War Diary Transcription

Front Line – Kemmel Hill – 16 April 1918

1.20am: Brigade OO [Operational Order] no 302 received stating that that brigade would withdraw from their front line during the night and the frontline would become that held by General Wyatt 's Force composed of troops from the 2nd Army & Corps Schools running as follows: S.4.d.7.1 – S.5.d.0.2 – S.6 central – T.1.a.0.6 – N.31.c.3.0 – N.31 central – N.31.b.5.4 to the western slopes of Mont Kemmel. The move would commence at 1:00 AM. The 2 MG’s of 49^th M.G Bn and 4 MG’s of 29^th Bn would move with the Battn.

2.00am: Battalion OO No 15 issued relative to this withdrawal. Considerable delay took place before withdrawal was effected, but finally all were clear of the line by 4.15am. The battalion withdrew to a position in Valley on the western slope of Mont Kemmel between N.25.a.5.4 and N25.b.5.3. All in position by 7.00am. The battalion was on the cover of Ridge and sunken roads and dog in when necessary for protection against shelling come which was continuous throughout the morning ? by 5.00am. Casualties, fortunately, very slight.

2.40pm: Bde OO No 304 received stating that in the event of an attack Battalion would move to positions in M.30.c&d in support of the left sector of the of the 49th Divisional front held by General Wyatt 's force. Frontline boundaries to be: Right Dranoutre – Neuve Eglise Road and Left Donegal Farm.

2.48pm: telephone orders received instructing Battalion to move to positions laid down in Bde OO No 304.

3.00pm: Bttn OO No 16 issued to Coys relative to move, also advised to OC 6 M.G’s attached to Battn.

4.00pm: Battalion commenced to move off. An aeroplane showing British colours flew over Valley by which Bttn was moving and immediately heavy enemy shelling commenced to exact ? traversed by the Bttn. C Coy suffered heavily, one platoon being almost wiped out, only three men remaining.

5.00pm: move completed and the Battalion took up new dispositions which were as follows:-
B Coy – Right Front in shell holes N.E. of Sunken Road through N.31a & central.
C Coy – Between N.31.b.80.90 and N.31.b.40.70
D Coy – Between M.30.d.40.50 and M.30.d.00.50
A Coy – Between M.30.e.60.50 and M.30.c.30.50
Battn HQ – At M.30.d.10.30

5.30pm: advice received from Brigade that if necessary the whole Battalion is to be used for counterattack if the enemy gained foothold on lower slopes of Mont Kemmel, which was essential should not be occupied by them. The attached M.G’s (6 in number) well distributed on the left flank to fire from front and bring plunging fire to bear on the Valley’s to our right. No 7 Motor Maching Gun battery Was attached to the battalion, but on the orders direct from brigade.

10pm: Bde OO No 305 received stating that Battn would remain in its present position during night. 1 Coy to be detailed to reoccupy Croix de Poperinghe line from M.36.a.8.0 to M.30.d.9.3. B Coy detailed for this. END