War
Diary for October 1914
4
Oct 1914 - Southampton LYNDHURST 3 p.m. Verbal order from Staff
Captain that 1st Train load to be ready to move 4.30 p.m. LYNDHURST
Road STN. 5 p.m. S.P. 1st Train load passed. SOUTHAMPTON Dock Gates.
8.45 pm. 1st Train load arrives. S.S.Winifredian. 11 p.m. 1st Trainload
embarkation completed Southampton Dock Gates. 9 p.m. 2nd Trainload
arrived, remained in sheds till following morning. For diary of
2nd Train load embarked on S.S.Cornishman see - 2
5 Oct 1915 - S.S.Winifredian 8 A.M.? Left Southampton steamed to
Dover [10 P.M.] instructions to proceed towards CALAIS & DUNKIRK.
Recalled by wireless off Ostend.
6 Oct 1914 4.30AM. Off DOVER. 6 A.M. Entered DOVER HARBOUR. Took
on board 1 days supply for men & horses. 9 p.m. Left Harbour
DOVER.
7 Oct 1914 - Ste.Croix near Bruges 3.20AM. Stopped off Zee brugge.
6.30AM. Entered harbour & disembarked ships crew worked badly
in getting alongside & delayed greatly unloading wagons. BRUGES
4 p.m. by train. St.CROIX 5 p.m. by march route from STN.BRUGES.
Into Billets. men in cavalry granary, officers in houses near by.
Granary not too sanitary. Latrine accommodation scanty. 6 p.m. 2nd
Train load arrived. 12.30 AM. Transport arrived by march route.
8 Oct 1914 - Clemskerke 4.30 AM. Stood to Arms. 7 AM. Left St.CROIX.
CLEMSKERKE. 6.30 pm. Bn. bivouaced in Bde.
9 Oct 1914 - Assebruck CLEMSKERKE, BRUGES 8.30 AM. Marched with
2 Yorks.Regt. to direct road. Belgian Artillery from ANTWERP &
wounded; Household Cav.Bde. seen in Market Square. Also armed motor
with Maxim.
ASSEBRUCK. 3 p.m. Partly Billets & partly Bivouacs. Heavy rain
during night.
10 Oct 1914 - Trois Rois STEENBRUGGE Ry.STN. 3.30 p.m. Marched as
right flank guard to column as far as TROIS ROIS Billeted except
1 Coy.
11 Oct 1914 Rested
12 Oct 1914 7.40 AM. to S.P. BEERNEM Ry.Stn. 8.5 AM. COOLSCAMP.
3.0 p.m. Billeted in Works of Societ Anonyne la Flandre Pea canning
factory. 4.30p.m. "Taube" flew over.
13 Oct 1914 - Roulers-Beuerns Station 6.30 AM. "Taube" reported
by Outposts. 2.30 p.m. Commenced march as rear guard. ROULERS -
BEUERNS STATION.
9 p.m.-9.30pm. Tedious march. Checks caused by Div.Train & Troops
Billeting. Wet. 1 Cos.on Outposts.
14 Oct 1914 - Ypres 7.30AM. BEUERNS STN. Left for S.P. in 8.15 AM.
ROULERS 9.30AM. Commenced march. 5.15pm. to Billets S.W. of Town
on BAILLEUL ROAD. 8 p.m.
15
Oct 1914 - Menin Road near Zillebeke 11 AM. left Billets under B.M.40
order. on arrival at square near Station. Battn. ordered to take
up & entrench a position on line ROAD road [sic] running S.S.W.
just W. of 3 Kil. on YPRES-MENIN Rd. to Zillebeke. MENIN Rd. exclusive
ZILLEBEKE inclusive. 1 p.m. The Battn. relieved 80 Rgt. (French)
on this line. 8 p.m. Battn. continued digging etc. till after dark.
10.50 pm. Battn. ordered to march on.
16 Oct 1914 - Gheluvelt 9.30 AM. Entered village. 11.20 AM. B.M.56
explaining situation. 2.30 PM. Ordered to Billet. 9.10 PM. B.M.64
no move.
