November 1918         War Diary of the 1/4th  York & Lancaster Regiment (part of the 148th  Brigade of the 49th  Division) for the period when William Houseman was in France.

Fri 22nd


RAIMBEAUCOURT - Strength 37 Offs & 642 O.R’s - about 70 men on leave. Training as per programme.

23rd

Brigade Gymkhana - we gained 1st & 2nd in N.C.O.’S race (5 furlongs): 1st & 2nd in Bde Sweepstakes ( 6 furlongs, 5 jumps): 2nd in platoon officers race ( 4

furlongs, 3 jumps): 2nd & 3rd in mule race.

Sun 24th

Divine Service in Cinema at 11.00hrs . Football Match, Officers v Sergeants resulting in an easy victory for the Sergeants (5-0)

25th

Training as per programme (attd). Great improvement in billets and streets.

   26th

Brigade Ceremonial Parade - drill was not bad for 1st attempt. 2 Offs. joined. Elementary Education from 09.00 - 10.00 hrs daily.

27th    

Training as per programme. Divisional General inspected all billets, recreation room, cookers etc. He was pleased with the work that had been done and complimented O.C. A Coy as his were exceptionally good. Draft of officer & 75 O.R’s arrive, all from D.L.I with a few month’s service, turnout and appearance poor.

Inter platoon Football.

28th

Salvage. Voluntary Education from 17.00 - 18.30 hrs daily. Draft of 31 O.R’s.

29th

Salvage. Strength 39 Offs & 774 O.R’s. About 90 men on leave.

30th

Battalion Ceremonial Parade. Inter platoon Football.

   

                   

December

Sun 1st


Divine Services - C of E parade service in Cinema at 10.00 hrs. Coy football matches in afternoon.

2nd

Brigade Ceremonial Parade near LE FOREST. New draft paraded with batt’n for forst time. G.O.C considered the drill good on the whole.

3rd


Elementary and Voluntary (advanced) Education - Corps Commander awarded foll. Honours: Bar to M.M. - L/CL HURD. J. M.M : M.M. - C.S.M. WASH, A/C S.M. DAVISON C.M, Ptes JOW, BAKER. F. NICHOLS.

4th


Education and Salvage. Ranges allotted to B Coy for voluntary competitions including ‘Pool Bull’. Inter platoon Football Competition - Brigade Mounted Paper Chase

5th


Education & Salvage. Brigade Guard found by B Coy . 1st round of Div Football Competition , we drew with Divnl. Train. 0-0

6th


08.45-09.45. Education - 10.00-11.00 Platoon Training - 12.00-13.00 Battalion Drill. Range allotted D Coy 14.00-18.00.

Strength 40 Officers , 774 O.R’s. 2 O.R’s joined.

7th


Brigade Ceremonial Parade near LE FOREST. Marched past Divisional Cmdr. who presented medal ribbons to recipients after advance in ??.

Sun 8th


Divine Services - C of E parade service in Cinema at 09.45 hrs. Brigade Guard found by C Coy. Football match against Div Train replayed at LE VINCY, 20 minutes extra time played, resulted in 1-0 in our favour.

9th


Education and Salvage. N.C.O’s classes under adjutant R.S.M. and specialist instructors. Inter platoon matches.

10th


Education & Salvage - N.C.O classes. Platoon matches

11th


Inspections, education & Salvage. N.C.O classes. Brigade Guard found by D Coy. D Coy marched to DOUAI for 48 hours guard over ration trains and station.

1st Corps races at MOUCHIN.

12th


Education - Platoon Training - Battalion Ceremonial Parade. 2nd Round of inter battalion Football competition - we played D.A.C on their ground and won 5-4 , 20 minutes extra time.

13th


Brigade Ceremonial Parade - Platoon matches. A debate in Battn. Recreation room : Proposed that professionalism ruins sport,

     14th


RAIMBEAUCOURT - Education - Battalion Ceremonial Parade with transport. Battalion Concert at 18.00 hrs in Cinema.

Sun 15th


Divine Services - C of E Parade Service at 10.00 hrs in Cinema. Inter Coy Football.

16th


Divisional Ceremonial Parade near AUBY. General A. GODLEY Cmdg XXII Corps inspected the Divison and took the salute. )

  17th


Rifle & Bayonet Inspection - Education - Salvage- N.C.O’s classes. Range allotted to A Coy. Brigade Guard found by B Coy. Draft of 17 O.R’s arrived

18th

Inspections - Education - Salvage - N.C.O’s classes. Range allotted to B Coy

19th

Inspections - Education - Salvage - N.C.O’s classes. Range D Coy. 148 Bde mounted paper chase. Met at MONCHEAUX church . Daily class commenced for all unable to read and write.

20th


Education - Platoon Training on lines of Divisional comptition. Range allotted to A Coy 11.00-13.00. Brigade Guard found by C Coy. Platoon cross country run.

21st


As per previous day. 3rd round Div Football competition. 245th Bde RFA did nit arrive for match.

Sun 22nd


Divine Services. C of E Parade Service in Cinema.

23rd


Education - Salvage - Brigade Gurad found by D Coy. Match v 245 RFA played on our ground, we won 3-0.

24th


Same programme as for previous day. Draft of 4 O.R’s arrived.

25th


Holiday

26th


Holiday

27th


Education - Platoon Training.

