| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, FRONT LINE CALONNE |
| Entry | 2:30AM. Just as the Battalion was standing down after the morning "stand to" one of the sentries in the centre of the line noticed something move in our barbed wire in front of the trench. A shot was fired in the direction of the movement when suddenly a German stood up in the wire and put his hands up. He was called to come in which he did heaving a sigh of relief as he fell into our trench. He had no rifle and no equipment except one of the latest gas helmets. He said that he was a Pioneer and that he had deserted because his Officer had struck him. He seemed to be a superior BOSCHE, well fed and clothed. He was sent to Brigade HQ under an escort. At 1st Corps HQ he gave the most copious information, we have never had a record of a deserter telling so much. He said that he was a deserter from the 9th Pioneer Battalion of the 18th Reserve Division, IXth Reserve Corps. He gave the exact positions of many batteries of artillery and of billets used by the Germans. He also said that a general attack is contemplated by the Germans very shortly with the object of capturing the LOOS SALIENT. A joint attack will be made further South. He said that for the main attack on LOOS one Guards Division had been brought from BELGIUM and that gas cylinders have been installed in saps and shafts along front and support trenches. PAGE 38: 10:30PM. The enemy after a short but heavy bombardment attempted a raid on our trenches. Unfortunately a wiring party which was out at the time - under 2nd Lt L.A. KLEMANTASKI - was surprised before they had time to get back into our trenches. Supported by the fire and bombs from the men in the trenches this party succeeded in breaking up the attack and inflicting casualties on the enemy. A copy of the official report of the raid is attached. Our casualties on this night were:- Killed:- 2nd Lt L.A. KLEMANTASKI. 11 Other Ranks. Wounded:- 16 Other Ranks. 5 dead Germans were brought in and two more were seen lying outside of our wire. We cannot estimate the German wounded but excluding those who came under the fire of our bombs and machine guns, those inflicted by the artillery barrage which was very heavy must have been serious. |
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