Chapter 24

VICTORY

The attack was started first on the Piave and the Brenta; and operations further west were contingent on success in those areas. Accordingly, its effects did not become apparent on our front until 29th October, when the Austrians were already in headlong flight towards the Tagliamento. At that date we were holding the extreme right of the Divisional Area. On that morning, at daybreak, C Company sent out a patrol, which found that the Austrians had abandoned their front lines--a retirement which deserters had foreshadowed for some days past. They pushed on at noon and entered Asiago, a silent village; thence exploring more boldly, they wandered right across the valley as far as Ebene, close to its northernmost limits. There they saw the French patrols similarly engaged in searching the houses. Then the enemy gave the first sign of his continued existence, firing with two machine guns from a little knoll, which commanded the village 500 or 600 yards away. The Bucks, who were out on the left, brought back similar word, and it was apparent that a general retirement had been carried out to their Winterstellung, or Winter Lines, which ran along the northern slopes and barred ingress into the side valleys which led up to the railway of the Val Sugana. It now became necessary to discover whether the enemy was standing strongly in this main line of defence, or whether it could be overrun by a _coup-de-main_. During the night of the 29th-30th, therefore, B Company was sent forward to feel its way and report on the resistance encountered. Captain Winslow now established his Headquarters in the Military Barracks at Asiago, keeping one platoon at hand. The remaining three spread widely over the plain and moved forward. They occupied the villages lying at the foot of the mountains, but it was evident that the enemy was still in strength before them. Here and there they extracted Austrians who had been left behind in houses and dugouts. The left platoon, in particular, discovered 17 in Bosco, including an officer; as they drove this party before them towards Asiago, while it was still light, machine-gun fire was directed upon them from the ridges of Monte Catz, causing several casualties. The prisoners, headed by their officer, were foolish enough to refuse to continue their journey, and their mutiny cost them dear, as, with one exception, they were all killed. Next day A Company took on the patrolling work, and found the lines still occupied, while the Austrians denied them access to Costa, which had been examined on the previous day. Reports from either flank gave similar information; there was nothing, therefore, to suggest the speedy and dramatic overthrow which was to follow.

During the night of the 31st October-1st November, the Corps decided to make a general attack at dawn, the orders being verbally delivered to Colonel Whitehead by the Brigade-Major soon after midnight. There was thus very little time to make preparations. Fortunately Major Battcock was acting as intelligence officer, and set to work with all his characteristic energy and method. He had only rejoined the Battalion at his own request some days previously, and although senior to every officer except that of the Colonel, had volunteered to act in any capacity in which he could be useful. He was living in advanced Headquarters at Asiago School, and succeeded in getting everyone in position by 3.30 a.m. Meanwhile D Company, whose duty it was that night to patrol in front, reported that Monte Catz was still strongly held. This long bare shoulder, which projected southward from the main ridge into the valley, was the objective of the Battalion. It was the key of the whole of this section of the Winterstellung, as it overlooked the trenches on either side. At 5.35 the attack was launched; C and D Companies, from right to left, were charged with the assault; they advanced close behind a barrage. Each had a section widely extended in advance as skirmishers, the main body advancing in two lines. C Company met with immediate and splendid success. Brushing aside opposition at Costa and on the slopes of the hill, they stood upon the summit at 7.30 a.m.; they had already taken 65 prisoners and had completely cleared their area. D Company had met with a tougher resistance, and being assailed by cross-fire from both right and left, were held up in the Plain until B Company came into the gap, and seized the machine-gun nests on the south-west slopes of Monte Catz about 7.30 a.m.

