War Diaries > 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps

 

This summary of the battalion's day-to-day history covers the period from January 1917 to mid-September 1918.

 

January 1917

The winter of 1916-17 was one of the coldest on record. Ironically this was better for the men in the trenches as everything froze, providing a better environment than the usual mud and damp of this time of year.

 

1 Moved from BAZENTIN to billets in FRICOURT.
10 Relieved the 10/Gloucesters at FRICOURT FARM. 2/Lt G.E.McCabe and 169 OR to a musketry course at PONT REMY. All available men  on fatigues, clearing mud.
13 Moved into C Camp across the road. A larger camp, and more concentrated. On 15th, shelling at night demolished a latrine. On 16th, again shelled at night: one 8-inch (shell) crater 6 yards from the Sergeants Mess. Heavy fall of snow. On 18th, 2/Lts Warner and Sheepshanks and 200 169 OR to a musketry course at PONT REMY, 2/Lt McCabe’s party having returned. Very cold.
24 Relieved by 11th Australian Battalion, and moved into billets at BRESLE. A bomb nearly caught A and D Coys while marching through ALBERT. Left FRICOURT at 10am, arrived 1.45pm. Weather getting even colder.
27 Brigade route march.
29 Practiced an attack scheme with the 1/Loyal North Lancs. Brigade boxing tournament. Very severe frost, and snow.
31 Brigade route march.

February 1917

During the month the Battalion moved from the devastated Somme battlefield to cross the river valley and take up new positions on the south bank that had hitherto been held by the French. This was part of a set of manoeuvres following an agreement for the British to extend the line they held, as the number of Divisions at Field Marshal Haig’s disposal continued to increase.

 

3 Battalion marched to MERICOURT-SUR-SOMME and went into line.
4 CO and 2-i-C went to the French Support Battalion to arrange relief. French unit is 108th Regiment of IV Corps, and the Bn to relieve is 2nd Bn. Battalion washed feet for the first time according to the French method, which has given such wonderful results in preventing trench foot.
5 Marched to CHUIGNES. Inspected by French Corps commander while on the march. CO went to see a practice of attack method by the French. 32 OR and 5 officers returned from courses of Lewis Gun and Trench Mortar training, respectively.
7 Relieved the 2me Battalion, 108me Regiment, 24 Division, in support positions about 2 miles east of ASSEVILLERS. Relief went off quietly and satisfactorily, in a great measure due to the great trouble taken by the French. Quiet days. On 8th, R/35282 Cpl C.G.Millman died of pneumonia, in the Field Ambulance.
11 Relieved the 1er Bn, 123me Regiment in the front line. Very quiet. On 12th, there was shelling of the whole of our rear area with enemy 5.9-inch and 4.2-inch; fairly heavy, but quiet on the whole.
13 A Coy relieved a Coy of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers who had relieved a French Coy the previous day. Quiet day. Our two Bn Ops were shelled during the day, with the result of one being completely demolished by a direct hit by a large minenwerfer, killing one observer and wounding another.
14 Relieved by the 1/Black Watch of 3rd Brigade, and marched to billets in CHUIGNOLLES, about 7 miles in the rear. Brigade to be in reserve for 8 days. Warmer by day, but froze at night. On 16th, a bombing raid by German aeroplanes about midnight caused no damage. On 17th, a heavy thaw set in.
26 Relieved the 1/Northants in the front line.

March 1917

During this month the enemy made a surprise strategic withdrawal to newly-prepared positions, that the British called the Hindenburg Line. Cautiously, the British followed up, crossing ground that had been deliberately devastated and booby-trapped by the enemy. The war diary entry for the 20 March to 7 April is typical, for many units were put to work on repairing the roads and railways that ran across this area, putting them into a condition such that the new front could be adequately supplied.

