On this day 31st May

1816 - 2nd Bn. 52nd finally disbanded at Canterbury

 

1915 - 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Advance on Amara (Tigris); capture of Norfolk Hill by attack in boats, 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI engaged.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – In Trenches Near MAZINGARBE

2nd Lieuts A G CARDY, J G GRANT and J D BELGRAVE joined for duty.

Very quiet tour in these trenches. Some shelling on the Right at times, but very little sniping indeed.

Casualties: 1 man Killed, 7 men Wounded.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

Snipers less busy, Machine Guns of enemy rather more active during night.

 

1959 – 1st Green Jackets, 43rd & 52nd The Regiment disembarked and arrived at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth, by train. .(on return from CYPRUS)

On this day 30th May

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – In Trenches Near MAZINGARBE
2nd Lieut W J LITTLEDALE joined for duty.
Some fairly persistent shelling of our extreme Right by guns of small calibre all the morning.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN
Bn Resting in Billets.
Relieved 5/GLOSTERS 6.30pm in trenches.
Bugler RIDGWAY killed by Hand Grenade during bomb throwing practise at 3.30pm.

 

1959 – 1st Green Jackets, 43rd & 52nd - H.T. Dunera docked at Southampton at 1600 hours. Light Division Assembly was sounded by the bugles, and the band of the 2nd Green Jackets, K.R.R.C., played on the dockside

On this day 29th May

1848 - 52nd employed in aid of the civil power at Bradford.

 

1915  - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – To Trenches near MAZINGARBE – 14 Miles.

Paraded at 1.45pm and marched with the 2\HLI through AUCHEL, MARLES-LES-MINES, BRUAY, LABUISSIERE to HOUCHIN where a halt of 1 ½ hours was made.

Then through NOEUX-LES-MINES and MAZINGARBE to the small village of PHILOSOPHE where the Regiment took over the Right half of the Brigade front from the 281st Regiment of French Infantry. Commencing at 11.30pm, relief completed by 2.30am.

Regiment distributed as follows:-

Right Section:   B Company (1 Platoon in Support)

Centre Section: D Company (1 Platoon in Support)

Left Section:     A Company (all 4 platoons in firing line)

Regimental Head Quarters and ½ C Company at the CORONS of FOSSE 7.

½ C Company at CORONS of FOSSE 3

Regimental Transport at HOUCHIN.

The trenches are deep, cut out of chalk and there are many dugouts, those for the Supports being extremely well made.

Some parts of the fire trench are very long stretches without any traverses.

The French use wooden loopholes in all the fire trenches. The communication trenches are sufficiently numerous but are rather straight and rather broad, Machine Gun emplacements well made.

The German Line runs along a crest line which commands the greater part of our area, but about our Left Centre they are invisible to our line. The distance varies from 200 to 300 yards on the flanks to 200 yards in the Right Centre.

Several saps have been run out but none except one captured from the Germans on extreme Right approach nearer than 120 yards.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn Resting in Billets

 

1947 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - The first intake of National Service soldiers arrived and posted to B Company.

On this day 28th May

1845 - Great fire at Quebec; 43rd gave valuable assistance in putting it out.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

Route Marching and Training (chiefly in Woods) carried out.

The 21st Reinforcement arrived together with the following 6 officers:-
Lieut J H BOARDMAN
Temp Lieut C A BARRAN
2nd Lieut J W MEADE
2nd Lieut S M MINIFIE-HAWKINS (3rd Brigade)
2nd Lieut C T CHEVALIER (3rd Brigade)
2nd Lieut A N C HUNT (3rd Brigade)

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn Resting in Billets

 

1940 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - HAZEBROUCK

28th May.--As soon as it was light troop movements along the Therouanne (western) road could be seen from a good obser­vation post on the second floor. Both troops and lorries were fired on by a concentration of every available Bren with tracer, and made good targets at fourteen hundred yards. This one-sided target practice did not last for long. Soon the enemy mortars were ranging on the building.

At 0630 hrs. one of the ammunition trucks, unfortunately only half-unloaded, was hit and continued exploding for two hours. Firing increased and there were more casualties.

To the astonishment of all, at 0900 hrs. an enemy battery appeared not half a mile away, firing at Cassel from an open field. Two Vickers guns of the 4th Cheshire Regiment, manned by mem­bers of the old Wycombe machine-gun company, were taken up on to the roof. Their firing was most effective, but eventually it produced redoubled and more accurate fire from the enemy six-barrelled nebelwerfers.

At 1000 hrs. some enemy got into the garden of headquarters under cover of smoke and shouted for the Battalion to surrender. At least one of them never left the garden.

Tanks appeared on both sides. Some were hit and at least one put out of action. The same sort of fighting continued for the rest of the morning, by which time most of the transport was on fire, including all the carriers used as roadblocks.

