April 1917

April 1, 1917. HOUVIN-HOUVINAL. Service was held in open on Battalion training ground. Remainder of the day was spent in recreational training. The Battalion versus the York and Lancs Regiment was postponed through inclement weather. A draft of 20 0Rs joined.

April 2, 1917. Route march was carried out by Battalion via MASNICOURT, MAZIERES, TERNAS, BUNEVILLE, MONGHEAUX to billets. Remainder of the day spent in lectures and inspections. Boxing competition canceled.

April 3, 1917. Usual training programme of physical training, platoon and company drill, bayonet fighting, etc. was carried out during the morning. Afternoon was spent training continuing. Inter-company football and cross-country runs.

April 4, 1917. Battalion ordered to carry out training on Corps training area at DENIER, but owing to bad weather, the scheme was canceled. The Adjutant gave a lecture to NCOs, and conferred with offices re-future active operations. The afternoon was made a holiday for all ranks. Draft of 12 ORs joined. Capt. P Grove-White joined from senior officer’s course at Aldershot. Lieut. L A H Fenn proceeded to GOUY-EN-TERNOIS to assumed duty of Town Major.

April 5, 1917. Battalion proceeded to BEAUFORT to billets. Adequate room for all ranks, good billets.

April 6, 1917. Battalion was to have moved and O O’s for such had been prepaid but were canceled at 12 midnight on 5^th – 6^th. This day was therefore given to training under brigade arrangements, returning to billets at 1:30 PM.

April 7, 1917. Battalion move to NOYELLETTE, billets good. Capt. P Grove-White left to assure duty as second-in-command of 11^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

April 8, 1917. Battalion moved to DUIDANS, where it was billeted in huts. Bombs, tools, iron rations, etc. were drawn, and issued with the exception of the bombs. Orders were received from brigade that Zero Hour would be at 5:30 AM and that the Battalion would move to the place of assembly at that hour.

April 9, 1917. ARRAS. The Battalion moved off at 5:30 AM. Very heavy rain fell. The brigade columns were delayed for an hour and half by traffic on the St POS – ARRAS station between DAINVILLE and ARRAS. At 11 AM, the Battalion reached ARRAS station, where a large ammunition dump exploded and blew up. Lieut. Col. W I Webb-Bowen was wounded. Several other casualties occurred. The Battalion had a remarkably narrow escape as the dump was on the 200 yards away. Capt. and Adjutant T L Bowen, MC, took over temporary command. Major A G Dawson left the transport lines to take over command.

April 9, 1917. 12:30 PM. REAR AREAS. Battalion in assembly trenches with Battalion Headquarters at junction of Ivy Street and Duplicate Reserve Line.

2:15 PM orders from Brigade send out officer’s patrol to reconnoiter the route taken by 111^th Brigade.

3:35 PM. Orders received to proceed to Battery Valley in accordance with instructions previously issued.

5 PM. In position in Battery Valley. Deployed on right of 8^th Somerset L.I.

7:15 PM. Vocal orders from Brigade that the Brigade would advance on Orange Hill with 8^th Somerset L.I. and 8^th Lincolnshire Regiment in front (right and left respectively) and the 4^th Middlesex Regiment in support of both battalions with the 10^th York and Lancs Regiment in reserve.

7:30 PM. Moved as above.

9 PM. Battalion digging in on road H 20 7C8 .4 to H 20 7C 2.2 with patrols pushed forward in touch with 8^th S. L. A. and 8^th Lincolns.

11:15 PM. Orders from Brigade received that when 2 battalions of the 111^th brigade shall arrive to support 63^rd brigade, 4^th Middlesex Regiment are to be prepared to prolong the left of line as held by 8^th S. L. I. and 8^th Lincolns, if possible, along Sunken Road from H. 29. b to River.

 

April 10, 1917. Orderes from brigade via 8^th S. L. I. to move up on the left of Lincolns as above. The York and Lancs are to move up on Middlesex left as soon as two battalions of the 111^th Brigade arrive.

12:30 PM. Patrols, on arrival at this point, to be sent out along Scarpe Valley joining up with the Cavalry Post at H 23a 97.

