X550/9/1/1609

WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1916 "A" Form MESSAGES AND SIGNALS To OIC Records Warley No9 District Sender's Number B150 832 Day of Month 15 The original copy of the War Diary for Sept. 1916 has been lost in the pool en route to the D.A.G. at Base aaa Will you kindlt have a copy made of the duplicate copy I forwarded you and sent out to me as early as possible. I am sorry to trouble you in this way, but the prevention of this loss was beyond my power. from 8th Bedfords B.E.F. COPY C/399 Officer i/c Records., No.9 District, WARLEY Ref my copy of War Diary for September the original of which was lost during transit between Brigade and Division. Can you now let me have a copy of same asked for in my former memo , as the D.A.G. BASE, is asking me to expedite same. (SD) F.B.Stevens. Lieut & Adjt. 8th. Bedford Regt. 9.11.16. 1 Sep 1916 - Naours In billets. Coys training in the attack and practising on the Rifle Range 2 Sep 1916 In billets. Coys training in the attack and practising on the Rifle Range Battalion practice at communication with aeroplanes in the field and marking position held by flares and flashing of periscopes. 3 Sep 1916 In billets. Open-air church service. Battn bathed and issued with clean underclothing. 4 Sep 1916 In billets. Route marching by Companies. 5 Sep 1916 In billets. Brigade exercise in the attack and formation of a defensive flank. 6 Sep 1916 - Villers-Bocage In billets. Marched to VILLERS BOCASE [sic] in the forenoon. Battalion inspected by C.O. in trench fighting order. 7 Sep 1916 - Corbie In billets. Marched to CORBIE via RAINNEVILLE - CORVONETTE [sic] - QUERREUX[sic]. 8 Sep 1916 - Bois des Tailles In billets. Marched to BOIS DES TAILLES via MORLANDCOURT [sic]. Battalion in Camp on edge of wood. 9 Sep 1916 In billets. Battalion training in the attack on trenches, moving closely under the artillery barrage. 10 Sep 1916 In billets. Battalion training in the attack in open warfare - moving over the open in extended lines, thickening the front line under cover of Stokes Mortar barrage, and then pressing home the assault. 11 Sep 1916 - Germans Wood, Maricourt In billets. Marched to MARICOURT. Completed issue of fighting stores and bivouacked for night just east of GERMANS WOOD. 12 Sep 1916 - Leuze Wood trenches Battalion rested during day and moved into trenches N.E. of LEUZE WOOD in relief of 8th Middlesex Regiment. 13 Sep 1916 - trenches near Guillemont Capt. Steyer with B Coy co-operated with 18th Brigade in an attack at 6 a.m. on QUADRILATERAL. Attack unsuccessful although B Coy bombed their way about 100 yds along German trench causing considerable casualties to the enemy. The attack was repeated at 6 p.m. with two platoons of C Coy. assisting the 18th. Brigade in the frontal attack. Enemy driven in from his advanced posts but QUADRILATERAL not taken. 14 Sep 1916 Battalion in trenches making all preparations for part in 4th Army offensive on 15th September. 15 Sep 1916 Battalion ordered to take QUADRILATERAL assisted by the Heavy Section of the M.G. Corps with "TANKS" advance about 500 yds NE abd dig in. Battn was in a position for attack about 4.30 a.m. ZERO hour 6.20 a.m. Three wavs were supplied by D, D and A Coys under Capt Hatch, 2/Lt Hodges and Lt Draisey, respectively to attack the QUADRILATERAL, which was on our left flank, whilst B Coy co-operated by bombing down trench leading to it. At 6.0 a.m. heavy artillery opened slow barrage on Line MORVAL - LES BOEUFS. At ZERO hour (6.20 a.m.) intense artillery barrage opened and unluckily was cut short where our 3 companies were drawn up for the attack in shell holes. This mistake caused many casualties. Our attacking companies pushed forward and though supported by 1/The Buffs and later re-inforced by the 2/York & Lancaster Regt failed to take the position. "TANKS" did not arrive to assist and the position was not heavily shelled previous to the attack. Brigade ordered original trenches to be held and await orders. As battalion had suffered very severely in casualties, 6 Officers killed and 7 wounded we were relieved by 2/Y & L at 6.0.p.m. and put in brigade reserve in trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT. 16 Sep 1916 - Maltz Horn farm, Guillemont Battalion furnished carrying parties for rations & material to front line after moving back to MALTZ HORN FARM. 17 Sep 1916 Battalion furnished carrying parties from B'de H.Q. to front line. 18 Sep 1916 Battalion moved forward to trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT at 4.0 a.m. Brigade attacked QUADRILATERAL after it had been heavily shelled. 