1915 War Diary

NOTE: All remarks in squared brackets are my own additions, amendments or comments and are not part of the original document.

I have adjusted all names to show in bold and capital letters to make them easier to pick out. This is not always how they appear in the original documents.

WAR DIARY FOR JANUARY 1915

1-3 Jan 1915 - Bailleul Remained in billets at BAILLEUL in Divisional Reserve: Battn. exercised in Short Route Marches, drills etc.

4 Jan 1915 - Dranouter Brigade relieves 14th. Bde. in trenches. Battn in support at DRANOUTRE. Capt Moyse [John Jenkins MOYSE] joined the Battn for duty.

5-6 Jan 1916 Battn. remained in support, supplying fatigues etc. for front line.

7 Jan 1915 - Wulvergem Took over section of trenches from 1st Bn. Dorset Regt. trenches in very bad state; full of water, sides fallen in.

8 Jan 1915 Quiet except for sniping. Casualties 6 killed, 2 wounded. We shot 1 or 2 of enemy's snipers. Enemy shelled our trenches & neighbourhood without causing damage.

9 Jan 1915 Enemy brought up quick-firer (probably motor-gun) within a few hundred yards of our trenches & fired obliquely on them. Casualties 7 men wounded. Owing to convex ground, unable to bring effective rifle fire on gun. We shot 2 of enemy at close range who were moving along parapet of their communication trench: probably their trench was full of water. Our trenches & Germans' only about 30 yards apart in places. Men keep busy each night in endeavouring to bale water out of trenches, & revet landslips in trenches caused by constant rain & unstable soil.

10 Jan 1915 - Dranouter Continual work carried out draining & revetting trenches etc but without very much apparent result. Casualties 2 killed 2 wounded. Battn. relieved by Dorsets at about 6 pm. & returned to support in billets near Dranoutre.

11-12 Jan 1915 In support. Men employed in making fascines, hurdles etc. for revetting firing line.

13 Jan 1915 - Wulvergem Returned to Wolverghem trenches & took over from Dorset Regt. 1 man wounded whilst taking over.

14 Jan 1915 Quiet day. Enemy shelled right of trenches (where they were unoccupied owing to water in them) without doing damage. 5 casualties from rifle fire. Three hand grenades thrown into enemy's trenches.

15 Jan 1915 Enemy shelled our left trenches in the afternoon. Capt Orlebar [Basil John ORLEBAR] killed by shrapnel. Casualties 1 officer & 4 men killed, 11 wounded.

16 Jan 1915 Quiet day: relieved in the [sic] by the K.O.S.B. (13th Bde.) - 1 Casualty.

17-23 Jan 1915 - Bailleul Battn in Divisional Reserve, in same billets as on previous occasion, 2nd Lts Kirch [Charles Sidney KIRCH] & Kellie [Esmond Lawrence KELLIE] joined on probation. 2nd Lt Aston [Charles Cuthbert ASTON] joined from 4th Battn. Battn. exercised daily in route marching etc.

24-25 Jan 1915 - Dranouter Battn. moved to Dranoutre, in Bde reserve.

26 Jan 1915 Battn. received orders about 10.45 pm. to move before dawn following morning to support firing line in case of attack by enemy on occasion of Kaiser's birthday.

27 Jan 1915 - near Lindenhoek Crossroads Battn. left Dranoutre at 4.30 am & moved as follows. 'A' Company to support 1/Cheshire Regt. 'B' Company to support Dorset Regt. in the trenches. Hd Qrs & C & D Companies to farm houses near LINDENHOEK cross roads in general support. Draft of 60 N.C.O & men joined the Battalion.

28 Jan 1915 - Wulvergem Battn. moved to WOLVERGHEM in the afternoon & took over section of trenches from 1st Dorset Regt. 1 Company Dorsets remained in reserve, under orders of O.C. Bedfords.

29 Jan 1915 Considerable work needed in improving trenches, etc. 1 man killed, 1 wounded whilst constructing communicating trench at night. 1 wounded on patrol, but 2 Germans killed by the other men who accompanied him. Casualties - three.

30 Jan 1915 Quiet day as regards artillery fire on the whole, but one of our front trenches was shelled considerably, fortunately without any serious damage to occupants. Casualties - 2.

31 Jan 1915 Quiet day. A little shelling & sniping. casualties -2.

WAR DIARY FOR FEBRUARY 1915

1 Feb 1915 - Bailleul Heavy outbursts of firing at about 5.15 a.m. & 6.15 a.m. mostly to the left of our section of trenches. Remainder of day unusually peaceful. No.7 trench was shelled for a short time by small quickfiring gun from direction of Messines. One shell fell right into the trench, causing 4 casualties. The Battn. (& Brigade) were relieved by 13th Bde. in the evening, & retired into Divisional Reserve in billets at BAILLEUL arriving there about 11.30 pm.

2 Feb 1915 In billets 3 Feb 1915 Inspection of companies, route march, hand-grenade classes, etc.

4-7 Feb 1915 In billets.

4 Feb 1915 Major Allason [Walter ALLASON DSO & Bar] rejoined from England.

8 Feb 1915 Capt. Edwards [Francis Hyde EDWARDS DSO, MC] rejoined the Battn together with Draft of 60 men.

9 Feb 1915 - Bus Farm, Cooker Farm etc., Wulvergem Brigade returns to trenches. Hd.Qrs. & two companies of the Battn to 'Bus Farm' near Lindenhoek Cross Roads, two remaining companies in support to 1st Cheshires in Cooker Farm & Farms near Dressing Station, respectively.

