24th April 1917
South West and South of BEAUCAMP.
4.15 a.m. – Artillery barrage began and continued, as in programme, until 6.15 a.m. in progressive stages. The first objective was enemy front trench from about Q 18 b.6.3. To Q. 17.b.8.8. (Map references all to 57 C N.E. 1/20,000). Trench was protected by strong wire which had not been cut at all by artillery. D company under Captain J.D.. Mackie M.C. tracked through wire with cutters, with which leading two companies had been fully equipped. This was done under heavy fire both from trench immediately in front and from heavy enfilade fire on left. The enemy also put up a prompt barrage within a few minutes of our own. It is evident that they were expectant and on the alert. A number of casualties were sustained at this point. When the wire had been????? passed the enemy trench was rushed and a number of prisoners taken, estimated at 30, after a short but sharp bombing flight.
4.45 a.m. – Second Objective BEAUCAMP village. After taking the first objective, D company went straight on to village of BEAUCAMP, closely followed by B company under Captain C.W.H. MILLER. Comparatively slight opposition was met within the village itself, the heavy enemy fire being encountered on the fire side (N) of the village, from throughout an area Q.11.b. Where the enemy had numerous detached trenches, on shell holes, from which he kept up m.g. and rifle fire.
5.15 a.m. – Final objective: High ground north of Beaucamp. An emergency on the north side of BEAUCAMP, the battalion at once came again under heavy m.g. And rifle fire. Of ‘D’ company, 2nd Lieutenant K.S. Runciman went forward to assist in establishing a Lewis Gun post. He was wounded on returning to his platoon but carried on, steadying and cheering his men. He afterwards succumbed to his wounds. Captain J.D. MACKIE, M.C., 2nd Lieutenant W.F. WALKER and 2nd Lieutenant R.H. LAW were all hit during this stage, as also were many senior n.c.o.’s and men. Corporal JOHNSTON ‘D’ company took command of the company at this time.
Of ‘B’ company, the commander, Captain C.W. MILLER was knocked out wounded. 2nd Lieutenant D. BIGGART was wounded but carried on in command until he had been thrice hit and had to withdraw owing to faintness. 2nd Lieutenant D.W. HUMPHREYS was wounded in the stomach on far side of village and ultimately died there.
On emerging from village ‘D’ company took right position and ‘B’ company the left. We knocked out an enemy machine-gun on the right.
4.45 a.m. – Action on supporting companies, (‘A’ and ‘C’).
While the leading companies took BEAUCAMP and endeavoured to establish themselves on the final objectives, ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies followed close behind as Support and Reserve companies respectively, each having full compliment of picks and shovels for temporarily consolidating the positions gained. They came under deadly enfilade fire from their left from the area previously referred to.
5.30 a.m. – ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies swing to the left to deal with this flank. They had to pass through a continuation of the same range of wire which the leading companies had penetrated. Lieutenant W. LAWSON and 2nd Lieutenant R.S. FORBES were both killed while gallantly leading their men on here. Captain A. POLLOCK was dangerously wounded.
At this stage Private W. PITCHER did excellent work as a runner. 2nd Lieutenant ATHEY was wounded at this stage.
‘A’ company under Captain URQUHART was on the right of this flank movement. Captain URQUHART was killed by a sniper while in the west edge of the village. Lieutenant G.H.F. BARTHOLOMEW, who was beside him took command of the company for the remainder of the operations.
6.30 a.m. – ‘C’ company under Captain W.G.T. KEDDIE, having accounted for a machine-gun and a number of snipers on the left of the left flank, formed up in sunken road about Q.18.2.1.9. Leaving a Lewis Gun out in front to cover the taking up of this position.
About the same time, ‘A’ company withdrew from the west of BEAUCAMP to a position immediately south of the village. Touch was established with ‘C’ company and a position dug-in, by linking shell holes, approximately Q.18.b.2.9. To Q.18.d.5.9. This was carried out under heavy enemy shelling. During this stage of the operations, the following of ‘C’ company did good work:- 2nd Lieutenant D. RUSHTON, Serjeant D. LAMBIE (killed), Serjeant R. FLEMING (wounded), Corporal P. COUPER (killed), all assisting in steadying and encouraging the men.
