Wednesday 30th October 1918

In billets south of Vazzola.

The British advance was carried forward by units of 70^th Brigade, advancing as far as Sacile. Meanwhile, in the afternoon, the Battalion marched three miles north, via Soffrata, Zoppe and San Fior di Sotto to billets at Casa Dal Cin on the road between Pianzano and Baver. En route, as they crossed the Monticana, the two detached companies, which had been advanced the previous day in support of 11WYR, re-joined the Battalion.

2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 29^th October) remembered an incident during the move, 

“we moved up towards the front in reserve and a very nasty incident occurred. We were lying in reserve not far behind the fighting – in an orchard hidden purely by the fruit trees – and single file and each file a little way from the next. A plane came flying over with British markings on it and we watched it idly. It circled over us and flew a little way off. Then it came swooping down along our line now. It had just nicely passed over me when bang, a bomb dropped among our men, I suppose a hundred yards up the line and I heard screams and confusion. Nine men were killed they said and some badly wounded. We never knew the explanation of this incident”.

He also recalled the more mundane, “I was orderly officer and I remember the Colonel laughing when he came in and I had a big tray or lid with all my bacca spread out on it before the Orderly Room fire, trying to dry it out. I had put it right in the top of my ‘Battle Order’ but crossing the river the water had washed right over my shoulders and wet everything.

That day some Italian refugees passed the HQ, going back to friends. They had come from houses occupied just before by Austrians and now liberated. They had some sad stories to tell. Two girls had only escaped by throwing some Austrian bombs at Austrians who had tried to take them away with them”.

Sgt. William Allen Sayer (see 27^th October), who had been wounded three days’ previously, died of his wounds at 9^th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade.

Pte. Ramsden Pyrah (see 27^th October), who had been wounded three days’ previously, died of wounds at 39^th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade.

Pte. Joseph Henry Haywood (see 18^th October) died at 11^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa; he had been under treatment for influenza and broncho-pneumonia. Pte. Haywood would be buried at Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa.

Pte. Ernest Mallinson died of wounds at one of the hospitals in Marseilles and would be buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish details of his service with the Battalion or when he had been wounded. He was 24 years old and from Halifax.

Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 8^th October) was appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class II and Company Sergeant Major.

Cpl. Albert Reynolds (see 29^th September) was promoted Lance Sergeant.

A/Cpl. Frank Revell (see 27^th August) was confirmed in his post and began to be paid accordingly.

L.Cpl. Ernest George Denyer (see 24^th September) began to be paid according to his rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

Pte. William Gordon Johnston (see 28^th July) was admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance and 39^th Casualty Clearing Station to 51^st Stationary Hospital; he was suffering from influenza.

Pte. George William Ball (see 7^th July) was transferred from 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from influenza.

Pte. William Hill (see 19^th October 1917) was transferred from 38^th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from diarrhoea.

Pte. John Henry Fidler (see 19^th October) was discharged from 51^st Stationary Hospital and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.

Pte. Arthur Clarke (see 14^th October), who had been taken ill whilst on home leave, was discharged from East Leeds War Hospital with a railway warrant and instructions to report at Southampton on 31^st in preparation for a return to Italy.

Lt. John William Headings (see 11^th October), the former Battalion Quartermaster, who had been in England since having been injured in an accident in September, appeared before an Army Medical Board at 2^nd Northern General Hospital, Beckett Park, Leeds. The Board found that, “While walking on duty was compelled to get off the road to avoid a limber coming towards him. Fell into a ditch and so twisted the left knee. There was tenderness and some effusion into the knee joint”. He was diagnosed as suffering from synovitis in the knee joint and referred for further treatment.

The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sgts. George William Chapman (see 26^th August) and Ernest Stead MM (see 21^st October), who had earned the award for their actions during the trench raid on 26^th August.

The same edition also published notice of the award of the DCM to the late L.Cpl. Dennis Waller MM (see 22^nd October), who had died of wounds at Edmonton General Military Hospital on 22^nd October. He had been awarded the decoration for his conduct on 8^th August while serving in France with 2DWR, “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”.