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 January 1916

29-12-15 to 15-1-16. The Bn marched back to billets in HAM-EN-ARTOIS & remained there training until the 15th when the Bn marched to billets at BETHUNE near the station. The following Officers joined the battalion; Lieut. G.H. Down [Charles M DOWN], 2/Lieuts. F.G. Lake [Frank Gilbert LAKE], A.E. Ogle [Arthur Edwin OGLE] & A.F. BRUNADEN.

3-1-16. Draft of 50 NCO's & men arrived.

7-1-16. A draft of 76 NCO's & men arrived.

16-1-16. The Bn marched into the support area at GIVENCHY.

18-1-16. Nos.3 & 4 Coys & H.Qtrs were relieved by the 13th Essex (1/2 battalion) & marched to billets at Le QUESNOY. Lieut. A.R. Milne [Alexandra Richard MILNE] joined the Bn from the Entrenching battalion at Le QUESNOY.

20-1-16. 1/2 Bn Essex & Nos.1 & 2 Coys relieved the 2nd S. Staffs in Section B3.

23-1-16. 1st Herts (less Nos. 1&2 Coys) with 2 Coys of 13th Essex relieved the 13th Essex (less 2 Coys) & 2 Coys 1st Herts (nos.1 & 2 Coys) in Section B3.

26-1-16. His Majesty the King conferred the Victoria Cross upon No. 1665 Cpl Alfred Alexander BURT 1st Herts.

27-1-16. The Bn was relieved by 1st S.STAFFS Regt in B3 section GIVENCHY and went into support.

30-1-16. The Bn was relieved by 2nd S.Staffs in support and marched back to billets in LE QUESNOY.

The following appeared in the New Year's list of honours: Decorations;

Military Cross - Captain Clark A.G. [Aylmer G. CLARK, DSO, MC], Lieut. Oliphant K.W. [Kenneth OLIPHANT, MC].

DCM - No.1732 Cpl Spinks [William G. SPINKS, DCM], 3630 Pte Hagger [Charles HAGGER, DCM], 4420 Pte Farnham [Robert FARNHAM, DCM].

Mentioned in Despatches; Lieut. Millburn [Booker MILBURN, DSO, MC], 3292 Regt. S.M. Young F. [Frank YOUNG], 2170 Sgt Evans [Reginald EVANS, DCM], 1125 Sgt Callow [Gilbert CALLOW, MM], 2656 Pte Stevens [R. STEVENS], 2130 Pte Dunn [George Ashley DUNN].

War Diary for February 1916.

2-2-16. The Bn relieved the 17th Middlesex in B3 GIVENCHY sector.

3-2-16. The 6th Brigade was relieved by 99th Brigade in B3 GIVENCY sector. The Bn being relieved by the 1st Berks, marched back to billets in HINGETTE.

4-2-16. The following telegram was received; Lieut. Col. H.P. Croft C.M.G. [Henry Page CROFT, CMG, MP] has been appointed to command the 68th Inf. Bde.

8-2-16. Lieut. Col. H.P. Croft C.M.G. [Henry Page CROFT, CMG, MP] left the battalion. Major Page D.S.O. [Frank PAGE. DSO & Bar] took command of the Bn.

10-2-16. The Bn relieved the 2nd[?] HLI in the trenches at FESTUBERT.

15-2-16. The Bn was relieved by the 13th Essex and marched back to billets at LE TOURET.

19-2-16. The Bn marched back to billets at HINGETTE.

21-2-16. Following was received from 6th Brigade [unreadable but refers to battalion being moved to GHQ Troops]

23-2-16. The Bn was inspected by Major General WALKER V.G. commanding [unreadable but possibly reads "2nd Division"]

24-2-16. The Bn was inspected by Brigadier General DALY commanding 6th Brigade

26-2-16. The Bn moved to ECQUEDECQUES near LILLERS.

28-2-16. The Bn moved by train to EBBLINGHAM and came under orders from H.Qrs. GHQ Troops.

29-2-16. The Bn came under the orders of the B.G.C. 118th Brigade.

War Diary for March 1916.

2-3-16. Battalion was inspected by Brigadier General BROMILOW.

8-3-16. Battalion moved into the 39th Divisional area and moved under canvas near SERCUS.

13-3-16. 2/Lieut. B.W. Head [Basil William HEAD] joined the Bn from 3/1st Herts.

