Captain E S M Poyntz
Friday 13th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field
The 2nd
Battalion tell me that the night passed quietly and the enemy did not
counterattack. Today I have learned a little more about the Battalion’s attack
of yesterday. Captain Poyntz told me that they reckon to have gained about 200
yards of Bite Trench and about 70 yards of Gird Trench. He commented: “The
Battalion did magnificently and were the only Battalion to gain any ground on
the whole of the Corps Front, all the others having to withdraw to their front
trenches”. I am very pleased to say that the message carried by second Lieutenant Pitts reached Captain Beal's party last night and they were able to withdraw to the original front line.
Second Lieutenant Chadwick
The total of
dead comes, so far, to 82 dead. Officers killed were: Second Lieutenant Joseph
Chadwick; Second Lieutenant Harold Fyson; Second Lieutenant Lawrence Walker and
Lieutenant William White. Amongst the wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz,
Second Lieutenant William Bird, Lieutenant R. Hopkins and Second Lieutenant J P
Pitts. The latter two were both slightly wounded but remain at duty.
The 8th
Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are in front line trenches near Gueudecourt. Enemy
artillery has been active, as have snipers. There was an intense bombardment this
evening which ended about three-quarters of an hour ago, which we hope does not
foreshadow an enemy attack. So far today casualties have been four other ranks
killed and eleven wounded.
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