2/6th Battalion war diary March 1918
2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire war diaries
1918
| March | BEAUFORT |
| 1/3/18 to night of 6/7th | The Battalion occupied the Front Line of the left Sub-Sector of Brigade Front, NOREUIL. Casualties slight. Relieved in the front line by the 5th Bn. North Staffs. Regiment and accomodated in Support Line at IGAREE CORNER, PONTEFRACT & DEWSBURY TRENCHES. |
| MORY | |
| 7/3/18 to night of 10/11th | The Battalion occupied the Support Line till the night of 10/11th, when they were relieved by the 7th Bn. Notts and Derby Regt. On relief they returned to MORY, Le Abbaye Camp and were accommodated in Huts. Lt. Col. J Stuart Wortley returned from leave on the 9th inst. |
| 10/3/18 | Draft of 82 O.R. reported from 8th Bn. South Staffs. Regt. |
| 10/3/18 to night of 19/20th | battalion was in Brigade Reserve, men employed in cleaning up etc. bathing. Specialist Classes were commenced. Large Working Parties were found nightly for digging and wiring in Defence Systems. On several mornings the enemy shelled the vicinity of the camp with H.E. Battalion had “Stand To” each morning, and on the mornings of 13th and 18th they moved to reserve Line of Defence near ECOUST but returned to Camp on each occasion about 8 a.m. |
| BULLECOURT | |
| 19/3/18 | Battalion left MORY Le Abbaye Camp at 5 p.m. and relieved 2/4th Leicester Regt. in Left Brigade Sector, Right Sub-Sector, BULLECOURT. |
| 20/3/18 | Situation normal. No casualties. |
| 21/3/18 | Heavy enemy shelling of back areas commenced between 2 & 3 a.m. also heavy bombardment by enemy of Front & Support Line with H.E. and Gas Shells from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m. Enemy attacked in massed formation at 9 a.m. and succeeded in capturing the Front Line and also effected a flank move and got through to Railway Reserve and Battalion Headquarters. 23 Officers & about 600 O.R. are “Missing”, including Lt. Col. J. Stuart Wortley, Capt. C.E.L. Whitehouse (Adjutant), Capt. W.A. Adam, Capt. W.A. Jordan, Capt.T.L. Astbury & Capt. W.S. Lynes, (Company Commanders). The following Officers are missing:- lieut. W.T. Butler, Lieut. R.G. Boycott, Lieut. L.J. Shelton, 2/Lieut. H.P. Bunn, 2/Lt. H.E. Shipton, 2/Lt. H.W. Gregory, 2/Lt. J.A. Geyton, 2/Lt. R. Baxter, 2/Lt. F.W. Spibey, 2/Lt. C. Haworth, 2/Lt. J.H. Hickman, 2/Lt. T.A. Gough, 2/Lt. G.A. Yates, 2/Lt. J. Bonshor, 2/Lt. J. Rigby, 2/Lt. H.E. Jones & Capt. W.M. Christie R.A.M.C. The Q.M. Stores and Transport moved from Dysart Camp at 5 p.m. by march route via Coucelles-les-Compte to DOUCHY where they bivouaced. Major H.M.C. curtis proceeded to the line with details from the Transport Lines, a party of 2 Officers (2/Lt. S.G. Maitland & 2/Lt. S. Bradbury) & 50 O.R., including Band and specialists under training and held a portion of the front line of the Third System of Defence, East of MORY, until relieved at 4 a.m. 22nd. |
| 22/4/18 4 a.m. |
Major Curtis and party took up a position on the Army Line 500 yards N.E. of MORY and held this position all day in spite of heavy enemy shelling and attacks. Transport and Q.M. Stores still remained at DOUCHY. |
| 23/3/18 1 a.m. |
Owing to the flanks being exposed and heavy enemy attacks the party under Major Curtis fell back 300 yards in a W.S.W. direction but owing to repeated attacks, and being isolated had again to withdraw. The party dug in on ridge covering ERVILLERS and held this position till relieved by the Suffolks. The remained of the party then marched to MIRAMONT and entrained to ALBERT at 9 p.m. Transport, Stores etc. marched from DOUCHY at 9 a.m. and arrived at BOUZINCOURT at 5 p.m. |
| BOUZINCOURT | |
| 24/3/18 | Major Curtis & party rejoined Transport and Stores at BOUZINCOURT where the Battalion remained. |
| BEAUCOURT | |
| 25/3/18 2 a.m. |
Battalion left BOUZINCOURT at 2 a.m. and proceeded by march route to BEAUCOURT arriving there at 5 a.m. Men billeted in Barns etc. |
| CANDAS | |
| 26/3/18 | Left BEAUCOURT at 7 a.m. and proceeded by march route to CANDAS arriving at 1 p.m. Billeted in barns etc. |
| 27/3/18 | Unit still at CANDAS. Bathing. |
| 28/3/18 29/3/18 |
Battalion (less Transport) entrained at 12 noon. Transport left at 8 a.m. and proceeded by road. battalion detrained at AUVIGNEY and proceeded by lorries to GAUCHIN-LEGAL arriving at 6 a.m. and billeted in the Chateau. Transport arrived at 6 p.m. |
| GAUCHIN-LEGAL | |
| 30/3/18 | H.M. The King inspected the Battalion and billets at Chateau at 9.30 a.m. Draft of 40 O.R. joined unit from 8th Bn. South Staffs Regt. |
| 31/3/18 | Transport left by road for WATAU. Church parades held. |
| 31/3/18 | The following extract from a letter addressed to the Divisional Commander by Lieut-General Sir J. Aylmer Haldene K.C.B. D.S.O. Commanding VIth Corps was received:-
“Will you please convey to all ranks of your Division my admiration and thanks for the very gallant stand they made against overwhelming numbers of the enemy supported by a tremendous artillery. |
| In the field. 6.4.18. H.M.C. Curtis MAJOR Commanding 2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. |
NA WO 95/3021
December 24th, 2009 at 4:58 am
[…] the enemy passed through them, towards their transport lines now moved from Ervillers to Douchy. …2/6th Battalion war diary March 1918The party dug in on ridge covering ERVILLERS and held this position till relieved by the Suffolks. […]