At 1300 hrs. a more serious attack had to be faced. Several tanks came past the front and fired point blank at twenty yards. These attacks, coupled with mortar bombing, machine-gun fire and sniping, but countered continually by anti-tank and .303 fire. were maintained until 1430 hrs., when there was a well-marked lull for an hour or more. It was found that ammunition was seriously short, but, as over half the attached G.H.Q. troops scarcely knew how to fire a rifle, their ammunition was with­drawn and they were unceremoniously consigned to the cellars.

At this time, too, it was agreed between Majors Heyworth and Viney that as the remnants of the Battalion were obviously not now holding up the advance and the rifle companies had been overrun, added to which brigade had ordered a move out the day before (after headquarters had lost touch with the com­panies), all who were left should march out and make for the coast that night, provided that resistance could be maintained until then.

During the lull Major Viney discovered two boxes of cigars that he had received at Lesdain. Determined that they should not be smoked by Germans, he went round the posts until everyone, officers, non-commissioned officers and men alike, were all smoking cigars.

But it was the lull before the storm, for, at about 1630 hrs., the artillery started again. This time it was not mortars but heavier stuff, and in quick succession the top and then the second floor had to be evacuated. The chapel wing was now useless. The enemy had the exact range. There were many wounded by now and Major Heyworth decided to go across to the G.H.Q. build­ing to see if it was worth evacuating there. He never returned.

Shells were coming down thick and fast and Major Viney decided that the building must be evacuated at once. The whole building was on fire and the cellars badly damaged. Men who could move, weapons and the very small supply of ammunition left were taken outside into the garden at the east end. The adjutant, Captain Ritchie, who led a party out the other end, was killed very soon afterwards.

Once in the garden, Major Viney, who had perhaps a hundred men but only two Brens and virtually no ammunition, found that the party was trapped. They climbed into one of the house gardens in the Northeast corner, where they were concealed from view. He ordered them to stand fast there until dark, when they would try to make a break, but, if attacked, he told them that he might have to surrender because so many men were unarmed and ammunition was so short. Besides, they were vulnerably placed if discovered and attacked.

Major Viney took a nominal roll of those who were with him and went into the house to watch developments. It was now 1800 hrs. and six tanks were bombarding the main building at short range. There was a great roar as it collapsed altogether. The tanks advanced towards it still firing hard. Then a section of infantry came noisily down the street. He ducked down at his window, but he had been seen. Just as one of the Germans threw a grenade into the house he climbed through the window and surrendered his party.

The defence of Hazebrouck was over.

On this day 27th May

1857 - 52nd joined the Punjab Field Force under Brig.-General Nicholson at Wuzeerabad, and by order of its Commanding Officer (Colonel Campbell) was dressed in khaki; the first Regiment so clothed.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

Route Marching and Training (chiefly in Woods) carried out.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn Resting in Billets

 

1940 – Three battalions of the regiment serving with the B.E.F engaged in heavy fighting covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.

1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI engaged in Defence of Comines-Warneton

1st Bucks Bn engaged in the Defence of Hazebrouck.

4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI engaged in the Defence of Cassel.

 

1940 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - HAZEBROUCK

In the morning of the 27th the battle began in earnest. The weather had broken at last; it was cloudy, with a heavy shower in the afternoon. All day there was firing, and enemy movement was visible in some part of the Battalion’s area.

By 1100 hrs. B, C and D Companies had all been in action, but were not yet hard pressed. Another platoon of A Company was put under the command of D Company. There was steady shelling and enemy tanks and infantry attacked in several sec­tors. Numerous tanks were driven off by anti-tank-rifle fire.

At 1200 hrs. the enemy started a general attack on C and D Companies. The town was bombarded by infantry guns and heavy mortars, while flights of enemy aircraft flew over bomb­ing and strafing. The enemy also found the range of Battalion headquarters, which suffered some damage. A Company near by had heavy casualties.

At about this time a wireless message from brigade came in to Battalion headquarters ordering one company, B, the carrier platoon and an anti-tank gun to move to Hondeghem; a reply was sent that the enemy was already there and a further order was received to stand fast.

At 1600 hrs. C Company reported that five enemy light tanks had been put out of action by its anti-tank rifles and that one platoon and a section of another had been cut off or killed. A Company was then ordered to establish a fresh line in the buildings behind C Company while the latter withdrew through A Company.

D Company was also hard pressed. The enemy brought up infantry by troop-carrying aircraft and motor transport and assembled them behind the tanks. B Company was ordered to try to support D Company by overhead fire which it was hoped would prevent a threatened penetration of the town to the west of the railway station.

By 1900 hrs. Battalion headquarters was finding great diffi­culty in communicating with companies, as even orderlies were failing to get through. An hour later A Company (one platoon with the four composite platoons, the other two platoons being still with D Company) was in position, but only a few men of C Company had withdrawn through A. By this time, too, the shelling of Battalion headquarters and the former G.H.Q., which were large buildings and had probably been spotted, was so heavy that it was decided to move out temporarily to the houses on the other side of the street leading north. The intelligence section had to abandon its observation post in the church tower when it was hit by shellfire. A wireless message was sent to brigade explaining the position and asking for help if possible. Direct speech contact was no longer possible, but Morse mes­sages got through. When an answer came it said that help was coming from the 44th Division from the south.

