| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, LE CATEAU |
| Entry | 00:01. Assembly completed. Companies left their positions, the front line being vacated. The assembly was made on the line F.12.a.8.5 - F.12.c.5.4. Coys as follows:- D on the right, C in the centre, B on the left, A Coy in reserve, the two coys of the 7th R.W. Kents forming up, immediately in rear of, and slightly echeloned to the Battalion. Objectives. The Battalion objectives and barrage line were as shown on attached map. The two companies 7th R.W. Kents were ordered, 1 Coy to establish a series of posts along the stream from about A.8.a3.4 as far as road junction at L.2.a.0.1, acting as liaison company between the two Armies and was following in rear of the attack of the 35th Division. 01:00. Zero hour. Barrage opened and companies advanced, meeting immediate opposition from advanced Machine Gun posts of the enemy. The night was extremely dark and owing to the nature of the country progress and the keeping of direction was extremely difficult. The first strong opposition was met on the ENGLEFONTAINE-ROBERSART Road which was strongly held by Machine Guns and the right of the attack was held up. In the meantime the left company had pushed through, 2 platoons of B Coy reaching their objective at 01.40 hours but after incurring heavy casualties were obliged to withdraw to the sunken road running from A.7.b.8.4 - A.13.b.7.1 at about A.7.d8.8 where they were in touch with elements of C Coy who had been held up there. The right flank was still back on the road. 03:00. About this time the Commanding Officer went forward and finding this situation adopted a policy of penetration by active patrolling and the line of the sunken road was eventually made good and touch with the ESSEX obtained on the right near the junction of the main and sunken roads at A.13.b.7.1. The enemy retaliation was unusually heavy, guns of heavy calibre being turned on especially on the high ground in F.18.a. Enfilade fire from the right caused particular annoyance. The company of the 7th Royal West Kents on the left of the Battalion had kept touch and were now holding positions on the left flank of B Coy and in touch with that company slightly in front of the Main Road. They had not however gained touch with their other company. This latter company "C" had made remarkable progress and were on their objective - the X Roads L.2.a.0.1 at which point they had arrived in front of 33rd Division who were then established at Road junction F.11.b.2.5. During the day LT COLONEL N.B. HUDSON MC was slightly wounded, which necessitated his going to a C.C.S. on the 28th, when CAPT G.W.H. NICOLSON MC, assumed command of the Battalion. |
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