1ST BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BATTALION.(TF) 1914-1919 Extracted from : A short history of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 1741-1922 for the young soldiers of the Regiment By R.B. Crosse. Somme, 1916. Albert, 1916. Bazentin. Pozieres. Ancre Heights. Ancre 1916. Ypres1917. Langemarck 1917. Polygon Wood. Broodseinde. Poelcappelle. Piave. Vittorio Veneto.
The Battalion mobilised at Aylesbury on August 4th 1914, proceeding to Portsmouth on the 5th, and joined the 145th Infantry Brigade of the 48th (South Midland) Division at Swindon a few days later thence it moved via Dunstable to Chelmsford, where it remained for training till March 1915.
The Battalion proceeded to France at the end of March, and after three months in the line near Ploegsteert moved in July to the Hebuterne Sector, where it spent a year.
During the Somme battle of 1916 the Battalion was in action for two periods, each of about three weeks, during which its most notable achievements were a very successful attack north of Ovillers, and the capture and holding of the Sky-line Trench, immediately northwest of Pozieres.
In January, 1917, after a spell in the trenches at Le Sars, the Battalion took over the line at Biaches, south of the Somme, and from there took part in the advance through Peronne towards the Hindenburg Line, carrying out a brilliant night attack in pouring rain at Tombois Farm. In June the Battalion made several successful raids in the Havrincourt Sector.
In August the Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, making a very costly but successful attack near Langemarck, on the 16th; and after two more periods in the line, moved to the Vimy Ridge.
In November the Division went to Italy, and at the end of February 1918, took over the Montello Sector. After a short tour the Battalion moved to the Asiago Plateau where it helped to beat off the great Austrian attack of June 15th, and on August 26th took over one hundred prisoners in a brilliant raid.
Finally, on November 1st, it took part in the attack north of Asiago, capturing Mont Catz and penetrating to a depth of about four miles.
On the day of the Armistice, November 4th, the Battalion was fifteen miles inside Austrian territory, after which it returned to Italy, and came home as a cadre in March 1919.