X550/9/1/1604

WAR DIARY FOR APRIL 1916 1 Apr 1916 - Wormhout Coys. training in vicinity of billets, Afternoon officers trained in handling of Lewis gun detachment and afterwards map setting and reading from CASSEL HILL. 2 Apr 1916 Brigade open air service - Divl.Comdr.present. 3 Apr 1916 All officers selected N.C.O.s training in physical drill and new bayonet fighting. - Evening - officer resolve & Lewis Gun practice on range 4 Apr 1916 Training in vicinity of billets. Officers & 50 NCO & men per coy to LEDRINGHEM in afternoon to visit 1/LONDON R.E. Coy revetments shewing different methods used. 5 Apr 1916 All coys practice on short Range. 6 Apr 1916 - Camp N, Poperinge Marched to Camp "N" west of POPERINGHE (F.27.a.5.7. - Reference Sheet 27) 7 Apr 1916 Coys training on rifle range and grenade throwing - Officers reconnoitring and report on position of defence. 8 Apr 1916 Brigade concentration march to position reconnoitred orevious day. 9 Apr 1916 Open air service with 1/K.S.L.I. under Bde. Chaplain 10 Apr 1916 Training on rifle range 10. - Working party on railway construction 11 Apr 1916 Training on rifle range 10. - Working party on railway construction 12 Apr 1916 Training on rifle range 10. - Working party at night sinking signal cable near St JEAN 13 Apr 1916 Training on rifle range 10. - Working party at night sinking signal cable near St JEAN 14 Apr 1916 Training on rifle range 10. 15 Apr 1916 - Ijser Canal Bank near Ieper Relievedin Camp "N" by 14th Durham Light Infantry. Entrained at 8pm POPERINGHE and detrain at ASYLUM YPRES and relieved 11th K.R.R. on YSER CANAL BANK between bridges No.2 and 4. 16 Apr 1916 - trenches around Willows near Ieper Relieved 10th Rifle Brigade in left section 16IB Sector. Hd.Qrs & C Coy LA BELLE ALLIANCE A Coy S.18.a., B17, B16 and S16b. B Coy 2 platoon Willows, 2 platoon Willow Walk, D Coy 2 platoon Willows 2 platoon D20 D21. 17 Apr 1916 In trenches as above - Wounded Lt.Col.H.C.Jackson & 1 O.R. 18 Apr 1916 In trenches as above - Killed 1 O.R. 19 Apr 1916 In trenches as above - Wounded 2 O.R. 20 Apr 1916 - Ijser Canal Bank In trenches as above - *Killed - Capt Quilter, 2LT Cartwright, 2LT.McMichael, - Wounded 2LT Vipond, 2LT Player, 2LT Charles. - Missing 2LT Squier. O.Ranks - Killed 32, Missing believed Killed 97, Wounded 65 Relieved by 2/York and Lancaster Regt. - Battalion moved back in support in dugouts on YSER CANAL - *on night 19/20 Apl. after 2 hours heavy bombardment Germans attacked and gained a footing in trenches D20, WILLOW WALK and S18a - D21, B17a and B16 still held by battalion and line VICARS LANE - CLIFFORD TOWER - GANTHORPE ROAD strengthened and reinforced. 21 Apr 1916 In dugouts YSER CANAL BANK. Trenches retaken & consolidated by 1/K.S.L.I. 22 Apr 1916 In dugouts A Coy moved into trenches B17a, B16, and S.16.b. 23 Apr 1916 - Camp D, Wood A.30, Vicars Lane and Willows In dugouts A Coy relieved by 2/Y&L and sent back to Camp D., Wood A.30, - B, C, & D Coy relieved 2/Y&L in trenches VICARS LANE and WILLOWS. 24 Apr 1916 - Camp D, Wood A.30 Relieved from line by 1/The Buffs, and whole battalion moved back to Camp D., Wood A30. 25 Apr 1916 Spent quiet day resting and cleaning up of clothing and equipment 26 Apr 1916 Refitting of clo. & equipt, baths, physical training and drill. 27 Apr 1916 In Camp 'D', Wood A30. - Drill and training - visited by G.O.C. 2nd Army. 28 Apr 1916 In Camp 'D', Wood A30. - Drill and training - visited by Commander in Chief. 29 Apr 1916 - Ijser Canal Bank In Camp 'D', Wood A30 - Drill and training - relieved 1/K.S.L.I. on YSER CANAL after dark. 30 Apr 1916 On Canal Bank - 400 working party on front line at night & carrying rations & material. 8th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. at April 30th 1916 Killed Officers 5 O.R. 49 Wounded Officers 3 O.R. 95 Missing believed Killed O.R. 91 Sick to Hospital 90 Sick from Hospital 22 Evacuated to Base 20 A Coy Strength 13 Officers 212 O.R. B Coy Strength 4 Officers 138 O.R. C Coy Strength 5 Officers 205 O.R. D Coy Strength 5 Officers 170 O.R. Total 27 Officers 725 O.R.

1-30 Apr 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Jackson, H.C.,
Quilter, Roy Molyneux,
Cartwright, Charles,
McMichael, Douglas William,
Vipond, Sidney James,
Player, H.,
Charles,
Squier

8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, deaths, land weaponry, Royal Engineers, maps, 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, church services, railways, Ijser Canal, Ypres Asylum, 11th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 10th Battalion Rifle Brigade, 2nd Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, 1st Battalion Buffs, baths, Wormhoudt, Cassel, Ledringhem, Poperinge, Camp N [Ypres], Sint-Jan-ter-Biezen, Canal Bank (Ypres), Ieper, Willows [Ypres], Willow Walk [Ypres], la Belle Alliance [Ypres], Vicar's Lane [Ypres], Clifford's Tower [Ypres], Ganthorpe Road [Ypres], Camp D [Ypres]