X550/9/1/1512

WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1915 1 Dec 1915 - Poperinge In Billets town shelled in the afternoon ttok Bn out of the town along ABEELE RD. 2 Dec 1915 Coy. training 3 Dec 1915 Bde. Route March inspected during march by Gen.Plumer 2nd Army Commander 4 Dec 1915 Brig.Gen.Nicholson inspected billets. Very high wind blew down wall in transport lines burying nine horses three killed 5 Dec 1915 Service held in the "Fancies Hall" 6 Dec 1915 Found Working Parties in YPRES for 42nd Bde also on trenches 7 Dec 1915 Found Working Parties very wet 8 Dec 1915 - Watou Left POPERINGHE for Billets near WATOU BN.H.Q. in WATOU Coys billetted [sic] in farms near very scattered billets. 9 Dec 1915 Bde. Practice concentration very wet Bde. Inspected by Gen.Ross 10 Dec 1915 Bde.Gen Nicholson inspected billets. 11 Dec 1915 Coy training 12 Dec 1915 Colder some sleet & rain 13 Dec 1915 Route march in the morning. Inspection of M.Gunners by Brigadier in the afternoon 14 Dec 1915 Cold & frosty preparing for move to Camp C Wood A.30 sheet 28. 15 Dec 1915 - Camp C Moved at 2pm 16 Dec 1915 - trenches at Forward Cottage Relieved 7th K.R.R. in FORWARD COTTAGE line of trenches 17 Dec 1915 Trenches very wet heavily shelled. 18 Dec 1915 Improving wire in front of the trenches & support trenches 19 Dec 1915 5.30am Gas attack opened rapid fire the Germans did not come over the parapet very heavy shelling gas cleared at 7.30 pm. Telephone wires cut between coys. B.Coy. in FORWARD COTTAGE trench relieved by 1 Coy 2/York & Lancaster. Heavy shelling all day, also gas shells. 20 Dec 1915 Intense shelling support trenches demolished & relieved in the evening by 2/Buffs 21 Dec 1915 - Camp C Raining heavily 6th Div Baths allotted 22 Dec 1915 Brigadier Gen. Nicholson inspected battalion & complimented them on their behaviour 23 Dec 1915 Coy. training 24 Dec 1915 - Forward Cottage trenches 11 am Prepared for move to trenches 11 pm Relieved 1/BUFFS in FORWARD COTTAGE trenches raining trenches very wet & muddy BN. H.Q. Canal Bank during day, with advance H.Q. in 5.13B at night Little or no shelling during relief. 2/SHERWOOD FORESTERS on our Right 2/YORK & LANCASTER our left. Distribution 3 Coys. trenches 1 Canal Bank 25 Dec 1915 Xmas day. Quiet day, a little shelling Enemy Aeroplanes active 26 Dec 1915 Raining heavily relieved coy. in FORWARD COTTAGE by coy on CANAL BANK. Roads shelled one transport driver hit 27 Dec 1915 Quiet day very little shelling. 28 Dec 1915 Fairly quiet day YPRES and canal bank shelled Enemy aeroplanes active. 29 Dec 1915 - Poperinge FORWARD COTTAGE & B.14 heavily shelled, got intense retaliation from Bde. Relieved by 1st Buffs 2 coys remaining on Canal Bank H.Q. & two coys to Billets in POPENIGHE [sic] relief completed 11.35pm. 30 Dec 1915 Town shelled about 2pm & again about 4pm 31 Dec 1915 Town Shelled at 11.30 am till 12.30pm 22 shells 6th Div Allotted

1-31 Dec 1915

From: 1915 To: 1915

item

Plumer, Herbert Charles Onslow,
Ross,
Nicholson, C.L.

8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, town & local roads, 2nd Army, weather, horses, 42nd Infantry Brigade, land weaponry, 7th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, telephone, 2nd Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, 6th Division, baths, 1st Battalion Buffs, maps, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, Christmas, aeroplanes, Poperinge, Ieper, Watou, Camp C [Ypres], Forward Cottage [Ypres], Canal Bank (Ypres)