 Promoted to corporal on 19 November 1916 , Statton embarked along with the rest of the 40th Battalion for France and the Western Front four days later . Initially posted to Le Havre , the battalion was transferred to Flanders in Belgium during early 1917 . Statton was promoted to temporary sergeant on 16 January 1917 , which was made substantive from 26 April . In June , the 40th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines . 
