9^th Battalion War Diary – 21^st March 1918 – Hervilly

On the morning at 4:30am the Battalion was ordered to take up Battle Positions owing to enemy activity. This was done through heavy gas bombardment which caused about 30 casualties. The Battalion went into action and continued in action till April 1^st.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 22^nd March 1918 – Hesbecourt

On the 22^nd of March the Battalion returned to the Red Line where it again took up a position and beat off another enemy attack. At this time the Battalion had got scattered and was withdrawn and ordered to concentrate at Beaumetz. On this date Lieut-Col EC Lloyd DSO was wounded.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 23^rd March 1918 – ….

From Beaumetz the Battalion marched through Peronne and took up a position on the east side of the Somme at Eterpigny and covered the retirement of another Division over the river when we blew up the bridges. In the evening the Battalion was relieved and took over another position at Biaches.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 24^th March 1918 – ….

On the morning of the 24^th the enemy got across river on our right and in evening the Battalion was forced to withdraw to the Herbicourt-Assevilliers line after having been in action.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 25^th March 1918 – …..

The Battalion concentrated in Dempiere and marched to Foucaucourt. Here the Battalion again took up a position astride Amiens-Peronne road and fought a rearguard action to the Framerville-Vauxvillers line.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 26^th March 1918 – Vauxvillers

The Battalion held the line in front of Vauxvillers till the evening and was then relieved by a Composite Battalion under Lieut-Col Little DSO MC and took up a position in front of Harbonnieres.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 27^th March 1918 – Cayeux

On the morning of this date the enemy again attacked and the Battalion lost ground with was immediately regained by a counter-attack. From there the Battalion withdrew to Cayeux and again to up a position and was again forced to withdraw to the Marcelcave-Ingalcourt line.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 28^th March 1918 – Aubercourt

On the 28^th the enemy attacked and forced the Battalion to the Aubercourt where a stand was made in the evening and the enemy beaten off. On this day the Battalion was in touch with the French on our right.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 29^th March 1918 – ….

The Battalion withdrew to the Demuin line after hard fighting and was again withdrawn to the Hangard line after a counter attack.

9^th Battalion War Diary – 31^st  March 1918 – Longeau

On the 31^st, the Battalion was relieved by a Battalion of the 18^th Division and concentrated at Longeau. Early in the morning the Battalion marched to Pissy.

During the time from March 21^st / 31^st the Battalion was continuously in action and fought very hard. The casualties were 25 officers and 630 OR.

Officer Casualties were as follows:

Killed:

Capt DB Stephenson MC 21/3/18

Lieut W Wilkinson 21/3/18

2Lt G Hunt MC 22/3/18

2Lt H Leater? 21/3/18

2Lt AJ Masson 23/3/18

Lieut A Green 26/3/18

Wounded:

Lt-Col E C Lloyd DSO 22/3/18. – received Bar to DSO 

Major TE Howarth 21/3/18

Capt & Adjt OJ Sutton MC 22/3/18

Capt EH Scott 21/3/18

Capt AAR Maw 21/3/18

Lt F Hinton 21/3/18 (Gas)

Lt AS Jones 21/3/18

Lt GF Till 21/3/18

Lt H Kershaw 21/3/18

Lt W Stones MC 26/3/18

2Lt HG Willis 24/3/18

2Lt PJ Bradley 26/3/18

2Lt H Holdstock 24/3/18

2Lt W Witty 21/3/18 (Gas)

2Lt NL Shephard 21/3/18

Lt WW Quinney 24/3/18

Missing:

Capt F Wood MC 22/3/18 (attached to Bn from 4^th Bn E. Lancs Regt

Capt HE Butterworth 24/3/18

2Lt H Powner 24/3/18