Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue

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Reference
X550/5/3/1702
Title
WAR DIARY FOR FEBRUARY 1917 4 Feb 1917 - Forceville 9 p.m. Bn. proceed by route march to FORCEVILLE. 189 Inf.Bde. relieved 190th Inf.Bde. on North bank of ANCRE. HAWKE Bn. R.N.D. relieve 4 Bedf.R. 2 companies in old German 3rd line Q.18.a. 2 Companies in RAVINE Q.12.d. 5 Feb 1917 - Englebelmer 3 p.m. Bn. proceed by route march to ENGLEBELMER moving into billets vacated by 7/Royal Fusiliers. 6 Feb 1917 - trenches near Beaumont-Hamel 11 a.m. Bn. sent up as reserve troops to 189 Inf.Bde. and occupied old German 1st & 2nd lines with 7 Royal Fusiliers in 3rd line. Q.18.a. 10 p.m. 2 Companies advanced to trench E of BOIS A HOLLANDIE holding line from R.8.a.8.7. to R.2.c.0.10. 1 Company on shell slits PUISIEUX ROAD. 1 Company SUVLA TRENCH R.7.a&b. all in support to 189 Inf.Bde. in action. 7 Feb 1917 6 p.m. 4th Bedf.R. take over left front Subsector and relieve NELSON Bn. R.N.D. Frontage R.1.a.7.3. ro R.2.a.9.7. Bn. on our right 10 R.Dublin Fusrs. with 1st H.A.C. on extreme right. Bn. on our left 15 H.L.I. 7 Royal Fusiliers in Support. 11 Feb 1917 4 Bedf.R. ordered to push forward their line of posts on the E side of the PUISIEUX ROAD from a line R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.6.4. to an advanced position R.2.a.9.6. - R.1.b.7.9. Two companies to attack and lined up on tape running from R.2.a.5.3. - R.1.b.7.4. with 1 Company in Support holding trench R.2.c.3.9. - R.1.b.6.2. Company carrying party ready for consolidation. Zero hour 9 pm. Barrage on enemy front system of posts about R.1.b.5.7. - R.2.a.1.9. - R.1.a.4.8. for 5 min.lifting gradually until 9.30 p.m. 9.5 p.m. At 9.5 p.m. the line advanced. The left Company was temporally [sic] held up by enemy wire ad heavy M.G.fire about R.2.a.2.8. and the Company in Support was then pushed forward. 12 Feb 1917 3 a.m. Objective gained, line straightened out and posts consolidated. 15-16 Feb 1917 - Mackenzie Huts, Martinsart 188th Inf.Bde. relieved 190th Inf.Bde. on North bank of ANCRE. 1st R.M.L.I. relieved 4/Bedf.R. on left sub-sector (BEAUCOURT Sector). Frontage R.1.b.4.7. - R.2.a.9.6. The Bn. proceeded to MACKENZIE HUTS MARTINSART. 6-16 Feb 1917 Casualties Killed 68. Wounded 90. Missing 3. Missing believed Killed 45. Officers killed Lieut.L.T.DESPICHT, MC. Adjt. 2.Lieut.G.McKIRDY. 2.Lieut.V.B.SHOTT. Officers wounded 2.Lieut.W.B.STIMSON. 2.Lt.H. SMART. 2.Lt.R.S.THOMAS. 2.Lt.A.W.THOMAS. 2.Lt.D.H.BERRY. 21 Feb 1917 - front line north of Ancre Bn. proceed by Route march to Front line. 190th Inf.Bde. relieves 188 Inf.Bde. on N. bank of ANCRE R.9. R.3. & R.2. 4th Bedf.R. relieves DRAKE Bn. R.N.D. in the Right front Sub Sector. Frontage R.9.b.4.5. - R.3.a.4.2. Bn.on our left.7/R.Fusiliers. 1st H.A.C. in Support. 10 R.Dublin Fus.in Reserve. 24 Feb 1917 - Sunken Road 4.30 pm. 4th Bedf.R. ordered to advance line of posts to line of SUNKEN ROAD R.4.a.5.1. - R.3.b.5.7. 6 p.m. Three strong patrols each under an officer sent forward. I via MIRAUMONT-BEAUCOURT Road. II via MIRAUMONT ALLEY turning right along trench at R.3.c.6.8. III via MIRAUMONT ALLEY direct to SUNKEN ROAD. 9 p.m. All patrols reached their respective objectives without opposition, touch was gained between them and communication established with 7 R.Fusiliers on left. 10 p.m. A further reconnaissance made in direction of Trench system R.4.a.& b. North of Road and subsequently occupied. 12 m.n. Patrol sent into MIRAUMONT and reported town evacuated by hostile troops. Dispositions 3 Companies in front line R.4.b.2.2. - R.3.b.3.8. 1 Company in QUARRY R.4.a. 25 Feb 1917 9 a.m. 3 Companies occupy HINDENBURG TRENCH to junction with road R.4.b.2.2. in support of remainder 190 Inf.Bde. holding line N. of MIRAUMONT. 26-27 Feb 1917 2 p.m. 62nd Div. relieve 63rd R.N. Division. 4 Bedf.R. relieved by 7 Royal Fusiliers and occupy ANCRE TRENCH R.D.8. 9 p.m. Bn. proceeded to Huts in MARTINSART WOOD being relieved by 2/6 W.Yorkshire Regt. 21-26 Feb 1917 Casualties Killed 1. Wounded 10.
Date free text
4-27 Feb 1917
Production date
From: 1917 To: 1917
Level of description
item