In the Field 1918, Nov 1st:  - Battalion ordered to attack and retake the village of Preseau and the high ground to N&NE

 

In the Field 1918, Nov 2nd: - The Bn attack was made on a three Coy front B Coy on the right, C Coy, D Coy on the left. A Coy in central support. Bn HQ's were established in the Chateau at Atres. Zero hour was at 5.30am and the attack went forward under a shrapnel barrage. B Coy met first enemy opposition in sunken road SE of the village (L.26.a.2.7) where they captured heavy and light machine guns & one field gun behind ? at L.20.a.1.9. In sunken road L.30.a.4.8 to L.13.d.8.5 they met with further opposition and captured further heavy & light machine guns and one tank at L.20.a.3.8. Up to this point they had killed about 20 of the enemy and had captured 5 off and about 140 O.R. Coy Coy met with no determined oppostion in the village itself though isolated snipers fired from houses and cause some casualties. I such cases they were killed. 60 prisoners were taken by this Coy by the time they reached the line of the road L.15.a.8.5 to L.13.b.8.4. D Coy came under fire on road L.13.b.3.4 to L.13.a.3.6 and pushing forward they suffered many casualties. They cleared the Northern end of the village killing several of the enemy and capturing 7 Off and 180 OR.

 

The further advance of the Bn was made in face of heavy M.G fire from organised trench systems running right across the general line L.15.a.3.5 to L.8.2.6 and at L.14.d where one field gun was captured and from sunken road in L.14.a. Two platoons were sent from A Coy to assist B&D Company to fiill the gap made by the failure of the left attacking battalion to advance beyond the sunken road in L.7.c and the gap between the right of the Battalion and the right 61 Div Bde remaining stationary at St. Aubert and De Wult. The Battalion suffered many casualties in this portion of the advance 2/Lt D C Cargil and 25 O.R being killed.

 

It was however to go beyond the objective and clear the high ground which was crowded with heavy and light machine guns, 2 field guns firing from the copse at L.8.a.8.1 and several trench mortars at L.8.d.9.0. The enemy positions were all carried several machine gunners being bayonetted and 15 Off and 340 OR being taken prisoners. There were about 20 heavy machine guns in the captured positions, trench mortars and a very large number of light machine guns. Orders having been received to consolidate the Blue Line as a main line of resistance and warning having been received of large concentrations of the enemy the Bn was withdrawn and connection obtained with right & left Bn. B Coy catured a 2nd second tank at L.20.a.7.8. Casualties 26 killed [including Sydney] and 47 wounded. END

 

Please note - There are a lot of Map Position points in the transcriptions so those wanting to see exact positions please go to https://www.tmapper.com/ and in front of the map points enter 51a. for instance 51a.L.13.b.3.4 is a point in the east of Preseau. It is important to note how the letters and digits are seperated by dots when inputting the information.