2/20th Londons
The 2/20th Bn came into existence on 3 September 1914 and began training on Blackheath and in Greenwich Park, later moving to White City in west London. Early in 1915 it moved to billets around Betchworth in Surrey.
The organisation of the Second Line Territorials duplicated the First Line, so that 2/20th Londons was assigned to 2/5th London Brigade in 2/2nd London Division. At the end of 1915, these were redesignated 180th (2/5th London) Brigade and 60th (2/2nd London) Division respectively. The battalions finally received rifles (old Japanese ones) for training in February 1915. Drafts to bring the 1/20th up to full strength for overseas service were a drain, but a fresh recruiting campaign in March 1915 brought the 2/20th back up to strength and provided for the 3/20th Bn.
In August the 'Home Service only' and unfit men of the 2/20th were transferred to the 3/20th. When the 1/20th embarked for France, the 2/20th took over their billets around St Albans in Hertfordshire, later being billeted at Coggeshall, Hatfield Broad Oak and Saffron Walden in Essex before reaching Hertford in December.
In January 1916 the battalion moved to Sutton Veny on Salisbury Plain for intensive training prior to going overseas. Until now, the 2/20th had been sending drafts to replace casualties in the 1/20th, but that duty passed to the 3/20th Bn; the 2/20th itself absorbed and trained a draft of Yorkshiremen and Midlanders from Royal Army Medical Corps depots with no infantry training.
The 2/20th Bn came into existence on 3 September 1914 and began training on Blackheath and in Greenwich Park, later moving to White City in west London. Early in 1915 it moved to billets around Betchworth in Surrey.
The organisation of the Second Line Territorials duplicated the First Line, so that 2/20th Londons was assigned to 2/5th London Brigade in 2/2nd London Division. At the end of 1915, these were redesignated 180th (2/5th London) Brigade and 60th (2/2nd London) Division respectively. The battalions finally received rifles (old Japanese ones) for training in February 1915. Drafts to bring the 1/20th up to full strength for overseas service were a drain, but a fresh recruiting campaign in March 1915 brought the 2/20th back up to strength and provided for the 3/20th Bn.
In August the 'Home Service only' and unfit men of the 2/20th were transferred to the 3/20th. When the 1/20th embarked for France, the 2/20th took over their billets around St Albans in Hertfordshire, later being billeted at Coggeshall, Hatfield Broad Oak and Saffron Walden in Essex before reaching Hertford in December.
In January 1916 the battalion moved to Sutton Veny on Salisbury Plain for intensive training prior to going overseas. Until now, the 2/20th had been sending drafts to replace casualties in the 1/20th, but that duty passed to the 3/20th Bn; the 2/20th itself absorbed and trained a draft of Yorkshiremen and Midlanders from Royal Army Medical Corps depots with no infantry training.
Western Front
On 26 June 1916 the 2/20th Bn embarked at Southampton for service in France, and began training for crater-fighting under instructors from the 51st Highland Division. From 6th July companies went into the Line alongside units of 51st Highland before the battalion became responsible for its own sector at the Quarries near Neuville-St.-Vaast from 12 July. The battalion immediately suffered its first casualties.
Vimy Ridge Craters
Aggressive patrolling of the craters facing Vimy Ridge was instituted by 180 Bde. Over succeeding weeks the 2/20th Bn alternated with the 2/18th Londons for eight-day spells in the line. The 60th Division adopted coloured flashes painted on each side of the new steel helmets to aid recognition: 180 Bde adopted a triangle, which was vermilion in the case of the 2/20th Bn. On 11 September the battalion carried out a pre-dawn raid on the German lines. By the time the division left the line in late October 1916, the 2/20th had suffered casualties of 3 officers and 48 men killed or died of wounds, and 5 officers and 187 men wounded.
