Friday 17th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino

Pte. Ernest Wilson (11751) (see 23^rd March) was reported by Sgts. John Stephenson (see 15^th May) and Edward Arthur Myers (see 7^th May) and Cpls. Joseph Edward Robinson (see 22^nd March) and Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 15^th March) as “absent off Commanding Officer’s parade at 2.30pm until found in billets, drunk, at 9pm”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 4^th May) he would undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Stanley Hirst (see 13^th April) was reported by Sgt. Harry Holmes MM (see 9^th May) and Cpl. Reginald Robinson (see 24^th March) for “not complying with Battalion orders”; on the orders of Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 8^th November 1917) he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Percy Harry Bentley (see 27^th March) was reported by men from the RAMC as having been drunk; he would be admonished by Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 30^th April).

L.Cpl. John Lamb Watt (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (inflammation of the connective tissue) to his neck.

Following a period in hospital (details unknown) Pte. Albert Moore (see 9^th August 1917) was evacuated to England; he was suffering from chronic bronchitis and pulmonary TB.

L.Cpl. James Barker (12288) (see 31^st March), who had been in England since having been wounded in March while serving in France with 2DWR, was discharged from Keighley War Hospital and posted to the Regimental Depot at Halifax.

Pte. Percival Albert Wiggins (see 28^th March), who had been admitted to hospital whilst home on leave, was discharged to duty from the Camp Hospital at Northern Command Depot in Ripon.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news that Pte. John Dinsdale (see 6^th October 1916) had been wounded and was in hospital in Colchester. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when, or in what circumstances, he had been wounded or when he had left the Battalion.

The same edition also reported on the presentation held in Austwick for 2Lt. Wilson Pritchard M.M. (see 6^th May) of the Army Cyclist Corps.

Presentation to an Austwick Hero. 

On Friday evening at the Church School, Second Lieutenant Pritchard, Army Cyclist Corps, elder son of Mr. W. Pritchard, Main Street, was presented with a handsome silver wristlet watch, in recognition of his having won the Military Medal for bravery on the field of battle. On August 3rd 1917, whilst acting as Corps Observer, when reinforcements were called for by a Battalion of the Gloucester Regiment. He took command of a party of 40 men and helped to repel a German counter-attack and on 5th August, after breaking through and penetrating the German lines for a considerable distance. His party was blown up in a German dug-out, and he dug out and rescued a wounded man of the Gloucester Regiment, carrying him about 1,000 yards through the German lines. The presentation on behalf of the villagers was made by the Rev. A. Ingilby, who said he was proud of the part which the Lieutenant had played. He was a man he was pleased to shake hands with. He then detailed the circumstances under which Second Lieutenant Pritchard won the Military Medal. Second Lieutenant Pritchard modestly claimed that he had only done his duty, and said that he should always value the beautiful present they had given him.

The newspaper also carried In Memoriam notices for Sgt. John Hudson (see 23rd November 1917), who had been killed in action on 23^rd May 1917

HUDSON – In affectionate remembrance of our dear pal, Sergeant Jack Hudson, killed in action, May 23rd, 1917.

His gallant life, how stored it was

With bright hopes unfulfilled.

John and George in France and Italy.

HUDSON – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Sergeant Jack Hudson, who was killed in action, May 23rd, 1917.

His did his part with a willing heart,

And the rest we leave to God.

From Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 5, Pear Tree Terrace, Bradley

 

Sgt. John (Jack) Hudson

Thursday 16th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

A Brigade exercise was carried out to simulate the Brigade supporting a British advance, and specifically to give troops practice in the use of heliograph signalling and the movement of pack mules. For 10DWR this involved one Company occupying high ground near Gobbi Bassi, west of Cornedo Vicentino, and a party of troops moving 15 mules, supervised by a mounted officer, north-west from Castelgomberto.

Pte. James Isaac King (see 18^th January), was, for a second time, reported absent without leave.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Alfred Spencer (see 20^th September 1917), who had been posted ‘missing in action’ on 20^th September 1917; his widow, Selena, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

A similar award was made in the case of the late Pte. Albert Victor Wilcock (see 20^th September 1917), who had also been posted ‘missing in action’ on 20^th September 1917; his widow, Sylvia, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.