10-12 Feb 1915 Remained as above.

13 Feb 1915 Took over 'D' Sector Trenches from 1st Cheshire Regt. Quiet day, a little desultory shelling.

14 Feb 1915 No casualties. Heavy Artillery & Infantry fire to Northwards during night. Baling & pumping carried on all night in order to reduce water in trenches.

15 Feb 1915 Quiet except for sniping during the day: heavy artillery & rifle fire to North during the night. Baling & pumping in trenches all night. Casualties - Lt. Landon [William Henry Fitzroy LANDON] (attached) killed, 4 wounded.

16 Feb 1915 Nothing special. Casualties 2 killed, & 3 wounded.

17 Feb 1915 Orders for relief by 13th Brigade cancelled. Casualties - 2 killed. 2 bombs fired at enemy who at once replied with eight.

18 Feb 1915 Orders for relief issued, but cancelled shortly afterwards, 2 companies 1/Dorset Regt. took over firing line in section, the 2 Bedford Companies relieved going into Section Reserve. Casualties 1 killed, 1 wounded.

19 Feb 1915 Lieut. Pottle [William POTTLE] and draft of 90 men joined Battn. in trenches. Two Dorset Companies relieved by Bedfords in firing line, & went into support. 2 bombs from mortar fired into German trenches: latter at once replied with 8 bombs. Didn't know they had mortars in that section of their trenches previously. Dorset casualties 1 killed, 2 wounded during day.

20 Feb 1915 - Dranouter Battn. moved into Brigade Reserve near Dranoutre: relieved in trenches by 1st Cheshire Regt. - Casualties 2 killed.

21-22 Feb 1915 In Brigade reserve at Dranoutre.

23 Feb 1915 Draft of 20 men joined the Battalion. Battn returned to trenches (Section D) relieving 1st Battn. Cheshire Regt. 1 man wounded during the relief.

24 Feb 1915 In conjunction with Norfolk Regt., the Battn fired bombs from mortar, also rifle grenades from 12 trench at German works on WYTSCHAETE road near 13 trench. Mortar in Norfolks trench burst, damaging R.E. officer & 1 man & killing another. Most of our bombs were short, but 1 or 2 appeared to reach enemy's trench. Germans replied with heavier bombs. Our Casualties 2 men wounded.

25 Feb 1915 Enemy dropped 2 heavy howitzer shells close to Battn.Hd.Qrs. No damage done, also fired shrapnel at 11 trench - no damage. Casualties - Capt. Ratcliffe [sic Richard RATLIFFE] wounded, in 13 trench, and 3 men.

26 Feb 1915 Quiet day. Casualties 2 killed & 1 wounded.

27 Feb 1915 - Bailleul Message received that lamp message signalled from German lines stated enemy intended attacking at 12 noon. Precautions taken; but no attack took place. Casualties - 1 killed, 2 wounded. Brigade relieved by 84th Brigade (28 Div.).

28 Feb 1915 In billets at Bailleul.

WAR DIARY FOR MARCH 1915.

1-2 Mar 1915 - Bailleul Battn remained in billets at Bailleul. Draft of 25 men joined Battn. 27th ult.

3 Mar 1915 - Ouderdom Battn. proceeded with remainder of 15th Bde by march route to OUDERDOM to form part of new composite 28th Division in relief of 28th Div. S.E. of Ypres Battn camped in newly constructed huts.

4 Mar 1915 Battn marched at night to take over position in support from R.Scots Fusiliers.

6 Mar 1915 - canal bank south of Ieper Battn took over sector of trenches North of Canal, relieving 9th Brigade 1/Cheshire Regt. took over section S. of Canal. K.O.Y.L.I. on our left. Casualties in going up to trenches 3 wounded.

7 Mar 1915 Head Quarters shelled, 1 man killed. Sniping very considerable, total casualties 3 killed 1 wounded.

8 Mar 1915 A certain amount of shelling & sniping during day. Battn. relieved by Dorset Regt. at night & returned to support. Casualties Capt Andrews [Leonard Henry Graystone ANDREWS] wounded: 2 killed & 9 others wounded.

9 Mar 1915 Battn in support.

10 Mar 1915 Battn relieved Dorset Regt in trenches at about 6.30 pm.

11 Mar 1915 Situation in 32 (a) trench unpleasant. Germans hold one end of it & also have trench parallel to it about 40 yards away & partly enveloping it at the end they hold. Impossible to show a periscope for more than a few seconds without getting a bullet through it; & quite impossible to see where firing comes from as no heads (enemy's) show above their parapets & no rifles can be seen at loopholes. Capt. Ogden [Charles Augustus OGDEN; attached from D.L.I.] wounded & five other ranks. Enemy bombed junction of 32(a) trench & 33 trench (held by 5th Fusiliers [sic 3rd Royal Fusiliers?]) with heavy trench howitzer. About 20 yards of parapet blown in, killing or burying about 16 of 5th Fusiliers.

12 Mar 1915 Enemy continued to drop bombs in same place, thus partly isolating garrison of 32(a) trench. 2nd Lt.J.H. Moxley [sic John Hewitt Sutton MOXLY] killed 2 N.C.O. killed, 1 man wounded. Battn. relieved by Dorset Regt. at 8 pm. Draft of 20 men arrived.

