Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X550/9/1/1612
  • Title
    WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1916 1 Dec 1916 - le Quesnoy Battalion training. Billets inspected by Corps Commander. 2 Dec 1916 - trenches at Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Relieved 1/The Buffs in left subsector of 16 IB front at GIVENCHY. A, B & C Coys in front line with D Coy in support in redoubt and keeps. Day cold & misty. Enemy quiet. At night enemy machine guns on back area especially near WINDY CORNER. 3 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy trench mortars aggressive during afternoon. Our snipers claim a hit at 10 a.m. - Officers patrol under Capt Body passed through gap in craters - entered German trenches, surprised and shot a sentry and then retired to our lines. Enemy trenches reported in good condition, wire bad. 4 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy trench mortars aggressive during afternoon. Enemy working party 20 strong caught by our Lewis Gunners just after dark. Cries of pain denoting casualties were heard. Our snipers claim a hit today on German peering over parapet. Casualties 4 O.R. wounded. 5 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy trench mortars bombarded our left front coy area between 3.30 am & 4.30 am. No damage done. Enemy attempts to dig trench near RED DRAGON CRATER impeded by indirect fire from machine gun and rifle grenades. Casualties 2 O.R. killed. 6 Dec 1916 - Pont Fixe road support trenches In trenches as above. Enemy quiet. Hostile patrol dispersed near THE GAP by our Lewis Gun at 7 a.m. Relieved by 1/The Buffs in the afternoon and moved back into support on the PONT FIXE ROAD. 7 Dec 1916 Battn in Support keep and billets. Working parties furnished to work on front line system. 8 Dec 1916 In support as above. Working parties furnished on front line system 9 Dec 1916 In support as above. Working parties furnished on front line system. 10 Dec 1916 - front line trenches Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Relieved 1/The Buffs in left subsector. Enemy trench mortars aggressive during afternoon. Working party dispersed by oue Lewis guns at night, obe hit registered by our snipers. No casualties. 11 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy very quiet except for a little trench mortar fire. Snipers claim a hit from TURNERS POST. Germans suspected to be occupying old trenches near RED DRAGON CRATER at stand to arms as whispering coughing & stamping of feet heard from that point. No casualties. 12 Dec 1916 In trenches as above & Enemy quiet, apparently due to inclement weather damaging his trenches. Patrols report Germans reclaiming their old line near lip of craters. No casualties. 13 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy field guns & mortars active during evening otherwise quiet. machine guns & snipers less active. Casualties 2 O.R. wounded. 14 Dec 1916 - le Quesnoy relieved by 1/The Buffs and moved back into billets at LE QUESNOY 15 Dec 1916 Battn bathed and changed underclothing. Working parties at night on line. 16 Dec 1916 Coys training. Inspection of arms by Bde. Armourer. Working parties at night. 17 Dec 1916 Church service in Soldiers' Club hut and working parties. 18 Dec 1916 front line trenches near Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Relieved 1/The Buffs in left subsector GIVENCHY. Enemy trench mortars active from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. Damage done to our trenches and saps considerable but no casualties. Night quiet. Enemy heard busy pumping and transport heard at 12.25 am and again at 2.30 a.m. 19 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy non-aggressive exceot for short trench mortar bombardment & rifle grenades. Casualties 1 OR killed, 2 OR wounded. 20 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Quiet day and night. Enemy busy working during night on his trenches. 21 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. machine guns and snipers not active. Relief expected to have taken place. Uneventful day & night. 22 Dec 1916 - Bethune Relieved in trenches by 1/K.O.S.B. and moved back into billets at BETHUNE. 23 Dec 1916 Battalion cleaning up and kit inspection. Baths and change of underclothing. 24 Dec 1916 Presentation of medal ribbons by Corps Commander to Capt J E Black M.C. (RAMC) Lt W.J.Holbrook MC. and military medalists Ptes Aston, Nottingham & Thurgrove. 25 Dec 1916 Voluntary communion service. The battalion had a splendid Xmas dinner owing to the kindness of the Bedford Comfort Fund. 26 Dec 1916 Companies route marching. 27 Dec 1916 Coys training. Draft 151 strong inspected by Commanding Offr. 28 Dec 1916 - Noyelles-les-Vermelles Marched to NOYELLES and accommodated in Hutment camp. 16 I.B. took over HOHEZOLLERN [sic] SECTOR. Bn. in reserve. 29 Dec 1916 Coys. training. Draft practised in use of box respirators. 30 Dec 1916 Coys training. 31 Dec 1916 Service was held in NOYELLES. 8th Bedfordshire Regt Field State Killed 3 Wounded 10 Sick to Hospital 48 Sick from Hospital 36 Evacuated from F.A. 38 Strength of A Coy 11 Officers 225 Other Ranks Strength of B Coy 5 Officers 215 Other Ranks Strength of C Coy 8 Officers 216 Other Ranks Strength of D Coy 5 Officers 210 Other Ranks Total 29 Officers 866 Other Ranks
  • Date free text
    1-31 Dec 1916
  • Production date
    From: 1916 To: 1916
  • Level of description
    item
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