Sunday 8th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Pte. William Green (23560) was admitted via 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia; he was suffering from ‘venereal disease – not yet diagnosed’. He had previously served with 2DWR, 9DWR and 5DWR, but, in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish when, or under what circumstances, he had joined 10DWR.

Pte. Fred Kershaw (see 30^th August), who had been wounded ten days’ previously while serving in France with 2/7^th DWR, was evacuated to England from 12^th General Hospital at Rouen, onboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle. On arrival in England he would be admitted to Bagthorpe Military Hospital in Nottingham.

Sgt. Harry Singleton (see 9^th June), who had been taken prisoner in France in April while serving with 50^th Field Ambulance, was moved to a camp in Germany; he would later recall that, “Things began to improve when I got settled, as we got some British food from the British Help Committee in Friedrichsfeld”. He was the brother of Robert Singleton (see 14th June).

Saturday 7th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Pte. Walter Barker (see 26^th July), who had suffered wounds to his left arm on 26^th August, was transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 81^st Stationary Hospital in Marseilles.

Pte. Richard Henry Harris (see 26^th August), who had suffered a wound to his left hand on 26^th August, was transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 81^st Stationary Hospital in Marseilles.

Pte. James Percival (see 26^th August), who had suffered wounds to his left leg on 26^th August, was transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles.

Pte. Walter Eary (see 31^st August), who was being treated for a laryngeal tumour, was transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles. Whilst at Marseilles an operation would be performed to remove the tumour.

L.Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 2^nd September), who had undergone two operations since having been severely wounded in action a month previously while serving in serving in France with 2DWR, suffering a compound fracture of his left femur, was transferred from 54^th Casualty Clearing Station to 35^th General Hospital at Calais.

Pte. Edwin Baldwin (see 14^th May), serving in France with the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 9^th March), serving with 3DWR based at North Shields, was posted on attachment to a Prisoner of War camp at Catterick.

Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 15^th July), serving with 3DWR, appeared before a further Army Medical Board assembled at Tynemouth. The report of the Board found that, “This officer is boarded prior to going on a course from 9.9.18 to 27.9.18 at Cleethorpes (Lewis gun). No perceptible improvement since last board. States he is short of breath on exertion; vocal resonance and respiratory murmur still deficient right side; is not strong and feels fatigue”. The Board found him fit to continue service at home with 3DWR at North Shields. He was to be re-examined in two months.

A second payment, of £2 2s. 4d. was authorised, being a further amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Waterworth (see 16th February), who had been killed in action on 7^th June 1917; the payment would go to his father, James.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. William Kendall Lamb (see 4^th January 1918), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his mother, Margaret, was awarded 14s. per week, backdated to 16^th July.
 

Friday 6th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Pte. Michael Hannigan (see 28^th May) suffered a sprained ankle while training and would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station.

Pte. William Belcher (see 21^st July) re-joined the Battalion and was awarded seven days’ Field Punishment no.2 and ordered to forfeit three days’ pay, having been late in returning from leave to England.

Pte. Lancelot Johnson (see 26^th August), who had suffered shrapnel wounds to his left arm and thigh on 26^th August, was transferred from 29^th Stationary Hospital in Cremona to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia.

Pte. Albert Mellor (see 18^th August) was reported as “absent without leave” having failed to report for departure to Italy at the conclusion of his two weeks’ leave in England.

Pte. William Henry Jordan (see 24^th May 1917), who had been serving with 9DWR, was evacuated to England having suffered wounds to his right foot; the exact date and details of his having been wounded are unknown, as are the details of his treatment in England.

Pte. Frederick Fielden (see 2^nd September), who had been severely wounded on 20^th September 1917, died of his wounds at Edmonton War Hospital in London. His medical report stated that, “Wounds healed slowly, resulting in fair movement of arm and good of leg. Was re-admitted to Edmonton War Hospital from an auxiliary hospital complaining of pain in stomach and loss of weight. Went rapidly worse; great emaciation and continual sickness. No mass could be felt in abdomen. Sank rapidly and died at 3.55am. No post mortem allowed”. Pte. Fielden would be buried in his home town of Halifax, at Stoney Royd Cemetery.

