| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, GIVENCHY |
| Entry | Orders were received for the Battn to assault and take the German trenches (see attached order) Captain C.G.HILL DSO Commanding the Battn made the following dispositions:- "D" Company was detailed to deliver the first assault, objective German trenches near C1.D1 making good the trench C2.D2 (see sketch) . "D" Company at 8am was brought up and occupied Village Trench, its left resting on OBSERVATION HOUSE, and the assault was to be launched from the forward trench near what is known as the SHRINE. O.C. "D" Coy Capt M.C.RADFORD. "C" Company was in immediate support in Village Trench and the communicating trenches leading into it. O.C. "C" Coy 2/Lieut W.G. Cox. "B" Company was in local reserve distributed in trenches near FRENCH FARM. O.C. "B" Coy Capt G. Belcher. "A" Company in reserve in and near GIVENCHY DUGOUTS. O.C. "A" Coy Lieut G.H. Woods. Owing to fog the artillery did not start the bombardment until 9am. This bombardment was continued for 2 hours and at 11.10am the 47th Battery reported that they had made a gap in the German wire. It was found on investigation that this gap was only 5 yards in length, and that some damage had been done to our forward trench from which the assault was to be made. It was therefore decided to stop the artillery bombardment and repair the damaged trench. Capt C.G. Hill reported that unless more of the wire in front of the German trenches was demolished, the assault might not be successful. Brigadier Gen R Fanshawe Commanding the 6th Infantry Brigade came up to the trenches and personally inspected the gap which had been made by our artillery. He decided that it was not sufficiently big, and ordered the assault not to take place. The Battn was then withdrawn to the positions it occupied overnight, and the trenches relieved by the IRISH GUARDS. Orders were received about 6pm that our brigade would be withdrawn, and relieved by the 4th Guards Brigade. This was done and the Battn was ordered into billets at BETHUNE and went into MONTMORENCY BARRACKS. 16th Reinforcement. 2/Lieut A.J. Bowles and 55 other ranks. |
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