| Regiment | 6th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Belgium, Zillebeke |
| Entry | All references to Sheet ZILLEBEKE 1/20,000. A copy of all operation orders & messages received & sent is attached. 1.55AM - Head of Bn arrived in assembly area in I.17d and I.23a & c. 3.5 - Bn reported present in assembly area. Message sent to Bde HQ to this effect. 3.50 - Zero hour. 5AM Bde report Blue line captured. 5.50 - Patrols under 2/Lts HR Hooper and GH Tigar sent forward to get in touch with 17th Manchesters 6.50AM. Black line reported captured unofficially. 7.15 - Bn moved from assembly area in Artillery formation towards forming up line. 8.30 - Bn passing through SANCTUARY WOOD in I.13c. Fairly heavy MG fire & artillery barrage directed against Bn. No Manchester met up to this point and captured trenches did not appear to be garrisoned. 8.45 - JACKDAW RES TR reached. Owing to MG fire from YPRES-MENIN Rd and SURBITON VILLAS Bn deployed to extended order. Advance resumed and the line of the YPRES-MENIN road made good. 9AM - Attack on the black line determined on and commenced by rushes under cover of rifle & MG fire. Suffolks and their attd TM co-operated with fire on SP at J14a3.21/2. 9.50 - In spite of strong opposition and without assistance from our own Artillery which was unaware of the situation the line Xrds J7d91 JARGON SWITCH and SURBITON VILLAS captured. Touch gained with Lincolns at bank in J7d. 10.10 - British barrage opened behind the line of resistance holding up the Bn. Efforts to advance were stopped by rifle & MG fire from the JARGON TR LINE. 10.30 - Consolidation of the line J7d9.4 - Xrds J7d9.1 - JARGON SWITCH - J13b9.6 - junction rds at J13b9.5 - E of SURBITON VILLA where touch was gained with the SUFFOLKS. The work of consolidation was difficult owing to hostile MG fire & aeroplanes dropping bombs on troops consolidating. 3pm - Enemy seen massing for counter attack in GLENCORSE WOOD. SOS barrage called for - Artillery open fire and attack did not materialize. Remainder of day fairly quiet but enemy kept up continuous shell fire on consolidated troops & Bn HQ on YPRES MENIN Rd in the tunnel at J13b3.1. 8.30pm - Orders for relief by 17th KLR received. Details arranged direct with Bn - Relief orders attached. 12MN - Relief commenced. Completed 2.50AM Aug 1st. Bn withdrew to DICKEBUSCH. Narrative of operations & copies of messages attached. Detail of casualties attached. STATEMENT OF CASUALTIES JULY 17 OFFICERS Capt AH HUDSON killed Lieut HS TINDALL killed 2/Lt HGN TARRANT MC killed 2/Lt HR HOOPER wounded " WD REES wounded " EHG WORDEN wounded " WH WOOD wounded " AA BARRETT wounded OTHER RANKS killed 35 Died of wounds 6 Wounded & Missing 1 Wounded 177 Missing 27 TOTAL 246 |
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