WAR DIARY of 20 Siege Battery for October 1918
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
In the field Officers of the Battery
Lt. (A/Major) J.C. THOMPSON M.C. (SR)
Lt. A/CAPT A.A. HANHART (SR)
Lt. H.L. PAUL (TF)
[Lt. W.F. FOX A/STAFF CAPT I Corps H.A. (SR) ]
[L H.E. WELLS I CORPS RANGING OFFICER (SR) ]
Lt. E.B. LOACH (SR)
Lt. R.G. PERCIVAL (SR)
Lt. F.W. DAVIS (SR)
Lt. C.H. BATEMAN (SR)
2/Lt. W.H. CHAPMAN (SR)
2/Lt. B.W. TURNBULL (SR)
2/Lt. E.O. DAVIES (SR)
2/Lt. A.E. COCKFIELD (SR)
Battery Positions 3 guns at ANNEQUIN
3 guns 1000 yards due S of PHILOSOPHE
Rest Billets MINX
Counter Battery shoot by ANNEQUIN Section on Battery in SALOME.
Explosions in Enemy country gave first indications of the LENS-LABASSEE-ARMIENTERES retirement.
3rd Rest billets in PHILOSOPHE.
5th ANNEQUIN Section moved to position in LA BASSEE – DOUVRIN Road.
6th PHILOSOPHE Section moved to position in CITE ST ELIE – HAINES Road.
8th Bombardment of Pillboxes & BAUVIN Church by N. Section.
9th BAUVIN Church tower destroyed by N. Section. PROVIN Church tower hit by S. Section.
10th MERCHIN Church tower destroyed by N. Section.
- Section moved to position at CITE DE DOUVRIN on LA BASSEE – HAISNES Road (Registered MEURCHIN C.H. on 12th )
15th Both Sections pulled out of action & guns parked beside road owing to early retirement from HAUTE BELUIL Canal. Personnel withdrawn to PHILOSOPHE.
PHILOSOPHE
25th Battery moved to CARVIN & guns parked in Square.
26th Half battery moved to PONT-A-MARCQ & parked.
27th Half battery moved from PONT-A-MARQ to BERCO. Guns remaining parked.
29th Remaining half battery from CARVIN recovered, with column, to RUPILLY CHATEAU, near CAPPELLE.
Guns remaining parked.
Lt. H.E. WELLS rejoined owing to dispersal of I Corps Ranging Group.
30th 2 Guns under Lt. E.B. ROACH put into position near BASSE RUE.