April 1917 -           War Diary of the 2/5th  Btn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry for the period when Clare Norman Houseman was killed.

Sun  1st


ACHIET LE PETIT - Railway construction on MIRAUMONT - ARRAS Railway

2nd

As above

3rd

As above

4th

As above

5th

As above - 2 LT. D.C HAWTHORN and 2 LT. C.W.E GAULDER joined Bn and taken on the strength

6th

Work on 5th CORPS Tramway at ACHIET LE GRAND

7th

Routine. Strength 30 Officers, 938 other ranks, 31 other ranks evacuated during week.

Sun 8th

Routine. -  2 LT. F.A MOORCOCK and 44 other ranks joined Bn and taken on the strength

9th

Routine

10th

Routine.  - REGTL SERGT MAJOR G. TYNE promoted 2 Lt and posted to 8th  Bn THE KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY

11th

Bn marched to SAPIGNIES as Reserve, remained there until 5.0 pm until ordered to return to ACHIET LE PETIT

12th

Bn marched to ERVILLERS where billeted in ruined village. Bn in Reserve

13th

ERVILLERS - Bn remained In Reserve. LT. C. BODEN took over duties of Brigade Mining Officer vice Lt..C SNOW who joined the Bn

14th

Bn in Reserve. Strength 31 Officers, 979 other ranks. 6 other ranks evacuated and struck off strength

Sun 15th

Bn in Reserve. LT. COL. W.WATSON returned from Hospital and took over command of the Bn.

16th

A Company. B Company and Bn Headquarters went into line and took over the front posts South West of BULLECOURT FROM 2/6th  Bn WEST YORKSHIRE REGT. 21st  Bn MANCHESTERS on left. 2/6th  Bn WEST YORKSHIRE REGT on right

17th

CAPT A.J WILL R.A.M.C (T.C) joined unit as Medical Officer from 2nd  CAVALRY Division Supply Column

18th

Bn Head Quarters &  A & B Coys relieved from the front line by 2nd  QUEENS REGT.

19th

CAPTAIN F.F.C. JAGGER R.A.M.C (T) left Bn to join 2nd  Cavalry Division Supply Column

20th

Routine.

21st

Routine. - Strength 31 Officers, 981 other ranks. 2 LT. F. HOLROYD joined Bn and taken on the strength. Increase during the week 1 Officer , 14 other ranks. Decrease 1 Officer, 12 other ranks

Sun 22nd

Routine.

23rd

As above

24th

As above

25th

As above

26th

As above

27th

As above

28th

Routine - strength 32 Officers, 967 other ranks. Increase during week 1 Officer, 11 other ranks, decrease 25 other ranks ( evacuated).

Sun 29th

Routine

30th

Routine. - 4 other ranks joined from Base


May 1917

1st


ERVILLERS -ST LEGER - Routine X day  

2nd


Routine Y day.

8.20 pm - Left for line. Number for attack 19 Officers, 589 other ranks.

9.20 pm - Arrived ST LEGER. Hot meal served. Men in splendid spirits.

11.30 pm - Left for line. Reached forming up tape without casualties and formed up as ordered.

3rd


N.W. OF BULLECOURT. -

3.37 am - Battalion moved forward at Zero LESS 8 minutes. Earlier start necessitated by moving back of tape line 300 yards from enemy line than originally planned.


3.45 am - Zero. Our artillery barrage descended at once on enemy trenches. Smoke and dust were wafted by wind on to our own troops and this combined with darkness, made direction very difficult to keep. On enemy front line being reached considerable confusion prevailed. The troops detailed for 1st objective had failed to carry this and were held up by machine gun fire. Our own officers led by LT. COL. W. WATSON who showed conspicuous bravery attempted to rally these men, and to advance in force on the trench with the object of carrying it by sheer weight of numbers. About this time nearly all officers in vicinity became casualties and attack became disorganised. Small parties reached enemy front line but failed to make much headway.


8.45 am - Second attack launched by MAJOR O.C.S WATSON with force consisting of stragglers in reaching and carrying parties succeeding in reaching enemy wire but again held up by M.G fire. Troops took up line of shells holes opposite enemy trench which they held throughout day.


8.0 pm - Order received to withdraw to original line. This was effected at dusk. MAJOR F. MELLOR assumed command of battalion. SEC LT. C.H. WEBB resumed duties of ADJUTANT.

4th


Troops remained in line taken up on previous evening.

12 noon - Ordered to withdraw to MORY COPSE

3.30 pm - Arrived MORY COPSE. Hot meal served.

5.30 pm - Order recieved to receive 21st  MANCHESTER REGT in line.

9.0 pm - Left MORY COPSE and relieved 21st  MANCHESTER REGT. Relief effected without casualties.


Casualties during operations on 3rd May:

KILLED


LT. COL. W. WATSON ( Somerset LI) commanding                             LT. E.P PATTINSON               2 LT. B.S BREWSTER ( 2/6 Norfolk Regt ) attached



MISSING  

2 LT. F.A MOORCOCK


WOUNDED

CAPT. S.S CHAPPELL                                        CAPT T.W MOTTRAM                                              CAPT. W.J OSWALD ( Highland Cyclist Bn ) attached

LT. & ADJ A. ROBINSON                                     LT. C.C SNOW                                                         LT. E.R WOODROOFE

LT. J.L SOMERS


Other ranks killed 35. Wounded 156. W.& M. 16. Missing 53.         Total 260

Clare Norman Houseman was killed on the  3rd May 1917 ( as part of the 2/5th  Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry ( 187th  Inf Brigade - 62nd Division )