War Diary 9 Apr 1917
Warlus – 9.14.17 – 3.30am: Battn paraded & marched to Port D’Amiens, Arras via Dainville. Bde transport & Reiforcements to L.29.a.north of Dainville.
Zero 8.30am: On arrival equipment was drawn at Bde Dump & a hot meal served
10.30am: Orders received to proceed to Assembly area
12 noon: Battn was in position in 1st & 2nd Reserve Line trenches with right flank resting on Cambrai Road: German artillery fire at this time weak & very erratic.
1st line: A coy right; C Coy (Moppersup) left
2nd Line: B Coy & Reserve Lewis Gunners in support
Bn HQ: At junction of 1st Res Line trench & Inverness Trench
D Coy: at Bde Dump (carrying party)
Disposition of Brigade as follows:
Right: 6th Bedfords, 10th Loyal N Lancs in support
Left: 8th E Lancs, 11th Royal Warwicks in support
Left Flank: 63rd Bde
Right Flank: 3rd Division
2.30pm: Bttn received orders to move to old German front line trench south of Cambrai Road, in rear of 6th Bedfords.
3.30pm: Brigade advancing. Battn in touch with 10th L North Lancs on left and 6th Bedfords. HQ’s to old German front line, 200yards south of Cambrai Road. Up to this point no tanks had been observed but three were now seen on our right out of action. Cavalry was seen to massing behind Tilloy and some batteries of Field Artillery were moving forward.
Battn halted for a short while on the Blue Line running north & south between Tilloy and Bois des Boeufs. Dispositions as follows:
Right of A Coy on Cambrai Road; C Coy astride Cambrai Road with B Coy echeloned in rear to the right. Battn HQ in Harfleur Tr at H.31.c.5.5.
At this point a Battn of the Queens passed through us to attack the Brown Line (position running north and south along high ground about 2000 yards west of Monchy le Preux).
5.0pm: Battn advanced as far as line of Sunken Road at N.3.b & d south of Feuchy Chapel, our left resting on Cambrai Road. Here we dug in and remained until 4.30am on the 10th inst. The Battn was in touch with North Lancs on the left but as connection with troops on our right was bad two Lewis Guns were sent up by Bttn in reserve to help cover this flank.
War Diary 10 Apr 1917
Sunken Road - Feuchy Chapel - 10.4.17 – Battn HQ now moved to old German gun emplacements at N.1.b.8.5 and at 2.30am on the 10th proceeded to N.3.c.65.85.
2.30am: Very little artillery activity on either side during the night
3.40am: Order received to withdraw to N.3.a south of Maison Rouge preparatory to the attack on the Brown Line.
Battalion HQ was now moved to old German gun emplacements at N.1.b.8.5 and at 2.30am on the 10th proceeded to N.3.c.65.85. Very little artillery activity on either side during the night.
3.40am: Order received to withdraw to N.3.a south of Maison Rouge preparatory for the attack on the Brown Line.
12.0 noon: Attack on Brown line started, heavy enemy artillery retaliation. The 11th R Warwicks moved forward in artillery formation echeloned to the right rear of 10th L.N. Lancs.
1.02pm: At 1pm Battn deployed in the rear of the 6th Bedfords west of Brown Line. Advance continued till about 50 yards west of Les Fosses Farm. O.C of C Coy (2 Lt J.J.N Stacker) finding that the Battn on his left was held up put out two Lewis Guns and continued their advance by enfilading German positions west of Monchy.
6.0pm: By 6pm Battn had reinforced our front line & had advanced as far as Les Fosses Farm. From Cambrai Road South the line was now held as follows:_
A Coy R Warwicks, C Coy R Warwicks, some Cyclists, Bedfords (6th Bn); B Coy R Warwicks. Bttn HQ at N.11.a.2.7
A further advance was temporarily impossible as:
1) Communication with 3rd Div broken owing to Cyclists Bn & some of 6th Bedfords being forced to fall back
2) No barrage at this time available.
Battn therefore dug in at above position forming a defensive flank to the right. During the above operations on the 10th inst 5 officers were wounded.
War Diary 11 Apr 1917
Les Fosses Farm - 11.4.1917 - 3am:
Battn ordered to become the leading right battalion in attack on high ground between Monchy le Preux and Guemappe. Bttn crossed to north of Cambrai Rd. In artillery formation oh short orders in rear of Les Fosses Farm. After reforming along a chalk trace at N.12.a (left) Battn advanced and occupied position about 50 yards east of and parallel to Monchy le Preux – Le Bergere Road covering A frontage of about 450 yards, the right resting on Cambrai Road. Battn HQ moved to Les Fosses Farm.
About 3:30 PM enemy counterattacked in strength after heavy artillery preparation but was everywhere repost with heavy losses. Outposts were put out and position consolidated. Enemy snipers and M.G’s remained very active throughout the rest of the day.
During operations on this day two German heavy howitzers (8”) were taken South of Les Fosses Farm. The following officers were casualties: 2 Lt J W Alabaster, Lieut F S Hayman A Coy, 2 Lt N.C. Leeson A Coy all wounded and 2 Lt R W Thorogood while on his way up to reinforce B Coy what's slightly wounded in the leg just outside Arras.
The Battn was relieved by the 11th Royal Sussex Regt and marched back to Tilloy where they remained in Cellars and dugouts till the morning of the 12th. END