Thus our position was satisfactory beyond expectation. The 144th Brigade, however, on the left, were in a less happy condition. Their assault on the lower slopes of M. Interrotto had not been successful. The enemy had even passed to a counter-offensive, and had thrown them back beyond the uttermost villages of the Plain, Camporovere and Bosco. The evacuation of the latter imperilled all our dispositions, and Colonel Whitehead wisely kept A Company at Asiago in case the enemy should drive a wedge between the two Brigades. It was the more unfortunate that O.C. D Company, acting on one of those vague orders which often circulate during battle, whose source it is impossible to trace with certainty, had withdrawn his company somewhat from the slopes, believing himself to be conforming to the desires of the 144th Brigade. Monte Catz was therefore left in a dangerously salient position on the west, but as the Bucks, and beyond them the French on the east, had been completely successful, it was thought well to take the risk of exploiting the success which the 145th Brigade had already won. The indefatigable C Company, therefore, pushed on up the hill, seized and passed the Sichestal Trench (the last organised defence in that area); the Bucks securely protected their right flank; on the left B Company held a line slanting backwards to the Plain, where D continued the line on the outskirts of Bosco, still untaken. All this was accomplished by about 3 p.m. The blow of the Battalion had been decisive, as Lord Cavan mentions in his despatch. They had taken that day 480 prisoners, and more than 30 guns, and had destroyed many more. Next morning the 144th Brigade seized all their objectives with little difficulty; the Winterstellung existed no longer. The Division held the entrance and both sides of the Val d'Assa, and began to march up it towards their final objective, the Val Sugana, one of the main nerves of the enemy system. The Austrians fell into a rout, which can have few parallels in military history. Famished and without hope in the world, faced at the same moment with military disaster and political collapse, they fled headlong into the mountains, or swarmed down in enormous numbers to surrender to our advancing troops; almost the last remnant of self-respect which they retained was their determination not to become the prisoners of the Italians. The rough mountain tracks were blocked with their debris; and the crowds of unarmed men embarrassed our advance-guards and checked their progress. Generals and superior officers came down to meet us, sometimes at the head of troops, sometimes as solitary stragglers. A Corps Commander and three Divisional Generals were among the spoil of the Division. Here and there during the 2nd and the early morning of the 3rd, little bodies of devoted men still resisted; as at Mount Meatta, where a Company of 4th Oxfords put 100 Austrians to flight after a sharp combat. It was noted also that when the red-capped Bosnian Regiment surrendered to our Battalion, the men obeyed their officers smartly, and laid down their arms and equipment neatly at the word of command. It was curious that these Mahommedans, from the latest acquired of all the Austrian possessions, should have been the most faithful to their military oath. During the 3rd the confusion among the Austrians was, if possible, increased by their mistaken belief that the Armistice had come into force; they ceased even the isolated semblance of resistance, and were herded in the valleys like sheep. Meanwhile the Division advanced inexorably by the Val d'Assa and the subsidiary Val Portule; they crossed the enemy's frontier at 8.30 on that morning, first of all the armies of the West (except for that portion of Alsace which had remained in French hands since 1914). That evening the Battalion lodged in Caldonazza, just south of the Val Sugana; here the enemy had abandoned a vast ordnance park and more than 200 guns. The Advanced Guards were already in Levico, that pleasant little spa in the valley, with its baths and springs, only 20 miles from Trent. Next morning the news came that the Armistice was signed and was to come into force at 3 p.m. The weary troops continued their march up the valley until that hour, taking still vast quantities of prisoners; then they halted. For our Battalion the war ended at the village of Vigalzano. They had covered 35 miles in two and a-half days over rough paths in the mountains. Not a single man had fallen out. Their casualties in this last glorious battle amounted to 17 killed and 23 wounded. Their individual captures cannot be recorded, but the booty of the Division was unprecedented, and reached 22,000 prisoners and at least 600 guns.

Here I will leave them; I will not describe their subsequent stay in Italy, the demobilisation of the Battalion, the return of the nucleus and its welcome at Reading, or its rebirth in peace under its present popular and capable Commander, Colonel Aldworth, and its excellent Adjutant, Captain Goodenough.

Let us not forget these Berkshire men, who played a worthy part in the changing scenes of this tremendous conflict: who, at the close, amidst the utter confusion of their enemies, bore witness to the truth of that saying, 'He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.'

APPENDIX A.

1/4TH BATTALION ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.

ROLL OF OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN WHO DIED IN THE WAR.

CAPTAINS.

Attride, R. G. Buck, C. Down, W. O., M.C.

LIEUTENANTS.

Hunt, N. G. Palmer, R. W. P. Ridley, L. E.

SECOND-LIEUTENANTS.

Bartram, A. Beasley, A. W., M.M. Clayton, N. Garside, T. O. Heppell, H. D. Teed, H. S. Wakeford, G. T.

