Wearside Battalion by John Sheen

Author:John Sheen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783460939
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2013-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

On 26 April the brigade commander came and inspected the battalion’s boots and afterwards the time was spent fitting and adjusting gas helmets and box respirators. Having had a few weeks out of the line the battalion must have had a bit of a shock, when on 28 and 29 April, they were on working parties for the Royal Engineers and Royal Field Artillery and the enemy began shelling the new dump at Ouderdom and the new railway east of Reninghelst. This shelling continued, at intervals throughout the night, then on 2 May at about 2200 hours the gas alarm was sounded and immediately the whole battalion stood to, until orders were received that everything was alright and they were stood down. At 0120 hours the fire alarm sounded and the commanding officer’s hut and the Battalion Orderly Room were found to be on fire and eventually burnt to the ground, despite valiant efforts by men of the battalion. All the battalion papers and official documents were lost and most of the CO’s personal kit was burnt. As the huts had been tarred, the flames resisted all efforts to put the fire out.

The next day 20/Durham LI relieved 21/King’s Royal Rifle Corps in reserve, A and B Companies moved into Micmac Camp and C and D Companies marched to billets in Dickebusch. The battalion now provided working parties and although the enemy artillery were actively shelling the reserve area, the only casualties were Second Lieutenant G M Little, and one other rank both wounded. On the night of 6 May the enemy artillery had a bit of luck and landed two direct hits on D Company officers’ dug-out in Dickebusch; although no officers were hurt, four men were wounded. All night long the enemy heavily shelled the back area and in Dickebusch the men of C and D Companies had to lie out in the open fields to avoid becoming casualties. The shelling carried on into 7 May, so in an effort to stop the enemy shelling the back areas, at 0855 hours every gun in Second Army opened rapid fire for five minutes on the enemy communication trenches. The enemy retaliated at 2200 hours, so orders were given to repeat the barrage at 2300 hours and to repeat it at 2315 hours. This was successful and for the remainder of the night the enemy was quiet.

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