On this day 3rd May
1873 – 52nd – Left Malta for Gibraltar on H.M.S Tamar.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – Near ROCLINCOURT
The day was spent in cleaning up and bathing.
2Lt L E W O Fullbrook-Leggatt rejoined for duty after having been wounded, and was brought on strength again and reposted to A Coy.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – HAMEL. MONS EN CHAUSSEE - ESTREES EN CHAUSSEE
Battn in Billets. – Working Party of 200men on craters at ESTREES EN CHAUSEE from 8am to 4pm.
Remainder of Battn on Company Training & improving Billets.
Weather: Fine & Warm.
Ration Strength: 24 officers 579 OR.
1917 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - heavily engaged Third battle of the Scarpe (Arras) -
(Total Casualties.—8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.)
'Z" day was 3rd May and zero hour 3.45 a.m. The following is Lieut.-Colonel H. L. Wood's Official Report of action of the Battalion:--
“At zero the Battalion was formed up as follows :
A and C Companies in the front line, A on the right, C on the left;
B and D Companies in the second line, B on the right, D on the left; each company in two lines of two platoons. The front line was on the taped line, the second line in Ape Trench.
The German artillery and machine-guns opened fire within 3 minutes of our barrage commencing; most of the artillery fire was between Ape and Bison. Until the advance commenced at zero plus 18 there were only a few casualties from artillery fire in Ape, and none in the companies in front. On the other hand, the machine-gun fire was very heavy and accurate, and came from the left flank (either from St. Rohart Factory or from the Quarry in 0.15.c) and front (from the Quarry at 0.21.b.8.0 or from Triangle Wood).
At zero plus 18 the advance commenced and reached a line about 50 yards west of New Trench, beyond which it was found impossible to advance farther on the left.
On the right of the line 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company) found it possible to avoid the machine-gun fire by crawling, and he got a few men forward and occupied part of New Trench. As touch had been lost with the 8th K.R.R.C., 2nd Lieut. Peel brought up the reserve platoon of A Company on his right flank, and gained touch with them. This was about 4.30 a.m. About this time the remainder of A Company and part of D Company managed to get into New Trench on the left of A Company.
The Germans who had been holding New Trench retired to a line about 40 yards in rear, from which they heavily bombed and opened fire with two machine-guns on New Trench. These were, however, soon silenced by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. It was, however, found impossible to advance owing to the very accurate and unceasing machine-gun fire from the left, and also to a certain extent from the front. The artillery fire also became fairly heavy about this time.
The situation now was as follows: about 50 men of all companies in New Trench, and parties of B and D Companies (about two platoons in all) in a line of shell-holes about 40 yards behind. This party tried to consolidate, but found it impossible to work owing to the incessant machine-gun fire, snipers, and heavy Vane-bomb fire, which came from the left flank, probably from Hillside Work.
The situation remained unchanged until about 10.45a.m., New Trench being shelled continuously, while a very heavy barrage was maintained on the Assembly Trenches.
At about 10.45 a.m. the troops on our right were observed retiring, and a strong enemy counter-attack in 6 or 7 waves (each estimated by those in the front line at about 150 to 200 men) was launched against New Trench. Fire was immediately opened on them with all available rifles, Lewis-guns, and two Vickers which had come up, and many casualties were inflicted, but without stopping the counter-attack. When the enemy had got within 50 yards of New Trench, and our ammunition was practically all expended, the remnants withdrew to the Assembly Trenches, bringing back as many Lewis-guns as possible. The two Vickers had to be abandoned.
Owing to there being no room in the front Assembly Trenches I rallied the Battalion in Buck Trench, where it remained until relieved.
The casualties were :--
A Company (Right leading) 75, out of 129 who attacked.
C Company (Left leading) 84, out of 118.
B Company (Right Support) 57, out of 123.
D Company (Left Support) 62, out of 123.
H.Q. 13, out of 30, including bombers who went over behind the leading company.
Total Casualties.--8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.
1945 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Germany.
The Regiment left Quarrendorf (5322) at 1140 hrs. in troop-carrying vehicles and moved through Brackel (5425), Pattensen (6027), Wittorf (7529), St. Diongs (7729) and over the River Elbe on the class 9 bridge at Tespe (777382) to Geesthacht (7540), which was reached at 1340 hrs.
The Regiment waited here until the evening while negotiations for the surrender of Hamburg were in progress. At 1845 hrs., on the city's surrender, the Regiment left Geesthacht and moved through Bergedorf (6446), Schonningsted (6751) and Stemwarde (6655) to Willinghusen (6354), where it was ordered to spend the night before entering Hamburg at dawn on the following day.
1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI
Lutterstorf. Sheet 1/100,000. No.K.6. MR 4089.
Eventually in the early hours of the morning we found our advance parties & billeted ourselves in the area of LUTTERSTORF. Everybody was by this time feeling the effects of three consecutive night-moves & had great difficulty in keeping awake.
Bad Kleinen 4681
After breakfast we moved off again to BAD KLEINEN. The Parachutists having met the Russians at WISMAR there is now no more fighting to be done. However, there was no immediate rest for everybody owing to the hordes of Germans. Throughout the day the better part of two German divisions came in. Some had been marching many days & could go no further. Many were wounded, some came from hospitals & convalescent companies. In addition to the WEHRMACHT there were long processions of German civilians mostly travelling on large horse-drawn waggons. We were therefore called upon to provide guards and escorts both for the prisoners & for the civilians who could not be allowed to proceed further west where they would have clogged the lines of communication.