13 Mar 1915 Battn in support. 2 officers & 9 men wounded by shell fire; 1 man killed.

14 Mar 1915 Headquarters shelled with shrapnel for about 20 minutes. Battn relieved 1st Dorset Regt. in trenches About 5.25 pm. Enemy opened very heavy bombardment on section to our right, near St.ELOI heavy artillery fire opened again also on Batt.Headquarters & on Chateau buildings where 'B' Company was billeted. Casualties - 2 wounded. 15 Mar 1915 Battn in trenches. Casualties 2 killed 4 wounded. Draft of 45 arrived.

16 Mar 1915 - Ieper Battn. relieved at night by 13th Brigade (Manchester Regt.) 32(a) trench heavily bombed & sniped. casualties 3 killed and 11 wounded. Battn. returned to YPRES about midnight.

17 Mar 1915 - south of Vlamertinge Battn. left YPRES and returned to billets in newly erected huts S. of VLAMERTINGE. Brigade being in reserve.

18-20 Mar 1915 Battn. remained resting in billets.

21-22 Mar 1915 - Ieper Brigade returned to trenches. The Battn. remained in support at YPRES.

23 Mar 1915 - canal bank south of Ieper The Battn relieved 1/Cheshire Regt. in 'D' Sector trenches; our left being in touch with the French. 1 man wounded during the relief.

24 Mar 1915 Quiet day - 2 casualties. Trenches very zig-zag & confusing, as they face in three directions. Considerable work required to make them satisfactory.

25 Mar 1915 - Ieper Lieut Tabor [Sidney TABOR, MC] slightly wounded in head. 1 man killed and 4 wounded. Battn relieved (except 2 platoons) at 9 pm. & returned to support at Ypres. 2nd Lts James [Dennis JAMES], Harvey [Dennis HARVEY], Knight [William Bernard KNIGHT] & Scott joined for duty.

26-27 Mar 1915 Battalion remained in support. 1 casualty (wounded whilst with working party) 2nd Lt. Webb [John Boyer WEBB] (4th N.Staffords) joined for duty.

28 Mar 1915 Battn relieved 1st Cheshire Regt. in trenches. 2nd Lts Morris [Charles Alan Smith MORRIS], Pulleine [Hubert Henry Worsley PULLEINE] & 119 men joined for duty.

29 Mar 1915 Quiet day. Much work done in improving trenches, making sniping posts etc.

30 Mar 1915 Do. Do. Constant duel between number 50 trench & opposing German trench with rifle grenades. Usual difficulty in obtaining various component parts of rifle-grenades, which are issued separately. On this occasion no blank rounds available, & shortage of detonators.

WAR DIARY FOR APRIL 1915.

1-3 Apr 1915 - hutments west of Ieper Battn in reserve at Hutments W. of Ypres Bishop of London visited & addresses troops.

4 Apr 1915 Still in reserve

5 Apr 1915 - Ieper Battn moved into support at YPRES.

6 Apr 1915 Enemy put a few shells into Ypres. 1 fell each side of Bn.Hd.Qrs. damaging the houses concerned

7 Apr 1915 - Reningelst Enemy shelled Ypres at about 8.30 a.m. First howitzer shell smashed up house next to Bn.Hd.Qrs. 2nd smashed house on other side of Hd.Qrs, Breaking Hd.Qrs. windows. Other shells broke up houses in neighbourhood causing considerable casualties. Battn. unexpectedly relieved in evening, & moved back into Reserve along with remainder of Brigade at RENINGHELST

8-10 Apr 1915 Battn remained in reserve

11 Apr 1915 - trenches opposite Hill 60 Battn took over trenches 38 to 45 opposite Hill 60.

12-16 Apr 1915 Battn in trenches. Work carried out day & night in reconnoitring old disused French & German trenches & in opening up communication trenches, preparing dugouts etc. to shelter extra Battns about to be brought up for attack on Hill 60

17 Apr 1915 [Comment; The Battle of Hill 60] Headquarters 13th Inf. Bde arrived & took over command of sector. R.W.Kent Regt. & K.O.S.B. arrived & went into dugouts & part of front trench. 2 companies of Bedfords withdrawn into support to make room for 13th Bde. 7 pm. precisely, 6 mines under Hill 60 exploded in 3 groups of two each. Heavy Artillery bombardment commenced, & hill 60 rushed by British (R.W.K)

18 Apr 1915 Enemy counterattacked during early morning. Casualties considerable. 2 Companies Bedfords recalled in afternoon: & counter attack on Hill 60 (part of which had been lost by 13th Bde) commenced at 6 pm. Line re-established on Hill 60. G.O.C. 13th Bde. handed over immediate control of sector to Lt.Colonel Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] (Bedf.Regt.) & withdrew with staff to point about a mile in rear.

19 Apr 1915 Front line occupied in early morning by Bedfords & 1/East Surrey Regt. Work carried out under difficulties to consolidate position on Hill 60. Considerable shelling and bombing by enemy.

20 Apr 1915 Enemy counter attacked: tremendous bombardment carried out against Hill 60, & our trenches & supports. Enemy's heavy guns enfiladed position, other guns firing from various directions: bombardment all night.

