X550/9/1/1509

WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1915 10 Sep 1915 - Meuville ----------------- 11 Sep 1915 ----------------- 12 Sep 1915 ----------------- 13 Sep 1915 ----------------- 14 Sep 1915 ----------------- 15 Sep 1915 ----------------- 16 Sep 1915 ----------------- 17 Sep 1915 Alarm for concentration recd. 9.30 pm. Bn. moved off 11 pm to concentrate at Bde HdQrs at 12 midnight. 18 Sep 1915 Divisional Manoeuvres proceeded & Bn. returned 1.45 pm. 19 Sep 1915 ----------------- 20 Sep 1915 C.O. went to Trenches 21 Sep 1915 Marched from MEUVILLE 3.20 PM. 22 Sep 1915 - Radinghem Arrived RADINGHEM 2.30 AM. 21 miles. Bivouacked. Marched 5.30 P.M. 23 Sep 1915 - La Miquellerie Arrived MOLINGHEM 3.0 AM. 18 miles. Billets. Marched LA MIQUELLERIE 5.30 P.M. arriving 7 pm. 4 1/2 miles. 24 Sep 1915 Marched from LA MIQUELLERIE 8 pm. 25 Sep 1915 - Larutoire Arrived BETHUNE 1.30 AM. 10 miles. Billeted in Girls' College. Stand to ordered 8 AM. Moved off 1 pm. Halted with Brigade near Fosse No 9 de BETHUNE, in reserve. Moved at 6.30 to LARUTOIRE. Brigade advanced in support on 72nd Bde for attack on HULLUCH. 9th Suffolks & 11 Essex in front line, 8th Bedfords & 9th Norfolks in Support, which was reported held by British but not verified. Hulloch [sic] being found to be occupied by enemy. 26 Sep 1915 - Vermelles 3 A.M. Bn. ordered to occupy front line of British Trenches. 6 A.M. Bn. ordered to support Norfolks in attack on Quarries at G.6.c.5.2. from the South. Our position at that time being G.16.d.4.3. ref. 36c 1/40,000. The morning was thick & misty. The Bn. advanced in artillery formation as far as the HULLOCH [sic] - VERMELLES Road, being being [sic] 4 hours behind the Norfolks. We came on trenches occupied by the Cameron Highlanders & they knew nothing of the whereabouts of the Norfolks. Patrols were sent out who failed to get in touch with the Norfolks - The Bn. being subjecte to severe rifle & shell fire & gas bombs after 3 hours as no news could be obtained of the Norfolks, the C.O. decided to reoccupy the front line British trenches, as the Highland Regt. stated there was no room in the captured enemy trenches. On returning to the 1st Line British trenches the Bn. became somewhat separated owing to portions of the trench being occupied by other units. The Bn. was relieved by the Coldstream Guards about 6 pm & returned to VERMELLES for the night where they bivouaced. Casualties Killed O.R. 2 wounded 2nd Lt.A.G.Hodges O.R. 23. Gassed Col.E.S.C.Kennedy O.R. 2. 27 Sep 1917 7 A.M. Moved to L.10 B (Sheet 36B) where the Cookers & supplies were met. 10 AM. Moved 200 yds N.E. into Coys in line at 40 yds distance. 6 pm moved again to L.5.c. where we bivouaced. 28 Sep 1917 - Ham-en-Artois 12.30 P.M. Moved to L.9.A. where bivouaces were erected, but ordered to move at 6.33 pm to railway station at NOEUX LES MINES where the Bn. entrained for BERGUETTE. From there we marched to HAM-EN-ARTOIS where the Bn. was billeted 2.15 AM. A very wet evening & night. 29 Sep 1917 - Norrent Fontes 2.30 P.M. Marched to NORRENT FORTES [sic] 4 1/2 miles & took over billets from 12th Royal Fusiliers. 30 Sep 1915 The day spent cleaning Equipment. washing etc.

10-30 Sep 1915

From: 1915 To: 1918

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Hodges, Archibald Gordon,
Kennedy, E.S.C.

8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Bethune Girls College, 72nd Infantry Brigade, 16th Infantry Brigade, 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, quarries, maps, weather, deaths, town & local roads, Cameron Highlanders, land weaponry, Coldstream Guards, trains, 12th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Meuville, Radinghem, la Miquellerie, Molinghem, Larutoire, Bethune, Hulluch, Vermelles, Ham-en-Artois, Noeux-les-Mines, Berguette, Norrent-Fontes