14-3-16. The Bn was inspected by the GOC 39th Division. 2/Lieut. W.W. Park [Walter Williamson PARK] and a draft of 50 joined the Bn from 3/1st Herts.

15-3-16. The 118th Brigade was inspected by the GOC 1st Army.

24-3-16. The Bn marched to billets just west of MERVILLE.

27-3-16. 2/Lieuts. Cowie [David F. COWIE] & Gilby [George Harold Yates GILBEY, MC] and a draft of 100 men joined the Bn from the 3/1st Herts.

31-3-16. The Bn marched to billets at PONT DU HEM.

War Diary for April 1916.

1-4-16. Bn went into the trenches taking over from 10th Royal Warwicks.

4-4-16. Bn was relieved by 1st Cambs. We had the misfortune during these 2 days to lose two Officers. Lieut. Park [Walter Williamson PARK] killed and 2/Lieut. Lambert [Geoffrey Fontaine LAMBERT] wounded. Our snipers claimed 10 Germans. Bn went into billets at PONT DU HEM.

6-4-16. Bn marched back to billets at ROBERMETZ near MERVILLE.

8-4-16. A draft of 96 OR joined the Bn.

14-4-16. Bn marched into billets at VIELLE CHAPELLE. Lieut. Fergusson [John D.B. FERGUSSON] & 2/Lieut. Drury [Follett McNeill DRURY] joined the Bn.

16-4-16. Bn went into the trenches at FESTUBERT C2 relieving the 13th Welsh. This was the same section we were in when we were in 6th Bde.

18-4-16. 2/Lieuts. Marchington [Eric William MARCHINGTON, MC] & Cautherley [Charles Stewart CAUTHERLEY] joined the Bn.

19-4-16. Bn was relieved by 1st Cambs and went into support area, having billets in LE PLANTIN FESTUBERT and on the RUE L'EPINETTE.

21-4-16. 6 OR joined the Bn from No.4 Entrenching Bn.

22-4-16. 13 OR joined the Bn from ROUEN

23-4-16. Bn was relieved by the 17th KRRC (119th Bde) and marched back to billets at LES CHOQUAUX near LOCON.

26-4-16. GOC 1st Army inspected the Bn in musketry practice.

War Diary for May 1916

1-5-16. The Bn relieved the 12th Royal Sussex in the B2 sub section GIVENCHY.

5-5-16. The Bn was relieved by the 1/1 Cambs and marched to GORRE.

9-5-16. The Bn relieved the 1/1st Cambs in B2 sub section GIVENCHY.

13-5-16. The Bn was relieved by 1/1st Cambs and took over the village line from the 1/1st Cambs.

17-5-16. The Bn was relieved in the village line by the 17th KRRC and marched back to billets at RIEZ DU VINAGE, arriving at 2.30am on the 18th May. Decoration: 2099 Sgt G. Gregory [2099, later 265282 George Stanley GREGORY, DCM, MM] awarded Military Medal 10th May for gallantry at GIVENCHY for carrying two wounded men to a place of safety during a hostile artillery barrage of fire following the explosion of a mine.

23-5-16. The Bn paraded for inspection by Colonel Sir Charles LONGMORE K.C.B. who came from England for a few days to see the Bn.

25-5-16. The Bn relieved the 11th Royal Sussex Regt. in C2 sub section FESTUBERT.

28-5-16. The Bn was unexpectedly relieved by 17th West Yorks (Bantams) and marched back to FERME DU ROI near BETHUNE.

War Diary for June 1916.

3-6-16. Captain J.H. Bevan [John Henry BEVAN, MC], Adjutant left for Staff duties at 39th Division. It appeared in the London Gazette that Captain G.E. Whitfield [Geoffrey Ernest WHITFIELD, MC] & Captain B. Millburn [Booker MILBURN, DSO, MC] were awarded Military Cross. Also CSM H. Davey [1859 Harold Edward DAVEY, DCM] the D.C.M.

6-6-16. 2/Lieut. W.F. Francis [Wilfred Frederick FRANCIS, MC] & 15 OR's (11 of which were signallers) joined the Bn from ROUEN. The Bn marched to GORRE & relieved the 17th Sherwood Foresters.

10-6-16. A draft of 30 OR's joined the Bn.

11-6-16. The Bn relieved the 1/1st Cambs during the night 11/12th June in sub section B2 GIVENCHY.

14-6-16. 2/Lieut. J.C.A. Morley [James C.A. MORLEY] 3/9th Middlesex Regt. was attached to the Bn.

