Sunday 1st June 1919

At some point in June (the exact date is unknown) A/Maj. John Atkinson (see 24^th April), Commandant, Western Divisional Reception Camp as part of the army of occupation in Germany, returned to England on two weeks’ leave; his leave period would subsequently be extended, du to his wife having been taken ill, to 26^th July.

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Saturday 31st May 1919

Pte. William Baxter (see 4^th January), serving in France with 6^th Prisoner of War Company, Labour Corps, having been recently transferred from 17^th Prisoner of War Company, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Pte. John Roebuck (see 6^th June 1917), serving in India with 1DWR, was transferred to the Regimental Depot at Quetta.

Maj. Herbert Henry Hudson DSO, MC (see 28^th October 1918), who had briefly commanded 10DWR in June/July 1917, was formally released from the Army. He stated that his permanent address following his discharge would be c/o Nazam State Railways Company, Secunderabad, Deccan, India.

Pte. Walter Gibson (see 21^st April) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Friday 30th May 1919

Mr. Sam Ogden, writing on behalf of the Hebden Bridge and District War Honours Committee, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York to acknowledge receipt of the Military Medal which was to be awarded to A/Sgt. Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 12^th April), who was on attachment to 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio; “It is intended that this medal be presented along with a watch at a Public Meeting to be arranged, and as there are a fair number to deal with, it may be some weeks before the meeting is held. I will, however, keep in mind the necessity for this man to sign the form of receipt you sent along with the medal and after it is presented, I will send the receipt on to you”.

Pte. Harold Deighton (see 2^nd May), serving with 3DWR following some confusion over his status, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in anticipation of being posted to join 1DWR: “I am at home on seven days’ draft leave before proceeding to India so will you kindly send me as much of my credits as possible as I am in need of some money”. In the event, Pte. Deighton would not be posted to India, but would instead be transferred to 2DWR.

Pte. John Thomas Brady (see 15^th February 1918) was formally discharged from the Army on grounds of “feeblemindedness”, he was at the time an inmate at the West Riding Asylum in Menston. His degree of disability was stated as being 100%, with his condition aggravated by his war service; he was awarded an Army pension of 27s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed after one year. At the time of discharge Pte. Brady was also due £63 18s. from his pay and allowance; however, given his condition, this amount was retained by the authorities pending further action. 

Pte. James Arthur Heap (see 23^rd April), who had recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, had his claim for an Army pension rejected.

Thursday 29th May 1919

Pte. John William Dean (see 15^th May), who had been on two week’s leave in England while serving in Germany with 2^nd/4^th DWR, was reported as having failed to report on time on the expiry of his leave; he would remain absent for a further seven days and on reporting back would be ordered to undergo ten days’ Field Punishment no.2 and forfeit seven days’ pay. 

Wednesday 28th May 1919

Cpl. Alfred Bradbury MM (see 30^th April) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; having been wounded in action he was assessed as having a 20% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 6s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Pte. Edward Smitham, the eldest son of Sgt. George Edward Smitham (see 6^th May), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z in March, now re-enlisted, joining 83^rd Company, Labour Corps.

Tuesday 27th May 1919

A/Cpl. Nathaniel Bather (see 21^st April), serving at no.9 Rest Camp in Italy, departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

Pte. John Walter Jennings (see 11^th May), home on leave from 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was admitted to 2^nd/4^th Southern General Hospital in Birmingham having been in contact with someone suffering from measles

L.Cpl. Edward Somers (see 6^th February), serving with 3DWR, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds suffered in action; his disability was assessed as being 40%, reducing to 30%, and he was awarded an Army pension of 11s. per week for three months, reducing to 8s. 3d. and to be reviewed after one year.

Monday 26th May 1919

L.Cpl. Wilfred Henry Fiddes (see 21^st April) was formally discharged from the Army as ‘surplus to military requirements having suffered impairment since entry into the service’; he was found to be suffering from a ventrial hernia, aggravated by his service. His disability was assessed as being 10% and he was awarded a one-off gratuity payment of £100.

