WW1 Diary Help With Decyphering

[pteverett001]

Not sure whether this is the correct forum for this question or the help with handwriting, but thought I would start here.

I have been researching a relative's time in the Army in WW1. He was in the 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade and until this week I had been unable to track down the War Diary for that Battalion. He died on October 9th 1916 during the battle of Le Transloy. I have at last found the Official War Diary on the National Archives web site and when looking at the period in question there was initially not very much detail, however further on in the diary I discovered a specific report which goes into much fascinating detail about the action on October 7/8th. I have managed to transcribe most of it but I am struggling with name of the road mentioned in the first paragraph. It reads: Two Companies were formed in the first line, "B" Coy on W of ****** Road. This road is mentioned several time and I cannot read it in any of them. Can anyone else shed any light so that I can try and find on a contemporary map? If anyone can assist with the name of the road in question it would be much appreciated so I can complete my transcription of this report.

Thanks

Paul

[jess5athome]

Hi, I tend to think it is "Sunken" Road, but could be wrong, it's mentioned again down the page.

Frank.

[BumbleB]

I agree that it is "Sunken" - I have a copy of pages from "The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War" and the Sunken Road is mentioned in connection with 7 October 1916 and the battle for Le Transloy Ridge.

"The 68th Brigade, on the right, was to carry the enemy's trench system about the Sunken Road, and the northern half of the village. ...."  and "On the right, the 68th Brigade advanced rapidly, but just before reaching the Sunken Road, was enfiladed by machine-gun fire from Le Sars ...."

My grandfather, 11th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was one of the 217 WYR OR killed on 7 October 1916, along with 8 officers.

[pteverett001]

Many thanks Sunken it is.

Paul

[pteverett001]

In case anyone is interested here is my transcription of the report:

Report on operations of 7th and 8th October 1916
The Battalion were drawn up in assaulting position before dawn on the 7th inst. Two Companies were in the first line, “B” Coy on W of Sunken Road, “A” Coy on E of Sunken Road – C Coy & ½ D Coy in front Assembly Trench, ½ D Coy & 4 M.G. from 60th M.G. Company in Rear Assembly Trench. A considerable amount of our own wire was discovered about 20’’ in front of our Trench, extending 30yds to E of Sunken Road & 50yds to West. Steps were taken to deal with this during the advance. A reconnaissance of the German wire showed that it extended right across the Battalion Front, & was in front of French barbed wire. There were 4 gaps opposite left Coy and none opposite right Coy. Wire cutting was carried out by 18 pounder during the morning a reconnaissance at 1.15pm showed 3 more gaps and some further damage. German aeroplanes were active during the morning, but there was only desultory hostile shelling until 1.20pm when a barrage was put in the Sunken road from the front lines to the X roads and on the Assembly Trenches, about 30 to 40 casualties were caused by this shelling including one Lewis Gun team.
At 1.45pm our barrage started and the Battalion left the trenches in 4 waves, each Company being on a half-Company Front. The M.G. followed the last wave. The Front Companies came under heavy M.G and rifle fire as soon as they reached the crest 20yds short of the German wire. The casualties were heavy. Of the 5 Company Officers of the leading Coys 4 were killed and 1 severely wounded, and about 50% of the rank and file killed or wounded. A German Machine Gun firing from a Sap run out close to the wire caused a large proportion of the casualties. Some delay was caused getting through the wire but the third wave came up at this moment and Germans in RAINBOW TRENCH at once gave up and most of them ran forward to our line with their hands up and others bolted to their second line, and a few including the M.G team were killed in the trench. The 3rd and 4th wave halted beyond the trench until the barrage moved forward. These got some good shooting at the Germans who had retired from trench and several were knocked over.

Continued on next post.

[pteverett001]

The barrage moved forward and the advance was continued in 3 waves, the third being formed of B & A Coys, less 40 NCO & men and 2 M.G left to form strong points in RAINBOW TRENCH.
The losses in this advance were comparatively slight, though most of the Germans remained until they got close to them. The Germans threw a number of bombs, most of which fell just in front of the parapet and many failed to explode. A good many tried to escape at the last minute and about 40 to 50 managed to get out of the trench which was deep. More than half of these were shot down as they ran away. The remainder of the garrison tried to escape up the trench but got stuck at the dead end and about 30 were killed by bombs and bayonet, 3 wounded prisoners and 2 unwounded prisoners were taken. A Lewis Gunner did some execution among them firing from the shoulder as he ran along the parapet. 2 M.G were captured in each trench, only one intact, and 2 trench mortars and ammunition. There about 100 Germans in the 2nd trench and shell holes near and the same number in the front trench.  Several more were seen getting up from holes between MISTY and METEOR trenches and running back. All those escaped did not stop till they had got beyond the TRANSLOY Road. A message was received at Battalion HQ at 2.25pm that 2 lines of trenches had been taken, this was sent on by pigeon. A 4th message was received at 4pm that the trench was being consolidated, that the Battalion was in trench with 6th Bt Bucks L.I. on right and could see the K.O.Y.L.I on the left. The Germans were shelling rather heavily but not doing any damage.  About 5pm Germans were seen coming out of the trenches at BEAULENCOURT in 4 lines, about 1 or 1 ½ Battalions. They approached within about 1200yds and fire was opened with M.G., captured German guns and Lewis Guns. They very soon had effect and the advance became very confused, men running in all directions, some lying down. A few came beyond METEOR trench until they met our barrage, when they retired again. A number of casualties were inflicted by M.G fire. At dusk touch was obtained with 61st Brigade by posts and 6 Lewis & 3 M.G & the German MG extended along the Battalion front. A few Germans were killed and captured during the night.
The Germans had shelled the X roads at N34-a-1-g and vicinity& also valley behind heavily from 1.50pm until morning of the 8th. The front line RAINBOW trench were shelled all night without much effect.
During night 7th/8th the Germans dug some posts and short **** of trench from opposite Ox & Buck L.I strong point diagonally across from our front as if to connect eventually with BEAM trench. They were shelled out of it by our guns on the 8th despite copious use of Greer(n) lights. 25 bolted across the open for 300 yds under fire. Several were accounted for.
The shelling both in front and rear area decreased considerably after 5pm on the 8th.
Great difficulty was experienced in evacuating the wounded owing to the entire lack of stretchers. The M.O was killed early in the action and was not replaced until after dark.
The casualties were:
         Officers    Killed or died of wounds       5
               Wounded                    2
               Missing (believed killed)      1 
               Total                       8
         Other Ranks   Killed or died of wounds      33
               Wounded                           149
               Missing                        44
               Total                               226