The 8th KORL are relieved from their duty in the trenches and spend a couple of days resting and cleaning.
Reggie writes a letter to his sister, Helen, describing meeting their brother, Donald of the 4th SAI, and his close shave with a bomb in Arras. He also describes life in the trenches and various financial arrangements he wishes to make in order to take care of their mother, Alice Hunt.
The General has again put me in for a D.S.O. & I’m big enough not to be even grateful…. I don’t want a D.S.O. I do long for a Legion of Honour.
Donald goes up tonight, just on our left, to a badly straffed place like this salubrious village.
He ends with “Please send me weekly butter… we howl for butter.”
On the 12th, the 8th KORL attacked Devil’s Trench to the East of Arras and North of Monchy-le-Preux in order to secure their positions at Monchy. The action was not a success after being met with heavy rifle fire and many losses.
The Germans retaliated with heavy bombardment of Monchy on the 13th and 14th and then the 8th KORL were relieved and moved back to west of Arras where the cookers provided breakfast.
The 8th KORL moved further west of Arras where they stayed for 2 weeks rest and recovering. They received a letter of appreciation from Brigadier-General Porter, GOC of the 76th Brigade, for their efforts at Monchy and Guémappe.
- 1st May
Battalion relieved by the 13th King’s Liverpool
Battalion
Proceeded to trench near Tilloy (S.E. of Arras) - 2nd May
Day spent resting and cleaning
In the evening moved to trenches near the Bois des Boeufs - 3rd & 4th May
Cleaning and resting - 4th May evening
Moved to Brown Line, west of Monchy - 5th to 10th May
Digging communication trench west of Monchy - Night of the 5th/6th May
Letter to his sister and my grandmother, Helen Violet Hunt - 10th May
Relieved the 1st N.F’s in trenches east of Monchy - 11th May
Monchy heavily shelled
Difficult working conditions due to enemy activity - 12th May
6pm barrage on Devil’s trench
Attacked enemy under cover of the barrage
Met with heavy M.G. fire at junction of Bit Lane and Devil’s trench which stopped the advance
Heavy casualties
C.O. (Lt.Col. Hunt) went up to the front to complete reorganization
Casualties: 5 officers, 93 ORs - 13th May
Enemy guns active all day
Stretcher bearers active removing wounded from previous day’s attack - 14th May
4 pm bombardment of Devil’s Trench followed by enemy bombardment of Monchy
Night time relief by 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers - 15th May
Collected by the cookers on the Cambrai Rd near Tilloy. Hot tea & rum & hot breakfast
Moved off in lorries to huts in Duisans - 16th May
Fitting out with new clothes - 17th May
Moved to Habarcq
Poor Billets
Letter from Brigadier-General C.L.Porter, C.O. 76th BrigadePlease make known to all ranks under your command how very highly I appreciate their gallant conduct in front of MONCHY during the recent operations. Their steadfastness and gallantry in taking up their line on the 24/25 April and beating off the heavy attack of the enemy on the night of the 27/28 April, are yet another example of the splendid fighting qualities of all ranks of the Battalion. Their gallant attempt to take DEVIL’S TRENCH on the 12th May after the heavy losses they had already suffered during the long tour of trench duty round MONCHY was a splendid performance.
This was added to by the steadiness & grit displayed in holding after the failure of this attempt, a failure from no fault of their own, but due to the enfilade Machine Gun fire from their flanks. I most deeply sympathize with all ranks in the loss of so many gallant comrades sustained by them.C.L.Porter
Brigadier General
Commanding 76th Infantry Brigade - 18th May
Moved to Ambrines - 19th May
Cleaning and reorganizing - 21st May
Training at Bois-de-Faye
Baths - 22nd May to 1st June
Training- Bombing
- Lewis Guns
- Musketry
- Sniping
Football vs. Gordon Highlanders
- 31st May
War diary of the 8th KORL signed by R.S. Hunt, Lt.Col. 8th Bn. King’s Own (R.L.) Regt
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