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

29/30-06-
1918
JULY 1918
01-07-18 to
06-07-18
The object was to obtain prisoners , kill the enemy & lower his moral.
The right party thoroughly searched HILL 40and crossed the ZILLEBEKE ROAD but could find no enemy
nor posts which appeared to have been occupied. The party which moved out along PIONEER TRACK
proceeded to about 17a2.3 without finding any of the enemy. They saw a couple of the enemy on their way
back but the fog was very thick and they slipped away. The two positions on the left ???? to the 37 barrage
line at 17a4.4 ????our barrage came down short and was not very ????? was very steady and accurate. [the
rest is difficult to read, refer to photograph of WD]
[Raid to kill and demoralise enemy at HILL 40 (ZILLEBEKE ROAD)]
10 killed, 7 wounded
HILL 40 Operation carried out by 3 Platoons with the objective of capturing prisoners and obtaining identification. It
was thought possible that the enemy would be holding a position in the immediate vicinity of the CROSS
ROADS in 16a. & the scheme was for one Platoon to (?) along WARRINGTON ROAD and then to move
southwards south of the ZILLEBEKE ROAD & cut off the enemy.
Just before Zero hour the left Platoon was seen by the enemy who were in considerable strength at about 16 d
38.95. (?) were thrown up by the enemy & a M.G. started firing. Lieut (?) Reserve Platoon which had
become much scattered in (?) was fired on by M.G. from about 16d 85.75. (?) MC of the left Platoon did not
consider himself strong enough to attack & the officer of the Reserve Platoon could only collect 10 men was
unable to get around to his assistance. Meanwhile the Right Platoon reached ????to objective & found none
of the enemy & returned to our lines.
Casualties. 10 O.R. killed & 7 O.R. wounded.
The Battalion was relieved by 1/5 th York and Lancaster Regt. Relief completed by 2-15am 30/6/18 (Battn
HQ at H18a0.7
Officers struck off
2 nd Lieut W.J. MOFFAT to RAF 23/6/18
2 nd Lieut S.P. DORMAN to 1/6 Duke of E Regt 26/6/18
Strength 21/6/18 34 officers 857 O.R.
28/6/18 33 officers 854 O.R.
In the Field Working on rear defences, enemy quiet.
[Thomas granted Proficiency Pay Class 1(Burnt Records), presumably he qualified as a Lewis
Gunner]
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