War Diary - July 21st

Line SE Corner High Wood to Road Junction S 10 D 8/8 – 21.7.16: The Battalion remains in above positions & suffers the following casualties: [again not completed]

The enemy’s line of trenches from E corner of High Wood SE on far side of road as far as S 10 D 9/8 & on near side of road from this point to road junction S 10 D 8/8 were patrolled by 7 West Kents & 14/R War R in view of a proposed attack on 22^nd inst. 2^nd Lt Turner carried out a capital patrol & obtained very valuable information. Our trenches were subject to a heavy shell fire & we suffered the following casualties:- [again left blank]

2^/Lt Jacott, although wounded in several places, rendered very valuable aid in dressing and carrying the wounded of his platoon.

War Diary - July 22nd

High Wood - 22.7.16.

10am: orders received that the battalion, as part of the 13^th infantry brigade would attack the enemy's trenches at 10:00 PM. Enemies trenches forming objective oh as shown under entry above. 14^th R War Rgt on the right to attack from the point where enemies line crosses road at point S.10.b8.9 two Road junction S£.11.c.5.8. 1/R West Kents prolonging the line to the left to right and enemies line above point S.4.d.6.4. 15/R War in Bde Reserve. 2/KSOB being detailed to attack another portion of enemies line to left rear of our objectives.

10pm: At 9.50pm the attacking Coys A on the right, B on the left, advanced from their trenches in two waves undercover of the artillery bombardment. At 9.55pm both waves were sing to extend from sections in file formation into line preparatory to lying down until the artillery lifted at 10:00pm. As the extension was in progress the enemy opened an overwhelming machine gun and infantry fire. Our troops were cut to bits and although supports were thrown in they received the same treatment and it soon became a question of organising our original frontline to meet a possible counterattack. This was successfully done.

From all reports received from survivors and judging from the intensity of the enemy's fire - opened before the bombardment had lifted it would appear that our artillery had not ranged accurately on the enemy's trenches. A full report of the attack is contained in appendix No 2.

The 1st West Kent Regt fair no better and later on the same remark applies to the 2/KOSB. The casualties sustained by the battalion in this action always follows:

Officers: Killed 3, Wounded 5, Missing believed killed 4, Missing believe wounded 2 and Wounded 2.
Other ranks: Killed 36; Missing 195, Wounded 238. Total 485.

War Diary - July 23rd

High Wood - 23.7.16: Work on consolidation of original position. Patrol work to recover dead & wounded. 12 midnight – Battn relieved by Bedford Regt. Proceeds to bivouac at Pommiers Redoubt in front of Mametz.

War Diary - July 24th

Pommier Mametz – 24.7.16: Arrive and go into bivouac on high ground recently held by the Germans. Commence the work of reorganisation of Comps, specialists etc.

Augmented by 1 Officer and 60 other ranks draft. These men are the first recruits to arrive of the Derby Groups. Physically very fine and of good intellect. Average service about 18 weeks. Have therefore had but little training in musketry, bombing etc.

Address and thank Battn on parade for their very gallant conduct.