| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, In Action near Chambrecy |
| Entry | The enemy attacks in the early morning but gained no ground on our front, but our flanks who were heavily engaged, were forced to give ground. "D" coy of the Battalion had by this time (10am) been ordered to move forward and strengthen our right flank. About midday our flanks had been forced back and shortly afterwards enemy machine guns were in action near the aerodrome at GERMIGNY, harassing our rear and enfilading our front line. At 2.5pm the Battalion was ordered to withdraw to the ridge running E of SARCY. This withdrawal was effected in good order under some difficulties owing to hostile MG fire, and it is believed 1 Officer and 16 ORs were cut off. The Battalion now commenced to organise a position of defence on the ground E of SARCY with its left at the Bridgehead E of SARCY. The CHESHIRES were on our Left and the SHROPSHIRES and STAFFS on our Right. The enemy quickly followed up, using smoke screens & pushing forward his MGs and forcing those on our right flank to withdraw to a position in the rear. Our fight flank then became dangerous and we suffered heavy casualties, eventually withdrawing to a position SW of BLIGNY with our Left on the River ARDRE which was fortified by us. 2/Lieuts A THOMAS and W GRINDLEY were Killed. Lieut LG DUDLEY, 2/Lieuts DW DAVIS, W BIDWELL and WT BAKER wounded and Lieut RG DENHAM Missing. At about 9.30pm the Bde Major, 56th Inf Bde ordered the Battn to return to its former position E of SARCY. The Battalion then advanced with a screen of scouts up to the Bridgehead E of SARCY and found the French in position. After remaining for about 3 hours, during which time the position was reconnoitred, a further order arrived from the 56th Bde ordering the Battalion to return to its position SW of BLIGNY. The Battalion returned & settled in the position about 5.30am. The GOC 56th Bde then informed the OC Battalion that the Battalion was in reserve and available for counter-attack measures should it be needed. The Battalion remained in this position until 5pm when the Bde Major brought instructions for it to counter-attack the farm on the river due N of CHAMBRECY and the high ground NW of CHAMBRECY village. The Commdg Officer & Adjutant reconnoitred the position and assembled the Battalion for the attack. The attack was launched at 7.20pm. Very considerable MG fire was met with from each flank, combined with Heavy Artillery fire, but the Battalion , personally led by the Commanding Officer, pressed on to its objective, which it reached in due course, joining up with the French on the left flank. This position was rapidly consolidated under heavy fire & the remnants of the Battalion reorganised. Our casualties were rather heavy, only 5 officers remaining and about 120 men. Capt RS GALLIERS was killed 2/Lieuts AEM WELSFORD, AJ OSBORNE, AC DAVIE and H HILL wounded and 2/Lieut SWH DANN gassed. About 30 - 40 German dead lay on the crest of the hill NW of CHAMBRECY, and quite a few at the farm in the valley. Towards night the French sent up supports for our right flank, which was rather obscure, and later a party of ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS came up and linked up our right thus securing the position. The Battalion remained in this position all night and the position was thoroughly consolidated and strengthened. |
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