15-6-16. 2/Lieuts. L.J. Ireland [Leonard Jack IRELAND] & L.D. Wright [Leslie Douglas WRIGHT] 4/8th Middlesex Regt were attached to the Bn.

15-6-16. The following Officers & NCO's appeared in the C in C's despatches: Lieut. (T/Captain) J.H. Bevan [John Henry BEVAN, MC] & 2133 Cpl Aldridge [2133 Frederick ALDRIDGE, MM & Bar].

16-6-16. On the night June 16th/17th the battalion cooperated by means of rifle grenades, Lewis Gun fire etc with 4th/5th Royal Highlanders who did a successful raid on the enemy's trenches.

17-6-16. The Bn was relieved by the 1/4th Suffolk Regt. and marched back to billets at VIELLE CHAPELLE.

22-6-16. 50 OR's joined the Bn from No.6 Entrenching Bn. 2/Lieut. G. McMULLEN [Gordon McMULLEN] joined the Bn & 2/Lieut. J.P. Kemble [John Phillip KEMBLE, MC] 3/8th Middlesex Regt. was attached. The Bn relieved the 13th Royal Sussex in post systems RICHEBOURG & ST VAAST.

26-6-16. 2/Lieut. J. Veere Smith [John Veere SMITH] 4/8th Middlesex Regt. was attached.

28-6-16. The Bn was relieved by 11th Royal Sussex Regt. and proceeded to billets at LESLOBES.

29-6-16. The Bn marched into billets at VIELLE CHAPELLE.

30-6-16. The Bn marched to billets at CROIX BARGEE.

War Diary for July 1916.

1-7-16. The Bn relieved the 1/1st Cambs in the trenches in left sub sector JEUNE DE BOIS.

4-7-16. The Bn was relieved by 1/1st Cambs and marched back to billets at CROIX BARGEE. During these 3 days in the trenches we had four wounded of which Captain Clark [Aylmer G. CLARK, DSO, MC] and 2/Lieut. Drury [Follett McNeill DRURY] were two.

6-7-16. The Bn marched to billets at LES LOBES on relief by the 2/4th Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry.

7-7-16. The Bn marched to billets at LE PREOL.

8-7-16. The Bn relieved the 20th Royal Fusiliers in GIVENCHY-CUINCHY section.

12-7-16. The enemy, after destroying 60 yards of trench during the day with Minnenwerfen fire attempted to raid about 10.30pm but was driven off by our Lewis Gun fire.

14-7-16. The Bn was relieved by the 2nd Middlesex and took over trenches from 16th R.B. in left sub section FESTUBERT.

15-7-16. Major E.C.M. Phillips [Eric Charles Malcolm PHILLIPS, CB, DSO, TD, DL, JP] rejoined the Bn from England. 2/Lieut. A.E. Clodd [possibly Alfred E. CLODD] 3/1st Suffolk Yeomanry, 2/Lieuts. H.G. Watts [possibly Hugh Gower WATTS] & A.M. Gallo [Antonio Marie GALLO, MC] were attached.

19-7-16. A party of about 3 Officers and 60 OR's raided the enemy's trenches at 10.40pm. The part of the trench that was raided had been evacuated by the Germans. The party was in the trenches for 10 minutes as arranged but was bombed from the support line. No prisoners were taken. Our casualties on the evening of the raid were 3 Officers wounded, 3 OR's killed, 1 OR missing, 12 OR's wounded.

24-7-16. The Bn were relieved by the 12th Royal Sussex and marched to billets near GORRE having had 16 days in the trenches. Casualties for this period; 1 Officer (Lieut. Veere Smith [John Veere SMITH]) died of wounds, 7 Officers wounded (Captain W.L. Grice [William Lucas GRICE], Lieut. L.G. Gold [Leslie G. GOLD, MC & Bar] (slight), Captain C.F. Hacker [Charles Frederick HACKER, MC, RAMC] (at duty), 2/Lieut. J.W. Smith [John W. SMITH], Lieut. R.P. Loyd [Reginald Percy LOYD], 2/Lieut. W.F. Francis [Wilfred Frederick FRANCIS, MC], Captain B.C. Molony [Brian Charles MOLONY]). 11 OR killed, 1 OR missing, 38 OR's wounded including two Company Sgt. Majors.

26-7-16. The Bn were marched to L'ECOLE DE JEUNE FILLES, BETHUNE.

28-7-16. 1 OR Staff Sergeant HOLOWOOD (Armourer) joined the Bn.