 

2 Relieved by the 1/Northants and marched to reserve billets at BECQUINCOURT
3 Marched by Companies to CHUIGNES, for baths and feet washing. Then onto road fatigues, working parties, etc.
6 Relieved the 1/Northants in the front line.
7 A raid by the Battalion on our left (Loyal North Lancs). Enemy retaliation slight, but all troops except Lewis Gun teams evacuated the front trench.
8 A shell fell amongst a party while they were going round the trenches. It wounded Acting Adjutant 2/Lt. C. Ambler and an orderly, and killed the CO’s orderly. In all 3 OR killed and 1 wounded. Major Oppenheim DSO suffered concussion. Carried out an internal relief. Lt-Col Abadie returned from the conference at Fourth Army School.
11 Relieved by 8/Berkshires. A slow relief. Moved to BECQUINCOURT . 1 man KIA by shelling.
12 To huts in CHUIGNES. Capt Dimmer VC, Lts Mills, Cull and 2/Lt Robbins joined the Battalion with a draft of 28 OR.
13 Baths and clothing issue. Box respirators issued and tested in gas chamber.
17 GOC 1st Division inspection of A and C Companies in the new attack formation. News received on a German retirement in front of 1st and 3rd Brigades.
18 Church parade. Inter-platoon cross-country, 2 miles. News received that patrols of 1st and 3rd Brigades have crossed the Somme and that PERONNE has now fallen.
20 Relieved 2/Welsh in support trenches half a mile east of BELLOY. Salvagework in the afternoon. Working on the ESTREES-CARBONNEL road.

April 1917

During this month, the Allies launched a major offensive. The British part was an attack on the Arras front. This was initially very successful and included the epic capture of the Vimy Ridge by the Canadians; but the enemy recovered and held tenaciously on to their second and third lines. The losses at Arras in terms of casualties per day were as high as in any battle experienced by the British. French losses on the Aisne front were such that many men in many units began to mutiny. This fact was of course suppressed by the authorities, but was to lead to increased pressure for the British to take the offensive to attract enemy attention, right until early 1918. During this torrid month, the KRRC relaxed in the very pleasant Somme valley.

 

8 Moved to huts in CHUIGNES. Training, various inoculations. Match played in 2nd Brigade Football Cup. Result KRRC 7, Sussex 0.
14 Attack practice.
15 Church parade. Rain all day. Football match v. Loyal North Lancs postponed. Heard that 28 5.9-inch guns were captured by our forces in the Arras offensive.
16 Marched to billets in MORCOURT. Fine day.
17 Open warfare attack practice. Very wet.
19 Open warfare attack practice.
20 Open warfare attack practice. Semi-Final of Football Cup. KRRC 2 Loyal North Lancs 0.
22 Church parade and baths. Officers rugby match KRRC 18 Sussex 8.
23 Advanced guard scheme between MORLANCOURT and CHIPILLY.
24 Practice attack between MORLANCOURT and PROYART.
25 Training. Inter-company tug of war, won by B Company.
26 Marched to MORLANCOURT AERODROME for drill.
27 Training. 1st round of officers tug of war. KRRC beat LNL.
28 Training at CHIPILLY. Brigade sports.
30 Marched to BRAY. Dinner at the station. Entrained at 2.15pm, arrived ROISEL at 10pm. Glorious weather.

May 1917

During May, British plans for a major offensive at Ypres began to take shape. The 1st Division was selected to play a very novel part, and late in the month they left the Somme for Flanders.

 

13 No fatigues. Fine day. Battalion rifle meeting. Inter-section Rapid, won by A Company.
16 Moved to MORCOURT.
19 Marched to VILLERS-BRETONNEUX. Very hot. Poor billets.
21 Route march.
25 1 OR accidentally drowned.
26 Brigade scheme in “wood fighting”.
27 Battalion marched to METEREN, after train journey from VILLERS-BRETONNEUX to BAILLEUL.

June 1917

The British offensive opened with a brilliantly successful attack that captured the Messines ridge on the 7June. This was the first phase of what was to become known as the Third Battle of Ypres, or Passchendaele. The objective of this offensive was not only to break the enemy positions in front of Ypres, but to push rapidly forward and re-capture the Belgian coast. It was becoming imperative to do something about the enemy U-boats that were winning the battle against merchant shipping in the Atlantic. Capturing the coast would knock out the submarine bases. As part of this plan, two Divisions would make a beach landing from the sea, simultaneously with the attack coming out of Ypres. 1st Division was one of the formations selected for this dangerous enterprise. Consequently they moved to the Flanders coast, to begin training.

