X550/3/WD/1805

War Diary for May 1918 1 May 1918 - Dickebusch Lake Battalion supporting 89th Bde. at DICKEBUSCH LAKE. No.2 & 4 Coys. in position N. of the Lake. No.1 & 3 Coys. in poisiton S. of the Lake. Battalion H.Q. in Farm South of Lake. 2 May 1916 - Camp at G.23 The Battalion were relieved by a Battalion of the 56th Infantry Brigade and after relief marched into Camp at G.23. Area (Map Reference SHEET 28) 3 May 1918 Battalion in dispositions as on 2nd. 4 May 1918 Battalion in dispositions as on 3rd 5 May 1918 - Front Line near Vierstraat Battalion relieved the South African Composite Brigade and held line from N.10.c.5.7. to N.10.b.8.8. No.2 Company on Right (Front Line) No.4 Company on Left (Front Line) No.1 Company in reserve relieving No.1 Coy of Scottish Rifles. No.3 Company Immediate Support. Relief complete at [blank] Reference Map. Sheet 28 1/40,000 Sheet 28 S.W. 1/20,000 6 May 1918 Battalion ins ame dispositions. Hostile Artillery active during the day 7 May 1918 Battalion in same dispositions Hostile artillery very active shelling back areas with Gas Shells causing casualties among No.1 Coy. 8 May 1918 At 3.0 a.m. enemy put down a barrage with gas shells on Reserve position which drifted back on Front Line. At 4.10 a.m. he put down very heavy barrage on Front Line with Trench Mortars, 5.9's which lasted 4 hours. About 7.30 a.m. enemy Infantry attacked using Flammenwerfer forcing the French to retire which left our Right flank exposed, our two Front Companies had to fall back to our Support Line which eventually became the Front Line. No.1 Coy. had to form a defensive flank to stop the enemy from penetrating our Support Line. At 7.0 p.m. a Counter-attack was launched by the French and ourselves to try and re-establish our original Front Line, which failed. The enemy's artillery kept up an intense bombardment right through the day causing very heavy casualties to the Battalion Total Casualties 7 Officers 170 Other Ranks At night the enemy quietened down the Battalion still holding the Support Line. 2/Lieut.W.F.Billingham Wounded. 2/Lieut.A.J.H.Rogers Wounded. 2/Lieut.F.C.Baldwin Wounded 2/Lieut.A.Baker Missing. 3 Officers 2/Wilts Regt 9 May 1918 - St.Lawrence Camp Battalion proceeded to ST LAWRENCE CAMP. relief complete by 5.0 a.m. 10 May 1918 - Buysscheure Battalion in ST LAWRENCE CAMP At 2.0 p.m. the Battalion marched to L.17.c. and embussed for BUYSSCHEEURE [sic] arriving at 8.30 p.m. Battalion Headquarters at [blank] 11 May 1918 Battalion resting at BUYSSCHERE [sic] At 3.0 p.m. the personnel of 2nd Bn.Wiltshire Regt who were attached on the formation of the Composite Battalion on 19th April 1918 proceeded to rejoin their Battalion. 2nd Lieut.F.C.Baldwin Died of Wounds. 12 May 1918 Battalion resting at BUYSSCHERE Captain R.E.Oakley M.C. rejoined from England after 6 months rest Lieut.R.T.Oldfield from Brigade Employ. Lieut.S.E.Cline wounded (gas) at duty 13 May 1918 Battalion resting at BUYSSCHERE 14 May 1918 Battalion resting at BUYSSCHERE. 2nd Lieut.D.Lydle from Town Major 15 May 1918 - Audruicq Battalion resting at BUYSSCHERE At 11.0 p.m. the Battalion marched to AUDRUICQ 16 May 1918 - Ault At 7.39 a.m. the Battalion entrained at AUDRUICQ for WOINCOURT arriving there at 7.0 p.m. Battalion detrained & marched to AULT where they were billeted. Battalion H.Q. No.30 Grand Rue. Ref.Map HAZEBROUCK 5A and ABBEVILLE 14 17 May 1918 Battalion resting at AULT 18 May 1918 Battalion resting at AULT 19 May 1918 Battalion resting at AULT 20 May 1918 Battalion resting at AULT 21 May 1918 Battalion resting at AULT 2/Lieut.W.Whitbourn M.C. to Hospital Sick 22 May 1918 - Mirvaux AT 8.30 a.m. the Battalion marched to EU entraining there and detraining at POULAINVILLE about 7.0 p.m. The Battalion then marched to MIRVAUX arriving about 10 p.m. Reference Maps ABBEVILLE 14, LENS 11, AMIENS 17. On this date the Battalion was transferred from 30th Division to 18th Division 23 May 1918 Battalion at MIRVAUX 23 O.R. joined Battalion from Base 24 May 1918 Battalion at MIRVAUX 25 May 1918 - Behencourt The Battalion marched to Area E of BEHENCOURT and joined the 7th Battalion. Ref.Map LENS 11 AMIENS 17 26 May 1918 Battalion in dispositions as on 25th. A party of 5 Officers & 24 O.R. proceeded to join the 30th Div Training Cadre in the EU Area. Lt.Colonel R.O.Wynne D.S.O. Major J.T.Coe Captain R.E.Oakley M.C. Captain S.E.Cline 2nd Lieut.J.Kerr 27 May 1918 Battalion in dispositions as on 26th. On this date the 7th Battalion were absorbed into the 2nd Battalion. 7th Bed.R.Strength 30 Officers 664 O.R. 28 May 1918 Battalion in dispositions as on 27th. Approximate Battle Casualties during month. 5 Officers 200 O.R. Evacuated Sick during month 1 Officer 32 O.R.

1-31 May 1918

From: 1918 To: 1918

item

Baker, A.,
Billingham, W.F.,
Baldwin, Frederick Charles,
Rogers, A.J.H.,
Oakley, R.E.,
Oldfield, R T,
Cline, S.E.D.,
Lydle, D.,
Whitbourn, Walter,
Wynne, Richard Owen,
Coe, J.T.,
Kerr, J.

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 89th Infantry Brigade, deaths, maps, Belgium farms, 56th Infantry Brigade, South African Composite Brigade, South Africans, Cameronians, land weaponry, 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, trains, Ault Grande Rue, Poulainville, Mirvaux, Behencourt, Eu, Ault, St.Lawrence Camp [Ypres], Buysscheure, Audruicq, Woincourt, Dickebusch Lake