The 1st
January 1918 found the Battalion billeted at Swan Chateau supplying working
parties for the
The sector was a
quiet one, so much so that a Chapel was established at Battalion headquarters.
In the Front line the men slept in beds vacated by the French Cavalry and
enjoyed hot meals daily. The Battalion remained here until the 9th
February when they were relieved by the 7th
On the 10th
March the Battalion relieved the 2nd Yorkshires in the line in front
of St Quentin. The tour lasted until the 18th when the Battalion
were relieved by the 16th
The long expected
enemy attack opened at 4.50am on the 21st March and the Battalion
took up its battle positions in the Etreillers defences.
Until noon on the
Morning of the 21st, observation was impossible although the
Battalion had a signalling station in a tree top near the Goodman redoubt. The
visibility improved in the afternoon when the Enemies movements could be
clearly seen. As night fell the enemy were massing in front of the defences but
the position was still intact. As dawn approached a dense mist hampered
observation and the enemy entered the quarry at Savy, but were repulsed by an
attack led by B Company and driven out leaving 31 prisoners behind. In the
afternoon the enemy gradually encroached on the flanks, assisted by low flying
aeroplanes that constantly harassed the defenders. A desperate fight to the
last man was expected by all the Battalion.
About 4.00pm,and
preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment, the Enemy attacked again and after heavy
fighting succeeded in surrounding B, C and D Companies positions, which, after
the men had expended all their ammunition, fell into the Enemies hands. A
Companies position at Goodman redoubt was evacuated an hour after the Enemy had
gained a foothold. The survivors of the Battalion managed to extricate
themselves and were withdrawn.
At 5.00am on the 23rd
the Battalion marched to Moyencourt where it took up a position in reserve at
Lannoy Farm. At 9.00pm it moved to a defensive position east of Esmery Hallon.
The enemy attacked
again at 9.00am on the 24th and the Battalion was compelled to fall
back and take up new positions on the canal bank east of Moyencourt. The
following day enemy attacks were broken up by artillery and rifle fire, forcing
them to withdraw with heavy casualties.
At noon on the 27th
the Enemy attacked again in force and the front line fell back through the
Battalions defences and a position 1000 yards to the rear was taken up. During
the late Morning of the 28th the Enemy pushed in the flank
Battalions and attempted to surround the Brigade. At noon, information was
received that the French had taken over, and the Battalion was ordered to
withdraw. This was carried out under machine gun and rifle fire and the
Battalion withdrew to Billets at Rouvres near Moreuil, arriving at 8.00pm.
On the 28th,
the remnants of the Battalion were formed into a composite Battalion with the 2nd
York’s and the 2nd Wiltshire’s and this Battalion was attached to
the 4th French Reserve Cavalry Division.
The fighting
withdrawal had taken a heavy toll on the Battalion and the casualty figures for
the action were: 4 Officers and 39 Men killed , 6
Officers and 100 Men wounded and 9 Officers and 301 Men missing.
The Battalion
remained at Estraboeuf until the 5th April when it Marched to
Woincourt and entrained for Proven and then to camp in the St Sixte area.
On the 9th
April the Battalion marched to White Mill camp at Elverdinghe and provided working
parties for the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Here, A and B
Companies were fused to form C Company 16th Manchesters and C and D
to form D Company.
The remnants of the
Battalion now forming 2 Companies of the 16th Manchesters marched to
the front line near Spoil Bank and Lock 8 of the
On the 25th
the Enemy made an attack and forced the line back south of the canal, but a
counter attack led by Second Lieutenant Budenburg, counter attacked and
restored the front line. Second Lieutenant Budenburg was killed in the action.
The survivors of the
other Company were withdrawn to the North bank of the canal, suffering heavy
casualties during the withdrawal. Here a line was formed and held during 2 Days
of fighting.
On the 29th
the Battalion was withdrawn to Scottish camp where the survivors were formed
into 1 Composite Company and attached to the 2nd
Casualties for the
above actions were: 10 Officers killed, wounded or missing and 212 other ranks
killed, wounded or missing.
On the 1st
May the Battalion Headquarters were at Buysscheure where they were joined by
the rest of the Composite Battalion on the 9th. On the 13th
the Transport Personnel totalling some 1 Officer and 33 Men proceeded to
Transport Disbandment Camp. The following Day, Second Lieutenant Halliwell and
155 other ranks proceeded to Base for redrafting.
On the 15th,
what personnel remained were formed into a training cadre for the purpose of
training American troops. The cadre, along with the Band entrained for
Woincourt and marched to billets at Guerville.
The cadre was
affiliated with the 2/140th U.S Infantry Regiment. Training
commenced on the 20th May and consisted of Tactical work,
specialists, Lewis gunners, Bombers and evening lectures.
On the 21st
July the 2 American Battalions left Guerville and were replaced by the 1/132nd
and 2/132nd Infantry Regiments. The cadre and the 132nd
infantry Regiment moved by bus to Molliens-au-Bois, remaining until the 27th.
On the 23rd
of July the Cadre was at Haudricourt where 2 days later orders for disbandment
were received. The Cadre was disbanded on the 30th July 1918 when
the personnel less 3 Officers-one of which was the now Lieutenant Colonel
Edmund Fearenside, Distinguished service Order an original Officer from
September 1914, and 7 Other Ranks were transferred to the 13th
Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
The Remainder
proceeded to Base.
DCM awards to the 17th Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Fearenside DSO OBE