2nd Lieutenant SHAW, 11th Kings Own (R.L.) Regiment, who was in command of a single platoon of that unit in position of our front to immediate left of attack area gallantly went out from the sunken road above-mentioned under fire to attend to one of our wounded lying in a shell hole.
‘A’ company before taking up the position above described, suffered many casualties in and near BEAUCAMP from enemy machine-gun, and also from the snipers enfilading from the left. Serjeant MacNEIL collected shovels in the village for the subsequent consolidation of line behind the village.
8 a.m. – During the attack, 2nd Lieutenant W.W. KILGOUR, signalling officer, pushed out from Battalion Headquarters in Q.17. 2. And after repeated and determined efforts, succeeded in establishing telephone communication with Captain KEDDIE in advanced trench in Q.18.2. This was done in face of dangerous fire from enemy machine-guns and snipers who commanded all the area lying between the two points, and also under considerable enemy shelling in the region of Q.17.b.1.6. Three linesmen were knocked out but more went up until the line had been established. It remained working throughout the day and until about 10 from when it was cut by shelling.
7.30 a.m. – A preliminary report on the situation was brought to Battalion H.Q. by Lieutenant G.W. McCrow, of ‘D’ Company from the advanced trench at great personal risk in passing through the dangerous area described. While he remained at Battalion Headquarters this officer dressed the wound of men wounded there by enemy 77mm with which he heavily bombarded the trench there.
7 a.m. – With the object of strengthening the line opposite the critical left flank of the attack one company of the support battalion (11th Kings Own) was brought up to the quadrilateral trench round about Battalion Headquarters. They advanced across the open artillery formation and although in broad daylight the enemy artillery did not open until just as they were dropping into the trench, where, however, some casualties were sustained.
9 a.m. – After the telephone was established, fuller information was received of the location of the detailed enemy machine guns and snipers who had held up on left flank. At 9 a.m., our artillery opened on the region Q. 11. D. central with the immediate result of taking out about 25 of the enemy from this region. They were mostly shot down by our Lewis Gun and rifle fire from sunken road. About this time Lance-Corporal J.W. CRAWFORD went out and got ‘D’ company back to join what was now the main body of the battalion in advanced trench in Q.18..b. and under fire.
12 noon – About 12 noon three strong patrols were pushed out through the village from advanced trench, under 2nd Lieutenant T.C. ANNAN, Serjeant A. TAYLOR, and 2nd Lieutenant D. RUSHTON. On the far side of the village they came under heavy fire, Serjeant McCURDIE was killed and two wounded. The village itself was found not to be held by the enemy.
2 p.m. – At 2 p.m., patrols were again sent out to BEAUCAMP but it was found that a number of the enemy had filtered back into the village and were at this time holding it.
The enemy bombarded throughout the day, their old trench immediately behind our advanced trench in Q.18.b. and a., leaving comparatively unshelled the position which had wisely been taken up by Captain W.G.T. KEDDIE and Lieutenant G.H.F. BARTHOLOMEW.
The stretcher-bearers, who had been reinforced by the Battalion Band as reserve stretcher-bearers, did fine work throughout the operations.
9 p.m. – At night, the survivors of ‘D’ and ‘B’ companies went back to old German trench behind our advanced trench which ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies remained in advanced trench. This was consolidated by deepening the narrow trenches between shellholes and adding parapet and firestep. 2nd Lieutenant T.C. ANNAN and Captain J. FLETT went out during night and brought in ‘B’ company wounded.
11p.m. – At 11p.m, the 20th Division on the immediate left of our line attacked and took the line Q.11.b.9.1 – road – BILHEM, with the assistance of about one hours barrage. This had the result of bringing heavy enemy barrage on BEAUCAMP and old enemy trenches in Q 18.a. and b.
25th April 1917
1 a.m. – Before dawn on 25th April, the Battalion was relieved by the 11th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in advanced trench. THe enemy positions commanding our left flank being now in the hands of the 20th Division, a detachment of the 11th KINGS OWN went forward shortly after relief and secured all the objectives.
Two machine-guns captured in BEAUCAMP were “earmarked” for the battalion and the 11th KINGS OWN respectively.
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