May 27th - am
May 27th 1918: The two Companies A & C 22nd Durham L.I were manning the defences of Gernicourt as per detailed defence scheme. At 1am the enemy opened a very heavy bombardment on Gernicourt and its defences with HE and Gas shells. The bombardment continued until about 5am when it somewhat slackened. Nos 1 & 2 platoons of A Coy who were holding the Bois de Pies and NE front of Bois de Geais had practically all become casualties by 4am and it was impossible at any time after the commencement of the bombardment to get messages through by runners, as these sent and because casualties. 2/Lt Hickman MC & 2/Lt Willmer MC commanding these two platoons were both wounded and evacuated.
At 4.30am No 3 Platoon of A Coy was moved into the Boyan St. Rigobert towards the Bois de Geais. Half No 4 platoon A Coy was in trench running parallel with Ainse Canal at foot of Chapelle St. Rigbert and half platoon in trench immediately in front of P.C. Corneille facing the Canal. No information could be got as to the situation but at 9am information came to the effect that the enemy were through on the Coy right and at about this time a small party of the enemy approached P.C. Corneille from the Bois be Pies with bombs but were driven off and a small party of A Coy held the trench which was blocked.
At 9.10am the enemy were crossing the Aisne canal in front of P.C. Corneille and were heavily engaged with M.G and Rifle fire, one of our M.G’s was placed on top of P.C. Corneille but all the crew became casualties and the M.G was put out of action. Many of the enemy were seen to fall and it is believed we inflicted heavy casualties on him by Rifle & M.G fire.
At 9.30am Lieut Highmore MC reported the enemy entering Gernicourt and that most of our men holding the trench running parallel to the canal had become casualties. At 9.45am the enemy were around both flanks of the Coy and the strength of the Coy at this time was about 40 men, Major Hall DSO then gave orders to withdraw S of Gernicourt whilst he took a small party of men towards the Bois de Geais. Major Hall’s order was carried out but this was the last seen of Major Hall and his party including Capt Atkinson the Adjutant. They must have run into the enemy and been taken prisoners.
May 27th - pm
The remainder of the Coy under Capt Elliff & Lieut Highmoor MC eventually withdrew and reached the Bois de Poupeaux and at about 12 mid-day got into touch with the 1st Wiltshire Regt in Bois Grand Bellay. C Coy who held a position on the right of A Coy held out until they found the enemy coming up in the rear of them through the Bois de Geais and the remainder of C Coy under Capt. Heighway & Lt Grimshawe & 2/Lt Vincent made their way along the St. Denis trench and took up a position to the S of Bouffignereux, this Coy then numbers about 56 men.
The enemy was held in front of Bouffignereux until almost 4.30pm and then as he taken Roucy and the right flank had given way, a retirement was ordered to the high ground above Guyencourt. Here remnants of the 24th Infantry Brigade were found and also remnants from a Bde of the 25th Division. A further retirement was then found necessary as the enemy had occupied some high wooded ground W of Guyencourt and dominating Guyencourt. Eventually a line was reconnoitred on the high ground covering Montigny and S of Bouvancourt. This line was consolidated about 8.30pm and patrols were sent out during the night and two prisoners were captured, one strong enemy patrol of about 30 men was encountered. All our patrols returned without casualties.
28th May
28th May 1918: This line was held until about 7am when a retirement was ordered, during which retirement Lieut Grimshawe was badly wounded and he could not be got away & 2/Lt Sproat was also wounded and evacuated. At about 9am the town of Jonchery was reached and a line taken up on the S side of the river under orders of the G.O.C 23rd Inf Bde.
By this time elements of the Battalion were scattered amongst different units & Brigades & one party under Lt Howey and Lt Minor remained under the orders of G.O.C 23rd Inf Bde.
In the meantime about 100 men were found in Savigny having had orders to report the previous night to Div HQ at Montigny and arriving there found Div HQ had moved, this party then moved back to Romigny to the transport lines and at 8.15pm Major Mitchell DSO had received orders from IX Corps to collect all details and stragglers and return to Lhery