Lt. Robert Oswald Milligan (see 26^th November 1918) wrote to the War Office from his home on  Hanson Lane, Halifax; “I was severely wounded at Messines on June 7^th 1917 and was granted a full wound gratuity of £250. Since I was not finally discharged from hospital until July 17^th 1918 and remained unfit until Nov 25^th 1918 can you confirm pension entitlement?”.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. William Belcher (see 27^th October), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; his widow, Florence, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Sunday 25th May 1919

Ptes. Joseph William Carter (see 13^th May) and Joseph Hartley (see 18^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., were reported as ‘absent from billet until found in Main Street, Fiume, about 12 midnight’; both would be deprived of three days’ pay.

Saturday 24th May 1919

Pte. Edward Henry Chant (see 31^st January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was attached to 169^th Company, Royal Defence Corps.

An event, including a musical concert and a celebration tea, was hosted in the United Methodist Schoolroom in Cowling for returned soldiers from the village. During the interval there was a ceremony for the presentation of the Military Medal to Pte. Smith Stephenson Whitaker MM (see 2^nd February), “The Chairman said it was a great privilege to make the presentation, and it was with a sense of satisfaction and pride that one of their number had so distinguished himself in the field as to merit this award. Many more might have done similar deeds, but if such had not been under observation – and it was no part of heroism that they should be – such deeds passed unrewarded. The official account is as follows, ‘during the raid showed great ingenuity in handling his Lewis gun. Acting on his own initiative when the final objective was reached he rushed forward a considerable distance to his left flank and successfully brought fire to bear on enemy reinforcements coming up, inflicting heavy losses on them. In addition, he captured one prisoner’. This occurred on 26^th August last year, and it is a coincidence that this date is the anniversary of Private Whitaker’s Battalion of 23^rd Division going out to France three years earlier”. The Chairman also referred to Pte. Albert Christopher Benson (see 15^th January), who had been killed in action on 11^th September 1918, mentioning that Pte. Benson, “had written home shortly before he was called upon to make the supreme sacrifice that he had been awarded the Military Medal. Evidence from his comrades shows that he wore the ribbon but nothing has been heard from the military authorities since as to the handing over of the medal”.

Pte. Albert Christopher Benson

Friday 23rd May 1919

A/Sgt. William Edward Varley (see 25^th March) and Ptes. Hartley Gibb (see 18^th February), Ernest Potter (see 18^th February), Thomas Wilson Shaw (see 18^th February), James Slinger (see 18^th February), Herbert Stanley Smith (see 18^th February), Charles Sidney Taylor (see 8^th May) and John Walton (see 8^th March). serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 20^th April), who had been serving with the Labour Corps, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. He was assessed as having suffered a 20% disability on account of ‘VDH’ (valvular disease of the heart) and was awarded an Army pension of 7s. 4d. per week, to be reviewed after six months.

Mr. Sam Ogden, writing on behalf of the Hebden Bridge and District War Honours Committee, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York to acknowledge receipt of the Military Medal which was to be awarded to L.Cpl. John Henderson (see 27^th March); “It is intended that this medal be presented along with a watch at a Public Meeting to be arranged, and as there are a fair number to deal with, it may be some weeks before the meeting is held. I will, however, keep in mind the necessity for this man to sign the form of receipt you sent along with the medal and after it is presented, I will send the receipt on to you”.

Following the appeal the previous week for information regarding Pte. Alfred Spencer (see 16^th May), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since 20^th September 1917 and had since been presumed dead, a further article appeared in the Craven Herald.

