Saturday 25th May 1918

Billetted in huts at Granezza.

Moving off at 9am, the Battalion moved from Granezza via Pria del Aqua to support positions in the left sector of the Divisional Front near Cesuna, where they relieved 8^th Yorks. and Lancs.. Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18^th May) recalled that, “we went into woods above Spiazza Croce, being unable to use the huts owing to the influenza epidemic.  We had few fatal cases and a good many mild cases in the Battalion but we did not suffer as badly as some other Brigades”.  

Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 11^th May) received orders to leave 69^th Brigade and return to France to take command of 32^nd Division. A farewell dinner was held in his honour and prior to his departure Lambert issued a farewell order to the Brigade:

“In saying farewell to the Yorkshire Brigade with which he has had the honour to serve for more than two years Brigadier General T.S. Lambert desires to thank all ranks for the manner in which they have supported him, for the great gallantry in action which they have always shown and for their behaviour at all times which has given the Brigade the reputation it holds. He knows that that reputation will never fail, and that those who have served with him will always look back with pride to the days they have spent in the 69^th Infantry Brigade and the share they have taken in its victories. He wishes all ranks the best of luck. They know that his heart is always with them”.

The Divisional History noted that Lambert, “had taken a prominent and distinguished part in every great victory the Division had won. His energy and initiative, his supreme confidence in himself and his men, and, above all, his unswerving loyalty to his Divisional Commander, had been in no small degree responsible for the unbroken success of the 23^rd Division. His loss was keenly felt”.

Lt.Col. R.S. Hart DSO, 9Yorks was placed in temporary command of the Brigade.

Pte. Arthur Walton (12^th May) was reported on a charge of drunkenness; he would be immediately placed under arrest pending trial by Field General Court Martial. He would be tried and convicted a week later and be ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.1 and to be fined 10s.

Pte. Thomas Edward Laycock (see 5^th May), who had twice been reported for being drunk in the last month, was now again reported as “absent without leave from 3.45pm”; he would not return until 8.15pm the following day. The report was submitted by Sgt. Frank Shelah Gilleard (see 30^th April) and CSM Ernest James Odell (see 9th February) and on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 24^th May) Pte. Laycock would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Albert Jeffrey (see 15^th May) was reported by Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 21^st February), Sgt. Albert Blackburn (see 23^rd February), Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see 24^th February)  and Cpl. George Alma Cook (see 21^st March) for being “drunk at 2.25pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 24^th May) he would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Walter Evans (see 18^th February) was reported by Cpls. Alfred Frankland (see 9^th May), Bates (unidentified) and  Mark Butler (see 30th April) as, “drunk about 3.30pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 24^th May) he would be awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment No.1.

L.Cpl. Smith Hesselden (see 2^nd April) was reported by Sgt. Ernest Craddock (see 31^st October 1917), and Capt. Henry Kelly VC (see 7^th May) for “neglect of duty, ie whilst in charge of prisoners allowing them to get drunk”; he would be severely reprimanded by Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 24^th May).

Pte. Owen Frank Hyde (see 22^nd February) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance and 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera; he had suffered a sprained ankle.

Pte. John Newton (see 21^st March) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance suffering from “P.U.O.” (pyrexia, or high temperature, of unknown origin); he would be discharged and return to duty a week later.

Pte. James Stott (see 26^th April) was admitted to 38^th Stationery Hospital in Genoa, suffering from myalgia.

Pte. Horace Trinder (see 1^st May) was posted from Northern Command Depot at Ripon to 3DWR at North Shields.

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 10^th May), who had been severely wounded while serving in France with 1^st/4^th DWR, was transferred from 2^nd London General Hospital, Chelsea to 2^nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds. 

2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM