| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Peronne, France |
| Entry | Warm, sunshine all day, cloudless sky 1030: Stragglers (2 men) collected from Div HQs 1100: Brig Dempsey to Bn HQs. Heavy AA fire from south. Instruction for local defence received 1205: Conference all Coy Comdrs at Bn HQs on general situation and adms. matters 1220: Lt-Col Moore called to Brigade, and Bn warned to move. Several enemy aircraft over, and AA fire heard at intervals too continuous to tabulate 1440: Lt-Col Moore returned from Brigade, issued orders to move to LENS area to take up bridge guards from LENS - HARNES. Enemy Armd cars reported in vicinity ARRAS 1515: Sec Tp Carring [sic] Coy reported, and guided to coys: Bn then formed up on FRETIN rd facing WEST 1545: Head Bn. colm dep 30 vtm 10 min. Carriers in front 1555: Picked up Bde A Tk Coy under Major Stewart and one Tp of our A Tk Bty. Gunfire fainter 1610: Coln attacked by enemy aircraft, which machine-gunned the coln by low-flying attacks. The Patrol lorry and Filter lorry hit and damaged and fell out. Police D/R injured also several drivers by MG bullets. Also two D/Rs injured by riding into shellholes CARVIN 1650: Coln held up at CARVIN : colns of 50 Div and other formations travelling in same direction. Some refugee traffic. 1910: Reached Br over the Canal de la Haute Deule at ESTERVELLES, informed by B.M. Capt Rock that plan is changed and that the Bn would go on into LENS, thence to VIMY LENS 1940: Reached LENS, diverted to a square near a bridge over Canal de Lens. Bn debussed and dispersed with 'A' & 'B' Ech Tpt round the square. Lt-Col Moore received orders from Brig Dempsey and gave them out to coy comdrs 2010: Bn dep by march route SOUTH over canal to MERICOURT with all tpt. Many Fr Army stragglers coming up from South incl men and vehicles of MORROCAN DIV. Also very thick stream of refugees 2050: Bn reached MERICOURT. Lt-Col Moore and Major Bearne (acting 2nd I/C) ahead to recce coy areas. All Coys marched in, and dispersed in schools and buildings, and all tpt under cover. Bn HQs in the MAIRIE. Steady refugee traffic passing through 2150: Hot meal issued to all coys. Div. Adms Instr No.Q37 received 2230: Three offrs 79th Manchesters arr. to arrange billeting in MERICOURT 2335: Lt-Col Moore dep for conference Bde at AVION Reference to Appendices: App 'X' and 'Y' |
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