Thursday 12th September 1918

Reserve positions near Monte Magnaboschi.

The detached battalions from each brigade of 23^rd Division (see 9^th September) departed for France and it was intended that the remainder of both 7^th and 23^rd Divisions should follow as soon as sufficient transport could be procured. Pte. Harold Charnock (see 26^th August) would later recall that, “it was freely rumoured that the Division was to return to France.  This seemed probable”.

Pte. Walter Limmer (see 11^th September), who had suffered severe head wounds the previous day, died at 24^th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at the adjacent Cavalletto British Cemetery. News of his death would be communicated to his wife (they had married only a month previously while Pte. Limmer was on leave) by 2Lt. George Clifford Sugden (see 23^rd August): “I write on behalf of No. 4 Platoon and myself to express my deep sympathy in your great bereavement. I personally feel the loss very much, as perhaps you know he has been my batman for some months now, and consequently we have been much together in the trenches, and naturally got to know each other very well. We had just moved to a new camp on the 11^th, and your husband had only reported an hour before to me from leave. He had just finished tea when a shell came over that gave us no chance, and burst in the midst of us. Walter, I found, was badly wounded in his head. We immediately dressed his wounds and rushed off to the doctor, but I don’t think he ever regained consciousness until the following day, when he died at 4-30; at any rate he did not suffer any pain. I assure you we all miss him very much because he was always cheerful and willing to do anything I asked of him. You will be glad to know that he is buried in a very pretty cemetery in a pine wood. We have made a very nice cross for his grave. Be assured his resting place will be looked after as far as we are able”. There was also a letter from Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 5^th September), “He was a good and a gallant soldier, and it is particularly sad that he should have been hit just after returning from leave. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of myself and all my fellow officers in your terrible bereavement. Your consolation must be that your husband died doing his duty for his King and Country”. One of Pte. Limmer’s ‘pals’ (unnamed) also wrote, “He was always one of the cheeriest, best and bravest – an example of what a really good soldier should be. The regiment can ill afford to lose men of his type”.

Pte. Walter Limmer

Image by kind permission of Henry Bolton

Pte. Herbert Willis Pickles (see 7^th August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was posted back to France and would join 2^nd/4^th DWR on 18^th September.

Pte. Walter William Scott (see 21^st May), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to bronchitis; he was awarded a pension of 11s. per week, to be reviewed after one year.

A payment of £12 2s. 2d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Harry Robinson (see 19^th July), who had died of his wounds on 19^th July; the payment would go to his widow, Edith.