| Regiment | 6th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Grandcourt Front Line. |
| Entry | 0.5AM - Rations failed to turn up in spite of guides sent out. This was undoubtedly due to the intense darkness. Coys warned not to delay moving up by waiting for rations. 1.0 - Tape line for Norfolks to form up on continued to our left. 4.50 - OK received from all Coys and reported to Bde. At about midnight the enemy opened a slow barrage on all our lines of approach. The line to the GUNPITS was barraged all night. At 4AM a slow barrage was opened on our forming up line. AT 5AM this increased in intensity and caused some casualties. In GRANDCOURT VALLEY this barrage was mostly 4.2. And 5.9s and very little of this was shrapnel. At 5.40AM Bn HQ dug out was blown in and Bn HQ started to move to a dug out at the junction of REGINA TR and 16 Rd. 5.45 - Our barrage opened and attack launched in the dark. The attack progressed in accordance with programme but owing to the darkness troops became somewhat disorganised. Casualties in the actual advance were not very serious. The final objective was reached but owing to the line taken up on the right of the Bn had to be withdrawn to the line shown in Appendix D. Casualties were mostly walking cases. The following Officers were wounded. Capt VG McARTHUR about 7.30AM. " NB HUDSON " 6.0 " 2Lt A BIRCH " 6.0 " (since died) " AJ FOX " 6.0 " " FJ SMEETON " 6.15 " " SJ KYDD " 6.15 " The following is a description of events by Companies:- "C" Coy - Right attacking Company. The strong point at junction of GRANDCT Rd and 16 Rd was carried with very little opposition. A platoon of 8th Norfolks was attached to the Coy for mopping up. The Coy was in close touch with the SUFFOLKS on 16 Rd and assisted in the clearing of the road. RUM TRENCH was passed over as it was not held by the enemy. The wire in front of COFFEE TR was not well cut but gaps had been formed and the attack was pressed home to the 1st Objective. A machine gun in COFFEE TR was captured and the team knocked out by the leading wave. Dugouts in the sunken portion of 16 Rd contained many Germans and a fair number of prisoners were taken here in conjunction with the 8th Suffolks. The barrage moved on after a 37 minute halt and the Company having reorganised the attack was pushed home successfully to the final objective the GRANDCT - MIRAUMONT Rd and the bluff in R.10b. At this point it was found that the troops on our right had not been able to push forward as rapidly as we had done and in consequence the flank of the Coy was attacked by Germans coming back from the ground immediately N of BOOM RAVINE. As a consequence the line was withdrawn about 300* to the junction of BOOM RAV & 16 rd and touch with B Coy on the left in Tea TR was obtained and the work of consolidation commenced. A strong point was started at R10b3.2 and while supervising the siting of this strong point Capt VG McARTHUR - the Coy Comdr was wounded. 2Lt A Birch was wounded near COFFEE TR and has since died of wounds. The command of the Coy was taken over by 2Lt GH TIGAR and the work of consolidation completed. B Coy - Centre attacking Coy. The Coy started the attack and crossed the portion of GRANDCT TR which had been held by us and RUM TR without opposition. Some casualties caused by the enemy shrapnel barrage. Capt NB HUDSON who commanded the Company was wounded while moving up to COFFEE TR. The 1st Objective COFFEE TR was captured and the work of reorganising commenced. When the barrage moved on after the 37 minute halt the attack was pushed home to the final objective. 2Lt AJ FOX and 2Lt FJ SMEETON were wounded in the fighting round COFFEE TR and command of the Coy was taken over by aCSM HINE. The final objective was gained but in order to conform with the withdrawal of C Coy on the right the line was slightly withdrawn to about R10a6.3 & the work of consolidation was continued under the command of 2Lt JMS BATTAMS who had taken command of the Coy. D Coy- left attacking Coy No resistance was met by this Coy until the trench immediately E of the orchards was reached. The wire here had not been well cut but offered no serious obstacle. The trench was lightly held and was captured with no difficulty. 2Lt HGN TARRANT immediately pushed on to the sunken road running GRANDCOURT to P.MIRAUMONT and captured about 70 of the enemy in the dug outs on the S. side of the road. A patrol was pushed on to the line of the railway & the line was consolidated and touch gained with B Coy on the right and a coy of 8th Norfolks on the left. Assistance was received in the capture of the objective from A Coy 8th Norfolks attacking on the left. A Coy - Reserve Coy On the assaulting troops moving forward A Coy moved into the line GRANDCOURT TR and when the assaulting troops moved to the final objective after the 37 minute halt of the barrage two platoons moved up and garrisoned COFFEE TR - two platoons to GRANDCOURT TR & headquarters to FOLLY TR. At zero hour Bn HQ moved from the gunpits which had been very heavily shelled to a dug out at the junction of REGINA TR and 16 Rd. 8AM - Situation reported to Bde. Line visited and consolidation started. 1050 - Situation reported to all Coys. CO visited line - consolidation being completed. Remainder of day spent in improving line and burying dead. Day quiet. Casualties 6 Officers wounded - (1 died of wounds) 19 other ranks killed 169 " " wounded & missing. Quiet night - very little shelling by enemy. |
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