| Regiment | 6th Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Belgium, Opaque Wood |
| Entry | The Battalion formed the right flank in the attack by the 2nd and 5th Armies on the MENIN ROAD adjoining ridges having the 9th Welsh on left and 2nd BEDFORDS (37 Divisions) on the W. bank of Canal on the right. The dispositions of the Battalion were as follows - D Company right assaulting Company, 'C' Company left assaulting Company, 'B' Company right supports, 'A' Company left support. Boundaries between Companies, the belt running S.E. by S from OPAQUE WOOD, the belt inclusive to Left Company. Carrying Party and Battalion Forward Command Post in rear. Battalion Battle H.Q. on N.E. side of Embankment BATTLE WOOD. At zero hour 5.40a.m Battalion advanced to the attack under a heavy creeping barrage by our artillery. Left front Company met with little opposition except for continuous Machine Gun Fire from the direction of CEMETERY EMBANKMENT. The machine guns appear to be located beyond the objective line and to fire through the Barrage. The dugouts in the wood at about O 6 a 7.7. were dealt with 3 Germans being killed and 19 taken prisoner. As 'D' Coy on the right seemed to meet with considerable resistance Capt. Williams (O.C. 'C' Coy) ordered his right front Lewis Gun to open a brisk fire on the dugouts in front of that Company. On the left the 9th Welch did not reach their objective until 30 minutes after 'C' Coy had begun consolidating - to cover his left flank Capt. Williams formed a defensive flank of posts and asked for assistance. These posts from the left rear platoon were subsequently withdrawn when the 9th Welch came up. The Company reached its objective O 6a 75.65 - O 6a 3.7 within 37 minutes of Zero and flares were lit in response to aeroplane calls at Zero plus 42. The consolidation was covered by Lewis Guns and the Company Snipers who were busily engaged endeavouring to pick off Germans moving down the railway embankment and also keeping down enemy sniping on the immediate front - one platoon sniper remained isolated in a forward position from the morning of the 20th until relieved on the night 21/22. Left Support Company consolidated its section of the intermediate line, several casualties were caused by sniping. The ground was very wet and water logged in places but firesteps were formed with sandbags. On different occasions one platoon was moved up to assist the left front Company to form a defensive flank before the 9th Welch had come into touch and later it was reinforced by a second platoon with orders to operate vigorously against HESSIAN WOOD which was then believed to be holding up 9 Welch. A battle patrol was sent out from the Company when the barrage lifted, although it discovered no enemy on the immediate front of the objective, it came across a bombing post recently vacated and some consolidated shell holes with iron shelters destroyed by artillery fire, on the 21st this section of the intermediate line was harassed by enemy snipers who made communications difficult, it was also subjected to considerable shellfire, the enemy apparently shooting by direct observation. All Officers of Right front Coy were killed on attaining their objectives therefore the only authentic information came from N.C.O's. On the embankment the attack was pushed well forward and a post established beyond the actual objective, this post was held until relief on the night 21/22 although at times heavily shelled. Touch was maintained with the 2nd Bedfords on the right near the canal. To the East of the Embankment Capt Langley led the attacks upon the dugouts S of GRAVES Copse. After he was killed the right section of his party took up positions in shell holes S. of the Copse and dug in at dusk. The left of the party which had reached the side of the CEMETERY found the ground in the immediate front broken and wet and without field of fire , the N.C.O in charge withdrew to the N. side of the Cemetery to obtain a better field of fire. The movement appears to have been carried out in an orderly manner and a line of posts dug on a semi circle, the left in touch with 'C' Coy but the right flank "in the air" although covered to the right front by the advanced posts. The right support Company had a short way to go and they began digging the immediate Line before it was sufficiently light to recognise the landmarks previously reconnoitred with the result that when it became light the position had to be rectified. Throughout the day they were troubled by sniping from left front and Machine Gun fire from Right front. A battle patrol was sent out but came back under considerable Machine Gun fire and suffered several casualties. Subsequently two platoons were moved to the Embankment which it was considered advisable to hold in greater strength as it covered the whole of the valley towards HESSIAN WOOD. Carrying parties assembled with loads of wire and stakes behind each of the supporting Companies whom they followed through but sniping and Machine Gun fire made it impossible for them to work in daylight. 20/21st. Consolidation continued during night of 20/21. Surplus personnel of Officers rejoined. Lt. Bone taking command of B Coy and 2Lt Blanchard rejoining 'D' Coy. Capt. Kent remaining at Battalion Headquarters and Major Tynan DSO at Brigade H.Q. |
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