| Regiment | 5th Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Wardt, Germany |
| Entry | 0250hrs. Rear Bn HQ at 086456 (VYNEN). Fwd Bn HQ at 102446. 0300hrs. All Coys concentrated in WARDT. 4 SOM LI at attack XANTEN simultaneously. 4 WILTS reserve Bn. 0500hrs. "A" and "C" Coys cross start line. 0530hrs. Arty barrage begins. "C" and "A" Coys now 400 yards SOUTH of start line. 0620hrs. "A" Coy held up by fire from 4 MG 42s in COPSE. Arty and 4.2" Mortar fire brought down on Copse. 0710hrs. "C" Coy held up by MG fire from DYUKE 120436. "A" Coy being heavily mortared. 0730hrs. "A" Coy to be withdrawn to starting posn. COPSE 113430 to be attacked by "C" Coy. 0805hrs. "C" Coy unable to reach COPSE owing to continued very heavy MG and Mortar fire. Coy comd and one Pl cut off from main body of Coy. CO orders Coy to dig in. 0847hrs. "C" Coy to withdraw at 0915 hrs. covered by Arty smoke. "B" and "D" Coys to attack LUTTINGEN after withdrawal of "A" and "C" Coys. "D" Coy have had 18 cas in conc area, from shelling. 1110hrs. "A" and "C" Coys both now little more that Pl str, but more may be able to withdraw. 1145hrs. One Coy 4 WILTS to come under comd Bn, to be used at last reserve. 1145hrs. Remaining tow Pls of "A" Coy located NORTH of COPSE 113430, in close contact with enemy. No withdrawing. 1220hrs. Pl of "C" Coy now extricated, and has returned to original posn. "H" for attack by "B" and "D" Coys 1130. 1225hrs. Coy of 4 WILTS (under comd Bn) arrives and is placed in Rear Bn HQ area. 1230hrs. Second Pl of "C" Coy no extricated. Withdrawn complete. One Offr and thirty ORs taken PW to date. 1330hrs. "B" and "D" Coys across start line. Object - to clear WOOD 113430 and NORTH end of LUTTINGEN. 4 WILTS to clear remainder of village later - advancing from SOUTH. 1410hrs. Coys now 900 yards part Start Line. 1445hrs. "B" Coy rear Pl in posn. Two fwd Pls pushing fwd to WOOD. Four MGs still firing from Wood, despite continued "stonking" by Arty and 4.2in Mortars. 1530hrs. Left hand Pl "B" Coy reached 117431. 1610hrs. 4 WILTS Coy (under comd Bn) pass back to comd 4 WILTS. 1740hrs. "B" Coy still moving fwd towards COPSE. Enemy A.Tk gun in COPSE KOd. 1845hrs. "B" Coy in trenches 50 yards EAST of COPSE. Objective shelled )not observed by FOO). "B" Coy called off arty fire and rushed WOOD. Attack successful. "B" Coy est with one Pl in WOOD, Two Pls 117432. 1845hrs. "D" Coy in posn on left of "B" in NORTH end of LUTTINGEN. Bde orders CO to patrol fwd to SOUTH. 4 WILTS to clear remainder LUTTINGEN starting 6000 hrs. |
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