25th September, 1915 –
1st Battalion – Our
leading line advanced 6.7am and reached the German 3rd line without
great opposition. The attack was evidently a complete surprise.
The Battn, advanced on a frontage of two platoons. D Coy
(Major Bunbury) on the right and B Coy (Capt Brooke) on the left. The advance
was necessarily slow to keep behind the smoke, B & D Companies reached the
German lines and gained touch with 2/Oxford L.I and the 2/HLI on the left and
right respectively. The support Company (C Coy) under Capt Weeding held on
front line of trenches and, about 8.15am two platoons of this Company reinforced
B & D Companies, taking up a supply of Bombs with them. Lieut E.D. Drew
commanded this party.
The Enemy developed a strong bombing attack on both flanks
of the Regt, and our men were unable to reply effectively owing to lack of
bombs. At about 9.45am the two and a half Companies were obliged to fall back
into our own lines, under a very heavy machine gun fire from the right flank.
Casualties :- 2 Lts A.W.A. Bradshaw, C.D.M Fowler and M.I.B
Howell killed & missing, 2 Lt F.G Plant wounded & missing, Major J.K.M
Bunbury, Capt C.B Brooke, Lieut E.D. Drew, Lieut H.P. Foster and 2 Lieut R.C.
Joynson-Hicks wounded.
Other ranks 19 Killed, 21 missing believed killed, 138
wounded, 80 missing and wounded & missing, 7 suffering from gas. 1 died of
wounds. Total 266 other ranks. The remainder of the day was spent in
reorganising the line and in collecting wounded, burying dead etc.
2nd Battalion – At
about 5.50am the intense bombardment against the enemy’s trenches commenced
& lasted until 6.30am at which hour the attack was launched.
The Regt moved up & occupied the sidings & then the
front line in the following order-
“C” Coy Comdg by Capt Philpot.
“B” Coy Comdg by Capt Brocklehurst.
“D” Coy Comdg by Capt R.L.G. Heath.
“A” Coy Comdg by Capt Maddock.
Bn, Granade Coy Comdg by 2/Lt, C. Taylor Jones.
The M.G.Detatchment Comdd by 2/Lt, Pilleau were placed in a
forward position to support the advance & bring long range fire on the
German communication trenches.
The following officers were also present & took part in
the attack –
Lt, Col, M.G. Heath
Comdg.
Capt, F.C. Longbourne A/Adjt.
2Lt, Hopkinson.
2Lt, Sillem.
2Lt, Walter.
2Lt, Chapman.
2Lt, Welch.
2Lt, Brown.
2Lt, Thrupp.
On reaching the front line of our own trenches the Bn,
followed in close support of the 2/R.Warwicks, 1st S.Staffords,
& the R.Welsh Fusiliers – towards the German trenches – C Coy directing
just to the right of FOSSE No8 & crossed over the German first & second
line of trenches without much opposition – The other three Coy encountered
considerable opposition from the German 1st line & while
outflanking & bombing down same, had many casualties, including Capt
Brocklehurst, 2Lt Strode, Brown & Taylor Jones – After making good these
two lines of trenches, these Coys were directed on CITE ST ELIE where they
established themselves in the German trench about 150 yards N of the same by
11am.
Half of C Coy under 2Lt Chapman were directed to take the
QUARRIES which was successfully carried out & 2 Officers & about 40 men
captured in same.
The Coys near CITE ST ELIE entered the North side of the
same at 2pm but had to withdraw while our artillery shelled these houses. The
men had by now got v.much disorganised & mixed up with the 9th
Division who were on our left (N.) –
This line was maintained until dark when a new line was
consolidated about 200 yards in front of (East) the
QUARRIES –
At about 11.15pm owing to a counter attack made by the enemy
a fresh position was taken up in the German Support Line.
The Bn, held about 250 yards of the German support Trench
about 100 yards East of Sap.
Officers 29. Other
Ranks 987.
Casualties
Col, M.G. Heath, missing believed Killed.
Capt R.L.G. Heath, Killed.
2/Lieut, J.B. Walsh, Killed.
2/Lieut, C. Taylor-Jones, Killed.
2/Lieut, A.L. Brown.
Wounded
Capt, T.P. Brocklehurst.
Lieut, J.A.L. Hopkinson.
2/Lieut, L.A. Crook.
2/Lieut, M. Strode.
2/Lieut, J.A. Pilleau.
2/Lieut, R.O.Sillem.
Other Ranks.
24 Killed.
110 Wounded.
127 Missing.
261 Total.
1/6th Battalion
– The smoke curtain that was ordered to commence at 4.50am was postponed at
4.35pm, to 5.56am this did not allow sufficient time for the Companies in the
trenches to stop the lighting of the straw which in one company had commenced
when the order was received. It was put out. At 5am the Artillery commenced a
slow bombardment of the SALIENT – At 5.56am the smoke grenades etc, were
lighted. The effect was very good – in some cases a thick belt of smoke hung
between the trenches for about an hour. The enemy opened a rapid fire on our
parapet while this lasted. The artillery and the trench mortars continued
firing at the hostile trenches intermittently during the day. From 4.30am till
3pm the 7th E. Surrey Regt, were brought up in our trenches. Having
their Hqrs at SURREY FM and a Company in the support trench & the remainder
in the Subsidiary Line – There was no indication that the enemy had evacuated
the SALIENT. During the afternoon the Artillery bombarded the BLACK SANDBAG
REDOUBT and made a small V shaped hole in the parapet about this place. In
order to deceive the enemy & to make him think that we still intended to
attack burst of rifle fire were kept up during the afternoon till dusk &
during the night bombing patrols were sent out to the enemy’s trenches.
Casualties killed other ranks 2, wounded other ranks 6.
2/4th
Battalion – The Commanding Officer Col. F. D. Watney and the Adjutant Maj.
A. F. Tredgold both went to hospital sick.
7th
Battalion – Artillery bombardment continued during the afternoon, period of
rapid fire 4.45 to 5pm. Enemy replied with about 25 field gun shells, very
little damage done.
Orders received that the Battalion would be relieved by 8th
East Surrey on night 26-27th Sept.
8th
Battalion – BETHUNE.
Move out at mid-day to VERMELLES halt 3 hours behind our own
batteries firing all the time. Move on through VERMELLES village at S. &
slowly to trenches W of Le Rutoine farm. C.O. then ordered to prepare for an
attack on the ground S. of Hulluch village - 8th W. Kent's & 9th E. Surreys
in the attack. 8th Queen's in support of W. Kent's and 8th Buffs in support of
the E. Surreys. No written orders and no time for the attack given, For a time
we lose connection with W. Kent's owing to darkness & difficult nature of
the country, which is a maze of trenches. Magnetic Compass bearing of the attack
1120. Are shelled at 11 pm. but no casualties reach trenches from which to
begin the attack at 2 a.m. These are the communication trenches in rear of the
German first line trenches captured in the morning.
Loos battlefield after British advance 1915
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