ATTACHED TO OTHER UNITS.

Lieut.-Colonel Thorne, H. U. H. Lieut. Wells, H. M. W.

COMPANY SERGT.-MAJORS.

392 Lawrence, W. 200546 Wright, A. T., D.C.M.

COMPANY QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS. 599 Moore, F. W. 1637 Perrin, C.

SERGEANTS.

2399 Amor, A. S. 200627 Benn, C. 2478 Brewerton, W. W. 200485 Childs, F. 2327 Didcock, F. 2402 Forge, G. F. 202093 Garrard, C. J. C. 200080 Giles, F. C. 2883 Grant, E. J. 426 Haines, G. 891 Hedges, F. W. 203799 Henson, A. 2446 Hewett, W. C. E. 200010 Holloway, W. C. 2610 House, A. E. 200861 Lukeman, C. H. 2529 Lush, G. 200605 Nicholls, A. 200406 Paddick, H. 200670 Parker, C. J. 200169 Parker, J. 2773 Pinnell, H. J. 44 Reddrop, R. T. 200542 Russell, T. D. 441 Rutter, P. 2434 Taylor, V. H. 200246 Weavings, R. 200690 Wright, F. J.

LANCE-SERGEANTS.

2342 Gorring, H. J. 200390 Langford, A. W. 1937 Watson, F. W. 200192 Webb, F. W.

CORPORALS.

202402 Cocking, J. H. A. 200422 Davies, E. L., M.M. 2340 Jones, A. T. N. 12799 Killmaster, W. 201482 Knight, F. 1830 Painter, A. G. 2701 Papps, A. C. 2575 Piggott, W. 203840 Russell, W. J. 1678 Rutland, H. S. 1825 Searle, A. E. 203836 Simmonds, T. G. 200896 Snow, J. M. 2154 Taylor, W. G. 201555 Watts, W. 2395 Wilson, R. G.

LANCE-CORPORALS.

200412 Attride, G. J. 200382 Barker, E. A. 200344 Beard, H. E. 2765 Boston, A. W. 200137 Brooks, A. C. 203198 Campbell, H. V. 5649 Cole, A. C. 200125 Cook, W. C. 200160 Dean, H. S. 1625 Deane, M. A. C. 200946 Dee, A. E. 2176 Garrett, F. H. 2947 George, R. W. 666 Godwin, A. H. 2946 Goodall, A. 200813 Hands, W. T. 3015 Haskins, R. 200513 Hatto, H. H. 2659 House, H. J. 203833 Jenkins, W. 4945 Johnson, W. G. A. 1470 Lambert, A. J. 1767 Legge, A. E. 201450 Lewis, F. C. 200242 Mills, G. 2442 Odell, E. V. 200425 Perkins, E. H. R. 201508 Rackley, A. 200621 Saunders, E. 6289 Smith, F. 1690 Somerville, S. 2354 Vaughan, F. W. 201543 Ward, E. 5775 Wright, A. V.

PRIVATES.