 

6 Route march to Foret de Nieppe, and bathing in canal.
11 Moved to new billets in Ste MARIE CAPPEL.
20 Marched to WORMHOUDT, arrived at 8.30am. 15 miles.
21 Marched to TETERGHEM near DUNKERQUE. 12 miles.
23

Battalion entrained for COXYDE, and marched to huts half a mile east of COXYDE BAINS.

 

July 1917

While occupying the coastal trenches, the KRRC was almost annihilated by a surprise enemy attack. This so damaged the Battalion that it would be several months before it was again ready to fight. The Ypres offensive was launched on 31st July. Initial success soon ran into problems: the weather was the wettest in Flanders for decades and it turned the already-damp Ypres sector into a quagmire.

 

1 Church parade in the theatre, 9.30am. Brig-Gen. A.B. Hubback and Bde-Major. E.C.Calthorpe MC were wounded while going round the line.
2 Company training in the sand dunes.
3 Battalion took over as Support Bn in Left Sector, in cellars in NIEUPORT BAINS. “Battle strength” only, the rest being in Rink Camp, just west of Oostdunkerque Bains.
4 Took over the verymost left-hand sector of the Western Front. A Company on left, B on right, D in support.
6 Brig-Gen. G.Kemp assumed command of Brigade. Casualties today 4 OR killed, 8 wounded.
7 Much shelling, especially on the left. Casualties 1 OR killed, 8 wounded.
9 A raiding party of Rhodesians under 2/Lt W.T.P.McDowell raided the enemy trenches by Black Dune at 11.30pm. They only found 1 Marine, whom they brought back. He was killed by an enemy shell on our wire. The same shell wounded McDowell and 7 OR’s, and killed Rfn. Duncan.
10 Intense enemy shelling on all areas all day. Enemy attacked at 7.10pm, when about 70% of the Battalion became casualties. Total loss 17 officers and 478 OR. [This very terse statement was made after a disastrous day. The advance Companies of the KRRC and Northamptons had been moved into a network of trenches and posts on the east bank of the broad estuary of the River Yser. The only way of crossing was by one of a few narrow plank bridges. The enemy first cut off all communication with these exposed positions by laying down a very heavy curtain of artillery fire, then advancing in strength using bombs. The enemy action was completely successful and it virtually wiped out all British troops on that side of the river.
11 Capt.Smith, Capt. Butter, 2/Lt Gracie and about 20 men returned, having swum the Yser. Capt. Pallant MC RAMC, attached Loyal North Lancs, was the means of saving several of these mens lives in the water.
15 Battalion moved to GHYVELDE, south of BRAY DUNES. Relieved by 2/8 Manchesters of 66th Division. Now encamped in a pleasant meadow.
16 Moved to CAPELLE, south west of DUNKERQUE, and rather scattered in farm buildings. The Corps Commander Lieut-Gen.du Cane addressed the officers, and the Battalion marched past. Received a draft of 236 OR, from the London Regiment and ASC.
19 Moved to St POL-sur-Mer, and received more drafts. Lt-Col. Willand DSO took over command of the Battalion.

 

August 1917

At GHQ, hopes remained high that the Ypres offensive would succeed. The beach landing remained part of the plan, and preparation continued.

 

11 Whole Battalion practiced landing and unloading from pontoons.
13 Route march via MARDYCK, GRANDE SYNTHE and PETIT SYNTHE.
25 General Rawlinson presented medal ribbons.

 

September 1917

During the month, Lt-Col. Willand left to take command of 56th Brigade. The Battalion had various field days, training, route marches, etc whilst still based in the area of St Pol-sur-Mer

 

October 1917

During September the coastal attack was cancelled, as the offensive moved painfully forward across the Ypres wasteland towards the Passchendaele ridge. The 1st Division was moved from the coast, ready to be moved into this area.

 

22 Moved at 8.15am for ETINGHEM, north west of WORMHOUDT, arriving 4.45pm.
24 Moved to an area 1 mile west of HERZEELE.
25 Left at 8.20am for a camp about 2 miles west of POPERINGHE, arrived at noon. Very muddy and windy.

 

November 1917

The 1st Division moved into the Passchendaele battlefield.