2 a.m. Battalion moved off to take up positions as above. Moved up on left of Lincolns who were west of Sunken Road. The left of this Middlesex Battalion resting near the river. Approximate position H 20 8 b and d. Patrols were sent out but did not gain touch with Cavalry Post along Scarpe Valley.

 

April 10, 1917. 5 AM. Battalion in position as above.

10:30 AM. Vocal orders received that Brigade would advance to LONE CORPS VALLEY and with S. L. I. on the right, then Lincolns, Middlesex, and York and Lancs on the left.

11:30 AM. Moved as above. The enemy put up a very heavy barrage on Orange Hill with artillery and machine gun fire, the latter coming from the direction of FAMPOUX. This fire was so well directed that at 3:30 PM the following only had arrived at Lone Corps Valley:-  2 companies 8^th SLI (on right), 2 companies of Lincoln next and half a company of Middlesex on left. The 10^th York and Lancs had apparently been held up by the intense barrage and therefore the left of the Middlesex was exposed to fire from FAMPOUX and from an expected counterattack from that direction.

6 PM. The line of 8^th Lincolns had advanced beyond Lone Corps Valley to practically the 90° contour, 800 yards northwest of MONCHY-LE-PREUX but were met with severe artillery and machine gun fire and, their left being somewhat exposed, they withdrew to the Lone Corps Valley and in conjunction with the 8^th SLI on right and Middlesex on left, consolidated a line running along the crest of the ridge of Lone Corps Valley approximately right to left H 36 a 33 to H 30 d 35. This line being exposed from left, a defensive flank was formed by the Middlesex on left across Valley. A halfhearted attempt to counterattack by the enemy took place at about 6:30 PM, but was not pressed by him.

6:30 PM. A message was received from battalion headquarters that the line held by remnants of the brigade was practically along the line of the Sunken Road on eastern slopes of Orange Hill.

7:15 PM. Message received from Brigade Headquarters that heavy artillery was bombarding MONCHY-LE-PREUX until 7:30 PM, when the 111^th Brigade, supported by the 63^rd Brigade, would attack on, or as near, that line as possible.

7:30 PM. Remainder of Battalion not yet reinforced at Lone Corps Valley and no sign of the 111^th brigade.

8:30 PM. Remainder of Battalion moving to Lone Corps Valley. Battalion reforming and organizing again owing to casualties.

12 midnight. No move. Front very quiet. Patrols and posts out. Enemy apparently holding a line northwest of MONCHY-LE-PREUX, evidently the trenches in H. 36. D.

April 11, 1917. 3 AM. Orders received as follow:- 6^th Corps will advance at 5 AM, 3^rd division on the right, 15^th division on the left, 112^th brigade on the right, 111^th brigade on the left. The 37^th Divisional boundaries are as follows:- Gridlines between N 12 and N 18. Gridlines between squares H and N. Dividing line between 111^th and 112^th Brigades:- gridlines between 01 and 07. With the 15^th Division has passed through the Green Line, 63^rd brigade will assemble in Divisional Reserve. 2 tanks will also operate from H. 36. c. Operating a round MOMCHY.

6:30 AM. Operations commenced, 3^rd Division and 15^th Division advanced. Brigade still in Lone Corps Valley.

10:45 AM. Message received that 15^th Division had reached Keeling Corps Pelves. 63^rd Brigade to finish on as rapidly as possible to high ground 0.2.d BOIS-DES-AUBERINES and get in touch with 15^th Division on the left. 111^th Brigade on same objective with 112^th Brigade on the right. 10^th York and Lancs will form the advance guard and will move to Lone Corps at 11 AM on BOIS-DES-AUBERINES. Remainder moving in this following order:- Middlesex, Lincolns, Somersets. The Middlesex will prolong the line of the 10^th York and Lancs to the left. 8^th Lincolns in support for 2 battalions. 8^th Somerset in Brigade Reserve.

11 AM. 10^th York and Lancs advanced but could not get forward owing to machine gun fire.

11:30 AM. Battalion deployed in rear of 10^th York and Lancs, ready to move forward.

12:20 PM. Message from Brigade received as follows- 4^th Middlesex will advance at once, moving well to the right of 10^th York and Lancs, who were held up by machine gun fire from the left.