At 2030 hrs. the enemy broke right through D Company’s position with infantry and tanks, and pushed in towards the centre of the town and Battalion headquarters, at the same time working in to the rear and cutting that company off entirely from the rest of the Battalion. Others of the enemy worked to the right flank of A Company and established a machine-gun post covering the road running behind it.

It is difficult to piece together all aspects of the rifle companies’ fighting at this time, but the general picture is of a series of platoon battles; while the Germans, using tanks and infantry, gradually infiltrated through the gaps between company and company and between platoon and platoon. Nearly all platoons were heavily engaged, particularly those of C and D Companies; for them the battle had begun in earnest at 0900 hrs. and had continued all day.

From the direction of the main enemy attack it was C Com­pany and, to a lesser extent, D Company which bore the brunt, but it was only the steady defence of all rifle companies through­out the day that enabled Battalion headquarters and H.Q. Com­pany, having had no close fighting on the 27th, to hold out as long as they did.

That the enemy was able to make penetrations, albeit at heavy cost in men and tanks, was due to the inevitably wide frontages held by companies. Major Heyworth’s plan, and all credit must be given to him for it, was to have all-round defence of the town. To ask a single battalion to defend effectively a town of Hazebrouck’s size was at the very least asking a great deal. Even so, Major Heyworth succeeded not only in providing all-round defence, without depth it is true, but in keeping one company in reserve. This company, A, was used as planned when it went to the support of C where the pressure was strongest.

Meanwhile, at Battalion headquarters there was firing close by and suddenly a section of enemy went past at the end of the road, moving from west to east. They were fired on and scat­tered. Enemy fire coming from both north and west caused some casualties. Two carriers were driven into position as a roadblock to the north and immediately a tank began firing at the end of the street. It was obvious that headquarters were awkwardly placed and the order was given to return to the convent. The shelling had died down, although fires raged in many parts of the town and small-arms fire was coming from all directions. There was trouble in getting the wounded back, but eventually the regimental aid post was moved into the convent cellars, which were extensive; they ran the whole length of the building with an exit at either end. The wireless truck had to be abandoned and was put out of action.

The move was completed by dusk, when odd sections which had been cut off from their companies, having fought their way through, began to drift in to Battalion headquarters. All rifle companies had been overrun and cut off and very few men were able to reach headquarters. From the very nature of the battle rifle companies, with sections and platoons cut off and out of touch owing to the wide frontages held and the many enemy infiltrations, could withdraw only in scattered parties.

These scattered parties were greatly helped by the action of Captain Pallett, the quartermaster, and the transport officer, Captain Mason, who organised B Echelon drivers, cooks and sundry miscellaneous other ranks into a self-contained fighting force which fought a sturdy rearguard action and enabled many weary men to retire.

By nightfall all touch with rifle companies had been lost and Battalion headquarters were largely dependent for information on the garbled reports of the few men and sections which filtered in during the night. It was only too plain, however, that the Battalion had been split up into “penny packets,” some of which had been overrun entirely, while others were hanging on grimly until darkness gave them the opportunity to extricate themselves. The only obvious and established facts were that Battalion head­quarters and H.Q. Company were surrounded; and that the Battalion as a fighting force had ceased to exist. In a final attempt to re-establish touch with the troops which had been nearest to headquarters, patrols were sent out soon after dark, one to B Echelon and the other to B Company. Second Lieutenant Preston’s patrol to B Echelon very soon bumped into the enemy in the square, where the French had surrendered earlier in the evening, and after a sharp skirmish he ordered his men to return while he tried to get through alone. He was never seen again and was afterwards reported killed.

Second Lieutenant Stebbings’s patrol to B Company suc­ceeded in getting through to the station, but found it and the company headquarters deserted. When they returned it was realised at Battalion headquarters that it and H.Q. Company were the only parts of the Battalion available and capable of fighting another day.

In contrast to the day, the night was almost eerie in its quiet­ness. All except sentries slept a weary sleep. Stand-to was ordered earlier than usual, as no risks were to be taken. Early in the morning parties went across to the G.H.Q. building foraging for ammunition and food. Some preserved stores were found, but not much ammunition. A hot meal was cooked and distributed soon afterwards.

On this day 26th May

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

Route Marching and Training (chiefly in Woods) carried out.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

Relieved by 5/GLOSTERS at 7pm.

Back in billets in ROMARIN by 9.45pm.

 

1916 – 2/4th Oxf & Bucks LI and 2/1st Bucks Bn arrived Havre from England.

