| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Nr Beaulencourt |
| Entry | 0200. Strength Officers 37. Other Ranks 823. Battn formed up on road from N.4.c.55 to N.4.d.3.7. (Map Sheet 57c SW). Battn attacked BEAULENCOURT and captured village. Casualties: Killed Officer 2nd Lieut A W Healey. O R 17. Wounded Officers 2nd Lieut F G Pitt. OR 41. Missing Officers Nil. OR 1. Captured War Material: 2 Field Guns, 2 Light Field Guns, 2 heavy Machine Guns, 20 Light Machine guns, 5 Anti Tank Guns. Prisoners taken: Officers 3. ORs 100 (approx). 15.00. Battn HQ established in Quarry at N16 d.8.2 (Map Sheet 57c). Appx Attack on BEAULENCOURT on September 1st 1918 The Battn marched to its forming up position and formed up on the road for N4c5.5 to N4d3.7 in the following order:- Front line B Coy (under Capt C H Gaskell) on the right A Coy (under Capt H B Brown, MC ) on the left Support line C Coy (under 2nd Lieut F G Pitt) on the left D Coy (under Capt E J Brewer) on the right At 2.0a.m. a creeping barrage was put down on the line N11d0.0 to N12a0.0 and remained there for 20 minutes. At the same time heavy Artillery bombarded BEAULENCOURT and the high ground to the east of it. The Battn went forward under the barrage in extended order and attacked the village. Battn HQ were established in the trench at N10d9.0. The village was strongly held by enemy machine guns but the Battn attacked with such determination that the opposition was overcome and by 5.30a.m. the village was in our hands. A Coy at once consolidated in the trench from N18c2.7 to N17d9.4 and D coy come up on its right and held a series of Platoon Posts from N17d.9.4 to N17d0.5 and C Coy after mopping up the village took up a position in reserve in the sunken road in N17c. B Coy pushed forward on the left flank and held a very advanced position in N18c until on the 1/2 Sept when they withdrew to reorganise in the village. Our right flank was protected by a section of M Gs from a Coy 21st M Gun Battn who took up a position from N17d5.3 to N17c5.2. At 6.30 the enemy attempted a counter attack under cover of a smoke barrage but it was easily repulsed. The following war material was captured in the village:- 2 Field Guns (Damaged) 21 Light Machine Guns 2 Light Field Pieces 5 Anti Tank Rifles 2 Heavy Machine Guns Approx 100 Prisoners were captured including 4 officers Our Casualties were:- Killed: Officers 2nd Lieut A W Healy ORs 17 Wounded: Officers 2nd Lieut F G Pitt ORs 41 Missing: Officers Nil ORs 1 After the village of BEAULENCOURT had been captured the enemy resistance entirely broke down and the neighbouring villages of LE TRANSLOY and VILLERS-AU-FLOS were soon taken and the Divisions on either flanks swept forward after the enemy. [signed] G Ward Commanding 1st Battn Wiltshire Regt. |
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