21 Apr 1915 - Reningelst Bombardment & counter attacks continued during early morning & position critical at times. Casualties very heavy. Enemy's machine guns partially enfiladed reverse of Hill 60, trench mortar bombarded it, & field guns were brought up to within about 30 yards & fired point blank at parapet, blowing it to pieces & mangling the defenders. Our artillery unable to compete with enemy's heavy guns, or to locate small guns which were too close to Hill 60 to be easily shelled. Casualties of Bedfords 4 officers killed, 8 wounded. Other ranks over four hundred. Cameron Highlanders & 1 Devons arrived during morning & relieved E.Surreys & Bedfords who went into reserve at RENINGHELST for sleep & rest. [Comment; Lt John Boyer WEBB and 2/Lt William Bernard KNIGHT of 4th Btn Prince Of Wales, attached to the Bedfords were 2 of those killed, as were A/Captain Charles Sidney KIRCH and 2/Lt Esmond Lawrence KELLIE. Major Walter ALLASON was also wounded. Almost 100 Other Ranks were also killed between the 18th and 21st with several hundred more wounded.]

22 Apr 1915 - Ouderdom Sudden alarm in evening: Germans having broken some trenches N. of YPRES Battn ordered to move at once to OUDERDOM. Reached Ouderdom 9.30 pm: & eventually lay down in empty huts ready to move at short notice. Battn was visited by Sir J. French [John French, C-in-C] in afternoon & congratulated on excellent performance on Hill 60

23 Apr 1915 Bedfords & E.Surreys (under Colonel Griffith [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO]) in Divisional Reserve at OUDERDOM in readiness to move at short notice. Constant heavy artillery & rifle fire going on, but no news of situation reaches me.

24 Apr 1915 - west of Zillebeke Lake Two drafts of 99 and 89 men respectively joined during past 2 days, also 4 young officers. Capt H. Courtenay [Hugh COURTENAY, DSO, MC] reported for duty on 21st inst. & took over duties of Adjutant 1/Bedf Regt. At 5.45 pm Battn moved forward to position W. of ZILLEBEKE pond in support to front line trenches & Hill 60.

25 Apr 1915 - left of Hill 60 Battn took over Sector on left of Hill 60 from 1 Cheshire Regt.

26 Apr 1915 In trenches. 2nd Lieut. Fawcett [Robert Heath FAWCETT] killed, 3 other ranks wounded. Very heavy Artillery & Rifle fire on our left, & rear (counter-attack by V Corps against Germans N.E. of Ypres)

27 Apr 1915 In trenches. Five men wounded

28 Apr 1915 Do. Casualties 1 man

29 Apr 1915 Do. Casualties 1 killed 1 wounded.

30 Apr 1915 Do. Draft of three officers & 300 other ranks arrived at OUDERDOM. One officer & 100 men sent on same night to trenches. Some difficulty in getting stores & supplies to trenches recently owing to constant & persistent shelling of all roads & approaches by enemy. Casualties - 1 killed, 1 wounded

WAR DIARY FOR MAY 1915

1 May 1915 - left of Hill 60 Enemy made sudden attack on trenches to our right with asphyxiating gas & shells, at about 6.30 pm. Our right trenches felt the effects, & all men were violently sick. The enemy did not press home the attack, possibly because some of the fumes blew back towards them. Our casualties were 1 man wounded 1 man died from effects of gas, four other men taken to Dressing Station suffering from gas effects

2 May 1915 Several men admitted to Hospital suffering from effects of gas yesterday - 22 admitted in all, of whom 2 dead. Other casualties - 3 wounded.

3 May 1915 Quiet day. Major Roche [Benjamin Robert ROCHE] & Lieut Small [Edward SMALL] joined for duty last night. Mouth pads or bandages issued to all officers & men, together with solution of soda a preventative against effects of asphyxiating gas.

4 May 1915 A 'switch' made in our line, during early hours of morning, so as to shorten it. Result was that left of Battn rested on corner of trench line, instead of line being prolonged eastwards for half a mile. Enemy soon noticed withdrawal & advanced: spent most of day enfilading our trenches with artillery. Trenches knocked about in places but casualties very small

5 May 1915 At a little after 8 a.m. enemy attacked with asphyxiating gas laid on from two points opposite our trenches. Battn stuck to its trenches, though a few men killed by gas, & all were badly affected. Troops on right, however, were driven out of trenches & enemy captured Hill 60 & trenches on our immediate right. Our left trenches were then attacked but drove back enemy: our right trenches were attacked all day with bombs, rifles & machine guns. Desperate fight all day enemy & selves in same trench, both sides using hand grenades fiercely. Enemy eventually worked round our right flank & enfiladed our right, but men gallantly maintained their position. A Battery of our own artillery spent the whole day firing into our own right trenches, causing many casualties but in spite of everything right trenches held out. Lt Whittemore [Frederick John WHITTEMORE, MC] alone claims over 50 Germans to his own rifle, & he was seen by Artillery observing officer to shoot seven Germans in a couple of minutes. Our casualties in right trenches were heavy. Lt Hopkins [Eric Arthur HOPKINS] killed, Capt Gledstanes [Sheldon Arthur GLEDSTANES; died of wounds 9th May] & Lt Whittemore [Frederick John WHITTEMORE, MC] wounded. Attack made by 13th Inf.Bde to recapture Hill 60 & re establish line not successful

6 May 1915 Situation practically unchanged. Right trenches held out all day, & drove back enemy with hand grenades & rifle fire whenever they attempted to approach. Right trench was cut off from rest of line by enemy's machine guns, so that no relief of men, or water or rations could be brought up & same exhausted garrison had to carry on. After nightfall a sandbag rampart was made so as to defilade the approach to the trench from the left.

7 May 1915 - hutments near Ouderdom Battn relieved by R.I.Rifles about 2 a.m. & marched back to hutments in reserve. Casualties during two previous days about 3 officers & 290 men.