Pte. Charles Edward Berry (see 12^th June), who had been in England since January after suffering from severe haemorrhoids, was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

A payment of £5 6s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. John Buckley (see 6^th May 1918), who was presumed dead having been officially missing in action since 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Sarah.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried a report regarding the late Pte. John William Whitfield (see 9^th October 1917), who had been officially ‘missing in action’ since October 1917. 

Linton Soldier's Sacrifice 
News has been received from the Record Office, York, by Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Whitfield, Linton, that their only son, Sapper I. W. Whitfield, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, reported wounded and missing on the 9th October 1917, is now officially stated to have been killed on that date. He voluntarily enlisted, thinking it his duty to fight for his country, in January 1915. After being trained at different camps in England, he was, in August 1915, drafted to France. After serving in the trenches for some months he was transferred to the Engineers (as platelayer) where be remained until taken back to his old regiment in September 1917. He was 25 years of age, and of a genial disposition which made him a great favourite in the village, where he will be much missed. His letters home were always bright and cheerful. Great sympathy is felt for the parents and family. Previous to joining the Army he was employed on the Yorkshire Dales Railway as a platelayer on the Rylstone section.

 

Pte. John William Whitfield

Thursday 5th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Ptes. Vernon Barker (see 16^th July), Edgar Baron (see 2^nd August), Herbert Bibby (see 7^th August), Septimus Chapman (see 5^th August), Edward Henry Chant (see 28^th August), Fred Clayton (see 9^th June), Ernest George Denyer (see 20^th May), Owen Frank Hyde (see 6^th July), William Ryan (see 1^st July) and Albert Edward White (see 6^th August) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

Ptes. Charles Knight (see 4^th July) and William Masters (see 3^rd May), who had been on attachment to a working party at Rocchetto Station, re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. Frank Tucker (see 24^th August), who was late returning from leave to England, re-joined the Battalion. Evidence of his late return would be taken from Cpl. Mark Butler (see 11^th August), A/Cpl. Victor Munnery (see 24^th August) and Pte. Wellington Baldwin (see 4^th August) and, on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 2^nd September) Pte. Tucker would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Sidney Powdrill (see 20^th August) was temporarily attached to 69^th Trench Mortar Battery.

Sgt. William Walker Rossall MM (see 6^th August) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia; he was suffering from ‘venereal disease – not yet diagnosed’.

L.Cpl. Louis Feather MM (see 28^th July) was briefly admitted to hospital (cause and details unknown); he would re-join the Battalion after two days.

Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 1^st September), who was awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial having suffered a gunshot wound to his right foot two weeks’ previously, was transferred from 69^th Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station.

Cpl. Harry Wood (see 31^st August), who was under treatment at 24^th Casualty Clearing Station having suffered severe wounds in the trench raid on 26^th August, underwent a further operation; ‘Local anaesthetic; wound of neck (left) explored; counter incision and drainage’.

Pte. Charles Frederick Riddial (see 25^th August), who was home on leave, was married, at Newsome Parish Church, to Nellie Wilkinson.

Cpl. John Dalby (see 28^th January), serving in France with 2^nd/4^th DWR, was evacuated to England having been wounded, suffering wounds to his right arm; the date of his wounding and the detail of his treatment are unknown.

Pte. William Walton (see 25^th August), who had been wounded while serving with 9DWR, was evacuated to England from 1^st South African General Hospital at Abbeville; he travelled onboard the Hospital Ship St. David and on arrival would be admitted to Barrow Red Cross Hospital in St. Leonards on Sea.
L.Cpl.  James Edward Simpson (see 28^th January), serving in France with 2^nd/7^th DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave. 


Pte. Alfred Austin Dibb (see 6^th October 1916) was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service on account of wounds; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish whether this arose from his having been wounded in October 1916 or from a subsequent incident. He was assessed as having suffered a 30% disability and was awarded the Silver War Badge and an Army pension of 12s. per week.

Wednesday 4th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Cpl. Stanley Vyvyan Golledge (see 26^th August) was promoted Acting Sergeant.

Pte. Ralph Pocock Crease (see 17^th March) was promoted Acting Corporal.

A/L.Cpl. Robert William Gough (see 6^th August) began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Pte. Francis Barrett (see 28^th July) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. Jonas Yoxall (see 20^th August), who had been wounded on 20^th August, suffering shrapnel wounds to his forehead, was transferred from 11^th General Hospital at Genoa to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.

