Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire

War Diary

1918-09-29
Regiment 1st Royal Berkshire
Location France, TRENCHES IN K17 b & d
Entry The atmosphere was cleared however at 4-50 am when a message was received which said that the 17th Royal Fusiliers had been counter-attacked during the night but still held their positions East of the Canal. At 5 am the attack on the canal was launched. A Coy carrying out the first phase. Two platoons crossed when the only bridge left standing on our front was destroyed by enemy fire. One platoon of D Coy also crossed by a Southern bridge in the area of KRR & these men temporarily attached themselves to the 1/60th Rifles. The men who crossed the Canal were fighting hard & D Coy was ordered to reinforce A Company. B Company held the W bank of the Canal & by skilful use of platoon weapons Kept up superiority of fire and generally were of great assistance to the attacking troops. C Company were in dugouts in NOYELLES and remained in Battalion Reserve. Owing to the bridges being destroyed the battalion was unable to cross the bridge until later in the day. At 12 noon the Brigadier arrived at Batt HQ and it was arranged that C Company were to relieve a company of the 1st KRRC who had crossed the canal & were in conjunction with the KRRs to attack & capture the dotted green line. At 1-30 pm C Company left to relieve 1st KRRC with orders to attack RANGE WOOD at 2.30 pm. As the C.O. was under the impression that British patrols had already entered RANGE WOOD 2/Lt Gould was sent to reconnoitre the position. He returned at 2.25 pm and reported that RANGE WOOD was held by us and our troops were well in advance of it, it was however too late to modify the attack or stop the barrage. At 2.30 pm the attack on the green dotted line was launched and all objectives secured nothing of unusual interest occurred until 5 pm when orders were issued by the CO (see B22 marked "O" issued to Coys) that the Battalion was to be organised in depth. The C.O. went forward to visit companies & establish forward Batt HQ. Adjt remained behind to await instructions before moving forward. Between six and eight o'clock rumours of enemy massing on our front were very prevalent. At 8 pm a message from the C.O. arrived which stated that all Companies were in position & that there was no sign of enemy massing. He thought the enemy fire was probably brought on by our own troops moving across the open & by the Cavalry who at this time shewed a few signs of getting into action. Forward Battalion HQ was established in dugout at G1 d3.6. At 10.15 pm rear Batt HQ arrived at the new Headquarters bringing with them the ration limbers. The night was very wet. In the meantime at 9.20 pm 99th Brigade order M12 (marked "V") was received on receipt of which the C.O. issued verbal instructions to O.C. "D" Coy to take over the posts of the17th Royal Fusiliers mentioned in Brigade Order M12. "D" Coy then proceed to take over the posts & were established in their new positions at 11-45 pm.