8-11 May 1915 Remained in hutments. Large number of men trained in various kinds of hand grenades, & how to throw them. Machine Gun Contingents brought up to strength again.

12 May 1915 - dugouts near Hill 60 [unreadable] Bedfordshire Regt. moved to dugouts nearer the firing line. Lt.Colonel Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] took over temporary command of 15th Bde. Draft of 30 men arrived & posted to Companies.

14 May 1915 - hutments near Ouderdom Battn relieved & returned to Hutments near OUDERDOM

16-19 May 1915 - Rosenhil near Reninge 1st Battn in Hutments at ROSENHIL near Reninghelst. Five officers joined for duty (all 2nd Lieutenants) on 15th [comment, Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE, Rupert Edward Gascoyne CECIL, Henry Patrick Claude BURTON, Eric William COULSON-MAYNE, William Rolfe NOTTIDGE]. Capt. Ogden [Charles Augustus OGDEN] (wounded) rejoined for duty on 19th, Capt. Thom [Richard Reuben Langstow THOM] & 2nd Lt. Mayne joined on 20th. Lieut. Jones [Leonard Johnston JONES] wounded when visiting Support trenches.

20 May 1915 - support to front line near Hill 60 Battn moved into Support, the Brigade having taken over its usual section of trenches. Lt. Col. Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] resumed command, the Brigadier having returned to duty.

21 May 1915 Capt. Thom [Richard Reuben Langstow THOM] proceeded to join 2nd Battn Bedf Regt in accordance with instructions received by wire. Battn furnished large working parties by day & night. Casualties - two men.

22 May 1915 Battn still in support. Capt. Tollemache [Harold Wilbraham Molyneux TOLLEMACHE] joined Battn. casualties 1 man wounded,

23-31 May 1915 Battn. remained in support, furnishing very large working parties daily & nightly Casualties - 2nd Lieut Cecil [Rupert Edward Gascoyne CECIL] wounded Other ranks - 6 killed, 3 died of wounds, 51 wounded Enemy attacked heavily under cover of gas on 24th inst. A few of the Battn affected but not seriously as gas was fairly dispersed before reaching it.

WAR DIARY FOR JUNE 1915

1 Jun 1915 - Hill 60 Battn moved into trenches at Hill 60 relieving 1st Dorset Regt. Casualties 3 wounded

2 Jun 1915 Things have been very quiet in these trenches recently, but enemy shelled Head Quarters & railway cutting at intervals during day & night, with 4.9 howitzers. casualties slight 2 killed, 3 wounded.

3 Jun 1915 Quiet day. Casualties - 7 wounded.

4-5 Jun 1915 Situation normal 1 killed, 7 wounded

6 Jun 1915 Some of our trenches shelled accurately by 15 prs. parapets brought down on self & other officers on two occasions

7 Jun 1915 Two trench howitzers under R.A. supervision brought up to trenches & opened fire on German machine gun positions. Casualties - 11 men wounded

8 Jun 1915 Hd.Quarters & railway cutting shelled with howitzers. Casualties - 2 killed, 21 wounded.

9 Jun 1915 Enemy used rifle grenades effectively against 39 trench. Hd.Qrs. & railway cutting shelled by howitzers at 7 pm. Heavy rain & thunderstorm: trenches became flooded. casualties - 6 wounded.

10 Jun 1915 Trenches very wet. Hd.Qrs & cutting shelled by howitzers. Casualties 1 killed, 2 wounded, 1 missing

11 Jun 1915 Almost 20 yards of 38 trench blown in by shell fire. 4 wounded, 1 missing.

12 Jun 1915 Hd.Qrs & railway cutting shelled by howitzers about 4.30 pm. 1 killed, 12 wounded.

13 Jun 1915 - railway embankment in support of Hill 60 38 trench blown in by shell fire in places. Hd.Qrs & railway cutting shelled by howitzers. battn. relieved at 9.30 pm by 1 Dorset Regt. & returned into support in railway embankment. casualties - 2 killed, 12 wounded

14-16 Jun 1915 In support, Furnishing large working parties. Attack near HOOGE by 3rd Division on our left, on 16th inst. Did not affect us. Casualties - 1 killed, 1 wounded

17 Jun 1915 - Hill 60 Relieved 1 Dorset Regt in trenches on Hill 60. Casualties - 2 wounded.

18 Jun 1915 Quiet day. 2 wounded 2nd Lt Cecil [Rupert Edward Gascoyne CECIL] rejoined (wounded previously)

19 Jun 1915 Shelled at intervals: parapet of 38 trench badly damaged. 2 killed, 2 wounded

20 Jun 1915 Germans mined & caused big explosion outside our trenches. 1 man wounded by explosion. Previously in morning blew up one of our mine shafts, killing 2 miners.

21 Jun 1915 - railway embankment in support of Hill 60 Relieved by 1st DORSETS and returned to Railway Embankment into support. Casualties 1 killed 1 wounded

22-26 Jun 1915 In support. Furnishing working parties on 23rd Brigadier wounded, Lt.Colonel Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] took temporary command of Brigade. Casualties during this period 1 killed 5 wounded including Lt. Pearse [Hugh Armine Wodehouse PEARSE, MC] wounded on 25th.

27 Jun 1915 - Hill 60 Relieved 1st DORSETS in trenches on Hill 60

28 Jun 1915 Quiet day. Casualties one killed one wounded

29 Jun 1915 Quiet day. Casualties one killed.

30 Jun 1915 Quiet day. Lt.Colonel Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] resumed command of the Battn. Casualties one wounded.

