WORLD WAR ONE DIARY OF THOMAS WALLBANK - wallshuff.co.uk

13-04-18 NEUVE EGLISE
[The Tactical Incident: “The
Defence of Neuve Eglise”]
14-04-18 NEUVE EGLISE
2.00am Orders received to withdraw to Army Reserve Line. This withdrawal was completed by 4.00am,
A&D coys being in the line from T9d9.6 to T9b6.6 with B&D coys dug-in in support from T9d2.2 to
T9c9.5. Batn HQ was at T9c7.8. The 8 th Gloucesters were on our left, KSLI and 4 th KOYLI on our right – all
in the Army Reserve Line. Later a batn of Sherwood Foresters (59th Division) and Field Coy RE of the 19 th
Division held the line of NEUVE EGLISE – WULVERGEM RD towards WULVERGEM.
8.00am Parties of the enemy were seen in the WEST End of NEUVE EGLISE village., This threatened our
right and rear. A party of 50 strong was therefore sent under Capt. J.F. Wortley M.C. and Lieutenant W.D.
Griffins M.C. to attempt to drive them out. This they did capturing 51 prisoners and establishing themselves
in line through T14d and T15c with oddments of batns of the 100 th Bde near them.
During the day the KOYLI and others holding SE of the village were driven back a short way.
7.00pm Orders were received to move Coys from Army Reserve Line on relief by KSLI and to dig-in within
the triangle T9c9.0 – T15b9.9 – T9d3.2.
By 8.30pm a line was formed between T9d8.4 and T15b4.9 just S of WULVERGEM RD
About 8.00pm Capt. J.F.Wartley M.C. was killed while heading back into the line a party of about 40
stragglers of the 16 th KRR (100 th Bde)
Casualties:
Officers killed – Capt J.F. Wortley MC & Lt T.E. Sanderson
Officers wounded – 2 nd Lt W.K. Shopland
Officers missing – 2 nd Lt H.R.Key
Other ranks – 12 killed, 44 wounded, 12 missing
By dawn the enemy were seen to have penetrated well into the WEST End of the village and the Batn
seemed in danger of being outflanked. A platoon was placed at T9c1.0 and HQ details of the Batn and 4 th
KOYLI took up a line through T9e central.
About 2.00pm the C.O. went to see the Batn on our right (100 th Bde) with a view to organising a counterattack
but they could not be found and it appears that they retired a considerable distance. A Coy was
ordered to form a defensive flank on the right.
About 5.00pm the enemy put up lights (?) at the Mile(?) (T8d5.4) and were still advancing. The position
seemed critical.
At 6.00pm enemy attacked after heavy bombardment with T.Ms and artillery on the left, which was held by
Hallamshires, KOYLI, KSLI and remnants of other units.
They were compelled to fall back under heavy M.G. fire from houses in NEUVE EGLISE to a line running
through T9 central, being in touch with the Gloucesters on the left and with the right Coy forming a
defensive flank. At this point the C.O. (Lt Colonel D.F. Branson, DSO, M.C.) was wounded.
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