War Diary for August 1916.

1-8-16. The Bn relieved the 13th Royal Sussex in the FESTUBERT Sub section.

4-8-16. Major G.E. Whitfield [Geoffrey Ernest WHITFIELD] left the Bn to take command of the 2/7th Worcestershire Regt.

7-8-16. The Bn was relieved by the 1/1st Cambs Regt. and took over keeps and billets in the village line. During this tour in the trenches the Bn was unfortunate in losing CSM Langford [651 Arthur P. LANGFORD] who was killed by a shell

10-8-16. The Bn was relieved in the village line by the 15th West Yorks and was marched back to billets in L'ECOLE DE JEUNE FILLES, BETHUNE

11-8-16. The Bn marched at the head of the Brigade to billets at CAUCHY A LA JOUR.

12-8-16. The Bn marched to billets at MONCHY BRETON.

13-8-16. The Bn marched to billets at GINTREVILLE where it stayed 10 days and carried out training.

16-8-16. Major E.S. DYRE, Captain P.H. COCKERILL, Captain C.B. BOLLINGBROKE, Captain C.P. PHILLPOT of the 1/6th Norfolk Regt (Cyclists) joined the Bn. 12 OR also joined from Base.

17-8-16. Lieut. J.S. BECK (Norfolk Regt.), 2/Lieuts. S.R.G. STEWARD, W.G.E. JONES, P.R. Ambrose [Percy Robert AMBROSE] (Essex Regt.), 2/Lieuts. D.P. Shiell [Duncan Pirie SHIELL], R.S. Weeks [Reginald Skinner WEEKS], K.J. JONES, W.M. Dobson [William Mansfield DOBSON, MC] (Middlesex Regt.), 2/Lieut. J.R. Johnston [John Rodney JOHNSTON, MC] (East Surrey Regt.), & 2/Lieuts. H.N. SMITH & N.V. MARSHALL (Sussex Regt.) joined the Bn.

18-8-16. 2/Lieut. C. Scott [Cecil SCOTT] (Essex Regt.) joined the Bn.

19-8-16. Captain DONALD [?] (Buffs) joined the Bn.

23-8-16. The Bn marched to billets in HOUVIN HOUVIGNUEL.

24-8-16. The Bn marched to billets in GROUCHES. A draft of 60 men joined from the 3rd Entrenching Bn. 4 Sergeants joined from Base.

25-8-16. The Bn marched to BUS LES ORTON and billeted in huts.

26-8-16. The Bn marched to bivouacs in a wood close behind ENGLEBELMER.

War Diary for September 1916.

1-9-16. 30 OR joined the Bn, also Captain F. Pawle [Francis PAWLE], Captain B.J.N. Gripper [Bernard Jasper Nicholas GRIPPER], Lieut. S.W. Moore [Saxon Weston MOORE], 2/Lieuts. L.R.D. Fisher [Lionel Robert D'Arcy FISHER, MC], B.H. Johnston [Basil H. JOHNSON], & E.E. WHITE from England.

2-9-16. The Bn moved to FORT PROWSER and FORT MOULIN No.1 then to MESNIL.

3-9-16. The 39th Division attacked the enemy's trenches north of the ANCRE. The 118th Brigade was in reserve. The attack failed and in the evening the Brigade took over our original front line. Our trenches had suffered by the enemy shelling and a great deal of work had to be done during the night consolidating the front line. The whole night from 11.30pm till dawn the Germans put over Gas shells behind our support lines and Gas Helmets had to be worn. Unfortunately 2/Lieut. Simons [Henry SYMONS] was wounded during the relief.

10-9-16. A draft of 17 OR joined the Bn.

12-9-16. The Bn was relieved by the 1/6th Cheshire Regt. and marched to billets in ENGLEBELMER. A draft of 8 OR joined the Bn.

15-9-16. A draft of 50 OR from No.3 Entrenching Bn joined the Bn.

17-9-16. 11 OR joined the Bn from Base.

19-9-16. The Bn relieved the 16th Rifle Bde in the left sub section Y RAVINE. Lieut. Beck [J.S. BECK], 2/Lieuts. Weeks [Reginald Skinner WEEKS] & N.V. MARSHALL were attached to the 117th Brigade who had lost heavily in the attack on September 3rd.

21-9-16. 5 OR's joined the Bn from Base.

26-9-16. Captain A.G. Clark [Aylmer G. CLARK, DSO, MC] rejoined the Bn from England.