High Wood City of London Rifles

the 47th division s attack @ high wood, 15 september 1916

in late july 1916 1/6th marched south begin training enter ongoing somme offensive. battalion practised on positions marked out flags, , adopted identification stripes on arms: company blue, b co green, c co red , d co yellow. on 15 september, 47th division attacked high wood cover left flank of tank-led attack of adjacent divisions on flers. first objective 140 bde line clear of high wood (the switch line), second starfish line on forward slope, after 1/6th londons pass through take flers line. leading waves engaged in heavy fighting , brigade got starfish line, after 1/6th pressed on. battalion suffered badly enfilade machine-gun fire direction of high wood (which had still not been cleared), when whole waves of men mown down in line . although few men reached flers line not held, , remaining 2 officers , 100 men (including 50 came transport lines) consolidated position known cough drop, group of german trenches in valley west of flers, though position unknown headquarters. following day follow-up attack linked 1/6th holding out in cough drop, , @ dawn on 18 september battalion contributed mixed force succeeded in occupying flers line. 1/6th relieved in cough drop on morning of 20 september. regiment received battle honour flers-courcelette action.

after 8 days rest depleted 1/6th returned front line on 4 october, opposite mound known butte de warlencourt. next day battalion seized old mill west of eaucourt l abbaye. here battalion observed enemy digging new trench on butte, , 140 bde ordered attack , go on take mound. because of losses, 1/6th not involved in unsuccessful attacks on next 2 days, suffered badly retaliatory shellfire. relieved on night of 9/10 october. action won regiment battle honour le transloy