 

1940 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - HAZEBROUCK

Very little of note was reported during Sunday, the 26th May. A Company sent a patrol along the railway to Morbecque to ascertain if any ammunition trucks were on the line. The patrol did not find any trucks, but reported that the line had been cut in two places. Other A Company patrols went out in search of food, which was now very short; emergency rations were already being used. The carrier platoon patrolled along the road to Morbecque and made contact with an enemy outpost

 

During the day nearly two hundred men straggled into the town in an exhausted state. These included forty men from a battalion of the Cheshire Regiment with three Vickers guns and three trucks of ammunition. All these men were attached to A Company, where they formed one machine-gun and three rifle platoons. Most of the men were without rifles and ammunition; those who had rifles were issued with ammunition, the remainder being given hand grenades and axes.

 

In the afternoon Brigadier Somerset visited Battalion headquarters. At 2000 hrs. a warning order was received to be at half an hour’s notice to move.

 

During the day a few enemy tanks were seen in the distance, but well out of range. There was slight enemy artillery activity in the afternoon, no material damage being caused. A large number of enemy reconnaissance aircraft flew over the town. In the early evening a report was issued that six enemy tanks had been seen approaching towards Hondeghem, a mile or so to the north. Two companies and a section of carriers were ordered there; the carriers went, but the move of the companies was postponed.

 

By this time it was realised that the enemy was in the area and that some form of evacuation was taking place at Dunkirk. Again the night was quiet.

 

1944 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion

Confined to Petworth Camp in preparation of the move to the marshalling camps ready for the D Day invasion of Normandy.

On this day 25th May

1809, 1st Bns, 43rd, 52nd, and 95th embarked for Portugal.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

Route Marching and Training (chiefly in Woods) carried out.

2nd Lieut T E WITHINGTON (3rd Brigade) Joined.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

Enemy’s transport heard at 9pm behind lines & shelled by our guns.

 

1940 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - HAZEBROUCK

During the day enemy aircraft flew over the town strafing and bombing, but causing little damage.

As might be expected, the day was spent in completing the take-over from G.H.Q. and improving company positions. The relief was completed by 1400 hrs. The night was quiet.

D Com­pany reported that the company front could not be adequately held and No. 9 Platoon of A Company was put under the command of D Company.

 

1944 (25th/26th May) - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI moved to transit camps in two parties:

(a)        The Regiment, less D Company, to Harwell airfield under command of Lieutenant-Colonel M. W. Roberts.

(b)        The coup de main party, comprising six platoons, to Tarrant Rushton airfield under command of Major R. J. Howard.

On this day 24th May

1809 - 43rd marched from Colchester to Harwich en route for Portugal.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

Route Marching and Training (chiefly in Woods) carried out.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

 

1940 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – NOMAIN (B.E.F. FRANCE)

It was on this day, the 24th, that the men first showed signs of restiveness. If they had had some serious fighting it would have been different, but they had been march­ing almost daily and had dug and occupied seven positions, in none of which they had fought. Meals and sleep had been scarce and—most important of all—they were completely unaware of what was happening; this last was equally true of the officers. The Germans had broken through in the south and the Dutch had collapsed—that was the sum total of knowledge. Intelligence reports, if they existed, never descended below brigade.

It was a boring day. Food being short, companies sent out foraging parties with success, and by 1400 hrs all cooks’ trucks were loaded with carcasses of pigs and chickens. The time of arrival of the troop carriers was often postponed, but at last word came through that they would be a mile out of the town at 2130 hrs. The order of march was detailed and companies were ready to embuss at the right time. Then the start was post­poned for a further half-hour. When the vehicles did arrive it was as much as the Battalion could do to squeeze into the small number provided.

As route cards were handed out it was noted with misgiving that the destination had been changed from Calais to Cassel. The route lay through Lille, Armentieres, Bailleul and Caestre. The move started slowly, as drivers were still tired, and Major Viney in the rear spent much time chasing vehicles which had strayed off the route. At Bailleul each driver was given a new destination—Hazebrouck. The Battalion was in the rear of the brigade column and was therefore the easiest of the three to detach thence. After more long halts the column arrived at the outskirts of the town. Nearing Hazebrouck it was noticed that every village had its homemade, rather pathetic, roadblocks generally constructed of farm carts. At about 1000 hrs the Battalion entered the town and started cooking breakfast in the main street.

Major Heyworth, company commanders and the intelligence officer made a reconnaissance of the town’s defences, accom­panied by Captain A. Campbell, Cameron Highlanders, who was apparently responsible for G.H.Q. defences. G.H.Q. handed Major Heyworth one map of the Hazebrouck area which was the only map of the district that the Battalion was ever to possess. Only after arrival was it learnt that advanced G.H.Q. had been in Hazebrouck until the day before. Now the Battalion was to help guard the rear and flank of the B.E.F.