WAR DIARY FOR JULY 1915

1 Jul 1915 - Hill 60 Railway cutting and HQ dugouts heavily shelled during morning. Casualties 1 killed, 3 wounded.

2 Jul 1915 Usual shelling, Lt. Hart [Percival Frank HART] & 8 other ranks wounded.

3 Jul 1915 - in support of Hill 60 Battn relieved by 1st Dorsets & moved into support. Casualties 1 killed 3 wounded.

4 Jul 1915 In support near railway line, furnishing large working parties. casualties - 1 wounded.

5 Jul 1915 In support Pte E. Warner [7602 Edward WARNER, VC] (since deceased) awarded Victoria Cross for gallantry on May 1st near Hill 60.

6-8 Jul 1915 In support, furnishing large working parties day & night. Casualties - 1 killed, 7 wounded.

9 Jul 1915 - Hill 60 Battn. relieved 1st Dorsets in front trenches. Major Roche [Benjamin Robert ROCHE], Capt Tollemache [Harold Wilbraham Molyneux TOLLEMACHE] & Lt. Frere [Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE] admitted to hospital with Fever: 2nd Lts Vyvvan [Philip VYVVAN] & Horne [Lesley Austin HORNE, MC] (3rd Queens) & Lt.C.Douglas [C.H. DOUGLAS], 2nd Lts. Williams [Frank Luckyn WILLIAMS], Waddy [Alexander Harry WADDY], Winmill [Westropp Orbell Payton WINMILL] & Beal [sic Allan Oswald Rufus BEALE, MBE, MC, Croix de Guerre] joined for duty.

10 Jul 1915 Usual shelling. Casualties 2 killed 1 wounded.

11 Jul 1915 Enemy blew up a mine near trenches 38 & 39 creating a very large crater. Our trenches practically undamaged, but several men injured by falling debris & bombardment by artillery. Casualties 2nd Lt. Cecil [Rupert Edward Gascoyne CECIL] & four other ranks killed. 34 wounded, 2 missing (believed killed).

12 Jul 1915 Enemy exploded a mine near 37 trench, causing very little damage. Battn relieved by 4th Lincolns about midnight. Casualties - 5 wounded.

13 Jul 1915 - Boeschepe Battn withdrew into reserve at Reninghelst. arriving there about 4.30 a.m. In afternoon Battn marched on into billets at BOESCHEPE, for rest.

14-20 Jul 1915 Battn notified that 5th Division now ceased to belong to 2nd Army Corps. Resting in billets.

21 Jul 1915 - north of Abeele Battn moved into billets N. of ABEELE.

22 Jul 1915 Battn visited by Major General T.PILCHER.

23 Jul 1915 15th Inf. Bde inspected by Commander of 2nd Army & complimented on present & past efficiency & excellent record.

24-28 Jul 1915 Remained in billets.

29 Jul 1915 - Godewaersvelde Battn marched to GODEWAERSVELDE & entrained there at 10.53 pm.

30 Jul 1915 - la Houssoye Detrained at CORBIE & marched to billets at LAHOUSSOYE, E. of Amiens.

31 Jul 1915 Battn remained in billets. C.O. visited trenches about to be taken over from the French.

1 Aug 1915 - Morlancourt Battn marched to billets in MORLANCOURT. Captains of Companies visited trenches about to be taken over from the French.

2 Aug 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Subalterns of Companies went on in advance during afternoon to inspect trenches. Battn relieved 410th French Regt. in trenches near FRICOURT (East of ALBERT) during the night. 1st Norfolk Regt occupied sector on our left.

3 Aug 1915 Quiet day. 1st Cheshire Regt. took over sector on our right during the night. Brigadier (15th Inf.Bde.) took over command of area from French General.

4-15 Aug 1915 In trenches near Fricourt. Very quiet. Much work done in improving parapets, draining & paving communication trenches etc. 7th Battn East Surrey Regt. attached to Battn for instruction in trench warfare. 2nd Lieut. Rex [Ernest Alfred REX] joined for duty on 13th inst.

16-21 Aug 1915 Normal time in trenches. Total casualties during 3 weeks tour in trenches 2 killed, 10 wounded, very much lighter casualties than the Battn. has ever previously suffered in a corresponding period.

22 Aug 1915 - Morlancourt Battn relieved in trenches 8th Battn East Surrey Regt at about 10 pm. Battn moved back into billets at MORLANCOURT.

23 Aug 1915 - Sailly-Laurette Moved into billets at SAILLY-LAURETTE on the R.Somme.

24-30 Aug 1915 remained in billets. Good bathing for men in river. Large working parties furnished daily for digging trenches etc.

31 Aug 1915 - Maricourt Battn moved to MARICOURT to take over sector of trenches. Health of Battn. good throughout the war. Average number of admissions to Hospital - about 45 per month. Strength of battn present 23 officers, 952 other ranks.

1 Sep 1915 - trenches near Suzanne Battn. took over trenches 28-35 inclusive MARICOURT area near SUZANNE-sur-SOMME. Relieved 1/Devon Regt. 13th Inf.Bde. on left. 1/Dorset Rgt. on right.

2 Sep 1915 Trenches good on the whole, & communication trenches fairly numerous. A great deal of work necessary, however, to restore parts of the line & to drain, revet & floor the communication trenches with bricks where necessary. Enemy's trenches generally about 300 or 400 yards away, but in parts where our advance post trenches jut out, only about 50 yards away. Area generally much quieter than the other areas the battalion has hitherto been in.

