Royal Warwickshire Regiment

[Aaron Nelson]

Hi,

Does anyone have a copy of the book called "History of the 2/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment"written by Anon and first printed in 1929. If you do, are you able to give me the details of that battalion for the dates 21 June - 13 July 1918

Once again, any Pals who can assist..THANK YOU !!

Best regards Aaron Nelson.

[Promenade]

Aaron,

This should fit the bill:

Promenade

On June 19th Brigade Sports were held at Le Cornet Brassant. Horse and mule races were held, and competitions for limber turn-outs, and every kind of amusement. The twelve days at Guarbecque were enjoyed enormously.

On June 28th the Battalion moved via La Miquellerie back to the same sector. Constant vigilance was necessary, and no sleep at night was allowed for anyone. It was known the Germans had scores of Divisions massed opposite our front. It was not known where they would be used. Constant patrolling was done and raids were undertaken, and in these Lieutenants H. A. Tetley, T. Oldham, G. Clarke, A. E. Mascord, and E. S. Smith were killed, besides several being wounded. About this time the Battalion was testing in the line the "trench cooker" which Lieutenant Jerromes, the Q.M., had invented, and which proved a boon for hot meals.

On July 6th the Battalion moved to La Pierriere for four days' rest, and finally on July 12th the Battalion marched back to Quernes, practically the first time they had been out of gun-fire range since early in March. Whilst here in training Lieutenant Lines, who had previously been a Colour-Sergeant Instructor of Musketry in the York and Lancaster Regiment, established his " circus " in a neighbouring quarry. This was, in effect, a set-piece field-firing attack in miniature, with live ammunition and grenades for a platoon, and all the platoons in the Battalion passed in turn through his hands ; an experience for which they had every reason soon to be grateful.

On July 22nd the Battalion marched to Lynde. The attack of the Germans on this front never materialized, although it was organized by Prince Rupprecht and was complete with the word Hagen for zero day, and heavy ammunition, it was discovered on August 8th, had been brought up ready to the front lines.

The Battalion had been reinforced by July 27th with a draft of men who had not seen service before. They were filled with considerable enthusiasm, and when the tide turned on August 8th their undaunted courage and vigour infected everyone.

In the meantime the Battalion moved again to Quernes, and on July 27th we had a night march to Aire, and then by stages to the St. Floris sector under the 11th Corps. We bivouacked in the open under ground sheets in the wet, and played a football match before going into the line.

We left by companies from the railway station, going by the light railway through the Nieppe Forest. The men were in very good spirits; the unusual experience of going in the line by train made us cheerful. There was a good deal of gas, especially "yellow cross" or "mustard," used by the Germans, and it hung about a lot in the wood. The previous Division in this sector, the 31st, whom we relieved, had recently returned from the Italian front, and had named all the roads, trenches, etc., in the neighbourhood with Italian names reminiscent of their stay on the Piave.

On August 8th at 4p.m. company commanders reported to Headquarters, and we were ordered to advance at 7 p.m. in daylight without artillery support. By the time the company officers got back the platoons only had ten minutes' notice to prepare.

[Aaron Nelson]

Hi promenade,

Thanks so much, thats exactly what I was looking for. Best regards Aaron.