The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 15th July 1916

15^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – BAZENTIN.

About 3.0 am 15^th it was found necessary to throw back a defensive flank on the right of A Coy owing to enfilade fire from the enemy in HIGH WOOD down a sunken road the Battn was holding – An old German trench was converted into flank defence and Major Parnell reported position to the Bde.

About 7.0 am orders were received that the Battalion was to attack the trench running West from High Wood known as German SWITCH – The H.L.I. were to come up on the right and the 1^st Middlesex Regt of 98^th Bde were to attack on the left – No definitive orders received, so company commanders could not be given much information except that the left would be 200 yards East of the Cross Tracks at (X) and that the frontage would be 500 yards the direction being practically N orders were given for A B & C Coys to form the firing line with D Coy in support – The front companies were to advance in two waves of 2 platoons each with 2^nd wave at 100 yards distance, companies to be in position by 8.0 am – Bombardment  was to start at 8.30 am and to last for half an hour. At 8.55 am the first wave was to advance, the distance to the German trench being about 900 yards – While companies were getting into position, the enemy opened heavy enfilade fire with rifles M.G’s & shrapnel causing several casualties, Capt Gurrey being wounded - Right company commander asked for bombardment of NW corner of HIGH WOOD, but few shells were sent there.

WEST OF HIGH WOOD.

8.55 am Front Wave started and almost at once came under fire from both flanks and the front and second wave came under similar conditions and 2^nd Lieut Richards & many men were hit – Line pushed on till within about 200 yards of the German trench when they came under very heavy fire and started to come back – At this stage while the men were being rallied Major Parnell came up on the left, with Capt & Adjt Carslake and in the most gallant way started to lead forward the attack, but was almost immediately hit and Killed & Capt Carslake soon afterwards was wounded and 2^nd Lieut Crichton Killed –

The enemy’s wire had not been cut by the artillery and when about 100 yards from it the line halted in the long grass and started to dig in – 2 platoons from the support company were now sent forward but did not reach the firing line apparently turning off to the left.

9.25 At 9.25 Capt Foster A Coy sent back a message that he had reached a point about 100x from enemy’s trench, that wire was not cut & H.L.I. had not come up, but message did not reach the support line.

10.5 am Lieut Thrupp on left sent back that he was held up by wire & asking for bombardment to be resumed & for reinforcements. Message got thro’ & bombardment started about 12 noon but all shells were short, some pitching behind our own line.

12.30 pm No reinforcements coming up officers remaining held a conference and decided to withdraw as there was considerable danger of their being cut off from the right. Retirement was carried out in small parties to original position on road.

This position was heavily shelled during the remainder of the afternoon and evening and during the night of 15^th – 16^th – During the night strong patrols were sent out to get information & bring in the wounded.

WEST OF HIGH WOOD.

The casualties this day were 5 officers killed 11 officers wounded Total 16.

Other ranks 28 killed 52 missing 207 wounded – Total 287.

Officers Killed.

Major Parnell.

Capt Slatter.

2^nd Lieut Crichton, Rouquette & Bower.

Wounded – Capt Gurrey,

2^nd Lieut Richards, Burrell, Harland, Bottomley, Robinson, Farwell, Fairlie, & Foly,

Capt & Adjt Carslake and Lieut Brown (Signalling Off).

The casualties amongst N.C.O’s was very heavy 20 Sergeants and 58 Other N.C.O’s being amongst the casualties.

2nd Battalion – 8 am. The enemy appeared to be well established on the N & N.E. corner of HIGH WOOD.

8.30 am After a short bombardment of our artillery the K.R.R’s (33^rd Div) attempted to clear this point of the wood; they were held up by m.g. fire & the attack did not develop.

Later in the day a Bn of Worchester’s attacked with the same result.

4.45 pm Our own artillery in shelling N. Portion of HIGH WOOD also shelled D & C Coys, who never the less  continued to hold their original objective along N.E. Edge of Wood.

6 pm In the evening A & B Coys working along S. side in HIGH WOOD together with other units  91^st Inf Bde attempted to drive enemy out of North end of wood. They lost heavily from artillery & m.g. fire & after advancing a short distance, withdrew to East & S side of wood.

A & B Coys owing to artillery fire were now ordered to dig themselves in about 50x S of & opposite the S, edge of HIGH WOOD.

8 pm A B Coys moved forward & dug in to form a defensive flank facing N.N.W. along track S.4.c.2.5. – S.4.c.6.7. (track running N.W. & S.E. through centre of wood).

7 pm Advanced Bn Hd Qrs moved to shell hole at S.10.a.7.9. During night 14/15^th an advanced signal station was established at S.E. corner of wood; owing to artillery fire the lines were nearly always broken & great difficulty was found in keeping the communications open.

11 pm Rations & water also 19 boxes of S.A.A. delivered to Coys in High Wood.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Medical. Two more men of D Coy were admitted to hospital with cholera & accordingly the S.M.O. ordered the whole of D.Coy to be moved out to a special camp by No 6 Post.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & continued training.

7^th Battalion – Enemy fired a few rounds into outskirts of BRAY doing no damage to Battn.

8^th Battalion – The General Officer Commanding in Chief has, under authority granted by His Majesty the King, made the following awards :- 

The Military Cross – 2/Lt D.W. Lane-Nichols, 2/Lt F.D. Reynolds.

The Military Medal – 2400 Sgt Bernard. F, A Coy.

9997 Sgt Kerslake. W, C Coy.

6486 Pte Baker. G.W, B Coy.

5026 Pte Lee. J, C coy.

These awards were given in connection with the successful raid made by Bn, on the German trenches on the night 28^th/29^th June.

The Bn found a carrying party of 240 other ranks to carry 78 gas cylinders from RATION FARM T.12.a.6.1. to trenches 139 & 140.

10^th Battalion – Normal. Killed No G/9752 Pte C.J. Dumbleton; Wounded G/11236 Pte R.F. Goldsack; G/10073 Pte C.A. Andrews.

11^th Battalion –