X550/3/WD/1704

War Diary for April 1917 1 Apr 1917 - Bailleulmont Billets BAILLEULMONT. 2nd Lieut.R.T.Oldfield admitted to Hospital Sick. A Draft of 10 Other Ranks joined from Base. 2 Apr 1917 Billets BAILLEULMONT. Battalion played 19th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment at Football in Heavy Snow-storm, losing 3-1. 3 Apr 1917 - Blairville Billets BAILLEULMONT. Lieut.G.A.Anstee, M.C., admitted to Hospital - Sick. Lieut.L.A.L.Fink, M.C. took over Acting Adjutant. At 2 p.m. Battalion left BAILLEULMONT for BLAIREVILLE "X".4.a. Ref: Map 51.c.S.E., arriving at 5 p.m. Relieved 19th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment. 4 Apr 1917 Billets BLAIRVILLE. Battalion employed digging communication trench about S.3.c. reference Map 51.B. S.W. 5 Apr 1917 Billets BLAIRVILLE. Battalion employed as on 4th. Capt.L.F.Beal, M.C. and Capt.P.C.Cavan proceeded to Senior Officers Course of instruction at Aldershot. Lieut.H.de.Buriatte took over command of "A" Company. 2nd Lieut.J.P.Pitts took over command of "D" Company. 6 Apr 1917 BLAIRVILLE. capt.R.O.Wynne, D.S.O., rejoined Battalion from Aldershot. Sick wastage week ending 6th 10 Other Ranks. 7 Apr 1917 - outpost line around Hénin-sur-Cojeul BLAIRVILLE. Battalion left BLAIRVILLE at 6.45 p.m., and relieved 16th Bn.Manchester Regiment and one Company 2nd Bn.Royal Scots Fusiliers in Outpost Line around HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, with dispositions as shown on attached Map. Bn.Hd.Qrs at S.11.b.4/6. Ref: Map 51.B. S.W. 1/20,000. Relief complete about midnight. 8 Apr 1917 At 2.15 a.m. enemy tried to rush one of "B" Companies Advanced posts at N.32.b.7/7. remainder of "A" and "B" Companies relieved by 19th and 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment. After relief "A" and "B" Companies moved back to SWITCH LANE about S.5.a.c.d. "D" Company moved up into Sunken Road at N.32.d.1/6 At 11 p.m. Lt.Colonel H.S.Poyntz, D.S.O. went sick, Capt.R.O.Wynne, D.S.O. came up from Transport Lines and took command. 9 Apr 1917 - St-Martin-sur-Cojeul At 1.30 a.m. "D" Company under 2nd Lieut.J.P.Pitts attacjed St.MARTIN-SUR-COJEUL. At the same time "C" Coy under Capt.R.E.Oakley pushed forward on flanks and established posts at N.33.d.3/9 and N.27.c.1/5. After "D" Coy had cleared ST MARTIN 2nd Lieut.A.F.Aldridge of "C" Coy established a post holding one Platoon at N.33.a.7/6. Casualties Lieut.W.E.HART, slightly wounded, 2 O.R. wounded. We captured prisoners of 86th R.I.R.. "D" Company withdrew to SWITCH LANE about 5 a.m. remainder of morning quiet and spent in fitting and resting At 5.30 a.m. General Attack on the LEFT commenced. At 2 p.m. attack by our Brigade started. 19th BN. K.L.R. Attacking on the RIGHT. 20th Bn.K.L.R. Attacking on the LEFT. 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire R. In Support. 17th Bn.K.L.R. In Reserve. "A" and "D" Companies were supporting 19th Bn.K.L.R. SOUTH of River COJEUL. "B" Company supporting 19th a dn20th Bn.K.L.R. NORTH of River COJEUL. "C" Company is [sic] Posts at St MARTIN and In Reserve. Enemy put up fairly strong barrage in HENIN. "B" Company avoided Casualties by keeping to left of Village. "A" and "D" Companies crossed River 500x West of HENIN. Attack held up by Wire and Machine Gun fire, also owing to Brigade on our LEFT (21st Brigade) being held up. The Division attacking on our RIGHT was the 21st Division. "B" and "D" Companies dug in on a line from N.27.c.1/5 to N.33.d.2/7. "A" Company were in advance on Right Flank on 19th Bn. K.L.R. about N.33.b.8/3 Soon after dark the troops in advance of "B" and "B" [sic D] Coys were withdrawn so as to allow our guns to shell enemy trenches again. "A" Company under Lieut.H.de.Buriatte took up position in Sunken Road at N.33.a.8/2. At 11 p.m. Battalion Headquarters moved up to point T.1.a.1/2. remainder of night quiet and nothing unusual to mention. 10 Apr 1917 Quiet all morning. About 1 p.m. received orders that 2 Companies were to attack HINDENBURG LINE from N.27.c.1/4 to N.27.d.6/10 at 4 p.m., this order was cancelled and reports received that our Cavalry Patrols were in HENINEL. This information was false. 19th and 20th Bn.K.L.R. had orders to move forward with 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment in Support. This order was cancelled. During the night 2nd Lieut.E.E.BATH and 2nd Lieut.A.STONE, M.C., took out strong patrols to examine gaps reported in enemy wire. They found very small gaps and wire uncut. Patrols were heavily fired on and "D" Coy Patrol had 1 O.R. Killed. After this patrol 2nd Lieut.E.E.Bath and 2nd Lieut.A.F.Aldridge went back to transport, they were both knocked up. Received orders at 11 p.m. that we were to attack German Line on either side of River COJEUL at 5.30 a.m. the next morning. 