|
Harry is now officially listed as being killed in action on 23rd March 1918, having intially been listed as missing in action. It is clear that his death was not accepted for some time afterwards as the family wrote to the Red Cross seeking knowledge of his whereabouts on 2 Aug 1918 and again on 23 Nov 1918.
The 11th Battalion war diary for the period 18th to 31st March 1918 is transcribed below:
March 18th to 22nd 1918
Ivergny – March 18th 1918: Coy & platoon training in vicinity of billets & Coy work on ranges in Foret de Lucheux
Ivergny – March 19th 1918: Coy & platoon training in vicinity of billets & Coy work on ranges in Foret de Lucheux
Ivergny – March 20th 1918: Coy & platoon training in vicinity of billets & Coy work on ranges in Foret de Lucheux
Ivergny – March 21st 1918: Marched to Mondicourt entrained at 2pm. Detrained at Achiet-le-Grand at 11pm and proceeded to Billets near by.
Achiet-le-Grand – March 22nd 1918: 1pm marched to Biefvillers where packs were dumped. 5pm marched to Favreuil. Commenced digging at 8pm, a line running N & S across the Bapaume-Cambrai railway as a point 800 yards E of the N in St. Aubin. A&B Coys on the N side and C&D Coys on the S side. Battn HQ were in a trench in advance of the left flank of this line 200 yards away. Transport proceeded to Savoy Camp & details to Achiet-le-Petit
March 23rd to 24th 1918
Beugny - March 23rd 1918: Digging stopped about 1am and whole Battalion proceeded to Beugny & commenced digging new line about 1000 yards N of Beugny running NW from the Vaulx-Beugny road. A&B Coys in front line and C&D Coys in support.
At 7.30am A&B Coys proceeded in extended order to reinforce the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who were in a line about 200 yards in advance of the line being dug by A7B Coys. Positions in this vicinity were heavily bombarded during the morning & afternoon.
The enemy infantry attacked about 4.30pm as the Battalion on the right had been forced to withdraw previous to this. A,B & C Coys withdrew through Beugny at 5.30pm, they came under intense artillery and machine gun fire. It is reported by an N.C.O that a great many of A&B Coy were unable to reach the village owing to a flanking movement by the enemy. The remainder of A,B & C Coys were reorganised in Beugny and they took up a position with other units in a line S of the village which was partly dug. They remained at this location all night.
When the enemy attacked at 4.30pm D Coy retired from their support position on to the Bapaume-Beugny road where they reorganised & took up a position in the line started that morning across the railway.
When the Battalion moved up into position N of Beugny, Battn HQ’s were made in the Vaulx-Beugny road & according to the report of a HQ runner Battn HQ were cut off at the same time as the position of A&B Coys in the retirement to the village.
Casualties
- Officers: 2 Killed; 7 Missing; 5 Wounded [all named but not transcribed here]
- Other Ranks: 5 Killed; 317 Missing [including Harry]; 43 Wounded and missing
Beugny - March 24th 1918: The position S of Beugny was heavily bombarded from 9am to 10.30am. The units on the right who were in an advanced position withdrew in line with our own position during the morning after repulsing an enemy attack.
About 12 noon these units again had to withdraw so our position had to be evacuated. The Battn took up a position with the Cheshires in the line running across the Bapaume-Cambrai railway. At 8pm they were moved to another position in the line by the Cheshires where they remained all night working on the trench. Transport moved to Achiet-le-Petit.
March 25th to 31st 1918
East of Bapaume - March 25th 1918: The enemy attacked the position E of Bapaume about 10am & after much resistance broke through on the left & the whole line was withdrawn. During the retirement the remainder of the Battalion joined up with the 23rd Middlesex & on reaching Achiet-le-Petit they were relieved by the 42nd Division. They then proceeded to Buquoy & reorganised. Transport moved to Buquoy.
Buquoy - March 26th 1918: Marched to Gommecourt & took up reserve position E of village. Marched to Bienvillers in evening. Transport moved to Couin.
Gommecourt – March 27th 1918: Rested all day & night
Gommecourt – March 28th 1918: Rested all day & took up out-post position in evening at Essarts.
Essarts - March 29th 1918: Remained in out-post position all day. Joined 10th Royal West Kents & under the command of Major Wallace relieved one Battalion of the 42nd Division in front line W of Ablainzevelle. At 11pm reinforcements & details joined the battalion in front line at 7pm.
W of Ablainzevelle – March 30th 1918: In the line
W of Ablainzevelle – March 31st 1918: In the line
|