17 Oct 1914 No movement. Battn. in Brigade Reserve.
18 Oct 1914 - Menin Road between Gheluvelt and Gheluwe The Battn.
formed up on POEZELHOEK-BECELAIRE Road facing S.E. & advanced
towards 10 Kilo stone on YPRES-MENIN Road. On nearing the road on
coming over a rise we were fired on by rifle fire. [1st
contact with the Germans] Advancing further & astride we
came under shrapnel fire. A Company lost 2/Lieut.C.O.BELL
killed & Captains F.M.Bassett & Wolff & Lieutenant
Horsford wounded - other casualties 1 sergeant & 1 man killed
21 other ranks wounded 2 other ranks missing. After this action
the Battalion drew back slightly & entrenched a position with
its right on 10th Kilo MENIN Road in touch on right side with 20th
Bde. on left with R.S.F.
19 Oct 1914 - Gheluvelt Improved trenches. The Division was ordered
to attack MENIN. The 22nd Bde. were hard pressed & withdrew.
The 21st Bde. covered their withdrawal. The Battalion left the trenches
as dusk & returned to GHELUVELT. The Battalion was in Brigade
Reserve & billeted in the village. The Bde. held line from 9
Kilo MENIN ROAD through POEZELHOEK to NORDWESTHOEK. Yorkshire R.
on the right R.S.F. in centre & Wiltshire Regt. on left.
20 Oct 1914 - near Veldhoek Battalion held trenches of R.S.F.&
Wilts R. while these Regiments were supporting the left flank of
a Reconnaissance by 20th Bde.
Battn. returned to trench in Reserve. The trenches were round &
near Track junction between 7 kilo & K. of VELDHOEK. Ref.Map
1/100000. There was heavy firing during the night which was unnecessary.
21 Oct 1914 About 2 p.m. Battalion ordered to move to ZONNEBEKE
to reinforce 22nd Brigade. Arrived at level Crossing, reported,
stayed about one hour & returned as the German attack had been
repulsed. As we were leaving our trenches they were shelled fairly
heavily, one platoon of C. Company Lt.Paine being unable
to leave its trench. The Battalion was also shelled on the way to
ZONNEBEKE.
22 Oct 1914 Early in the morning 2 platoons of D Company which had
reinforced R.S.Fusiliers came back & were shelled. Lieutenant
Fernandez was killed. Late in the day Battalion started to reinforce
22nd Brigade at ZONNEBEKE, but were met half way by Major Ian
Stewart, General Staff, & ordered back as we were not required.
On return to Reserve trenches one Company "C" was ordered up on
right of Fusiliers. It did not attack but dug a trench during the
night.
23 Oct 1914 early in the morning C Company advanced to fill gap
between R.S.Fusiliers right & Yorkshire R. left. It was allowed
to advance nearly to bend in POEZELHOEK Road when it came under
heavy rifle & machine gun fire & was not able to maintain
its position. Lieutenant Wright was killed during this advance
& there were heavy casualties amongst the men. Later in the
day orders were received to fill the gap. B Company was ordered
to do this & moving via West end of GHELUVELT under heavy shell
fire advanced. Advancing further it came under heavy rifle &
machine gun fire but advanced to edge of wood behind Yorkshire R.
left & maintained its position. The losses were severe Captain
Patron and Lieut.Hopkins being wounded during this operation.
During this operation which was well executed by Captain Patron,
the C.O. advanced with Battalion H.Q. through GHELUVELDT to personally
interview O.C.Yorkshire Regt. in order to ascertain the situation
on the Yorkshire Regt. left. After the interview the C.O. moved
along BECELAERE Road towards POEZELHOEK until B Company was found
in touch with Yorkshire Regts left. The gap was now filled &
was consolidated during the night. The following hand sketch shows
positions held 23/24 Oct.1914. [not attached]
24 Oct 1914 Improved trenches. Desultory rifle fire all day, several
heavy bursts of firing during the night by the Germans which was
not replied to.
25 Oct 1914 Battalion ordered to cooperate with an attack on BECELAERE.
Attack delayed till late in afternoon. About 5 p.m. the Battalion
advanced from its trenches. The movement was practically a wheel
to the right. C Company was in touch with Guards on the left but
touch was lost between C & D Companies. As the orders strictly
enjoined that touch was on no account to be lost with Yorkshire
Regt. as soon as B Co. was out if its trenches and at right angles
to them, the C.O. gave the order to halt until the situation was
cleared up on our left. The enemy fired on B Company twice, the
second time inflicted several casualties. The men behaved with great
steadiness. It was quite dark during this operation. Orders were
eventually received that the attack was suspended & all Companies
reoccupied their trenches. There were at least two burning houses
(one Battalion H.Q. which had been shelled during the day &
set alight) behind us as we advanced.
