| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Roeux, France |
| Entry | 0150: Genr situation report to Bde Major by MT - nil change in situation in answer to message from Bde that enemy has crossed at ATHIES 0204: Further situation report to Bde - no change. All indication seem to show enemy is retiring 0330: Bn "Stand to" 0430: Lt-Col Moore round whole front, no enemy visible or evident 0600: Situation report by R/T to BM 0645: Battle Pl under 2/Lt Clarke sent out with orders to report on PELVES 0650: Lt-Col Moore spoke to Brig Dempsey on situation 0700: Rifle coys ordered to send out recce patrols on coy fronts 0720: Brig Dempsey arr. Bn HQs. Decided to follow up enemy withdrawal by forming bridgehead at ROEUX with two Pls B Coy. Sappers sent for 0800: Party of Signallers and Pioneers under Capt Hoare sent down to help in constructing bridge. They were heavily shelled and fired on by MG fire 0815: Message received from Bde and passed to coys, on warning on use of gas by enemy. 0945: 2/Lt Clarke reported that PELVES was recce'd is empty of enemy. Shelling of Bn HQs recommenced. Bde informed that enemy are still in heights across the river, and firing on Bridgehead party with mortar and MG fire 1010: Shelling of Bn HQs, and rly stn behind, train set on fire 1057: Firing on 'B' Coy across river reported Bde 1115: Lt-Col Moore to Bde HQs on the withdrawal of B Coy from over the river 1137: 2/Lt Chivers 2 I/C B Coy arr Bn HQs, having swum over the SCARPE; brought the information that all three Pls of B Coy are over the river, have suffered casualties under MG and Mortar fire, and cannot move forward or to the rear. 1150: Enemy bombers over 1200: Capt Lord Arundell reports posn of C Coy. Enemy planes bomb bn sector 1245: Lt-Col Moore to 8 MG Pl 9/Manch R on its dispositions 1300: Low bombing attack on River Line, for nearly an hour 1408: Cpl Hibben of Carrier Pl reports from B Coy having crossed the river, with information of the Carrier Bren posns over the river 1410: Capt Woolnough spoke Brig Dempsey on Lt-Col Moore's recce 1440: Lt-Col Moore back from recce - reports that very few of B Coy have got back from the river. Bn now practically one coy short. 4 (Carrier) Pl ordered to fill B Coy gap in the river line 1505: C Coy ordered to extend to right to the bridge. Major L.H. Bearne sent with orders to co-ordinate the defence with the Carriers 1512: Line to 'A' Coy. Message from Bde on move of Cameronians 1548: Capt F Read O.C 'B' Coy reports with the remnants of 'B' Coy brought out of action 1610: Art shelling Bn HQs area commences 1630: Art O.P. reports about 60 men approaching river from woods on left 1651: Enemy shelling Bn HQs and garden and level crossing behind BN HQs 1710: Enemy bomber sqdn bombs Bn sector. All men in Bn HQs shelter dispersed in orchard and buildings round HQs 1730: 2nd bombing over, desultory shelling 1800: Shelling increases again over all Sector. A TK tp withdrawn 1830: Message from A Coy that enemy are advancing toward ROEUX Br posn 1840: Attack by dive bombers on stn and ROEUX 1922: Message from A that enemy are up to river line defences 2010: Shelling of Bn HQs area re-commenced 2037: Message from C Coy that enemy have crossed the river by the quarry, and are in strength by ROEUX Bridge. Parties of 'C' Coy retiring up main road 2100: Enemy crossed river by ROEUX Br and driving back carrier Brens from Br Posn. Green Very Lights from quarry posn 2115: Defence of Bn HQs buildings and orchard organised, as enemy have appeared from quarry area, and taken on by Brens from Bn HQs. Some personnel sent to rear behind rly embankment 2120: Capt Comerford Green arr from Bn HQs with written orders from Brig Dempsey to withdraw to line GAURELLE - rly junc 200x N.W of PLOUVAIN 2142: Orders issued to A & D Coys to withdraw to GAURELLE, and sent by D/R 2150: All personnel in Bn HQs area of HQ Coy and survivors of 'B' Coy, commenced withdraw to GAURELLE. All wounded at RAP had to be left to enemy 2210: Rear Parties of Bn HQs withdraw under Capt G.F. Woolnough 2230: Carriers withdraw under 2/Lt Widnell. Enemy follow up. Shelling and MG fire from enemy GAUBELLE 2300: Remaining Bn re-organised at GAURELLE at Bde HQs. 96 men of Bn HQs and HQ Coy. 66 men of B & C Coys, under Capts Woolnough and Hoare, 2/Lts Chivers and Clarke 2310: Art and Bn HQs move by MT to FRESNES. Bn follow by march route covered by MGs of 9 Manch at FRESNES 2350: Bn arrives FRESNES. Recce for defence of WESTERN edge of village commenced Reference to Appendices: App "DD" and "EE" |
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