SUPPOSED CLUE TO 'MISSING' EARBY SOLDIER

'Craven Herald' Photo Recognised

 The photograph of Lance-Corporal Alfred Spencer, which appeared in the "Craven Herald',' last week, accompanied by a request for information, was answered more promptly than usual in such cases, and in a manner that has revived confident hopes of his being still alive. Lance-Corporal Spencer served with the 10th Battalion West Riding Regiment in France and was posted as 'missing' September 20th, 1917. On Sunday morning last the parents of the missing man, who reside at 13 Cowgill Street, Earby, received a letter from ex-Private Thomas Laytham (see 19^th March), of Settle, stating that he recognised the photograph at the first glance as that of a comrade of the same name with whom he had been serving in Italy since the latter part of 1917 up to demobilisation a short time ago. In order to test the accuracy of the information a brother of Lance-Corporal Spencer went over to Settle on Monday and saw Laytham, who not only adhered confidently to his statement, but obtained corroboration from another pal at Settle, who also instantly recognised the photo as that of the missing Lance-Corporal. Both agreed in describing Spencer's personal characteristics, and remarked upon his occasional periods of absent-mindedness and incoherency suggested of having suffered from shell shock. They also furnished the missing man's brother with an address in Italy to which enquiries have now been sent. No communication of any kind has been received from Lance-Corporal Spencer since the date above mentioned. The case has naturally aroused much speculation and interest in Earby and further developments are anxiously awaited.

Pte. Alfred Spencer

Thursday 22nd May 1919

Pte. Henry Edgar Grass (see 27^th March), serving in India with 1DWR, was appointed (Acting) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Samuel Wilkinson (see 4^th April), who was under treatment for gonorrhoea at 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester, was reported as, ‘breaking out of hospital and absent without leave from 9pm until 9.30pm’; four days later he would be discharged from hospital and posted to 2DWR.

Pte. Herbert Greenwood Audsley (see 5^th January 1918), who had been serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to defective vision. A medical report recorded that, “His sight has been bad since he was five years old. At 10 or 12 years old he was operated on for double cataracts. Was classed A1 on enlistment and was not examined he says. Was sent to France where he was at once sent to ophthalmic surgeon who recommended him for permanent base duties. Medical Board then marked him unfit for service in France and he was sent to England where he was recategorized Cii. This man is quite unfit for guard duty and should only be in an employment battalion at most. I recommend he be demobilized”. Although it was stated that his disability was neither due to, nor aggravated by, active service, he was awarded an Army pension of 16s. 6d. per week for 15 months.

Wednesday 21st May 1919

Major Lewis Ernest Buchanan (see 2^nd October 1916) former 2IC of 10DWR, who had been serving in England since 1916, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and President of an Area Quartering Committee.

Pte. Robert Ellis Clayton (see 22^nd March), who had been recently transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, re-enlisted, joining the Labour Corps.

In reponse to a recent request from the War Office, 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain MC (see 19^th May) submitted his written statement regarding raid on the Asiago Plateau in August 1918 in the course of which 2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 4^th May) had been killed. 

“In the raid carried out by the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment on August 26^th 1918 my Company had the right front of the Battalion of which my platoon was the left. Behind me followed No.6 Platoon under the command of 2Lt. A.E. Pass. I spoke a few words to Mr. Pass a few minutes before Zero, 11pm (sic.). I saw nothing more of him until our work was nearing completion about twenty minutes later when I ordered the few remaining men with me to evacuate the position we held at the Railway Cutting at “Post Spur”. It was as the last few men were scrambling up the embankment and as I looked round to see if all the men were clear, that I saw one figure slip back. I stopped the last man near me, Pte. Northrop (Pte. William Northrop, see 28th February), afterwards killed, to help me if required. The figure I recognised as the late 2Lt. Pass and I spoke to him.

The position we were in was being heavily swept by the fire of about 15 Austrian machine guns and much trench mortar and artillery fire. 2Lt. Pass was suffering from abdominal wounds and unable to walk or help himself. How many or of what kind I cannot say. The state of the position making it inadvisable to attend to them there and then if anyone was to return with a report, I decided to carry him with the help of Pte. Northrop and we proceeded slowly over about 50 yards to the outside edge of the inner belt of the Austrians wire defences. Here, Northrop was wounded for the second time during the evening in the shoulder supporting 2Lt. Pass, rendering him of no further help to me, so I ordered him to cut along alone whilst I made an effort to carry 2Lt. Pass myself. I was not very strong by this time with the exertion and excitement of the raid and the three wounds I had received giving more trouble to me. I carried 2Lt. Pass however to the outer belt of the enemy defence about another hundred yards when an Austrian heavy shell burst behind us, throwing us both into a shell hole.

