X550/2/5/1509

War Diary for September 1915 1 Sep 1915 - trenches near Suzanne Battn. took over trenches 28-35 inclusive MARICOURT area near SUZANNE-sur-SOMME. Relieved 1/Devon Regt. 13th Inf.Bde. on left. 1/Dorset Rgt. on right. 2 Sep 1915 Trenches good on the whole, & communication trenches fairly numerous. A great deal of work necessary, however, to restore parts of the line & to drain, revet & floor the communication trenches with bricks where necessary. Enemy's trenches generally about 300 or 400 yards away, but in parts where our advance post trenches jut out, only about 50 yards away. Area generally much quieter than the other areas the battalion has hitherto been in. 3-9 Sep 1915 Nothing of much interest to record. Lieuts Curtis, Glyn & Hodgen (Indian Army unattached list) who have been serving with the Battn a considerable time suddenly ordered to return to England & struck off strength of Battn. A Draft of 25 N.C.O. & men arrived 8/9/15 10 Sep 1915 - Morlancourt Relieved by 1/Devon Rgt. Battn. withdraw to billets at MORLANCOURT. 11-15 Sep 1915 In Billets at MORLANCOURT. 16 Sep 1915 - trenches near Fricourt Bttn. took over Trenches 62-69 inclusive. Relieved 8th Norfolk Rgt, 53rd Inf.Bde. 13th Inf.Bde. on left. 1/Norfolk Rgt. on right. 17 Sep 1915 Trenches in very indifferent repair. A very great deal of work necessary in order to make parapets bullet-proof, construct & revet fire-platforms, construct bomb proof shelters, drain trenches & communication trenches, deepen trenches, where exposed to enemy view, erect traverses against enfilade fire, construct obstacles in front (wire entanglements being non-existant) &c. Average distance of Enemy's trenches, about 160 yards. 18 Sep 1915 All water, stores, meals &c. have to be carried Distances varying from 1/2 mile to 1 mile, by hand. Combined with the length of trenches to be guarded, this fatigue work leaves very few men available for the urgent alterations required in the defences & throws a severe strain on all ranks. Casualties - 1 Killed. 1 Wounded. 19-24 Sep 1915 Work done in necessary improvement. Enemy quiet in front. Casualties. 1 L/Cpl missing from patrol, 2 men wounded. 2Lieuts Shaw & West joined the Battn. for duty 25 Sep 1915 Demonstration by our Artillery & Infantry against trenches opposite, in conjunction with attack by our troops elsewhere. Enemy made only very feeble reply. 2/Lieuts Sherry & Friend joined the Battn. for duty. 26-30 Sep 1915 Constant patrols sent out at night to observe enemy, ascertain work he is carrying out & cut his wire obstacles where possible. Numerous 'dummy' sniping places erected, & real concealed sniping post constructed elsewhere. The Dummy posts attract a gratifying amount of attention from enemy's marksmen. An extra trench (number 61) added to our extended front. casualties 1 Killed. 2 Wounded.

1-30 Sep 1915

From: 1915 To: 1915

item

Hogden,
Curtis,
Glyn,
West,
Shaw,
Sherry, Gerald,
Friend

1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, 13th Infantry Brigade, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, Suzanne, Maricourt, Morlancourt, Fricourt