  

Wednesday 15th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

Pte. Albert Jeffrey (see 3^rd September 1917) was reported by 2Lt. Fred Dyson (see 17^th February), Sgt. John Stephenson (see 15^th April) and L.Sgt. George Heeley (see 25^th October 1917) for being “absent from billets after roll call until 11.25pm; drunk and causing a disturbance; making an improper remark to an officer”; on the orders of Maj. William Norman Town (see 12^th May) he would undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Albert Reynolds (see 25^th April) was reported by 2Lt. Albert Joseph Acarnley MC (see 24^th March) for “neglect of duty, ie not being on parade at correct time”; he was reprimanded by Lt. Thomas Beattie (see 25^th April).

Pte. John Walter Gethen (see 12^th April), serving with 69^th Trench Mortar Battery, was again admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station; on this occasion he was suffering from ‘ICT’ (inflammation of the connective tissue) to both legs.

Pte. Thomas Walter Mellin (see 2^nd May) was posted from ‘F’ Infantry Base Depot at Etaples to return to active service; he re-joined 9DWR.

Pte. Fred Smith (15149) (see 2^nd December 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded in December 1917, was posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

At home in Bradford, Sabina McEvoy, wife of Pte. William McEvoy (see 11th April 1918), gave birth to the couple’s first child; she would be named Ellen.  

L.Cpl. Walter Maynard Willis (see 23^rd April), who had been committed to an asylum three weeks previously, was formally discharged from the Army. His wife, Jeannie, was granted a pension of 27s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed in six months’ time.


A payment of £2 17s. 1d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Fred Crabtree (see 28^th December 1917), who had been reported missing in action in May while serving with 2DWR; the payment would go to his father, Thomas.

A second payment, of 6s. 4d. was authorised, on the account of the late Pte. Francis John Bottomley (see 28^th March), who had been killed in action on 21^st November 1917 while serving with 2/4^th DWR; the payment would go to his widow, Sarah.

Tuesday 14th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

It was around this time that a photograph was taken in billets at Cornedo featuring Battalion Medical Officer Capt. Leslie Fraser Eiloart Jeffcoat (see 5^th January) (left) and 2Lt. Cyril Edward Agar (see 16^th March)  (right).

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Edwin Baldwin (see 4^th August 1917), serving in France with the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, was ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days having been reported ‘being in a street out of bounds’.

L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 3^rd April), who had been absent without leave from 3DWR at North Shields for the previous six weeks, returned to duty and was placed in detention awaiting trial.

Pte. Harry Crawshaw (see 2^nd April) reported for duty at Northern Command Depot at Ripon and was immediately admitted to hospital as still suffering from nephritis.

Pte. George King (25833) (see 6^th February), who had been evacuated to England three months previously suffering from Addison’s disease, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. and to be reviewed in one year.

A payment of £5 6s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Cawley (see 18^th October), who had been killed in action on 18^th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.


A pension award was made in the case of the late A/Sgt. James Collings (see 20^th September 1917), who had been killed in action in September 1917; his widow, Mary Ann, was awarded £1 10s. 10d. per week. 

Monday 13th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

A Brigade exercise was carried to simulate a British attack against Austrian positions on the Asiago Plateau. The exercise involved 10DWR and both 8^th and 9^th Yorks. and was be carried out on the wooded slopes of the hills south-east of Cornedo Vicentino. 10DWR were to advance to the village of Madonetta Vicario, at the top of a wooded spur of land. The difficulties of operating in a highly-cultivated area were emphasised in the Brigade order which specified that, “No crops or standing grass are to be crossed. Till the woods are reached roads and tracks only will be used”.

Pte. Sidney John Rainbow (see 30^th March) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from inflammation to both legs; he would re-join the Battalion eight days later.

Pte. George Edward Chapman (see 2^nd April), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service as a result of ‘shellshock’; he was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. per week and to be reviewed in six months.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Ernest Smith (25187) (see 7^th March), who had been killed in action on 20^th September 1917; his widow, Marian, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.