 

6 Moved towards the line and bivouacked at IRISH FARM, north-east of YPRES.
7 Battalion  took over line of the PADDEBEEK, south west of WESTROOSEBEEK, from the 1/RMLI and Anson Bn. Bn HQ in a pill box at Burns House, with an auxiliary HQ in another pill box at Albatros Farm. Conditions in the front line very bad owing to the marshiness of the ground. Our own and hostile artillery very active the whole tour. Bn temporarily under the command of 3rd Brigade. [The diary here is making considerable understatement. The ground in the Ypres salient was a morass, completely impassible except on plank tracks laid across the deep mud wastes. Many men, especially wounded, drowned in the mud. When moving, progress of 200-300 yards in an hour was commonplace. The shelling was continuous, and all above-ground movement by day impossible. Conditions were so bad that units had to be relieved after as little as 24 hours.].
8 2/Lt Hubbard and 4 OR killed by shellfire, and 8 wounded.
9 17 wounded. Relieved by 1/Northants, and moved to Hilltop Camp, Irish Farm.
10 Marched to Reigersberg for baths.
11 Relieved the Northants in the same position as before.
14 Moved back to Dampre Camp near BRIELEN. Shelled by a high-velocity gun in the night.
18 Moved to Irish Farm.
19 Relieved the 10/Gloucesters in the line, to the right of our former sector. Ground a little higher and less damp. Just before moving off, 2 killed and 22 wounded at Irish Farm.
21 Relieved by the Northants, and back to Hilltop Camp.
22 Back to Dampre Camp.
24 Moved at 11am to POPERINGHE, arriving at 2pm in very comfortable billets.
26 Seats were taken at two concert parties in Pop.
27 Moved to HERZEELE; billeted in a convent. A and B Companies in the village, C and D in farms nearby. Rather scattered but quite comfortable.

 

December 1917

Three months of drudgery in the mud of the salient.

 

6 Moved to Noyen Camp at CROMBEKE, the rear area for the HOUTHULST FOREST front.
12 Moved to a well-camouflaged camp in woods east of WOESTEN. Men comfortable but rather crowded in elephant-iron shelters.
13 Provided working parties, laying cables and working on a railway.
19 Relieved the 1/SWB in support positions.
20 Relieved 2/Welsh in the Right sector of the Divisional front. Very quiet and cold. Overcoats brought up for the men, who were not under cover.
24 Relieved by the Northants.
25 Every available man out wiring.
27 Relieved by the 1/Camerons and moved back to the camp at Woesten.
28 Relieved by the 10/Gloucesters and moved back to Crombeke.

 

January 1918

1 Celebrated Christmas, with sports, dinner and concerts (given by the 8/Berkshires Concert Party).
5 Moved to La Bergerie Camp near Woesten.
12 Relieved the 1/SWB in support.
13 Relieved the 2/Welsh in front line.
14 2/Lt Snow and 2 OR missing believed killed. They were on patrol; troops state 2/Lt Snow was shot through the throat.
15 Terrific storm during the night. Dug-outs flooded. Carrying parties took 3.5 hours to go 500 yards. All ‘beeks’ swollen.
17 Relieved by Northants.
18 News received that Capt. V.B. Hill has died of septic pneumonia.
20 18 Fijians left for the 1st Battalion. Relieved by 1/Camerons, and moved back to Woesten.
21 Moved back to Noyen Camp.
27 Moved into Brigade Support (Dekort Camp, between Woesten and Elverdinge), behind 32nd Division in the front line.

 

February 1918

6 All Companies bathed.
7 All Companies “pedicured”. [Given preventive treatment for trench foot].
8 Marched to ELVERDINGHE, and entrained on the light railway to Kempton Park. Had tea, and at dusk moved into the front line, relieving the 4th North Staffordshires of 35th Division in the Left Sector of the Divisional front. The Battalion positions were 1000 yards north of POELCAPELLE, to the line of the LEKKERBOTERBEEK, 1000 yards south east of Poelcapelle. A quiet tour.
12 Relieved by Northants, and moved to the support area at Hugel Hollow.
14 Relieved the 2/Sussex from the Lekkerboterbeek, along the line of the Paddebeek; in all a line of 1500 yards. [An exceptionally long stretch of line for a single battalion to hold, especially in these conditions].
17 About 6am, in half light, an enemy party attempted to raid one of A Company’s posts. The party, 40 strong and led by 2 officers, included 2 light  machine-guns. We accounted for 19 killed, 1 wounded POW and 1 machine-gun captured. Our only loss was 2/Lt R.D. Willmot who was killed while in command of the post.
18 Relieved by Northants, and back to Hugel Hollow.
20 Relieved by 1/Black Watch. Entrained at Kempton Park and detrained at Elverdinghe. Marched to Caribou Camp.

