2nd Battalion South Staffs

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi There,

I'm researching a man who was KIA on 3-5-17, and would be very grateful for any information on the location of the 2nd South Staffs and any action they were involved in on that date.

Cheers

Tim.

[Doug Lewis]

Tim

Information taken fron A History of the South Staffordshire Regiment (1705-1923) by James P. Jones

Third Battle of The Scarpe

On May 1st, the Battalion moved to Bray, and preparations

were made for renewing the attack on the Oppy positions on

May 3rd. "A" Company, made up with elements of "C"

Company to 120 strong, under Captain R. Baxter, with

Captain Gr. 0. Kay and Lieut. L. C. Bull, was sent to 1st

King's Liverpool Regiment (Lieut.-Colonel S. E. Morris,

D.S.O.), and came under the orders of General Officer Com-manding

99th Infantry Brigade, who commanded the 2nd

Division Composite Brigade. For the attack on Oppy this

Brigade was disposed as follows:—1st King's Liverpool

Regiment, right Battalion of attack; 22nd Royal Fusiliers, "f 1 ^

left Battalion of attack; 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps, right Scarpe.

support; 1st Berkshire Regiment, left support. The 1st

King's Liverpool Regiment Composite Battalion was disposed

as follows : —Right and left Companies in front, composed of

1st King's; right support Company, 2nd South Staffords; left

support Company, 13th Essex Regiment.

The night of May 3rd was brilliant moonlight, and the

Germans put down a violent bombardment on both front and

support trenches, inflicting casualties and delaying the

forming up. The attack was made at 2.45 a.m. on May 3rd,

and the first objective gained. Owing to the attack on Oppy

wood and village failing on the right, the Germans were

enabled to make repeated counter-attacks, and finally pene-trated

the left flank of the attack. Shortly after midnight,

May 3rd/4th, the Composite Brigade was relieved by the 1st

West Kent Regiment and 14th Royal Warwick Regiment (5th

Division), and on May 5th "A" Company, 2nd South

Staffords, rejoined the Battalion at Roclincourt Oamp.(l)

From May 2nd till the 18th the Battalion, after their long

tour in the line, support and reserve trenches, had a welcome rest, the time being devoted to general cleaning up and

refitting, although working parties were provided most days

in the neighbourhood of Roclincourt Camp.

(1) Their casualties in this action on May 3rd were :—

Lieut. L. C. Bull and 15 other ranks wounded.

Eight other ranks killed and 8 other ranks missing.

Regards Doug