11th April

11^th April 1918

At 7.30am orders were received to hold a defensive position from Q.23 central to Q.29 central. Battalion was in position at 8.15am with A Coy on left, C Coy centre, D Coy right and B Coy in reserve about Q.29.c.3.7. A number of Machine Guns of the 39^th Battn M.G.C moved forward with the Battalion and took up a position 200-300 yards in advance of positions held by Battn. Patrols were pushed forward and detachments of infantry went forward to support the M.G’s.

At 11.30am orders were received to readjust the line with our left at Q.11.d.2.0 and our right on the present right of A Coy Q.29.central. Orders were issued for Reserve Coy to move at once with its left at Q.11.d.0.8 and right on the ditch at Q.23.b.2.9 and for D Coy to move into gap between B & A Coys and for C Coy to move into reserve near Q.22.b & d central.

There were a certain number of reorganised troops of 51^st Div holding a line parallel with out new line and with a switch running SE towards Q.23.b.7.2.

At 6pm 11^th April dispositions were as shown on attached map A. Touch was lost with 5^th D.C.L.I during afternoon and a unit of troops from 51^st Div came in on our left.

12th - 14th April

12th/13^th April 1918

At about 12 midnight touch was lost with units on our left. 153^rd Brigade were informed and at once issued orders to move up a detachment of 100-150 men. Pending their arrival a strong patrol was moved into this gap from Reserve Coy and later into outskirts of Paradis. They reported no sign of Enemy.

Disposition about 2am on 12^th April were as shown on Map B. Patrols were out on Battalion front but did not return. About 6am on 12^th I drew attention of 153^rd Brigade to the extended front held by the Battalion and the weakness of the defensive dispositions of the right flank.

At about 5am Artillery fire noticeably increased in the south. 5.15 – 5.20: Capt. B.K. Parsons reported our troops retired past Battn HQ. I went to investigate and found a large number of going backwards, did my best to stem the retreat, and succeeded in throwing a few into trenches with some men of C Coy. Enemy Very lights were falling between HQ and the neared buildings of Pacaut and and were some 500yds distant on the left.

[NB: A corner of the bottom of the following page is torn off and words are missing as a result. The start and end of the missing words are shown with …. ]

Machine Gun fire opened from the general direction of Pacaut well in enfilade and sweeping our men retiring. I went into HQ…. burned my maps and papers and attempted to send warning …. 153^rd Brigade but found lines gone. Enemy fire and com…. House from both flanks. I went out again and found….disappeared. This was about 5.35am. Enemy infantry…. buildings on my return. With the Adjutant and Captain….decided to withdraw. Soon after this we came up….D Coy with Lt. V.H. Tripp, 2/Lt C.C. Harper and 2/….2/Lt. F.B. Gore. Enemy were at this time firing li….outskirts of La Pierre au Beure and rifle and M.G….from that direction.

An attempt was made to effect an orderly withdrawal to railway line which runs about Q.15 central in a N.E. direction. A party under 2/Lt C.C. Harper and 2/Lt F.B. Gore was sent to hold the buildings at Q.21.a.0.6 and a party under 2/Lt F.G. Lee to line Railway embankment about 15 central to cover withdrawal of main body (some 50 men in all) to line of railway and there to farm buildings and orchard Q.14.d.8.3. Here we found some forward posts of 2/7^th Warwicks. Some stragglers of the Royal Scots and 1 M.G. were found about Q.15.c.5.6. At this time quite an accurate M.G. fire was being brought to bear on area between railway bank and road from Les rues des Vaches southwards, party from Q.21.a.0.6 withdrew in good order to our posts at Q.14.a.9.3 losing 2 Officers and several men.

Party under 2/Lt F.G. Lee also withdrew in good order to Orchard where they dug in. When all were in touch with 2/7^th Warwicks with my Adjutant I went to find 2/7^th Warwick HQ going by road in Q.14.d towards Baquerolles farm at road junction Q.14.c.9.1. Enemy patrol with L.M.G opened fire at short range from Baquerolles farm buildings. We withdrew, runner being killed en-route. At this time this flank was entirely exposed. I warned 2/7^th Warwick platoon in Q.14.d.9.3 and withdrew remnants of 2/6^th from Orchard and form a line from farm at Q.14.c.9.3. I left 2/6^th Warwicks under command of 2/Lt H.A. Tetley and placed him under orders of Coy Commander of 2/7^th Warwicks. He was subsequently killed with 15 or 20 men in this position.

With my Adjutant I went towards 2/7^th Warwicks HQ and from there to HQ 182^nd Inf Brigade then at P.11.d.1.2 and reported the situation. I was then ordered to come under orders of the Bde and take up a position on right of 2/8^th Worcesters from P.12.d.8.4 to Farm buildings at Les Amusoires. At 3pm commenced digging in with some 63 men who had been collected. Remained in this position with HQ at P.11.central until night of 13/14^th. At this time Battalion was organised into 2 Coys.

13^th/14^th April 1918

On 13^th/14^th Battalion relieved 2/7^th Warwicks in right sector.

The casualties of the Battalion between 10^th and 14^th April inclusive were 9 Officers and 133 other ranks.

Dispositions Map A

Dispositions Map B