21 Aug 1918

The Battalion was in position by 3.0am. Zero was 4.55am [21 Aug 1918] . A very quiet night as regards shelling but unfortunately a thick mist developed which caused the tanks great difficultly finding their assembly positions in a country which they did not know. The Tanks helping Nos 1 Coy arrived in time, but those for Nos 2&3 did not put in an appearance. At Zero Nos 1, 2 & 4 Coys got off the mark with their tanks. By this time the fog was impenetrable, this was increased by the smoke barrage put down by the Artillery, and it was impossible to see 3 yards to one front.

No 3 Coy waiting 10 minutes in the hopes that their tanks would arrive, this not being the case Captain Gamble started without them. By 6.30am the Battalion gained all their objectives. Taking everything into consideration this was a fine achievement and gives great credit to all Company Officers and N.C.O’s who led their men through unimpenetrable mist some 1000 yards without losing their way.

The Tanks, owing to the fog, were of little or no assistance, and as matters turned out were not needed. Our casualties on reaching our objectives were approximately 10 and over 60 prisoners were captured. Lieut J.V.T. Broderick was killed by a chance bullet on reaching the final objective. The Battalion consolidated the position won. Touch was gained with 1^st Battalion Scots Guards at 7am. At 7.30am the 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards passed through the 1^st Battalion Scots Guards and crossed the railway gaining the high ground beyond it. No 2 Coy swinging their right forward and gaining touch with them on the railway.

About this time the hostile artillery came down on Moyenneville pretty heavily and casualties mounted up. The Medical Officer, Capt A.K. Forbes was gassed and had to be evacuated, an American doctor coming up in his place. Throughout this afternoon and the following day the Battalion had to sit still under hostile shelling and our casualties accordingly increased. Capt. R.C.B Fellowes being killed on 21^st and Capt R.D. Gamble on 22^nd.

On the night of the 21^st Nos 2 & 3 Companies advanced their line some 500 yards across the railway into the outskirts of Hamelincourt and established and maintained strong posts there. Great credit is due to Captain R.D Gamble, 2^nd Lieutenant J. Rowlatt who was wounded while carrying it out and to Lieutenant W.G. Dixon and 2^nd Lieutenant E.P.A Moore. Strong opposition was encountered but was overcome and the posts firmly established.

22 Aug 1918

On the morning of the 22^nd at about 4am the S.O.S went up on our front and all along the line to the right. The enemy had brought up a Saxon Division and attacked in force. The attack was decimated by our artillery and Lewis Guns. As previously stated for the whole of the 22^nd the Battalion was subjected to an intense and accurate hostile bombardment. The reason of the lull in operations is not known, rumour has it that it was because Divisions down south had failed. The result was our casualties increased.

I am personally confident that the Battalion could have taken Hamelincourt without a casualty on the afternoon of the 21^st and further could have advanced the whole of the 22^nd (if only the tactical situation had allowed it) with very much fewer casualties than we had sitting still acting as a target to the enemy guns.

2^nd Lieut G.C.P Lord Bingham went up from Battalion HQ and assumed command of No 3 Company and 2^nd Lieut V.M.R Goodman went to the same company from details.

During the night of the 22^nd 23^rd the 1^st Battalion Scots Guards relieved the Battalion preparatory to their attack on Hamelincourt in conjunction with the 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards on the right.

The Battalion moved back into support about A.3. with HQ’s at S.26.c.8.5. The move was completed by about 3.30am 23^rd.

For the list of officers and the details of the action of the 23^rd and the remained of the report please click here for the 1^st Battalion War Dairy 1915 Aug to 1919 Jan at the National Archives. At this time 1 March 2024 the diary is still available free of the normal £3.50 charge.