 The 12th Battalion spent the next two months engaged in minor operations in Belgium , before once again transferring to the trenches in France during December . During this time , Whittle was re @-@ promoted to the rank of sergeant . With the commencement of the German Spring Offensive of 1918 , the 12th Battalion assisted in repulsing the assault in the months of March and April . While engaged in this operation , Whittle was wounded on 19 March and admitted to a field hospital suffering shrapnel wounds to his right hand . Recovering from the wound , he returned to the 12th Battalion in April . Later that month , Whittle was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline a second time for mutilating his pay book ; he was reprimanded by the battalion 's commanding officer as a result . 
