once his age was discovered, he was immediately withdrawn from the front and sent back to the military base at étaples. after two weeks he was transferred to the first british ambulance unit for italy. on 4 september 1917 at sella di dol near san gabriele, while acting as a stretcher bearer to evacuate wounded italian servicemen during a heavy bombardment by the austrians and germans, he was injured in the leg by a shell burst but refused medical treatment until the other wounded had been attended to. for his gallantry on this occasion he was awarded the italian bronze medal of military valour in a decree by the italian minister of war dated 30 november 1917. in a letter to silvester's parents dated 20 september 1917, his commandant in the first british ambulance unit, the noted historian g. m. trevelyan, wrote: "he is certainly one who will be deservedly loved wherever he goes in life, and he is besides made of sterling stuff."