|
John is listed as being killed in action on 12 Oct 1917, the battalion war diary contains a Narrative of Operations 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th October 1917 and it is transcribed below.
Narrative of Operations 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th October 1917
Reference Map - Langemarck and Broembeek (1/10000)
10th/11th October
On 10th October my Battalion (together with the Household Battalion) which is in Brigade support at Jolie Farm, C.9.a.2.9 is placed under orders of the G.O.C. 118th Infantry Brigade in front line. I received orders to take over from 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers who are holding the left sub sector with a view to making an attack on the morning of the 12th October.
My Battalion leave Jolie Farm at 5.30pm [10th] in following order C - A - B - D Coys with intervals of 200 yards between Platoons. I relieve the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, C & A Coys being in front line V.13.d east of Poelcappelle - 5 Chemins Road, B Coy in support and D Coy in reserve, west of the Poelcappelle - 5 Chemins Road. We had slight casualties going up.
Before dawn on the morning of the 11th October the two front line Coys withdrew to within 100 yards E of the Poelcappelle - 5 Chemins Road to allow the heavy artillery to bombard the strong points at Water House, Landing Farm and Requete Farm. The reoccupied the line again at dusk on the evening of the 11th October.
The weather the whole day [11th] was inclement. The mopping up parties of B & D Coys move forward into position E of the Poelcappelle - 5 Chemins Road on the evening of 11th October. Zero Hour on the 12th is at 5-25am.
12th/13th October
The weather still continues very wet. The Household Battalion are on my right, the King's Own in support and Rifle Brigade in reserve. The artillery put down a very intense barrage and the enemy respond very heavily in 15 minutes East and West of the road in V.13.c.
My Battalion advanced in good order and has slight casualties owing to our own barrage. Landing Farm, Water House, Besace Farm, Bower House offer little resistance, but the front line troops are forced to halt 50 yards west of Memling Farm owing to enfilade Machine Gun fire from Requete Farm and the swampy condition of the ground in front. This last position was to have been taken by the Household Battalion on my right, but they, in turn were subjected to heavy enfilade Machine Gun fire from the Brewery in Poelcappelle owing to the 18th Division on the right being unable to advance and take the positions. This causes the right flank of the 4th Division to take up at once a defensive flank facing South East. On the left of my Battalion is the 17th Division and we maintain connection with them during the whole of the action, and on consolidating they form a continuous line 20 yards to the left of my front line Company. On my right I am in touch with the Household Battalion.
At 5-20pm on the evening of the 12th October about 100 of the enemy are seen massing as if for a counter-attack. My left front company sends up S.O.S. and the artillery respond almost immediately. The enemy are completely despersed without reaching our lines. During this period hostile artillery is very active 200 yards east and west of the road in V.13.c. Later on the enemy's fire dies down and becomes desultory during the remainder of the night.
The weather still continues very wet. The 26th Northumberland Fusiliers, 34th Division come up to relieve the Battalion, arriving at Tragique Farm about 1.00am on the morning of the 13th October. Owing to the darkness of the night, the weather conditions and the total impossibility of maintaining direction, the relief was unable to reach my troops that night. At dawn on the 13th October I went round the front line and cleared up the situation for the relieving battalion and that evening they took over from me satisfactorily. After relief Coys marched to Liepzig Camp and shelter in bivouacs.
Casualties [over the 4 days].
Killed: 13 Other Ranks
Wounded: Officers 2 and 95 Other Ranks
Missing: 20 Other Ranks
|
