| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Ennetieres, France |
| Entry | 0030: 17 Tp Carriers RASC arrived (late having missed the guide at the RV), were met by coy guides and taken to coy billets. Other convoys passing through village, and a Bn of Fr. Tanks which has just arrived in the village, makes embussing and forming up a coln very difficult 0150: Head Bn coln deps on LILLE road. 60 vtm, 10mph, no lights. Cloudy dark night makes driving very difficult. Enemy planes dropping flares at intervals. 0230: Arr at LILLE, guiding very scarce, but no traffic Route - LILLE - LA MADELAINE- WAMBRECHIES - LE QUESNOY- WARNETON - WAMBETE 0300: Med Art, met at QUESNOY, and large numbers empty troop carriers coming out of BELGIUM 0330: Considerable traffic on roads in both directions, and delays due to road blocks 0445: Head coln arrives at WAMBEKE in BELGIUM, on the WARNETON - ST. ELOI road, leading coys debussed, and dispersed in farms in area of a half a square mile, with 'A' Ech Tpt. 'B' Ech T/pt less cooks lorries, and with a certain no of 'A' Ech vehicles, went on to rear in WYTSCHAETE and [no detail in diary] COST TAVERNE 0600: Enemy recce plane overheard, brought down by Light AA fire 0615: Enemy plane chased by British fighter 200x feet over Bn HQs SOUTH 0630: Armd Recce, Car Tps up from SOUTH. Lt-Col Moore on recce to EAST 0800: Shelling by enemy med. art heard to S.E. also continuous gunfire in same direction, but fainter 0830: Breakfasts issued. Enemy bomber raids at 15-20,000 ft - mainly on WYTSCHAETE area 0940: Brig Dempsey to Bn HQs. Lt -Col Moore dep for orders. Recce of Bn Sector by Lt-Col Moore, Capt Hoare (Regtl Sig Off) Capt Comerford Green (Regtl Intell Off) to decide on coy dispositions, also Capt Woolnough (Adjt) and 2/Lt Widnell (Carrier Pl Off) to choose Bn HQs, HQ Coy area, and place for the carriers. Coy comdrs recce their own coy sector. D right, A Centre, B Left: coys move up to sectors with orders to commence digging in under concealment. Various enemy bomber formations over during the morning, taken on by AA fire. Considerable traffic on the Ypres - Lille road, both French and British 1030: Shells falling to right on Bn Sector. Enemy reported by 4 Ox & Bucks [noted as 1st Bn in margin] (Bn on Bde right flank) that enemy are eight miles away, according to armd. recce car reports. Enemy art registering on rods [sic] and cross roads 1130: Own gunners open fire from about WYTSCHAETE on enemy 1300: Commences raining heavily, and becomes drizzle during the afternoon 1500: Traffic on road slackens off. Some empty trucks sent to a rly bridge across the canal to collect wire from an R.E dump 1600: Moved to new Bn HQs in more central position, lines run to all coys 1625: In communication with D Coy by line. Bn OO No.11 issued 1703: In communication with B Coy by line. 7.R. Warwicks marching south through Bn area to take up posn to right of the Bde 1745: In communication with A Coy blue line 1800: Enemy dive bombers and fighters over, engaged by AA fire. Own shelling increases, with guns opening near Bn HQs. O.O. No.13 received from 13 Inf Bde, and 5 Div Admins Instr. stating that all ranks would be fed on half rations for 26, 27,28th May, consuming half the reserve rations each day till fresh rations on the 29th. Owing to the farms being well stocked, especially with fowls, the shortage will not be felt so severely by the Bn. All the local inhabitants and refugees have just left this morning and afternoon. Traffic on road increases this evening 1800: Capt Howard O.C 'B' Coy 9 Manch Regt, (MG) reports, his coy HQs being at Bn HQs MG Pls in fwd Bn areas 1950: Brig Dempsey arr Bn HQs having walked over from Bde. Capt J.W. Peers also arrived from 'B' Echelon 2130: MG fire from 2 Innisks front 2200: Coys asked names recommondations awards MC, DCM, MM 2210: Bn asked send any Offr or NCO home to train new Divs - now available Reference to Appendices: App "FF" and "GG" |
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