The G.H.Q. building had been a large school in the Northwest of the town. After the hard times of the past ten days the atmosphere of G.H.Q. was slightly disarming; but in the build­ing there was some confusion, as everyone still there was pack­ing up and hurrying to leave. Officers announced proudly that they had actually been shelled once a few days back by isolated tanks which had quickly retreated. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was still one of airy confidence, shiny boots and a spur or two. The 1st Bucks officers felt rather boorish in battledress and steel helmets. But everyone was cheerful and tried to be helpful.

Major Heyworth had great difficulty in discovering which and how many miscellaneous troops were coming under his command. He managed to extract an approximate list. Artillery (in support) consisted of four 25-pounders and four anti-tank 2-pounders. (In addition, Serjeant Trussell’s platoon of the brigade anti-tank company was still under command.) G.H.Q. also left some two hundred men consisting of orderlies, runners, signallers, drivers and a big contingent of leave men from the York and Lancaster Regiment. There was also a platoon of the 4th Cheshire Regiment with four Vickers guns. As an after­thought, G.H.Q. bequeathed a dozen Boys anti-tank rifles and a few Bren guns with a good supply of ammunition. Later it was discovered that there were a few anti-aircraft guns in and around the town. To complete the assortment of supporting arms, there were some old French and Belgian tanks; but they were in such a bad state of repair that they could be used only as roadblocks. The Battalion was not allotted wire or anti-tank mines.

Hazebrouck was in the Southwest corner of the semi-circle round Dunkirk. The rest of the brigade was at Cassel, six miles to the north. There were no troops in between except odd patrols of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. By this time the 143rd Brigade had been placed under the command of the 5th Division and was holding a sector on the Ypres—Comines Canal to the Northeast. The 144th Brigade was dispersed on the western edge of the Dunkirk perimeter between Cassel and Bergues. The 44th Divi­sion was to the Southeast in the Foret de Nieppe.

At a conference Major Heyworth announced that he had decided to hold that part of the town which lay south of the railway line to Calais and west of that running from Hazebrouck to Douai. These lines formed in part a reasonable anti-tank obstacle. Companies were disposed as follows:

B Company from and including the railway station east and Southeast along the railway to where it crossed the Haze­brouck Canal.

C Company in a line running north-west from the canal along the outskirts of the town to and including the main road leading to Morbecque.

D Company in a line running northwest from the Morbecque road to the railway line to Calais.

A Company in reserve in the G.H.Q. building in the town.

A Echelon transport was kept in company areas, with B Echelon near the main square.

Battalion headquarters was established in a large convent opposite A Company.

On this day 23rd May

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Artillery Bombardment 3.30.am at BIRDCAGE.

Enemy replied with few shells our wood and into PLOEGSTEERT.

Intermittent shelling on both sides all day.

Bn HQ now moved 900 yards back along the STRAND.

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Bulford

Regiment proceeded on leave.

On this day 22nd May

1813 - The Light Division moving towards Salamanca and driving Joseph Buonaparte from Portugal to the Pyrenees.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RAIMBERT

All the Regiment were bathed in an excellent washing establishment in one of the mines.

The following Officers joined for duty:

Capt C G HIGGENS            (Wounded 16th September 1914)

Lieut R M OWEN                (Wounded 14th September 1914)

Lieut P F NEWTON-KING (Wounded 21st September 1914)

2nd Lieut P C WEBSTER    (3rd Brigade)

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. Resting.

Relieve 5/GLOSTERS in trenches 8pm.

2 men Wounded during relief.

On this day 20th May

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – To Billets at RAIMBERT. – 7 ½ Miles.

Battalion moved independently.

Parading at 8am marched through BUSNETTES, the RIEUX and BURBURE to RAIMBERT, a mining village.

All men billeted in small houses, 3 or 4 together. No schools, barns etc were available here.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. Resting

 

1915 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI arrived in Boulogne from England.

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Bulford

Preparations for leave, and considerable documentation. 

Those having the demobilisation number of 27 and below are eligible for S.E.A.C. 

These and others who are volunteers are to have 28 days leave. 

The remainder will go in separate batches for 9 days.

 

1959 – 1st Green Jackets (42rd & 52nd) Leave CYPRUS.

On this day 19th May

1874 - 52nd embarked in H.M.S. Tamar at Gibraltar for England.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – Into Billets at GONNEHEM

Our own billets being too small for our strength, the Regiment moved after dinners, about ½ a mile into fresh billets at GONNEHEM.

Late at night received orders that the Brigade would move tomorrow into a fresh area, as at present one is being allotted to the 7th Division.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. Resting

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Bulford

The remainder of the Regiment arrived.

On this day 18th May

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RICHEBOURG to LA BELLE RIVE near GONNEHEM – 10 Miles.

Paraded at 2pm and marched in Brigade through LE TOURET, AVELETTE, HINGES to LABELLE RIVE a very small scattered village.

In the evening the 20th Reinforcement of 130 men joined the Regiment.