 

March 1918

Conditions had changed significantly since the end of the Ypres offensive. The revolution in Russia had caused the fighting on the eastern front to cease. Germany moved many of its Divisions to the west, and now enjoyed a great manpower and material superiority. At the same time, Lloyd George was holding men back in the United Kingdom, at the same time agreeing to another lengthy extension of the British line. The French were still nursing their Divisions back from mutiny. Overall, the conditions could not have been better for the enemy to attack. The storm broke on 21March, when an immense and devastating artillery barrage opened the largest offensive yet in the war. The attack took place to the south, on the north and south sides of the Somme (the area in which the KRRC had been in February and March 1917). It broke through the British Fifth Army, and over the next two weeks pushed the Allies back almost to Amiens. This was a most serious crisis. Many units were rushed south to combat this attack. The 1st Division was not yet selected.

 

2 Major Sir J.V.E.Lees, Bart., Capt.Horden and 2/Lt McCabe wounded while reconnoitring the Army Battle Zone. Concert given in evening by “The Pedlars”, the 32nd Divisional Concert Party.
3 Marched at 4.30am to Elverdinghe, moved by train to WIELTJE and then marched to Kempton Park. Battalion cookers issued breakfast. Most of the battalion were placed on working parties. In the evening, relieved the 10/Gloucesters and took over their billets.
6 Stood-to at 4.30am on alert after an SOS wasseen on right front. Stood down after 30 minutes.
13 Same as 6th.
16 Relieved 1/SWB in Left Sector of Brigade front at POELCAPELLE.
20 Enemey attempted raids on our posts, which were repulsed. We took 3 POWs, and killed many. Relieved by 2/Sussex and moved to Hugel Hollow. Much enemy shelling in the early evening.
21 A fine sunny day. Companies bathed. Battalion HQ gassed in the evening.
22 Relieved the Northants.
26 Relieved by the 2/Sussex.
28 Moved to California Dugouts.
29 Providing working parties. 11 OR of A Company were killed in their sleep by one shell landing on their dugout.
31 Battalion HQ moved to the Canal Bank [north of Ypres].

 

April 1918

As so many units moved to the Somme fighting, the 1st Division was moved to cover a major gap in Artois. The KRRC held trenches in this sector, on a very long and thinly-covered stretch, for a long time. They were again lucky, for on 9 April the enemy launched the second phase of their offensive, a little way to the north and across the River Lys. It again succeeded in breaking through and pushing the British back towards the key railway junction at Hazebrouck.

 

5 Marched to entrain at BOESINGHE destined for Merville, but orders were cancelled while we were on the train. Eventually detrained at CHOCQUES. Marched to LAPUGNOY, arriving at 6pm.
6 Old members of the battalion visited many friends of two years ago. The inhabitants were very pleased to see the “Premiere Division”.
7 Battalion moved by motor bus to take over an area of front line south of the BETHUNE – LA BASSEE road. Details marched to Le Preol. Gas shells fell at night.
9 At 4.15am, the most terrific bombardment started north of the canal. The enemy attacked at 7am, in thick mist. Fairly quiet on our sector.
14 Lt-Col. E.G.St.Aubyn assumed command of the Battalion.
18 The enemy attacked GIVENCHY. Heavy shelling on our left.
20 The 1/Northants were lent to 1st Brigade, and re-took posts captured the day before.
23 The enemy raided our left (B) Company. 6 OR wounded. We accounted for 7 Germans killed and several wounded. Major Lees left to take command of the 18th KRRC.
27 Relieved by Northants during the day, and moved to support in CAMBRIN village.
30 During the long period the battalion held these trenches the men received a bath, and the canteen was open, thus lessening to a slight degree the weariness of this abnormal period of trench warfare (7th to 27th). The Division was congratulated for the magnificent defence it put up.

