At this time a stringent order was issued that anyone damaging crops was to be court-martialled (rather a contrast to the same period in the previous year, when the fields which formed our training grounds being covered with young corn, we had been ordered to disregard the crops entirely. Obeying this order went literally against the grain!).
On the 25th May the following honours were announced:—
Bar to Military Medal:—Corporal Pendlebury, M.M., and Lance-Corporal P. Wyre, M.M.
Military Medal:—Sergeants R. Parkinson and A. Lowe, Corporal J. Gradwell, Privates A. Hommans, G. Rotherham, T. Marsh, W. Goodram, J. Meadows, R. Williams, F. Lloyd, J. Read, L. Cunliffe, and T. Farnworth.
We had five men wounded on the 27th.
On the 28th, described in the War Diary as “a quiet day,” a small party of the enemy entered one of our posts in PICCADILLY at 12 30 a.m. It was immediately bombed out without casualties to us. The attempt was repeated the following day, but frustrated by our Lewis gunners and rifle grenadiers. Thirteen men were wounded in the next three days.
On the 1st June, the enemy bombarded us heavily with mustard gas shells and shrapnel for two hours, killing Second Lieutenant Greaves and wounding Captain Lonsdale and 10 Other Ranks.
On the 2nd, also described as “a quiet day,” six Other Ranks were killed and Second Lieutenant Dawson and 23 Other Ranks were wounded, and on the following day two killed and 15 wounded. The Battalion was relieved in the evening by the 1/4th King’s Own, when we went back to support. Working parties occupied us for the next few days, three men being killed, one missing, and five wounded during the period.
On the 8th, on relief by the 1/6th King’s Liverpool Regiment, we moved back to rest billets at VAUDRICOURT.
The following appeared in the King’s Birthday Honour List:—