Being in need of breath we rested a few moments and when I enquired whether we should continue 2Lt. Pass was unconscious, haemorrhage having set up and blood oozing from his mouth. I was arrested from investigating whether he was still living by a Very light burning on the ground showing up two live Austrians about twenty-five yards away, who had evidently seen us, covering us with their rifles, there was nothing left for me but to go for them. I did, and killed them both. After this my mind had turned itself to my own men and getting away from that dangerous area having given 2Lt. Pass up as died from wounds.

When I eventually arrived at Raid HQ I reported how and in what condition I left 2Lt. Pass and afterwards plotted out, whilst in hospital, where he finally fell.

I heard from Mr. Pass, Lt. Pass’ father, a few weeks ago and when he visited me told him in person the details mentioned here. I have every reason to believe that I was the last British Officer or man now living who saw 2Lt. Pass, not meeting with any of my own men myself for quite three hundred yards nearer our own lines after I settled the Austrians”.

2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass

A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. Percy James Dawson (see 29^th March), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since the crossing of the Piave in October 1918; his widow, Elizabeth, was awarded £1 12s. 1d. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Thomas Shepherd (see 15^th March), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; his widow, Florence, was awarded £1 5s. 5d. per week.

Tuesday 20th May 1919

Cpl. Harry Wood MM (see 5^th May) underwent a further operation at the Royal Infirmary in Manchester; his shoulder wound was ‘scraped and packed with B.I.P’; subsequent reports over the following weeks would establish that the discharge from the wound gradually diminished. However, a further operation would subsequently be required.

Maj. William Norman Town (see 30^th April) was officially released from the Army; he completed his paperwork at no.1 Dispersal Unit at Ripon and gave his address as c/o Joseph Town & Sons, Back Albion Street, Leeds.

Pte. Charles Oldham (see 23^rd September 1918), who had been serving with 5DWR, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A payment of £14 4s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £12) to the late Pte. James Isaac King (see 24^th April) who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Sarah Lester, resident of Herndon, West Virginia, USA.

Monday 19th May 1919

Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 13^th May), who had been recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, married Edith May Brumfitt at the Parish Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale; Beaumont was now working as an attendant at the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Menston.

The War Office wrote to Alfred Pass snr., the father of 2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 4^th May), who had been officially missing in action since the raid on the Asiago Plateau in August 1918, and who had recently been confirmed as presumed dead. “I am directed to thank you for your letter of 28^th April 1919, and to state that unofficial information concerning the burial of an officer who is believed to be 2Lt. A.E Pass, has been received from Major Town. A copy of his report is enclosed. I am to state that this report is being referred to the Director General of Graves Registrations and Enquiries with a view to the location of the grave. A letter has also been addressed to Lt. Bain (2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain MC, see 28^th April) requesting him to forward all the information in his possession regarding the fate of 2Lt. Pass. A further communication will be addressed to you when a reply has been received”.

2Lt. Alf Pass

Sunday 18th May 1919

Pte. Ernest Carter (see 4^th January 1917) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had originally served with 10DWR and had been attached to 69^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery, but at some point (date and details unknown) had been transferred to 2DWR.

Saturday 17th May 1919

A/Cpl. Rowland Firby (see 22^nd April), serving in France with 13DWR, was promoted Acting Lance Sergeant.

Friday 16th May 1919

An appeal was published in the Craven Herald for information regarding Pte. Alfred Spencer (see 20^th September 1918), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since 20^th September 1917 and had since been presumed dead.

EARBY - MISSING SINCE SEPTEMBER, 1917

We give a photograph of Lance-Corporal Alfred Spencer, 10th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, whose home was at 13 Cowgill Street, Earby. He has been missing since September 20th, 1917, and nothing has been heard of him. If anyone can throw any light, upon his whereabouts the family will be deeply grateful.