1873 – 52nd – Left Malta for Gibraltar on H.M.S Tamar.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – Near ROCLINCOURT
The day was spent in cleaning up and bathing.
2Lt L E W O Fullbrook-Leggatt rejoined for duty after having been wounded, and was brought on strength again and reposted to A Coy.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – HAMEL. MONS EN CHAUSSEE - ESTREES EN CHAUSSEE
Battn in Billets. – Working Party of 200men on craters at ESTREES EN CHAUSEE from 8am to 4pm.
Remainder of Battn on Company Training & improving Billets.
Weather: Fine & Warm.
Ration Strength: 24 officers 579 OR.
1917 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - heavily engaged Third battle of the Scarpe (Arras) -
(Total Casualties.—8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.)
'Z" day was 3rd May and zero hour 3.45 a.m. The following is Lieut.-Colonel H. L. Wood's Official Report of action of the Battalion:--
“At zero the Battalion was formed up as follows :
A and C Companies in the front line, A on the right, C on the left;
B and D Companies in the second line, B on the right, D on the left; each company in two lines of two platoons. The front line was on the taped line, the second line in Ape Trench.
The German artillery and machine-guns opened fire within 3 minutes of our barrage commencing; most of the artillery fire was between Ape and Bison. Until the advance commenced at zero plus 18 there were only a few casualties from artillery fire in Ape, and none in the companies in front. On the other hand, the machine-gun fire was very heavy and accurate, and came from the left flank (either from St. Rohart Factory or from the Quarry in 0.15.c) and front (from the Quarry at 0.21.b.8.0 or from Triangle Wood).
At zero plus 18 the advance commenced and reached a line about 50 yards west of New Trench, beyond which it was found impossible to advance farther on the left.
On the right of the line 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company) found it possible to avoid the machine-gun fire by crawling, and he got a few men forward and occupied part of New Trench. As touch had been lost with the 8th K.R.R.C., 2nd Lieut. Peel brought up the reserve platoon of A Company on his right flank, and gained touch with them. This was about 4.30 a.m. About this time the remainder of A Company and part of D Company managed to get into New Trench on the left of A Company.
The Germans who had been holding New Trench retired to a line about 40 yards in rear, from which they heavily bombed and opened fire with two machine-guns on New Trench. These were, however, soon silenced by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. It was, however, found impossible to advance owing to the very accurate and unceasing machine-gun fire from the left, and also to a certain extent from the front. The artillery fire also became fairly heavy about this time.
The situation now was as follows: about 50 men of all companies in New Trench, and parties of B and D Companies (about two platoons in all) in a line of shell-holes about 40 yards behind. This party tried to consolidate, but found it impossible to work owing to the incessant machine-gun fire, snipers, and heavy Vane-bomb fire, which came from the left flank, probably from Hillside Work.
The situation remained unchanged until about 10.45a.m., New Trench being shelled continuously, while a very heavy barrage was maintained on the Assembly Trenches.
At about 10.45 a.m. the troops on our right were observed retiring, and a strong enemy counter-attack in 6 or 7 waves (each estimated by those in the front line at about 150 to 200 men) was launched against New Trench. Fire was immediately opened on them with all available rifles, Lewis-guns, and two Vickers which had come up, and many casualties were inflicted, but without stopping the counter-attack. When the enemy had got within 50 yards of New Trench, and our ammunition was practically all expended, the remnants withdrew to the Assembly Trenches, bringing back as many Lewis-guns as possible. The two Vickers had to be abandoned.
Owing to there being no room in the front Assembly Trenches I rallied the Battalion in Buck Trench, where it remained until relieved.
The casualties were :--
A Company (Right leading) 75, out of 129 who attacked.
C Company (Left leading) 84, out of 118.
B Company (Right Support) 57, out of 123.
D Company (Left Support) 62, out of 123.
H.Q. 13, out of 30, including bombers who went over behind the leading company.
Total Casualties.--8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.
1945 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Germany.
The Regiment left Quarrendorf (5322) at 1140 hrs. in troop-carrying vehicles and moved through Brackel (5425), Pattensen (6027), Wittorf (7529), St. Diongs (7729) and over the River Elbe on the class 9 bridge at Tespe (777382) to Geesthacht (7540), which was reached at 1340 hrs.
The Regiment waited here until the evening while negotiations for the surrender of Hamburg were in progress. At 1845 hrs., on the city's surrender, the Regiment left Geesthacht and moved through Bergedorf (6446), Schonningsted (6751) and Stemwarde (6655) to Willinghusen (6354), where it was ordered to spend the night before entering Hamburg at dawn on the following day.
1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI
Lutterstorf. Sheet 1/100,000. No.K.6. MR 4089.
Eventually in the early hours of the morning we found our advance parties & billeted ourselves in the area of LUTTERSTORF. Everybody was by this time feeling the effects of three consecutive night-moves & had great difficulty in keeping awake.
Bad Kleinen 4681
After breakfast we moved off again to BAD KLEINEN. The Parachutists having met the Russians at WISMAR there is now no more fighting to be done. However, there was no immediate rest for everybody owing to the hordes of Germans. Throughout the day the better part of two German divisions came in. Some had been marching many days & could go no further. Many were wounded, some came from hospitals & convalescent companies. In addition to the WEHRMACHT there were long processions of German civilians mostly travelling on large horse-drawn waggons. We were therefore called upon to provide guards and escorts both for the prisoners & for the civilians who could not be allowed to proceed further west where they would have clogged the lines of communication.
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