The 1st Battalion, the Essex
Regiment
War Diary - November, 1917
1917 November POMMIER
1st
At Pommier. Presentation by G.O.C 29th Division of medals for operations
on October 9th.
2nd
to Training.
16th 17th
Left Pommier. Marched to BOISLEUX an MONT and entrained. Detrained at PERONNE
and marched under cover of darkness to MOIFLANS.
18th
Left Moislans at 6.30 pm and marched to SOREL le GRAND.
19th
In order to ensure concealment of operations men were kept in huts during
the day.
20th
2 a.m. The Battalion marched to place of assembly W. of GOUDEAUCOURT. arriving
21st at 4.40 am. At 6.30 (zero hour) the battle was commenced by three Divisions
advancing in line preceded by lines of tanks of which in these operations
some 200 were employed. Their objectives were the 1st & 2nd trenches
of the HINDENBURG LINE on the capture of which the two outer divisions were
to form defensive flanks to the advance of the 29th Division. The task assigned
to the 29th Division was to push through the ST QUENTIN Canal, seize the
crossings at MARCOING and MASNIERES and thus allow the cavalry to go through
to CAMBRAI. At 6.30 am the Battalion moved to the forming up Area about FARM
RAVINE (H.20.a) and at 6.45 am the Companies moved off to take up their positions
as advance guard to the 88th Brigade, "Y" Coy forming the 20th-21st Vanguard
in the first captured German (contd) line and the other Coys in our old front
line. This was completed by 9.20 am. At 11am the advance was sounded by bugle
and the Battalion went forward, "W" Coy on the right, "Z" Coy on the left
& "X" Coy in support. The four tanks preceded the Vanguard, themselves
guided by eight Battalion scouts; all Coys in artillery formation until the
2nd objective was passed, when they extended into two lines. Opposition was
first encountered from a strong point about L.35.d. just beyond the HINDENBURG
Support line and a this strong point base was captured at 12 noon, 70 prisoners
being taken. 2/Lieut Davies was wounded by a treacherous shot during the
surrender of the prisoners. Shortly after this a platoon under Captain Hobday
captured three field guns and two machine guns were also taken in the Strong
Point. Enemy troops still held the suburb of LES RUE VERTES South of Masnieres
but was soon dislodged by the combined operations of the ESSEX and WORCESTERSHIRE
Regiments. At 1 pm the Canal was reached, but unfortunately the bridge which
had apparently been prepared for destruction collapsed under the leading
Tank thereby blocking all advance, and the advance was subsequently held
up by heavy Machine Gun & Rifle fire from houses on the Northern side
of the Canal. In spite of all efforts to get across under covering fire from
5 or 6 tanks no progress was possible at this point and thr Southern bank
of the Canal was accordingly lined by troops under whose covering fire efforts
were made to cross by one or two foot bridges. Under cover of the fire from
platoons of Y and W Coys Capt. Morison, crossing a small foot bridge, established
his company in a mill on an island between the river and the Canal and
endeavoured by his fire to cover further attempts to cross. At 4.30 pm, by
the aid of 2 tanks which gave covering fire, 2/Lieut Narchant with some of
his men made a gallant attempt to rush a small pontoon bridge, but was killed
with several of his men in the effort. Further gallant ettempts were made
by Capt Morison commanding Y Coy and Lieut: Hoysgood with small parties,
but 20th-21st without success, both of these officers (Contd) being killed
& Lieut Reid wounded with many of their men. It was therefore decided
to cease these efforts & organise the defence of the Canal for the night.
In the meantime the lock Bridge in L.24.6 to the West and another in G 27
to the East had been occured by the NEWFOUNDLAND and WORCESTER Regts and
who effected crossings at these points. A number of Cavalry united in LES
RUE VERTES till a late hour in the hopes of being able to get across, but
were then withdrawn, a small party actually crossing by the lock bridge in
G 27. At 11 pm mopping up parties from all four Battalions were sent North
of the Canal to clear out the snipers, a party of Essex under Lieuts: Curson,
Hope and Vaughton crossing by the lock in L 24 co-operating with the
Newfoundlands in clearing as far as the main MASNIERES - CAMBRAI Road. They
returned at 3 am reporting all clear. Under orders received from Brigade
to form a Bridge-head, Y and Z Coys moved off at 3.45 am to cross by the
lock at L.24. and established themselves along the Railway G 19 central,
G 20 central. At 4 am 2/Lieut Miles (Intelligence Officer) set out with some
scouts to reconnoitre the positions selected and at 6.30 am returned and
reported that finding the enemy in occupation, Y and Z Coys had dug in along
the Railway about L 19 central in touch with the Newfoundland Regt on their
left. At 9 am W Coy was sent off conducted by the Intelligence Officer with
instructions to establish themselves in rear of Y & Z Coys, to send patrols
across to the East of the Cambrai Road, and should the front trenches of
the MASNIERES - BEAUREVOIR Line be found unoccupied by the enemy, to establish
themselves therein. It was notified that at 11 am a combined attack by the
87th & 88th Brigades would advance and capture the MASNIERES - BEAUREVOIR
Line. At 11.30 am W Coy was held up West of the Cambrai Road and engaged
the enemy, having found it impossible to get scouts across the Cambrai Road.