4716 Abery, L. H. 5529 Adlam, F. C. 200545 Allum, F. S. 203061 Andrews, G. 202156 Andrews, W. 201477 Annetts, P. 5455 Appleton, G. 2653 Atkins, F. 200824 Aubrey, F. W. 201843 Austin, J. W. 5654 Ayles, E. H. 1883 Ayres, F. 2714 Bacon, P. G. W. 1939 Badcock, A. 4682 Baker, P. G. 200617 Barnett, A. A. 1768 Barney, C. 5789 Bateman, J. 2962 Beckett, A. J. 5831 Beckinsale, L. 200157 Belcher, H. 200743 Belcher, S. E. 202211 Benger, A. T. 201877 Bickle, A. E. 5843 Bird, F. 1473 Blade, H. R. W. 4920 Bloomfield, C. I. 200472 Bolton, C. 10116 Bond, F. S. 2748 Boothby, R. 37969 Borley, F. G. 3088 Bowell, G. P. 20662 Bracey, G. G. 200400 Brant, B. J. L. 36259 Bromley, H. 5444 Brooman, H. B. 2076 Brown, C. J. F. 200544 Brown, S. R. 203847 Brown, W. A. 203181 Buckingham, F. J. 220192 Bullen, E. L. 18181 Burrows, C. 2782 Butler, A. J. 4969 Buxcey, A. E. 200960 Buxton, W. 200632 Cane, N. 203294 Cannon, H. F. 202033 Carter, A. 203195 Chaplin, F. A. 2122 Chapman, A. E. 202068 Chapman, W. J. 5327 Clarke, E. F. 36539 Clayton, W. M. 37974 Clements, F. 203192 Cleveland, F. T. 201991 Cockell, J. 5648 Collacott, F. E. V. 201548 Collis, A. 202139 Commins, H. J. 34087 Cook, A. E. 18346 Cook, F. H. V. 30435 Cook, J. 203706 Cook, R. 37977 Cooke, F. T. 5671 Cooper, H. 17723 Copas, A. W. 4801 Coventry, H. T. 4815 Cox, E. B. 5263 Coxhead, W. 5199 Cripps, A. E. 200902 Crook, W. 4701 Cropp, C. 5349 Cruse, A. G. 202219 Curtis, W. J. 202181 Dale, S. 2656 Dance, W. W. S. 202887 Darling, F. H. 5855 Davey, A. A. 2983 Denham, C. W. 2753 Dix, W. H. 5828 Dixon, G. 202230 Drake, F. J. V. 5738 Duckett, H. E. 202107 Eade, J. 202149 Eady, L. 200566 Early, F. W. 20350 Eighteen, H. T. 5083 Elbrow, A. J. 201908 Elwick, C. G. 201773 Emmett, C. W. 202186 Emmons, C. W. H. 5208 Evans, D. 200535 Fennell, F. 3250 Filbee, W. H. F. 3271 Filmore, H. W. 37921 Fisher, H. A. 203326 Fleetwood, F. P. 20202 Fleming, B. 2727 Ford, A. E. 200878 Freeman, J. 12384 Freeth, R. 202895 French, H. 201970 Fryer, E. G. 203712 Fullbrook, A. H. 37979 Furness, F. C. 203075 Garraway, R. H. 201356 Geater, A. J. 2539 Gee, R. B. 2996 Gibbard, H. 4983 Gibbons, C. E. 5641 Giles, E. S. 3053 Giles, F. 203881 Giles, H. 37915 Goddard, H. T. W. 200058 Goodenough, A. S. J. 2062 Goodship, A. B. 4874 Gore, A. J. 201412 Gould, A. 4939 Grant, G. 44411 Grant, G. 5131 Graves, T. H. 203255 Green, W. G. 32808 Greenaway, E. 5092 Greenough, E. J. 4124 Grigg, J. 201694 Haines, A. E. 201757 Haines, H. W. 2613 Hall, A. E. 201883 Hall, A. E. 201883 Harding, A. E. 203727 Harmer, H. 2723 Harris, J. F. 2881 Harvey, E. E. 4759 Harvey, F. W. 203793 Hawkes, C. J. 5178 Hays, J. 2968 Head, W. 1686 Heath, W. H. 2130 Herne, G. 200660 Herring, C. 201736 Hester, H. R. 5688 Higgins, A. H. 2380 Higgs, A. W. 201085 Higgs, J. 202365 Hill, S. A. 36755 Hipkiss, J. P. 202201 Hodges, S. G. 202426 Holloway, E. 4906 Holton, F. V. 37918 Hood, J. 202247 Hopkins, R. G. 2718 House, O. 203852 Humphries, W. 3382 Hunt, A. 203736 Ireland, G. 