| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, GENTELLES |
| Entry | 2AM. Batt marched out of village and at 4AM. Relieved troops holding front line (19th AUSTRALIAN BATT 19th Corps). *A and B Platoons moved to the right to form a defensive flank and assist 20th Division on left of HANGARD. GENERAL. (1) The Composite Batt was composed as under the approximate strength being:- OFFRS OR 8th ROYAL BERKS REGT X20 X395 7th ROYAL WEST KENT REGT 4 122 53RD TRENCH MORTAR BATT 2 23 X Offrs Includes 3 Offrs not with Batt and T.O., and Q.M. X O.R. Includes Command 57 Courses 25 Leave 12 Sick 7 Reinf Depot 6 107 Of this total of 107 about 32 subsequently rejoined Batt. *When Composite Batt was formed it was organised into two coys. Each coy being subformed into four platoons - (A, B, C and D Platoons). (2) On 28th March 1918 a draft of 37 OR joined Batt. These were men who had been compulsorily transferred from the A.S.C. (Bakers) and had received practically no training whatever. (3) Summary of the casualties sustained during the month under review are given below:- 21.3.18-27.3.18. * Officers. Killed 6 Wounded 3 Wounded & Missing 1 (.) Missing 13 23 (.) Includes one R.A.M.C. Officer attached. Other Ranks. Killed 19 Wounded 37 Wounded & Missing 10 Missing 386 Missing believed Killed 1 453 31.3.18. *Officers. Wounded 1 * Details of Officer casualties are recorded on P161. Other Ranks. Killed 4 Wounded 25 29 TOTAL CASUALTIES FOR MARCH 1918. OFFRS OR 1.3.18. 19 18.3.18 2 21.3.18-27.3.18 23 453 31.3.18 1 29 GRAND TOTAL 24 503 PAGE 161. Reference preceding page, Officers who became casualties were as stated under:- KILLED. MAJOR D. TOSETTI MC 21.3.18 CAPTAIN C.G. BIRCH MC 21.3.18 LIEUT S.A.G. HARVEY 21.3.18 LIEUT N. WILLIAMS 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT E.G. KING 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT J.C. GORDON 21.3.18 WOUNDED. LIEUT T.H. BAKER 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT J.W. RANDALL 24.3.18 LIEUT H.B.F. KENNEY 25.3.18 2nd LIEUT R.W. CRAMPIN 31.3.18 WOUNDED AND MISSING. CAPTAIN H.R. FENNER 21.3.18 MISSING. CAPTAIN D.J. FOOTMAN MC 21.3.18 CAPTAIN C.H.C. BYRNE (R.A.M.C att) 21.3.18 LIEUT G.R. GOODSHIP 21.3.18 LIEUT N. LANGSTON 21.3.18 LIEUT C.F.R. BLAND MC 21.3.18 LIEUT E.J. MECEY 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT J.R. McMULLEN 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT E.F. JOHNSON 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT T.H. ROBERTS 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT W.C.A. HANNEY 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT G. CAPES 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT W.V. HEALE 21.3.18 2nd LIEUT A.G. WILLIAMS 21.3.18 CAPTAIN T.B. LAWRENCE MC Proceeded to England 21.3.18, was accepted for appointment as a probationer for the Indian Army and struck off the strength of the Battalion. LIEUT L.A. WEAVING 8th BATT NORFOLK REGT (att 53rd T.M. Battery) transferred to 8th BATT ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT 21.2.18. (4) The weather was exceptionally fine from the day the enemy attacked (21.3.18) until 27.3.18 when slight rain fell. This fact, combined with the mists at daybreak materially assisted the enemy, especially was this so when the attack was first launched. PAGE 162. (5) The Transport moved under CAPT F.D. PHILLIPS in accordance with particulars set out here under:- 22.3.18. 6:30AM. Moved to GUYENCOURT. 22.3.18. 6:30AM. Moved to outskirts of UGNY-LE-GAY. 23.3.18. 7AM. Moved into UGNY-LE-GAY. 23.3.18. 12:30PM. Moved to BETHANCOURT. 23.3.18. 7PM. Moved to NEUFLIRUX. 24.3.18. 2AM. Moved to CAILLOUEL. 24.3.18. 11:30AM. Moved to MONDESCOURT. 24.3.18. 4PM. Moved to BABOEUF. 24.3.18. 8PM. Moved to CANEL BANK below BABOEUF. 25.3.18. 4AM. Moved alongside the CANAL to PASSEL. 25.3.18. 5PM. Moved to PIMPREZ. 26.3.18. 8AM. Moved to CARLEPONT. 27.3.18. 5PM. Moved to AUTRECHES where Transport Rejoined the Battalion. = Ref Map North West Europe Sheet 4 1/245,000. During the above moves A Echelon Transport maintained touch with the Batt and B Echelon with A Echelon Transport. (6) As all maps, documents etc had necessarily to be destroyed, it is not possible to attach to this month's War Diary any maps giving dispositions of the Batt prior to, on or after 21.3.18. The attached map ALAINCOURT Edition 1 1/20,000 shows the approximate British Front Line before attack, and shows the position of Batt Head Qrs. Some of the movements of the Batt outlined in the account of the operations can be traced on map sheet 66c Edition 1 1/40,000. (7) Owing to be exigencies of the campaign A.F.B.213 showing the state of the Batt as on 29.3.18 was not rendered. However, from pages 159 and 160, the strength of the Batt in Offrs and O.R., can be ascertained. No casualties were caused to Horses by enemy shell fire during the operations. (Signed) F D Phillips Captain for Lt Colonel Commanding 8th Batt Royal Berkshire Regt. |
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