65th Battery RFA 1914
August
17th: Half the battery under Capt French marched to Lucan.
18th: The remainder of the battery entrained at Carragh siding and met the remainder of the battery at Dublin quay. Embarked on SS Oxonian. The following officers n.g.a (sp?) J C Livingstone Learmouth, Captain J French, Lt E G Palmer, Lt J H Richardson, Lt C E Groom, 196 all ranks 176 horses sailed at 5pm. Horse decks very hot and fittings hastily constructed could not stand any rough weather.
19th: Smooth crossing. Arrived at Le Harve at 2pm. Marched to a mid camp about 3 miles out. Tents were found pitched and camp lit with electric lights.
20th: Remained in rest camp.
21st: Entrained at 10 am. Station at 2pm.
Battle of Mons, Aisne and Le Cateau
22nd: Arrived Lamcheuis 7am. Marched to Lowrigny Bavai. A hot march. Met reception from inhabitants.
26th:Arrived at 4am at location NW of Troisville. About 8am shell fire was opened on our part of the position by at least 2 batteries. Located one and silenced it at 3500. Shelled the village of Beaumont and Inchy. Set them on fire at many places. There will mclad (sp?) attacks then made at this protect (sp?) of the position but each was upheld (sp?). By 2pm had responded 840 rounds, could get no more ammunition. About 3:30 sgrs(sp?) Drif (sp?) on my right section (sp?) and battery withdraw. Sent Capt Frend for orders. Before he returned, Colonel Duffus arrived and personally ordered me to win (sp?). Did so with the loss of one ammunition wagon. The battery was well concealed where located all day in so casualties from chance shell and bullets were few. No Driver Butten and No. 8 slightly wounded, one horse killed and 6 wounded. Major Learmouth was knocked down and a piece (sp?) of G. shell hitting . Reached St Nanteuil at 7pm. (Next line no legible) him in the ribs, was somewhat banged but his coat was not even cut (sp?).
27th: Retreated all night reached St Quentin 9am. A very tiring march. Halted for 3 hours. Marched to Ollezy around 7pm and
28th: Buried a German spy caught and killed by a sgt and 2 men of the Bedfords, he was wearing ASC overcoat patties over French and German uniforms. Marched 3am bivouaced south of Noyon at 12 midnight.
29th: Divert (sp?) into Noyon during (sp?) the marching (sp?) found the town deserted. Marched at 6:30pm under bivouwac Carlepoint at 11pm.
30th: Marched out of town during night. Marched at 3:30 am joined left (sp?) guard at 9am. Reached Croutoy at 7pm. Little (sp?) march to Crepy around 5pm.
September 1914
1st: Left at 8am. In action south of Crepy to cover retirement of vanguard defence (sp?). Halted Prussian cavalry. Saw little of the enemy who were scattered severely. Handled (sp?) by the 121st battery and our infantry. Reached south of Nanteuil at 7pm.
2nd: Left at 3:10 am reached Cuist at 10 am (about 22 miles from Paris).
3rd: Left at 7am with men and battery 2 his at Esbly around Mont Pichet 6pm unmolested.
4th: Ordered to be ready to march at short notice. at 10am Got money for pay. Marched at 11pm to a point 2 miles south of Tourivant.
5th: Arrived at 9am.
6th: Advanced. Marched 6:30 am arrived Villeneuve. 9:30 am off saddled until 1:15 pm. Marched to Mortcerf arrived 6pm. Marched at 7pm to Lacelle arrived 9:30pm. Heard many firing to NE all day.
7th: Marched at midday through Moroux and Coulommiers to Boissy arrived 6:30pm. Moroux and Coulommiers scelad (sp?), empty bottles and casks everywhere.
8th: Marched at 8am. Held up on the line St Gr - St Ouen by wooded clups (sp?) (illegible). Could see nothing, only opposition, a few German batteries and a few infantry. Considerable delay. The division captured about 100 prisoners.
9th: Marched at 5am took up a position to cover crossing of the Marne at Saacy and Nanteuil. No opposition to the crossing. Marched on with ROLTs Brigade (col 8th) Mery to south of Limon. Came into action against a battery in action in the open at 4000. Before the battery arrived down a lancer (sp?) lane a 3rd division battery had compelled the Germans to cease fire. Was kind (sp?) off to watch it. Detachments whined(sp?) to their flank upon join would all movement ceased. Remained in action until the 9th div infantry located the battery. A battery chick (sp?) la could not locate shelled a farm 100 on our right firing heavily for at least two hours. There was no one in the farm and the men found us. Could not (illegible) (illegible) as 4th div (illegible). Got 2 (illegible) into action in a small clearing in a large wood, observing station 1 1/2 miles in front. Shelled (illegible) and rampart many (sp?) along the Chamoust-Montreuil road, stopped all movement along it. (Illegible - something about advancing against the 14th Bde ?). Used Japparrand (sp?) telephone line, my (illegible) taken off a dead horse the day before. This is the only occasion on which the telephone has worked wholly satisfactorily.
