| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Front Line, Canal Du Nord |
| Entry | A bright day. Visibility very good and both sides were very active in the air and registration of heavies. The Battn was to be relieved in the line under Bde OO no 209a and Battn Order No159 (copies attached) but at 4.30pm the enemy suddenly opened a very heavy bombardment of our front line and communication trenches with his trench mortars and artillery and shortly after attacked in numerous parties each about 30 strong on our front and to our right. The garrisons of our two unprotected sentry posts (VALGRIM and STEVE) were taken unawares and were in danger of being cut off so were withdrawn behind our belt of wire without casualties and the enemy occupied these positions in force and commenced to consolidate them. Meanwhile our relief proceeded. B and D companies sent out patrols to clear up the situation and found the posts occupied. By 11 pm all companies had left the trenches except 2 platoons of B Coy and Battn HQ. The situation was reported to Brigade and at 1030 instructions were received to evacuate NUGENT CROSSE and STEVE SUPPORT posts - that the artillery would fire for 30 minutes and we were then to send out strong officer patrols and reoccupy the lost positions if possible. Posts were clear by 12.5 am - the artillery fired from 12.25 - 12.55 but the bombardment was feeble and inaccurate and when our patrols went out under 2/Liet GRIMES on W side of Canal and Lieut HUDSON on E side, they were immediately fired on by enemy machine guns. The night was moonlit and it was impossible to approach unseen because on both sides a thick belt of old German wire had to be passed in single file. Patrols therefore returned in accordance with Brigade orders. Relief was finally completed at 2.30am. Casualties 2 OR killed and 5 OR wounded. The Battn moved to huts at BARASTRE, by march route to the spoil heap HERMIES and thence by motor lorries to billets. 2/Lieut BUSH joined the battn and was posted to C Coy. |
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