Sunday 29th April 1917
Last night at
7 o’clock 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and 2nd Division resumed their attacks of
yesterday. 63rd Division was to advance far enough to form a defensive flank
for 2nd Division’s attack on Oppy Wood and Oppy itself.
63rd Division’s
included an attack by a composite battalion formed by 7th Battalion, Royal
Fusiliers and 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. I spoke with the adjutant
of the Bedfords at length today and he told me that the composite battalion achieved
its objective, but was then counter-attacked and driven out. However, it
rallied and then re-took the trench it was to occupy and had consolidated it by
about 11 o’clock this morning.
99th Brigade of
the Division achieved some success and, after similar vicissitudes to the Bedfords,
eventually managed an advance of about one thousand yards. 2nd Division also
managed an advance of about one thousand yards. Altogether, although Oppy Wood
and Oppy itself remained in German hands the trench system defending them has
been taken.
Sources: X550/5/3.
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