John Duesbery (Sherwood Foresters) killed on Somme, item 77

• November 1, 2018 10:15:25 Anastasia Ioannou

                    as possible taking in the remaining men of "D" Company. "B" and "C" Companies were also                      ordered up to continue the line to the left

  GUILLEMONT.

  14th.       All fairly quiet last night On account of Enemy Machine Guns commanding the approaches                       to Bn Head Quarters Dugout, H.Q. reired about 200 yards and took up a position in a trench                   at about T.20.A.10.6. The Brigadier sent for the C.O. to go to Brigade for a conference and                        arranged for Major E.R. Street D.S.O. to come up from the Transport line and take over                            command of the Battalion for the time being. Except for Machine Gun fire all fairly quiet                          during the day.

                  6 p.m. The C.O. having returned Major Street rejoined the Transport line. 8.45.p.m. Battn.                        H.Q. again moved up to the German Dugout under the Railway. Operation orders were                               received from the Brigade for the Battn to Support the 1st Leicestershire Regi in an attack                      tomorrow morning at 6.20 am. 9.15 p.m. The C.O. saw Company Commanders and gave                          verbal orders to them. Lt Taylor came up from the Transport line and took over Command                      of  A Coy.

  
  

  DUGOUT T.20.B.2.8.

  15th.        6.20 am. All fairly quiet last night. 1st Leicestershire Regt passed through the Battalion to                         attack their 1st objective. The Battn. got into position in attack formation ready to advance                       and take over positions captured and vacated by 1st Leicestershires 1 hour and 30 minutes                     after their 1 st advance, in the following order:-A Company with remainder of D Company in                   front line and a Two Platoon in front B and C Companies each two platoons strong on a one                   Platoon front in Support.

                   7.30 am. Battn Head Quarters moved up to where Battn were formed up. 7.50 am. Battn                         advanced 150 yards between Companies and immediately came under heavy Machine Gun                     fire from our right front We had not gone far before we heard the Leicester's were held up                      by M.G. fire and unable to get on. After an advance of about 500 yards we found the                                   Leicester about 150 yards in front of us so dug in in rear of them. 8 am. Battn Head Quarters                   moved up to a Shell hole immediately in rear of the Battn.

                   8.15 am. Orders were sent to O.C. "A" Company to try and get in touch with the 9th Suffolks                   on our right The Battn dug in in shell holes. 8.28 am. C.O. went up to O.C. Leicester and asked                  if he required any support from us. No support was required- Both Battalions have suffered                    heavily, mostly from M.G. fire.

                  9.30 am. A Patrol was sent out from "A" Company to reconnoitre German trench running N.                    from Quadrilatral in front of Leicesters where men in our helmets could be seen on our left                    front Patrols reported trench held by the Boche and heavily wired. N.C.O. i/c Patrol killed and                 2 men wouncfcd.

                 1.30 p.m. Two Platoons of "A" Company were sent forward to get in touch with the Guards on                  our left. All efforts to get in touch with 9th Suffolks on our right were unuccessfiiL 5.40 p.m.                     Ordeis were received from Brigade to dig in and remain where we are.

                 6.20 p.m. About 200 of the enemy were seen coming over the rise West of LESGOEUF,                               advancing in a North Westerly direction. We opened fire at 1,400 yards which seemed to be                     effective, this counter attack was broken up by the Guards on our left. 7 p.m. A large number                of the enemy were seen advancing towards the Guards fromLESBOEUF. 10 p.m. The Battn                      were heavily shelled during the day at short intervals. Sent a wire to Brigade asking for Major                  Street and Lt Mellor to join from Transport.

                16th. All fairly quiet last night and very cold. At several periods during the day we were heavily                 shelled especailly at Day break.

                7.17 am. received orders from Brigade for our Battn to co-operate with the 18th Brigade in an                attack timed to take place at 7.30 p.m. last night These were cancelled later.

                9. p.m. Orders received from Brigade stating that the 1st Bn. West Yorkshire Rcgt 18 Infantry                  Brigade would relieve us tonight, 12 m.n.there being no signs of relief sent a wire to Brigade                    to that effect.

  
  

  DUGOUT T.20.B.2.8. - MALTZ HORN FARM TRENCH

  17th.    Received orders from Brigade to vacate the portion of the line held by us immediately and                       proceed to MALTZ HORN FARM trenches where we arrived about 5.30 am. After having                             breakfast the Battn had a well deserved rest and sleep. Commenced to rain during the                             afternoon which made things uncomfortable there being very little cover

  
  

  18th.      Still raining, plenty of mud, and everybody most miserable. Orders received for 1 Officer                           and 30 O.R’s to go back to the position vacated by us to collect wounded and salvage                                Machine  and Lewis guns etc. Lieut F.J.Melbr wounded and 1 man killed by Shell fire with this                  party. 7.30 p.m. Received orders that the Brigade will march to V1LLE-SUR-ANCRE tomorrow                    leaving here 10. am.
  

  
  

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