| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | [Coquiane], Belgium |
| Entry | 0200: Conference in house at corner on arrangements for further withdrawal 0300: Orders for withdrawal issued verbally to coy comdrs, after Instructions had been received from Brig Dempsey who arr at Bn HQs. Heavy traffic, of 2nd and 48th Divs passing south 0430: Bn HQs dep from withdrawal posn along track to HERINNES. Withdrawal covered by 4th Ox & Bucks L.I. Bn remains with head of Bde HQs. Weather: hazy and cold morning. Later warm and sultry, 6 hrs sunshine 0530: Bn dep from posn and proceeded by march route to HERINNES, and went into concealment in orchards 0600: Bn arr at dispersal posn in orchards at HERINNES 0612: Two enemy bombers with fighter escorts flew over at 30,000 ft. Capt Hoare and 2 men sent back to rearguard posn to make half-hourly reports on presence of enemy. 2 WC reports received at 0630 and 0700 0700: Bn dep HERINNES by march route. MT preceeding it by a few minutes. Route - HERINNES - x rds 357420 - BIENVENE - MUIDT - BOIS DE LESSINES 2840 - LESSINES - WANNEBEC Distance 14½ miles. Road bad except in few places, chiefly flints and stone and sand. Marching conditions very trying, and the men are tired and many have had no food for 18 hrs. 1115: Capt J.W. Peers brought up Three vehicles for stragglers, and tea for the Bn LESSINES 1245: Head column arr LESSINES. 5th Inf Bde in the town WANNEBEC 1350: Head of column arr WANNEBEC. 2 miles S.W of LESSINES. Bn HQS marched in in good spirits. Some billeting already arranged - chiefly empty houses, as population is in process of evacuation 1500: All coys arr. in 1430: Brig Dempsey arr. and gave Capt Woolnough such information as was available 1600: Bridges over the R. DEULE being blown up 1740: Brig Dempsey arr. with message and orders to move at 2100 hrs to new location 12 miles to WEST of AIMIERES CARNOIS and DELBART 1845: Coy Cmdrs to Bn HQs to receive orders for the move. 5 Tp carrying lorries arr for ferrying personnel 2015: Lt-Col Moore to Bde HQs for orders 2030: Message from Lt-Col Moore to hold up move; Adv parties already dep for new area. MG fire heard from direction R. DEULE in EAST 2100: Bn HQs B & D Coys, and parties of HQ Coy dep, all in MT, by road for SECLIN, on receipt of new orders by the C.O - Route SLAUBECQ 4940 - WODECQ - FLOBECQ - ELLEZELLES - RENAIX - TOURNAI - CHERENG -ASCQ - SECLIN Distance miles [no details in diary] 2130: Coln held up at WODECQ by MG and RASC units Coln held up at intervals by other MT Columns of 2 Div units moving WEST to TOURNAI, rate of progress extremely slow, and a lot of unauthorised cutting in the column, and double Banking 2200: Heavy shell fire from the EAST, all along front. Many Halts, slow progress. Brilliant moonlight Reference to Appendices: App 'W' |
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