26 Oct 1914 The Battalion remained holding its trenches as shown
in sketch [not attached]. Battalion H.Q. was established in farm
near Chateau & moved into C Coys. big trench during the day.
10.30 A.M. Captain A.G.Hall was shot by a sniper. Captain
W.E.Wetherall took command of the company (D). Lieut.W.Bastard
was also shot in the same way on this day. During the morning instructions
were received that Guards Brigade were to attack BECELAERE. They
advanced under heavy shell fire but did not get beyond our line
of trenches. The Battalion had orders to advance of the guards right
flank after they had gone through our line. D Company did move out
of its trenches to the woods behind B Company. But as the advance
was held up, late in the afternoon it reoccupied its trenches. Lieut.W.Bastard
buried by Capt.R.L.Thom on the N. edge of the wood S. of
the road junction at the foot of the BECELAERE hill, in the centre
of N edge on W. of road, close to the bend of the road. Captain
A.G.Hall, probably near the above, to the N.Westwards
Orders were received that the 1st Scots Guards were to relieve the
Battalion in the trenches. It was not till early in the morning
of 27th that this relief was completed.
Lieut.D.G.C.Thomson & 20 N.C.O. & men 1st reinforcements
arrived.
27 Oct 1914 - between Zandvoorde Chateau and Menin Road The Battalion
assembled after the relief & bivouaced at VELDHOEK & at
about 9.30 A.M. moved back to bivouac in a wood at HOOGE. At 7 p.m.
the Battalion moved up again to take up the left flank of a Brigade
line from ZANDEVOORDE [sic] Chateau to 9 Kilo stone on MENIN-YPRES
Road. The Battalion relieved the Black Watch & held the line
A Company on the right - B Company - C Company - D Company in reserve.
A certain amount of digging in was done as the line allotted to
the Battalion did not allow sufficient room for the men.
28 Oct 1918 - Zandvoorde-Gheluvelt Road The Battalion remained in
position till dusk when it was relieved. The enemy shelled the front
line vigorously most of the day & also searched the ground in
rear, shelling Battn.H.Q.& reserve company. A Company suffered
most, one platoon had their trench, an old redoubt, blown in on
it, the men having to be dug out. An attack was expected during
the day; to be delivered by the 27 German Reserve Corps on the Cross
Roads where our left rested. This attack however was not delivered.
After the relief was effected the Battalion moved through GHELUVELT
along ZANDEVOORDE Road & took up position, in trenches dug by
Royal Welch Fusiliers, on right of our Brigade line. R.S.Fusiliers
on our left and 7th Cavalry Bde. on our right. D. Company on battalion
right, C Company on left B & A Companies in support.
29 Oct 1914 The night 28/29 was spent in digging support & improving
fire trenches. The morning was misty. There was heavy firing on
either side of Battalion but no attack from in front. In the afternoon
the Battalion was ordered to advance to assist in a counter attack.
The Battalion to be on right of Yorkshire Regt. 22nd Brigade on
Battalion's right. The Battalion left the trenches & came under
heavy shell fire. The latter was particularly annoying & broke
up the advance. The Battalion Machine guns under Captain Botfield
did excellent work in covering our advance & keeping down the
enemy machine gun fire. Further annoyance was caused by the enemy's
machine guns as the Battalion advanced as these had apparently been
left when the German infantry had been driven back & lay concealed.
We were unable to fire back at them as we were told that the Queens
R.W.Surrey Regt. were in front of us; these hostile machine guns
were as far as could be ascertained between us & the Queens
Regt. The Battn. was now somewhat scattered and intermingled with
other Regts. During the early part of the night the Battalion was
assembled & orders received that it was to go into Brigade Reserve.
The trenches held by the Battalion during the day were taken over
by the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The night was very wet. The casualties
during this day were very severe. Lieutenant E.E.Punchard
killed, Captain W.Wetherall wounded.
Lieut.Huntriss wounded.
Lieut.Kuhn wounded.
Lieut.Inskip wounded.
Lieut.Whittemore wounded
Lieut.Small wounded
The Battalion took up a position behind a wood in rear of the Royal
Scots Fusiliers.
2/Lieut.B.H.Waddy Gloucester Regt, & 2 Lt.H.Innes
Middlesex Regt. joined the Battalion on this date.
