On this day 9th April
1885 – 1st Bn Oxfordshire LI – left Kurrachee (Sind) by rail for Bolan Pass.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – FLORINGHEM to HERMIN-FREVILLERS.
The Regiment marched, as part of the Brigade, to the area HERMIN – FREVILLERS via DIEVAL and BAJUS.
One hour halt for tea East of DIEVAL.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – MARQUAIX
In Billets
Working Party of 400 men on roads around MARQUAIX during morning.
Ration Strength 20 officers 647 OR.
1917 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - heavily engaged -First battle of the Scarpe (Arras).
1917 - 5th (S) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – ARRAS - ATTACK ON THE HARP.
The Battalion left the caves at 9 p.m., and was in position in the Assembly Trenches by 12 midnight. No casualties occurred on the way up. There was practically no shelling of the Assembly Trenches till 5.30 a.m. Between 5.30 and 7.30 a.m. the Assembly Trenches were slightly shelled with whizz-bangs and an occasional 4.2-in. chiefly from direction of Tilloy. During this time one officer and one man were hit. At 7.34 a.m. the advance began. There was a good deal of crowding on the right owing to the Battalion on our right losing direction. This was rectified as much as possible by the company officers on the spot.
During the initial stages of the advance there was practically no enemy artillery fire, but there was a certain amount of machine-gun fire from Tilloy; this, however, was mostly high and caused very few casualties. As soon as the leading line came in view of the Harp three machine-guns opened fire from behind Telegraph Work and the string of the Harp. Lewis-guns and rifle-grenades were immediately turned on to them, and their fire slackened sufficiently to enable the infantry to go forward. On reaching the front line about 50 of the enemy gave themselves up without fighting, and were passed back to the rear.
There was a certain amount of resistance from the back of Telegraph Work and the string of the Harp, but the Germans gave themselves up as soon as our men reached them. About 50 Germans were captured here.
As soon as both objectives had been reached consolidation was at once commenced as follows :--
C Company and a part of D Company from N.7.a.6.6 to N.7.a.5.3.
A Company thence along back line of Telegraph Work to N.7.a.4.1.
Remainder of D Company from N.7.a.2.8 to about N.7.a.2.6.
B Company thence to N.7.a.2.0.
During the consolidation a machine-gun opened fire from about N.7.a.6.9, which caused a certain number of casualties. This gun was knocked out by a rifle-grenade, and was captured in conjunction with a bombing-party of the 9th K.R.R.C.
About 20 minutes after reaching the objective the captured position was heavily shelled with 77-mm. and 4.2-in. for about half an hour, and a strong barrage of 5.9 in. put along the bank in M.12.b.l.9 for about one and a half hours. There were no troops advancing over this ground at that time. It only caused a certain amount of inconvenience to communications and very few casualties. About 10 a.m. all hostile artillery fire ceased, and consolidation was completed without further molestation. About this time another machine-gun and its crew were found in a dug-out. They gave themselves up without any trouble.
It is impossible to state accurately the number of prisoners taken by us, but it is estimated there were about 100. Three machine-guns were also captured.
Our casualties were roughly 5 officers killed, 7 wounded, and about 180 other ranks.
The battlefield was cleared of all casualties by 5 p.m., with the assistance of the prisoners.
H. L. Wood, Lieut.-Colonel,
Comdg. 5th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
1945 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – North West Europe
The Regiment had the task of protecting the main route of the corps axis of advance.
Relieved of this duty on the 9th by troops of the 52nd Division, the Regiment concentrated at Lemforde (4330) ready to advance again.
1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI - NWE Winzlar
A fine day, very suitable for the maintenance & cleaning up which we need. We are told we shall be here for at least 48 hrs. Received a draft of reinforcements - over 100 of them.
1964 – 1st Green Jackets 43rd & 52nd - The Regiment was complete in Montgomery Barracks, Berlin.
1885 – 1st Bn Oxfordshire LI – left Kurrachee (Sind) by rail for Bolan Pass.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – FLORINGHEM to HERMIN-FREVILLERS.
The Regiment marched, as part of the Brigade, to the area HERMIN – FREVILLERS via DIEVAL and BAJUS.
One hour halt for tea East of DIEVAL.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – MARQUAIX
In Billets
Working Party of 400 men on roads around MARQUAIX during morning.
Ration Strength 20 officers 647 OR.
1917 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - heavily engaged -First battle of the Scarpe (Arras).
1917 - 5th (S) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – ARRAS - ATTACK ON THE HARP.
The Battalion left the caves at 9 p.m., and was in position in the Assembly Trenches by 12 midnight. No casualties occurred on the way up. There was practically no shelling of the Assembly Trenches till 5.30 a.m. Between 5.30 and 7.30 a.m. the Assembly Trenches were slightly shelled with whizz-bangs and an occasional 4.2-in. chiefly from direction of Tilloy. During this time one officer and one man were hit. At 7.34 a.m. the advance began. There was a good deal of crowding on the right owing to the Battalion on our right losing direction. This was rectified as much as possible by the company officers on the spot.
During the initial stages of the advance there was practically no enemy artillery fire, but there was a certain amount of machine-gun fire from Tilloy; this, however, was mostly high and caused very few casualties. As soon as the leading line came in view of the Harp three machine-guns opened fire from behind Telegraph Work and the string of the Harp. Lewis-guns and rifle-grenades were immediately turned on to them, and their fire slackened sufficiently to enable the infantry to go forward. On reaching the front line about 50 of the enemy gave themselves up without fighting, and were passed back to the rear.
There was a certain amount of resistance from the back of Telegraph Work and the string of the Harp, but the Germans gave themselves up as soon as our men reached them. About 50 Germans were captured here.
As soon as both objectives had been reached consolidation was at once commenced as follows :--
C Company and a part of D Company from N.7.a.6.6 to N.7.a.5.3.
A Company thence along back line of Telegraph Work to N.7.a.4.1.
Remainder of D Company from N.7.a.2.8 to about N.7.a.2.6.
B Company thence to N.7.a.2.0.
During the consolidation a machine-gun opened fire from about N.7.a.6.9, which caused a certain number of casualties. This gun was knocked out by a rifle-grenade, and was captured in conjunction with a bombing-party of the 9th K.R.R.C.
About 20 minutes after reaching the objective the captured position was heavily shelled with 77-mm. and 4.2-in. for about half an hour, and a strong barrage of 5.9 in. put along the bank in M.12.b.l.9 for about one and a half hours. There were no troops advancing over this ground at that time. It only caused a certain amount of inconvenience to communications and very few casualties. About 10 a.m. all hostile artillery fire ceased, and consolidation was completed without further molestation. About this time another machine-gun and its crew were found in a dug-out. They gave themselves up without any trouble.
It is impossible to state accurately the number of prisoners taken by us, but it is estimated there were about 100. Three machine-guns were also captured.
Our casualties were roughly 5 officers killed, 7 wounded, and about 180 other ranks.
The battlefield was cleared of all casualties by 5 p.m., with the assistance of the prisoners.
H. L. Wood, Lieut.-Colonel,
Comdg. 5th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
1945 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – North West Europe
The Regiment had the task of protecting the main route of the corps axis of advance.
Relieved of this duty on the 9th by troops of the 52nd Division, the Regiment concentrated at Lemforde (4330) ready to advance again.
1945 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI - NWE Winzlar
A fine day, very suitable for the maintenance & cleaning up which we need. We are told we shall be here for at least 48 hrs. Received a draft of reinforcements - over 100 of them.
1964 – 1st Green Jackets 43rd & 52nd - The Regiment was complete in Montgomery Barracks, Berlin.
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