Saturday 1st May 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Friday 30th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Thursday 29th April 1920

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 22^nd April), who was on leave having been under treatment at 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, on account of wounds he had suffered in October 1918, wrote (from his home address at Claremont House, Knaresborough) to The War Office regarding the recent decision that he was to relinquish his commission:

“On the 16^th I received from the Assistant Military Secretary, Northern Command, War Office letter saying it had been decided to gazette me as relinquishing my commission. I am a patient in Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Millbank, and, up to yesterday, was on leave for the purpose of receiving 13 weekly inocluations of autogenous serum which could be administered here to me at less expense to both the State and myself than if I had remained in hospital. I have not been discharged from hospital and the Medical Officers who recommended me this leave did so on the understanding that I was to return for further treatment at the end of it. This treatment will probably consist of an operation to my nose and a further plastic operation to my socket. I immediately wrote to the Assistant Military Secretary, Northern Command, pointing out these facts and requesting information, but have received no reply to my letter, nor to a reminder sent to him on the 22^nd. A similar letter sent to the Ministry of Pensions, Yorkshire Region, on 20^th has also received no reply. If, as I think, the relinquishing of commission is an error, I should now be back in hospital. I have, however, received no confirmation from the War Office of the month’s leave granted me by the Medical Board at York on 29^th March and no order or warrant to return to hospital. The former I need to claim the allowances to which I am entitled. I shall be much obliged if you will explain the position to me’.

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

Wednesday 28th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Tuesday 27th April 1920

Harold Drury (see 17^th April 1919), who had been formally discharged from the Army in June 1918 on account of wounds, underwent a further medical examination in Lincoln in connection with his pension entitlement. The report of the examination noted, “Complains of pain and some stiffness in left knee joint after prolonged standing or walking any distance. On examination there is a healed scar 3” long above left patella. Movements: cannot fully flex but can fully extend knee joint. No shortening. Fracture soundly healed in good alignment. Very slight thickening. Heart and lungs normal. Walks with a slight limp. No treatment.”; his degree of disability was confirmed as being 20% and his pension would be confirmed at a rate of 10s. per week.

Monday 26th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Sunday 25th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Saturday 24th April 1920

Following a review of the pension award made to John Russell (see 27^th April 1917), who had been discharged from the Army in April 1917, his assessed degree of disability was reduced to 30% and his pension to 12s. per week, pending a further review in twelve months time.

Friday 23rd April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Thursday 22nd April 1920

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 16^th April), who was on leave having been under treatment at 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, on account of wounds he had suffered in October 1918, again wrote (from his home address at Claremont House, Knaresborough) to Northern Command regarding the recent decision that he was to relinquish his commission:

“Will you kindly furnish me with a reply to my letter of 16^th as my leave presumably expires on the 28^th and  the Medical Officers who recommended that leave did so on the understanding that I would return to Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Millbank, on its expiration, for further treatment. I have not, to my knowledge, been discharged from hospital and do not wish to be absent without leave’.

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

George Herbert Lant (see 18^th February 1919), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z in February 1919, was awarded an Army pension of 8s. per week, having been accepted as suffering from a 20% disability on account of ‘D.A.H’ (D.A.H. was Disordered Action of the Heart' otherwise known as 'Soldier's Heart' or 'Effort Syndrome') attributable to his military service.

Wednesday 21st April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Tuesday 20th April 1920

John Bates (16949) (see 4^th December 1919), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z in December 1919, appeared before a Medical Board which reviewed his present condition: “Complains of pain in abdomen. Transverse scar in upper abdomen, 4 ½”, tender; wounds on right side. Abdomen moves freely; no vomiting. Tongue furred; teeth pain. Bowels regular. Looks thin and debilitated”. His pension award was confirmed and extended for a further year.

William Seymour Budd (see 6^th March 1919), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z a year previously, was assessd as having suffered a 20% disability whilst in service (details unknown) and was awarded an Army pension of 11s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Monday 19th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Sunday 18th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Saturday 17th April 1920

Following a review of the pension award made to James Bentley Crosland (see 16^th December 1917), who had been discharged from the Army in December 1917, his assessed degree of disability was reduced to 50% and his pension to £1 per week, pending a further review.

