1st Lincolnshire & 7th Leicestershire War diary

[pfletch3]

I am doing some research on the 12/13 Northumberland Fusiliers during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. I have their war diary for this period but it is rather sketchy for the first day of the offensive on the 21st of March 1918

Does any one have the war diaries for the two adjacent battalions (1st Lincolnshire Regiment & 7th Leicestershire Regiment) for the 21st of March 1918?

Hopefully this will assist in filling in some of the gaps on the events of that day.

Thanks

Paul

[GraemeClarke]

Morning

1st Lincs WD

“21 March 1918 - At 4am on 21^st a heavy bombardment was opened on our front. It was realised at once that it was the prelude to a ground attack. Gas was used during the earlier hours of the bombardment. A heavy white mist made visibility extremely difficult.

About 8am the gas began to clear and the bombardment lifted from the vicinity of Battalion H.Q. to other objectives. Soon after 10am a “D” Company runner brought the news that Birchwood Copse was taken. The occupants of Battalion H.Q. manned the defences in the vicinity the Germans were advancing on our right flank and it became necessary to retire Battalion H.Q. to Chapel Hill owing to the enfilade fire of the machine guns.

“D” Company held Skittle Alley and Tennis Trench throughout the day protecting their right flank which was threatened from Vaucelette Farm. “C” Company held Chapel Street which was now severely attacked. “A” Company in Cavalry Trench and Cavalry Support were outflanked by the enemy. Those that escaped made their way on to Chapel Hill which was held throughout the day.

The battalion was reinforced by South African troops during the day and attempts by the enemy to bomb up the trenches out Chapel Hill were frustrated.

About 3am the battalion was relieved by a battalion of the South Africans who gave up Chapel Street and Tennis Trench.”

Regards,

Graeme

[Ellis1918]

Forum member "Llew" is your man for the Leics diary.

He must be having a lie in today if hes not spotted this

It is available online for £3.36

[Ellis1918]

From " Epehy" by K W Mitchinson - Vaucellette Farm was garrisoned by the 12/13 Northumberland Fusiliers on the misty morning of 21 March . Together with Epehy , Peiziere , Chapel Hill & Gauche Wood were in the Forward zone. These were soon overrun and the redoubt fell about noon . As few survivors emerged from its broken ruins to write an account of its fall , little is known of the precise events surrounding its capture .

The 110th brigade ( 6th , 7th , 8th , 9th Leics ) were mentioned by German high command as "flood breakers " for their heroic stand at Epehy.

[Ellis1918]

Forum member "Llew" still seems to have missed your post . If you amend your title or tag to 7th Leics he may still spot it or you could PM him on here.

Here are extracts from the 7th battn Leics war diary from 21 March ( kindly provided by Llew a couple of years ago).

On the morning of 21st March the disposition of the battalion was A company front right , B company left front , C company reserve/counter attack , D company garrison of Peiziere. 8th Leics on our right and 12th/13th Northumberland Fusiliers on our left. Two tanks in reserve at battalion HQ.

At 4.30 am the enemy put down a heavy barrage ... developed into heavy concentrations of high explosive and shrapnel on the whole of our defences..... lasting until 9.30am when the enemy entered Plane trench . 10am enemy had broken through front lines on our left and attacked McPhee post and Peiziere and got into railway cutting behind Red line. McPhee post was captured ... C company and a tank were ordered to counter attack and clear Peiziere .... defence of Fir trench conducted by 2nd Lt Wright and 20 men against numerous bombing attacks . These were stopped at the wire by rifle fire and the enemy were burnt by the fire from their own flammenwerfer gas cylinders. In the afternoon the enemy could be seen massing south of Vaucellette Farm and large bodies were advancing . 6.00pm the enemy continued to make progress southwards from Vaucellette Farm and small parties were entering Peiziere.

Touch was kept the whole of the day with 8th Leics on our right but there was a serious gap on the left until 12 midnight when connection was made with 15th Durham LI on our left.

22nd March .. Enemy entered Epehy in force .... 12 noon ordered to withdraw and concentrate on Longavenes...Capt Vanner MC still holding red line and driving off every attack.....waited to superintend the blowing of both bridges over the cutting...........

23rd March ... 7pm orders received to occupy high ground west of Bois Marriers with Northumberland Fusiliers Pioneers on right and some of South African brigade on left.

[Ellis1918]

For their actions with 7th battn Leics at Epehy on 21st March 1918 Capt Vanner was awarded the VC (incorrect) DSO and my grandfather Sjt Willie Ellis was awarded the DCM

[Adam Llewellyn]

Job done, thanks Ellis.

[pfletch3]

Thanks Graeme and Ellis1918 -Your help with the war diaries has helped fill in a lot of gaps.

On a similar topic I have occasionally seen in war diaries hand drawn copies of trench maps for the section of front a battalion was occupying at a given time. This often details features such as battalion HQ, Company HQ's and Machine Gun posts, etc.

Has anyone got a copy of such a map for the section of front from Vaucellette Farm to just north of Peiziere (Epehy) from the spring of 1918?

Paul

[Ellis1918]

" Epehy" by K W Mitchinson has various maps and diagrams.

[Guest Townender]

For their actions with 7th battn Leics at Epehy on 21st March 1918 Capt Vanner was awarded the VC and my grandfather Sjt Willie Ellis was awarded the DCM

Hi - just to slightly correct this, Capt Vanner was awarded the DSO for this action not the VC.

Regards

[temptage]

Llew, staying on the 7th Leics, does the Diary include up to the end of September as I am trying to find out where they were and what they were doing when my man, Archie Dilkes died/was killed on the 30th (according to the CWGC)

[Ellis1918]

Private Archibald Lancelot Dilkes 36303 7th Battn Leics - On 25th Sept 1918 110th brigade took over trenches facing Gonnelieu. Attack launched 29 Sept was only partially succesful but the Germans retired anyway on 30 Sept to new positions on the Honnecourt-Banteux canal. - From "The Tigers" Matthew Richardson.

From 7th battn Leics war diary - 29 Sept South of Gouzecourt 3am battn held in readiness to attack . C company in reserve to 1st Wilts and 6th Leics remainder of battn in support. Attack held up by heavy machine gun fire but subsequently fairly succesful. 30 Sept South of Gouzencourt 2pm battn pushed through 6th Leics . Occupied green line encountering no opposition with exception of light artillery. Patrols pushed forward to canal , no enemy encountered on west side.

[Adam Llewellyn]

His original number 16800 would suggest he enlisted around 15th/16th January 1915 and was more than likely renumbered after returning to service after recovering from wounds.

30/9/18

SOUTH OF GOUZECOURT. 2.00pm. Battalion pushed through 6^th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. “A” and “B” Companies in front and occupied GREEN LINE from R.34. central to X.5.a. encountering no opposition with exception of light artillery. Patrols pushed forward to CANAL, no enemy encountered on west side of CANAL – QUENTIN, but still all bridges found to be destroyed, one bridge blew up as patrol reached it. Active patrolling during the night, two prisoners captured. Battalion disposed:- Battalion HQ. KITCHEN CRATER R.33.c.7.6., “A”, “C” and “B” Companies in line of trenches R.34.b.9.0. to X.5.c.3.5. with “D” Company in support, ROSE SUPPORT.

Regards.

Llew.