| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Belgium, Hooge |
| Entry | Report covering these operations. Positions were taken up on the night of 24th/25th as follows:- B Coy new slits SE of old assembly trenches S of MENIN road. A Coy 2 platoons H12. 2 platoons new trench dug 60 yds to rear of H12. D Coy RS5. C Coy 2 platoons RS4 2 platoons HALF WAY HOUSE C&D Coys were carrying until 1.30a.m. Battn was in position by 2a.m. Battn dressing station and HQ were completed close to RS5. The bombardment commenced at 3.50a.m. and the enemy bombardment commenced at 3.50a.m. and the enemy replied within 30 seconds by fierce artillery fire on front line and CTs, chiefly with field guns and small How's. A curtain of shrapnel was put in front of H12 and the assembly trenches there which was maintained for 2 hours. The MENIN Rd was swept with shrapnel as were the main CTs, GRAFTON, UNION & CASTLE Streets. HE shrapnel was put over H12 (A Coy) and the slits S of MENEN Road (B Coy). Telephone wires to all trenches & Bde HQ were immediately cut. The trenches occupied by Battn did not suffer much from heavy shell fire except the left of RS5 (D Coy) which was badly blown in at junctions of CTs. Certain other points were obviously marked and a constant fire of shrapnel was kept up at these places throughout the day. The main CTs were blown in, in many places but were not rendered unserviceable. During the operations they were of the utmost value for evacuating the wounded & relieving congestion in the front lines. A t 7.30a.m. in an order to move up 1 Coy to the firing line was received from Bde HQ. This was carried out by B Coy who occupied a portion of C6, C7 having A Coy RIR on their left and a small party of 2nd S Lancs on the right. Later in the day the front line was considered to be too crowded and 1 platoon of this Coy was withdrawn to CTs. N of MENIN Road 3 M Guns of the Battn were in position in the firing line to support the attack & 1 in reserve. The two right hand guns were put out of action and the emplacements destroyed by shell fire. The disposition of the Battn after B Coy had moved up remained unchanged during the day. Heavy shelling continued during the day C6 C5 suffered severely also CTs from Crater to fire trenches, there were bombed in places and very little cover against shrapnel remained in the right sector. No definite information was received as to the result of the attack. It was believed that 2 Coys of the RIR had gone forward. In our original fire trenches now occupied by B Coy, Wilts, A Coy RIR and details of other regiments nothing was known as to the position in front and no communication was established with the Coys who had gone forward. The situation was very uncertain. Our troops on the left were observed to retire from the enemies trenches which had apparently been captured, it was reported by a Sgt that they lost heavily by M gun enfilade fire in doing so. Orders were received at 7.30p.m. for the Battn to relieve the RIR & 2 S Lancs who had come back to their original line. Two Coys of the Battn were eventually moved up into the firing line with 2 M guns of the 4th S Lancs to replace those put out of action. B Coy was relieved and sent back to dugouts at HALF WAY HOUSE. D & C Coys garrisoned the firing line with A in Support. Relief of RIR and 2nd S Lancs was completed at about 1.30a.m. The enemy continued to shell the CTs and approaches to front at intervals until 2a.m. The fire trenches especially on the right were found to be in a very demolished condition and the line in front practically destroyed and many dead were lying about, a large number of bombs were buried and others rendered unserviceable. The Battn at the end of the day consisted of 400 rifles the majority of whom were in a very exhausted condition. There had been very few opportunities of getting any sleep during the past week. Officers present with HQ on 25th:- Lieut Colonel W S Brown, 2nd Lieut/A Adjt E T Peel, Lieut A Weston R A M C. A Coy: Capt S Ogilvie, 2nd Lieut Gosden, 2nd Lieut J T Snelgrove 2nd Lieut P E Petter B Coy: Capt Hales, (machine guns) 2nd Lieut Greece, 2nd Lieut Maybrook, 2nd Lieut Emanuel. C Coy: Capt R Knubley, Lieut G D Russell, 2nd Lieut Cartwright. D Coy: Capt A H Upton, Lieut H Webber, 2nd Lieut Terry. Casualties:- Officers:- 2nd Lieut Emanuel Killed Capt A H Upton Wounded Other Ranks:- 15 Killed, 53 Wounded. Points of Interest. 1. Value of assembly slits and new trenches dug overnight. B Coy suffered very few casualties in slits S of MENIN road, these trenches had apparently not been registered and were not under direct observation. The half of A Coy had only 1 casualty in the new trench dug during night to the rear of the existing one H12. The new trench was carefully concealed with turf and light head cover was constructed to afford protection from shrapnel and falling pieces of shell. This trench was never apparently observed. 2. Telephonic Communication was of no value. It would seem to be essential to establish come simple form of visual signalling between fire trenches and nearest supports. 3. The functions of CTs were registered points & were shelled during the day. This is not the most suitable place to post guards to direct movement up & down the trenches. Head cover should be erected for such posts. The majority of CT trench guards were killed. 4. The CTs though blown in in may places were used throughout the day and were of the utmost value for evacuating wounded and relieving congestion in the front lines. 5. The importance of all ranks knowing position of Battn HQ, much delay and possibly many casualties were occasioned by orderlies bringing messages to the wrong headquarters. 6. There did not appear to be much advantage in having a dressing station in so advanced & exposed position. Only walking cases could be dealt with during the day & such could well have been attended to further back. 7. Artillery slits off the CTs were of value in drawing and distributing the enemy's fire. A large quantity of ammunition was expended in the slits off CASTLE ST in front of F2. These were unoccupied. Dummy trenches & barricades on the Wed might have been of considerable value in drawing the enemies fire from occupied trenches: if time had been available to construct them. |
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