Vimy Ridge Craters
Aggressive patrolling of the craters facing Vimy Ridge was instituted by 180 Bde. Over succeeding weeks the 2/20th Bn alternated with the 2/18th Londons for eight-day spells in the line. The 60th Division adopted coloured flashes painted on each side of the new steel helmets to aid recognition: 180 Bde adopted a triangle, which was vermilion in the case of the 2/20th Bn. On 11 September the battalion carried out a pre-dawn raid on the German lines. By the time the division left the line in late October 1916, the 2/20th had suffered casualties of 3 officers and 48 men killed or died of wounds, and 5 officers and 187 men wounded.
Salonika
On 1 November, 60th Division was ordered to prepare to move to the Macedonian front, and the 2/20th embarked at Marseilles on 30 November, arriving at Salonika on 8 December. The battalion then marched up to the Doiran sector, where it was engaged in digging the Corps Defence Line in reserve. The 2/20th first went into the front line on 26 February 1917 in anticipation of a Bulgarian attack, and held the line until relieved on 26 March.
2nd Battle of Doiran (24/25 April 1917)
The battalion had been withdrawn to train for a raid to be carried out by 60th Division in support of a British offensive near Lake Doiran. The object of the battalion's raid on a position known as 'The Nose' was to secure prisoners, destroy trenches, and inflict casualties, but its main aim was to deceive the enemy as to the point of the main attack. The attack was carefully rehearsed and the enemy's line thoroughly reconnoitered beforehand. It was accompanied by a party of sappers from 519th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Three parties attacked with artillery support at 22.55 on the night of 24/25 April and despite the enemy's 'SOS' barrage and searchlights, succeeded in cutting through the wire entanglements and entering the trenches, which were found to be empty and blocked: the preparations for the raid had successfully alerted the Bulgarians. A fire-fight broke out while the trenches were demolished, and the raiders withdrew after 30 minutes, having lost 19 other ranks dead or died of wounds, three prisoners, and 2 officers and 68 other ranks wounded. The raid was considered a great success, though the main offensive was a failure.
The 60th Division was next transferred to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) for the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The 2/20th Bn embarked for Alexandria on 16 June 1917.
2nd Battle of Doiran (24/25 April 1917)
The battalion had been withdrawn to train for a raid to be carried out by 60th Division in support of a British offensive near Lake Doiran. The object of the battalion's raid on a position known as 'The Nose' was to secure prisoners, destroy trenches, and inflict casualties, but its main aim was to deceive the enemy as to the point of the main attack. The attack was carefully rehearsed and the enemy's line thoroughly reconnoitered beforehand. It was accompanied by a party of sappers from 519th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Three parties attacked with artillery support at 22.55 on the night of 24/25 April and despite the enemy's 'SOS' barrage and searchlights, succeeded in cutting through the wire entanglements and entering the trenches, which were found to be empty and blocked: the preparations for the raid had successfully alerted the Bulgarians. A fire-fight broke out while the trenches were demolished, and the raiders withdrew after 30 minutes, having lost 19 other ranks dead or died of wounds, three prisoners, and 2 officers and 68 other ranks wounded. The raid was considered a great success, though the main offensive was a failure.
The 60th Division was next transferred to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) for the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The 2/20th Bn embarked for Alexandria on 16 June 1917.
Palestine
The division's first offensive action in Palestine was during the attack on Beersheba beginning on 31 October, but 180 Bde was held in reserve and the men of 2/20th were able to watch the progress of the operation.
Battle of Hareira and Sheria (6–7 November 1917):
During the next phase of the offensive, against the Kauwukah trench system, on 6 November, two battalions of 180 Bde assaulted the Turkish lines, with 2/20th Bn in close support. The attack – the first full-scale assault made by the battalion in the war – was completely successful, with 'D' Company of 2/20th filling a gap in the attacking line and capturing a strongpoint. The company pressed on under heavy fire to capture a small hill overlooking the enemy positions. The whole battalion then made a dusk attack on the mound of Tel-es-Sheria. This was continued at dawn with the battalion advancing rapidly over open ground under covering fire from machine-guns, and seizing Sheria Station, Wadi Sheria and 'The Pimple'. The seizure of Sheria broke open the whole Turkish position, and allowed the EEF to pour through.
