Monday 9th September 1918

In Brigade reserve in huts near Monte Pau.

News was received that the British divisions in Italy were to be transferred back to France as soon as possible. All plans for offensive operations on the Asiago Plateau (see 12^th August) were thus abandoned which, in the words of the Divisional History, “came as a great disappointment”. However, a “deeper disappointment” was that one battalion was to be withdrawn from each brigade for an immediate return to France; in the case of 69^th Brigade this was to be 9Yorks.

Pte. John Starling (see 11^th August) was reported by RSM Charles Edward Parker, DCM, MM (see 23^rd August) and Sgt. Charles Marsden (see 28^th July) as having been, “improperly dressed, ie not wearing waist belt”; on the orders of Capt. James Watson Paterson (see 4th August) he would be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Arthur Thomas Wilford (see 25^th August) was reported by Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 26^th August) as having been ‘dirty on 9am parade’; on the orders of Capt. Dick Bolton MC (see 3^rd September) he would be confined to barracks for four days.

Pte. Herbert Holt (see 31^st August), who had been wounded while serving in France with 2DWR, was evacuated to England.

Pte. Percival Albert Wiggins (see 1^st July), serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, was attached for duty with 115^th Training Reserve Battalion at Clipstone Camp.

Pte. Ernest Franklin (25969) (see 13^th August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported as “absent off his final leave pass at 11.55pm”.

Sgt. Charles Robert Scarber died from pneumonia in King George’s Hospital, Lambeth; he would be buried at Stamford Cemetery. Sgt. Scarber was 31 years old and from Stamford, where he had worked as a compositor. He had served with 10DWR before being transferred to the Labour Corps; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish the details of his service with 10DWR.