Casualties: 15th-18th May:

Killed:
Capt  F H BEAUFORT
Lieut R E B BULL
Lieut D H W HUMFREY
2Lieut L A DASHWOOD
2Lieut F E L RIDDLE

And 42 Men

Total= 47

Wounded:
Capt H M DILLON
Capt G BLEWITT
Capt S F HAMMICK
TLieut W G TOLSON
Lieut C S BAINES DSO
Lieut G W TITHERINGTON
Lieut D A D SEWELL
Lieut J W G WYLD
Lieut E H WHITFELD
2Lieut W J EIGHTEEN
2Lieut C DEAN
2Lieut W L BARNARD

And 270 men + 2 RAMC Men attached

Total  = 284

Missing:
Bt Major E H KIRKPATRICK
Lieut C J WARNER
Lieut R D RENDEL

And 61 Men

Total = 64      

Grand total: = 395

Most probably the Missing are either Killed or Wounded, as some of the area fought over was not won and it was impossible to search it even after dark.

All the area also between our original front line and the German Line was so shell swept, it is very probable many bodies were entirely destroyed by this fire.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD
Very Quiet. – Enemy shelled PLOGSTEERT village.
Relieved about 8pm by 5/GLOSTERS.
Raining most of day-trenches very wet.



1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

Leaving LUNEBURG at 0400 hrs, we were taken in TCV's to an airfield near CELLE.  The unit transport under Maj. P.K. Everett was left at LUNEBURG, whence it will start on its journey to ANTWERP.  At the airfield there was considerable delay & eventually about half the Regiment took off in Dakota aircraft, landing at Greenham Common near NEWBURY, where trucks were waiting to take us to BULFORD.

 

1948 - A.C.I. 368 received amalgamating the 43rd and the 52nd.

On this day 17th May

1808 - 52nd with Army for protectiion of Sweden, reached Gothenburg from England.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – In the RICHEBOURG BREASTWORKS

At 6am following orders received.

The 2nd Division will advance to secure a junction with the 7th Division.

The 2\HLI ordered to attack North West corner of FERME DU BOIS, The Glasgow Highlanders to be in Support, the Regiment to put companies in trenches vacated by by 2\HLI.

The Regiment less 1 company in the new communication trench and a few men with the Regimental Head Quarters in German trench with 2\HLI remained in the breastwork lines all day.

The enemy shelled all day all trenches occupied by us, very heavily, the shooting on our breastworks being very accurate and destructive, and a considerable number of casualties occurred there. Some very good work was done at night by stretcher parties bringing in wounded from the front.

The Regiment was relieved soon after midnight by the 15th Sikhs and returned into temporary billets at RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day. – No hostile Artillery fire at all.

Started raining 9pm.

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

A small advance party under Maj. Edmunds left BAD KLEINEN early for LUNEBURG, whence they flew back to England in the afternoon.  The remainder of the Regiment left later in transport, arriving at LUNEBURG at about 1800 hrs.  We were accommodated for the night in the Cavalry Barracks.

On this day 16th May

1813 - The Light Division reviewed by Lord Wellington at Espeja (Spain).

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

All the German trenches opposite our line had been very accurately and slowly shelled during the past 3 days.

At 11.30pm an attack by the following troops took place.

On Right 6th Infantry Brigade.

In Centre 5th Infantry Brigade.

On Left MEERUT Division.

This took place on a front approximately from R1 through V1 to V6 (ILLIES map 1/10,000).

 

The 5th Infantry Brigade were formed as follows:

On Right – 2/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers supported by 2/Oxfrod & Bucks Light Infantry.

On Left – 2/Worcestershire Regt supported by Glasgow Highlanders.

The 2nd HLI were in Reserve.

 

The attack by 6th Infantry Brigade and half our Right front was successful, the German 1st Line and in most cases their 2nd Line trenches being occupied but on the Left eastwards , it did not succeed. Each of the supporting Battalions supplied 3 Platoons as Working Parties, carrying sand bags and shovels, for the leading battalions.

 

The Regiment moved out over the breastworks when companies were so ordered in 4 lines: each Coy in 2 lines, C on Right, with A on the Left, Supported by B on the Right and D on the Left.

 

After the Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers had launched all their men, the Regiment was called on to reinforce them, as the opposition was considerable and the means of ascertaining the results of the Inniskilling’s onslaught very difficult. 10 Platoon were eventually used.

 

At 11.28pm the enemy opened rifle fire which was very shortly followed by considerable shelling which continued intermittently all day until dark (8pm).

Very fortunately very little shelling was directed on to the captured German Line. During the night attack Lieut Whitfeld and a party of men by good work captured a German machine Gun and 3 Prisoners after killing 7 or 8 of the detachment.

 

A bombing party under 2nd Lieut Kite successfully defended our extreme Left Flank. Regimental Head Quarters moved about 7am to captured German Line.

The Line occupied was about 120 yards in length, a second fire trench being made on our side of original German parapet.

