Wednesday 26th November 1919

Pte. James William Kershaw MM (12519; 60065) (see 14^th November) was formally discharged from the Army on grounds of sickness. A medical examination carried out in Halifax assessed him as having suffered less than 20% disability which was likely to last for less than six months and therefore ineligible for an Army pension. His condition was summarised as follows: “1. Frost bite (1914); nothing abnormal detected in feet now, all movements perfect. 2. Gas poisoning (1915); complains of shortness of breath, lungs clear, heart normal. 3. Gunshot wound, right leg (1916); through and through. Entrance irregular oval pear 1” inner side calf, non adherent. Exit similar scar adherent to fascia 2 ½“ behind outside scar. Some loss of muscle tissue, no bone or nerve lesion, walks well.”

Payment of a £16 10s. war gratuity was authorised in respect of the late Sgt. Norman Wilson (see 28^th March 1918) who had been killed in action in October 1917; the payment would go to his father, Joseph. Sgt. Wilson’s brother, Pte. Harold Kershaw Wilson, 21^st West Yorks., had also been killed in action, on 26^th April 1918.

Payment of a £13 10s. war gratuity was authorised in respect of the late Pte. John Buckley (see 6^th September 1918), who was presumed dead having been officially missing in action since September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Sarah.

Payment of a £9 10s. war gratuity was authorised in respect of the late Pte. Edwin Isherwood (see 10^th October 1918), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would go to his mother, Hannah.

Pte. Edwin Isherwood

Image by kind permission of Margaret Brenchley

Payment of a £9 war gratuity was authorised in respect of the late Pte. John Edward Scott (see 14^th October 1918) who had been killed in action in March 1918 while serving with 2^nd/7^th DWR; the payment would go to his widow, Ethel.