| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Oosttaverne, Belgium |
| Entry | Enemy shelling road in Bn HQs area, and CR fire on batteries behind 0300: Bn Stands To. Belgians passing up road from south 0400: Bn Stands down 0330: Shelling of x roads at OOSTTAVERNE and reverse slope of hill 0500: Shelling ceases. Thick ground mist this morning 0430: 4 Men of Battle Pl killed by shell burst in their shelter trench 0510: Strengthening of BN HQs commenced 0700: Bren or Vickers fire from left Bde front. Enemy plane over 0800: Heavy shelling of farms all along fwd Bns 0900: Enemy planes over 0930: Enemy shelling x roads OOSTTAVERNE with med art 0935: Enemy planes over. Carrier Pl to stand by at Brig Dempsey [sic] orders 1000: Informed that enemy have broken through on Cameronians front, 1015 Confirmed that enemy have broken through on Cameronians front 1023: Message from Adjt 2 Innisks that enemy have broken through. Patrols sent out to fwd Bns from A & B coys, and Battle Pl sent out to obtain information 1115: Message from A & B Coys giving the latest situation obtained from HQs, Cameronians and Innisks - both units are holding 1130: Lull in shelling, and several vehicles in Bn HQs area sent to rear 1140: B & A Coys report men and vehicles withdrawing up valley on 'A' left and 'B' front 1155: D Coy reports that Coy Cameronians is withdrawing through them, who say that two coys of Cams have been wiped out 1205: A Coy reports A TK Bty men passing through without equipment or arms, stating that their guns were destroyed 1215: Enemy surprise 'D' Coy HQs. Enemy advancing on Bn right flank 1217: D/R sent for 2/Lt Widnell and Carriers from left flank to proceed to right of D Coy 1230: Cameronians withdrawn, general line follows Bn posn on right 1300: Major BARCLAY 2 I/C Cameronians in Bn HQs with details of withdrawal of flanks of Bde to a new line, 2 Wilts forming the centre 1315: Lt-Col Moore ordered by Bde by R/T NOT to follow the new plan, but to adhere to present positions. General position on Cameronians front is better than is supposed, and they are holding a line in front of their Bn HQs 1400: Shelling of front in general commences again. 1400: All quiet from coys 1430: Reported to Brig Dempsey no change in situation on Bn front 1440: A Coy reports that tps are withdrawing to new posn between A & B Coy 1515: Shelling recommences on Bn front and on right flank. SA fire and LA fire to front 1530: A Coy reports preparations for an attack observed in front of them 1550: B Coy reports that enemy are 1000x in front of them crossing the canal 1600: Shelling increases Bn HQs area 1630: B Coy reports that the left hand Pl has been shelled out and that the enemy are in front of them. The Innisks appear to be behind them instead of on their left flank. A Coy reports that the enemy have approached to within a few hundred yards of their position 1640: This message reported to Brigade Comdr 1640: Carrier Section sent to B Coy 1700: Carrier Section sent to A Coy, and another to B, but took some time getting to coys. Automatic and rifle fire from A Coy front, 2/Cameronians returns on right beyond 'D' Coy 1800: Enemy planes over, and shelling of X roads 1830: Enemy planes over again. 2/Cameronians move forward on right 1852: Enemy planes over, A Coy reports HQs shelled and set on fire, and enemy close up 1930: 'A' Coy change HQs to nearer 'B' Coy 2000: HQ Coy reports A Coy falling back through them. Men of 'A' Coy reached Bn HQs, and sent back by C.O. 2100: Informed by Brigade that Carriers as a new formation would come up to hold the main road running behind our FDLs, and that the Bde were to hang in at all costs 2130: Bn line adjusted and organised to defend the open ridge in front of Bn HQs, with all carrier sections forming the backbone of the defence. Enemy bombed HQ Coy Farm with mortar fire. Trouble with snipers in 'D' Coy area. 'D' Coy withdrew to hill ½ mile in rear, but on orders advance and take up their former positions 2200: Enemy light signals, coloured and white, and planes, on right front of Bn 2230: Large party Cameronians, under Major Barclay, marched NORTH along main road from south of 'D' Coy to take up posn on OOSTTAVERNE X rds |
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