10th: Marched at 5am. Passed close to the battery we had tied down. Got a telephone complete. The equipment constantly knocked about. Shell had punctuated some of the wagons with (illegible) doing more damage than (illegible) the shell. Then saw 7 dead around the guns and clear 20 more behind a hedge close by. The guns had been entrenched where (sp?) can (sp?) facing SW there had (illegible). Much ammunition left on the ground. Prisoners report that the gun crew were short of food but there was plenty on all their vehicles. Saw column of German infantry in the far distance and passed the spot near Chezy where our Cav and J Batty had captured a convoy. Much transport and ammunition wagons in confusion all along the road. Again, supplies seen to be plentiful. Remained at Chezy.
11th: Ready to march at 5am, at 6:30am advanced to push on with 120th reg to find(sp?) 3rd Cav Brigade. Near Chouy found them after a many hand march at Villeniviontoire. A wet cold day, to date weather has been perfect. Marched into billets at Hartennes.
12th: Marched at 5am with (illegible) towards Ciry. Found enemy occupying right bank of the Aisne. Came into action to cover 3rd Cav Bde opactly(sp?) on Chassemy ridge. Fired a far shell at targets engaged on R.H.A. Weather bad could not see where they fired at. Billeted at Epritel farm.
13th: In action before daylight (ineligible) 1/2 mile south of Ciry at N of Vasseny. Shelled missy village to can (sp?) missy of the men at trench points. Shelled wood north east of Nissy expended about 300 rounds. Our ridge was heavily shelled by guns and howitsers. Lost 2 men 1 killed Gunner Woodridge Driver Lawrence (sp?) 8 wounded. Capt French. 19 horses killed and 7 badly wounded.
14th: Very cold and wet. Counter attack (illegible) from woor north east of Missy, turned all our guns on to it. The counter attack was repulsed. Brig Gen Headlam congratulated the battery on the success of its fire. Flank shells bursting continuously on other side of the valley. When the mist lifted saw part of gun battery in the open turned on it. So did 108th H.B. soon silenced it . A few German (illegible) late in the day but we had no difficulty in keeping quiet.
15th: In the half light saw flashes in the front edge of wood round Conde (sp?) fort and the heavies turned on this battery and slienced it, not without difficulty. It must have been well entrenched as it could bring any accurate at fire to bear on it. The battery we fired on yesterday is (illegible) except one ammunition wagon. Searched on ridge on the right of the fort for another battery whose flashes were seen, it ceased firing. There are several batteries in the neighbourhood of fort Conde which is (illegible), the 108th H.B. with the aid of aeroplanes is endeavouring to silence these. In one case we certainly succeeded.
16th: A quiet day did little shooting at the wood near Missy. Saw two batteries firing on 3rd div evidently under cover from them. Reported to H.Q. Saw Bde of many E. A fence good about 800 on part of observing station was heavily shelled for about 2 hours, there was no one there.
17th: A wet cold windy day. Shot little. Ciry haevily shelled, no one there. Fired about 50 rounds at (illegible) in the evening did no damage. Reported another battery to 3rd div.
18th: Very cold and wet. Marched observing station to cover Conde bridge. Got a good veg (sp?) and can see the (illegible). Saw trenches during day north east of Missy; shelled them.
19th: Cold and wet. Nothing going on till enemy shelled command location then (illegible).
20th: 3rd Div attacked, Germans repulsed. Nothing doing on our part.
21st: Shelling and rifle fire at Missy about 5pm. Shelled trenches in that quarter. Put a far lydditte round Conde bridge. Germans digging hardne ar Vregny.
22nd: More movement on our front. Saw trenches during day on right of Conde fort, shelled them. Captain N Davidson joined.
23rd: A warmer day. Fired a few rounds at the neighbourhood of Conde bridge.
24th, 25th, 26th: Battery fifiring on land after shots (not sure here)
27th: Alarm at 3:30am that enemy is crossing Conde bridge in large numbers. Fired a few rounds in the dark. False alarm.
28th: Marched to position 100 West of Pavillon. Ft Jask top of Chevres plateau round Conde Ft.
29th: Nothing of interest occurred.
30th: A few shells fired on the ridge in front of the battery. Fired a few reaching towards West of Ft Conde and enemy ceased fire.
October
No comments:
Post a Comment