Military History

Reginald is listed as having died of wounds on 24th August 1918 at eithe the 34th or 38th Casualty Clearing Stations which used Fienvillers Cemetery for burials. The 9th Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 25th August are transcribed below.

Logger Lane – 23 Aug 1918: Continued intermittent shelling by the enemy during the day.  In the afternoon, orders were received for an attack on the other side of the Ancre. At dusk, Battalion was moved, via Station Road and Beaucourt to position in Logger Lane, S of the Ancre.

At 10.30.p.m. Brigade was formed up into lines of platoons with 3 Coys. of the E.YORKS.R. on the Left with left flank in Ancre, three Coys. of K.O.Y.L.I. on Right and three Coys. of D.L.I. in Support, one Company of each Unit forming Brigade Reserve. At 11.15pm the Barrage opened up and the Battalion under Lt. Col H.Greenwood DSO & MC moved in a due Easterly direction...

Battery Valley 24 Aug 1918: …After passing through outpost of N.F’s [Northumberland Fusiliers], strongly held enemy machine gun positions were encountered and rushed, and prisoners sent back. On arriving at Battery Valley, trenches and strong points were cleared of the enemy and a machine gun and a 4.2 Gun were captured. Continuing under heavy machine gun fire the Bn. advanced towards the objective – the Red LINE on the Grandcourt - Thiepval Road. Before arriving there several shells from our heavy batteries fell short causing some casualties amongst our men, Lt. Col. Greenwood being blown violently off his feet and thrown against a post injuring him internally. In spite of this he continued to lead the Battalion towards the objective. The Red Line was reached and on account of the eagerness to proceed, the men were with some difficulty held back and the Battalion was reorganised and proceeded to dig in about 400 yards in front of objective. It was expected that the 110th Brigade were to follow through to the next objective.

The right flank being quite exposed, the DLI’s were brought up on our Right to take up a defensive flank position. At 3.0 a.m. the order was given for the advance to the high ground in R.11. With exceptional dash and courage the men commenced this further advance of 2,500 yards. Heavy Machine Gun Fire was encountered from flanks and from the front but the advance continued, nests of Machine Gunners and small posts being cleared en route, Grandcourt Road and Hoop Ravine being occupied and crossed in turn. At about 4.0 a.m. the new objective in R.11. was reached, the Battalion reorganised and the men occupied lines of shell holes. It was found on arriving that the position was without support on either flank and as the dawn broke, heavy rifle and machine gun fire opened up from every side.

In advancing, our right flank being unprotected, the enemy side stepped to our rear and held the position which we had passed, thus cutting off all communication with the Rear. The enemy occupied a very strong position a few yards from our Front Line and subjected us to very deadly sniping Machine Gun Fire and Bombing. The casualties were heavy but every inch of the ground was held. Continued counter attacks made by the enemy reinforcements were repulsed and heavy casualties inflicted. At noon, the enemy retired, his losses were found to have been very heavy no less than 130 dead being found before our lines.

At 7.0.p.m. the Brigade was withdrawn to Divisional Reserve and the Battalion spent the night in Boom Ravine.

Le Sars - 25 Aug 1918: Battalion. moved forward to a line in R.11. and day spent in reorganising. At 5.0.p.m. orders were received to move forward to a position N.W. of LE SARS, Coys. in trenches near Quarry and Bn HQ in Valley, M.15.a.