| Regiment | 6th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Longueval |
| Entry | 3.30AM - Bn arrived at S22d Valley. CO rejoined with orders which were read and explained. Bn ready to move off at 4AM. 5.14 - Norfolks report Zero time to be 6.15AM. 5.40 - Norfolks commence to move off towards LONGUEVAL which was over a mile off. Enemy shell road to LONGUEVAL with field guns. Long halts cause delay and congestion in road. 7.5 - No 13 Platoon D Coy Berks moves off as leading platoon of the Bn. Enemy shelling road heavily with guns of all calibre. Many casualties from shell fire. Norfolks not yet attacked though barrage lifted. 9.0 - Entrance to village reached. 9.49 - B9 stating Barrage will lift at 11AM received. 10.50 - BM12 " " " " 11AM by 50 yards a minute received. 11.40 - Norfolks report S portion of wood clear. Battn starts to move on to wood. 11.55 - Bn in position in S portion of wood and in touch with Essex on right but very weak owing to heavy losses from shell fire. MG opened fire on to the leading platoons of D Coy from the NW corner of the Southern half of wood. This gun had not been reported by Norfolks. NOON - CO arranged for rebombardment to start at 1pm for 30 minutes and for assault to take place after. 1pm - Heavies falling short among our own men. Shrapnel bursting short. 1.30pm - Barrage lifted. It was impossible to tell that a bombardment was on as the rate of fire was so slow and Coys had to be informed that it was time to attack. Germans brought heavy barrage on PRINCES ST line and opened with MGs on advancing troops. D Coy unable to advance owing to MG from a house somewhere on their left. C & B advanced about 150yds but suffered heavy casualties and were finally forced to drop back to the lines PRINCES ST where they started to dig in. 1.50 - Owing to heavy fire on working parties AC & B Coys forced to retire to original line - about 80 yds S of PRINCES ST. 2.15 - Coys ordered to consolidate on the line they hold. Bde calls for situation - reported verbally see back of message B729. 2,36 - Situation explained to Suffolks and Stokes Gun asked for but not received. 3.5 - Situation explained to Bde. MGs sent into the line proposed to hold. 4 guns under 2Lt Gilbert. 3.37 - Situation sent to Bde - work of consolidation of the line 120yds S of PRINCES ST complete. Efforts being made to deepen the line 40yds S of PRINCES ST. 4.10 - Preparations complete for further effort to advance on our left but owing to inability to get in touch with Suffolks on left advance was impossible. Reported to Brigade. 4.45 - Our heavies dropping short and causing casualties among our own men. Reported to Brigade. 5.30 - Situation reported to Brigade. 6.45 - Casualties reported to Brigade. 8.40 - Situation reported to Brigade. 9.40 - 2Lt GC Hollis arrived with details of arrangements for attack by RW Fus at dawn - circulated to other Battns for information. 9.50 - German counter attacked on left edge of wood and in the village - rifle and machine gun fire for ten minutes - attack apparently driven off. 10.40 - Details of new attack received from Bde. 10.45 - Details of change in dispositions received from Norfolks and arrangements made to comply with this. 10.50 - BM45 received from Bde and timed at 8.45pm. As Norfolks message was later and after conference with Essex it was decided to act on the Norfolks information. Wires to Brigade all broken. 11.50 - Heavy shelling by Germans. |
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