Nebi Samwil mosque before the Battle of Nebi Samwil (27–30 November 1917):
After a period of rest, the 2/20th moved up on 25 November to support the 2/19th Londons defending the key point of Nebi Samwil. The Turks attacked Nebi Samwil two days later, but although the battalion sent companies up to the position, they were not required. The following evening 2/20th relieved 2/19th holding the position, and beat off two Turkish attacks before being relieved in turn on 30 November.
Capture of Jerusalem (9 December 1917):
By now the EEF was closing in on Jerusalem. On 8 December, after a difficult approach march, 180 Bde began its assault on Deir Yesin, with 2/20th Bn in brigade reserve. The attack was launched by 2/19th Bn, and after it was held up, the 2/20th reinforced it with one company working round the flank, and the rest of the battalion providing covering fire and a second support company. The brigade succeeded in capturing the position, which made the whole Turkish presence in Jerusalem untenable. The following morning, two mess cooks of 2/20th, Privates Andrews and Church, bringing up dixies of cocoa for the troops, got lost and found themselves near the gates of the City. They were greeted by a crowd of civilians with white flags. The surrender was taken by two sergeants of the 2/19th Bn, and patrols revealed that the city had been abandoned. D Company 2/20th claimed to be the first British troops to enter the western part.
After the fall of Jerusalem, the battalion was rested until 26 December, when a final Turkish counter-attack was made to forestall the next British advance and 2/20th was called forward to reinforce the line. When this attack was spent, 180 Bde led the resumed offensive with a night attack on Er Ram from which the Turks retired, taking up positions on Shab Salah. Next day two companies of 2/20th Bn (B and C) led the attack on this dominating hill, descending into a wadi and then climbing up under severe artillery and machine-gun fire. The remaining Turks were driven off at the point of the bayonet and D Company followed up to consolidate the position. The battalion buried its dead in a single grave on Shab Salah, marked by a cross; they were later moved to Jerusalem War Cemetery.
The battalion spent the next few weeks on outpost duty in the Wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho, apart from an operation to collect a large number of rifles from the inhabitants of some villages who were suspected of harbouring Turkish deserters. On 19 February 1918 the advance was resumed to capture Jericho, with 2/20th Bn tasked with assaulting the Arak Ibrahim ridge and the high ground east of it, to clear the way for 2/18th and 2/19th to attack towards Talat ed Dumm the following day. The approach march was completed in darkness, with parties sent forward to occupy high points. The attack went in at 04.45 over extremely difficult ground, but success flares were lit on the summit of Arak Ibrahim by 06.10. Heavy casualties were suffered trying to cross the next 1,000 yards to the main Turkish position, but the advance was resumed at 13.30 after an artillery bombardment of the Turkish lines (the 2/20th helping to drag forward the guns), and the whole hill was captured by 14.15. The position was consolidated overnight, and on the morning of 21 February the rest of the 47th Division and the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade captured Jericho.
The pontoon bridge across the Jordan Transjordan Raids. The battalion was next engaged in the First raid across the River Jordan. 2/17th and 2/19th Bns of 180 Bde were to make assault crossing by raft on the night of 21/22 March 1918, followed by 2/20th and 2/18th respectively. However, the attack by the 1/17th failed, and 2/20th were sent on a long march round to reinforce the bridgehead gained by 1/19th. It was impossible to advance from the bridgehead in daylight, but the following night an attack on a brigade frontage was made, with 2/20th in the lead, which expanded the bridgehead onto the hills in front. 2/20th was engaged in consolidation while the raid proceeded towards Amman, then in covering the withdrawal to the bridgehead once the raid had attracted Turkish retaliation.
The 2/20th was well to the fore in the Second Transjordan Raid, which began at 02.00 on 30 April 1918. The battalion captured the enemy trenches on the first crest, and beat off a counter-attack from the left as they continue to push on. But further advance was held up by heavy fire from a dominating position. Meanwhile, the mounted troops had reached Es Salt but had been compelled to retire, and the whole raiding force was withdrawn. The battalion historian refers to this as 'probably the stiffest action that it was destined to endure'. The exhausted 60th Division went into Corps reserve to rest and refit.