 

May 1918

4 Battalion HQ moved to Noeux-les-Mines.
6 Relieved by the Loyal North Lancs and Northants, and moved to Noeux.
12 Relieved the 1/SWB in front of BURBURE ALLEY, to RAILWAY ALLEY, in the Hohenzollern Redoubt sector.
16 Relieved by Northants and moved to ANNEQUIN.
20 Relieved 2/Sussex between Railway Alley and SAVILE ROW.
24 D Company, under command of Capt. Fryer, carried out a raid at FOSSE TRENCH. Party consisted of 4 officers and 110 OR, with 1 RE officers and 8 Sappers. The wire was very effectively cut by trench mortars and 18-pounders. Considerable damage inflicted on enemy. 2/Lts Harmie, Cotton and 15 OR wounded. Cpl Rowley died of wounds. The RE officer (Lt Cowley) and 3 Sappers were wounded.
28 Relieved by the 1/Black Watch, and moved back to Noeux.

 

June 1918

The enemy offensive had been defeated, if only just, and for a while things settled down. It was not yet known to the Allies that the enemy was all but broken by its losses, the fatigue and disappointment at having failed to win (not helped by seeing the riches of stores and food they saw behind the captured Allied lines; conditions in Germany and for it’s armies was worsening daily as the British naval blockade held supplies in their grip), and the knowledge that American troops would soon be tipping the manpower balance strongly against them. Conversely, British morale was soaring in the knowledge that they had taken all the enemy could possibly throw at them and survived.

 

5 Relieved 2/Welsh in CAMBRIN and near PONT FIXE.
18 Relieved 2/Sussex in left sector. In the evening, 11th Division on our right discharged gas, and the 55th Division on our left attacked. Very heavy enemy artillery smashed up our trenches in several places.
21 Relieved by 1/Camerons, and returned to Noeux.
29 Battalion marched out to LABUISSIERE to rehears an inspection by HRH the Duke of Connaught, on Monday. Major-Gen. Strickland inspected our Brigade. Moved back by motor bus.
During this tour at Noeux an epidemic of so-called “Spanish Influenza” swept through the Battalion. The fever generally lasted 3 days. Capt.Ward RAMC made a temporary hospital in school buildings in the Rue Hingette.

 

July 1918

The lack of reaction of the enemy to an increasingly aggressive British Army was, in hindsight, an early indicator of the fundamental material, organisational and morale shifts going on in the enemy ranks that was to lead to collapse later in the summer.

 

1 Moved to Labuissiere by lorry for the inspection. The following members of the battalion were presented with honours: 2/Lt Winter MC; Sgt Hinstridge DCM; Sgt Conel MM.
2 Relieved 2/Welsh in the left sector of the Hohenzollern. One of the quietest tours the Battalion ever had. The time was spent in working, carrying, wiring and training.
7 Relieved by Northants, moved back to Annequin.
8 Very hot. Thunder storm.
9 Germans shelled Annequin Fosse [slagheap] more than usual.
12 Relieved 2/Sussex in right sector of Cambrin trenches. Germans fired a 10-minute barrage. For retaliation we gave them 20, with all calibres.
15 Lt P.D.Ravenscroft rejoined, from the Divisional Reception Camp, with a draft of 8 OR. [Ravenscroft later published his memoirs, entitled “Unversed in arms”].
17 Three Italians escaped the enemy and entered our front. The Blues came up as our machine-gunners.
20 All this week our heavy artillery and trench mortars were cutting enemy wire. Our patrols very active.
21 A Company from a new Division, the 59th, came for instruction. In the afternoon, the Black Watch relieved the Battalion. Completed by 6pm, and marched to Noeux via VERMELLES and NOYELLES.
28 Brigade held the eliminating competition for the forthcoming Divisional Horse Show. KRRC won the Infantry Officers Chargers.
29 Lewis Gun competition in “Rapid Stripping” won by D Company.
30 Played I Corps at cricket. Battalion concert party in evening.
31 Relieved 1/SWB in Cambrin sector. Quiet. Normal shelling of Pont Fixe.

