SKETCH MAP OF GOMMECOURT.
The sector in which the battalion now found itself was an awkward one to hold, owing to inadequate lateral communications, and to the fact that the front line companies were not in touch with each other. The former defect was mainly due to the lie of the land, which sloped down from the high ground occupied by the enemy towards our support line in Gommecourt Trench, thus giving the enemy supervision of any movement in that trench. Two companies occupied the front line for four days, and were then relieved by the other two companies—one company in support in Nameless Trench and Gommecourt Trench, and one company in reserve in Rum Trench and in dug-outs in Gommecourt Park, in which latter place Battalion Headquarters also was established. The right front company was in rather a maze of trenches and saps off Welcome and Warrior Streets, and held positions in which it was very inadvisable to have any movement during the hours of daylight, else the enemy artillery, owing to their excellent observation, quickly located the movement, with unpleasant consequences. On our right were the New Zealanders, based on Hebuterne, with whom we held a joint post in front of Minnie Trench. In order to reach the right front company from Battalion Headquarters, it was necessary to go a short distance along Rum Trench, then climb out and dash across the road in full view of the enemy, and drop again into Rum Trench. This dash across the road was quite a sporting proceeding, because the enemy kept a machine gun trained on the spot; the great activity of all whose duty took them across the road was very noticeable. However, this dangerous place was remedied by driving a tunnel under the road. Continuing the journey to the right company, you proceeded along Rum Trench until you came to Nameless Trench on your left, which you turned down and followed until you struck Gommecourt Trench on your right. This trench, located at the bottom of a valley, was necessarily rather shallow and wet; but it was a long trench, and being for the greater part of its length under enemy observation, was consequently unhealthy unless you negotiated it at speed. Arrived at the far end, you turned up Richmond Trench, at the head of which Company Headquarters was found in a deep dug-out. The left front company occupied positions in saps leading off Nameless Trench and Nameless Support, and were responsible for the front from Nameless to the road which ran from Gommecourt Park to the enemy lines. On their left was the 8th Battalion K.L.R. There was no communication between the right and left companies during daylight, owing to the fact that west of Nameless Trench the trench called Welcome Street had been blown in for about sixty yards. The slope between Welcome Street and Gommecourt Trench was well pocked with shell-holes, and examination of an aeroplane photograph through a magnifying glass showed one curiously shaped mark, which caused some speculation as to what it might be. It was thought that it might be an old gun-pit, but when examined by a patrol at night proved to be a bed of ox-eyed daisies in full bloom, evidently a relic of a garden which had been there in the long ago. The reserve company always had to find carrying parties at night to carry water and rations up to the front line companies.
The tour opened quietly enough; the first two days the enemy devoted considerable attention to back areas, but little to the trenches. The night of May 25th-26th was made distinctly lively by a highly successful raid carried out by a party of four officers and 112 men of the 2/4th South Lancashire Regiment from our left company's front line. The South Lancashires brought in twelve prisoners and one machine gun. During the barrage we had two men killed and six wounded, while 2nd-Lieutenant Thomas was also slightly wounded by a sniper on this day.
On May 25th Colonel Fletcher rejoined rear headquarters.
The rest of the tour was quiet enough—the usual amount of miscellaneous shelling, and the usual two or three casualties daily. 2nd-Lieutenant Thomas was evacuated sick on May 28th to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, which was heavily bombed shortly after his arrival, and caused him to retire to the United Kingdom wounded.
A draft of 126 men was posted to the battalion from the Divisional Wing on May 29th, but remained at Marieux with the nucleus party.
Relief of the battalion took place by the 2/7th K.L.R. on May 29th, but this only constituted the occupation of the reserve trenches instead of the front line, and made very little difference to conditions of existence.
The Transport Officer and Quartermaster, who were both suffering from the effects of gas, had to be sent to the rear, the former to a Casualty Clearing Station and the latter to Marieux. 2nd-Lieutenant Harper took over the duties of Transport Officer. Lieutenant Burton, the Scout Officer, also came up from Marieux, as a raid was looming ahead, and he had to commence preliminary reconnaissances.
The end of the month found our effective strength 43 officers and 860 men. Captain Wurtzburg and 2nd-Lieutenant Jones had been evacuated to England sick, and 2nd-Lieutenant A. E. Sutton for a transfer to the Royal Air Force. 2nd-Lieutenants Jacobs and Anderson had rejoined from a wild-goose chase to No. 2 Entrenching Battalion, whither they had been dispatched some time previously, after a heated argument over our paper strength, when we absorbed half the 2/5th K.L.R. Lieutenant Tebbutt, previously with the 2/5th K.L.R., joined us also; and 2nd-Lieutenant Lever, M.C., who was wounded at Langemarck, now reappeared. Our casualties had been five men killed and forty-five wounded.