A Short History of the 6th Division Part 10

1917.

Jan. 26. 1st West Yorks raid (6 officers and 160 other ranks under Capt. Trimble) in Cambrin Sector--five prisoners.

29. 8th Bedford Regiment raid (C Company--150--under Capt. Brewster) in Hohenzollern Sector--two prisoners.

Feb. 4. Enemy raided 1st West Yorks and captured a Lewis gun and a prisoner.

Feb. 9. 2nd Sherwood Foresters raid (6 officers and 100 other ranks under Major Wylie) in Quarries Sector under smoke barrage by Special Co. R.E.--20 dug-outs blown in--about 60 enemy killed and wounded--8 prisoners.

10. 2nd D.L.I. raid (3 officers and 38 other ranks) on Mad Point--over 30 enemy dead counted--1 prisoner brought in --several dug-outs destroyed.

12. 71st Infantry Brigade scouting party raid partly successful only--one machine-gun entrenchment blown in.

15. Enemy attempted raid in Hohenzollern Sector repulsed by artillery and machine-gun fire--one enemy identification made.

16-17. Relieved by 21st Division--to Bethune--Busnes--Robecq.

Mar. 2-4. Into line Loos Sector--from Double Cra.s.sier to Railway Alley.

18. Enemy carried out several simultaneous raids--that on 2nd York and Lancasters dispersed by Lewis-gun fire--that on Buffs repulsed after hand-to-hand fighting--that on 1st West Yorks penetrated and captured one Lewis gun and six men.

19. Enemy raided 2nd York and Lancasters--unsuccessful--two Germans killed in our trenches.

24. 11th Ess.e.x Battalion raid on area round Posen Crater (4 companies of 2 officers and 80 other ranks each)--penetrated to enemy support line and remained one and a half hours--captured 1 officer, 8 other ranks, and 1 machine-gun.

25. Enemy raided 9th Norfolk Regiment and 2nd Sherwood Foresters and captured nine prisoners, penetrating some distance between the battalions, but leaving one officer and three other ranks dead in our trenches.

30. 1st The Buffs raid (4 officers and 100 other ranks under Capt. B. L. Strauss) in Loos Sector--remained in trenches over half-hour--took one prisoner and one machine-gun, and blew in eight dug-outs.

April 5. Enemy raid on 2nd Foresters at Border Redoubt--driven off with very slight casualties.

April 8. 2nd D.L.I. patrol raid (2 officers and 47 other ranks) in Loos Sector--held up by wire.

10. 9th Suffolks raid (D Company under Capt. England, M.C.) in Quarries Sector--successful and obtained identification.

12. 2nd York and Lancasters raid (2 officers and 80 other ranks under Capt. Hardy)--got into trench and killed sixteen Germans.

13. Enemy withdrew from Railway Triangle, closely followed by 2nd York and Lancasters, who entered enemy dug-outs before candles had burnt out.

24th Division on our right also advancing line.

System of bombardment followed by pauses during which patrols went out and occupied what they could.

14. Enemy small raid on 1st West Yorks--driven off by counter-attack and identification obtained.

15. A certain amount of ground gained in the face of increasing opposition--Buffs and York and Lancasters advanced a bit.

16. Systematic bombardment of Hill 70 trenches commenced--enemy counter-attacked and drove Buffs back slightly, but failed against 8th Bedfords' advanced post--D Company, West Yorks (3 officers and 65 other ranks under Capt. Rendall), attempted raid, but driven back by artillery fire.

17. Gas released on enemy--ideal conditions--enemy attacked right flank of 8th Bedfords but driven back.

18. Enemy sh.e.l.led Loos heavily during night (about 1,000 5.9s) --1st Leicesters (C Company under Capt. c.o.x) raided and captured one prisoner--1st K.S.L.I. and 8th Bedfords made more ground, latter taking twenty-seven prisoners and one machine-gun.

19. 1st K.S.L.I. got north end of Novel Alley, but three attempts to push forward by 8th Bedfords unsuccessful--K.S.L.I. took eighteen prisoners--14th D.L.I. relieved 8th Bedfords--11th Ess.e.x placed under orders of G.O.C., 16th Infantry Brigade.

20. 46th Division relieved 24th Division on our right--11th Ess.e.x into line, relieving 1st Buffs and 1st K.S.L.I.

April 20-21. Line partially withdrawn to allow of bombardment.

21. Attack by 14th D.L.I. in conjunction with 46th Division-- successful--two machine-guns and thirty-six prisoners.

21-22. 14th D.L.I. repulsed two enemy counter-attacks.

22. Attack by 14th D.L.I. and 11th Ess.e.x in conjunction with 46th Division--latter unable to attack Narwhal trench on account of uncut wire--11th Ess.e.x unable to get on--14th D.L.I.

took objective, but gradually sh.e.l.led and sniped out and driven back to original line--forty-six prisoners and three machine-guns.

22. 1st Leicesters relieved 14th D.L.I.--9th Suffolks lent to 16th Infantry Brigade--position became stationary with enemy in Nash Alley.

23. Small enemy raid dispersed and an identification obtained.

26. G.O.C. 71st Infantry Brigade a.s.sumed command Loos Sector vice G.O.C. 16th Infantry Brigade to northern sector of Division.

27. Enemy raided in Quarries Sector--one prisoner taken by us.

28. Raid by 9th Norfolks (No. 8 Platoon) stopped by new wire--same by West Yorks, also unsuccessful.

29. 7,000 gas sh.e.l.ls by enemy on Vermelles, Philosophe, and Maroc.

May 2. 46th Division took over portion of Southern Brigade area.

5. Enemy patrol entered our lines, but was shot and identification made.

9. Enemy attempted raid on 2nd D.L.I., but driven off.

13. Heavy enemy bombardment in 14bis Sector--raid broken up as it came out of trenches by artillery fire.

15-16. Enemy raided Boyau 46 and captured four men.

20-21. 1st West Yorks raid (2 officers and 52 other ranks) entered trenches but enemy fled--no result.

22. 1st Leicesters raid (B Company, 4 officers and 132 other ranks, under Capt. Wykes) in Quarries Sector--several dug-outs with enemy in destroyed.

May 28. 2nd Sherwood Foresters (6 officers and 133 other ranks under Major Addison-Smith) raided under cover of a smoke barrage--captured two prisoners and destroyed some dug-outs, machine-gun entrenchments and tunnel entrances.

June 1. 1st K.S.L.I. (3 officers and 130 other ranks under Capt. E.

Spink, M.C.) raided enemy near Hendon Alley--sixteen Germans killed and machine-gun entrenchments blown in.