1916 War Diary

NOTES: 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 how they appear in the original document.

WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1916

4/9/16: Coupigny 10 am - Lieut.Colonel R.P.Croft [Richard Page CROFT] proceeded to 17th Infantry Base pending further deployment

5/9/16: Coupigny Command of the battalion taken up by Major A.E.Greenwell [Aynsley E. GREENWELL]: 2nd in command Major J.S.Collings-Wells [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO]. Lieut.B.L.S.Frere [Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE] took over command of A Coy.

7/9/16: Coupigny-Calonne II 4.30 am - The battalion proceeded to CALONNE in relief of 1st H[onourable] A[rtillery] C[ompany] in Support line. In the firing line in CALONNE I there were the 1st HAC and in CALONNE II the 10th R[oyal] F[usiliers]

11/9/16: Calonne II 8 am - The battalion took up a position in the firing line in relief of 10th RF in CALONNE II The trenches occupied were:- RIGHT COY M.15.c.20.20 - M.15.c.65.80 CENTRE COY M.15.c.65.80 - M.15.b.22.40. LEFT COY M.15.b.22.40 - M.9.d.25.10 SUPPORT COY - M.9.c.95.20 - M.15.a.45.20 The troops on the Right of the battalion were 7th RF; on the left the 14th H[ighland] L[ight] I[nfantry] who were relieved on the 13th inst by the 13th E. Surreys; in support was the 13th R[ifle] B[rigade]

15/9/16: Calonne II 9 am - The battalion was relieved by the 13th RB in CALONNE II and proceed to BULLY-GRENAY in reserve. trenches occupied in case of alarm were (36 BSE 2) R.12.c.63.20 - M.8.a.45.06

17/09/16: Bully-Grenay 3.30 pm - The battalion proceeded to COUPIGNY en route for DIEVAL

18/09/16: Coupigny 7.30 am - The battalion left COUPIGNY and arrived DIEVAL 12.30 pm

20/09/16: Dieval 9.15 am - The battalion left DIEVAL and arrived ORLENCOURT 12 Noon (A.E.Greenwell, Major, [Aynsley E. GREENWELL] commanding).

WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1916

Not available

WAR DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 1916

2/11/16: Knightsbridge Captain B.C.R.Loder [Basil C.R. LODER] (Adjutant) evacuated to C[asualty] C[learing] S[tation] - Lieut.W.A.Turnbull [William Arthur TURNBULL] takes over duties of A/Adjutant

3/11/16: Knightsbridge 11 am - Bn was relieved in front line trenches Q.17.d by 10/R[oyal] D[ublin] Fusiliers and proceeded to ENGLEBELMER

7/11/16: Englebelmer 7.30 am - Bn left ENGLEBELMER and proceeded to HEDEAUVILLE by route march arriving at 12 noon and after dinner proceeded to Hutments at PUCHVILLERS arriving about 5 pm

9/11/16: Puchvillers Bn was inspected by Brigade Commander (Brig.Gen.W.C.G.Heneker DSO ADC)

10/11/16: Puchevillers Bn was inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)

11/11/16: Puchvillers 1.30 pm - Bn left PUCHVILLERS and proceeded to VARENNES

12/11/16: Varennes 2.30 pm - Bn marched to assembly trenches off BEDFORD ST and VICTORIA ST to take up position as right centre Bn of the Division preparatory to attacking between BEAUMONT HAMEL and RIGHT bank of R.ANCRE. 7/R.Fusiliers on our right, 10/RDF on left

13/11/16: [Operations on the Ancre] Beaucourt Sector 6.45 pm - Bn attacked at 6.45 am.

Appendix A: Operations on the North Bank of the ANCRE - Nov 13th 1916. The Battalion advanced with the remainder of the Brigade at 6.45 am and sustained heavy casualties among Officers and NCOs in and near the enemy front line from a strongpoint established between enemy front line and second line which had been passed over by the leading Brigades. Battalion advanced to enemy second line and from there parties pushed forward to Station Road and beyond. Casualties Officers Killed: Captain F.G.C.Ashmead-Bartlett [Francis George Coningsby ASHMEAD-BARTLETT], Lieut.B.L.S. Frere [Bartle Laurie Stuart FRERE], Lieut.R.H.Boys [Richard Harvey BOYS], Lieut.W.A.Turnbull [William Arthur TURNBULL], 2nd Lieut.J. Brodie [John BRODIE], 2nd Lieut.H.B.Hudson [Harold Baldwin HUDSON], 2nd Lieut.S.H. Agate [Sidney Herbert AGATE], 2nd Lieut.T.H. Hill [Thomas Hooten HILL]. Died of Wounds, 2nd Lieut.L.S. Wilkinson [Leslie Stuart WILKINSON]. Wounded 2nd Lieut.A.R.Fraser [Arthur Ronald FRASER], 2nd Lieut.L.BROOKS, 2nd Lieut.W.R.Bridges [William Robert BRIDGES], 2nd Lieut.R.J.Thomas [Reginald James THOMAS], Lieut.G.ARTHUR RAMC . Other Ranks Killed: 48, Died of Wounds - 9, Wounded - 108, Missing - 16 In the evening all available men were withdrawn and taken down to HAMEL, refitted and moved into position in Station Road, close to BEAUCOURT Road

14/11/16: Beaucourt Sector Bn acted as carrying parties for taking bombs, sand bags etc. up to BEAUCOURT 4 pm - Bn withdrew to our original second line (ROBERTS TRENCH) and reorganized there

15/11/16: Roberts Trench Bn remained in ROBERTS TRENCH

16/11/16: Bn moved to bivouacs & huts on ENGLEBELMER-MARTINSART road

17/11/16: Bn assisted to clear the battlefield and bury the killed. Lieut.L.T.Despicht [Leonard Terry DESPICHT, MC] takes over duties of A/Adjutant Lieut.A.J.Clarke [Alan Jardine CLARKE] assumes command of A Company Lieut.G.F.Wray [George Frederic WRAY] assumes command ob B Company Lieut.E.C.Wilson [Eric Chilver WILSON] assumes command of D Company

18/11/16: Martinsart 8 am - Bn proceeded in motor omnibuses to LONGUEVILLETTE

19/11/16: Longuevillette 9.30 am - Bn proceeded to HEUZECOURT by route march

20/11/16: Heuzecourt Bn inspected by Divisional Commander (Maj.Gen.C.D.Shute CB)

21/11/16: Heuzecourt 9 am - Bn proceeded to DOMLEGER by route march

22/11/16: Domleger 11 am - Bn proceeded to NOYELLES-en-CHAUSSEE by route march

23/11/16: Noyelles-en-Chaussee 9 am - Bn proceeded to Lamotte-Buleux by route march

24/11/16: Lamotte-Buleux Bn proceeded to NOUVION-EN-PONTHIEU (J.S.Collings-Wells, Major [John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, VC, DSO], Commanding).