After the crisis of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front there was a call for reinforcements to be drawn from the troops in Palestine. The 60th Division was now placed on the Indian establishment (losing its London identity) and its surplus British battalions were broken up or sent to the Western Front as reinforcements, including the 2/20th. The battalion left on 27 May 1918 and sailed from Alexandria. During its service with the EEF, the 2/20th lost 7 officers and 114 other ranks killed or died of wounds or disease, 12 officers and 430 other ranks wounded.[
Battle of Hareira and Sheria (6–7 November 1917):
During the next phase of the offensive, against the Kauwukah trench system, on 6 November, two battalions of 180 Bde assaulted the Turkish lines, with 2/20th Bn in close support. The attack – the first full-scale assault made by the battalion in the war – was completely successful, with 'D' Company of 2/20th filling a gap in the attacking line and capturing a strongpoint. The company pressed on under heavy fire to capture a small hill overlooking the enemy positions. The whole battalion then made a dusk attack on the mound of Tel-es-Sheria. This was continued at dawn with the battalion advancing rapidly over open ground under covering fire from machine-guns, and seizing Sheria Station, Wadi Sheria and 'The Pimple'. The seizure of Sheria broke open the whole Turkish position, and allowed the EEF to pour through.
Nebi Samwil mosque before the Battle of Nebi Samwil (27–30 November 1917):
After a period of rest, the 2/20th moved up on 25 November to support the 2/19th Londons defending the key point of Nebi Samwil. The Turks attacked Nebi Samwil two days later, but although the battalion sent companies up to the position, they were not required. The following evening 2/20th relieved 2/19th holding the position, and beat off two Turkish attacks before being relieved in turn on 30 November.
Capture of Jerusalem (9 December 1917):
By now the EEF was closing in on Jerusalem. On 8 December, after a difficult approach march, 180 Bde began its assault on Deir Yesin, with 2/20th Bn in brigade reserve. The attack was launched by 2/19th Bn, and after it was held up, the 2/20th reinforced it with one company working round the flank, and the rest of the battalion providing covering fire and a second support company. The brigade succeeded in capturing the position, which made the whole Turkish presence in Jerusalem untenable. The following morning, two mess cooks of 2/20th, Privates Andrews and Church, bringing up dixies of cocoa for the troops, got lost and found themselves near the gates of the City. They were greeted by a crowd of civilians with white flags. The surrender was taken by two sergeants of the 2/19th Bn, and patrols revealed that the city had been abandoned. D Company 2/20th claimed to be the first British troops to enter the western part.
After the fall of Jerusalem, the battalion was rested until 26 December, when a final Turkish counter-attack was made to forestall the next British advance and 2/20th was called forward to reinforce the line. When this attack was spent, 180 Bde led the resumed offensive with a night attack on Er Ram from which the Turks retired, taking up positions on Shab Salah. Next day two companies of 2/20th Bn (B and C) led the attack on this dominating hill, descending into a wadi and then climbing up under severe artillery and machine-gun fire. The remaining Turks were driven off at the point of the bayonet and D Company followed up to consolidate the position. The battalion buried its dead in a single grave on Shab Salah, marked by a cross; they were later moved to Jerusalem War Cemetery.
The battalion spent the next few weeks on outpost duty in the Wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho, apart from an operation to collect a large number of rifles from the inhabitants of some villages who were suspected of harbouring Turkish deserters. On 19 February 1918 the advance was resumed to capture Jericho, with 2/20th Bn tasked with assaulting the Arak Ibrahim ridge and the high ground east of it, to clear the way for 2/18th and 2/19th to attack towards Talat ed Dumm the following day. The approach march was completed in darkness, with parties sent forward to occupy high points. The attack went in at 04.45 over extremely difficult ground, but success flares were lit on the summit of Arak Ibrahim by 06.10. Heavy casualties were suffered trying to cross the next 1,000 yards to the main Turkish position, but the advance was resumed at 13.30 after an artillery bombardment of the Turkish lines (the 2/20th helping to drag forward the guns), and the whole hill was captured by 14.15. The position was consolidated overnight, and on the morning of 21 February the rest of the 47th Division and the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade captured Jericho.
