7th Battalion Queen's Own [Royal West Kent Regimen

[Sue Light]

Can anyone tell me what the battalion were up to on 30th September 1916. I have a local man killed in action on that day, and buried at Mill Road cemetery, so I can work out the area they were in, but unfortunately the Battalion War Diary for the Battalion does not contain the usual day to day account of what was happening - assorted bits of paper only!

Thanks -- Sue

[Malcolm]

The 18th Division was heavily attacked on this day. At dawn East Surreys were driven back from the southern end of Schwaben Redoubt and retook the ground in a hand-to-hand counter atack. Royal West Kents were forced back from the western side but could not retake the ground lost. Two platoons of 7th Buffs with RWK support attacked again at 4pm but made no inpression on the Western side, East surrey attacked the Northern side and were successful. The Germans counter attacked at 9pm and drove the East Surreys back to Stuff Trench.

Looks like a typical back and forth Western Front attack and counter attack.

(Somme Day-by-Day Account, Chris McCarthy.)

Aye

Malcolm