11 Apr 1917 At 4 a.m. Battalion Hd.Qrs. moved up to N.32.d.0/6. At 5.30 a.m. attack strated [sic] SOUTH OF RIVER. "D" in front. "A" in Support. NORTH OF RIVER "B" in front. "C" in Support. Attack held up almost at once, came under heavy enfilade M.G. fire and wire was uncut. German Trenches very strongly held. "D" and "A" Companies dug in about N.33.b.7/8 to N.33.b.6/2. "B" Company dug in about N.27.c.7/4 and held on there. "C" Company remained in Support to "B" Company. The attack by 21st Division on our RIGHT was held up. At 10 a.m. 4 Tanks appeared on our Left and crossed German Line. They were of no assistance as no scheme of co-operation with us had been worked out. Remainder of morning spent in reconnaissance. At 2 p.m. enemy seen retiring in N.27.b. Fired on by "B" Coys Lewis Guns. During the afternoon 164th Inf.Brigade on our Left had entered HINDENBURG LINE and were bombing down the trenches in front of us. By dark they held German Trenches as far South as the River COJEUL. the 18th Bn.Manchester Regt who were attached to our Brigade took over these Trenches. We remained as we were. A quiet night, but very cold with a heavy fall of snow. 12 Apr 1917 - Blaireville The 18th Bn.Manchesters continued Bombing along German Line South of River and eventually handed over this part of line to 21st Division. By 8 a.m. Germans had all gone and our patrols pushed out to HENINEL. We remained in our positions during the day. All quiet. At 5 p.m. the Battalion was relieved by 5th Scottish Rifles and marched back to BLAIREVILLE. Last Company arriving about 9.30 p.m. A very wet night. The weather was very bad throughout the whole operations During above operations Company Commanders were as follows: - "A" Company Lieut.H.de.Buriatte. "B" Company Capt.R.Hopkins. "C" Company Capt.R.E.Oakley. "D" Company 2nd Lt.J.P.Pitts CASUALTIES during above operations were: - 2nd Lieutenant E.HOUSEMAN Wounded 8th. Lieutenant W.E.HART Wounded 8th. 2nd Lieut.G.B.L.MATHEWS Wounded 9th Lt-Colonel H.S.POYNTZ, D.S.O. Sick 9th 2nd Lieut.A.YOUNG Wounded 11th 2nd Lieut.A.STONE, M.C. Wounded 11th 2nd Lieut.F.T.MATTHEWS Wounded 11th 2nd Lieut.A.F>ALDRIDGE Sick 11th. OTHER RANKS Killed 13. Died of Wounds 4 Missing 2 Wounded 63 Wounded at duty 5 Shell Shock 2 TOTAL: - 89. 13 Apr 1917 - Bailleulmont At 8 a.m. Battalion left BLAIREVILLE for Billets in BAILLEULMONT arriving at 11.20 a.m. Sick wastage week ending 13th 2 O.R. 14 Apr 1917 - Couin Billets BAILLEULMONT. 2nd Lieut.E.J.WRAY admitted to Hospital sick. Battalion left a 4 p.m. for billets in COUIN - about 9 1/2 miles S.E. of DOULLENS (Ref.Map.LENS) arriving at 8 p.m. 15 Apr 1917 Billets COUIN. 2nd Lieut.S.D.CLINE 2nd Lieut.C.HAYWOOD 2nd Lieut.D.LYDLE 170 Other Ranks Joined Battalion from Corps Reinforcement Camp. 16 Apr 1917 Billets COUIN. A Draft of 11 O.R. Joined. 17 Apr 1917 Billets COUIN. 18 Apr 1917 Billets COUIN. 2nd Lieut.A.F.ALDRIDGE rejoined from Hospital. 19 Apr 1917 Billets COUIN. 20 Apr 1917 - X Works near Agny At 9.30 a.m. Battalion left COUIN in Busses for X Works in old German Front Line about M.16.a. Central (Ref.Map 51.B. S.W.) arriving at 6.30 p.m. Came under VIITH Corps. About 9 p.m. 11 O.R. were accidentally wounded by explosion of one of our STOKES Bombs. Sick Wastage week ending 20th 11 O.R. 21 Apr 1917 In Bivouac at M.16.a Central. Draft of 7 O.R. joined from Base. 22 Apr 1917 In Bivouac at M.16.a central. About 9.15 a.m. 1 O.R. was accidentally wounded by explosion of German Bomb. 2nd Lieut.E.L.MARSDEN joined Reinforcement Camp from Base. 23 Apr 1917 - Neuville-Vitasse In Bivouac at M.16.a.Central. At 6.50 p.m. orders received to move at 7.30 p.m. for the NEUVILLE VITASSE Area. Battalion left at 7.35 p.m. and arrived at N.19.d.2/8 at about 9 p.m. where we bivouacked for the Night. 24 Apr 1917 - Hindenburg Line near St-Martin-sur-Cojeul At 10 a.m. orders received to move in HINDERBURG LINE. Battalion left N.19.s.2/8 at 10.15 a.m. and were all in position in the HINDENBURG LINE from N.27.b. to N.27.c. [sic N.28.c?] by 11.45 a.m. Battalion Headquarters at N.27.b.3/5. 1 O.R. wounded. 25 Apr 1917 Battalion in HINDENBURG LINE. 1 O.R. wounded. 26 Apr 1917 Battalion in HINDENBURG LINE. 1 O.R. wounded. A Draft of 10 O.R. joined from Base. 27 Apr 1917 Battalion in HINDENBURG LINE. 1 O.R. wounded. Sick wastage week ending 27th 21 O.R. 28 Apr 1917 - en route for Nuncq Battalion left HINDENBURG LINE at 6.20 a.m. for bivouac at M.16.a. Central arriving at 9 a.m. At 1.30 p.m. Battalion left to entrain at ARRAS for NUNCQ. Left ARRAS at 6.15 p.m. arriving at NUNCQ about 5 1/2 miles S.S.W. of St.POL (Reference Map: LENS) at 2.15 a.m. on 29th April. came under XIX Corps 29 Apr 1917 - Nuncq Billets NUNCQ 30 Apr 1917 Billets NUNCQ. Major B.P.NEWBOLT joined the Battalion

