On this day 23rd March
1886 – 1st Bn Oxf LI – Arrived at Poona from Quetta.
1918 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Battle of St. Quentin, continued; 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI and a Bn. of Royal Marines holding the Bertincourt Salient.
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – BARASTRE. (France)
The Regiment moved by Companies, to occupy, according to Order, and complete the digging of, the forward loop, round BERINCOURT, of the Green Line – Companies were in order C A D B from Right to Left, the Right of the Regiment being at the Apex of the loop, near the BERTINCOURT – HERMIES Road, a battalion of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was to have its Left on this front, facing at Right Angles away from the regiment eastwards, but this (1st or 2nd Bns of RMLI) did not get into position till 2.55PM. (with 5 minutes to spare only) following is extract from Message R.C.87 timed 11.45AM to brigade Headquarters:-
“Am now in same dugout with Colonel Goschen R.F.A. late headquarters 17th Division aaa.
My line is partly dug on the front of two companies only aaa. We are digging platoon posts through P one central aaa. No 24th Royal Fusiliers as yet reported but can see Right of 2HLI aaa. We very urgently need S.A.A. of which evidently no local resources”.
Order of regiments of this brigade from Right to Left – The Regiment – 24th Royal Fusiliers- 2HLI. Brigade Headquarters had moved during the morning to BARASTRE.
The digging of the line was continued with maximum speed.
Very great assistance was rendered by the OC the Pioneer Battalion of the 17th Division in the matter of the provision of tools, and the regiment was able to equip itself and to assist the 24th Royal Fusiliers in the matter of picks and shovels, to an appreciable extent.
Orders came during the morning to the effect that owing to withdrawal, by order of troops forward of us, we might expect to become front line any time after 3PM, which event occurred punctually to time: the Germans followed up with astonishing rapidity and in very large masses, messages received from Companies, especially the Right Coy (C) which was in a very critical position, all go to show how very close the enemy were able to come, under cover of sunken roads and in the railway cutting.
A hostile machine gun, placed so as to enfilade our trench, caused very considerable trouble, and the death of Capt Littledale and 3 men.
Towards evening it became obvious that owing to the situation on the flanks a withdrawal would have to be carried out, and that unless this were done under cover of darkness very little chance would remain of getting the regiment out without loss.
About 1AM messages were received, verbal, by the transport Officer, from the Brigadier General, and by wire, identical, to the effect that “Reinforcements were expected”, going on to say that the Brigade would put up the best all round fight, using every available man, and that there would be no withdrawal.
Orders were issued accordingly.
Casualties: Killed = Capt W J Littledale and 3 Other ranks. Another Died of Wounds. Wounded – 9.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshireBattalion – S GEORGIO DELLPERTICHE (Italy)
Battalion Paraded at 7.30am and marched to Billets at BUSIAGO, VECCHIA & COCCHE.
Close Billets and tremendously scattered.
Ration Strength: 38 Officers 811 OR.
Casualties: NIL.
1918 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - To S. MARIA DI NON. (Italy)
1918 - 2/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Withdrew to BILLANCOURT and LANGUEVOISIN. (France)
The Battalion withdrew at 3 a.m. to billets at BILLANCOURT, where it was reinforced by details of 61st Divisional Battalion.
At night marched to billets at LANGUEVOISIN in reserve to 20th Division.
Casualties 2/Lt. G. GEFEAL – Killed in Action. 6 O.R. Wounded.
1918 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Still retiring, lost heavily. (France)
Line of canal lost in early morning during thick mist.
B Company sent up to reinforce near FLAVY STATION is entirely overwhelmed.
Battalion retires before enemy at 11.30 a.m. fighting all the way back to RIEZ DE CUGNY; intense machine-gun barrage put down by enemy.
Battalion dig in in a strong point.
Casualties Lt. Col. SEBASTIAN M.C. & Capt. MULLIS M.C. wounded all B Coy. and Details. missing including Capt. BAMKS, Lt. MONEY M.C. (wounded) 2nd Lt’s. CRESWELL, FINLAYSON (KILLED) HUGHES.
