| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, MAMETZ WOOD |
| Entry | 4:14AM.1st Battalion BLACK WATCH again attempted to seize the enemy's "Intermediate Line" but although they reached the line they were unable to hold it. 12:0 Noon. Battalion relieved 1st Battn BLACK WATCH in front line with Battn HQ at S8b1.5 with orders to attack the "Intermediate Line" at 2.45pm. Front Line N of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT. 2:45PM. Battn - less one Company - attacked the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" between the barricade at S2d.8.5 and "the angle" at S.2.C8.4. The objective of "D" Company was the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" from the point where it cut the road in S2d for 100 yards to the EAST of this point. The objective of "B" Company was the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" from the point where it cuts the road in S2d for 100 yards to the WEST of this point. The objective of "C" Company was "the angle" at S2C8.4. "A" Company was in reserve and after the launching of the attack was distributed as strong posts along the front line from which the other three companies assaulted. Should the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" be taken with little resistance the second objective of the three Companies was a support trench which was believed to exist about 100 yards behind the "INTERMEDIATE LINE". The 15th Division on our left co-operated by throwing out smoke bombs. FRONT LINE N of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT. 2:45PM. At 12 noon the heavy artillery commenced a bombardment of the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" unfortunately one gun was firing short and its shells fell on our own front line just at the time when the relief was taking place. The effect of these shells was that many of our men were buried and the trench was so badly blown in that intercommunication between one portion of the trench and another was impossible. This caused a good deal of confusion and the Companies were scarcely in their position by the time they had to attack; and the flank attack on "the angle" was impossible owing to the fact that the platoon detailed for this was unable to get into its position in 70th AVENUE. At 2.45pm the front attack was made. At first there was little resistance but when the 1st line had reached a point about 100 yards from the "INTERMEDIATE LINE" they came under machine gun fire and a heavy barrage of shell was put up by the enemy. The remainder of our men dug in about 150 yards from the enemy's line but at about 4.0pm they were shelled out of their position and were forced to retire to the original front line. The Battalion lost heavily: 2nd Lieuts W.N. CONYERS, C.G.B. HARRISON, and W.H. BISSLEY were killed. Lieut D.F. STILEMAN and 2nd Lieuts G.R. GOODSHIP, S.A.G. HARVEY, D.W. PROUT were wounded. The casualties among the men amounted to 160. 5:0PM. The front line was reorganised and held by the remainder of the Battalion from LANES SAP (inclusive) S2C.7.2 to S2d9 1/2 2. During the night 1st Cameron Highlanders established a strong point in "the angle" of the INTERMEDIATE LINE. This strong post was taken over by us at dawn. |
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