X550/9/1/1611

WAR DIARY FOR NOVEMBER 1916 1 Nov 1916 - Bethune In billets. Battalion training - live bomb practice in afternoon. 2 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training - Lewis Gunners on rifle range & live bomb practice in morning. 3 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training - Lewis Gunners on rifle range & live bomb practice in morning. 4 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training - Lewis Gunners on rifle range & live bomb practice in morning. 5 Nov 1916 In billets. Church service held in Divisional Theatre, BETHUNE - Approaches to XI Corps front reconnoitred 6 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training. Live bomb practice in afternoon. 7 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training. Party under training in wiring & revetting - Approaches to I Corps front reconnoitred. 8 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion training. Drill & bayonet fighting. lewis Gunners on range & bombers at live bomb practice. 9 Nov 1916 In billets. Battalion inspcted in Marching Order by G.O.C. 16 I.B. - continued training. 10 Nov 1916 In billets. Furnished working parties 300 strong in front system of trenches. Continued training of reserve Lewis Gunners, bombers & signallers. 11 Nov 1916 In billets. Furnished working parties 300 strong in front system of trenches. Training of reserve specialists continued. 12 Nov 1916 In billets. Furnished working partie 300 strong in front system of trenches church parade at 10 am. 13 Nov 1916 Furnished working parties 300 strong in front system of trenches. training Lewis Gunners, bombers, signallers. 14 Nov 1916 Furnished working parties 150 strong in front system of trenches. One company company [sic] training. Lewis Gunners, bombers & signallers. Junior N.C.O's under instruction. 15 Nov 1916 Furnished working party 150 strong in front system of trenches. Also Party 50 strong working on QUAI BETHUNE. Lewis Gunners firing on range. remainder of Battalion on the range. 16 Nov 1916 Furnished working party 150 strong in front system of trenches. Lewis Gunners & bombers & signallers special training. 17 Nov 1916 - Beuvry Furnished working party 150 strong in front system of trenches. battalion moved to BEUVRY into billets. 18 Nov 1918 Company training. Specialist training of Lewis Gunners & bombers. 19 Nov 1916 Church parade on Football Ground near billets. Battalion medical inspections twice a day. 20 Nov 1916 Company training. Live bomb throwing. Special instruction to Lewis Gunners & bombers & signallers. Battalion medically inspected. 21 Nov 1916 Company training. Medical inspection twice a day. Special Instruction to Lewis Gunners & Signallers. Companies had short route march. 22 Nov 1916 Battn. had use of Baths at BEUVRY. Company training and live bomb throwing. Transport Inspected by Br.Gen O.Colman[?] Medical Inspection 23 Nov 1916 Company Training. Special training of Snipers. All Companies on Bayonet Fighting course during forenoon. Medical Inspections. 24 Nov 1916 Commanding Officer inspected Companies. Afternoon - Company training. 25 Nov 1916 Bath parade for companies. Lecture for Officers and N.C.Os on 'Intelligence Work' 26 Nov 1916 - le Quesnoy battalion marched to LE QUESNOY. 27 Nov 1916 Companies at training. Improvement of sanitary conditions in hutment camps. 28 Nov 1916 Companies at training. 29 Nov 1916 Companies at training. 1 Officer per Coy reconnoitred portion of GIVENCHY sector their Coy is taking over. 30 Nov 1916 Companies at training. Working parties 280 strong furnished. 4 officers & Hd.Qrs visited portion of line being taken over in GIVENCHY sector. Field State 8th Bn Bedfordshire Regiment at November 30th 1916 Killed NIL Wounded 1 Still at duty Sick to Hospital 168 Sick from Hospital 107 Evacuated from Field Ambulances 112 Strength of A Coy 13 Officers 174 Other Ranks Strength of B Coy 5 Officers 190 Other Ranks Strength of C Coy 5 Officers 186 Other ranks Strength of D Coy 5 Officers 174 Other Ranks Total 28 Officers 724 Other Ranks

1-30 Nov 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

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8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, land weaponry, Bethune Divisional Theatre, XI Corps, I Corps, 16th Infantry Brigade, church services, Bethune, Bethune Quai, Beuvry, le Quesnoy, Givenchy-les-la-Bassee