War Diary 22nd March
Barastre - 22.3.18 – 8.50am: Battn HQ’s moved to J.26.b.1.9 in sunken road near HQ 154th Infantry Brigade
9.00am Ground close in front and behind of line held by Battalion was heavily shelled.
11.30am: D Coy reported that 9/R.W.F. had left the trench on his right and that he was in touch with 7/A & S H [Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders] on that flank.
1.15pm: Shelling as at 9am; sunken road by Bn HQ was heavily shelled.
2.35pm: Battn observers and D Coy reported that enemy were attacking 3rd system from Louveval and Coupez Copse (near Doignes)
7.40pm: Our line was prolonged to the left by 1 platoon 5/Seaforths & 1 Coy A & SH
War Diary 23rd March 2am to 11.45am
Barastre - 23.3.13 – 3am: HQ’s 154th Infantry Brigade moved back with the expressed intention of going to Fremicourt. As the roadway in J.26.b had been heavily shelled throughout the day making if difficult for runners to pass, Battn HQ moved further south along the road to the cutting in J.26.d. (From this time no further communication was ever received from the 154th Infantry Brigade)
7.30am: Battn observers reported enemy massing W of Doignies.
8am: An artillery Officer of the 71st Field Battery of 2nd Division reported to O.C 10/R War R that the artillery-Brigade to which his battery belonged were shortly coming into action on the northern slope of ridge to the S of Bn HQ. The situation as far as was known was explained to this officer. About 1½ later this officer again reported to O.C. 10/R War R with the information that the guns were withdrawing ; the CO 10/R War R protested on the grounds that artillery assistance was required and that the battalion had no intention of evacuating their positions. Apparently these guns fire very little if at all.
9.20am: D Coy reported enemy cavalry on high ground in J.2.d. Troops of 51st Division on our left seen withdrawing to SW. Part of C Coy formed a defensive flank on left of Battalion.
9.25am: Battery at J.26.d.2.0 withdrew
9.55am: 800 to 900 Germans debouched from S and E of Beaumetz
10.45am: OC 8/Glouc Regt reported enemy had broken through centre of Beaumetz and that he had fallen back to railway. From there the 8/Gloucester’s apparently withdrew either through or to the W of Velu Wood.
10.50am: OC 10/Worcs reported he had withdrawn to light railway J.25.b & d. C Coy reported situation desperate on our left flank owing to withdrawal of all troops.
10.55am: O.C 10/R War R went over to railway E of Velu Wood to see O.C. 10/Worcs R who agreed if he was forced to withdraw, to do so along E side of Velu Wood.
11.40am: O.C. D Coy reported he was holding on all right and that this right flank stilled seemed secure and that the line on his right was occupied by a company of the 4/Seaforths
11.45am: O.C. Worcs reported that his Battalion was being forced back and that the enemy were through La Bucgquiere.
War Dairy 23 March 11.45am to end
11.45am to 12.30pm: Lt Oakley & 2nd Lt Davies were ordered to form a prolongation of defensive flank along the railway on the east side of Velu Wood with Battn HQ and any other men available. Some stragglers of 51st Div were collected to hold bank about J.26.c.7.0.
Major Harcourt of 51st M.G. Battn and Capt Know-Little of 19th M.G. Battn reported to Battn HQ for instructions and were told that the Battn was going to hold on, whereupon they returned to their guns in J.26.central. Major Harcourt and his men appeared to be the only troops of the 51st Division in this neighbourhood who stood fast.
A rallying pointed was established in sunken road about J.32.d.1.9. Velu Wood was occupied by the enemy. OC D Coy reported that the troops on his right were withdrawing.
12.30pm to 1.30pm: Battn was driven back to the road running E & W through J.26 where another stand was made. Capt Gribble D Coy held to his original position and was last seen surrounded by Germans at a few yards distance. [He survived but was taken prisoner and died on 25 Nov 1918 in Germany]. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy by rifle and M.G. fire as they came over the crest. Capt. Caley, C Coy, was wounded but remained in action.
In front the enemy failed for a time to make any further progress but the pressure on our left flank from Velu Wood was constantly. The valley to the East of in J.32.a & b was protected by the high railway embankment, but the enemy sited a M.G. or two to fire eastward through the tressle bridge in J.32.a. Enemy M.G. fire from near the Crucifix in J.25.d was also very troublesome. Two or three attempts by the enemy to debauch eastwards from the wood were frustrated by our left flank troops.
2.50pm: Telephonic communication was obtained with the O.C 2/Ox & Bucks LI of 2nd Division in Bertincourt who appeared to have explicit instructions that the evacuation of the Beaumetz – Hermies Ridge was by order and that the troops holding Bertincourt were to become the front line troops at 3pm.
3.00pm. The Battn and machine gunners were ordered by OC 10/R War R to withdraw to embankment in P.2.b and then round the E & S sides of Bertincourt. Subsequently orders were received from 5th Infantry Brigade to march to Bancourt which was reached about 7pm.
Casualties [between 21 and 23rd] were:
Officers killed: 2nd Lt’s R.H. Burnmingham & E.T. Wilson
Officers Wounded: 2nd Lt’s G. Thompson; J.W. Wathes; G.C. Stubbs; J.G. Mander; A.C. Seager; A.J. Moyes and J. Nourse. Captain’s H.K. Caley & H.A. Hewett
Officers wounded & Missing: 2nd Lt’s H.L. Keene & 2nd Lt J.B. Morrall.
Officers Missed believed Prisoner: Capt J.R. Gribble
Other Ranks: Killed 33, Wounded 191 and missing 83.
