Military History

John is listed as being killed in action on 8th August 1918. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 6th to 9th August 1918 are transcribed below.

Trenches – Vinage Sector - Aug 6^th 1918: Fine morning, fresh breeze. About noon the enemy was discovered to have evacuated their position in front of us. 'A' Coy pushed forward to a depth varying from 100 to 500 yards with very slight opposition. Battalion on right & left also advance and touch is maintained. 'B' Coy move to old front line trench. 'C' Coy come into old support line. 'D' Coy take up whole of reserve line.

Trenches – Vinage Sector - Aug 7^th 1918: Fine day. 2 Objectives are allotted to the Divn to be reached at 9:30 a.m. 'A' Coy move forward & occupy 1st objective (see attached map). 'C' Coy then move through 'A' Coy & after a little opposition from Artillery & Machine Guns, occupy 2nd Objective. LT R.W.T. Thorowgood M.C. is killed during the operation.

Battalion HQ move to E edge of Riez du Vinage. Towards evening, Division allot a 3rd Objective to be obtained (marked blue on map). This however is strongly held by Machine Guns & our patrols, suffering casualties. They are unable to push on very far. 2/LT J. Harrison to hospital. Lt H.B. Hilliard to England.

Trenches – Vinage Sector - Aug 8^th 1918: "Fine day. 'A' Coy move up at 11am in close support to 'C' Coy who hold a very extended line. Capt. C. Oakey takes charge of both Coy’s and takes charge of operations. Enemy is very active with Machine Guns & Snipers + is holding out in houses on Quentin Road beyond which lies our third objective.

Preparations are made in the afternoon for an artillery to put a barrage down on these houses & for the outpost line to push forwards to their objective. The barrage however was cancelled & later that night B & D relieved C & A Coys respectively. The night passed fairly quietly, our patrols discovering the enemy holding on in trenches on S outskirts of Ouentin & Bobeme. C & A Coys take up positions in our old front. support & reserve lines. 2/Lt J.C. Dibbly MC Wounded.

Trenches – Vinage Sector - Aug 9^th 1918: Early morning. Patrols were pushed forward & one large patrol under 2/Lt P.H. Horsley having got well forward were surrounded by greatly superior numbers of the enemy. Three men escaped & the remaining 8 & the Officer were missing. This occurred about 7am & about 7.30am the enemy, about 30 strong, were seen advancing on to one of our outposts. Lewis Guns fire was effectively opened & the enemy dispersed with casualties.  

Later in the morning. Trench Mortar (Stokes’) fire was brought to bear on the house in the S end of Quentin and this was later taken by 'B' Coy & an outpost line established well in front of Quentin, in touch with Battalion on left, & thence falling back to W of Bobeme in touch with Battalion on right.

Enemy machine guns and snipers were active the whole day and there was also a certain amount of shelling of our supports & Coy HQ. The early part of the night was quiet & B & D Coy while being relieved about 11:30pm by 2 Coys of the 1st Rifle Brigade  who were taking over the whole of the 10th Brigade outpost line.

On relief 'B' + 'D' Coy embussed near Canal Bank and were taken to Busnettes. A & C Coys were relieved earlier in the afternoon by 1st Hampshire Regt + marched to billets at Busnettes.