Sunday 12th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

The second part of the Brigade sports competition was held and it was noted that, “A large number of officers from outside formations attended, including H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Italy and the Commander of the 6^th Italian Army”. The event was to be held on the hilltop of Monte Verlaldo, north-east of Cornedo; it was noted that the venue was “about 1 ½ hours steep climb on foot from Cornedo”.

In the morning, to take advantage of favourable conditions, there was to be a heliograph signalling competition, but the main events were to begin from mid-afternoon. Starting at 3pm, there was to be a pack mule competition, simulating the transport of ammunition and supplies by 16 mules per unit to the top of Monte Verlaldo, with marks awarded for turnout, march discipline, loading and unloading. The same scenario was to be used for a Yukon pack carrying competition, involving 12 NCO’s and men from each Battalion. There were also Lewis Gun competitions for battalions and also for attached Italian Lewis Gun Companies. At 4pm, starting at the top of the hill, there was to be a khud race, with teams comprising of 40 officers and men from each battalion, followed half an hour later by a similar event for ‘novices’ (defined as being “men who have joined the Brigade since it arrival in Italy”) in teams of 20. For a further 10 officers and men who had not competed in the khud races there was to be a relay race. In addition to the silver and bronze medals which were to be awarded for each of the events, points would also be won towards the overall award of the Brigade trophy, in the form of the shield which Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 11^th May),  had originally provided for Brigade Sports held in March 1917. The massed bands of the Brigade provided entertainment.

Pte. Harold Charnock (see 4^th May) remembered that, “The second part of the Brigade sports was held at which the Prince of Wales was present.  We won the relay and Khud races”. This is confirmed by the Brigade War Diary, which also records that the Battalion teams were placed third in the Lewis Gun competition and fourth in the Yukon pack event. Overall, across the whole range of events conducted since March the Battalion finished second to the 11West Yorks.

Pte. Herbert Bibby (see 16^th December 1917) was admitted to 71^st Field Ambulance, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty after two days.

Pte. Arthur Walton (see 11^th January 1917) was reported by Sgt., Harry Smith (12240) (see 29^th April)  L.Sgt. Thomas Craven Patchett (see below) and Cpl. Thomas Anthony Swale (see 22^nd January) as ‘absent from roll call at 9pm’; he would not return until 7pm on 14^th May. On the orders of Maj. William Norman Town (see 10^th May), he would undergo 21 days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Thomas Craven Patchett was an original member of the Battalion; he had enlisted in 1914 aged 35 years old, at which time he had been married and working in Bradford as a sewage labourer. 

Cpl. Josias Bailey MM (see 16^th August 1917) departed on 14 days’ leave to Rome.

Pte. Robert Ellis Clayton (see 20^th July 1917), serving in France with 1^st/7^thDWR, was reported for ‘failing to comply with an order given by an NCO’; he would be ordered to undergo ten days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Cpl. Arthur Edward Hunt (see 24^th August 1917), serving in France with 266^th Area Employment Company, was reported for ‘wastage of food and insolence to a senior NCO’; he would be reprimanded but would suffer no further sanction.

Cpl. Michael Kenefick MM (see 22^nd March), who had been in England since having been wounded in September 1917, was formally transferred to 3DWR and posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to the School of Instruction at York.

Saturday 11th May 1918

Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

Pte. Louis Charles Preen (see 2^nd May), who had been in confinement for the previous ten days having been absent without leave between 25^th April and 2^nd May, was tried by Field General Court Martial. He was found guilty of being absent without leave and escaping from confinement and was sentenced to 90 days’ Field Punishment no.1. On review by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 10^th May), his sentence would be reduced to 60 days.

Sgt. Harry Clark (see 26^th February) reported at no.19 Officer Cadet Battalion at Pirbright to begin his officer training; the reason for the long delay since his having returned to England is unknown.

Pte. James Linfoot (see 9^th June 1916), who had been serving in England (details unknown) since June 1916, was transferred to the RAF as an Air Mechanic, Class 3.

A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. John Driver (see 25^th March), who had been killed in action in October 1917; his widow, Mabel, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

Image by kind permission of Andy Wade and MenOfWorth