Mentioned in Despatches:—Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Crump, Privates R. Worden and J. Bates.
Distinguished Service Order:—Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Crump.
Bars to Military Cross:—Major Duggan, M.C., Captain Lonsdale, M.C., Second Lieutenant H. Fazackerley, M.C.
Military Cross:—Captain D. Carmichael, Lieutenant A. Bardsley, Second Lieutenants H. Bailey and C. Milne.
Distinguished Conduct Medal:—Company Sergeant-Major Ireland, Sergeants J. Miller, M.M., and A. Atkinson, Privates F. Reddish, J. Livesey, and T. Parkes, M.M.
Companies were thoroughly reorganised. Training was carried out and sports were held.
On the 14th June, Major T. G. Williams, M.C., 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment, took over command of the Battalion. On the same day the Battalion relieved the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the right GIVENCHY sector. The usual routine was carried out during the tour. The enemy bombarded the sector on the 19th and again on the 20th at 3 a.m., when he put down a severe barrage of 4.2’s and some mustard gas. We were relieved on the night of the 23rd by the 1/4th King’s Own. During the tour our casualties were:—Second Lieutenant Pasley and eight Other Ranks killed, and 17 Other Ranks wounded, Lieutenants Hyndson and Pierce, Second Lieutenant Boddington, and 16 Other Ranks going sick to hospital.
Our bombing post in HALF-MOON TRENCH was not more than 20 yards distant from a bombing post in the enemy’s sector, and after a careful reconnaissance had been made under the supervision of the Officer Commanding B Company (Captain R. H. Smith, M.C.), Second Lieutenant Weatherhill volunteered to take out a patrol the following night and raid the enemy’s trenches. The night was a particularly dark one, but, unfortunately, the enemy discovered the patrol getting out of the trenches, and the attacking party was subjected to a heavy fire from machine guns and bombs. The patrol remained out for about an hour, but finally they returned to the trenches, and it was found that Second Lieutenant Weatherhill was missing and two Other Ranks wounded. Another patrol was immediately sent out by the Officer Commanding B Company to find out what had happened to Second Lieutenant Weatherhill, but this and other subsequent patrols met with no success.
On the 27th, on relief, we went back into support, and at 5 a.m. on the following day to rest billets at VAUDRICOURT. Here the G.O.C. presented medals and ribbons to Officers and men of the Battalion on the 30th.