37186 Jackson, C. 202044 Jefferies, G. H. 37958 Jessel, H. 37939 Jones, L. L. 201568 Jones, T. H. 200293 Josey, B. 200196 Kinchin, H. 203187 King, A. E. 6126 King, F. 201455 King, H. A. 2616 Knott, A. T. 200251 Lambourne, W. 200834 Langford, A. B. 203746 Langmead, A. R. 6124 Lee, A. H. 202016 Lennard, J. 202041 Leonard, A. 3058 Leonard, R. 202703 Lett, G. E. 3113 Lewendon, A. 5709 Liddard, E. 200291 Long, D. 2607 Loving, H. 2204 Luke, W. S. 200783 Lunnon, P. 36028 Macdonald, A. 37913 Main, A. H. 3955 Maidwaring, H. 3198 Marshall, H. K. 202124 Martin, J. 36831 Mason, L. G. A. 203045 Mathers, G. 3166 May, C. 202118 May, P. 3836 McKay, J. 3060 Meads, F. 3809 Meads, T. 201494 Meads, W. H. 14102 Merriman, H. J. C. 203817 Miles, W. H. 1816 Miles, W. T. G. 18439 Millest, S. E. 200583 Mitcham, W. C. 41312 Mitchell, G. 2758 Moody, L. F. 5422 Morton, T. W. 2951 Muggridge, F. J. 2143 Mulford, F. 200361 Mulford, R. C. A. 37932 Nacowitz, J. 201396 Neale, G. W. 3193 Nelson, F. 200099 New, J. 37941 Newell, J. 20375 Newman, E. T. 1826 Noakes, A. 200454 Norman, J. P. 201765 Osborne, H. J. 201994 Packford, C. 3483 Painter, F. C. 202194 Panting, G. A. 5240 Parker, A. Y. 203760 Parker, H. L. 5653 Parsons, C. F. 5567 Parsons, W. H. 202148 Pascoe, H. 201839 Pearce, E. A. 201474 Pearce, W. A. 36417 Pepper, C. 3234 Piddington, W. J. 3456 Pike, W. 37960 Platt, R. 202014 Plumridge, W. 3032 Pocock, S. H. V. 201029 Pocock, S. R. 200310 Poole, J. H. 2713 Pratt, R. E. 36684 Prowse, W. 203846 Quarterman, C. F. 3450 Rackley, F. 202892 Robertson, R. H. 4974 Robey, W. R. 37169 Robinson, C. E. 6144 Rodman, S. H. 3004 Rogers, G. F. D. 2057 Rose, C. R. 18532 Rudge, S. 200373 Russ, E. 201581 Sadler, J. H. 203803 Sadler, T. 3384 Salmon, H. 35971 Salmon, W. H. 37989 Sargent, S. 200737 Schaffer, A. 201975 Searing, A. 202059 Searle, C. 202121 Searle, E. 2848 Selby, F. P. 2845 Seymour, A. J. 3033 Shackleford, A. F. 201881 Sharland, H. 201801 Shepherd, C. 37935 Skuce, W. 2469 Smith, A. F. 2378 Smith, W. T. 37925 Spice, A. F. 21830 Stevens, L. 203854 Stratford, W. 2635 Street, H. S. 5312 Swain, A. T. 36875 Taylor, G. 202165 Tellan, F. E. 203822 Thompson, J. H. 203781 Thorn, R. E. 5164 Tipping, H. 202174 Trather, E. 203782 Treadwell, W. S. 200054 Turner, F. 2639 Turner, J. 203300 Tyler, W. 1751 Tyrell, E. 5193 Vickers, J. 5729 Vockins, B. O. 200879 Waite, A. 2960 Walker, H. V. 201060 Walters, C. H. 3216 Warren, P. 1947 Webb, G. W. 2017 Webb, W. E. 203845 Welch, F. A. 5844 Wells, A. 19430 Werrell, W. 203770 Wheatcroft, A. F. 5197 Wheeler, F. 1457 Wheeler, G. 200986 White, C. V. T. 2662 White, J. H. 4795 White, R. J. 5856 Whittle, W. 200804 Wickens, B. E. 200665 Wicks, N. J. 5143 Wicks, W. C. 5553 Wicks, W. G. 201131 Wiggins, A. J. 202115 Wiles, F. 5638 Williams, A. G. 5412 Wiltshire, G. 2580 Wing, A. G. 2633 Winter, L. V. 201514 Witts, H. 2764 Woodall, R. E. 202000 Woodley, A. G. 203790 Woodley, F. W. 202684 Woodward, H. 23660 Woolford, E. J. 5793 Young, S.