28th


Same training as for previous day. Brigade Guard found by A Coy

Sun 29th


Divine Services

30th


Education - Salvage

   31st


Education - Salvage

January 1919

1st


RAIMBEAUCOURT - lights out 00.30 hrs. Education7 Salvage 09.00-13.00. Revolver classes for Nos 1 & 2 L Gun teams under SGT SIDDALL. Tactical Scheme for platoon Cmdrs. Under MAJOR HUSWORTH M.C.

2nd


Education and Platoon Training - Censorship of letters discontinued. Platoon Football.

3rd


Education and Platoon Training - Battn Shorthand & Bookkeeping classes commenced. Column Party returned from England. 9 O/.R demobilised.

4th


Education - A Coy on guard at DOUAI. B & C Coys Platoon training. D Coy attack scheme. 2 men demobilised.

Sun 5th


Divine Services - C of E in Cinema at 11.00 hrs. Lecture at LE FOREST by Mr Hattan ‘ The Individual and the Nation’s Health’

6th


Education & Salvage. Revolver practice on Range for no 1 & 2 L.G. A & B Coys. Brigade Guard found by d Coy. 2 men demobilised. Final of Inter Battalion Football competition - played against 6th Bn W Yorks who won 1-0. VIII Corps Point to Point Races.

7th


Education & Salvage - Revolver practice for No 1 & 2 L Gun C & D Corps. On Salvage days Battn always to provide working party of 30 O.R for R.E at MALBOIS CHATEAU, also party of 10 O.R for Bde Signals Practice for Tug of War.

8th


Lecture in Cinema on ‘ Home Government’ by Capt Farrer. Salvage. Coy classes for untrained L Gunners resumed

9th


Education. 10.30 Battn Ceremonial Parade. The Colours were saluted and formally received. .

10th


Education - Platoon Training - C Coy their bes platoon for Inter Paltoon Competition - Inspection of all horses at 10.30 - Regtl barbers shop opened.

11th


Education & Platoon Training. Platoon Football. 1914-15 Star to be worn by all ranks eligible. 1 man demobilised. Lecture on ‘Housing’ by Maj Unsworth.

Sun 12th


Divine Services. Brigade Guard found by B Coy. Cy Football matches. 2 OR demobilised.

13th


Education & Salvage. Practice Hockey matches

14th


Following honours awarded. MC to MAJ G.G UNSWORTH, CAPT R.M.WILKINSON and R.S.M S.MISSON DCM MM.; THE DCM TO L/CPL EYRE.J MM. Mentioned in despatches Jan 1st 1919. CAPT P.A.BRANSON, SGT F SPRIGGS. Box respirator inspection. 19.30 - Lecture by Rev E Hall in Cinema - Subject ‘Town Planning’. 6 men demobilised.

15th


09.15 hrs - Lecture by Capt Burton on ‘ War Material’. 10.15-13.00 Salvage. Adjutant’s class for NCO’s. 2 men demobilised. Platoon football and hockey.

16th


Education & Platoon Training. NCO class - Testing of new magazine for rifles .

17th


Eduaction - Part 1 of Platoon Competition to judge best platoon to represent battn in Inter Platoon Competition. Box Respirator Inspection.. Lecture at LE FOREST by Rev Armstrong - subject ‘Civilisation and the War’. Platoon Footbll.

18th


Education - Part2 of Platoon Competition - No 6 Platoon, b Coy won. Brigade Guard found by D Coy. 3 OR demobilised. Education (compulsory) extended to 1.5 hrs per day. 5 O.R’s joined. Rugby match- 148 I.B v Divnl. Artillery - lost 0-17.

Sun 19th


C of E Services 11.000 hrs in Cinema. Officer’s conference 10.00hrs. Football Match (Officers) ¼ v 1/5 Y & L - won 3-0. 2 O.R’s demobilise

20th


Education - Salvage - NCO clasees. Inter Coy League - C Coy v Bde H.Q - win 3-0. .

21st


Programme for week ending 26th attd. Gde Guard found by A Coy - Compulsory Recreation in afternoons started. Capt T.G.H.Burton and 6 O.R’s demobilised

22nd


Training as per programme. Hockey- A Coy. Platoon Football. 6 O.R’s demobilised

23rd


As per programme. Hockey - C Coy. Platoon Football.

24th


Education. Route March. Bde Guard found by C Coy. Hockey- D Coy. Platoon Football.

25th


Lecture by Lt Thomas on ‘New Zealand’. 11.00hrs Battalion Drill. 8 O.R’s demobilised.

Sun 26th


C of E Parade Service 10.00hrs. 2 Lt C.R.HOPE and 10 O.R’s demobilised.

27th


09.15. Pictures shown and lecture by Lt Tempest DSO MC. Education & Salvage. 9 O.R’s demobilised.

28th


Gymnasium Class 3 times a week under Sergt Spriggs. Bn Pioneers made ‘horse rings’, parallel bars, rope. 10.00hrs Lecture on ‘ Home’ by Lt Stevens. Salvage wood for own use. 17.15hrs Lecture by Capt Houlton on ‘Education’., followed by Battn concert. 2 Lt Wilkinson and 11 O.R’s demobilised.

29th


09.00-09.45. Education. 10.00 - Lecture by Capt Witts on ‘The British Empire’. Salvage. Capt L Hallam and 11 O.R’s demobilised. Hockey - B Coy.

30th


Education. P.T & B.F. 11.30 Coy Drill. Bde Guard found by A Coy. Commercial class for advanced students commenced. Hockey- D Coy.

31st


Education - Route March & Tactical Scheme by Coys. Hockey- C Coy. Platoon Football.




William Myers Houseman left France on the 30th January 1919