| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Oosttaverne, Belgium |
| Entry | 0200: Cook's lorry sent for to come up to ENAR wood in rear. Fairly quiet during early hours of morning, situation reports to Bde 0630: Two messages from Bde HQs, informing of arrival Bn Sherwood Foresters on Bde right, and an adjustment of the Bde front, with theBn now on the right. One carrier section withdrawn from 'A' Coy and sent to right. MG fire on front 0700: Cooks lorry up, and utilized to convey 9 wounded to the rear. Shelling increases. 'A' Coy take over buildings fwd of rd on Bn left 0915: Enemy recce and Light bomber planes over 1000: MG and shelling increases on Bn front. FDLs shelled. FOO 9 Fd Regt reports 1015: Major Walker deps on recce of right flank to find unit on right 1030: Carrier sent out by Padre 2 Cams to bring in wounded officer 1120: Major [no name in diary] O.C 1/Sherwood Foresters arrives, his Bn taking up posn on and prolonging our right 1150: B Coy report carrier returned without officer 1200: Brig Dempsey arrives Bn HQs for some minutes 1250: Lt (QM) Billings arrives Bn HQs on question ration supply and petrol and amm 1400: Heavier shelling of 'A' Coy on Bn left, following by MG fire close up on the ridge. Effective fire produced by 9 Fd Regt R.A 1430: 2/Lt Early O.C 'A' Coy reports that a gap exists between his left hand post and the right of the Cameronians, that cannot be completely covered with fire. This was reported to Brigade, and the gap filled by a bren gun. 2/Cameronians report that the situation on their front is satisfactory 1500: Capt J.W. Peers brings up petrol, amm and food for the Bn 1515: A move is made to rear Bn HQs at the R.A.P Farm, signals, police, intelligence and W/T Set and Officers Mess. Shelling by 9 Fd Regt of ridge crown in front of 'A' centre post where enemy are reported to be. Capt Read and 2/Lt Chivers come up from 'B' Ech, and Capt Read is put in comd of 'A' & 'B' Coys. 2/Lt Chivers sent to HQ Coy to command all detachments in the farm. 2/Lt Sarne also posted to HQ Coy 1540: Art fire on ground in front of A Coy posts is too close to our fwd tps, and a message sent to 9 Fd Regt HQ Bde to put the fire further over (map ref sheet 52 610 547 1547: Firing - SA and MG opens up on Bn left flank. C.O dep from Adv HQs to visit Capt Read 1610: Art fire falling short ceases 1700: Move to new HQs completed 1730: D Coy HQs shelled out of farm, takes up new posn 200x to south 1810: Liaison officers from 1 Foresters reported on cooperation between D Coy and left coy 1 Foresters 1830: Major Walker dep for Bde HQs on request for senior liaison offr from each Bn 2030: Major Walker returns with orders for a withdrawal from present posn, and a move northwards to defend the FURNES canal at POLLINCHOVE. Message order sent to all coys 2100: All coys collected near X roads at OOSTTAVERNE, on road to SOUTH, with one 8cwt truck and 2 cooks lorries carrying wounded. Rear parties withdraw from centres without disturbance from the enemy 2150: Bn marches WEST to WYTSCHAETE after the Cameronians, Foresters in rear 2200: Withdrawal is effected without loss. Enemy Very lights seen 15 min after departure 2230: Bn arrives WYTSCHAETE. Owing to confusion and inacurate marking of roads on maps, the wrong exit road was taken, and the column had to retrace its steps. Both columns of MT became jammed and two carriers were abandoned in a ditch, not being recoverable in time. Enemy shelled this road accurately during the extraction. No casualties suffered. Carriers caught up with Bn |
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