Pte. Alfred Spencer

Thursday 15th May 1919

Pte. John William Dean (see 10^th March), serving in Germany with 2^nd/4^th DWR, departed on two weeks’ leave to England.  

Pte. Harry Barraclough MM (see 25^th February), who had been in England since February, was transferred to 1^st Battalion Machine Gun Corps, based at Grantham.

Pte. Michael Kenefick MM (see 21^st June 1918) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; he had, at some point in the previous year (details unknown) been transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. A medical examination conducted at the Auxiliary Hospital in Woolwich prior to his transfer to the Reserve found that he had an ‘old bullet wound across the back; pain between shoulders; unable to carry weights; small scars of entry and exit wounds to back; quite healed’; he was thus found ineligible for any Army pension.

A payment of £54 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £31) to the late Sgt. Richard Everson DCM, MM (see 24^th January) who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Anne Elizabeth.

Sgt. Richard Everson DCM, MM

Wednesday 14th May 1919

L.Cpl. John Jackson (19555) (see 16^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was reported for ‘not complying with an order’; he would be ordered to undergo four days’ Field Punishment no.2.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. William Allen Sayer MM (see 29^th March), who had died of wounds on 30^th October 1918; his widow, Maria, was awarded 27s. 11d. per week for herself and her two children.

A payment of £15 11s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity) to the late Pte. James Adams (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1918; two thirds of the payment would go to his widow, Susan, with two-thirds specifically for the benefit of their children.

Tuesday 13th May 1919

Pte. Joseph William Carter (see 10^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs., was admitted to hospital (details unknown) but would be discharged and re-join his Battalion after three days.

Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 7^th May), who had been recently transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, was examined by a Ministry of Pensions Medical Board in Leeds. The findings of the Board were that Pte. Beaumont “says his vision was equal on enlistment, but this is not recorded. He was struck on the face in October 4^th 1916 with splinters of shell and has had no vision in his left eye since. There are no changes and the refraction is normal. I have no record of his previous vision but believe that the vision of his left eye has always been defective”. It was concluded that the problems with his vision were neither caused, nor aggravated by, active service.

A payment of £27 3s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Frederick Fielden (see 21^st November 1918), who had died of wounds on 6^th September 1918; the payment would go to his sister, Elizabeth, Pte. Fielden having dictated a new will shortly before his death, removing all reference to his wife, who had since re-married.

Monday 12th May 1919

Pte. Eli Bradley (see 14^th April) was transferred from the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton to a Dispersal Hospital, also in Brighton, in preparation for discharge from the Army; he had been suffering from malaria.

Pte. John James Pickering (see 26^th February), who had recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z, was reassessed by an Army Medical Board and awarded a one-off gratuity of £35 as a result of the wound he had suffered in action in October 1918.

A pension award was made in the case of the Pte. Joseph Henry Haywood (see 10^th April) who had died from influenza and broncho-pneumonia in October 1918; his widow, Edith, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.

A parcel of personal effects belonging to the late Pte. Noah Davis (see 10^th April), who had died of pneumonia and jaundice on 1^st September 1918 was despatched to his widow, Helena; the parcel comprised of ‘disc, photos, cards, wallet, blades in case, pencil case, silver ring (broken), cap badge, belt, note book’.

Sunday 11th May 1919

Cpl. Victor Race MM (see 4^th March) and Ptes. Albert Edward Victor Harris (see 18^th February), John Walter Jennings (see 18^th February), Lancelot Johnson (see 18^th February) and Albert Stanley (see 18^th February), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Cpl. Albert George Ashton (see 10^th September 1917) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z; having been found to be suffering from ‘defective vision, aggravated by active service’, he was assessed as having a 20% disability and awarded an Army pension of 6s. per week.

Pte. William Douglas (see 10^th April) was also officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Saturday 10th May 1919

Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne DSO, MC (see 11^th March) formally relinquished his commission ‘on completion of service’.