30 Oct 1914 - Gheluveldt-Zandvoorde Road The Battalion came under
shell fire in the early morning. As trenches had not been dug during
the night the Battalion took shelter in ditches and became a little
dispersed. 7.30 A.M. the 7 Cavalry Brigade was driven from ZANDEVOORDE
this left our right exposed. The Germans occupied ZANDEVOORDE at
10 A.M. a hostile battery came out into the open about 900 yards
away from Brigade & farm where Battn.H.Q. had been established
& opened fire. This enfiladed the Battalion & a line was
formed under facing ZANDEVOORDE [sic]. The hostile battery in the
open was quickly silenced. The occupation of ZANDEVOORDE [sic] placed
the Germans on the right rear of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose
trenches were taken. This exposed the right flank of the Royal Scots
Fusiliers. At 12.45 p.m. orders were received for the Brigade to
retire. The Battalion with the R.S.F. were ordered to cover the
retirement. As the R.S.F. drew back in line with the Battalion the
S.Lancashire Regt. advanced through the R.S.F. to endeavour to assist
to bring back part of the R.S.F. This however they failed to do
& returned. A line was taken up at dusk behind the GHELUVELDT-ZANDEVOORDE
Road & digging commenced. The Companies were somewhat intermingled.
The Battalion was in touch with 22nd Brigade on the Right R.S.F.
on the left. Nos.13 & 14 Platoons D.Coy. went forward &
eventually were in trenches on left of R.S.F., and between them
& R.S.F., The two platoons retired with R.S.F., with part of
Captain Whigham's Coy.
31 Oct 1914 - near Inverness Copse Early in the morning about 2.30
A.M. orders were received to occupy a small fir wood about 250 yards
in front of our line which was then held by L.North Lancs.R. Captain
Lemon & 2 platoons of C Company were ordered to hold this
position. This wood had been subjected to heavy shell fire from
two sides during the previous day. Shell fire started as soon as
it was light. It soon became evident that the enemy were advancing
in force on the left of the wood held by Captain Lemon &
also on the right. The Adjutant went to report the situation to
Brigade H.Q.& almost immediately on his return to Battalion
H.Q. 2 orderlies arrived with an order from the Brigadier to retire
fighting towards MENIN-YPRES Road. Part of the Battalion moved back
in compliance of this order. An order was sent to Captain Lemon
to retire from the fir wood upon the Battalion. Part of the Battalion
remained in the trenches till late in the afternoon about 4.30 p.m.
when they were brought back & established a line which they
held till relieved on Nov.5/6.
the losses were very severe on this day. The C.O. Major J.M.Traill
& 2nd in Command Major R.P.Stares remained in the trenches
& were shot at short range.
Lieut.Peterson was killed in the fir wood.
Lieut.Gott was wounded in the Fir wood.
Captain A.B.Lemon was twice wounded in the fir wood &
captured.
Captain C.S.Garnet Botfield was severely wounded.
2/Lieut.W.Dixon wounded.
Captain E.H.Lyddon missing.
Lieut.Anderson missing.
The Battalion strength on night October 31st-1st November was
4 officers, 350-400 other ranks.
4 officers were
Captain & Adjutant C.C.Foss.
2/Lieut.B.H.Waddy.
Lieut.S.D.Mills, Transport Officer.
Captain & Quarter Master H.Cressingham
A short line was taken up and entrenched.
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War
Diary for November 1914
1
Nov 1914 - near Inverness Copse Line improved. The enemy
massed in wood to our front but did not attack. 2/Lieut.G.Williams
Wilson 8 Middlesex Regt. and 2 Lieut.Carslake
3rd Queens R. & 96 other ranks joined.
2 Nov 1914 The enemy collected in the fir wood in our front
& commenced an attack on the right of the Scots Guards
but came under our enfilade fire & were driven back.
3 Nov 1914 Enemy shelled our trenches.
4 Nov 1914 Enemy shelled our trenches & farm behind
C.Os. position buried some men and killed one man.
5 Nov 1914 Enemy again shelled from behind C.Os position.
Relieved in the evening by 15th Bde. The Cheshire Regt.
taking over our trenches & 1st Battalion Bedfordshire
Regt. taking over those held by Yorkshire Regt. & R.S.F.
6 Nov 1914 - Rue de Lille, Bailleul Marched off from Heronhaye
Chateau at about 2.30 A.M. through YPRES to LOCRE 17 Miles.