 

August 1918

The British Fourth Army launched an attack on 8 August, on the south bank of the Somme. It succeeded brilliantly, and broke through the enemy, causing chaos. German commander Ludendorff soon called it “The Black Day of the German Army”. From this time on, the Allies launched attack after attack, pushing the enemy back. It caused great losses of men and ground to the enemy, but was also very costly in terms of casualties for the British. The KRRC began to move into the area being attacked late in August.

 

7 A low-flying enemy aeroplane was brought down by Stokes mortar.
8 Relieved by 2/Sussex and moved to Cambrin support. Battalion HQ shelled in the night. German maps were issued to the Battalion, showing the exact position of a signal station opposite Battalion HQ. Very hot days.
12 Relieved the Northants. Much patrolling activity, entering enemy front lines an bringing back notice boards and other trophies. The enemy had actually evacuated their front lines.
13 Wire-cutting by our artillery commenced along the whole front. Gas projectors were let off, and there was continual harassing fire.
16 While on a probing patrol, 2/Lt Hancock was shot and could not be got away. 2/Lt Gurney was also badly wounded.
18 Lt-Col Badham left to command the 2/Sussex.
22 Relieved by 6/Somerset Light Infantry, and proceeded to BEUGIN near HOUDAIN. Embussed outside Noeux and reached destination at midnight.
23 A complete Divisional scheme of training was drawn up, to be carried out beginning with Platoon training.
31 Received sudden orders to move south. Marched to DIEVAL, entrained and reached ARRAS at 6am on 1st September.

 

September 1918

The month was one of almost continuous fighting for the 2nd KRRC.

 