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

Friday 9th May 1919

Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 17^th January), commanding 5^th (Pioneer) Battalion South Wales Borderers, was promoted Colonel.

Col. Robert Richmond Raymer

Pte. Charles Clear (see 28^th February), serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment, was posted back to the Regimental Depot in Lincoln; three days later he would be formally transferred to 2^nd Battalion.

Pte. Bertie Cox (see 25^th April) was posted back to England for demobilization on compassionate grounds (details unknown).

Pte. Albert Greenwood (see 2^nd December 1918), who had been in England since having been wounded on 27^th October 1918, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service 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.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Cpl. William Frederick Ackrill (see 27^th March) who had been killed in action on 24^th October 1918; his mother, Minnie, was awarded 5s. per week.

A pension award was made in the case of the L.Cpl. Ernest Pearson MM (see 12^th April) who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; his widow, Sarah, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her daughter.

Rev. A. Tattersall, minister of the Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bristol, replied to the Infantry Record Office in Warwick regarding Pte. Walter William Ford (see 30^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 am sorry my answer to you has been delayed owing to the fact I have been away from home. Pte. W.W. Ford enlisted in the 4^th Glosters. I believe he was transferred several times when in France, but eventually to the 3^rd Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. His number was 25808. That I trust will enable you to make your records clear”.

Thursday 8th May 1919

L.Cpl. Charles Sidney Taylor (see 12^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, was reported for drunkenness; he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to Private.

Pte. Ernest Mudd (see 9^th April), who was serving at the Regimental Depot in Halifax, was reported as ‘absent from tattoo’; he would return at 9.30am the following day and would be ordered to be confined to barracks for two days and forfeit one day’s pay.

Pte. Herbert Archer (see 13^th February), who had been in England since having been wounded on 27^th October 1918, was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z. Having been wounded in action he was assessed as having suffered only a 1% disability and was awarded a one-off gratuity payment of £32 10s.

Pte. Herbert Haigh was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds suffered in action; he was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded an Army pension of 12s. per week, to be reviewed after one year. Herbert Haigh was 37 years old and from Huddersfield; he had enlisted in December 1915 and had only ever served with 10DWR, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to establish any details of his service

A payment of £18 6s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £7) to the late Pte. Harry Douglas Peate (see 27^th October 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Eva.

Following the recent request from the War Office to GOC, British Forces in Italy regarding 2Lt. Lawrence Tindill MM (see 30^th April), who had been officially missing in action since 21^st June 1918, a reply was received: “I beg to inform you that the bodies of a 2/Lt and a Corporal of the 10^th West Riding Regiment were found by one of our search parties at map reference, sheet 37 H.7152 Asiago Plateau 1/25,000 and the Adjutant of the Battalion stated that he was of the opinion that they were those of  2/Lt Tindill MM and 203385 Cpl. Robinson, J, (Cpl. Joseph Robinson, see 7^th November 1918), who were missing during a raid made on that part of the enemy lines corresponding to the map reference at which the bodies were found. The body believed to be that of 2/Lt Tindill has been buried in Barenthal British Cemetery, Plot 3, Row B, Grave 5. Further enquiries from the 10^th Bn West Riding Regt. cannot now be made as the cadre of this Btn proceeded to England on 29^th March 1919”.

Wednesday 7th May 1919

Gnr. Harry Beaumont (see 17^th February), serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery in France, was evacuated to England and admitted to Barnet War Hospital; he was suffering from ‘pityriasis rubra’ (a chronic skin complaint). Harry Beaumont was the elder brother of Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 26^th April), who had recently been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A further payment, of £12 6s. 6d. was authorised, being an additional amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Thomas Henry Hemingway (see 24^th April), who had been killed in action on 27^th October 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Ann, but specifically for the benefit of their two sons, Eric and Ronald.

A payment of £37 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £24 10s.) to the late Pte. William Mellor (see 26^th October 1918) who had died from influenza and pneumonia in October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Harriet.

