X550/8/1/1607

War Diary for July 1916

1-31 Jul 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

Carnoy Trenches 1-7-16 At about midnight on night of June 30th/July 1st 1916 the whole of the 54th I.Brigade was concentrated on its Battle Front ready for the assault on morning of 1st July. Assaulting Battalions were 7th Bedfords & 11th R.Fusiliers, in support: 6th Northants and in reserve 12th Middlesex. An artillery bombardment waged heavily all night and increased inintensity up till 7.30 am, Zero Hour, when the assaulting Battalions stormed the German first line trenches. Operation Orders appended. A special account of the events is being compiled by the Commanding Officer and will be appended hereto also Pommiers 2-7-16 At about 2 am, after consolidating as much of Pommiers Redoubt. Redoubt & Beetle Alley & New Trench as was possible in the time, the Battalion returned to Carnoy from the enemy's captured trenches & rested. At about 7 pm. the Battn. moved forward again as a reserve Battn to Emden & Austrian Trenches (German). Battn.Hd.Qrs. at Piccadilly. 3-7-16 Battn. remained in these Trenches all day till about 6 p.m. and then returned to Carnoy in Cafter Wood. 2 coys remaining in German first line trenches. Battn.Hd.Qrs. at Suicide Corner on the Montauban Road. 4-7-16 Battn. resting in Carnoy Wood positions as on 3rd inst. general attack progressing favourably. Much traffic, guns and convoys, in Carnoy. Carnoy 5-7-16 Battalion remained all day in Carnoy & Caftet Wood. Weather changeable with intermittent rain. Carnoy, The Loop 6-7-16 Battalion in Carnoy & Caftet Wood till about 6 pm when it moved forward to Pommiers Trench & Caterpillar Trench. Battalion headquarters at the Loop. Soon after arrival enemy shelled Battn.Hdqrs. with Lachrymatory shells. No material damage but slight discomfort was caused. The Loop 7-7-16 Battalion still holding Caterpillar Trench & Pommiers Trench which the enemy subjected to much Artillery Fire. Weather wet and accommodation in German trench dugouts somewhat limited. 8-7-16 Battalion still holding Caterpillar Trench & Pommiers Trench. Rather more artillery activity than usual. A machine Gun emplacement was hit by a shell & 4 of the team were killed. Dull & wet weather. 9-7-16 Weather fine. Battalion relieved at 5.30 pm by 14th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regt. and returned to dugouts in the vicinity of Bronfay Farm. A complimentary letter received from 54th Brigade regarding "Good Patrol Work" which has been recognised by the Corps Commander. Bronfay/Bois des 10-7-16 Battalion moved from Bronfay Farm district to BOIS des Tailles. TAILLES leaving dugouts at 11 am and arriving at Camp at about 3 p.m. the entire Brigade & Bde.Hd.Qrs. billeted here. Qr.Mr.Stores remained at Grovetown. Fine weather. Bois des Tailles 11-7-16 Battalion resting & cleaning up. Bathing by companies during the morning and afternoon. A draft of 50 which had arrived on 7th were brought up from Grovetown Camp & posted to Companies. 12-7-16 Fine weather. Battalion remained at Bois des Tailles. Nothing of special importance to the Battalion occurred during the day - received orders for move to Trigger Wood. Bois des Tailles/ 13-7-16 Battalion marched from Bois des Tailles to Trigger Wood Trigger Wood (South of Bronfay) via Grovetown Camp & Bray-Bronfay Road. Arrived about 12 noon and remained till about 1 am next morning. Fine weather. Enemy shelling Suzanne during the night. Trigger Wood/ 14-7-16 Received sudden orders just after midnight of 13th inst. Maricourt to proceed to Maricourt. A very heavy Artillery Battle raged during the entire night and did not cease till after dawn of 14th inst. The Brigade was wound up with orders to retake Trones Wood which had been lost by the 55th Brigade. The 12th Middlesex & 6th Northants Regt. were the assaulting Battns, 11th Royal Fusiliers held the advanced trenches, 7th Bedfords were in Reserve in Trenches at maricourt. On night of 13/14th July the German 2nd line trenches were taken from Bazentin-le-Petit to Longueval inclusing the woods at these villages. Maricourt 15-7-16 Battalion at Maricourt. Head Quarters in dugouts about 500 yards from maricourt Wood on the Montauban Road. First portion of enemy's third line penetrated at Bois de Fourneau. 16-7-16 Battn. remained in same position. Orders were received to hold ourselves in readiness to attack in conjunction with 11th Royal Fusiliers the village of Guillemont. As the leading Companies were moving off at about 2 pm to get into their battle positions the time was postponed and eventually the orders for the assault for that day were cancelled. 17-7-16 Fresh orders were received regarding the assault on Guillemont. 53rd Brigade were to co-operate in the attack, their objective being the north eastern half of the village. At the same time a Battalion of Bantams from the 53rd [sic 35th?] Division were to attack Ginchy from the edge of Delville Wood. These oders were again cancelled but Battn. remained under orders to move at a moment's notice to battle positions previous to assaulting Guillemont. Middlesex & Northampton Regts relieved by 2 Battns. of Bantams from 35th Division. 