1-30 Apr 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

item

Anstee, G.A.,
Fink, Lawrence Alexander Lewis,
Oldfield, R T,
Newbolt, B.P.,
Beal, Leonard Frank,
de Buriatte, H.,
Pitts, J P,
Wynne, Richard Owen,
Poyntz, Hugh Stainton,
Oakley, R.E.,
Aldridge, A.F.,
Hart, W.E.,
Bath, E E,
Stone, A.,
Hopkins, R.,
Houseman, E.,
Mathews, G.B.L.,
Young, A.,
Matthews, Frederick Thomas,
Cline, S.D.,
Haywood, C,
Lydle, D.,
Marsden, E.L.,
Cavan, P.C.

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Cojeul, 19th Battalion (3rd City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, football, weather, maps, 16th Battalion (1st City) Manchester Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 20th Battalion (4th City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, prisoners of war, 89th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 17th Battalion (1st City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, land weaponry, 21st Division, 21st Infantry Brigade, VII Corps, 164th Infantry Brigade, 18th Battalion (3rd City) Manchester Regiment, 1st/5th Battalion Cameronians, deaths, omnibuses, XIX Corps, Nuncq, Neuville-Vitasse, Saint-Martin-sur-Cojeul, Hindenburg Line, Arras, Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, Agny, X Works [Arras], Couin, Bailleulmont, Blaireville, Heninel, Switch Lane [Arras], Aldershot, Henin