23rd
April 1917 (St
Georges Day)
At 4.15am the
front line Bns were reported in position. The
150th Bde attack
was to be carried out by the 4th Bn East Yorkshires
on the right and the 4th Bn Green Howards on
the left. Five minutes before Zero hour two tanks
nosed their way to the front and moved slowly
in a north-westerly direction.
At 8am the
Bn moved forward again to the O.G.
1st line (map ref: N.5.b)
and remained there during the day at half an hour
notice. The Bn moved forward at five minutes notice
at 7.45pm to the Brown
Line and for tactical purposes
came under the orders of the GOC 151st
Bde.
During the early morning of the 24th the 151st Bde
relieved the 150th Bde, who moved back into reserve
in the Harp area;
the 4th Bn were attached to the 151st Bde, the remainder
of the 149th being in support.
At
about 11.30am, the enemy was reported
retiring in front of the 30th Divn,
and the GOC of the 30th Divn stated that he was
going to push on to the Blue line.
WANCOURT
The
Bn moved forward from the Brown Line under the
orders of the 151st Bde. ‘B’ Coy were
sent forward to the front line and came under the
orders of the 5th Bn DLI.
They dug and occupied a new trench connected to
the right flank of the 9th Bn DLI. Their covering
party captured four Germans. No contact was made
on the right flank until 3pm at
which time communications were established with
the 5th Bn Border Regt who
were to the rear and slightly right of them. The
5th Bn Borders agreed to come forward at night
and dig and occupy a trench that would be connected
with ‘B’
Coy on the left.
‘A’,
’C’ and ‘D’ Coys and
Bn HQ arrived at
the old British front line north of Wancourt Tower
(dispositions as per sketch) 2.30am.
Rations were brought up to the 5th Bn Border HQ in
the Long Lane and
brought up to ‘A’,
‘D’ and HQ by ‘C’ Coy. There
was insufficient time to deliver rations to ‘B’
Coy before daylight so the men had to consume their
second lot of iron rations. ‘B’ Coy were
subjected to continuous, heavy shellfire and persistent
sniping. 2nd Lt R
Johnson and five men were killed and 16 men were
wounded.
('B'
Coy or the Bn) Lewis Guns identified good targets
at ranges varying round 1000 yards and inflicted
several casualties on the enemy. One Lewis gun
was destroyed by shellfire. The areas occupied
by the remaining Coys were also subjected to considerable
artillery fire, which was especially violent between 2.30am and 7am and
again between 1.30pm and 2pm.
No direct hits were obtained on the trench and
no casualties were sustained in this line during
daylight.
2pm A
part of ten stretcher-bearers and ten men were
sent out to collect wounded still lying on the
battlefield.
The
GOC 151st Bde was instructed to advance at 4pm under
an artillery barrage. But, meanwhile, the 30th
Divn had already reached the Blue line, and was
digging in on it, and the 151st Bde was, therefore,
ordered to conform immediately to the movement
of the 30th Divn.
The 5th Borders Regt swung up their right flank
and obtained touch at about 4pm.
But the 9th DLI, in the centre, with a Coy of the
4th Bn attacked, and had a sharp tussle with the
enemy before occupying the Blue Line. (50th Divn)
3pm ‘B’ Coy
under 9th Bn DLI orders (2.25pm)
went forward one platoon to reconnoitre and capture
an enemy trench 600 yards long astride the railway.
The platoon captured the trench sustaining three
casualties in the process.
Bn
HQ received Operation Orders at 3.30pm stating
that the 15th Divn were
advancing on the left and 9th Bn DLI would support
their advance with rifle, Lewis Gun and MG fire.
Also that they would push forward patrols to reconnoitre
and capture the German trench six hundred yards
long astride the railway. OC 9th Bn DLI detailed ‘B’ Coy
for this work and captured and held the trench
as described above.
At 5.22pm 4th
Bn HQ received a wire from OC 9th Bn DLI stating
that one of the 'B' Coy platoons had just captured
an enemy trench (from map ref: O.20.7.6. to O.20.C.1.9)
and was holding it. Only three casualties were
incurred. Fine piece of work. Lt
Col B.D Gibson and 2nd Lt Burton
went forward to reconnoitre the new positions occupied
by ‘B’
Coy and ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys.
Another
platoon was sent forward under heavy artillery
and machine gun fire to help hold it. Under cover
of darkness one more platoon of ‘B’ Coy
was sent forward to the trench and three strong
points were constructed, two north and one south
of the railway. (50th Divn)
10pm ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys
dug a new support trench between the railway and
the Cojeul River and occupied it. One machine gun
was attached to each Coy. At 10.30pm Bn
HQ moved to a dugout at the old German gun pits
at the north end of old German support line between
Cojeul River and the railway. ‘C’
Summary
compiled from 4th
Bn War Diary & History
of the 50th Division. |
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