Sunny day after a white frost. A strafe of our heavies all the morning. Went to Bde. office and spent half an hour with Gen. settling things. My recommendations had not gone on, but have now. Two for Military Medal for stretcher bearers, who did good work in bringing in wounded from a neighboring Div. I hear the Canadians did a big raid the other night. A whole Brigade went over and did a lot of damage. I wrote to Padre’s father today (he is 94), telling him what we all thought of his son, and sent him the copy of the recommendations I had sent in for the M.C. for him for the third time.

Footnote

The Military Medal was subsequently awarded to 14282 Private John Hamilton and 40085 Lance Corporal James Smallwood (one of the Yorkshireman who had joined the Battalion in December 1916) both of ‘C’ Company: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in securing and rescuing wounded men for a neighbouring division from ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of February 19th, 1917.’