Tuesday 6th May 1919

L.Cpl. Herman Tutty (see 27^th April), who was home on leave from 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, wrote to the Infantry Records Office in York, “Can you kindly give me any satisfaction referring to my situation which is being held open for me. My employer (Mr. Page of Waddingham) sent in an application for me some time ago stating he would employ me on his farm as soon as I could possibly be set at liberty and I have heard no further about it and as I am in England I should be much obliged if you would give me some satisfaction so as to let my employer know what to do before my life is expired”. The nature of the reply he received is unknown, but he would re-join his Battalion on schedule.

CSM Fred Pattison DCM (see 5^th April), A/CSM Middleton Busfield MSM (see 5^th April), A/CQMS George Alfred Giles (see 5^th April), Sgts. Herbert Grayshon (see 5^th April), John Scott (see 5^th April), Harry Smith (12240) (see 5^th April), George Edward Smitham (see 5^th April) and James Wilcox (see 5^th April); L.Sgt. Harold Bray (18231) (see 5^th April); Cpls. Charles Brown (see 5^th April) and John William Warner (see 5^th April), L.Cpls. Harry Leaper (see 5^th April), Percy Simpson (see 5^th April) and Victor Lawson Smith (see 5^th April); and Ptes. John Stanley Armitage (see 5^th April), William John Beeby (see 5^th April), Joe Arthur Bentley (see 5^th April), John Blackburn (see 5^th April), Leonard Briggs (see 5^th April), Samuel Cordingley (see 5^th April), David Eli Dyson (see 5^th April), Leonard Ealham (see 20^th September 1917); Albert Edon (see 29^th March), James Albert Garbutt (see 5^th April), George Green (22749) (see 5^th April), Joseph Hirst (29641) (see 5^th April), James Knight (see 5^th April), Tom Midgley (see 5^th April), Henry Pike (see 5^th April), Tom Platts MM (see 5^th April), James Proctor (see 5^th April), Eddy Speak (see 5^th April), Alfred Spence (see 5^th April), Samuel Stansfield (see 5^th April), William Stokes (see 5^th April), Harry Sugden (see 5^th April), Albert Edward Trevor (see 5^th April), Fred Melton Vasey (see 5^th April), George Wheatley (see 5^th April) and Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 5^th April) were officially transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Andrew Davidson (see 15^th March), who had died of wounds on 29^th October 1918; his widow, Catherine, was awarded 25s. 5d. per week for herself and her two children.

Monday 5th May 1919

Cpl. Harry Wood MM (see 9^th April) was transferred from Jericho Military Hospital, Bury to the Royal Infirmary in Manchester, in readiness for a further operation.

A/CQMS Bertie Thurling (see 12^th April), who had been on attachment to 505^th Prisoner of War Company at San Bonifacio, was posted back to England for demobilization. However, due to an administrative error, he would, a week later, be reported as ‘absent without leave’ from Arquata Scrivia.

Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 17^th September 1918), serving in France with the ASC, was posted to England for demobilization.

Ptes. James Butterworth (see 4^th April), Joseph Alfred Formby (see 4^th April), Louis Frank Lewis (see 4^th April), Albert Mellor (see 4^th April), Maurice Paignton (see 4^th April) and John Watson (see below) were formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

John Watson 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 or establish any details of his service.

Pte. William Carver (see 6^th November 1918), who had been serving with 273^rd Employment Company at GHQ, Italy, was also formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. James Charles Eugene O’Callaghan (see 11^th September 1918), who had been in England since having been severely wounded on 7^th June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit due to his wounds. His disability was assessed as being 50% and he was awarded an Army pension of 13s. 9d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Sunday 4th May 1919

Pte. Frank William Rabjohn (see 21^st April) was posted back to England for demobilization.