No counter-attack was anywhere on our line made by the enemy.

The 7th Division about one mile to right of 6th Brigade, made a successful attack at 3.15am and were able to advance over at least 2 lines of trenches.

The Regiment were relieved about 1am on 17th by 2 companies of the 2\HLI and returned into our original breastwork line.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Demonstration –

9am. Long Range fire by 2 Right Coys on Roads in rear of enemy trenches.

11am Artillery bombarded enemy trench facing Left Coy, that Coy joining with rapid fire on enemy’s parapet.

1.45pm Rifle Grenade fire by Centre Coy.

4.15pm Trench Mortar fired by Right Coy with Rifle Grenades on both sides of it, 3 bombs fired, two taking effect in enemy’s trench.

6.15pm Long Range Fire on Roads in rear.

Little reply from enemy except at 4.45pm, when they sent about 40 Rifle Grenades back.

Casualties during the day, 1 Killed (Pte CT Cooper), 4 Wounded.

On this day 15th May:-

1791 - Engagement at Seringapatam; 52nd present

 

1915 - Battle of Festubert; attack made by 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI at Richebourg; casualties, 20 Officers and 375 men.

2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

In Brigade Reserve.

Some shelling of the villages on 13th and 14th.

Casualties: Killed 1, Wounded - Lieut C F Fowke and 71 Others

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

Normal peace-time routine continues.  Fine weather & plenty of recreational facilities.  The chief business in hand is the working out of release groups.  An advance party from the artillery of 5th British Division arrived to look at our area with a view to taking over.

On this day 14th May

1861 - Indian Mutiny medals presented to 43rd at Madras

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

In Brigade Reserve.

Some shelling of the villages.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Bn in Billets.

Relieved 5/GLOSTERS in trenches 9pm.

 

1944 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI sent a representative company of 120 officers and men (under the command of Major Howard) to take part in the procession for the “Salute the Soldier” savings campaign which took place in Oxford. The commanding officer decided to send Oxford men. It was a welcome break, for it gave everyone in the party two days at home. For security reasons this visit of representatives of the Regiment could not be advertised, but when the people of Oxford saw the detachment wearing the red beret of airborne troops together with the badge of the county Regiment, they gave the parade a rousing welcome.

The company was perfectly turned out and its marching through the city was faultless. This, together with the obvious stamp of supreme physical fitness, gained the admiration of everyone who saw the parade.

On this day 13th May

1841 - Percussion fire-locks issued to the 52nd in place of flintlocks

 

1857- First news of Mutiny at Delhi reached the 52nd at Sealkote.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

In Brigade Reserve.

Some shelling of the villages.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. – Div Reserve.

 

1947 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - The Regiment arrives Bristol Barracks, Luneberg, and relieves the 2nd Bn the Devonshire Regiment.

 

On this day 12th May

1809 - Passage of the Douro.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – Into Billets RICHEBOURG ST VAAST.

A good deal of shelling at intervals all day, both on breastworks and communication trenches.

Relieved by 2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in evening and returned into billets.

Casualties: 4 Wounded.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. – Div Reserve.

On this day 11th May

1809 - Company detachments of 43rd and 52nd served with Brig.-General Stewart's Brigade in the attack on heights of Grijou (Portugal).

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – In Trenches.

Some shelling again during day.

Casualties 2nd Lieut C E Baker and 3 others Wounded. 2nd Lieut Johnston Missing and believed Wounded. He went out in front of the line to recover a wounded man.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – ROMARIN

Bn in Billets. – Div Reserve.

On this day 10th May

1811 - The Light Division at Gallegos.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – In Trenches.

2 companies in front line breastworks, the other 2 companies in other lines both South and North of road.

Some shelling, but not severe near the Regiment.

Casualties: Killed 1 man, Wounded 3 men.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

Relieved by 5/GLOSTERS at 9pm.

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

Censorship restrictions have now been relaxed & we are allowed to state our present whereabouts in letters.  S Coy beat HQ Coy by one point in a Regimental Sports meeting.  Regular allotments for seats at two cinemas in WISMAR have been received.

On this day 9th May

1915 - Battle of Aubers; 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI in reserve.

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – BETHUNE

In billets in BETHUNE.

2nd Lieut Pendavis DSO left to join Royal Flying Corps as a probationer.

At 1.30am the Brigade moved to the vicinity LE TOURET, being in Divisional Reserve.

The 4th Corps, Indian Corps and 1st Division in the early morning attacked the German Line of trenches in front of them but without success except in case of 4th Corps.

At 8pm Brigade ordered to march through LE TOURET, LACOUTURE & RICHEBOURG ST VAAST to relief of 2nd Brigade, 1st Division.

The Regiment relieved the Loyal North Lancs Regt in breastworks South of RUE DU BOIS near RICHEBOURG L’AVOUE in the early hours of the 10th.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Demonstration by Division with MG & rifle fire also trench mortars & rifle grenades.