The pontoon bridge across the Jordan Transjordan Raids. The battalion was next engaged in the First raid across the River Jordan. 2/17th and 2/19th Bns of 180 Bde were to make assault crossing by raft on the night of 21/22 March 1918, followed by 2/20th and 2/18th respectively. However, the attack by the 1/17th failed, and 2/20th were sent on a long march round to reinforce the bridgehead gained by 1/19th. It was impossible to advance from the bridgehead in daylight, but the following night an attack on a brigade frontage was made, with 2/20th in the lead, which expanded the bridgehead onto the hills in front. 2/20th was engaged in consolidation while the raid proceeded towards Amman, then in covering the withdrawal to the bridgehead once the raid had attracted Turkish retaliation.
The 2/20th was well to the fore in the Second Transjordan Raid, which began at 02.00 on 30 April 1918. The battalion captured the enemy trenches on the first crest, and beat off a counter-attack from the left as they continue to push on. But further advance was held up by heavy fire from a dominating position. Meanwhile, the mounted troops had reached Es Salt but had been compelled to retire, and the whole raiding force was withdrawn. The battalion historian refers to this as 'probably the stiffest action that it was destined to endure'. The exhausted 60th Division went into Corps reserve to rest and refit.
After the crisis of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front there was a call for reinforcements to be drawn from the troops in Palestine. The 60th Division was now placed on the Indian establishment (losing its London identity) and its surplus British battalions were broken up or sent to the Western Front as reinforcements, including the 2/20th. The battalion left on 27 May 1918 and sailed from Alexandria. During its service with the EEF, the 2/20th lost 7 officers and 114 other ranks killed or died of wounds or disease, 12 officers and 430 other ranks wounded.[
Return to the Western Front
The 2/20th disembarked at Taranto before moving by rail to France, where it concentrated at Abancourt on 16 July 1918.
Three days later it was attached to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, which had been reduced to a training cadre after losses in the German offensive.
On 9 August the battalion was transferred again, being attached to 185th (2/1st West Riding) Brigade of 62nd (2nd West Riding)
Division for the final Allied Hundred Days Offensive. Battalions of 185 Bde wore a coloured circle (red in the case of 2/20th Londons) on the steel helmet and on the sleeve below the shoulder. 2/20th Battalion took part in the following actions during the Hundred Days Offensive:
Battle of the Scarpe (26–30 August 1918).
On 25 August the division relieved 2nd Division, which had just taken Ervillers, and continued the advance the next day towards Vraucourt, with 185 Bde in support. The advance having been held up, 2/20th Bn was ordered to renew the attack on 30 August with a dawn assault behind a creeping barrage and with tank support (both being new experiences for the battalion). The objectives were the villages of Vraucourt and Vaulx, and a sugar factory at a cross-roads. After forming up in the dark, the battalion attacked and by 07.30 had taken its objectives and established a continuous line, except on the right, where B company was broken into separate groups after tackling numerous machine gun positions. They then had to endure serious shelling and German counter-attacks until 2 September, when 187 Bde leap-frogged through, and the battalion was relieved the following day. In four days the 2/20th had lost 1 officer and 32 other ranks killed, six officers and 133 other ranks wounded.
Battle of Havrincourt (12 September 1918).
After a week's rest, and training in tank cooperation and the use of smokescreens, the battalion moved up to support the division's attack on Havrincourt. The following morning the 2/20th led the renewed attack, moving close behind the barrage and getting beyond their objectives, before repelling counter-attacks: divisional HQ described it as a 'clever and successful operation'. The battalion was relieved on 15 September, having suffered casualties of 4 officers and 35 other ranks killed, 10 other ranks wounded.
Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September 1918).
