Official Battalion Diary
September 15
15:00 Movement order received from Bde. Bn. to cross S.P. at 0745 hrs 16 Sep.
September 16
0700 Bn. moved in M.T. arriving at SOIGNIES (NE of MONS) at 2130, having travelled 160 miles; journey was very successful and there were no veh casualties. The civil population were very enthusiastic, particularly in the area of the Belgian frontier.
September 17
0600 Bn. continued advance, arriving at PETIT BROGEL (4088) at 1400 hrs where the Div was concentrating preparatory to forcing a crossing of the ESCAUT CANAL. On this journey, the track vehs travelled in a separate Bde. column, leaving HACQUEVELLE at 1600 hrs on 16 Sep and arriving in Bn. conc area at 1800 hrs on 18 Sep.
September 18
Instead of the crossing taking place on 19 Sep orders were received that it would now take place on night 18/19. Recces were carried out and ZERO hour fixed for 2400 hrs 18/19 Sep.
BDE. PLAN.
Crossing to be on 2 Bn. front with Lincolns right and 2 RUR left, KOSB to be in reserve, giving support from SOUTH bank of canal and supplying 50 men to help each fwd Bn in launching and erecting boats. Each fwd Bn to erect a Class V raft and Div. Engineer to erect a Class IX bridge and a Class 40 bridge. Initial crossing to be made in Mk.III assault boats each carrying 16 men. Inter Bn boundary main road North from LILLE ST HUBERT (4294) incl to 2 RUR. All bridges had been blown by the Germans and the construction of the canal was not favourable to the crossing. There was a steep bank about 12 ft high on to the towpath and a 5 ft drop down a steep concrete slope to the water on both sides of the canal.
September 19: BELGIUM
Two sections of the carrier pl were in position on the right flank and a coy of 1 KOSB on the left to give supporting fire from the near canal bank. The two pls of each leading Coy were quickly across and D Coy came under fire from L.M.Gs on the canal bank immediately in front of them. This caused some casualties but the crew were quickly killed. The two leading Pls reached their immediate objective about 300 yards North of the canal. During the advance the Coy Comd Maj. P.H.G.CLARKE was wounded in the mouth by a hand grenade but remained with his Coy. C Coy crossed simultaneously with D Coy and came under heavy H.G. fire from the right flank as they crossed the towpath on landing. This caused some casualties but they then captured their objective without further difficulty. A 20 m.m. gun was also firing from the right flank and occasional salvos of mortar fire caused casualties in all Coys. By 0100 hrs A Coy were across the river and established themselves on the right flank of C Coy, the assault boats now being pulled to and fro across the canal by ropes manned by K.O.S.B. personnel.
By 0130 hrs B Coy were across and passing through C Coy and at 0215 hrs Adv Bn HQ crossed and were established in C Coy area. There was some confused fighting on D Coy’s front and a counter-attack by about 30 Germans was beaten off by small arms fire. It was not until first light that D Coy were able to contact 2 RUR on their left. As soon as the canal banks were cleared the Pioneer Pl commenced work on a Class V raft and R.E. on a class IX bridge. At 0400 hrs A Coy were ordered to extend to their right which was accomplished with some opposition. At first light (0600) the A/Tk guns crossed and 2 Coys of 1 KOSB came across by the boats. For 2 and a half hours after first light there was a very heavy ground mist which greatly assisted the R.E. in building the bridge without enemy observation. By 1000 hrs the bridge was complete and the carriers and essential transport came over. At 1030 hrs 1 KOSB passed through and continued the advance forward.
Offr. Casualties:- Lt. P.M. London killed. Capt C.G.E. Bennett, Lt. Cratian, Lt. D.C. Queskey wounded (Lt. Queskay later died of wounds).
At approx 1100 hrs hot tea was brought across. During the early afternoon the mist cleared and A convoy found that the enemy had infiltrated very close to their forward posns. There were heavy exchanges of fire and A Coy claimed a number of enemy casualties with 2 in mortar fire, but for the rest of the day movement in A Coy area was very restricted. A section of carriers was sent forward to help on the left flank of A Coy. During the early evening 8 Br. Inf. Bde began to attack through A Coy’s posns and by first light on 20 Sep 2 Bns had passed through A Coy’s posns.
For the night assault 3 searchlights supplied artificial moonlight from Z + 30 mins. This was very successful and once the crossing had started and surprise lost, greatly assisted the building of the raft and bridge.
September 20: Belgium
2 Bns of 8 Bde continued their advance through our posns and 14 Arm Div was forward over the newly erected Class 40 bridge.
Bn moved by march route to the Bde Conc area at ACHEL 4297 where all ranks were ….