2nd September 1918

Eterpigny – 2.9.1918: The march to Assembly Area was completed without incident, the Bn. arriving in position about 2:30am. The Bn. proceeded to dig in. At intervals up to Zero Hour several heavy shells fell in the Assembly Area and over 20 casualties were sustained. 2/Lt. A.H.N. Wright was killed and Lt. F.J. Clark was wounded.

Zero Hour was at 5:00 a.m. and at 5:30 a.m. the Bn. moved in Artillery formation as far as the first German Trench where a halt for about one hour was made. The advance was then continued to the 2nd German Line where another halt was made. A certain amount of hostile shelling was encountered here.

About 7:20 a.m. the advance to the Red Line was continued the direction being such as to bring the left of the Bn. on the Junction of Red and Green Lines. The Bn. now came under heavy M.G. fire from vicinity of Prospect Farm and the advance was temporarily held up, the fire being very strong and the wire very thick. It was quite evident that the Prospect Farm and the ground east of it had not been cleared by the 12th Brigade.

By moving under cover as the ground afforded towards the right, and by advance by rushes, the leading Coys entered the Drocourt-Queant Line at about P.15.b.7.5. at 8am. This trench was clear of the enemy but M.G. fire was very persistent from the left flank. The greater part of the Bn. in co-operation with the Hampshire Regt. then advanced to object of enveloping the enemy in and to East of Prospect Farm. The advanced troops now came under very heavy fire from the enemy in front and right front as well as from the left, and it was obvious that the Red Line had not been captured.

It was not possible to get beyond the Drocourt-Queant Support with the left in about P.16.a. where elements of the 12^th Bde were found. The left flank was quite in the air and it was considerable movement of the enemy amongst the hedges and banks of Prospect Farm it seemed possible that the enemy was contemplating a counter attack. A mixed party of the Bn. and Hampshire Regt. was sent up the trench to the right to secure the left flank and 2 platoons of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders moved over the open in a further attempt to clear this area of the enemy. The enemy M.G. fire continued strong and little progress could be made and finally a block was made in the trench about P.9.d.7.3.

At 10:30 a.m. a party of the King’s Own arrived and took over this block. During these attacks to clear the left flank, the Adjutant Capt. Paul, M.C., D.C.M. was mortally wounded. The Bn. was then re-organized and consolidated the trench from about P.9.d.7.1 to P.15.b.7.4 with advanced troops in and about Drocourt-Queant Support. As soon as it was dark 2 Coys formed a Support line by digging posts in Drocourt-Queant Support line at P.6.a.3.8 to P.9.d.75.10 with 2 Coys from P.15.b.7.5 to P.9.d.7.0.

Capt. G W Hall MC and 2/Lt J. Measures were wounded during the day.

3rd September 1918

Prospect Farm – 3.9.1918: During the night, orders were received that at 5:30 a.m. on the 3rd another attack was to be made and the advance continued to the Blue Line. A minute or two before zero word was received that these orders were cancelled and it was to stop at attack. Before this was done the Coys had deployed and moved forward to get parallel to their objectives. The men were extremely exhausted but the manner in which they formed up showed wonderful spirit and endurance.

About 5:30 a.m., as the enemy appeared extremely quiet, a small patrol was collected and a reconnaissance of the enemy portion of the Drocourt-Queant line made by the Commanding Officer and CAPT. Lester, M.C., the Bde. Major. the enemy was found to have evacuated this line. Our guns were informed and then 2 strong patrols were pushed forward to secure the ridge on each of house at P.10.a.3.9. 2 Coys were then sent forward to secure the forward slope of ridge while the other 2 Coys were pushed forward in support. By 7 a.m., the ridge was definitely secured.

O.C, 1st Hampshire Regt placed 2 Coys at the CO’s disposal and these passed through Battalion and advanced on L’Ecluse whilst the 1ST Rifle Bde co-operated with the advance, by moving in the direction of Recourt Wood. Meanwhile CAPT. Lester and Lt. S.J. Dickinson pushed forward towards L’Ecluse, capturing some Germans on the slopes outside the village. These 2 officers then pushed on alone into the village where another party of Germans who had been left behind as a rearguard surrendered.

During the day the Battn continued to hold the forward slopes of the ridge from P.4.B.8.6., P.4.A.2.1., F.4.E.4.3., to P.11.A.1.8.3., touch being established on the left with the Essex Regt, who were holding trenches in P.4.a facing east. The force forward of the Battn was disposed to command the crossings of the river. During the night the 2nd Bn. K.R.R.C, 1^st Division took over the crossings of the river and troops of the 11^th Bde withdrew to the area in 0.8.2., near Monchy.