Leonard Pinkett 17th Battalion (Welbeck Rangers)

[agedpink]

Any information please on the raid on "Ducks Bill Crater" which took place on 3rd September 1916. One of my relatives Pte 28189 Leonard Pinkett of the 17th Battalion (Welbeck Rangers) Notts and Derby Regt, was involved.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Can't help, but they certainly came up with some memorable names.

[agedpink]

I assume the name came about because the crater was shaped like a ducks bill!

[mikebriggs]

I'll try and post the relevant part of the War Diary today; just need to reduce their size

[BRONNO]

Any information please on the raid on "Ducks Bill Crater" which took place on 3rd September 1916. One of my relatives Pte 28189 Leonard Pinkett of the 17th Battalion (Welbeck Rangers) Notts and Derby Regt, was involved.

Some information with regards to the above dates. BRONNO

BERTRANCOURT.

1st Sept 1916.

Company Training before noon. The move to VITERMONT mentioned in DIARY on the 31st August 1916 was cancelled.

2nd Sept 1916.

Battalion now ready to take part in the 2nd Offensive on the SOMME. Battalion moves into trenches as mentioned in the aforementioned Operation Order which are situated 1500 yards due South of the Village of BEAUMONT-HAMEL and about 3,000 yards North-West of THIEPVAL.

The assembly was complete about 10.10 p.m.

Before going into Action Messages from the following Generals were read to the Battalion.

LIEUT. GENERAL E.A. FANSHAWE, C.B. Comdg. V. Army Corps. BRIG. GENERAL R.D.F. OLDMAN Comdg. 117th Infantry Brigade. Battalion Strength going into action 19 Officers. 1 Medical Officer. 650 other ranks.

All details were left at BERTRANCOURT with Transport.

The Division were situated as follows in the attack:-

17th SHEREWOOD FORESTERS on the left; 16th RIFLE BRIGADE on the right; 17th K.R.R.C. in Support; 16th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in Reserve.

Draft of 1 Officer and 16 men arrive from 10th SHERWOOD FORESTERS.

TRENCHES.

3rd Sept 1916.

5.10 a.m. Battalion move to attack under Artillery Barrage at 6.0 a.m. Message received from MAJOR. G. STOLLARD Comdg. A Coy. that we have occupied FIRST LINE of GERMAN TRENCHES.

At 6.10 a.m. Message received from CAPTAIN H.V. WALTERS that the enemy's 2nd LINE is strongly held with Machine guns and that our Casualties are very heavy and reinforcements are urgently needed.

At 7.15 a.m. 2 Companies of K.R.R. Corps. move up to reinforce. The Action is against us, the enemy being very Strong in Artillery and Machine guns, and at 2.0.p.m. orders are despatched for all to withdraw to our trenches.

At 7.30 p.m. the Battalion remaining, withdrew to a Hill-side at MAILLEY-MAILLET WOOD for the night.

Our casualties are very heavy.

BERTRANCOURT.

4th Sept 1916.

At 5 p.m. the Battalion moves into Hutments at BERTRANCOURT.

Casualties in yesterdays action as follows:-

KILLED. MAJOR. G. STOLLARD, CAPTAINS R.G. HOPEWELL, S.F. BROOKFIELD, F.C. SINGLETON, G.P. LITTLEWOOD.

WOUNDED. CAPTAIN'S F.R. TURNER and R.S. WIGHT. LIEUT. B.J. ROSS. 2nd LIEUT. W.N. BIRKIN, E.P. ACRILL-JONES, T.C.NUGENT, J.W. SALSBURY.

MISSING. LIEUT. B.F. BUCK.

WOUNDED and MISSING.

CAPTAIN H.V. WALTERS, 2ND LIEUT. M.A. ELLISSEN.

TOTAL 15.

OTHER RANKS. KILLED. 59

WOUNDED. 155

MISSING. 221

WOUNDED at DUTY. 1

TOTAL 436

Total casualties as far as known Officers 16. Other ranks 438. A good proportion of other ranks reported missing in the foregoing are known to be WOUNDED but no other details are at hand.

BRONNO.

.

[mikebriggs]

Bronno's bet me 2 it

but here goes

page 1

page 2

[BRONNO]

Sorry Mike, didn't do it intentionally, so hope "aged" (and mods) won't mind but here's one for you. BRONNO.

[agedpink]

Thanks Guys that's brilliant!

[mikebriggs]

Sorry Mike, didn't do it intentionally, so hope "aged" (and mods) won't mind but here's one for you. BRONNO.

No worries Bronno

thanks for posting; very interesting

so who do we have

Duke II ? but can't name the rest; do you have the names?