2/6th Battalion war diary April 1918
2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire war diaries
1918
| April | GAUCHIN LEGAL |
| 1/4/1918 | The Battalion left Gauchin Legal 7 am, marched to Houdain. entrained 12 noon. Arrived PROVEN 7 pm. marched to WATOU arriving at 9 pm. Draft of 150 O.R. arrived 11pm. |
| 2/4/1918 | Company parades; cleaning up etc. specialist training. Transport arrived 2pm. Draft of 173 O.R. |
| 3/4/1918 | Training continued. Inspection by G.O.C. 2nd Army in afternoon. Draft of 127 O.R. |
| 4/4/1918 | Training & bathing. Draft 97 O.R. |
| 5/4/1918 | Training & bathing. Lewis Gunners one company firing on range. Inspection of Battalion by C.O. The following message received from G.O.C. Third Army:- “I cannot allow the 59th Division to leave the Third Army without expressing my appreciation of their splendid conduct during the stage of the great battle which is just completed. By their devotion and courage they have broken up overwhelming attacks and prevented the enemy gaining his object, namely a decisive victory. I wish them every possible good luck. (Sd) J. Byng General” |
| 6/4/1918 | Training & bathing. Lewis Gunners one company on range. Training gas helmets. Draft 157 O.R. |
| 7/4/1918 | Training gas helmets. Church parades. |
| 8/4/1918 | Training & firing on range. |
| 9/4/1918 | Training & firing on range. G.O.C. Brigade inspected drafts. |
| 10/4/1918 | Battalion left camp 9.30 am & marched to Poperinge, thence by train to Quintin Stn. marched to Heaiden Camp, Ypres; arrived 2.30 pm. Transport moved by road & arrived at Brandhoek 5 p.m., enemy shelling of camp. |
| YPRES | |
| 11/4/1918 | Battalion left camp 6.45 pm relieved 18th K.R.R. in support in left Bde sector, Passchendale sector at 11 pp, slight enemy shelling. |
| PASSCHENDALE | |
| 12/4/1918 - 13/4/1918 | Quiet all day; enemy aircraft active in afternoon & evening. Orders recieved for Battalion to withdraw from line; all surplus stores not able to be removed were destroyed. Battalion returned to Keilge Stn & entrained at 11 pm. Entrained Brandhoek 1 am & marched to Base Camp, Vlamentinghe, where Transport & Q.M. stores joined unit. |
| VLAMENTINGHE | |
| 13/4/1918 | Moved by march route at 11 am to Reninghelst & billeted in huts, entered camp at 4 pm. |
| RENINGHELST | |
| 14/4/1918 | Left camp 3 am marched to LOCRE arriving at 6 am, billeted in huts, in reserve. |
| CRECHE, BAILLUEL | |
| 15/4/1918 | Battalion proceeded to line 12 minnight & took new position from 76th Bde S.E. of Bailluel at 1.30 pm. Enemy shelled Bailluel heavily from 11 am onwards. At 2 pm enemy attacked on our left but was repulsed. At 3.30 pm enemy put down a heavy barrage in rear of our lines & attacked & suceeded in getting thro’ our left flank causing Battalion to retreat West of Bailluel where we fell back on to a hastily prepared line 1 1/2 Kilos W of Bailluel; this position was held in spite of heavy enemy shelling and M.G. fire until a well prepared line, held by Royal Scots, in rear, was able to offer a determined resistance. The Battalion proceeded to Canada Corner Camp & arrived about midnight. Casualties during these operations were; 1 officer killed (2/Lt. E Newcombe); 2 officers wounded (2/Lts E Turner & A Leonard); & 90 Or killed, wounded missing. During day Transport and QM stores had been heavily shelled; water emb blown up and 2 casualties. Transport & details left LOCRE 11 pm proceeded Ontario camp, Reninghelst arriving 2.30 am 16th |
| 16/4/1918 - 17/4/1918 | Battalion in reserve; camp was shelled several times & had to be vacated. Transport lines at Reninghelst also heavily shelled. |
| 18/4/1918 | Shelling of camp; Battalion left at 12 noon & marched to TERDEGHEM via Steenvoande & billeted in huts previously VIIIth Corps School; arrived 6 pm. |
| TERDEGHEM | |
| 19/4/1918 | Battalion left TERDEGHEM 11 am marched to N.W. of Poperinghe billeted inhuts at Deist Camp, Vlamertinge at 6 pm. |
| VLAMERTINGE | |
| 20/4/1918 | Cleaning up etc. Enemy aircraft bombing at night. |
| 21/4/1918 | Left camp 7 am & marched to ROOSBRUGGE arriving at 11 am; billeted in huts; cleaning up. Enemy aircraft bombed camp: 1 Off wounded (2/lt L Oldroyd); 5 OR killed; 7 wounded. |
| ROOSBRUGGE | |
| 22/4/1918 | Company parades in morning; moved to Claude Chappe Campp 4 pm. |
| 23/4/1918 | Company parades & bathing. Lecture to all officers and senior NCOs by G.O.C. Division. Draft of 17 Officers & 60 OR joined unit. |
| 24/4/1918 | Training; testing gas helmets. 242075 Cpl. Coe D.G. – B Coy. awarded Military Medal. |
| 25/4/1918 | Training |
| POPERINGE | |
| 26/4/1918 | Training; tactical scheme for officers, NCOs signallers. Order to move 4.30 pm & Battalion left camp 5.45 pm & marched Poperinghe; bivouaced 1 mile S.W. |
| 27/4/1918 | Battalion proceeded to W of Reninghelst & dug switch line of tranch. Arrived back 4.30 pm. 7.30 pm Battalion moved to W of Reninghelst to line dug earlier in day. In reserve. |
| RENINGHELST | |
| 28/4/1918 | Battalion occupied Reinghelst – Ouderdom reserve line - Heavy enemy barrage on front line – S.O.S. sent up and Battalion “stood to” at 7.30 Pm. Situation quiet at 9 pm. |
| 29/4/1918 | Battalion still in reserve; heavy artillery activity on both sides – 5 OR killed; 6 Wounded; 5 gassed |
| 30/4/1918 | Battalion in reserve; heavy enemy shelling at 4.30 p.m. 2 O.R. wounded, 4 gassed. |
| H.M.C. Curtis Lt. Colonel Commanding 2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. |
NA WO 95/3021
December 17th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
As i trace my great uncle’s footsteps in the last 100 days i stumbled across this great site. My great uncle i realise was much further south and attacking with Gun Batteries witht he 17th Division. I have his letters from the front. He was later gased at the sart of the battle of Vallenciennes. He survived though and lived in S Africa on medical advice. If times are hard i just think of them and count my blessings…