When the advance was resumed on 27 September 185 Bde was detailed to follow up an attack by 76 Bde of 3rd Division. 2/20th had to cross the dry Canal du Nord by means of ladders to reach their jumping-off points, and then at 09.50 advanced through 76 Bde towards the second objective, which was captured at a rush. Some parties even got as far forward as the third objective before the reserve battalion leapfrogged through at 10.30. The battalion's companies suffered heavy casualties from machine guns and field guns on their open flanks, and the division did not reach its final objective, but before midnight a firm line was being held along Kaiser Trench. The battalion's casualties in the operation were 2 officers and 25 other ranks killed, 1 officer and 58 other ranks wounded. Subsequently, the battalion was ordered to take Rumilly at dawn on 30 September, without artillery support. After a difficult night approach march, the village was found to be strongly held, and despite two artillery bombardments, the isolated and scattered battalion was unable to hold it.
Battle of the Selle (20 October 1918).
By now the trench warfare of the Western Front was dissolving into open warfare, and the 2/20th's experience in Palestine came into play, though it had to be brought up to strength with large drafts of fresh men. At 02.00 on 20 October the division attacked Solesmes, 2/20th being given the task of encircling it from the North to take a clearly defined ridge after 186 Bde enveloped the town from the South. After crossing the River Selle by a narrow plank bridge to reach its jumping-off position, the battalion moved off at 07.00 and made good progress, establishing contact with the Guards Division on the left and completely breaking up a German counter-attack at 16.00 with its own rifles and Lewis guns in the absence of an attached section of Vickers guns that had been unable to get through. Casualties were comparatively light, but still numbered 22 killed and 87 wounded.
Battle of the Sambre (4–6 November 1918).
After a short period of rest and training, 185 Bde went into the line as reserve for the division's attack on Frasnoy on 4 November. The 2/20th attacked at 06.00 on the following morning to complete the capture of the objective, and then advanced beyond it to dig in on a support line, despite the rain and mud. The following morning they attacked again at 06.00, being firmly established on all their objectives by 10.00. This day, 6 November, was the last that the battalion spent in the line. It advanced towards the fortress town of Maubeuge and entered the outskirts, but when the Armistice with Germany came into force on 11 November, the division had lost touch with the retreating Germans.
Occupation of the Rhineland (1918–19).
62nd Division was among those selected for the British Army of Occupation, and set out from Maubeuge on 16 November, led by the 2/20th Bn, marching through liberated Belgian villages until they crossed the frontier at Sinzenich, near Cologne on 24 December. The battalion was billeted at Sinzenich through the winter as part of the Army of Occupation. In March 1919 it moved to Düren to staff a demobilisation centre in the German barracks there. A party of 11 officers and 250 men volunteered to serve in the British Army of the Rhine and were sent to join the 10th Bn QORWK. The remainder of the battalion was progressively demobilised until the final cadre returned home to a civic reception at Lewisham on 13 June 1919. The battalion was formally disbanded on 19 August 1919 at Blackdown Camp.
The 2/20th Bn's total casualties during two years four and half months of active service were 18 officers and 331 other ranks killed or died, and 31 officers and 982 other ranks wounded.
Three days later it was attached to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, which had been reduced to a training cadre after losses in the German offensive.
On 9 August the battalion was transferred again, being attached to 185th (2/1st West Riding) Brigade of 62nd (2nd West Riding)
Division for the final Allied Hundred Days Offensive. Battalions of 185 Bde wore a coloured circle (red in the case of 2/20th Londons) on the steel helmet and on the sleeve below the shoulder. 2/20th Battalion took part in the following actions during the Hundred Days Offensive:
Battle of the Scarpe (26–30 August 1918).
On 25 August the division relieved 2nd Division, which had just taken Ervillers, and continued the advance the next day towards Vraucourt, with 185 Bde in support. The advance having been held up, 2/20th Bn was ordered to renew the attack on 30 August with a dawn assault behind a creeping barrage and with tank support (both being new experiences for the battalion). The objectives were the villages of Vraucourt and Vaulx, and a sugar factory at a cross-roads. After forming up in the dark, the battalion attacked and by 07.30 had taken its objectives and established a continuous line, except on the right, where B company was broken into separate groups after tackling numerous machine gun positions. They then had to endure serious shelling and German counter-attacks until 2 September, when 187 Bde leap-frogged through, and the battalion was relieved the following day. In four days the 2/20th had lost 1 officer and 32 other ranks killed, six officers and 133 other ranks wounded.
