Battle of Polygon Wood

  • 23rd Sep
    Moved to camp south of Ypres
  • 24th Sep
    Attack practice under the C.O.
    Relieved 13th King’s (Liverpool) in the support line
    Note received from Major-General C.J. Deverell exhorting the 3rd Division towards the taking of Zonnebeke
  • 25th Sep
    H.Q. Moved to Hannebeek Wood
    At Battn H.Q. Col. Hunt (C.O.), Capt. Morgan (Adjt), Capt. Whittaker (Asst. Adj.)
  • 26th Sep
    Battle of Polygon Wood incl. attack on Zonnebeke
    Zero hour: 5.50am
    7.10am Message that “B” Coy had reached its objective
    9.10am Capt Whittaker visited Coys at Mühle and Tokio farms – Shelling heavy
    10.15am C.O. & 2/Lt. Williams started for new line.
    10.45am Report from 50th Australian Imperial “Red Line Garrisoned” Casualties high
    2.15pm Message from “A” Coy for permission to return to Mühle owing to execptionally heavy shelling. C.O. replied to the effect that “A” Coy must hold on at all costs.
    4.0pm Message that only 15 men of “B” Coy left
    4.55pm The C.O. of the Suffolks asked for one of our Coys to reinforce his front line. At the same time and enemy counter-attack was spotted massing in front of our line. It was caught by our artillery and smashed up.
    9.20pm C.O. went to Bde to report on situation etc.
    11.20pm Shelling normal
  • 27th Sep
    5.00am Shelling normal
    5.25am Lieut. Phipps withdrew his men from Draught House as the Australians had taken over
    6.30am Parties of German stretcher-bearers collecting wounded in the rear of their front lines
    7.15am Situation unchanged
    2.15pm Shelling on Steenbeck Valley and Mühle Ridge rather heavy
    6.45pm Counter-attack on left
    8.15pm Rations and Lewis guns arrived
    8.40pm Shelling less intense
  • 28th Sep
    1.45pm Brigade notified us that we would be relieved by 9th Batt A.I.F. on the night of the 29/30th Sept
  • 29th Sep
    During the night the back areas were shelled
    Front area quieter than usual~
    12.5pm The C.O. of relieving Batt visited outr H.Q.
    Batt relieved by the 34th Bn A.I.F. complete by 11.55pm
    Batt arrived in camp (South of Ypres) at 2.15am
  • 30th Sep
    Left camp at Ypres (South)
    Moved in buses to Winnezeele