The Bedfordshire Regiment
in the Great War
1915 War Diary
[Note that all remarks in squared brackets
are my own additions and not part of the original text]
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.
31 Mar 1915 - Ieper.
Good work done from newly constructed concealed sniping posts. Battn.
relieved by West Riding Regt. (13th Bde) at 0pm & returned to Divisional
Reserve W. of YPRES. Casualties during the past 3 days - 2 killed &
eleven wounded.
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.
WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST 1915
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.
WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1915
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.
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