Battle of Havrincourt (12 September 1918).
After a week's rest, and training in tank cooperation and the use of smokescreens, the battalion moved up to support the division's attack on Havrincourt. The following morning the 2/20th led the renewed attack, moving close behind the barrage and getting beyond their objectives, before repelling counter-attacks: divisional HQ described it as a 'clever and successful operation'. The battalion was relieved on 15 September, having suffered casualties of 4 officers and 35 other ranks killed, 10 other ranks wounded.
Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September 1918).
When the advance was resumed on 27 September 185 Bde was detailed to follow up an attack by 76 Bde of 3rd Division. 2/20th had to cross the dry Canal du Nord by means of ladders to reach their jumping-off points, and then at 09.50 advanced through 76 Bde towards the second objective, which was captured at a rush. Some parties even got as far forward as the third objective before the reserve battalion leapfrogged through at 10.30. The battalion's companies suffered heavy casualties from machine guns and field guns on their open flanks, and the division did not reach its final objective, but before midnight a firm line was being held along Kaiser Trench. The battalion's casualties in the operation were 2 officers and 25 other ranks killed, 1 officer and 58 other ranks wounded. Subsequently, the battalion was ordered to take Rumilly at dawn on 30 September, without artillery support. After a difficult night approach march, the village was found to be strongly held, and despite two artillery bombardments, the isolated and scattered battalion was unable to hold it.
Battle of the Selle (20 October 1918).
By now the trench warfare of the Western Front was dissolving into open warfare, and the 2/20th's experience in Palestine came into play, though it had to be brought up to strength with large drafts of fresh men. At 02.00 on 20 October the division attacked Solesmes, 2/20th being given the task of encircling it from the North to take a clearly defined ridge after 186 Bde enveloped the town from the South. After crossing the River Selle by a narrow plank bridge to reach its jumping-off position, the battalion moved off at 07.00 and made good progress, establishing contact with the Guards Division on the left and completely breaking up a German counter-attack at 16.00 with its own rifles and Lewis guns in the absence of an attached section of Vickers guns that had been unable to get through. Casualties were comparatively light, but still numbered 22 killed and 87 wounded.
Battle of the Sambre (4–6 November 1918).
After a short period of rest and training, 185 Bde went into the line as reserve for the division's attack on Frasnoy on 4 November. The 2/20th attacked at 06.00 on the following morning to complete the capture of the objective, and then advanced beyond it to dig in on a support line, despite the rain and mud. The following morning they attacked again at 06.00, being firmly established on all their objectives by 10.00. This day, 6 November, was the last that the battalion spent in the line. It advanced towards the fortress town of Maubeuge and entered the outskirts, but when the Armistice with Germany came into force on 11 November, the division had lost touch with the retreating Germans.
Occupation of the Rhineland (1918–19).
62nd Division was among those selected for the British Army of Occupation, and set out from Maubeuge on 16 November, led by the 2/20th Bn, marching through liberated Belgian villages until they crossed the frontier at Sinzenich, near Cologne on 24 December. The battalion was billeted at Sinzenich through the winter as part of the Army of Occupation. In March 1919 it moved to Düren to staff a demobilisation centre in the German barracks there. A party of 11 officers and 250 men volunteered to serve in the British Army of the Rhine and were sent to join the 10th Bn QORWK. The remainder of the battalion was progressively demobilised until the final cadre returned home to a civic reception at Lewisham on 13 June 1919. The battalion was formally disbanded on 19 August 1919 at Blackdown Camp.
The 2/20th Bn's total casualties during two years four and half months of active service were 18 officers and 331 other ranks killed or died, and 31 officers and 982 other ranks wounded.