1/K.S.L.I. attacked supported by 2/Y.&.L. and 1/The Buffs. Our Battalion being in reserve. Position taken and a line consolidated about 500 yards east of it. Battn relieved at night by 2/Devon and moved back to the BRIQUETERIE north of MARICOURT where they bivouacked. 19 Sep 1916 - Morlancourt Battalion moved back with Brigade to MORLANCOURT and billeted. 20 Sep 1916 Cleaning up of Clothing, Equip. and Arms and re-organisation of Battn. 21 Sep 1916 - N.E. corner of Guillemont battalion marched to GUILLEMONT and dug themselves in at the N.E. corner just south of the railway and were in support to 1/The Buffs in front line. 22 Sep 1916 Furnished working parties at night digging assembly trenches. 23 Sep 1916 Furnished working parties at night digging assembly trenches. 24 Sep 1916 Furnished working parties building advance Brigade H.Q. 25 Sep 1916 - trenches between Morval and Lesboeufs Battalion in rserve to 16TB [sic] in attack on German lines between MORVAL and LES BOEUFF[sic]. Attack commenced at 12.35.p.m. and battalion moved up to original front line when second objective had been taken about 2.35 p.m. Casualties from enemy barrage very slight. Attack proved successful and many prisoners were taken. At night Battalion furnished carrying parties to front line battalion with ammunition and water. C Platoon were detached to 1/London Coy R.E. as working party in captured trenches, C Coy suffered very heavily from enemy shell fire. 26 Sep 1916 - trenches between Trones Wood and Bernafay Wood Quiet day spent in same trenches. Brigade relieved at night and battalion moved back to the old trenches between TRONES and BERNAFAY WOODS. 27 Sep 1916 Cleaning up of trenches and building cover against the wet. Draft of 70 posted to the Coys. 28 Sep 1916 Party of 1 Officer and 75 men detailed to clear battlefield - remainder collecting salvage in the vicinity of our trenches. 29 Sep 1916 Party of 1 Officer and 75 men cleating battlefield - remainder colelcting salvage in BERNAFAY WOOD and valley near trenches. 30 Sep 1916 - Meaulte Battalion moved back to MEAULTE via MAMETZ and billeted. "Copied from a very indistinct War Diary" "Original returned to O.C. 8/Bedf at his request" STATEMENT 8th BATTALION BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT at SEPTEMBER 30th. 1916 KILLED 6 Officers 64 Other Ranks WOUNDED 8 Officers 210 MISSING 101 DIED OF WOUNDS 2 included in killed. TO HOSPITAL 63 FROM HOSPITAL 11 EVACUATED FRO FRANCE 15 STRENGTH OF A COMPANY 13 Officers 202 Other Ranks STRENGTH OF B COMPANY 2 Officers 188 Other Ranks STRENGTH OF C COMPANY 6 Officers 197 Other Ranks STRENGTH OF D COMPANY 4 Officers 216 Other Ranks TOTAL 25 Officers 803 Other Ranks

1-30 Sep 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Stevens, F.B.,
Draisey, Edwin Rowland Watts,
Hodges, Archibald Gordon,
Hatch

deaths, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, archives, church services, land weaponry, 8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 18th Infantry Brigade, Machine Gun Corps, 1st Battalion Buffs, 2nd Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Prisoners of war, 16th Infantry Brigade, Royal Engineers, Great Warley, Villers Bocage, Naours, Corbie, Bois des Tailles (Somme), Morlancourt, Rainneville, Cardonnette, Maricourt, Germans Wood [Somme], Leuze Wood [Somme], Guillemont, Quadrilateral [Somme], Morval, Lesbouefs, Maltz Horn Farm [Somme], Trones Wood (Somme), Bernafay Wood [Somme], Meaulte, Mametz