12:30 PM. Battalion moved. Route chosen on right of 10^th York and Lancs alongside of Monarch Road, running Southwest through H.36.c and d. The Battalion advance by platoons and file. Immediately after advancing along the road, which was almost entirely devoid of cover, the enemy open fire with artillery and machine gun fire, erecting a very heavy barrage. By advancing in short rushes of 12 men and lying flat, the Battalion eventually got through with comparatively small casualties, the high wind prevailing, greatly assisted, as most of the enemy bullets were a little too high. On arrival of the head of the Battalion in MONCHY. The OC, the Calvary Corps, reported that he was expecting a counterattack on his right and that he urgently required assistance. A platoon of 20 and 2 Lewis guns were therefore detached to take up a position on the right of the village about 0.1.c.2.4. Offices patrols were pushed out to find the flanks of the proceeding Brigade but were not successful. It was therefore decided to hold the village from any counterattack by a series of posts of Lewis gun and machine guns (some detachments of the 111^th Brigade machine gun company were available).

The posts occupy a line approximately along the track running north from MONCHY to 0.1.a and with a machine gun post at about 0.1.b.2.7 and southwest of the village at 0.1.c, 2.4.

3 PM. These posts were established at about 3 PM. During this period, the enemy were heavily bombarding the village, and pending the arrival of definite information, the men who were not digging posts were placed in cellars.

5:30 PM. An office’s patrol again went out and reconnoitered the whole of the village and outskirts and reported that, except for the posts mentioned above, the cavalry post about 0.1 6.2.8, it appeared that the brigades on the left and right of the village had not advanced east of the village. Many scattered parties of the 112^th Brigade had been passed along the MONCHY road, apparently consolidating a line of shell holes and old trenches in H.36.d. Patrols again sent to get in touch with right of the 8^th Lincolns, who were known to have advanced from Lone Corps Valley on our left. These patrols were unsuccessful. It was therefore decided to consolidate posts already held and patrol approaches to the east of the village. During the remainder of the night, except for intermittent shelling, nothing special happened.

11 PM. Battalion was relieved and proceeded to BATTERY VALLEY, where it remained until about 2 PM on 12 – 4 – 17, when it returned to ARRAS.

April 12, 1917. ARRAS. The Battalion was relieved and proceeded to ARRAS. They were billeted there for the night and hot meals were provided for the troops on arrival.

April 13, 1917. DUISANS. The Battalion moved to DUISANS and was there billeted in hutments. The remainder of the day was given to resting and cleaning up.

April 14, 1917. AGNEZ-LES-DUISANS. The Battalion moved to AGNEZ-LES-DUISANS, again being billeted in huts. 100 ORs under 2^nd Lieut. R M Hinton to GCS for duty there.

April 15, 1917. MANIN. Battalion moved to MANIN and was inspected on the marched by the GOC Division. The move was carried out under very inclement weather conditions.

April 16, 1917. Companies were at the disposal of Company Commanders for refitting and reorganization of platoons and specialists. 45 ORs joined from Corps training depot, FREVENT.

April 17, 1917. Training carried out. Companies at the disposal of the Company Commanders.

April 19, 1917. GOUVES. Battalion proceeded to GOUVES where they were close billeted. The Commanding Officer, Adjutant, and the Signal Officer proceeded to the line to reconnoiter the forward area, returning about midnight. 4 ORs joined the Battalion.

April 20, 1917. ARRAS. Battalion proceeded to ARRAS by motor lorries and was offloaded at the Winter Gardens where the packs were dumped and stored there. The Battalion rested to late p.m. when it moved off in fighting order. At 3:15 PM Company Commanders went up to the line to reconnoiter. Fatigue party under 2^nd Lieut. R M Hilton rejoined from CGS. The Battalion relieved the 1^st R I E in Honey Trench and Hyderabad Work with Battalion Headquarters in Sunken Road at H.11.a.6.2. The Battalion remained here until midnight 22–4–17.

April 22, 1917. Near ARRAS. Midnight. Battalion was in assembly trenches with battalion headquarters in and Hyderabad Work.

