X550/2/5/1701

War Diary for January 1917 1 Jan 1917 - Front Line, Cuinchy Battalion relieved 16/R.Warwickshire Rgt in CUINCHY LEFT Subsector. Dispositions as under. B Coy. 2 Platoons S of CANAL, one in front line, one in HUNTERS. 2 Platoons in Support N of CANAL one in SPOILBANK KEEP one in ORCHARD. A Coy. Immediately N of CANAL one platoon in Front Line one in ARTILLERY ROW Supports BAYSWATER ROAD C Coy. Centre Coy. 2 Platoons in Front Line between ORCHARD RD & FINCHLEY Rd. 2 Platoons in OXFORD TERRACE (SUPPORTS). D Coy. Left Coy. 2 Platoons in Front Line between FINCHLEY RD & RED DRAGON CRATER. 1 Platoon in STRATHCONA WALK. 1 Platoon in CAMBRIDGE TERRACE. H.Q. in Village line N. of CANAL. Trenches in very poor state owing to recent heavy rain and accommodation for men in Trenches very poor & scanty. REs working in Oxford & Cambridge Terrace making "White" shelters, but progress very slow. 2 Jan 1917 In trenches. Enemy bombarded front line of Left & Centre Coys with small aerial Torpedoes & rifle grenades, causing a certain amount of material damage but no casualties. Work chiefly confined to clearing trenches and putting up shelters. 40yds of wiring in front of Left Coy. 3 Jan 1917 In Trenches. Enemy again fired on our front line of Left Coy with aerial torpedoes and near RED DRAGON with "Minnies" doing considerable damage to trench. Our Artillery did not reply, probably owing to Relief by 5th Divl. Arty. 4 Jan 1917 In Trenches. Day quiet until 7 p.m. when a mine was blown opposite GIVENCHY at N. of existing Craters. The enemy retaliated very promptly with his artillery and eventually bombarded our left Support trenches with 77 mm H.E. & Shrapnel, blowing in trench and causing 10 casualties (3 killed 7 wounded). The front line hardly suffered. Rest of night quiet. LT COL F.N.BUTLER proceeded on leave and CAPT.C.A.S.MORRIS assumed command of Battalion 5 Jan 1917 - Village Line, Harley Street, Cuinchy Battalion relieved by 16/R.Warwick Rgt and proceeded in relief to VILLAGE LINE in HARLEY STREET (CUINCHY). The Adjutant (Capt.H.WILLANS) and Capt BEALE returned from leave. 6-8 Jan 1917 In support as above. Work on strengthening Village Line, which consists of line of strong points or Keeps. Capt.O.A.R.Beale M.C. went for attachment to Staff. Brigade Training Depot established at BEUVRY. This Dept under Command of Maj.DEAKIN (16/R.War.R.) takes all drafts that come to Brigade. Drafts remain at Dept until fully qualified in Musketry & all branches of training - when they are absorbed into their Battalions. Lt. A.J.FYSON proceeded for duty to the Training Dept as instructor. 9 Jan 1917 - Front Line Cuinchy Left SubSection Relieved 16/R.Warwickshire Rgt. in CUINCHY Left Subsection. Dispositions as on 1st inst. 1/NORFOLK Rgt on right, 13th Infantry Bde. on left. 10-12 Jan 1917 In trenches as above. Enemy fairly active with Artillery & T.M.s. Trenches very wet & bad in parts. 13 Jan 1917 - le Quesnoy and Beuvry Relieved by 16/R.Warwickshire Rgt. withdrew to Billets at LE QUESNOY, with one Coy. at BEUVRY. 14-16 Jan 1917 In Billets as above. 17 Jan 1917 - Cuinchy Left Subsection Relieved 16/R.Warwickshire Rgt. in CUINCHY LEFT. Dispositions as before except that 2 platoons S. of Canal are now withdrawn & placed in PONT FIXE redoubt & at Bn. H.Q. (B. Coy. this forming a support Coy). Southern Boundary being the Canal. 18 Jan 1917 Enemy shelled supporting Battery (A./300) with about 500 Gas Shells (TEAR) during afternoon. Effect of these Lachrymatory shells was felt in subsection held by Bttn. but no casualties. 19-21 Jan 1917 In trenches as above. Quiet period. trenches wet & in bad repair. Frost began. 22 Jan 1917 - Feuillade Barracks, Bethune Withdrew to BETHUNE on relief by 1/E.SURREY Rgt. (95th Infantry Bde) Battalion billeted in FEUILLADE Barracks, BETHUNE. Lt.-COlonel F.N.BUTLER returned from leave. 23-31 Jan 1917 In Billets as above. Frost continued during whole period, restricting training owing to cold. Route Marches, Drill & certain amount of Musketry carried out. on 28th Capt.O.A.R.BEALE, M.C. returned from attachment to Staff & assumed duties of Acting/Adjutant. Capt.H.WILLANS, M.C. proceeding to Brigade for attachment.

1-31 Jan 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

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Butler, Francis Noel,
Morris, Charles Alan Smith,
Willans, Harry,
Beale, O.A.R.,
Deakin,
Fyson, A.J.

1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 16th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, canals, Royal Engineers, weather, 5th Division, land weaponry, 15th Infantry Brigade, 95th Infantry Brigade, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, Cuinchy, Spoilbank Keep [Cuinchy], Artillery Row [Cuinchy], Bayswater Road [Cuinchy], Orchard Road [Cuinchy], Finchley Road [Cuinchy], Oxford Terrace [Cuinchy], Red Dragon Crater [Cuinchy], Strathcona Walk [Cuinchy], Cambridge Terrace [Cuinchy], Givenchy-les-la-Bassee, Village Line [Cuinchy], Harley Street [Cuinchy], Beuvry, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, 13th Infantry Brigade, Bethune le Quesnoy, Pont Fixe Redoubt [Cuinchy], Bethune Feuillade Barracks