| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Pylones |
| Entry | In the early morning at about 2a.m. the Stokes gun fired on the new enemy trench between Birkin and common Crater and caused work there in progress to cease. This firing was continued at intervals during the day and attention was also paid to the enemy posts on Albany Crater. Both sides displayed considerable artillery activity in the sector on the left of the Battn line: the heavy guns being in particular evidence, but on this front the enemy's attitude was quiet. At 9.15p.m. a party of the 8th L N Lancs who had been brought up to assist the 10th Cheshires, assaulted the enemy position on Broadmarsh Crater: almost immediately machine gun and trench mortar fire opened all along the Battn front and a large number of bombs was thrown by the enemy towards the Grange posts. The left Coy called for reinforcements and rapid field gun fire was opened to cover trenches P74 and P75. This fire caused the bombing and the trench mortar fire of the enemy to cease. At 9.30p.m. on receipt of news from the left Coy the rate of fire was reduced and five minutes later the guns were ordered to cease fire. The enemy who had been putting a barrage upon the western end of Grange CT, Cross St and Quarries continued to fire an occasional shell until 10p.m. The LN Lancs captured the crater and in anticipation of a counter attack the Battn despatched two Lewis rifles to them, as one of their own had been knocked out and the second was firing badly. The rest of the night passed quietly. The casualties, mainly from trench mortar fire, were as follows:- Wounded, L/Sgt Ponting, L/Cpl Hill and Pte Baugh of C Coy. Pte Smout and Lovelock of D coy: Suffering from shock, Pte Harrison, C Coy. Wounded still at duty CSM Lester and Sgt Woodcock. During the day work was done on the parapet of P74 and the draining of Vernon CT was continued: the tow posts on the Birkin Craters were deepened and shelter provided. Capt Knubley left the Battn to take up duties as an instructor at the Divisional Training School, Buneville. |
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