Throughout the day little impression made at first on enemy.

Enemy shelled PLOEGSTEERT with HE & our left trench with shrapnel in afternoon – No damage.

Total casualties during day – 1 Killed (Pte Powell) & 4 Wounded by rifle bullets & rifle grenades.

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

A Regimental team played the 1st. RUR at football, RUR won by 2 goals to nil.

On this day 8th May

1801 - Major-General John Moore appointed Colonel of the 52nd.

 

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – BETHUNE

In billets in BETHUNE.

Officers readjusted in Companies as follows:-

A Coy – Lieut Warner rejoins this Coy.

B Coy – Capt Beaufort resumes Command in place of Capt Dillon.

C Coy – Capt Dillon assumes Command of this company in place of Capt Hammick who now becomes its 2nd Captain.

 

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet Day.

 

1917 - Battle of Doiran; 7th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI (casualties, 15 Officers and 456 men) and 8th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI both present.

 

1943 – 7th Oxf & Bucks LI took part in Operation “LIGHT INFANTRY” – BATTLE OF ENFIDAVILLE (Tunisia). (8th/9th MAY)

 

1945 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Germany.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY by major-general R. K. Ross, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.

Tomorrow, the 9th May, has been officially declared V Day and so ends for the 53rd (W.) Division a campaign in which the division has played a part second to none.

I attach as an appendix to this order extracts from a letter I have received from the corps commander and my reply on behalf of the division.

The corps commander has paid us a high tribute and all ranks of the division can feel justly proud that General Ritchie, who knows the division better than any other higher com­mander, has felt able to speak so highly of us.

Further, the unbroken line of successes of the division throughout the whole campaign enables all ranks to feel with quiet confidence that General Ritchie's generous praise is well deserved.

V Day coming as it does one day short of the completion of the fifth year that I have been privileged to serve the division as brigadier and divisional commander, I am in a better position than most to appreciate the years of hard work and effort by all ranks which have forged the efficient fighting machine which has proved itself so consistently on the battlefields of Europe.

General Ritchie is right when he attributes our success largely to the magnificent team work which exists throughout the division, but good team work is born of a thorough know­ledge of and confidence in the ability of each member of the team and this cannot exist without a long period of hard work and training. Further, it implies complete loyalty to the team and allows no place for petty jealousies or individualism. I would say, therefore, that General Ritchie's tribute to our team work is the highest compliment he could pay us.

Those of you who can look back to the conditions of May, 1940, in Ireland—conditions of complete lack of transport and negligible equipment—will realize, as I do, how far we have gone since those days, and the immense amount of work which has been put into it by everybody to achieve the present team. "Battles cannot be won without paying the cost and we have had heavy casualties, though I am thankful to say that the numbers who have made the supreme sacrifice are astonishingly few considering the almost continuous fighting in which the division has been engaged throughout the campaign. I feel at this moment we should pay tribute to those whose gallantry contributed so much to our successes but who are unable to be with us now at the moment of our . . . triumph.

I would end on a personal note. I have had the honour of commanding the 53rd (W.) Division for the last two and a half years. It has been and will always be a matter of great pride and satisfaction to me that I have been privileged to be in charge of the final preparation of the division for war and to have seen the campaign through with you all to its successful end. I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the unfailing loyalty, understanding and support I have received at all times from all commanders of whatever grade, from all staffs and, indeed, from all ranks of the division, which has made my work so simple and at the same time so pleasant. I am most grateful to you all.

"N. K. Ross, Major-General, "Commanding 53rd (W.) Division.

"British Liberation Army. "8th May, 1945."

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

Fine weather continues.  Our varied activities include athletics, rowing, sailing, swimming and occasional short route-marches.  The area is searched for arms & suspects twice a week.  Today we provided guides to help in the dispersal of civilians from the camp.  These are being moved in batches of about three hundred each to various villages & hamlets in the neighbourhood.  A Coy have returned from WITTENBURG.

On this day 7th May

1811 - The Light Division in pursuit of French after battle of Fuentes d'Onor.

1915 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI  – BETHUNE

In billets in BETHUNE.

1915 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – PLOEGSTEERT WOOD

Quiet up till 12.15pm, enemy shelled Support Trenches behind Centre Coy (A Coy) with Little Willies working along to and including left Coy trenches (C Coy), about 16 shells , No casualties.

 

1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Bad Kleinen

A Guard of Honour under command of Maj. R.A.A. Smith. MC today attended the meeting of Field Marshal Montgomery and Field Marshal Rokossovsky at WISMAR.  Congratulations on their turn-out & smartness have been received from many quarters.

1954 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI (43rd & 52nd) - Presentation of Colours by General Sir Bernard Paget, G.C.B., D.S.O., M.C., on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and attended by Sir Frederick Hoyer-Miller, U.K. High Commissioner in Germany.