24th August 1918 On this day: Daily Activity   9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers. 0230. Enemy re-opened shelling on left for an hour. Our front was very quiet. The morning opened dull and rain fell. Three of our planes flew over the line and one enemy. At 0700 the Companies were in position, A on left, B in centre and D on right. Our barrage opened with machine gun fire and trench mortars. After one minute the artillery barrage started and the Companies moved forward to the attack. After a few minutes the enemy put up lights which were replied to by artillery fire. This fell first upon the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers front but then worked across our own, the shelling being particularly heavy in S.2.d central. Some of our own 18-pounder shells fell very short at S.2.d.80.50. Our smoke barrage was not very heavy, especially on the right. The enemy seemed to be taken by surprise and were more inclined to run than fight. The objectives were reached without much opposition. A and D overran their objectives and had to retire to conform with the line. 'A' Company put up white Verey light at 0720 to signal objective reached. At 0800 the whole objective was taken and consolidation was carried on until 1000. C Company followed on behind B and D as second wave and mopped up. They also helped in consolidation, after which three Platoons came back to our old front line trench as support Company while the other Platoon stayed with B Company. At 0930 our shelling ceased but the smoke barrage continued until 1000. The enemy artillery quietened down considerably. At 1000 contact aeroplane came along while another plane dropped two boxes of Small Arms Ammunition near Soot Farm. There was slight enemy shelling throughout the day on front line area and on the Meulehouck. The 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers obtained their objective also and liaison was established along our line and with the 1st Royal Irish Rifles on our right. At 1500 our artillery opened fire on S.8.a where the enemy were reported to be massing. Enemy planes came over the line and threw out signal lights over the front line position, when the enemy shelling got heavier. At 1830 the enemy put down a smoke barrage behind their front line and in front of Bailleul where they were seen to mass. SOS signalled from front was not seen but one of our planes signalled, upon which our artillery opened fire. The enemy massing had, however, been broken up by Lewis Gun and rifle fire. There was slight enemy shelling during night but nothing further happened. Our own artillery put down counter-preparation at 2300. At night the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and moved into Divisional Reserve at Mont des Cats. Our total casualties in the attack were four Officers wounded, five Other Ranks killed and one believed killed, 53 Other Ranks wounded. We captured 48 prisoners including ten wounded and estimated to have killed at least 70 including one Officer. War Diaries  Situation normal Praise for 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers   2nd Battalion , Royal Scots Fusiliers Extract from Battalion Routine Orders by Lt-Colonel J.E. Utterson-Kelso, D.S.O., M.C. dated 24th August 1918. The Commanding Officer desires to bring to the notice of all ranks his appreciation of the gallant conduct & fine spirit shewn by 'B' Company whilst holding the line on 18th August. During the progress of a minor operation on our right flank, an exceptionally heavy enemy barrage was put down on this Coy. area & was maintained throughout the greater part of the day. The behaviour and steadiness of the Company under the barrage in which they suffered nearly 50% casualties reflect the greatest credit on itself, and also on the Battalion. Signed: D.M. Nelson, Captain, A/Adjt. 2nd R.S. Fusiliers    MORBECQUE Extended Battalion boundary northwards taking over from the 5th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS a part of their front line up to X.22.a.5.2. For this purpose A Coy were brought back five platoons to support & two platoons & Coy HQ to reserve. (being relieved in front line by D Coy 13th Y & L) C Coy went forward and took over the new position from 5th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS becoming left front Coy. B Coy moved its left slightly further North. D Coy moved back to AFRICAN trench. Both Y& L & CAMERONS relief complete by 11pm. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1    MORBECQUE Extended Battalion boundary northwards taking over from the 5th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS a part of their front line up to X.22.a.5.2. For this purpose A Coy were brought back five platoons to support & two platoons & Coy HQ to reserve. (being relieved in front line by D Coy 13th Y & L) C Coy went forward and took over the new position from 5th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS becoming left front Coy. B Coy moved its left slightly further North. D Coy moved back to AFRICAN trench. Both Y& L & CAMERONS relief complete by 11pm. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1  Attack Made  Forward  Quiet  Objective Achieved  Reliefs  In Billets  On the March  Training  In Action  Concerts  Objectives Taken  Training  Platoon Drill  Training  In Support  Two enemy aircraft destroyed  Lt. Col. G.E. Whittal rejoined  The second phase of the attack commenced at 1100 hours.  5th Division Co-operates  Hostile barrage  Battery Remains at Fieffes  Operation Orders No.54.  Moved from Chateau De Le Haie  Orders for an Attack Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? 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Want to know more about 24th of August 1918? There are:28 items tagged 24th of August 1918 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 24th of August 1918. Pte. Joseph Alderson. 15th Battalion Durham Light Infintry Albert Barker. Durham Light Infantry Read their Story. Pte. Charles Barnes. MM. 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Pte. Charles Henry Boniface. 3rd Btn. London Regiment Pte. Alfred Crabtree. MM. A Coy. 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment Read their Story. Gnr. Cecil Crocker. 126th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Read their Story. L/Cpl Richard Dearing. 7th Btn East Yorkshire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Ernest Cordes Didsbury. 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Read their Story. Cpl. Walter John Dungate. 1st Btn. Grenadier Guards Rfn Alfred William Embery. 1st/21st Btn London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) Pte. Frank Mark Finan. 10th Btn Sherwood Foresters Read their Story. Sgt. Samuel Forsyth. VC. New Zealand Engineers Sgt. Samuel Forsyth. VC. No.3 Field Company New Zealand Engineers Read their Story. Pte. Peter Giles. 14th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Henry John Green. Kings Royal Rifle Corps Read their Story. L/Cpl. David Griffiths. 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Benjamin Charles Hamilton. 9th Btn. Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment Pte. Thomas Harrison. 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry Read their Story. Pte. A. Holme. 8th Btn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment Read their Story. Sgt. Harold Jackson. VC. 7th Btn. C Company East Yorkshire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Thomas Jackson. 6th Btn. Kings Own Royal Lancasters Read their Story. Rfmn. Frank Victor Kinsman. 2/12th Btn. London Regiment Read their Story. Rfmn. John George Mathers. 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Btn. London Regiment Read their Story. L/Cpl. James Muir. 1st/6th Bat. Highland Light Infantry Read their Story. Pte George Henry Newbold. 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry L/Cpl. William Parkes. 2/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Henry Rixon. 18th Aux Bus Coy. Read their Story. L/Cpl John Stanley Seaborne. 12th Battalion (The Rangers) London Regiment Read their Story. Nurse Evelyn Fidgeon Shaw. First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Pte. George Edward Strange. 9th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Frederick James Talbot. 6th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment Pte. William Henry Threlfall. 2nd Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Hermann Turner. 12th (The Rangers) Battalion London Regiment Add a name to this list.

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