3-9 Sep 1915 Nothing of much interest to record. Lieuts Curtis [Alfred Cyril CURTIS, CB, DSO, MC & Bar], Glyn [Charles Reginald GLYN] & Hogden [sic Gordon West HODGEN, MBE] (Indian Army unattached list) who have been serving with the Battn a considerable time suddenly ordered to return to England & struck off strength of Battn. A Draft of 25 N.C.O. & men arrived 8/9/15.

10 Sep 1915 - Morlancourt Relieved by 1/Devon Rgt. Battn. withdraw to billets at MORLANCOURT.

11-15 Sep 1915 In Billets at MORLANCOURT.

16 Sep 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Bttn. took over Trenches 62-69 inclusive. Relieved 8th Norfolk Rgt, 53rd Inf.Bde. 13th Inf.Bde. on left. 1/Norfolk Rgt. on right.

17 Sep 1915 Trenches in very indifferent repair. A very great deal of work necessary in order to make parapets bullet-proof, construct & revet fire-platforms, construct bomb proof shelters, drain trenches & communication trenches, deepen trenches, where exposed to enemy view, erect traverses against enfilade fire, construct obstacles in front (wire entanglements being non-existent) &c. Average distance of Enemy's trenches, about 160 yards.

18 Sep 1915 All water, stores, meals &c. have to be carried Distances varying from 1/2 mile to 1 mile, by hand. Combined with the length of trenches to be guarded, this fatigue work leaves very few men available for the urgent alterations required in the defences & throws a severe strain on all ranks. Casualties - 1 Killed. 1 Wounded.

19-24 Sep 1915 Work done in necessary improvement. Enemy quiet in front. Casualties. 1 L/Cpl missing from patrol, 2 men wounded. 2Lieuts Shaw [William Arthur SHAW, MC] & West [Herbert John WEST, MC] joined the Battn. for duty.

25 Sep 1915 Demonstration by our Artillery & Infantry against trenches opposite, in conjunction with attack by our troops elsewhere. Enemy made only very feeble reply. 2/Lieuts Sherry [Gerald SHERRY] & Friend [Robert William FRIEND] joined the Battn. for duty.

26-30 Sep 1915 Constant patrols sent out at night to observe enemy, ascertain work he is carrying out & cut his wire obstacles where possible. Numerous 'dummy' sniping places erected, & real concealed sniping post constructed elsewhere. The Dummy posts attract a gratifying amount of attention from enemy's marksmen. An extra trench (number 61) added to our extended front. casualties 1 Killed. 2 wounded.

WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1915

1 Oct 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Enemy bombarded our lines with light guns (H.E. shell) at intervals throughout the day. His fire enfiladed our trenches from the right, but did little damage. 2/Lt. West [Herbert John WEST, MC] and 1 man wounded.

2 Oct 1915 One of our patrols returning to wrong point of our line was unfortunately mistaken for enemy. 2 bombing parties under 2/Lt. Beale [Allan Oswald Rufus BEALE, MBE, MC, Croix de Guerre] & Shaw [William Arthur SHAW, MC] went out from different parts of the parapet to surround them. Enemy also opened fire. Result. 2/Lt Shaw [William Arthur SHAW, MC] & 3 men wounded.

3-4 Oct 1915 Normal & quiet.

5 Oct 1915 Quiet day. Sergt. Sirrell [6395 Albert Edward SIRRELL] Killed, on the following day he would have left the Trenches, time expired had he lived.

6 Oct 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Bttn. Relieved by 1/Dorsets & moved into reserve.

7-12 Oct 1915 In Billets at Bray, furnishing daily working parties. 2/Lts Gaussen [David Newbold GAUSSEN], Eaton [Alexander Robert Charles EATON], Donnison [Ernest George DONNISON], Courthorpe [William George COURTHORPE] & Thomas [Cecil Rees THOMAS] joined for duty.

13 Oct 1915 - Etinehem and Chipilly Battn. moved to Billets at Etinehem & Chipilly. Lt-Colonel Griffith D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] takes temporary command of composite Brigade

14-21 Oct 1915 In reserve at Chipilly & Etinehem finding working parties daily. A draft of 25 men arrived on 15th

22-26 Oct 1915 Bttn. comes under command of G.O.C. 15th Bde. again. In reserve still.

27 Oct 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Bttn. moved to Bray.

28 Oct 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Took over its line of trenches again 29-31 Oct 1915 In trenches. Weather wet.

WAR DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 1915

1-2 Nov 1915 In C1 subsector, N. of BRAY, weather bad.

3-8 Nov 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Bttn. relieved by 1/Dorset Rgt. returned to Bde reserve in billets at BRAY. Daily working parties furnished for work in trenches &c. & mining fatigues.

9-14 Nov 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Relieved 1/Dorsets in Trenches. 1/Norfolk Rgt. on our left, 13th Inf.Bde. on right. Weather bad. Much work caused by landslides & collapse of parapets & walls of trenches, owing to rain. Very strong revetting required. Sandbag revetment found unsatisfactory, owing to occasional subsidence of foundations & consequent collapse of whole revetment. Also difficult to deal with Sandbags when they have to be filled with wet mud. Quiet period. Casualties. 1 Killed. 1 Wounded.

15 Nov 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Bttn. relieved at 7.30.p.m. by 1/Dorset Rgt & returned to reserve Billets in BRAY.

