Following a period of training the 8th KORL are involved in an attack on Serre-lès-Puisieux as part of the major Battle of the Ancre which began on 13th November. The attack is not a success due largely to the ground conditions.
-
- 1st to 11th Nov
Training for attack on Serre (Serre-lès-Puisieux) - 12th Nov
Left Bus and marched to Courcelles
Then move into assembly area in trenches to the N.W. of Serre
8th KORL war diary records “Operation orders by Lt.Col. R.S. Hunt commdg 8th KORL.
- 1st to 11th Nov
On Y day at zero hour the 76th Bde will take Serre and the ground to the south of it.
Order of attacks. The Brigade will attack on a front and depth of two battalions. The 2nd Suffolks followed by the 8th KORL Regt, left sector. 10th RWF followed by 1st Gordon Hs, right sector of attack. The two leading batts will take the Green Line, the 8th KORL & the 1st G.Hs will then pass through this line and take and consolidate the Yellow Line. The objective of the 8th KORL is the following area of ground K30.A.5.9 thence as a defensive flank to SP9 at K30.b.1.9 then frontally to point K30.b.3.6. During the advance the 8th KORL will cooperate with the 1st GH clearing the northern boundary trench of SERRE. Method of advance Coys will advance on a frontage of two platoons. O.C. Coys will be with their support platoons. Coys on leaving their assembly trench will move over the open, the order of advance will be A,D,B,C C Coy being in the Batt reserve.
- 13th Nov
Zero hour is 5.45am
8th KORL occupy Rob Roy trench
The role of the 8th KORL is to support the 2nd Suffolks in the attack on Serre
After the 2nd Suffolks fail and retreat back to the trenches by 6.15am
8th KORL try to force the German front line and also fail due to the mud morass that had formed as a result of the German bombardment of no-man’s land across which they had to move
Withdrew to Monk trench
4.30pm all operations cancelled - 14th Nov
Holding Rob Roy & Campion trenches
Heavily shelled all day - 15th to 19th Nov
Hold Rob Roy, Monk & Rolland trenches
Heavily shelled - 19th Nov
Relieved by 12th battalion West Yorkshire
Marched back to huts in Bus-lès-Artois
Casualties of the 8th KORL for operations on 13th Nov:-
| Killed | Wounded | Missing | |
| Officers | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Other ranks | 15 | 78 | 6 |
The operation was a dismal failure
- 20th to 21st Nov
In hits at Bus-lès-Artois
Cleaning up - 22nd Nov
Training - 23rd to 26th Nov
Fatigues - 27th Nov
Moved to Courcelles - 28th to 30th Nov
Fatigues - 30th Nov
War diary of the 8th KORL signed by R.S. Hunt Lt.Col. Commdg 8th King’s Own (RL) Regt
button in the top right of the map display to select which years to display.