1886 – 1st Bn Oxf LI – Arrived at Poona from Quetta.
1918 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Battle of St. Quentin, continued; 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI and a Bn. of Royal Marines holding the Bertincourt Salient.
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – BARASTRE. (France)
The Regiment moved by Companies, to occupy, according to Order, and complete the digging of, the forward loop, round BERINCOURT, of the Green Line – Companies were in order C A D B from Right to Left, the Right of the Regiment being at the Apex of the loop, near the BERTINCOURT – HERMIES Road, a battalion of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was to have its Left on this front, facing at Right Angles away from the regiment eastwards, but this (1st or 2nd Bns of RMLI) did not get into position till 2.55PM. (with 5 minutes to spare only) following is extract from Message R.C.87 timed 11.45AM to brigade Headquarters:-
“Am now in same dugout with Colonel Goschen R.F.A. late headquarters 17th Division aaa.
My line is partly dug on the front of two companies only aaa. We are digging platoon posts through P one central aaa. No 24th Royal Fusiliers as yet reported but can see Right of 2HLI aaa. We very urgently need S.A.A. of which evidently no local resources”.
Order of regiments of this brigade from Right to Left – The Regiment – 24th Royal Fusiliers- 2HLI. Brigade Headquarters had moved during the morning to BARASTRE.
The digging of the line was continued with maximum speed.
Very great assistance was rendered by the OC the Pioneer Battalion of the 17th Division in the matter of the provision of tools, and the regiment was able to equip itself and to assist the 24th Royal Fusiliers in the matter of picks and shovels, to an appreciable extent.
Orders came during the morning to the effect that owing to withdrawal, by order of troops forward of us, we might expect to become front line any time after 3PM, which event occurred punctually to time: the Germans followed up with astonishing rapidity and in very large masses, messages received from Companies, especially the Right Coy (C) which was in a very critical position, all go to show how very close the enemy were able to come, under cover of sunken roads and in the railway cutting.
A hostile machine gun, placed so as to enfilade our trench, caused very considerable trouble, and the death of Capt Littledale and 3 men.
Towards evening it became obvious that owing to the situation on the flanks a withdrawal would have to be carried out, and that unless this were done under cover of darkness very little chance would remain of getting the regiment out without loss.
About 1AM messages were received, verbal, by the transport Officer, from the Brigadier General, and by wire, identical, to the effect that “Reinforcements were expected”, going on to say that the Brigade would put up the best all round fight, using every available man, and that there would be no withdrawal.
Orders were issued accordingly.
Casualties: Killed = Capt W J Littledale and 3 Other ranks. Another Died of Wounds. Wounded – 9.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshireBattalion – S GEORGIO DELLPERTICHE (Italy)
Battalion Paraded at 7.30am and marched to Billets at BUSIAGO, VECCHIA & COCCHE.
Close Billets and tremendously scattered.
Ration Strength: 38 Officers 811 OR.
Casualties: NIL.
1918 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - To S. MARIA DI NON. (Italy)
1918 - 2/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Withdrew to BILLANCOURT and LANGUEVOISIN. (France)
The Battalion withdrew at 3 a.m. to billets at BILLANCOURT, where it was reinforced by details of 61st Divisional Battalion.
At night marched to billets at LANGUEVOISIN in reserve to 20th Division.
Casualties 2/Lt. G. GEFEAL – Killed in Action. 6 O.R. Wounded.
1918 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Still retiring, lost heavily. (France)
Line of canal lost in early morning during thick mist.
B Company sent up to reinforce near FLAVY STATION is entirely overwhelmed.
Battalion retires before enemy at 11.30 a.m. fighting all the way back to RIEZ DE CUGNY; intense machine-gun barrage put down by enemy.
Battalion dig in in a strong point.
Casualties Lt. Col. SEBASTIAN M.C. & Capt. MULLIS M.C. wounded all B Coy. and Details. missing including Capt. BAMKS, Lt. MONEY M.C. (wounded) 2nd Lt’s. CRESWELL, FINLAYSON (KILLED) HUGHES.
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