Monday 17th June 1918

Billetted in huts at Granezza.

Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 2^nd June) and Lt. William George Wade (see 2^nd June) re-joined the Battalion following their two weeks’ leave in Italy.

At 2pm the Battalion began their previously postponed move into the same front line trenches between between San Sisto and Poslen, which they had occupied two months previously, relieving 9^th Yorks. and Lancs. However, under the the re-organisation of the front line put in place by Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO in early June (see 2^nd June), the front line itself was now to be held by two companies rather than three, and with the third company now to hold a series of strongpoints, known as Dewsbury, Hull and Fulford redoubts. 

Pte. Alfred Charles Dolphin (see 29^th October 1917) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from suspected influenza; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after five days.

Ptes. John Griffiths (see 5^th October 1917) and Joe Noons (see 29^th October 1917) were admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from scabies; both would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after eight days.

Pte. Reginald James Nosworthy (see 7^th June) was admitted via 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue).

Pte. Walter Dey (see 21^st April), who was attached to a working party to Rocchetto Station, south-east of Verona, was ordered to be deprived of two days’ pay; the nature of his offence is unknown.

Pte. Edgar Baron (see 27^th April) was transferred from 51^st Stationary Hospital in Genoa to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro, near Genoa.

Cpl. Fred Greenwood MM (24522) (see 23^rd May) was transferred from 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro.

Cpl. Walter Smith (18428) (see 20^th May) was transferred from 11^th General Hospital in Genoa to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro.

L.Cpl. John Lamb Watt (see 17^th May) and Pte. Owen Frank Hyde (see 25^th May) were transferred from 62^nd General Hospital at Bordighera to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro.

Ptes. Fred Kershaw (see 28^th January) and Edwin Wood (see 30^th July 1917), serving in France with 2/7^th DWR, were transferred to 5DWR.

Pte. John Foster (see 15^th November), serving in France with 2/7^th DWR, was admitted to a Field Ambulance unit, suffering from scabies.

Pte. Michael Hopkins MM (see 3^rd June), serving at Pirbright with 29^th Durham Light Infantry was reported as being absent; he would return to duty on 26^th June. The nature of his punishment is unknown. 

Pte. James Moran (see10^th June) appeared at Brighouse Borough Court; he was “brought up on remand and charged with the wilful murder of George Taylor Birkhead, 42, dyer, of 23 Turnpike Street, Elland. Mr. Arthur Bastide, solicitor, Brighouse, prosecuted on behalf of the Crown and Mr. R.A. Shepherd. Barrister, of Leeds, instructed by Mr. H.B. Richardson, solicitor, Brighouse, appeared for the defence. The evidence was that Pte. Moran came on escort duty and unexpectedly called at his home in the early hours of Sunday June 9^th, finding there in a bedroom George Taylor Birkhead. The men had some words and, on getting downstairs quarrelled, and the prisoner, after calling his thirteen year-old son up, and sending for his wife’s father, hit the deceased with a bayonet, cutting the jugular vein, and then telling the man to clear out. The man did so and fell dead in the yard adjoining the house. Mr. Shepherd, who pleaded not guilty on behalf of the prisoner, said he ventured to think there was no evidence of murder in the evidence. It was a case of a soldier, who was serving his country, coming home unexpectedly and finding his wife with her paramour in the house in the early hours of the morning. Moran was an affectionate husband and the circumstances were such as to excite considerable anger on his part. They must remember that Moran’s wife gave no explanation for the presence of Birkhead. He thought that the evidence was quite clear that Moran did not intend to kill the man, but to give him a sound thrashing, and surely they could not think that Moran would send for two persons – his son and his father-in-law – to witness a murder. Then, again, the man was beyond himself with rage. He asked if there was not sufficient provocation to put Moran in a frantic rage, and that it was his intention to inflict upon Birkhead a sound thrashing. If ever there was a case where a prisoner should be put on manslaughter this was one. The Bench decided to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter, considering there had been great provocation, and committed Moran to the Leeds Assizes, bail being allowed in three sureties of £50 each.