The men found the march very tiring both on account of their
physical condition from being 18 days in the trenches and
on account of the mud on the cobbles. Battalion bivouaced
at Locre till 2.30 p.m. Got on the march at 3.30 p.m. Arrived
in BAILLEUL after dark & went into Billets in RUE de
LILLE. Captain J.S.Collings-Wells joined Battalion
at LOCRE. [Collings-Wells was to become a highly decorated
officer, including the winning of a Victoria Cross]
7 Nov 1914 Reorganizing. The Battalion were ordered to stand
to arms but did not have to move out. Captain C.B.Cumberlege
arrived & took over command of the Battalion from Captain
C.C.Foss. 20 other ranks also joined.
8 Nov 1914 - Chateau Rossignol, Ploegsteert Refitting. At
2.5 p.m. marched out to PLOEGSTEERT & were in Reserve
to Colonel Butler. Occupied dugouts near Chateau ROSSIGNOL.
9 Nov 1914 Improved dugouts. 9.30 p.m. Stood to arms in
reserve. Head of Battalion at Chateau on PLOEGSTEERT-MESSINES
Road. Bn.H.Q. 200 yards South from Chateau. 1 man was wounded.
10 Nov 1914 7 A.M. returned to dugouts. Wood & Battn.H.Q.
was shelled during day. 2 men wounded. Dug trenches by Battn.
during the night.
11 Nov 1914 Wood again shelled. Ordered to dig again but
order countermanded.
12 Nov 1914 - Bailleul, near Lunatic Asylum 6.30 A.M. marched
back to BAILLEUL & went into Billets near Lunatic asylum.
Lieut.C.E.G.Shearman 119 other ranks joined.
13 Nov 1914 Refitting. L/C H.de Buriatte Private N.V.Dabill,
H.Williams, C.H.Brewer, 28 London Artists Rifles joined
as probationer officers.
14 Nov 1914 9 A.M. Battalion marched in Brigade to CROIX
du BAC & returned to BAILLEUL as no garrison had been
left in the latter place.
15 Nov 1914 100 other ranks, joined in Billet at BAILLEUL.
16 Nov 1914 - Sailly-sur-la-Lys Marched to & billeted
in SAILLY
17 Nov 1914 - trenches near Fleurbaix 4.30 p.m. Marched
out to take over trenches S.W. of FLEURBAIX from Border
Regt.
18 Nov 1914 In trenches. Major W.H.Denne, 2 Bedf.R.
took over command of the Battalion from Captain C.B.Cumberlege.
Very pistol & ammunition issued to Bde.
19 Nov 1914 Snow & very cold in trenches.
20 Nov 1914 - Fleurbaix Battalion relieved in the trenches
by 2 Bn.Yorkshire Regt.
Battalion went into Billets around FLEURBAIX.
21-22 Nov 1914 Billets. Very cold weather. 2/Lt.J.W.F.Wyld
Hampshire Regt. & 94 other ranks joined.
23 Nov 1914 - in trenches near Fleurbaix Battalion relieved
Yorkshire Regt. in trenches
24-26 Nov 1914 In the trenches. Special Order of the Day
by F.M.C.in C.
Relieved by Yorkshire Regt. 7 O.R. joined.
26 Nov 1914 Patrol work done by 2/Lt.H.Willams and
one man receives congratulations of G.O.C. 7 Div.
27-29 Nov 1914 - Fleurbaix? In billets. Battn. use Div.Baths
at SAILLY.
30 Nov 1914
War
Diary for December 1914
1 Dec
1914 - trenches near Fleurbaix? New fire trench commenced
by digging. Moonlight. Iron loopholes issued. 2 periscopes
issued.
2 Dec 1914 Captain H.C.Jackson joined.
3 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix? In Billets.
4 Dec 1914 The G.O.C. 7 Div, inspected the Battalion on
parade with the special purpose of saying a few words to
those who had fought at YPRES. He expressed himself satisfied
& pleased with the turnout & appearance of the Battalion
& glad to see the strength of the Battalion. He reminded
us that at Ypres we had been put to a severe test, that
of holding the line against 3 times our own numbers &
congratulated the Battn. on the way it had behaved especially
in view of the fact that so many of the officers had been
killed & wounded including the C.O. & 2nd in command.
He further reminded us that the enemy must be pushed back
before we could consider ourselves the victors & that
we must all bear this in mind & he was sure that when
the time came we should do credit to the name of the Regiment
& the Army.
5 Dec 1914
6-8 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches.
9-11 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix? Billets.
12 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches Captain Saner
& Lieut.Mayne & 30 other ranks joined.
