1853 – 52nd – Headquarters 52nd arrived at Calcutta on its second visit to India.
1918 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Battle of the Canal du Nord.
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – LOCK 7.
The enemy was holding a line RUMILLY – LINA – MT SUR L’OEUVRES – FAUBOURG DE PARIS.
The Regiment in co-operation with troops of the 3rd Division on the Right was ordered to clear the ground between MARCOING SWITCH and the ridge in G.10.d.
The position of assembly was:-
D Coy in front of FLAT FOOT FARM from G.13.b.8.9. to G.7.d.8.4.
C Coy G.7.d.8.4. to CROSS ROADS G.7.b.8.0.
A and B Coys in MARCOING SWITCH were to support D and C Coys respectively.
The advance was to be made by companies in section worms, First Wave 2 Platoons, Second Wave 1 Platoon, Third Wave 1 Platoon and Company Headquarters.
The distance between waves 50 yards, between companies 150 yards.
C and D Coys were to take a line G.9.c.2.0. to G.9.a.5.5.
A and B Coys were to pass through and capture the trench line between G.10.c.3.0. and G.9.b.8.0.
A Coy to establish posts on spur in G.10.d. The boundary between companies was a line running from G.7.d.8.4. through G.8.c.7.6. to G.9.b.8.0. (junction of trench with road).
From midnight to 05.30 enemy shelling was slight as was also Machine Gun fire.
At 06.00, Zero hour, the artillery opened on the initial barrage line for 6 minutes during which time the two front Companies moved out into “worm” formations, as close up to the barrage as possible, so as to be ready to go forward at 06.06.
The barrage then lifted and C and D Companies advanced with A and B Companies in Support. They at once came under very heavy Machine Gun fire, from a quarry at G.9.c.0.9., from high ground East of MONT SUR L’OEUVRE the railway crossing at G.8.d.5.0., and the Western edge of RUMILLY, which caused many casualties.
Our own shells falling short also caused casualties.
The Companies advanced however 400 – 500 yards. Then owing to the large frontage occupied , to losses, and to the Left flank of the 3rd Division not getting forward, the leading Companies lost direction by moving too much to the Right, with the result that the Regiment covered only half the allotted frontage.
About this time the Support Companies reinforced the front line, and the whole pushed forward to the line of the Railway about G.8.d.5.0. where they captured three Machine Guns with their teams and several other prisoners.
A further advance was impossible as the enemy Machine Gun nests immediately opened very heavy fire on any movement. The senior officer present Captain Eagle commanding D Company and Lt Cowell, commanding C Company, ordered their companies to dig in , D Coy along the Railway about G.8.d.5.0. and C Coy along the sunken road facing North East about G.8.d.3.1. with observations posts out.
The situation remained unchanged throughout the day until 18.30hrs when an attack was made by the 24th (S) Royal Fusiliers and 2nd Bn Highland Light Infantry which surprised the enemy, who were evidently expecting an attack from the same direction as that made by the Regiment.
The new attack was successful and the Regiment thus became Support Battalion.
Communication all day was very difficult, all ground over which Orderlies had to move being in full view so that they had to crawl for very long distances.
Casualties:-
Officers – Killed = Lt L Bartlett. Wounded = Capt J Blagrove, Lt AHB Brooke, 2Lt HAIB Stokes.
Other Ranks – Killed = 33. Wounded = 125. Wounded & Missing = 1.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshire Battalion – LEFT BATTN SECTOR LEFT-BDE (KARER LABAS).
Quiet Day.
Ration Strength: 22 Officers 586 OR Casualties: 2 OR Hospital sick.