1st Bn Sherwood Foresters 4th March 1917 at Neuville St Vaast

[Jonathan D'Hooghe]

Many thanks in advance, but could I ask for another look up of the war diary please?

 

The action on 4th March 1917 at Neuville St Vaast wood. What happened? what does the diary say?

 

Jonathan

[BRONNO]

 

The War Diary goes on for quite a while naming certain individuals during the attack but here is a watered down extract. 

 

ASQUITH FLATS.

3rd.   

The weather had turned colder and the frost had just made the ground sufficiently hard to enable men to move quickly. At about 6 p.m. H.Qrs. moved off to ANDOVER which was Battalion Headquarters during the action. The Companies went straight on to the assaulting lines leaving ANDOVER about 10.30 p.m. "A" Coy was attached to the 1st WORCESTERS as "Carriers", "B" Coy to the 2nd NORTHAMPTONS as "Moppers up" and "D" Coy to the 1st WORCESTERS as "Moppers up". The assaulting Battalions men formed up on five lines of tape by about 2 a.m.

 

ANDOVER.

4/6th.             

At 5.15 a.m. our barrage opened. Within 3 minutes the enemy got his counter barrage down, practically before all our men were able to move forward. No.11387 Sgt. KEMP, having had 9 men of his platoon hit by one shell displayed remarkable coolness and courage rallying his men when they were shaken. He reorganised the remainder of the platoon and by his own example lead them forward through the enemy fire into the front line trenches.

As our men entered the enemy's lines the Germans were just scrambling out of their dugouts. The Assaulting Battns. went straight on to PALLAS SUPPORT Trench and our "Moppers up" remained behind to clear up PALLAS Trench.

 

By 6.15 a.m. all objectives had been taken and held and the "Mopping up" Companies had completely cleared the new SUPPORT TRENCHES. During the day, the enemy made four local counter attacks but in each case never succeeded in penetrating our Line. A and B Coy's were relieved about 9 p.m. and withdrew to ANDOVER, C and D Coy's remaining in the line until the morning of 5th when they were also recalled to ANDOVER their places being taken by "A" and "B" Coy's. Our Casualties had been heavy, losing 35 killed and 67 wounded. Capt. GLEAVE when going up on the 5th was hit by a shell and killed instantaneously.  Lieuts. HALL and DAVIDSON were also killed on the 4th when carrying material to the front line. A very large percentage of the casualties occurred amongst Platoon Commanders and Senior N.C.O's throwing much responsibility upon the Junior N.C.O's.

The attack was in every way successful and the 8th Division by capturing the high ground rendered ALDERSHOT VALLEY secure from German observation and gave us command of all the surrounding country.

BRONNO.

[Jonathan D'Hooghe]

Cheers Bronno. Your help is greatly appreciated.