| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, W of Gouzeaucourt |
| Entry | Strength: Officers 34. ORs 731. [Signed] G Ward Lieut Colonel Commanding 1st Battn Wiltshire Regt. Appx Ref sheet 57c SE 1/20,000 At 8p.m. on the 17th the Battn marched from its Bivouac at Valley Copse (V.9.a2.0) to the FINS - NURILL road (V17d7.1.) and at that spot picked up a Taped Track leading S of SOREL - le - Grand and HEUDECOURT to a point on the railway W 23a5.2. At the commencement the track was clearly lined, the night fine and the marching was good. At 10.20p.m. the Bde sent orders for the Battn to halt and clear the track so as to allow a Battn of the 2nd Inf Bde to pass through. This Battn passed through at 1.50a.m. 18th. It had commenced to rain, the track was laid across a sunken road, the men had great difficulty in crossing and there was considerable delay. At about 700 yds from the railway the tape ended, the track marked by posts only and they at wide intervals: it had become very dark and the Coys kept on missing the track. The Battn formed up facing E on a line 3 yds W of xxxx in W24a. The 6th Battn the Leicestershire Regt was to the S of the Railway and on the same alignment. The 62nd Inf Bde was drawn up in front. At 5.20a.m. the Barrage opened, the 2nd Inf Bde attacked the Trenches on the Western and Eastern slopes of the High Ground in X13.c.X 19a and c. The Battn and 6th Leicesters followed them closely until they reached the sunken road and railway cutting in W24b and X19a. When the 63nd Inf Bde completed its capture of this objective, the Battn advanced forward by a creeping Barrage the objective being LIMERICK TRENCH X21b7.2 to LEITH WALK X15d5.9. On our right the 6th Leicestershire Regt on the left 64th Inf Bde. The capture of the objective was to be carried out as follows, A and C Coys under cover of the Barrage capture MEATH POST with bombing parties and artillery support to Coys to work in towards and establish touch with troops on our flanks. B Coy mop up LINET[sic] VALLEY and reinforce its front line. D Coy in support. The following actually took place, A & C Coy captured MEATH POST and worked outward according to plan. The two on our flanks and not come up - our bombing partied were driven back and MEATH POST was counter attacked in strength. A & C withdrew and took up a position in MEATH LANE and the ridge in X15a X20b X21a. B Coy cleared LINNET CALLEY and reinforced the front line, D Coy in support in road X20b 7 d: with Battn HQ in same place. 30.9.18. [signed] G Ward Lieut Colonel Commanding 1st Battn Wiltshire Regt. |
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