Assembly

2. MOVEMENT TO ASSEMBLY POSITION

The battalion moved from Velu Wood at 7.30pm on the night 11/12^th September to assembly position in Shropshire trench and Shropshire support. This was carried out without a hitch and Companies well in position by11.30pm. Battalion headquarters was established at the junction of Hubert Avenue with Shropshire Trench.

Enemy artillery activity was nil until about 3-30am on the 14^th when Cheetham Trench, Hubert Avenue, Shropshire Trench & Shropshire Support were subjected to heavy shelling.

Attack

3. ATTACK

(a) the attack was launched at 5.25am 12^th September i.e. Zero plus 5. Each company had a specified and clear objective as mentioned below:-

C Company under the command of Captain T.A.M. Oliphant, M.C. On the right of the two leading companies, was given the task of clearing and consolidating the triangle in the southwest corner of the village formed by Knat Avenue and Mile End Road.

B company under the command of Lieut E.S. French (killed during the advance) was allotted Putney Ave from K.21.d.3.0 to K.22.c.2.2 with orders to push on to trench from K.22.c.0.4 to K.22.c.9.5 (Railway Line) as soon as the barrage, which was resting on that line 50 minutes, permitted. B Companies position between K.21.d.3.0 and K.22.c.0.4 was to be occupied by a company of 2/4^th Bn K.O.Y.L.I. Who were moving up in close support under Lieut Swanson of that battalion.

D Company under the command of Lieut C.H. Wilson moved in rear of C Company and were allotted the quadrangle in the village formed by Railway trench – Mile End Road and a line drawn across village square northwest to where London trench cut the railway.

A Company under the command of 2/Lt (A/Capt) W. Crow moving in rear of B Company what's to make good the triangle formed by the railway through k.27.b and K.22.s) and a line drawn across village square northwest to where London trench cuts railway.

(b) B company were ordered to push on whatever happened so that if C Company experienced any difficulty the fact of B Company coming round flank martyr cyst considerably.

D Company were ordered to go through C Company if possible, but if not to work round C Company’s left flank.

A Company in a like manner to B we are ordered to keep going following B Company

(c) for the purposes of this narrative 4 objectives must be considered that of C D A & B Company’s in that order. No 1, 2 & 3 were taken without great loss due to the gallantry of Sergeant Calvert of C Company who rushed forward and put two machine guns and their crews out of action, single handed in Boggots Hole. Early on in the advance B Company lost all of its officers and became somewhat disorganised, Capt Crow realising this after taking his objective pushed on and made good the objectives of B. All objectives were reported taken with under 100 casualties. Consolidation what's carried on until the afternoon of the 12^th.

Re-Organising

4. RE-ORGANISING THE DEFENCE

Orders were received from the 187th Infantry Brigade that I reorganisation of our front was necessary and the 5th Bn K.O.Y.L.I. So we had to take up a defensive position east of the village of Havrincourt between boundaries of:-

                On the North:- Railway (excl) at K.22.c.9.4
                On the South:- Road (incl) running E & W through K.28.c. & d

These orders were carried out on the disposition from right to left or South to north was C Company, B Company, A Company with D Company in support in Mile End Road. B Company of the 2/4^th Bn Y & L Regt moved into support in Knat Avenue and the 2/4^th Bn K.O.Y.L.I. took over the defence of the North End of the village to K.22.c.9.4 (railway incl).

Counter Attack

5. COUNTER ATTACK

The enemy counter attacked in force at about 6.30pm 12^th September onto the eastern edge of the village, his efforts met with no success and his attack was driven off with considerable loss to him.

Between 4 and 7 on the morning of the 13th the enemy put down a heavy bombardment on the village and West of it. At about 8am troops were seen to be falling back on to the South of the village and for a short period the situation in the village was very obscure. However by collecting available troops including two companies of the Devons we recounted through the village and how align on the eastern edge was restored by 11.30am 13^th.

Casualties

11. CASUALTIES (6 to 10 took place after Walter was killed).

Officers

Killed 1
Wounded 3 Other Ranks

Killed 17
Wounded 159
Missing 11