| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, [Caullery] |
| Entry | 09.00. Battn proceeded by march route to take up assembly position for attack on OVILLERS and RED LINE W of VENDIGIES - AU - BOIS. Battn halted at mid-day at INCHY (map ref. J22 central, sheet 57b NE where B Echelon of transport remained. Battn with Echelon A. proceeded to NEUVILLY (map ref, K.8. Sheet 57b NE) where a halt was made for tea. 22.00. NEUVILLY. Battn proceeded to assembly position in sunken road E.28c. Appx OPERATIONS 22/23rd OCT 1918 On the afternoon of the 22nd the Battn was Bivouacked in J.17d. At 16.30 the Battn moved off in column of route with increased distances to NEUVILLY and crossed the River SELLE by plank bridge at K.1.c.5.9. And rested in K.1d. At 22.00 the Battn moved off by a reconnoitred route to the bend in the railway at K.2.A.1.1. and from there, guided by the Stars to the corner of the fence E.26.d.95.85. reaching this point at 22.45 hours. The plan of operations was as follows:- The 6th Battn Leicestershire Regt was holding the line (green E.28.d..1.2 to E.27b.5.7. The 7th Battn Leicestershire Regt and the 1st Battn Wilts Regt on the right were to attack two objectives. The first being the line (dotted red) E.29b.8.8. To E.22.d.50.95. The second being the line red) E.18d.5.5. To E.18a.8.9. The Battn rested at the corner of the fence until 00.30. During that time the enemy's artillery was active but no casualties occurred. A thick mist had collected and obscures all features on the ground. The stars were visible. The Battn moved off guided by the stars to a spot E.28.a.0.0. Where it was to form up for the attack in two lines. C Coy right of front line. A Coy left of front line. B Coy right of second line. D coy left of second line. The 7th Battn Leicester Regt on the left and the Durham Light Inf (64th Inf Bde) on the right. On the march to the above spot there was some shelling but no casualties. On arriving within 300 yds of this point the Battn march out of the mist. The Battn then halted, and the forming up tape was being laid out when the enemy artillery opened up on the forming up line. The number of guns firing increased rapidly, until quite a heavy barrage came down on the forming up line causing considerable disorganisation of the Battn and the process of laying the tape. A number of casualties occurred. The Battn was eventually formed up and moved forward to the attack at 01.55 hours, the enemy barrage still continued. At 02.00 hours our barrage opened. The first objective was captured with some casualties caused by artillery fire and the advanced continued. Some casualties occurred before reaching the village of OVILLERS caused by machine gun fire from the fight flank. The village was captured and C & A Coys pushed on and reached the final objective. The remaining Coys and Unit on the left lost direction owing to the darkness. One message rocket was fired by C Coy at 05.15 hours. It was seen by Battn HQ at E.28c.2.8. but could not be found. At 07.10 hours the 6th Battn Leicestershire Regt passed through the red line to a further objective. [signed] T G Parkes Major Commanding 1st Battn Wiltshire Regt. |
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