On this day 20th July
1812 – Wellington’s, Army and that of Marmont marching parallel to each other and within musket shot throughout the day, neither finding an opportunity to attack.
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – H.30.d.7.0.
10.52am – By rail from PERNES.
4.40pm-Detrained at SALEUX near AMIENS.
Joined 4th Army.
Marched to CORBIE, 16 miles.
Packs were carried in lorries.
Two men fell out.
I consider the marching very good.
20th /21st July 1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BOUZINCOURT
Battalion in Bivouacs.
During the night 20/21 July the attack on the German front line in X.3. was resumed by the 48th Division.
The objective of the BUCKS BN was Point X3.B.11 & Point X3.D.28 & trenches adjoining these point – The 1/5 GLOUCESTER REGT was attacking immediately to the left of the BUCKS BN – The BUCKS BN attacked in 4 waves, one behind the other on a front of 2 Companies, C Coy on the right & A Coy on the left. These Companies were dispersed in a line of columns of platoons, two platoons in the front line & each company front. The fourth wave was supplied by B Coy which supported both front line companies & followed along behind them.
A tape was laid 175 yards from the German front line by the RE – The attacking companies assembled in the Sickel shaped trench (X.9.B – X.3D&C) & moved forwards up to the tape at 2.30am.
D Company occupied the Sickel shaped trench after the other three companies had left.
At 2.30am the enemy started sending up numerous white flares & after a few minutes red flares as a result of which machine guns opened fire.
At 2.45am an intense artillery barrage opened on the German front line & lifted at 2.47am.
The attack could not be pushed home owing to the large number of enemy machine guns, though one party of 1 Corporal & 6 men succeeded in entering the German line on the extreme right of the attack.
Casualties were heavy.
Killed CAPT L.W. CROUCH. 2LT C.G ABREY. 2LT J.P.CHAPMAN. 2LT C.W. TRIMMER and 7 OR.
Wounded 2LT B.C RIGDEN. 2LT H.C.E MASON. 2LT H.V. SHEPHERD & 97 OR
Missing CAPT G.G. JACKSON & 42 OR
About 9am the Battalion was withdrawn from the trenches & returned to bivouacs.
1916 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BOUZINCOURT Huts.
Day spent in quiet.
Orders received that attack would be continued night of 20/21st.
Battn in reserve.
11.45PM - Battalion moved off – Coy's at 5 minute intervals – through ALBERT, and bivouacked in field and old gun emplacements about ¼ mile outside ALBERT just on SE side of ALBERT - BAPAUME Road.
Reached 1.10 AM 21st.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – CHATEAU ST COME.
Once again our patrols report that the enemy posns on our front remain unchanged. Our snipers claim three certain hits and 'C' Coy standing patrol engaged several targets with their guns as well, but the result could not be observed with any certainty. Very heavy rain fell today and a lot of the slit trenches became waterlogged and all the tracks in the Regtl area extremely muddy.
1812 – Wellington’s, Army and that of Marmont marching parallel to each other and within musket shot throughout the day, neither finding an opportunity to attack.
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – H.30.d.7.0.
10.52am – By rail from PERNES.
4.40pm-Detrained at SALEUX near AMIENS.
Joined 4th Army.
Marched to CORBIE, 16 miles.
Packs were carried in lorries.
Two men fell out.
I consider the marching very good.
20th /21st July 1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BOUZINCOURT
Battalion in Bivouacs.
During the night 20/21 July the attack on the German front line in X.3. was resumed by the 48th Division.
The objective of the BUCKS BN was Point X3.B.11 & Point X3.D.28 & trenches adjoining these point – The 1/5 GLOUCESTER REGT was attacking immediately to the left of the BUCKS BN – The BUCKS BN attacked in 4 waves, one behind the other on a front of 2 Companies, C Coy on the right & A Coy on the left. These Companies were dispersed in a line of columns of platoons, two platoons in the front line & each company front. The fourth wave was supplied by B Coy which supported both front line companies & followed along behind them.
A tape was laid 175 yards from the German front line by the RE – The attacking companies assembled in the Sickel shaped trench (X.9.B – X.3D&C) & moved forwards up to the tape at 2.30am.
D Company occupied the Sickel shaped trench after the other three companies had left.
At 2.30am the enemy started sending up numerous white flares & after a few minutes red flares as a result of which machine guns opened fire.
At 2.45am an intense artillery barrage opened on the German front line & lifted at 2.47am.
The attack could not be pushed home owing to the large number of enemy machine guns, though one party of 1 Corporal & 6 men succeeded in entering the German line on the extreme right of the attack.
Casualties were heavy.
Killed CAPT L.W. CROUCH. 2LT C.G ABREY. 2LT J.P.CHAPMAN. 2LT C.W. TRIMMER and 7 OR.
Wounded 2LT B.C RIGDEN. 2LT H.C.E MASON. 2LT H.V. SHEPHERD & 97 OR
Missing CAPT G.G. JACKSON & 42 OR
About 9am the Battalion was withdrawn from the trenches & returned to bivouacs.
1916 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BOUZINCOURT Huts.
Day spent in quiet.
Orders received that attack would be continued night of 20/21st.
Battn in reserve.
11.45PM - Battalion moved off – Coy's at 5 minute intervals – through ALBERT, and bivouacked in field and old gun emplacements about ¼ mile outside ALBERT just on SE side of ALBERT - BAPAUME Road.
Reached 1.10 AM 21st.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – CHATEAU ST COME.
Once again our patrols report that the enemy posns on our front remain unchanged. Our snipers claim three certain hits and 'C' Coy standing patrol engaged several targets with their guns as well, but the result could not be observed with any certainty. Very heavy rain fell today and a lot of the slit trenches became waterlogged and all the tracks in the Regtl area extremely muddy.
RSS Feed