18-7-16 At about 3 pm it was rumoured that the 54th Brigade would not be called on to attack Guillemont owing to the heavy casualties it occurred on July 1st and in the re-taking of Trones Wood. Enemy's artillery very active throughout the day. 4 pm the Battn. cookhouse was shelled and some casualties sustained. Left Maricourt very suddenly at about 9 pm and proceeded to Bois des Tailles (North) taking over same camp as before. Bois des Tailles 19-7-16 Fine day. Men given a rest to clean up after somewhat rough time in trenches. Nothing of importance occurred. Following Officers who joined the Battn. while in Maricourt were posted to Coys as stated: Lieut.W.G.Lacey A Coy. 2/Lieut.H.F.Trewman B Coy. 2/Lt.T.E.adlam C Coy. 2/Lieut.I.H.M.Ross Taylor A Coy. 2/Lieut.C.B.Kidd B Coy. 2/Lieut.R.E.Moyse C Coy. 2/Lieut.E.G.Pernet A Coy. 2/Lieut.D.S.Roeber C Coy. Capt.T.R.J.Mulligan D Coy. 2/Lieut.J.P.Wilson B Coy. 2Lieut.H.F.Graves C Coy. 2/Lt.J.H.Kay D Coy. 20-7-16 Day Fine & quiet. Expecting orders to move today but first Line Transport only moved, and proceeded to destination unknown, bivouacing one night near Querrieux. Following officers arrived and posted to Coys: - 2/Lt.R.D.Hunston (A), 2/Lt.H.Potts (D), 2/Lt.W.Rankin (B). Capt.E.E.Bull (B Coy.) Employed as supernumerary Transport Officer. Bois des Tailles/ 21-7-16 Battn. moved from bois des Tailles and marched to Citerne. Edgehill Station (between Buire & Dernancourt) arriving there at 11 am. Owing to heavy traffic it did not entrain till 3 p.m. and eventually arrived at Longpr at 9 pm. After a long delay it was entrained to Wiry arriving there at 11 pm. From Wiry the Battn. marched to Citerne where it was billeted - hour of arrival about 12.30 am 22-7-16. Citerne 22-7-16 The Battn. hoped that it would remain at Citerne but at 5 pm orders were suddenly received for the whole Brigade to move on morning of 23rd. The Battn. in consequence paraded at 2 am. 23rd proceeding by route march to Longpr (distance 9 miles) and there entrained for St.Omer. The whole of the 1st & 2nd Line Transport went with the Battn. Wallon Cappel 23-7-16 The Battn. Arrived at Arques at about 2.30 pm after resting two hours it poroceeded to the village of Wallon Cappel distant about 9 miles arriving there at 8 pm. Between 2 am and 8 pm the Battn. In addition to a very tiring train journey marched 18 miles and was under arms 18 hours. 24-7-16 Day fine. Nothing of importance occurred. Battn. Rested after yesterday's strenuous journey. 25-7-16 Battn. Parades under Adjutant 7 am till 11 pm. Afternoon - Recreation. 26-7-16 General Maxse inspected the Battn. Formed up in mass in a field opposite Battn. Orderly Room. The Battn. Paraded as strong as possible in dull order. 29 officers & about 650 O.R. being present. The Battn/ was highly complimented for turning so clean well clothed & shod after its recent heavy fighting. On completion of the inspection the Div. Comdr. Called all officers together and spoke in very high terms of praise of both officers, N.C.O's & men who had taken part in the recent fighting. He particularly mentioned the splendid fighting spirit of the Battn. And thanked the C.O. (Lt.Col.G.D.Price) & all concerned for the very efficient manner in which the attack on the Pommiers Redoubt was carried out on the 1st July. This being the anniversary of the Battn's landing in France the surviving Officers (12 in number) assembled for dinner at the Battn.Hdqrs. Mess. A very enjoyable evening being spent. 27-7-16 Route marching carried out by Companies. Orders received to move further forward tomorrow. Steam Mill 28-7-16 The Battn. Left Wallon Cappell at 9 a.m. & proceeded by Bailleul Brigade route march to the Steam Mill W of Bailleul via Hazebroucke, Borre, Pradelles, Stazeele & Moolenaeker. A very hot day which tired the men severely. Arrived at Steam Mill about 2 pm. Draft of 4 N.C.O's arrived. 29-7-16 Fine hot day short route march carried out under Company arrangements. Inspection of recent draft by C.O. Lewis Gunners trained by Lewis Gun Officer. 30-7-16 Fine hot day. Company training carried out. Bombers, snipers, Lewis gunners & Signallers trained under Specialist Officers. 31-7-16 Fine hot day. Platoons trained under Company arrangements. Bombers, snipers, lewis gunners & Signallers continued their training. C.O. & 2nd in Command interviewed at 54th Brigade Hqrs by General Plumer commanding 2nd Army.

English

item

Lacey, W G,
Trewman, H.F.,
Adlam, T.E.,
Ross, I H M,
Kidd, C.B.,
Moyse, R.E.,
Pernet, E.G.,
Roeber, D S,
Mulligan, T R J,
Wilson, J P,
Graves, H F,
Kay, H,
Hunston, R D,
Potts, H,
Rankin, W.,
Bull, E.E.,
Maxse,
Price, G D

World War One, First World War, war diary, weather, weaponry, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, Northamptonshire Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, 54th Infantry Brigade, France