At this juncture Tanks appeared to be moving in an Easterly direction from
MARCOING 20th-21st along the ridge L.24 Central, G 19 (Contd) Central leading
the attack of the 87th Brigade. W Coy attempted to advance parallel to these
Tanks in a North Easterly direction but on reaching the German wire G 20
b they were stopped by a Cross Machine Gun fire and being unable to proceed
further formed a line on the Southern slope of the ridge in prolongation
of the South Wales Borderers. There were many casualties from the heavy enemy
fire and 2/Lieut Vaughton was reported "Missing" after this action. Meanwhile
at 10 am Headquarters and X Coys started up the main Cambrai Road through
Masnieres with a view to taking up their position in front of the German
line about G 20 d 5.6 to G 21 C 2.6. However, on reaching the point G 20
d 5.5 they came under heavy Machine Gun and Rifle fire from housetops on
both sides of the road and several men fell. Headquarters and X Coy opened
a hot fire on the buildings from which the sniping came and under cover of
this were withdrawn to the West of the village since their orders did not
admit of delay. At 11 am the attack of the 87th Brigade commenced and having
failed to get to their appointed positions East of the Cambrai Road, Headquarters
and X Coy cooperated with the 87th Brigade covering their right flank during
the advance. When the advance of the 87th Brigade ceased, held up by resistance
on the Cambrai Road, Headquarters marched, acompanied by X Coy, via the Canal
bank to a position near the Sugar Factory at G 27 a, got in touch with Brigade
HQ and awaited further orders. At 3 pm 2/Lieut Miles returned to Headquarters
and reported the situation of the other 3 Coys. At 5 pm orders were received
to take up a position on the left of the HAMPSHIRE Regt. between the MASNIERES
- RUMILLY and MASNIERES - CAMBRAI Roads about G 21 d 2.7, G 20 b 6.1 in touch
with South Wales Borderers on the West of the Cambrai Road. Whilst this position
was being reconnoitred and a tape got out 2/Lieut Miles was despatched to
the West of Masnieres to bring up W, Y and Z Coys and by 6.30 pm all Coys
were in position 20th-21st digging in. Casualties on the (Contd) 20th/21st
amounted to - Killed 3 officers, 21 men; Wounded, 2 officers, 107 men; Missing,
1 officer, 31 men.
22nd
The line occupied on the 21st was maintained until 6pm when the Bn was relieved
by a Bn of the LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS and marched to Marcoing where it went
into billets.
23rd/24th
In billets & dugouts at MARCOING. On afternoon of 24th the shelling was
so heavy that the whole Bn was moved into one big dugout.
25th
6pm The Bn relieved the INISKILLING FUSILIERS in trenches N.W. of Marcoing.
26th
Previous night spent in developing a position and digging a strong point.
Situation normal except for good deal of Machine Gun fire.
27th
Situation normal. A few casualties from Artillery & Machine Gun fire.
28th
Situation normal. Relieved at 5.30 pm by INISKILLING FUSILIERS, returning
to Marcoing.
29th
Town heavily shelled all day.
30th
The day opened with heavy bombardment with Gas Shells lasting from 7 to 9
am. A heavy German counter attack having driven in the Division on our right
at 10 am the Bn was ordered to assemble on ground to the South of Marcoing
Copse. Owing to the very heavy shelling, Headquarters & Coys proceeded
independently choosing their own routes. By 10.30 am H.Q. had arrived at
L 29 central and Y Coy had already advanced from that point Southwards against
the enemy some of whom had reached the sunken road immediately South of Marcoing
Copse bu t were now retiring again Southwards leaving a number of dead, wounded
and prisoners in our hands. W and Z Coys arriving shortly afterwards were
ordered to prolong the line Eastward & join up with the Newfoundlands
who were forming a defensive flank S.E facing S.E. about L 30 d. At this
moment Capt Goddard (the Adjutant) 30th was wounded and Captain Hobday who
(Contd) had taken over y Coy was being brought back mortally wounded. During
the advance of W and Z Coys Capt Grant, commanding Z Coy was killed and 2/Lieut
Cramer severley wounded. As fighting was becoming severe, and much ammunition
was being expended, parties were sent down from Bn HQ to the outskirts of
Marcoing to bring up ammunition and take it up to the front line. Several
trips were made and tools were also sent up. HQ now dug themselves in at
L 29 central and Brigade HQ established themselves at L 26 d 8.7. About 3
pm X Coy who had been in reserve was pushed up to a position just East of
Bn HQ in L 29 d central where they dug in. The Hampshire Regt which was also
in the line was withdrawn into Brigade reserve and the remaining units of
the Brigade were ordered to reorganise and dig in; Worcesters on the right,
Essex in the Centre & Newfoundlands on the left. A good line of strong
points was therefore established along the line L 30 d 7.5 L 35 b 0.2 and
afterwards linked into a continuous trench and during the night a small amount
of rations & water & much ammunition was sent up to them. Casualties
during the evening of the 30th - Killed 1 officer, 14 men; Wounded, 4 officers
(1 mortally), 60 men, Missing, 31 men.
Lt-Colonel STIRLING cmdg 1st Battalion Essex Regiment
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