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’.