Friday 16th April 1920

Having received notification from the War Office that he should, ‘relinquish his commission on account of ill-health caused by wounds’, Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 10^th April), who was on leave having been under treatment at 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, on account of wounds he had suffered in October 1918, wrote (from his home address at Claremont House, Knaresborough) to challenge the decision:

“I am at a loss to understand this as I am at present on leave from Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Millbank, where I am undergoing treatment by the eye specialist, the nose specialist and bacteriologist. This leave was granted as the course of weekly injections I am now taking (for 13 weeks from 5^th February) could be administered here by my own doctor at less expense. It was though possible that on my return an operation to my nose would be necessary and also a further plastic operation to my socket. The Medical Board at York on 29^th March granted me a month’s extension of leave but I have not received the usual War office authority for this to enable me to claim my allowances. Will you please inform me whether or not I should report my address to the War office ten days before the expiration of my leave’.

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

Thursday 15th April 1920

The Controller of the Officers Casualties Department at the Military Secretary’s Office wrote to Pte. George Jones in answer to his query regarding his brother, 2Lt. William Jones MM (see 11^th January); “With reference to your letter of 11^th January, which has just been passed to this Department after many enquiries had been made, I am directed by the Military Secretary to inform you that it has been ascertained that No.11967 Company Sergeant Major William Jones, West Riding Regiment,was transferred to the 7^th Officers Cadet Battalion on the 10^th March 1917, and was discharged t a commission in the 3^rd Border Regiment on the 29^th March 1917. I am to add that 2^nd Lieutenant William Jones, Border Regiment, was admitted to No.2 General Hospital, Havre, on the 28^th March 1918 and discharged to duty on the 10^th April 1918. He was subsequently gazetted out of the service with effect from the 4^th of May 1919, at which date he was holding the rank of Temporary Lieutenant. No information has been received in this Department of this officer’s death.”

Wednesday 14th April 1920

Pte. Herbert Jacklin (see 11^th March) was formally discharged from the Army.


An increase was authorised in the weekly pension payable to Herbert Holt (see 16^th April 1919), who had been discharged from the Army a year previously; he was assessed as having a 30% disability his Army pension wa increased from 8s. 3d. per week to 12s.



Pte. Edward Smitham, the eldest son of Sgt. George Edward Smitham (see 22^nd November 1919), serving with 83^rd Company, Labour Corps in France, was posted back to England; he would be formally demobilized a week later.



At home in Long Preston Annie Metcalfe, wife of Harry Metcalfe (see 21^st April 1919), who had been serving from the ASC a year previously, gave birth to the couple’s first child; he would be named James Henry.

Image by kind permission of Algy Metcalfe

Tuesday 13th April 1920

Ptes. Fred Kenneth Carter (see 25^th April 1919) and Herbert Stott (see 25^th April 1919), who had been serving with 1^st (Garrison) Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, were formally ‘discharged on demobilization’.

Pte. Herbert Stott

Image by kind permission of Barry Gartside

Monday 12th April 1920

A/Maj. John Atkinson (see 28^th February), who had been released from the Army six months previously, again wrote to the War Office regarding pay and allowances due to him; “With reference to enclosed – what am I to do please? In June 1919 I received 14 days’ leave from Germany in the usual manner; while on leave my wife was taken suddenly ill and I applied to the War Office for an extension, which was granted until July 26^th. Immediately on receipt of the extension telegram from the War Office I forwarded same to DAAG of my Division (Western) who received it. I applied for lodging and ration allowance through the usual channels but I never received them. As a matter of fact I received no allowances whatsoever from June until October 13^th when I was demobilized; nor have I received them up to the present.”

Pte. Albert William Cogger (see 25^th April 1919) (40003), who had been serving with 1^st (Garrison) Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, was formally ‘discharged on demobilization’.