Ptes. Thomas James Hogben (see 1^st July) and John O’Gara (see ???), who had been wounded  in June, were evacuated to England; the details of their treatment in England are unknown..

Cpl. William Foulds (see 25^th June), who had been suffering from swollen glands in his neck, was evacuated to England from 81^st Stationary Hospital in Marseilles. On arrival in England he would be admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. Having been admitted he would be operated on: “an incision was made and pus evacuated and hot fomentations applied”. 

Pte. Charles Grant (see 5^th July 1917) was evacuated to England; he was suffering from chronic conjunctivitis, but the details of his treatment are unknown.

A grant of £104 3s. 4d. was authorised, to be paid to 2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 19^th August), who had been severely wounded in April while serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR and was still at 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds.

2Lt.Billy Oldfield MM

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

A payment of £1 19s. 4d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Alfred Hirst (see 7th May), who was presumed dead having been officially missing in action since 20^th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Elizabeth.

A further payment, of £1 1s. 8d. was authorised, being an additional amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. William James Horne (see 6th May) who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Agnes.

Letters of administration were issued in regard to the estate of the late Capt. Leo Frederick Reincke (see 3^rd December 1917); administration of the estate, valued at £127 0s. 3d. was granted to Capt. Reincke’s father, Leopold.

Tuesday 3rd September 1918

In Brigade reserve camp near Cavalletto.

The Battalion was relieved by 8Yorks and moved into brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

Pte. Charles Walton (see 7^th August) was reported by Sgt. Ernest Craddock (see 26^th August) as having a “dirty bayonet on 9am parade; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 29^th August) he would be confined to barracks for four days.

Pte. Joseph William Carter (see 22^nd March) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from “inflammation of the larynx”; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion eight days later.

Pte. Fred Rawnsley (see 23rd May) was admitted to 39^th Casualty Clearing Station; he was initially diagnosed as suffering from scabies, but after five days he would be diagnosed as suffering from “mental illness, not yet diagnosed” and would be transferred to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia.

Pte. George Ingle (see 30^th August), who was being treated for diarrohea at 71^st Field Ambulance, suffered burns to his right arm when an oil lamp exploded and set light to his shirt; he was transferred to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station for further treatment.

Pte. William Atkinson (25980) (see 27^th May) was discharged from hospital in Marseilles (details unknown) and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia; he had been suffering from gonorrhoea.

Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 23^rd July), serving in France as Brigade Major to 11^th Infantry Brigade, would be awarded a Bar to the Military Cross, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Eterpigny during the period August 29th to September 3rd, 1918, when he carried out his duties as Brigade Major with great energy, being always well up in front and keeping his headquarters well informed of the progress of the fighting. He finished up at dawn on the sixth day by discovering that the enemy had withdrawn”.

Monday 2nd September 1918

In Brigade reserve camp near Cavalletto.

Ptes. John Bundy (see 21^st July) and John Henderson (see 26^th August) were appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

Pte. James Hillhouse (see 30^th May) was reported by Sgt. Wilson Allinson (see 26^th August), L.Sgt. Abel Roberts (see 27^th August) and Cpl. William Harry Hall (see 25^th August) for “hesitating to comply with an order; ie not putting on his puttees properly when ordered to do so”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 1^st September) he was to undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

L.Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 8^th August), who had been severely wounded in action a month previously while serving in serving in France with 2DWR, suffering a compound fracture of his left femur, underwent a second operation at 54^th Casualty Clearing Station. It was reported that, “wounds suppurating freely; temperature irregular; unduly rapid pulse; wounds granulating; posterior drainage established”.

L.Cpl. Frank Mallinson MM (see 19^th May), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported for “not complying with an order and insolence to a superior officer”; he was severely reprimanded but suffered no further punishment.

Pte. Frederick Fielden (see 14^th October), who had been in England since having been severely wounded on 20^th September 1917, dictated a new will; he had recently been re-admitted to Edmonton War Hospital due to ‘pain in the stomach and loss of weight’. His new will appointed one Ralph Ashton of Green Lane, Halifax, as his executor and bequeathed all his property and assets to his sister, Elizabeth Ann Fielden; thus denying his wife, Catherine, any rights to his assets. It would appear, from subsequent proceedings, that she had been estranged from him and she would be denied access to any further payments on account of ‘misconduct’.