The Defence of Mount Kemmel

Wednesday 17th April 1918

The enemy has made a strong attack today on the heights of Mount Kemmel. In truth this hill is not particularly high but so flat is the land around it that it stands out as if it were a veritable mountain. It lies north-west of Messines and south-west of Ypres and the attack upon it was handily defeated by the defenders, we hear.

Meanwhile, north of Ypres the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment faced a determined effort by the enemy to get across the Steeneck at dawn today. The Belgians, on the Bedfords' left flank also came under attack but were repulsed. All day the enemy has been feeding troops into the ruins of Langemarck and as I was speaking with the adjutant he received a report that the enemy had managed to cross the stream and establish themselves in some old pillboxes. The Battalion, greatly below strength is hoping to be relieved tonight.

Sources: X550/3/wd

Roll of Honour - 17th April 1918

Killed in Action

1st Battalion: battles of the Lys 1918: front line near Lambres

• 27786 Private Harry COTTON, 27, son of Tom and Mary Ann Cotton of Coventry [Warwickshire], resided Saint Albans [Hertfordshire] (Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes)

9th Battalion

• Lieutenant Hubert Aubrey COLLYMORE, 27, attached 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, son of F Collymore of Barbados, husband of H R Hill (ex-Collymore) of 19 Mayfield Avenue, Bolton [Lancashire] (Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendaele)

A Lull and A Death

Tuesday 16th April 1918

Today the enemy has shown little in the way of offensive intentions. This has allowed your correspondent to catch up with some of our battalions. The 2nd Battalion has withdrawn, in common with the rest of 2nd Army, to new positions. They are now lining the Steenbeek north of Ypres and are in the front line. All bridges over the stream were destroyed to make it as great an obstacle to an enemy attack as possible. The adjutant reported to me a few minutes ago: "The withdrawal was carried out without trouble and was not noticed by the enemy until the afternoon. After three o'clock he could be seen advancing in small parties and at six o'clock two hundred were reported to be entering Langemarck". One sad note was the death during the day of Second Lieutenant Cecil Shekury MC. This Jewish officer was born in Singapore and enlisted at the outbreak of war whilst at school in England as a private soldier. He received promotion due to his courage and ability and will, without doubt, be sorely missed.

Second Lieutenant Cecil Shekury MC [X550/1/81]

The 7th Battalion is still in billets near Gentelles. Today they received a much needed addition to their strength of 97 men. Their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Percival has proceeded to England on duty for seven days and Captain Browning has taken over command of the battalion, with Captain H Seys-Phillips becoming acting adjutant.

The 6th Battalion is in reserve in the Bois de Warnimont near Fort-Mahon-Plage on the coast just south of Boulogne.. The adjutant mentioned to me grumpily: Very bad accommodation in tents".

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/7/1; X550/8/1

Roll of Honour - 16th April 1918

Killed in Action

2nd Battalion: Battles of the Lys 1918: front line on the Steenbeck

• Temporary Lieutenant Cecil SHEKURY MC (Canada Farm Cemetery, Ypres)

Died of Wounds

1st Battalion

• 21634 Private Charles Thomas STUBBS, 25, born Sandhurst [Berkshire], resided Camberley [Surrey], son of Arthur and Polly Stubbs of 5 Rosemary Lane, Blackwater [Hampshire], husband of Alice Mary of Chinthurst Farm, Bramley [Surrey] (Aire Communal Cemetery)

Withdrawal from Passchendaele

Monday 15th April 1918

As predicted yesterday, our troops have begun to fall back from the Passchendaele Ridge today. One can only imagine how the men who fought for that ridge, saw their comrades fall, and shed many pints of sweat and, perhaps, blood, too, feel about this turn of events. As indicated yesterday this withdrawal is a strategic necessity, but Tommy Atkins does not have to like it, and doesn't. As far as we of the press corps are aware, the enemy has not followed up the withdrawal of our men, suggesting he is, as yet, in ignorance of it. If so, General Plumer's staff and all involved can congratulate themselves in carrying out that most difficult, as well as most unwelcome, manoeuvre, a retirement in the face of the enemy, to perfection.

Meanwhile the enemy attack towards the River Lys in the area around Bailleul has come to a halt only a little way beyond that town. 

Roll of Honour - 15th April 1918

Killed in Action

1st Battalion: battles of the Lys 1918: divisional line near Lambres

• 48023 Private Harry LOWE, resided Saint Albans [Hertfordshire] (Haverskerque British Cemetery)

2nd Battalion: Battles of the Lys 1918: Battle Zone between Pilckem and Langemarck

• 240723 Private Sydney Harrald DUTT, born Frindsbury [Kent], resided Strood [Kent] (Canada Farm Cemetery)

Bailleul Falls

Sunday 14th April 1918

Yesterday and today the enemy has attacked and taken Bailleul, south of Ypres. This has forced General Plumer to make a very unpalatable decision. Much of the ground gained, with so much effusion of blood, last summer and autumn is likely to have to be given up. The Passchendaele Ridge is now a long way further east than the British line south of Ypres. This makes the line longer and, of course, due to casualties since 21st March there are now less troops to hold it. the only way, at the moment, to shorten the line, is to pull it back further west. 

The 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, continues to hold the support line between Pilkem and Langemarck. As they have a Belgian unit on their left flank they have received a distinguished guest - Flemish nobleman Viscount Obert, who will act as translator.

In recognition of the bravery shown by 4th Battalion at Bouzincourt Ridge and during the March retreat. several of its other ranks have received decorations for bravery. Private George Bunyan has received a bar to his Military Medal whilst the following have been awarded that same medal:Sergeant W G Marks; Lance Corporal P le Gros; :Lance Corporal W Batchelor and Private W E Auburn(1).

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550

(1) 14124 Private W G Batchelor MM would die on 27th August 1918 and is buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy