Wednesday 26th June 1918

Support positions near Mount Torle.

Over the next few days the Battalion would provide large working parties for the Royal Engineers, “for wiring and for making the strong points in front of the line and on the San Sisto Ridge”. Much of the labour was involved with creating deep dugouts which would afford greater protection against enemy shelling. Under the direction of Major Bullock of the Royal Engineers, British troops, supported by Italian labour, would create “large underground chambers by blasting down from the surface; the dugouts then being roofed by layers of heavy timber, iron and concrete”.

Pte. John Henry Fidler (see 21^st May), who had been on temporary attachment to 23^rd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, re-joined the Battalion.

Pte. George Carter (see 17^th January), who had suffering from gonorrhoea, was discharged from hospital and posted to ‘F’ Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

Pte. Richard Butler MM (see 15^th March), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

Pte. Charles Smith (12380) (see 16^th March), serving in England at Eastern Command Labour Centre, was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

A pension award was made in the case of the late L.Cpl. Arthur Milner (see 24^th May), who had been officially missing in action since 20^th September 1917; he having been a widower, his children were awarded 19s. 2d. per week.