Messines City of London Rifles
the 47th division @ messines, 7 june 1917
the 1/6th took part in battle of messines on 7 june. 140 brigade attacked south of ypres–comines canal white chateau , adjacent outbuildings , trenches objective. 1/6th left trenches @ 05.30, 2 hours after 0 hour, pass through , complete assault on final objectives. finding white chateau still uncaptured, supporting tanks bogged, , surroundings being covered enemy fire, battalion had improvise. company sergeant-major c. bitten of b company climbed onto chateau ruins , threw grenades , bricks @ enemy machine-gun teams, scattered, allowing battalion occupy position. while battalion hq set in chateau ruins, battalion advanced behind barrage take outbuildings , german reserve line. 2 officers , 30 other ranks killed in attack, , 81 ranks wounded – comparatively low number period.
the 1/6th bn spent summer of 1917 holding line in ypres salient, taking part in usual small actions , trench raids, , during autumn in oppy sector.
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