| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, BECOURT CHATEAU |
| Entry | 2:15AM. Battalion moved out to forming up line. 3:30AM. Assembly of troops was completed. The night was quiet and bright moonlight. Patrols were sent out in front but failed to locate any of our posts which did not appear to have been established in this area. During this time three of the enemy strayed into our lines and were taken prisoner by the Medical Officer. 4:30AM. The leading lines moved forward. It was necessary to advance before Zero hour in order to catch the barrage which was timed to open at 4.55AM on a line North and South through the Western Edge of BERNAFAY WOOD. The enemy apparently had a few outpost M.G. posts close to our forming up line. These however did not await our assault but retired hastily to the first main line of their resistance, which proved to coincide approximately with the preliminary barrage line. Some difficulty was experienced owing to this not corresponding with any definite features of the ground, and, as it proved, a good deal of the initial shots fell amongst our advanced lines who were obliged to fall back in consequence. Our advance had already been detected by the enemy and a brisk M.G. fire opened. This was ominously loud on the left where the open flank transpired to be in enemy occupation instead of held by the adjoining Division. After resting 15 minutes on the initial line the barrage crept forward and our men pushing well under it tackled the enemy posts with dash and cleared the right area without appreciable loss. On the left, however, the flank fire was already beginning to have effect and the progress of the left companies was considerably hampered. The next line of enemy resistance coincided approximately with the BERNAFAY-LONGUEVAL Road and this was again negotiated with success on the right. The left companies now however, became definitely held up in front of this line with galling fire from the left which rendered the reduction of the enemy posts very difficult. The right pushed on not far behind the barrage and took some prisoners in the area between the LONGUEVAL road and TRONES WOOD. But the leading right Coy was now considerably weakened and its support Coy deviating to the right according to plan, left very few men to press forward to the final objective. This however was attained on the right but our troops at once came under accurate M.G. fire from the direction of WATERLOT Fm. "B" Coy in the meantime had carried out their right form with conspicuous ability and formed up on the light railway facing South astride the WOOD. The situation at this juncture was disquieting, as only a few men were available on the final objective. "C" and "A Coys were held up well back on the left and large numbers of the enemy could be seen massing and advancing from WATERLOT Fm. At the same time LONGUEVAL and DELVILLE Wood were full of the enemy who was galloping up his limbers there, apparently to remove stores. These it appeared were more palpably contemplating withdrawal and one company could be seen in the distance forming up on markers. This fact and the gallant conduct of the troops on the final objective who checked the advance from WATERLOT Fm, though at the cost of a number of casualties to themselves, including 2nd LIEUT F.W. HOPWOOD (O.C. "D" Coy) who was killed here, improved the situation and although it was impossible to hold on to the edge of the wood in view if the enfilade position taken up by the enemy, a stand in the trenches just short of the WOOD was considered feasible and the Commanding Officer rallied the withdrawal there. In the meantime CAPT WYKES (who was Act 2nd in Command) volunteered to go back and endeavour to bring on the left Coys and about half an hour afterwards succeeded in doing so, after they had overcome the resistance of the strong pocket holding them up, at the cost of a number of further casualties. A number of the enemy surrendered or were killed, while the remainder withdrew in the direction of LONGUEVAL. The remnants of the coys were used to consolidate the front taken up and to back the left flank facing LONGUEVAL where M.G's were still active. Major HOPWOOD DSO, G.S.O. 2, was of great assistance at this time in helping safeguard that flank, and the Reserve Coy of the 7th R.W. Kents had also come up there in echelon further back, unawares at the time. This was due, it was believed, to the initiative of Major WARR, commanding that Battalion. While these events were taking place "B" Coy had started their Southward advance through TRONES WOOD after 20 minutes halt for the barrage and pushed half-way through. But our heavies still continued to shell it heavily and they were forced to halt and subsequently to confirm with the withdrawal from the final objective in the northern position. They also fell back to the trench line immediately West of the Wood and joined up with the R.W. Kents. At this moment an enemy counter attack by a Battalion of the Guards Division (as it later transpired) pushed through the southern portion of the wood, stove in a portion of the Kent line and for a short time menaced the security of the whole of this flank. But Kents and Berkshires rallied in good style half-way down the slope and confined the enemy gains to the higher portion. The C.O. immediately ordered a counter-attack, supporting it with fire from the northern slopes but though this was attempted the commanding position of the enemy and his strength in M.G's rendered it abortive, and it was decided to break it off and organize more concerted measures for taking this important tactical feature. The remainder of the day was largely occupied in organising these measures, in re-organisation and replenishment of ammunition of which there was a large expenditure throughout the fighting. Two companies of the 10th Essex were placed at the disposal of the C.O. by the G.O.C. and Major Hopwood again rendered service by making use of one of these to fill up a gap between the right of this Battalion and the Kents. 6:30PM. The heavies opened an intense bombardment on the Southern portion of TRONES WOOD and continued for half an hour. Field guns also co-operated and in particular a forward section of B.82, which had previously registered on the forward enemy post, put in a most accurate shoot and materially contributed to the success of the operation. 6:50PM. Two guns of the 53rd Trench Mortar Battery opened an intensive fire on the western edge of the Wood and M.G's played upon it from the northern slopes. Some captured M.G's were turned to advantage by "C" Coy at the same time and covering rifle fire given from their positions. 6:55PM. The attacking companies - "D" Coy Essex on the right, One Platoon of "C" Coy Essex in the centre and "B" Coy of this Battalion on the left, crept from their positions close up to the bombardment. 7PM. All the fire was turned to the left, but so, eager were the men that they were in amongst it before the shells had stopped bursting, taking the enemy completely by surprise. Practically all of these on the edge of the Wood were shot or bayoneted and our troops pushed on into the undergrowth with great dash, surprising the support demoralising them and proceeding without delay to the Eastern edge of the Wood, where posts were organised with great promptitude and the gains consolidated. "D" Coy of this Battalion formed a flank on the left through the centre of the Wood and the 7th Royal West Kents came up on the right and continued the line to BERNAFAY WOOD. The whole operation was complete within an hour. 3 Officers and 70 OR were taken prisoners, about 50 of the enemy killed and some 20 M.G's captured. One post was manned with 2 heavy and 7 light M.G's. The unit opposed was identified as the Bn II Guards Regt (Francis Joseph's). Enemy posts still maintained their hold in the ground beyond the Wood and in the northern portion, but were rendered largely innocuous by the command of the ground captured and the night passed quietly without enemy reaction. |
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