Monday 15th July 1918

Support positions near Cesuna.

In the evening the Battalion returned to the front line north-west of Mount Kaberlaba, relieving 8Yorks, with the relief completed by midnight. These were the same positions which they had occupied in early June (see 2^nd June). Two companies would held the front line, with a third garrisoning the three redoubts which had been constructed, and the fourth in support.

On the way back into the line Pte. Herbert Crowther Kershaw (see 6^th November 1917) was injured when, “whilst leading a mule near the front line a dog caused the animal to shy and knock the injured man to the ground”; he suffered brusing to his left arm and left knee and would be admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station. 

Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West joined the battalion on attachment from 12^th Durham Light Infantry. He was 35 years old and originally from Lewisham. Before the war he had spent some time in South Africa where he had married Sarah Jane Stanley; their only daughter, Vida Evelyn, had been born in South Africa. The family had then returned to England and Herbert had worked as a clerk on the London Stock Exchange. He had volunteered for the 10^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Stockbrokers’ Battalion) and had then been commissioned in April 1915, joining 12DLI with whom he went to France in August 1915. He had been wounded on 5^th July 1916 in the actions around Contalmaison when, “a rifle bullet struck him on the inner and anterior aspect of the right thigh about two inches above the knee making a further wound about one and a half inches long”. He had been evacuated to England on 8^th July and had remained in England until re-joining 12DLI on 29^th September. He had then been injured in a fall from his horse in November 1916, suffering a broken rib and other minor injuries and had spent around two months in England before again re-joining his battalion. He had then been taken ill in August 1917 suffering from “bronchitis and asthma which have been aggravated by a slight attack of gas”; he had spent a month England before returning to France and then proceeding to Italy with 12DLI.

Maj. Hubert St. John Carr West

The arrival of Maj. Carr West may have been as a temporary replacement for Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 22^nd June) who was in temporary command of 8Yorks.

Pte. Henry Fielding (see 17^th August 1917) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged and re-join the battalion after five days.

Pte. William Baxter (see 23^rd May), serving with 17^th Prisoner of War Company, was formally transferred to the Labour Corps but would remain with same unit.

Sgt. William Alfred Walmsley Gaunt (see 5^th September 1917) was transferred to the Labour Corps to serve with 152^nd Prisoner of War Company.

Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 15^th April), serving with 3DWR, appeared before a further Army Medical Board assembled at Tynemouth. The report of the Board found simply that, “Condition very slowly improving”. The Board instructed him fit to resume light duties with 3DWR at North Shields. He was to be re-examined in two months.


A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. John Lever (see 25^th March), who had died of wounds in January while serving with 9DWR; his widow, Sarah Elizabeth, was awarded £1 9s. 7d. per week.