1 Passed day in billets in Arras. Proceeded to the line in the evening, and moved into reserve for an attack carried out by the Canadian Division.
2 The Canadians moved at dawn; the Battalion followed up in artillery formation about 4 miles behind. Towards evening, we halted 1000 yards in front of VIS-en-ARTOIS. Harrassing fire fell on the Battalion area and one Lewis Gun team was knocked out completely.
3 Orders received to stand-to at 1am. The CO and Company commanders reconnoitred areas north of the Cambrai road, occupied by a Battalion of the Essex Regiment. We are holding the Sensee River, on the left flank of the attack. Meanwhile, the Battalion began to advance with the intention of wheeling left into the valley in front of DURY. But orders came to return to original positions. Very heavy enemy shelling. Marched through ETERPIGNY, where we picked up our guides. From this point, the Companies moved to relieve the Essex in an area south east of ETAING.
4 At 3am we began to advance again. There was a heavy HE barrage but very few casualties and by dawn we were in position of the DURY-? Road, throwing out sentry groups on the forward slopes of the Sensee valley. B and half of D Company moved to the village of L’ECLUSE. The rest were distributed in depth, and settled down by dawn.
5 Fairly quiet, sunny and delightful. In the evening, a patrol reached the first houses in TORQUENILLES, with no opposition.
6 Heavy shelling.
7 Relieved by the 13th Londons at 9pm. Moved in column down the main road to Dury and then along a track to the Cambrai road. Picked up the battalion cookers at Picharts Factory. Shelled at 4am. Hot tea, then moved by bus to HERMAVILLE, arriving at 6am on 8th.
10 Moved off at 9am and marched a few miles to ACQU. Entrained at noon, moved off eventually at 2.15pm, arrived at GUILLANCOURT and then marched to PROYART.
12 Rained all day. Too wet for parades.
13 Moved by bus to ATHIES, and billeted in cellars and nissen huts.
14 Moved by road to Fox Copse. Spent rest of the day making shelters.
15 Sunday Church parades, and inspection of fighting order in the morning. The CO, Adjutant and Company commanders went to VERMAND to reconnoitre. A very fine day. At 8.30pm we moved out across country through TERTRY to a wood east of COURLANCOURT, where the Battalion spent the night in dugouts. Slight shelling.
16 The morning was spent in preparations. Orders for the attack were read out. The Battalion moved up at 8pm. Storm during the night.
17 2/Lt Drapkin joined the Battalion. 2 OR wounded. Bn occupied in making final arrangements for tomorrows attack. Bn HQ moved up soon after dusk to MAISSEMY.
18 BY 4.30am the Battalion was formed up ready for the attack. The Bn was attacking on a front of about 800 yards, which gradually narrowed down to about 500 yards at the final objective – area intended from the impassible marsh ground of the River Omignon on the left, to the road running north east from Maissemy to BERTHACOURT. The 2/Sussex wereon our left and the 1/Cameron Highlanders on our right. Our first objective was an enemy trench system along the high ground in M13a (Half way between Maissemy and Berthacourt). The second and final objective was Berthacourt. There was a further objective for the exploiting of success but this was not attempted on account of the Bns on our right being held up. Zero was at 5.20am and the Battalion moved forward. A Company under Capt.Barnes MC in front, with B Company under 2/Lt Cunningham MM supporting the right half of A. C Company under Capt.Cook MC supported the laft half of A. D Company under 2/Lt Cotton was in Battalion reserve. The morning was very wet and unpleasant but the weather changed up towards noon. Prisoners soon began to come in but news was difficult to get on account of the heavy Scotch mist which hung thickly in the valleys and thus prevented any visual signalling or direct observation of the attack. The Colonel went forward and got in touch with the Company commanders of C and B Coys, and learned that the Bn was held up by MGs on the left and right flanks. C Company was ordered to work around the left flank, and B Company, together with a portion of the left Company of the Camerons were to work round the right, while A Company held the MGs in front. This worked very well and it was mostly through the splendid leadershipof 2/Lt Cunningham that the position was turned. He took charge of the whole situation on the right, and himself dealt with the crew of an enemy gun. All this caused considerable delay and as it was not till about 9.45am that the position was turned it was discovered that our barrage had gone far ahead. However without the aid of the barrage the Bn pushed forward quickly, C on the left, A (now commanded by 2/Lt Nugent-Head, Capt.Barnes having been seriously wounded) in the centre and B on the right. D was still in full strength and in reserve. They fought their way through the village of Berthacourt to the eastern outskirts and finally consolidated there, throwing out sentry groups in front of the main line of resistance. Throughout the operations enemey shellingwas practically negligible and most of the opposition was from MGs. Battalion HQ took up a position in a half-dug trench just short of the village, from which an extensive view could be obtained of the country beyond. We had been told to expect a counter-attack from PONTRUET, a village 500 yards east of Berthaucourt, and sure enough much movement in the shape of small groups of men was observed working forward from that village at about 4.45pm. WE had a telephone line back to Brigade which was laid as we advanced and our artillery liaison officer was able to get back to his Brigade and within a few minutes an excellent barrage of shrapnel and HE was put down in the area where movement was seen, with the results that the counter attack failed to develop. The Colonel had been hit in the foot earlier in the day and was eventually evacuated, Major Butler taking his place. 2/Lt F.A.Simonds joined the Battalion,with 1 OR. 2/Lts Eldridge, Elmhurst, Best killed. Capt. Barnes, Lt Chambers, 2/Lts Winter, Lister wounded. 23 OR killed, 6 missing, 95 OR wounded.
19 We had a counter preparation barrage just before dawn. Lt Chambers came up. The enemy attempted at 3pm to bomb down a communication trench on the extreme right but was stopped by counter bombing. Unfortunately both Lt Chambers and 2/Lt Cunningham were wounded during this minor operation and the latter afterwards died of wounds. 2/Lt Kiddle took over B Company temporarily. A small fighting patrol went out from D Company that night and proceeded down the main road towards Pontruet. They bumped into a strongly-held enemy post and 2/Lt Marlow who was leading was never seen again. Enemy artillery did a considerable amount of harassing fire round Bn HQ and left the front Companies alone. We had a counter preparation barrage that evening as well. That evening Bn HQ was moved back about 300 yards to the trench which formed our first objective, as they had suffered several casualties in their former positions. 2/Lt Cunningham MM died of wounds. 2/Lt Marlow missing. 2 ORs killed, and 13 wounded.

 

This extract from the diary is drawn from the original which is held at the National Archives in Kew and is Crown Copyright. WO95/1273. It is reproduced here in memory of R/31755 Private John Miley, an "old sweat" who was killed in action on 19 September 1918. John is buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery.