| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, The Trenches |
| Entry | (24th - 29th) During this period the Battn remained in the line. There was only slight activity on the part of the artillery and trench mortars on either side, except on the night of the 24/25th, when a hostile raid was carried out upon the Battn on the right flank, the 8th S Lancs Regt. This took place at 4a.m. and a barrage of shells and trench mortars was pout down on the right Coy's sector : trench mortar fire was also directed on the left Coy front. In no case were any casualties sustained by this shelling. Patrols were sent out by the front line Coys each night, stronger in size than previously and with a more offensive object, that of securing an identification. No success, however, attended these efforts, the brightness of the moon largely hampering activity in this direction. Two particularly fine patrols were carried out by the left Coy, led by 2nd Lieut E S C Parsons, MC. On one occasion one of the patrol was wounded in the enemy's wire : he was carried back to our line, several hundred yards away, by this officer. On the night of the 27/28th, an entry into the enemy's trench was effected north of the farm in A 3d. (sheet LA BASSE, 36c N N W 1) : one of the enemy was killed but the body could not be brought away. The patrol returned safely, although the alarm was at once given and the patrol was fired on from a machine gun post. Work upon the maintenance and drainage of front line, support and C trenches, upon the construction of dugouts, revetting of front line etc. continued throughout the tour. At night wire was put out in front of each Coy and in the gap existing between the Battn and the Battn on its right, so as, to form a defensive flank on the southern side of GIVENCHY HILL. The casualties during the tour were :- 22nd. Accidentally wounded. 1 Other rank. 23rd. Wounded, 5 other ranks : one of these died on 25th. 25th. Wounded, still at duty, 2. 26th. Wounded, 2 : 1 of these died on 27th : wounded, still at duty, 1. 27th. Wounded, Capt J Reader and 2 other ranks, accidentally wounded, 1. 28th. Killed, 1 man. |
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