6am to 12 noon - 25 Mar 1918
25.3.18 – 6am: 1st line transport and surplus personnel after being on the road all night and covering only a distance of 4 miles owing to total lack of traffic control halted at hutments between Irles and Miraumont where 57th Inf Bde HQ were established. 2nd Lt’s Bagley and Banolial rejoined from courses of instruction and about 40 men who had lost touch with Battn during the night were collected at this camp.
8.30am: Lt. Col. McCordick left the Bttn under the Command of A/Major Wingrove and returned to the Bde HQ which he reached about 10.15am to ask if there were any orders; he was told there were no further instructions and was ordered to rejoin the Battn.
8.45am: The 58th Bde. Appeared to come in contact with the enemy and very soon commenced to withdraw over the Bapume-Albert Road towards Grevillers. Simultaneously the enemy advanced on the Battn from the east.
8.40am: 5/S.W.B’s were driven out of Bienvillers and retired on the railway. They moved back again from this position shortly afterwards. The left flank of the Battn was then in the air – C Coy was moved to a position on the Grevillers-Thilloy Road about 150 yards back.
9am: The 58th Bde and the 8/Gloucs then withdrew on our right and the Battn was then isolated in a position on the high ground just S of Grevillers. The enemy by this time had reached the belt of wire in front of the Battn and was trying to get through it. He was repeatedly driven off by L.G. and rifle fire but made his way round the left flank to the village. Major Wingrove therefore ordered all except B Coy & 1 platoon A Coy to withdraw through Grevillers to a position near Loupart Wood. With this party the enemy were held up until 11am, when he having penetrated the village on the left and appearing on our right rear over the Bapume Road we were forced to retire on the remainder of the Battn on ridge N of Loupart Wood in J.29.c
12 noon: Lt. Col McCormick rejoined the Battn and re-assumed command.
1.30pm to 11pm - 25 Mar 1918
1.30pm: The Battn received orders to hold in conjunction with the rest of the Bde, a portion of the line extending from Pys to cross roads in J.29.a
2pm: The troops of 56th Bde who were dug in 350 yards in front of the Battn withdrew through the Battn.
2.15pm: The Battn withdrew to Pys – J.29.a line where they remained about 15 minutes and then went forward again to their original position as it was seen that troops on the left were doing so. The left of the Battn then was in touch with some of the 10/Worcs who were echeloned back about 200 yards on the left. The right of the Bn was in the air.
4.30pm: The position was held until 4.30pm in spite of repeated attempts by the enemy to shift us. At this hour the enemy put over some smoke shells obviously with the intention of rushing out post. The party in the trench therefore withdrew covered by the fire of the two Coys 10/Worcs. The enemy was not more than 20 yards away when we left the trench, but the covering fire kept him under. By this time he was coming round the S side of Loupart Wood and also down the road.
5.30pm: The Worcesters and ourselves therefore retired fighting each party covering the other and successfully joined the rest of the Battalions of the Brigade on ridge E of railway near Achiet-le-Petit in G.21.b. & 22.a.
7pm: The Brigade withdrew to ridge E of Achiet-le-Petit in C.20.a as enemy was getting round right flank and has made two determined attacks on our positions.
11pm: As touch could not be obtained with Brigade HQ the Battn. under orders of Lt. Col Sole Commanding 10/Worcs Regt withdrew to a position facing S, SW of Achiet-le-Petit in L.18.c leaving a small covering party of 12 men under 2nd Lt Beaufoy.
26th and 27th March 1918
26.3.18 – 6am: Under orders received from Lt. Col. Sole moved back again, passing through 62nd Division holding line E of Bucquoy at 8am.
Essarts at 9.30am
Fonquevillers at 10am
Pommiers at 1.30pm where the Battn. halted to feed and water the men. The Battn (92 strong) marched back to Fonquevillers where we regained touch with Bde HQ holding line E of Fonquevillers.
At night a Brigade of the 4th Australian Division took over the sector of the Front Line which was held by 19th Division.#
26.3.18 – 6am: The Battalion was disposed in reserve trenches on the Fonquevillers-Sailly Road, NW of Hebuterne, 8/Glouc R on left & 10/Worcs on our right. Except for slight shelling in the evening the day was quiet. In the afternoon enemy attacks on Hebuterne were repulsed.
