Thursday 13th June 1918

Billetted in huts at Granezza.

At Divisional level, orders were issued for an attack to take place on 18^th June against Austrian positions west of Asiago; 10DWR would return to the front line in the early hours of 15^th June in preparation for taking their part in the assault.

L.Cpl. Robert Hitchen (see 13th June) was admitted to 70^th Field Ambulance, suffering from suspected influenza; he would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after four days.

Pte. Herbert Williams (see 10^th May) was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from influenza. 

Pte. John Smallwood (see 24^th May) was reported as ‘absent from roll call at 9pm’; he would not return until 11pm on 15^th June. On the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 30^th May) he would be deprived of three days’ pay and undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

The case of Pte. James Isaac King (see 1^st June), who had been convicted of desertion and sentenced to five years’ penal servitude, was reconsidered and his sentence was ordered to be suspended. The reason for the suspension is unclear, but may in some way have been connected with previous service in the United States Army. Correspondence from British HQ in Italy to 23^rd Division HQ referred to, “The question of his being released from service with the British Army and returned to the American Army is being enquired into and you will be informed as to the decision in due course. This man stated in his trial that he had a pardon for his desertion from the American Army”. However, further enquiries would reveal that, “it appears that Pte. King was not pardoned but hopes were held out of a light sentence if he returned”.

Pte. Frank Easterby (see 7^th June) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro, near Genoa and posted to “Caesar’s Camp” at Arquata Scrivia; after six days he would be transferred to the Reinforcement Camp, also at Arquata Scrivia.