Saturday 24th August 1918

Support positions in the Lemerle Switch line.

A number of alterations were made to the plan for the forthcoming raid on the Austrian lines (see 23^rd August). The eastern boundary of the raid was extended, doubling the area of “A” party’s operations and taking the eastern boundary to the railway line and trenches at H.525.569. As a consequence of this extension the size of “A” party was increased to three platoons (90 other ranks) of B Company and one platoon (20 other ranks) of C Company, and the addition of two more officers, 2Lts. Keith Sagar Bain (see 31^st July) and Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 27^th July). The arrangements for the formation and advance of "A" Party were now to be as follows: “In two lines of two platoons. One platoon will go straight through to the west end of the main railway cutting, and thence along the cutting to mop up the eastern end of it and the embankment beyond. One platoon will mop up to the western part of the cutting and the embankment to the west. One platoon will go straight to the small cutting near the eastern boundary and mop that up. The rifle sections of the four platoons less rifle grenadiers will mop up Middlesex Trench, and afterwards act as escort for prisoners and carriers while the Lewis Gun section plus rifle grenadiers will take up a position to cover the left flank. Officer Commanding "A" Party will also detail a Lewis Gun to guard against a counter attack from the north”. The arrangements for the withdrawal of the parties were now to be as follows, “Officer Commanding "A" Party will detail one platoon to cover the retirement of the party and that of the signalling party at E Signal Station. The covering platoon from “B" party will cover the retirement of "B" Party, the party at "D" Signal Station, the convoy of prisoners and Battalion HQ.

The map indicates the approximate positions of the area to be attacked (shaded yellow); the assembly points of the three parties (A, B, C); the advanced signal stations (D, E); Advanced Battalion HQ; and the Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post.

Sgt. Christopher Clapham MM (see 10^th April) was appointed Scout Sergeant.

Cpl. Josias Bailey MM (see 12^th May) was promoted Sergeant.

L.Cpl. Arthur William Stobart (see 22^nd June) was promoted Corporal.

Ptes. Josiah Charles (see 5^th April) and Michael Newton (see 5^th October 1917) departed on seven days’ leave to Lake Garda.

Ptes. Henry Grimshaw (see 16^th June) and Thomas Bates (see 13^th April) were admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 24^th Casualty Clearing Station; both were suffering from diarrohea. Bates would be discharged and re-join the Battalion after five days, but Grimshaw would remain longer under treatment at the CCS .

Following two weeks’ treatment for diarrohea, L.Cpl. Victor Munnery (see 8^th August) was transferred from 9^th Casualty Clearing Station to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia. Three days later he would be promoted Acting Corporal and would re-join the Battalion on 31^st August.

Pte. Percival William Hall (see 20^th June) was transferred from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano back to duty at XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia.

CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 18^th August), who had been injured in an accident two weeks’ previously, was transferred from 24^th Casualty Clearing Station to 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa.

CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

 

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 17^th April), serving at XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia, was formally transferred to 9^th Battalion South Staffs., which was the pioneer battalion of 23^rd Division.

Pte. Frank Tucker (see 4^th August), who was on leave in England, failed to report on time (3.30pm) at Waterloo Station at the conclusion of his leave. He had actually sent a telegram two days previously requesting a short extension to his leave but this had been rejected; he would report at Waterloo Station 24 hours later.