The Lonsdale Battalion

6th Battalion War Diary, September 1916/Annex J: Difference between revisions

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6th Battalion War Diary, September 1916/Annex J (view source)

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===Sept 26th===
Relieved 6th Duke of Wellingtons 2 AM in DANUBE [[trench]] (2 Coys) STAFFORD ST (1/2 Coy) Border St (1/2 Coy) THIRD ST (1 Coy). Carrying parties completed at BN dumps. On the 25th the Signalling Officer ([[John Wemyss Hood (2nd Lieutenant)|Lt Hood]]) had laid three separate lines from BHQ to DANUBE. The men were situated in the trenches in the order detailed for the advance. Our objective comprised two trenches ie JOSEPH and SCHWABEN.
 
"B" Coy under [[Ronald Nicholson Carr (Captain)|Capt RN Carr]] to lead in two waves, pass over JOSEPH trench and secure SCHWABEN. The clearing party & caretakers for JOSPEH trench went forward with the second wave. This ensured that all men of leading two waves went ahead.
 
"A" Coy under [[Claude Boyle May (Captain)|Capt CB]] May followed "B" Coy to occupy and consolidate JOSPEH trench also in two waves.
 
½ "D" Coy from STAFFORD trench to follow immediately and consolidate communication trench R32a77 to 26c77 – this company moved from their position at [[Zero hour|zero]] and arrived just on time at their objective.
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===Sept 27th===
6am one company moved forward to reinforce Sherwood Foresters in ZOLLERN (“C”"C" Coy). "A" Coy and Bn HQ moved to the same trench at about 1 PM. At 2.25 PM orders were received to assault HESSIAN. ZERO 3 PM. "C" Coy under [[Keith Ayton Morris (Captain)|Capt KA Morris]] were give this task. The men were quickly detailed for the various duties and got into position.
 
“A” Coy and Bn HQ moved to the same trench at about 1 PM
There was little artillery preparation but this did not deter the men. “C”"C" Coy went forward in fine style and in spite of serious opposition especially from STUFF redoubt direction carried the position and accounted for all the garrison. 64 prisoners and 2 M.Guns were captured. Capt KA Morris and 2/Lt Barry were wounded in this attack. At 6 PM "A" Coy moved up to HESSIAN in support of "C" Coy and work on consolidation was carried on all night under very heavy [[shell]] fire and a counter attack which was driven off by [[rifle]] fire.▼
At 2.25 PM orders were received to assault HESSIAN. ZERO 3 PM
“C” Coy under Capt KA Morris were give this task . The men were quickly detailed for the various duties and got into position,
▲There was little artillery preparation but this did not deter the men. “C” Coy went forward in fine style and in spite of serious opposition especially from STUFF redoubt direction carried the position and accounted for all the garrison. 64 prisoners and 2 M.Guns were captured. Capt KA Morris and 2/Lt Barry were wounded in this attack.
At 6 PM A Coy moved up to HESSIAN in support of “C” Coy and work on consolidation was carried on all night under very heavy shell fire and a counter attack which was driven off by rifle fire.
 
===Sept 28th===
All the officers, except two, in HESSIAN were knocked out and [[Kenneth Miles Chance (Major)|Major KM Chance]] was sent forward to take command of the ½ Battalion. Except between the hours of 6 & 9 in the morning HESSIAN and ZOLLERN were subjected to an incessant [[bombardment]]. The former is a good trench and the latter poor so was held lightly and casualties were not too great under the circumstances.
The former is a good trench and the latter poor so was held lightly and casualties were not too great under the circumstances.
 
===Sept 29th===
We extended our right in HESSIAN for about 200 yds so as to keep touch with 32nd Bde at 3PM and were relieved by the 6th Lincolnshires at 4.30 PM.
 
===Suggestions re===
====I====
The arrangements for clearing the battlefield on the 25th were not good. The regimental bearers cannot be expected in the present type of war to be able to deal with all casualties ahead of the Regt Aid Post. The deficiency of stretchers was very keenly felt.
 
After we had settled down to work in the captured trenches, parties were detached to [[stretcher bearer|bring back wounded]] and these men invariably came back without a stretcher. It is considered that some one should have been detailed to insist on them taking one. The distance the wounded had to be carried was also very great. Even up to the time of our relief men were being carried past P8 X2a22 a distance of about a mile from the front.
More wheeled stretchers would have been a help. With great difficulty and a considerable assistance from officers and bearers of the 34th Fd Amb. I was able to get all my wounded back, but unfortunately could not spare men to take the dead . 30 of whom were left behind. This I regret very much indeed. ▼
 
The following RAMC officers were invaluable and worked incessantly from the 25th to 27th ▼
▲More wheeled stretchers would have been a help. With great difficulty and a considerable assistance from officers and bearers of the 34th Fd Amb. I was able to get all my wounded back, but unfortunately could not spare men to take the dead . 30 of whom were left behind. This I regret very much indeed.
Capt AJ McCreadie
 
Capt Smelling▼
▲The following RAMC officers were invaluable and worked incessantly from the 25th to 27th
Capt Hodges▼
*Capt StockdaleAJ McCreadie
▲*Capt Smelling
▲*Capt Hodges
*Capt Stockdale
 
I would specially bring these officers to notice.
 
====II====
I consider that the number of [[Lewis machine gun|Lewis Gun]] Magazines carried is too great and leads to loss. My total magazines coming out of action was roughly 200 (29th) on the morning of the 30th I was able to make good without any difficulty from perfectly good magazines laying about.
 
====III====
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====IV====
Prisoners could be used for evacuating wounded. Especially their own, if a forward dump of stretchers was available.
 
==Notes==
*National Archives Catalogue Reference: WO/95/1817/1
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