The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
History
The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919
Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
Great Britain. Army. King's Liverpool Regiment; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
"In the meantime the rest of this party had started working along the
trench to join up with the right party, which they did. This party was
followed by a small party which had been detailed to proceed along
Centaur Lane and block it. They expected to find this communication
trench to the right of where they entered the front line, but owing to
the fact that they had unconsciously entered the trench farther to the
right than had been intended, this trench was not found until too late.
"A bomb store was found and blown up as the party were leaving the
trench.
"This party had one casualty (referred to above), and he was brought
back to our trenches.
"No S.O.S. signal was seen and no artillery fire was opened until this
party were half-way back across No Man's Land.
"_Left (Moseley's) Party_.--Moseley's party failed to enter enemy's
trench. The two scouts who had reconnoitred the gaps and knew the
ground well were sick four days before the raid took place. The new
scouts did not know the ground as well, possibly, as some of the other
members of the raiding party; also their reconnaissance was made
difficult by enemy working at their gaps, and having covering parties
out; also they had not the same opportunity of rehearsal as they should
have had in laying tapes, etc. In consequence, after passing through
the first gap, a doubt arose as to direction owing to other members of
the raiding party thinking that they knew best, with the result that
several parties tried to get through impassable wire. The main party
moved to the left eventually, followed by other parties, and lost
direction. While this was going on one of the scouts found the proper
gaps, dashed after the party, who reorganized, and the leading men
reached enemy's trench when return signal went up. In this Rifleman
Bamber was wounded; he was found by Rifleman F. Taylor, who bound up
his wounds, and as he was not certain of his direction, he waited for
daylight, and brought the wounded man in the same morning at 10 a.m.
This party had three rows of wire to negotiate, the second and third
rows consisting of heavy knife rests, etc., and, the grass being very
long, gaps were not easy to find.
"_Casualties._--Two killed; Lieutenant Parker and six other ranks
wounded; one missing believed killed.
"_Action of the Enemy._--There is no doubt the enemy had no idea he was
going to be raided. His action was extremely weak and slow in beginning.
"It is very doubtful if he inflicted any casualties on us.
"His barrage did not start until about zero plus 10 minutes, and then
increased in intensity by degrees. His fire was directed chiefly on our
front line (the shells falling just short of and just over our trench)
and partly on our support line and subsidiary lines.
"The enemy's resistance in his trenches was very weak. Several men were
seen running away.
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