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