A review of the pension award made to John Longmire (see 5^th April 1918), who had been discharged from the Army in April 1918, led to his assessed pension being increased to 8s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

A payment of £52 9s. 10d, comprising of £29 9s. 10d. due from pay and allowances and a £23 war gratuity was authorised in respect of the late L. Cpl. Charles Dowson (see 29^th April 1919), who had been killed in action in August 1918; the payment would go to his his aunt, Ellen Wood.

Payment of a £3 war gratuity was authorised in the case of the late Pte. Arthur Goldthorpe (see 11^th April 1917), who had been killed in action in October 1916; the payment would be divided in equal shares between his married sister, Florence Rhodes, and Miss Annie E. Langford,who may have been Arthur’s sweetheart.

Pte. Arthur Goldthorpe

Sunday 11th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Saturday 10th April 1920

It was determined at the War Office that Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO (see 29^th March), who was on leave having been under treatment at 3^rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, on account of wounds he had suffered in October 1918, should ‘relinquish his commission on account of ill-health caused by wounds’. Notice of the decision would be communicated to Northern Command; the Ministry of Pensions; and to Maj. Gill himself within the next few days.

Maj. Robert Harwar Gill DSO

Friday 9th April 1920

Pte. John Henshall (see 26^th February), who had been serving with 2DWR and had been under treatment at the Military Hospital in Ripon since February, appeared before an Army Medical Board. The Board reported regarding the wounds he had suffered to his left leg in July 1916; ‘Good movement of knee; no wasting to muscles. Two small, nearly healed scars (has three needles left in a bone deep in; other two removed as they formed an abscess)’. The Board recommended that he be discharged as no longer physically fit for service on account of his wounds; he was regarded as having suffered a less than 20% disability and was awarded an Army pension (amount unknown) to be reviewed after six months.

A pension award was made in the case of Ernest Fozard (see 3^rd April 1919), who had been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z a year previously; he was now assessed as having suffered a 20% disability as a result of wounds to his left thigh (date and details unknown) and was awarded 8s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

Thursday 8th April 1920

L.Cpl. John Jackson (19555) (see 9^th December 1919), having been transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z in December 1919, applied in Manchester for re-enlistment in the Army. In response to a request by telegram for his ‘character and if eligible’, the Infantry Records Office in York would reply, ‘eligible for re-enlistment; charcter indifferent’. The outcome of his application is unknown.

Wednesday 7th April 1920

Following a review of the pension award made to Harry Pullin (see 6^th April 1919), an increase was authorised to his Army pension from 11s. to 16s. per week.

Tuesday 6th April 1920

Payment of £6 from a war gratuity of £18 was authorised in respect of the late Pte. Alfred Baker (see 25^th March 1919), who had died, apparently of heart failure, in July 1918; the payment would go to his widow, Florence. The balance, of £12, would subsequently be paid to their daughter, Nellie.


Payment of £2 from a war gratuity of £4 was authorised in respect of the late Pte. Edwin Charles Church (see 12^th January), who had been killed in action in September 1917; the payment would go to his sister, Emma. The balance, of £2, would subsequently be paid to Mrs. Annie D’Arcy, the sister-in-law of Pte. Church.


Payment of £1 8s.s 3d. from a war gratuity of £22 was authorised in respect of the late Sgt. Albert Hurford MM (see 3^rd March 1919), who had been killed in action in October 1918 while serving with 1^st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. His widow, Ida, having died in the Autumn of 1919 the payment would go to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Ada Thurlow. The balance, of £20 11s. 9d., would subsequently be paid to his brother-in-law, Arthur Cleveland Thurlow.


A payment of 3s. 2d. was authorised in respect of the late Pte. Matthew Henry Jubb (see 12^th November 1919), who had died of wounds behind German lines in April 1918, while serving with 1^st/4^th DWR. The payment arose from an amendment to the acknowledged date of death of Pte. Jubb; his date of death had originally been stated as 10^th April, but had been corrected to 12^th April, thus entitling his widow to a further two days’ of her late husband’s pay and allowances.

Monday 5th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Sunday 4th April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Saturday 3rd April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.

Friday 2nd April 1920

There is nothing to report regarding the officers and men of 10DWR.