| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, BERTHONVAL SECTOR |
| Entry | About 5 am the right of our line held by B Coy was heavily shelled causing them 18 casualties. In the morning about 11 am a German prisoner belonging to the 86th Prussian Rgt was captured and sent to Brigade Hqrs. Fresh orders were received from the Brigade ordering the attack to take place on that night at 8.25pm. Dispositions made by Commanding Officer. The assault was to be carried out in six lines as follows: 1st line. 2 Platoons of C Coy 2nd line. 2 Platoons of C Coy and 2 Lewis Guns 3rd line. 2 Platoons of D Coy with orders to consolidate captured trenches. (They carried picks and shovels), followed by 2 platoons of B Coy carrying SAA. 4th line. 2 Platoons D Coy and 1 Lewis gun. 5th line. 2 Platoons A Coy with orders to consolidate. They carried picks and shovels. 6th line. 2 Platoons A Coy. The first three lines had as their objective the old British Support line. The 4th, 5th and 6th were to occupy a trench in rear of that captured by the 1st three lines The remaining half of B Coy and the remaining Lewis gun were to remain in OLD BOOTS TRENCH, their original position. About noon the enemy opened heavy shell fire on the TALUS des ZOUAVES and Headquarter trench, which was continued without cessation until 7.45pm when the bombardment developed into a dense barrage which was continued until 9.30pm. Companies received orders to be in their assembly trenches by 7.55pm but this was rendered impossible by the barrage. C & D Coys each made an attempt to get into position but both were checked by the heavy fire. About 8pm the Commanding Officer ordered Coys not to attempt to get into their assembly trenches but to stand fast and await orders. The assembly trenches were very shallow and afforded no cover. A wireless message (a station had been established in the morning at Battn Hqrs but it could not receive messages) was sent to Brigade about 8.10pm informing the staff that it was impossible to carry out the attack. The Brigade Commander came up to the trenches and ordered the 1st KRRC to relieve the Battn and carry out the attack at 1.30am but this order was cancelled and it was finally decided that no attack would take place that night. On relief the Battn moved over to relieve the 22nd RF. |
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