APPENDIX B.

Honours And Decorations Gained By Officers, N.C.O.'s And Men Of The 1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, While Serving With The Battalion.

C.M.G.

Colonel O. Pearce Serocold. Lieut.-Col. R. J. Clarke.

D.S.O.

Lieut.-Col. A. B. Lloyd-Baker (Bucks Battn. attached). Lieut.-Col. R. J. Clarke. Capt. W. A. Wetherilt.

M.C.

Major J. N. Aldworth. Capt. S. Boyle. Capt. G. M. Gaythorne-Hardy. Capt. O. B. Challenor. Capt. W. O. Down. Capt. D. J. Ward. Capt. O. M. James. Capt. E. W. Crust. Capt. B. F. Holmes (Norfolk Regt. attached). Capt. J. W. Cawley. Capt. G. C. W. Gregory (East Surrey Regt. attached). Capt. L. Ball (R.A.M.C. attached). Capt. L. T. Goodenough. Capt. S. C. Larn.

Lieut. W. O. Forder. Lieut. P. G. Handford (Wilts Regt. attached). Lieut. T. Rogers. Lieut. A. O. Stott. Lieut. H. T. Wevill. 2nd/Lieut. E. E. Millar (Wilts Regt. attached).

200005 C.S.M., A. G. Rider. 201108 C.S.M., W. H. Heath.

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.

200024 R.S.M. Laidler, A. H. 200546 Sergt. Wright, A. T. 3134 Sergt. Rogers, T. 65 Sergt. White, S. 203794 Sergt. Gilding, F. 200569 Sergt. White, W. T. [A]405 Sergt. Westall, A. G. 200034 Sergt. Roberts, W. A. 201115 Sergt. Wilson, W. 200052 Sergt. Holloway, T. 200756 Sergt. Salmon, J. H. 200500 Sergt. Moore, S. W. 203791 C.S.M. Alder, G. 4749 Pte. Appleby, J. 2594 Pte. Sadler, G.

[Footnote A: _denotes award of Bar to D.C.M._]

MILITARY MEDAL.

12 Sergt. Beasley, A. W. 445 Sergt. Wickens, R. A. 203809 L/Cpl. Ranscombe, W. 142 Sergt. Shorter, G. 2035 Pte. Sellwood, P. 3128 Pte. Ross, B. A. 4968 Pte. Wernham, H. W. [B]3120 L/Cpl. Rixon, W. 2439 L/Cpl. Davies, E. L. 2612 L/Cpl. Rice, R. 2646 Corpl. Cooke, W. [B]200814 Pte. Mitchell, R. 144 Pte. Smith, S. 2629 Pte. Russell, T. 1547 Sergt. Goodenough, L. T. 2768 Corpl. Crust, E. W. 200150 Sergt. Garrett, E. J. 200633 Pte. Lambden, R. E. 200426 Sergt. Millican, H. 200847 L/Cpl. De Gruchy, H. 200620 Sergt. Martin, S. 200647 Sergt. Seeley, C. L. 203875 L/Sergt. Baylis, L. G. 200661 L/Cpl. Slatter, S. G. 201824 Pte. Breadmore, F. 200846 Sergt. White, H. G. 200406 Sergt. Paddick, H. 200373 Pte. Russ, E. 200682 Sergt. Fuller, B. H. 20649 L/Cpl. Mazey, J. 2772 Pte. Hutchings, G. W. 2252 Sergt. Evans, A. 3143 Corpl. Hart, H. 1858 Pte. Oliver, M. W. 8362 Corpl. Allen, W. 200675 Sergt. Shaw, E. 200263 Sergt. Harman, C. H. 37317 Corpl. White, N. B. 200356 Corpl. Withers, A. V. 38157 Pte. Black, D. 203850 Corpl. Cripps, H. J. 201508 Pte. Rackley, A. 36644 Pte. Edmunds, F. 26031 L/Cpl. Lloyd, L. V. 203873 Sergt. Thatcher, A. 200905 Pte. Robinson, F. W. 201115 Sergt. Wilson, W. 36796 Pte. Cooksey, E. H. 202187 Pte. Disbury, C. 200500 Sergt. Moore, S. W. 200256 Corpl. Duncan, J. A. 1794 L/Cpl. Sargent, E. N. 1140 Sergt. Holloway, T. 203771 L/Cpl. Stratton, W. W. 37937 L/Cpl. Rogers, S. 200485 Corpl. Childs, F. W. 200562 Pte. Clare, H. H. 203812 L/Cpl. Parris, A. T. 201775 Pte. Cund, F. 201917 Pte. Curtis, C. W. 200796 Pte. Stokes, W. J. 201505 Sergt. Prior, S. C. 200215 Pte. Carter, A. 203772 Pte. Cartland, J. 200216 L/Cpl. Bricks, H. A. 203862 Pte. Wiggins, C. W. 201753 Pte. Evans, G. 201796 L/Cpl. Thomas, M. 200877 L/Cpl. Freeman, J. 34146 Pte. Tyrrell, F. 202165 Pte. Crouch, W. J. 202244 L/Cpl. Edwards, H. F. 21799 Pte. Brooks, F. J. 201383 Pte. Hopkins, F. 17048 Pte. Fisher, A. 201776 Corpl. Sturgess, A. H.