13 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix The Battalion was relieved from
the trenches. The Right flank & Centre Companies being
relieved by Gordon Highlanders 20th Bde. & Left flank
by S.Staff.R.22 Bde. A Company (centre) were not actually
relieved till 8.30 A.M. Dec.14. The Battalion billeted in
old billets around FLEURBAIX.
14 Dec 1914 - le Pont-de-Nieppe the Brigade moved to billets
at PONT DE NIEPPE, Battalions moved independently at hour
intervals. A.Company followed independently to the Battalion;
following later.
14-17 Dec 1914 In billets at PONT DE NIEPPE in Corps Reserve
to III Corps. The Battalion was to support an attack by
10th Infantry Bde. which did not take place.
18 Dec 1914 - trenches near Fleurbaix The Battalion marched
back to FLEURBAIX & went into old billets for the afternoon.
The Battalion proceeded to the trenches at dusk & were
prepared to support an attack to be delivered by 2 Bn. Yorkshire
Regt. from our trenches. C.Company was to take German advanced
trench to the right of the Yorkshire Regt. The attack was
however countermanded early in morning Dec.19th. the Battalion
remained in the trenches.
19 Dec 1914 In trenches. 2/Lieut.DUSCHENES 3rd Battn.Bedf.R.
2/Lt.W.HUTTON WILLIAMS, 3 East Surrey Regt. &
6 other ranks reinforcements.
20 Dec 1914
21 Dec 1914 - Fleurbaix Battn. relieved by 2 Bn.Yorkshire
Regt.
22 Dec 1914 FLEURBAIX shelled at night. 10.20pm. Shrapnel
bullets entered C.O. & Adjutant's Bedrooms from shell
which struck the MAIRIE. No one hurt.
23 Dec 1914 Brigadier inspected drafts. Snowing. Lieut.F.G.C.ASHMEAD-BARTLETT,
4 Battn.Bedf.R. & 2/Lt.F.POWELL Indian Army joined.
24 Dec 1914 -in trenches In trenches
25 Dec 1914 Christmas day. "The Truce".
The following is the substance of a report forwarded by
C.O. to Brigade H.Q.
"On evening of 24th Dec.1914 at about 8 p.m. the Germans
were singing in their trenches. There were numerous lights
on their parapets apparently on Christmas trees. A voice
shouted from their trenches & could be distinctly heard
"I want to arrange to bury the dead. Will someone come out
& meet me". 2/Lt.de Buriatte went out with 3
men & met 5 Germans the leader of whom spoke excellent
English but was not an officer. He said he had lived in
Brighton & Canada. This German said they wished to bury
about 24 of their dead but would not do so at night as they
were afraid of their artillery might open fire and they
could not stop them and this would not be fair to us. No
arrangement was made at the time. During the conversation
the German said he belonged to the 15th Regt. & gave
Lt.de Buriatte a postcard with the following information.
The addressee was in the 12th Company 3rd Battalion 15 Infantry
Regiment 26 Infantry Bde. 7th Army Corps. The men also had
15 on their shoulder straps. The red band round their Caps
was covered with grey cloth. This morning 25th inst. at
10 A.M. a German officer and 2 men unarmed came out of their
trenches with a white flag and were met by Captain H.C.Jackson
and asked to be permitted to bury their dead so we said
we would not fire till 11.30 A.M. to give them time &
this was done. My men had already buried some on night of
24/25. It was noticed that the German trenches were strongly
held their being a large number of men sitting on the parapet
during the time the bodies were being buried. The men were
a young lot from 19-25 years well turned out & clean.
I had given strict orders that none of my men were to go
towards the enemy's lines without definite orders &
that no one except those on duty were to be looking over
the parapet. No Germans were allowed to come near our trenches.
The German wire was closely inspected & is as previously
reported. During the period that no firing was taking place
one of my Company Sergeant Majors was speaking to a German
when an elderly officer passed. The German said he was the
"Divisioner". This German also said they were very comfortable
in a nice village behind but did not give the name! He seemed
surprised that our troops were not an elderly Reserve class.
The general impression was that the Germans had had enough
and were anxious for the War to come to an end.
26 Dec 1914 Rumoured attack on 8th Div. Battalion ordered
to stand to during night. All quiet.
27 Dec 1914 - Pont-de-la-Justice Relieved by 2 Bn.Yorkshire
Regt. Return to billets at PONT DE LA JUSTICE.
28-29 Dec 1914 In billets.
30 Dec 1914 - in trenches In trenches.
31 Dec 1914 The Germans apparently welcomed New Year in
by Berlin time as they ran [sic] bells at 11 p.m.
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