Received orders to leave & at 3.30am we marched via French Bridge over YSER CANAL to a bivouac in a field with Canadian Troops. Field situated on left of main VLAMERTINGHE- YPRES ROAD. A great relief after the last 10 days.
Heavily shelled during the morning, quiet in afternoon until about 4 pm when a cloud of German Gas was seen arriving catching 2 Regiments in the firing line which broke, the gas came on to us. Some of our men went back, but we formed up as many as possible & made a line in rear. Germans attempted an attack from the wood which was repulsed with loss. These last 3 days had shaken the Regiment up & affected the Morale of the Regiment & we are in great need of a rest.
“C” &”D” Coys [companies] heavily shelled in the early morning. 3 killed 4 wounded. Rest of day fairly quiet.
Left Farm 22b & went into Support close behind the line at 12.30 am. Coys [companies] went into dugouts. Shelled heavily during afternoon & evening losing 2 killed 18 wounded. Men were moved during the night to other dugouts close by.
Shelled at intervals without damage. Position now well consolidated & wire put up. Received orders to move to support line. Regiment was very much shaken up after the week’s work.
Heavy shelling all day. Our trenches shelled with heavies from 12 to 1pm & 5 to 6pm. Little damage done. 2 men wounded. Heavy Artillery firing all night.
Quiet morning. Our guns opened a heavy fire on enemy’s trenches at 2 pm previous to an attack by the French to our left. Fine day. Quiet night.
Heavy gunfire from 8 a.m. onwards. Our guns opened a heavy fire at 12.30 pm prior to a French attack taking place at 1.15pm. We operated with Machine Gun and rifle fire from our trenches. Heavy gun fire during the night.
Heavy gunfire all day. About 2.30 p.m the Northumberland Division attacked ST JULIEN without success. We opened supporting fire from our trenches. The Lahore Division attacked on our left but gained very little ground, being stopped by gas.
Left YPRES at 12 midnight for WIELTJE where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4.30a.m. We attacked wood on the left of the line with 7th Arg. & Suth. Highldrs [Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders] in support. Seaforths [Seaforth Highlanders], R.Irish Fus [Royal Irish Fusiliers] & R. Dub. Fus [Royal Dublin Fusiliers] attacked on our right on ST JULIEN. Continue reading