Pte. James Frederick Coldwell (see 8^th March), serving with 8^th Yorks. and Lancs. at Fiume, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

2Lt. William Jones MM (see 21^st April 1918) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer medically fit for service on account of “right mastoid operation; rheumatism; D.A.H contracted on active service” (D.A.H. was Disordered Action of the Heart' otherwise known as 'Soldier's Heart' or 'Effort Syndrome'). He was at the time attached to 1/6 Cyclist Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. His address on discharge was to be Knot Hill, Armathwaite, Carlisle.

Cpl. Albert Leech (see 8^th September 1917) and Ptes. William Edmond Smith (see 4^th April) and Arthur Walter Williams (see 4^th April) were formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Following the recent correspondence from Alfred Pass snr., the father of 2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 28^th April), who had been officially missing in action since the raid on the Asiago Plateau in August 1918, the War Office now confirmed that “No further official report has been received. Enquiries through the Netherlands Legation have been without result. In view of the lapse of time since anything has been heard of this Officer his name is put forward for presumption of death”.

2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass

Saturday 3rd May 1919

Pte. Percival William Hall (see 4^th October 1918), who had been serving with 1034 Labour Company, based at San Bonifacio, was posted back to England to join 3DWR, then based at Crosby.

Pte. Rowland Fishwick was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to wounds suffered in action; he was awarded the Silver War Badge. He had originally enlisted in December 1916 and had only ever served with 10DWR but, in the absence of a surviving servce record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish any details of his service.

An administrative note was made recording the fact that the Silver War Badge which had been awarded to Pte. Walter White (see 10^th August 1918), who had served with 10DWR before being transferred to the Labour Corps, had been ‘brought in by police’.

A payment of £21 7s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £12) to the late L.Cpl. William George Golding (see 24^th April) who had been killed in action in October 1918; the payment would be divided between his father, Frederick, who would receive £8 7s. 6d. and Daisy M. Hughes, who would receive £13.

A payment of £46 7s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances (including a war gratuity of £24) to the late Pte. Edward Victor Grubb (see 20^th December 1918) who had died from influenza and pneumonia in October 1918; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Sgt. James Robinson (see 26^th August 1918), who had been presumed dead having been reported missing in action in Augsut 1918; his widow, Annie, was awarded £1 2s. per week for herself and their son, Leslie.

Friday 2nd May 1919

Pte. Fred Hird (see 3^rd January) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Instructions were issued from the Infantry Records Office in York regarding Pte. Harold Deighton (see 20^th April), “This man came to England on leave in December last and the 10^th Battalion having since been disbanded, he resumed his pre-war employment. He is not eligible for demobilization. Please therefore issue the necessary reporting instructions to him and forward a railway warrant”. Pte. Deighton would accordingly be ordered to report to 3DWR at Crosby on 10^th May.

Pte. Job Kayley (see 19^th March), who had been transferred to the Reserve six weeks previously, was married, at Long Preston, to Fanny Cave, with Sgt. William Proctor (see 6^th April), who had enlisted with him in 1914, as his best man.

Thursday 1st May 1919

2Lt. Fred Swale (see 27^th February), serving with 9^th West Yorks., was promoted Lieutenant.

Lt. Fred Swale with his wife

Image by kind permission of Joan Rigg and family

L.Cpl. Robert Holdsworth (see 1^st June 1917) was formally transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z.

Pte. Robert Henry Arnold MM (see 19^th March) wrote, from his home at Rathduff House, Golden, Cashel, County Tipperary, to the Infantry Records Office in York, “I am writing to find out if I can get the Military Medal, the ribbon of which I received whilst on active service in Italy. I was awarded the medal for service rendered in a bombing raid which took place on the night of 25^th and 26^th of June 1918. My regimental number is 29563 and my regiment 9 Platoon, C Company, 10^th West Riding Regiment. I have been demobilized about two months. So will you inform me at earliest possible date if I could get the medal as I am now residing in Ireland”.

A payment of £11 18s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Cpl. Thomas Lloyd (see 11^th October 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1918 while serving in France with 1^st/7^th DWR; the payment would be divided between his adoptive mother, Mrs. Marian Bottomley, who received £6 8s. 2d., and his brother, Charles, who received £5.