The story of the 6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry : $b France, April 1915-November 1918
History
The story of the 6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry : $b France, April 1915-November 1918
Great Britain. Army. Durham Light Infantry; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
When this was discovered, Lieut. T.B. Heslop, with No. 11 Platoon and
part of No. 9 Platoon, joined the London Rifle Brigade; 2nd Lieut. R.V.
Hare, with No. 10 Platoon, joined a Battalion of the Shropshire Light
Infantry, and 2nd Lieut. G. Angus, with the remainder of No. 9 Platoon,
took up a position in support on the hill. By this time A and D Companies
were in the forward positions. As already described, A Company had moved
up to fill the gap between B and C Companies, and D Company had also
moved to the assistance of C Company. As a result, the men of all
Companies were mixed together, and it is difficult to say how they were
distributed, but A Company seem to have been in two parts, one with D
Company and one next to B Company. The former passed over Hill 37 and
eventually joined the London Rifle Brigade in some ditches which formed
the front line. There they suffered many casualties. Amongst others,
Major S.E. Badcock and 2nd Lieut. Kynoch were killed and Capt. F. Walton
and 2nd Lieut. G. Kirkhouse were wounded. As soon as the advance had
commenced, the Adjutant, Capt. J.W. Jeffreys, had galloped through the
barrage to find Zonnebeke crossing. Having shown it to the Company on the
right flank he proceeded along the line and found a Platoon of D Company
under 2nd Lieut. Lyon digging themselves in. A little further along
another Platoon was found, and whilst showing them the line he was
heavily fired on. After returning to Brigade Headquarters for a fresh
horse he went to Hill 37 and there heard of D Company from some men of
the Rifle Brigade. Before dusk all formed parties had got into touch with
Battalion Headquarters, which were at Zevencote barn, beside Zonnebeke
level crossing.
About 4 p.m. Lt.-Col. Bridgford, who was in command of all troops in this
sector, issued orders for an attack to be made to clear the enemy from
the Fortuin-Passchendaele Road. The attack was to be made by two
Companies of the Shropshire Light Infantry, with the 7th Durham Light
Infantry in support and the 6th in reserve. The attacking troops were to
pass through the front line and establish a new line on the road when
captured. A conference of officers was held, and it was ascertained that
the men available for the attack were as follows:--No. 3 Platoon under
2nd Lieut. Blenkinsop, Nos. 5, 7 and 8 Platoons, under Capt. T. Welch,
with Lieuts. A.B. Hare and H.C.W. Haythornthwaite; No. 9 Platoon under
2nd Lieut. G. Angus, and about forty men of D Company under Capt. J.
Townend and 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon.
The Battalion, which was lying in a trench near the road, began to
advance about 7 or 8 p.m., moving in artillery formation and following
the 7th Durham Light Infantry towards the ridge to the north of
Zonnebeke.
On reaching the ridge, which was found unoccupied, the 7th Battalion
moved off to Zonnebeke and the 6th Battalion was ordered to send three
Companies to the support of the Hampshire Regiment on Gravenstafel Ridge
further to the north.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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