Wednesday 31st July 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

L.Cpl. Cain Rothera MM (see 10^th June) was reported by CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see 27^th May; it is not known exactly when he had been promoted) and CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 10^th June) for “not complying with Battalion orders, ie wearing his SD cap before 6pm”; on the orders of Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 28^th July) he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to the rank of Private.

Pte. Ernest Ashness (see 10^th June) was reported by A/L.Sgt. Percival John Munn (21^st June) and CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see above) as being “absent off pass” from 10.30pm; he would return to duty at 5pm the following day. On the orders of Maj. Borrow he would undergo three days’ Field Punishment no.1.

Pte. Arthur Thomas Wilford (see 21^st June), who was at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, reported sick, suffering from ‘inflamed lymph glands’; he would be admitted to one of the local hospitals and treated for ten days before being discharged to duty.

Pte. Matthew Stone (see 19^th June), who was currently under medical treatment with the RAMC (details and location unknown) was reported as “absent from billets from 9pm until 10pm whilst undergoing medical treatment”; he would be reported again the following day on a similar charge, from 11am until 8.30pm and would be ordered to undergo 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2.

Pte. Thomas Henry Cox (25806) (see 29^th May) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albaro and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

2Lt. Archibald (Archie) Allen (see 21^st June), who had left the Battalion after suffering severe shrapnel injuries to his left arm and chest on 21^st June, was evacuated to England from Le Havre. On arrival in England he would be admitted to 1^st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham.

Pte. Percy Burrows (see 2^nd July), who had also been wounded on 21^st June, was evacuated to England from 81^st General Hospital in Marseilles, travelling onboard the Hospital Ship Carisbroke Castle. On arrival in England he would be admitted to the King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London.

Pte. Albert John Start (see 16^th July), who had been posted back to England two weeks previously, was transferred to the Non Combatant Labour Corps; he would have ten days’ leave before taking up his new posting.

The Battalion War Diary noted the following honours and awards :

Italian Silver Medal for Valour to Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 23^rd July).

Italian Bronze Medal for Valour to Pte. Joseph Alfred Formby (see 19^th June 1916).

Italian Croce di Guerre to 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 21^st July) and 2Lt. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 21^st June).

The awards to Lt. Col. Lethbridge and 2Lt. Thomson are known to derive from the raid which had been conducted on 21^st June, but no details are known for the awards to 2Lt. Bain and Pte. Formby.

Casualties for the month were officially recorded as being:

Killed                                 0 (1 other rank died, not battle casualty (Pte. Alfred Baker (see 20^th July)

Accidentally killed           0

Died of wounds               0

Wounded                          5 (see 18^th July)

Accidentally wounded    0

Missing                              0

The official cumulative casualty figures since arriving in France in August 1915 were thus:

Killed                                   277

Accidentally killed                5

Died of wounds                  21

Wounded                       1,317

Accidentally wounded      53

Missing                               181