Thursday 8th August 1918

Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

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

A Brigade Musketry Meeting was held on the range at Madonetta near Cornedo Vicentino. Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 5^th August) and Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 5^th August), in temporary command of 8Yorks, were on the organising committee for the event; Maj. Bull was also in charge of the firing points, with Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 5^th August) assigned as ‘officer in charge of butt duties’ and Capt. Henry Kelly VC (see 5^th August) ‘officer in charge of targets’. There were to be a variety of competitions fired on the 200 yard range, with a morning session from 7.30am to 10am and an evening session from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Medals were to be awarded in all classes and in the officer’s revolver completion there was a first prize of a silver cigarette case. There was also a Battalion prize based upon the outcome of various of the events. Unfortunately the results of the competitions are unknown.

Pte. John Richard Newell (see 6^th August), who had been admitted two days’ previously, suffering from influenza, died at 39^th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Montecchio Precalino Communal Cemetery Extension, north of Dueville.

Sgt. Joseph Bell (see 22nd March) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 11^th General Hospital in Genoa, suffering from piles.

L.Cpl. Victor Munnery (see 2^nd April) was admitted via 71^st Field Ambulance to 9^th Casualty Clearing Station; he was suffering from diarrohea.

Pte. Wilson Hepworth (see 29^th April), on attachment to 23^rd Division HQ, was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station suffering from diarrhoea; he would be discharged and return to duty after four days.

Pte. John George Inshaw (see 19^th April), serving at the Trench Mortar School at Arquata Scrivia, departed on seven days’ leave to Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda.

L.Sgt. Lewis Brazey (see 5^th July 1916), serving in France with 2DWR, was killed in action; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing. 

L.Cpl. Dennis Waller (see 27^th July), serving in France with 2DWR, was severely wounded during an attack on the German lines, suffering a bullet wound to his left thigh resulting in a compound fracture of the femur. He was evacuated to 54^th Casualty Clearing Station where, at 1am following morning, a major operation was carried out: “morphine and atrophine; gas and oxygen anaesthesia; through and through bullet wound left thigh; compound fracture femur; great tension; ruptured femoral vessels; radical drainage; femoral vessels ligated; track excised; gauze pack; Thomas splint”. L.Cpl. Waller’s actions would earn him a recommendation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He set a splendid example of courage and determination under heavy fire. By getting round with two sections in rear of the enemy and clearing him out he enabled a village to be occupied. Whilst consolidating he was wounded by a sniper, but refused to be moved for fear of drawing fire on the position”. He had at some point (details unknown) already been recommended for the award of the Military Medal.

Pte. Willie Kershaw (see 3^rd July 1917), serving with 3DWR, who had been posted back to England in March 1917, was attached to 497^th Company, Labour Corps.

Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 13^th June 1917), who had been wounded in June 1917, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army due to his wounds.