April 23, 1917. 4:45 AM. Battalion attacked with 3 companies, the remaining companies being used as a caring party.

6:30 AM. Battalion reached a line 200 yards east of the sunken road at I.y.a where, owing to both flanks being exposed, the Battalion could advance no further.

7 AM. Lieut. Col. A G Dawson was killed by a machine gun bullet, Capt. and Adjutant T W Boden, MC, took over command.

9 AM Capt. T W Boden, MC, was badly wounded by shrapnel, 2^nd Lieut. P W Smith took over command of the Battalion. At this time, communication with the Brigade and other formations was very difficult, and information of the position was very indefinite.

12 noon. The enemy was seen to be forming up for counterattack on the west of Greenland Hill. They advanced down the hill in extended order and artillery formation but, this advance was checked by our rifle and Lewis guns fire, also the machine gun fire of the 63^rd MGC. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

12 noon to 9 PM. The Battalion occupied the whole of this time in consolidating position they had taken up. Hostile artillery was continually active throughout the day.

9 PM. 3 battalions of the 112^th Brigade took over this position, and the Battalion withdrew to the sunken road at I.y.c. and consolidated this line during the night.

11 PM. The Battalion remained in this position, which was at frequent intervals heavily shelled, until 11 PM when it was relieved by 2 companies of the 10^th Loyal North Lancaster Regiment. The Battalion then withdrew to Halo trench with battalion headquarters in the sunken road at H.11.a.6.2. The Battalion remained here until the 27^th.

 

April 27, 1917. 11 PM. 2 companies moved to the Assembly Trench (Clasp Trench) with battalion headquarters in Chili Trench along with the 2 reserve companies.

April 28, 1917. 4:25 AM. Battalion attached with 2 companies in support to the 8^th Somerset Light Infantry, the remaining 2 companies still in reserve in Chili Trench. Patrols from these 2 companies were pushed out continually during the day. On account of right flank being exposed to excessive hostile sniping, they were unable to get in touch with the 2 front companies.

10 PM. These 2 reserve companies moved up to reconnoiter Cuthbert trench. This was strongly held by the enemy with machine guns, and owing to the weakness of these 2 companies, it was impossible for them to go any further. They therefore dug themselves in in front of Cuthbert trench.

April 29, 1917. 1:30 AM. These 2 companies were withdrawn to Cuba trench and was relieved by the 8^th Seaforth Highlanders.

3:30 AM. The Battalion moved back to the transport lines at St. Nicholas, where it was conveyed by the motor lorries to Manin.

April 30, 1917. MANIN. The day was devoted to resting and general cleaning up.

Casualties during Monchy-le-Preux operations.

Other Ranks 18 killed, hundred and 52 wounded, 31 missing, 201 total.

Casualties during the operation from 23 to 29/4/17.

Other Ranks 21 killed, 162 wounded, 98 missing, 291 total.

5.4.17           Capt. E J Donaldson to UK sick.

7.4.17         Capt. P Grove-White quitted to assure duty of second-in-command ___ Royal Berkshire Regiment.

9. 4. 17 Lieut. Col. W I Webb-Bowen wounded.
10. 4. 17 Capt. G B Morgan wounded.
11. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. D Cutbush, MC, killed.
12. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. A G Terreub wounded, died of wounds subsequently on 20-4-17.
13. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. W E Stokley wounded.
14. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. A D Trowell wounded.
15. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. H M Williams wounded.
16. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. J H Hodgson wounded.
17. 4. 17 Capt. H E Hefter admitted field ambulance sick.
18. 4. 17 Lieut. Col. A G Dawson killed.
19. 4. 17 Capt. and Adjutant T L Boden, MC, wounded.
20. 4. 17 Capt. S A Willis wounded.
21. 4. 17 Lieut. E A M Williams wounded.
22. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. R A M Hiuton killed.
23. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. L Bartlett wounded.
24. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut.’s W T Farron, A V Witter, H R Odling and J H Woods joined the Battalion.
25. 4. 17 Lieut. Col. G A Bridgman assumed command.
26. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. E B Slade wounded.
27. 4. 17 Lieut. B P Jones wounded.
28. 4. 17 2^nd Lieut. A D Hooke missing.