16-20 Nov 1915 In billets at BRAY-SUR-SOMME. Large daily working parties furnished

21-26 Nov 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Returned to Trenches on relief by 1/Dorsets. Ordinary routine. Enemy shelled trenches more or less in enfilade from right front most days, but did little material damage & caused no casualties. Officers' patrols went out on various occasions at night & examined enemy's wire entanglements & threw bombs into their trenches, also succeeded in dropping a number of Grenades into their lines with Catapults & 'West' bomb throwers. Weather foggy some days & generally cold & frosty.

28 Nov 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Lts Thom-Postlethwaite [Andrew Cecil THOM- POSTLETHWAITE] & Sansom [Frederick Arthur SANSOM] joined the Battn. for duty a couple of days ago. A little snow & hard frost. Bttn. relieved in evening by 1/Dorsets & returned to Billets in BRAY. Casualties during tour; 1 wounded by Bullet & 1 by Grenade.

29-30 Nov 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme and Etinehem In rest billets (Brigade Reserve). A.Coy. moved to Billets at ETINEHEM. Thaw, followed by very heavy rain caused collapse of parapets & communication trenches. Larger working parties required to try & cope with the situation.

WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1915

1-2 Dec 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme and Etinehem In Rest Billets. Lts. Thomson [C.G. THOMSON], Wilson [Eric Chilver WILSON], Sanders [Vincent Sandon SANDERS] & Whittemore [Frederick John WHITTEMORE, MC] joined Bttn. for duty. 2 men killed & 2 injured in mine explosion where they were working with Bde. Tunnelling Coy, in 73 Trench.

3 Dec 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Relieved 1/Dorsets in C.1. subsector.

4-5 Dec 1915 In Trenches. Lt. Marshall [Arthur Norris MARSHALL] joined for duty. Weather very wet & trenches bad. Large amount of work required to keep in repair.

6 Dec 1915 Lt.-Col.B.R. Roche [Benjamin Robert ROCHE] took over command of Bttn. vice Lt.-Col.C.R.J. Griffith C.M.G., D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] appointed to command of 108th Bde. Quiet day one man wounded. Lt.Col.C.R.J. Griffith C.M.G. D.S.O. [Charles Richard Jebb GRIFFITH, CMG, DSO] left the Bn. on 3rd Dec.1915 to command 108th Brigade. Capt.W.H.L.Barnett [William Harold Louis BARNETT, DSO], 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Att 1st Bn. commanded Bn, until arrival of Capt.F.H. Edwards [Francis Hyde EDWARDS DSO, MC] 1st Bn. on 4th Dec]

7 Dec 1915 Quiet day, wet evening, two men wounded.

8 Dec 1915 at 2 am Bombing parties from Dorsets crept towards German trenches opposite 65 trench found it impossible to get through wire threw bombs and got back with a few slight casualties. rest of day quiet. trenches very bad in places owing to rain.

9 Dec 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Relieved by the Dorsets and returned to billets arriving about 9.30 pm very wet night.

9-13 Dec 1915 In billets at Bray one man killed on mining fatigue on 10th. relieved 1st Dorsets in C.1. subsector relief complete at 7.45.p.m. trenches very wet and communication trenches very difficult one man wounded during relief.

14 Dec 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Trenches required a lot of work owing to rain. 69 trench very bad. Germans seen getting out of their communication trench near MAMETZ and fired on. One man wounded.

15 Dec 1915 A few whizbangs about noon near 69 trench no damage done. Quiet day. 3 offrs & 8 N.C.Os 16 Btn Royal Warwicks arrived for instruction

16 Dec 1915 About 5 am a German Deserter surrendered to 67 trench he was wounded by a bomb by his own people in escaping. About 5.30 am enemy made a feeble attempt to bomb the Mound (a salient from 62 trench) bombs fell short enemy hastily retreated no damage done. Misty weather little improvement in state of trenches. Quiet day. 4 more officers & 1 compy 16th Warwicks arrived for instruction.

17 Dec 1915 Rain made trenches worse, quiet day, 5 or 6 whizbangs about RAT HOLE about 12.30 pm 3 or 4 whizbangs about 69 trench about 9 pm no damage. The compy 16th R.Warwicks took over 65, 66 & 67 trenches about 5 pm.

18 Dec 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Quiet day was relieved by 1st Dorsets and returned to BRAY. relief complete 7.15 PM

19-22 Dec 1915 In Billets in BRAY.

22 Dec 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Relieved 1st Dorsets in C.1. subsector relief complete 7.5 pm. Trenches very wet. Trench mortar bombs near 62 trench about 9 pm & whiz bangs about RAT HOLE at 11 p.m. midnight & 1 a.m. no damage.

23 Dec 1915 Quiet day, approach to MINDEN POST shelled at 7.30 p.m. no damage

24 Dec 1915 Some shelling about noon 68 & 69 trenches one man wounded, one man wounded about 9 pm when working on top of dug out. Night quiet.

25 Dec 1915 A quiet day some rifle fire and our guns opened fire at noon on German trenches no reply.

26 Dec 1915 - Bray-sur-Somme Heavy rain in early morning quiet day in C1. FRICOURT shelled about noon. Relieved by 1st Dorsets relief complete 8.20 p.m. returned to BRAY.

27-29 Dec 1915 - Bray, Etinehem and Chipilly Billets at Bray at 4.30 pm 29th the battalion moved 2 coys and Hq Qrs to Etinehem and 2 coys to Chipilly

30-31 Dec 1915 In billets at Etinehem & Chipilly returned to Bray at 4.45 pm 31st Dec.