Military History

Andrew was admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance on 2nd September 1918 with gunshot wounds to his left leg and buttock. He was transferrred the same day to a Casualty Clearing Station (No. not given in the record but we believe 20th CCS at Mericourt-l'Abbe) and some time later was transferred to the Weymouth Military Hospital where he died 17 days later on 19th September 1918.

The 16th Battalion war diary entry for the 2nd September 1918, the day Andrew was wounded, is transcribed below.

Favreuil – 2 Sep 1918: 2am: Battalion in position, the night was exceptionally cold.

5am: Zero hour. Bn advanced to take up position allotted to it forming a defensive flank on the left of Brigade attack until the 62nd Div could pass by, their attack met commencing until 5:35am.  A & B Coys got into position with few casualties, but C coy meeting heavy MG fire from the left flank suffered severely, lays then dug in

7am: I received news from A & B coy as to their position but none from C coy. I heard that 1st Norfolk R had reached their objective but were not in touch on either flank; also that 1st Cheshire R had them held up in BEugny & had only made half the village good. Position rather obscure.

8am: I went forward to try & locate my Coys, A & B Coys were located, C Coy's more or less but owing to most intense MG fire & sniping, runners were unable to get to them.

9.50am: Received orders from Bde (by phone) to attack BEUGNY from N in a SE direction, going round the village & joining up with a company of the 1st Norfolk R in Chapel Spur at a time to be decided by me.

10am: I sent orders to Coys to this effect instructing them to get into Assembly Position & let me know time that they would be ready to attack.

10:10am: I was told by B.G.C that Zero would be 11am & barrage had been arranged; informed Companies accordingly.

10:45am: I received word from O/C B Coy that owing to heavy MG fire it was impossible to assemble without heavy casualties & that in any case the attack could not possibly be ready by 11am. C coy could not be reached & received no orders. I therefore spoke to B.G.C on phone & arranged for Zero to be 12 noon.

11am: Part of barrage came down but no advance made & no undue retaliation received from enemy.

11.15am: I received a further note from O/C B coy stating the extreme difficulty of the operation owing to enemy MG fire. I explained situation to Bde & was ordered not to attack Beugny but await further orders.

1pm: A withdrawal was made by 1st Norfolk R on right owing to enemy counter-attack & I ordered O/C B coy to swing his right flank a little to cover his flank in case of this spreading, & that on no account was he to withdraw without orders.

The position was later restored by 1st Bedford R counter-attacking; and line was held as before. The situation throughout the afternoon was very obscure; no definite location could be obtained for 1st Cheshire R in front of me or of 62nd Div on my left, but no hostile action followed. Throughout the day hostile MG fire & sniping were very active.

4pm: I received orders from Bde that as 1st Bedford R were used up in above operations I was to withdraw my Coys to old line of Assembly, reorganise and be in Bde Reserve. I issued orders was about to send to Coys when I received a further order from Bde to withdraw only A & C Coys & that B Coy would move at dusk on I.15 & send patrols into Beugny to discover whether it was held or not. I issued orders accordingly.

6pm: I was informed 2 coys of 1/5 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders would come up & dig a series of strong points during the night. Guides were arranged & OC B Coy instructed to put the Pioneers on their work.

9pm: The 2 Coys reported to me & were sent forward.

9.30pm: C coy withdrew & were accommodated at B.H.Q. The B.G.C. informed me I was to withdraw the whole Battalion at once, reorganise & rest as much as possible as I should probably have to attack again next morning.

10pm: Orders sent to B Coy to withdraw.

11pm: A Coy reported withdrawal complete except for 2 platoons which had gone astray. I went forward to saw O/C A coy & a search was made for the 2 lost platoons, but without success. Enemy was using Blue Cross gas shells in fairly heavy concentration.

A supply tank came up with good supply of water. SAA & rations came up about the same time and were taken forwarded.