Hospital on 22^nd October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Rose. She would also receive a package of her late son’s personal effects, comprising of, ‘cigarette case, metal mirror, clasp knife, note book, matchbox case, safety razor and blades, scissors, two rings, wallet, handkerchief, writing pad, letters, photos, cards, tin, soap, pass, belt with badges, metal chain and ring, shaving brush, cap badge, pair of titles, medal ribbons’.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. George Binns (see 13^th July 1918), who had been killed in action in April 1918 while serving with 1^st/4^th DWR; his mother, Mary, was awarded 5s. per week, backdated to 6^th November 1918.

Pte. George Binns

Thursday 10th April 1919

Pte. William Douglas (see 13^th February), who was at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, was posted back to England for demobilization.

Sgt. Joseph Bell (see 8^th August 1918) and Ptes. Wellington Baldwin (see 4^th March), William Irving Bell (see 16^th April 1918) and William Bilsborough (in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. James Long was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had been an original member of 10DWR but at some point (date and details unknown) he had been transferred to 2DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.

Pte. Walter Scott was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had been an original member of 10DWR but at some point (date and details unknown) he had been transferred firstly to to 9DWR and later to 2DWR. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.

Pte. John Lee (see 10^th March) was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; having suffered wounds to his arm he was granted an Army pension of 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Cpl. William Foulds (see 7^th March), who had recently been transferred to Class Z, was awarded an Army pension, on the basis of a 10% disability due to ‘lymphadenitis’ (infection of the lymph nodes), aggravated by active service; he was awarded 6s. per week, which was to expire after six months.

Pte. Sam Sunderland (see 7^th March), who had recently been transferred to Class Z, was awarded an Army pension, on the basis of a 20% disability due to having had the little finger of his left hand amputated; he was awarded 8s. 3d. per week for three months, reducing thereafter to 5s. 6d. and to be reviewed after six months.

A payment of £33 8s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £24) to the late Pte. Joseph Henry Haywood (see 30^th October 1918) who had died from influenza and broncho-pneumonia in October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Edith, with two-thirds of it specifically for the benfit of their son, Joseph.

A second payment, of £10 3s. 8d. was authorised, being a further amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Noah Davis (see 24^th March), who had died of pneumonia and jaundice on 1^st September 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Helena, but, in accordance with the terms of Pte. Davis’ will, was specifically for the benefit of the couple’s only child, George.

A parcel of personal effects belonging to the late Pte. Norman Holmes (see 6^th May 1918), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917, was forwarded to his widow, Hannah; the parcel comprised of ‘letters, 2 field cards, wallet, photos, disc’. The circumstances under which these effects were released almost 18 months after Pte. Holmes had been killed are unclear.

Wednesday 9th April 1919

Pte. Ernest Mudd (see 21^st March), who was home on leave, was posted to the Regimental Depot in Halifax.



Cpl. Harry Wood MM (see 24^th January) was reported ‘absent without leave’ from Lake Auxiliary Military Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne; he would return to hospital on 14^th April. Having returned he would be transferred to 2^nd Western General Hospital, Lily Lane, Moston and from there, two days later, to Jericho Military Hospital, Bury. A further examination there would find that, ‘Scars over centre of left scapula; fair amount of discharge; X-ray shows presence of dead bone’. As a result he would be scheduled for transfer to a Base Hospital for a further operation.

Ptes. Joseph Foulkes (see 10^th March), Fred Graham (see 21^st September 1914), Matthew Howard (see 10^th March), Lewis Martin (see 29^th October 1917) and Jonas Yoxall (see 4^th March) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Arthur Baxter (see 21^st December 1918), who had been re-patriated to England having been a prisoner in German hands since July 1916, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Garforth Brooke (see 3^rd May 1917), who had been re-patriated to England having been a prisoner in German hands since May 1917, was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he was awarded an Army pension of 13s. 3d. per week.

The Infantry Records Office in York forwarded the Military Medal due to A/Sgt. James Shackleton MM (see 9^th March) to the Officer Commanding 5^th Volunteer Battalion in Keighley for presentation.

A/Sgt. James Shackleton MM

Tuesday 8th April 1919

Ptes. Walter Clarke (see 18^th February), John William Kirby (see 18^th February) and Alfred Whittaker (see 25^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, were admitted to hospital (details unknown).

A/Sgt. Abel Roberts DCM (see 4^th March) and L.Cpls. Roderick Harmer (see 4^th March) and Jesse Merritt (see 4^th March) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Robert Baldwin (see 10^th June 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Sgt. Edward Isger (see 18^th December 1918), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1918, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension of 14s. per week.

2Lt. Conrad Anderson (see 15^th January) wrote to the War Office, 

“I herewith beg to submit a claim for either a disability pension or gratuity in respect of damage suffered to my health whilst serving as a Second Lieutenant in the 10^th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Whilst on active service with the BEF in France I contracted influenza and pneumonia and have since suffered from chronic lung weakness, rheumatism and general weakness. My health is still considerably undermined as a result of this illness which has prevented me continuously following my civilian employment. 

Should I have failed to make a claim on the necessary army form I beg to point out that the same was done under quite a misapprehension. In justification of this claim I would beg to point out that the day previous to my demobilization on the 15^th January last I had a Medical Board at Tynemouth and was placed in CII medical category. On that evidence alone I feel sure you will appreciate the genuineness of this application.

Kindly give this your attention please and I shall be happy to furnish you with any particulars required”.

Monday 7th April 1919

2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar (see 29^th March), having returned to England with the cadre of the Battalion, was demobilized from the Dispersal Centre at Ripon; he gave his address as 88 Rotherham Road, Scarborough and he would resume his pre-war employment as a clerk.

2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Ernest Jobling (see 8^th December 1916), who had been serving with the ASC, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Ernest Jobling (standing)

Pte. Thomas George Coates (see 21^st March 1918), who had been serving with 406^th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Arthur Clark MM (25966) (see 24^th January), who had been officially missing in action since 26^th August 1918; his widow, Lilian, was awarded 29s. 7d. per week for herself and her three children.

An increase was authorised to the pension award in respect of the late Pte. Fred Benson (see 31^st October 1916) who had been killed in action in July 1916; his widowed mother, Ann, was to be awarded 12s. 6d. per week for life, instead of the 5s. 6d. per week she had received hitherto.

Pte. Fred Benson

Further correspondence was exchanged regarding the affairs of the late Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 27^th March); a cheque, dated 21^st October 1918, for 150 lire signed by Capt. Perks for a payment to the ‘Expeditionary Force Canteen’ was the matter at issue. The cheque had been returned marked ‘drawer killed’ and therefore the amount was to be deducted from the payment due to be paid on Capt. Perks’ account.

Capt. Bob Perks DSO

Image by kind permission of Janet Hudson