[Footnote B: _denotes award of Bar to Military Medal._]

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.

200423 C.Q.M.S. Pitman, C. E. 200063 C.Q.M.S. Snarey, F. A. 200019 C.Q.M.S. Hatton, E. S. 200849 Sergt. Grover, F. R. 200549 Sergt. Morris, W. H. 203829 L/Cpl. Kurton, C. 203753 Pte. Meads, H. H.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.

Colonel O. Pearce Serocold (twice). Lieut.-Col. R. J. Clarke (three times). Lieut.-Col. A. B. Lloyd-Baker (twice) (Bucks Battn. attached).

Major G. A. Battcock (twice). Major J. N. Aldworth (twice). Capt. A. G. M. Sharpe. Capt. G. M. Gaythorne-Hardy. Capt. R. G. Attride. Capt. O. B. Challenor. Capt. L. Ball (R.A.M.C. attached). Capt. A. C. Hughes. Capt. O. M. James. Capt. F. Winsloe. Capt. W. A. Wetherilt. Lieut. R. A. Hogarth. Lieut. J. Payne. Lieut. R. W. Wells. 2/Lieut. C. A. Freeman.

R.S.M. Hanney, W. C. R.S.M. Hogarth, R. A. 2361 R.Q.M.S. Borton, E. 200024 C.S.M. Laidler, A. H. 200427 Sergt. Gutteridge, A. 200756 Sergt. Salmon, J. H. 203798 Sergt. Neal, S. 200540 Sergt. Monney, J. T. 200084 Sergt. Palmer, F. 1179 Sergt. Beaver, H. 200532 Sergt. Higgs, W. A. E. (twice). 200848 Sergt. Gale, A. 200947 L/Sergt. Earle, W. 200072 Corpl. Eggleton, A. E. 200356 Corpl. Withers, A. V. (twice). 200415 Corpl. Peacock, W. J. 200040 Corpl. Poulter, E. 200275 Corpl. Croft, J. 899 Corpl. Collier, G. H. 203182 L/Cpl. Parris, L. 200810 L/Cpl. Shaw, A. E. 17048 Pte. Fisher, A. 202196 Pte. Hardy, T. E. 200562 Pte. Clare, H. H. 38172 Pte. Jukes, F.

FOREIGN DECORATIONS.

FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE.

Lieut.-Col. H. F. Whitehead (E. Lancs. Regt. attached). 203842 Pte. Holley, P. F.

BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE.

200415 Corpl. Peacock, W. J.

ITALIAN SILVER MEDAL FOR VALOUR.

Capt. J. W. Cawley. Capt. W. A. Wetherilt. Lieut. A. O. Stott. 203791 C.S.M. Alder, G.

ITALIAN BRONZE MEDAL FOR VALOUR.

Lieut. O. Buxton. 203846 Sergt. Gilbey, O. 38157 Pte. Black, D.

ITALIAN CROCE DI GUERRA.

Lieut.-Col. A. B. Lloyd-Baker (Bucks Battn. attached). 202235 Sergt. Hill, A. J. 200569 Sergt. White, W. T. 203850 Corpl. Cripps, H. J. 201753 Pte. Evans, G. 36796 Pte. Cooksey, E. H.

FRENCH OFFICIER DU MÉRITE D'AGRICOLE.

Lieut.-Col. R. J. Clarke.

FRENCH CHEVALIER DU MÉRITE D'AGRICOLE.

Major J. N. Aldworth.