March 23rd to 24th 1918

Beugny - March 23^rd 1918: Digging stopped about 1am and whole Battalion proceeded to Beugny & commenced digging new line about 1000 yards N of Beugny running NW from the Vaulx-Beugny road. A&B Coys in front line and C&D Coys in support.

At 7.30am A&B Coys proceeded in extended order to reinforce the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who were in a line about 200 yards in advance of the line being dug by A7B Coys. Positions in this vicinity were heavily bombarded during the morning & afternoon.

The enemy infantry attacked about 4.30pm as the Battalion on the right had been forced to withdraw previous to this. A,B & C Coys withdrew through Beugny at 5.30pm, they came under intense artillery and machine gun fire. It is reported by an N.C.O that a great many of A&B Coy were unable to reach the village owing to a flanking movement by the enemy. The remainder of A,B & C Coys were reorganised in Beugny and they took up a position with other units in a line S of the village which was partly dug. They remained at this location all night.

When the enemy attacked at 4.30pm D Coy retired from their support position on to the Bapaume-Beugny road where they reorganised & took up a position in the line started that morning across the railway.

When the Battalion moved up into position N of Beugny, Battn HQ’s were made in the Vaulx-Beugny road & according to the report of a HQ runner Battn HQ were cut off at the same time as the position of A&B Coys in the retirement to the village.

Casualties

• Officers: 2 Killed; 7 Missing; 5 Wounded [all named but not transcribed here]
• Other Ranks: 5 Killed; 317 Missing [including Harry]; 43 Wounded and missing

Beugny - March 24^th 1918: The position S of Beugny was heavily bombarded from 9am to 10.30am. The units on the right who were in an advanced position withdrew in line with our own position during the morning after repulsing an enemy attack.

About 12 noon these units again had to withdraw so our position had to be evacuated. The Battn took up a position with the Cheshires in the line running across the Bapaume-Cambrai railway. At 8pm they were moved to another position in the line by the Cheshires where they remained all night working on the trench. Transport moved to Achiet-le-Petit.

March 25th to 31st 1918

East of Bapaume - March 25^th 1918: The enemy attacked the position E of Bapaume about 10am & after much resistance broke through on the left & the whole line was withdrawn. During the retirement the remainder of the Battalion joined up with the 23^rd Middlesex & on reaching Achiet-le-Petit they were relieved by the 42^nd Division. They then proceeded to Buquoy & reorganised. Transport moved to Buquoy.

Buquoy - March 26^th 1918: Marched to Gommecourt & took up reserve position E of village. Marched to Bienvillers in evening. Transport moved to Couin.

Gommecourt – March 27^th 1918: Rested all day & night

Gommecourt – March 28^th 1918: Rested all day & took up out-post position in evening at Essarts.

Essarts - March 29^th 1918: Remained in out-post position all day. Joined 10^th Royal West Kents & under the command of Major Wallace relieved one Battalion of the 42^nd Division in front line W of Ablainzevelle. At 11pm reinforcements & details joined the battalion in front line at 7pm.

W of Ablainzevelle – March 30^th 1918: In the line

W of Ablainzevelle – March 31^st 1918: In the line