| Regiment | 2/4th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Gricourt-FayetSt Quentin Wood |
| Entry | The weather continued bright and sunny with a light breeze from the NE. The Companies during the day were engaged on improving the posts in their Trenches. 2/Lt G CHAMPION again spent the day in NO MAN'S LAND observing the enemy lines. He was connected by telephone direct with Bn HQ who were in telephonic communication with an 18 Pounder Battery. Shortly before 11am parties were observed working on the enemy trenches, noticeably one large party of about 50 men. 15 rounds were promptly fired but struck about 200 yards to the North of the large enemy party, however, one smaller party were driven to ground. After a short interval to allow the enemy to resume work, further gun-fire was directed on the corrected target, and all parties at once scattered in disorder. No further movement except of isolated individuals took place in that sector for the rest of the day. 2/Lt CHAMPION remained out till dusk and returned to our lines. He reported that an enemy aeroplane came over his position and, dropping to within 50 feet of the ground, thoroughly searched the vicinity, but gave no signs of having noticed the presence of the observers. Enemy activity was slight. Our forward trenches and the road east of Bn HQ were shelled lightly during the day. At 2.20pm a German Red Paper Balloon of some 5 feet in diameter landed near Bn HQ. No messages or matter of any kind were attached. Our artillery again showed increased activity, constant shoots of various calibre's being directed against enemy targets during the day and night. During the night 12th/13th we sent out Three Fighting Patrols. One went to within 200 yards of the enemy wire to observe the effect of an artillery shoot with the intention of entering the enemy trenches if wire was sufficiently damaged. On patrolling the wire however it was found to be intact, and very strong, all shells having passed over on to the enemy trenches. The other two patrols went out to fight any enemy patrols encountered, and to reconnoitre routes across NO MAN'S LAND, state of enemy wire, possible points of entry and positions of enemy posts and machine guns, the information which is required for a proposed raid. One patrol returned with information as to enemy wire and state of the ground. The second discovered the position of a weak place in the enemy wire, and also one of his posts and machine guns. Unfortunately the post opened rapid fire on to the patrol resulting in the following casualties:- WOUNDED 2/Lt J C MULLIN 203011 Lance Cpl BROWN 38902 Pte W SUTCLIFF MISSING 20002311 Pte W J BINNS The patrols on this and the previous nights took out with them certain propaganda which they fastened to the enemy wire. This will be repeated each night during the tour in the line. Orders for these Night Patrols had been issued early in the day. |
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