Reference
X550/2/5/1503
Title
War Diary for March 1915
Date free text
1-31 Mar 1915
Production date
From: 1915 To: 1915
Scope and Content
1-2 Mar 1915 - Bailleul
Battn remained in billets at Bailleul. Draft of 25 men joined Battn. 27th ult.
3 Mar 1915 - Ouderdom
Battn. proceeded with remainder of 15th Bde by march route to OUDERDOM to form part of new composite 28th Division in relief of 28th Div. S.E. of Ypres Battn camped in newly constructed huts.
4 Mar 1915
Battn marched at night to take over position in support from R.Scots Fusiliers
6 Mar 1915 - canal bank south of Ieper
Battn took over sector of trenches North of Canal, relieving 9th Brigade 1/Cheshire Regt. took over section S. of Canal. K.O.Y.L.I. on our left. Casualties in going up to trenches 3 wounded
7 Mar 1915
Head Quarters shelled, 1 man killed. Sniping very considerable, total casualties 3 killed 1 wounded.
8 Mar 1915
A certain amount of shelling & sniping during day. Battn. relieved by Dorset Regt. at night & returned to support. Casualties Capt Andrews wounded: 2 killed & 9 others wounded
9 Mar 1915
Battn in support
10 Mar 1915
Battn relieved Dorset Regt in trenches at about 6.30 pm.
11 Mar 1915
Situation in 32 (a) trench unpleasant. Germans hold one end of it & also have trench parallel to it about 40 yards away & partly enveloping it at the end they hold. Impossible to show a periscope for more than a few seconds without getting a bullet through it; & quite impossible to see where firing comes from as no heads (enemy's) show above their parapets & no rifles can be seen at loopholes. Capt.Ogden wounded & five other ranks.
Enemy bombed junction of 32(a) trench & 33 trench (held by 5th Fusiliers [sic 3rd Royal Fusiliers?]) with heavy trench howitzer. About 20 yards of parapet blown in, killing or burying about 16 of 5th Fusiliers.
12 Mar 1915
Enemy continued to drop bombs in same place, thus partly isolating garrison of 32(a) trench.
[diagram in original]
2nd Lt.J.H.Moxley [sic] killed
2 N.C.O. killed, 1 man wounded.
Battn. relieved by Dorset Regt. at 8 pm.
Draft of 20 men arrived.
13 Mar 1915
Battn in support. 2 officers & 9 men wounded by shell fire; 1 man killed.
14 Mar 1915
Headquarters shelled with shrapnel for about 20 minutes.
Battn relieved 1st Dorset Regt. in trenches
About 5.25 pm. Enemy opened very heavy bombardment on section to our right, near St.ELOI heavy artillery fire opened again also on Batt.Headquarters & on Chateau buildings where 'B' Company was billeted. Casualties - 2 wounded.
15 Mar 1915
Battn in trenches. Casualties 2 killed 4 wounded. Draft of 45 arrived.
16 Mar 1915 - Ieper
Battn. relieved at night by 13th Brigade (Manchester Regt.) 32(a) trench heavily bombed & sniped. casualties 3 killed and 11 wounded.
Battn. returned to YPRES about midnight
17 Mar 1915 - south of Vlamertinge
Battn. left YPRES and returned to billets in newly erected huts S. of VLAMERTINGE. Brigade being in reserve.
18-20 Mar 1915
Battn. remained resting in billets.
21-22 Mar 1915 - Ieper
Brigade returned to trenches. The Battn. remained in support at YPRES.
23 Mar 1915 - canal bank south of Ieper
The Battn relieved 1/Cheshire Regt. in 'D' Sector trenches; our left being in touch with the French. 1 man wounded during the relief.
24 Mar 1915
Quiet day - 2 casualties. Trenches very zig-zag & confusing, as they face in three directions. Considerable work required to make them satisfactory
25 Mar 1915 - Ieper
Lieut Tabor slightly wounded in head. 1 man killed and 4 wounded. Battn relieved (except 2 platoons) at 9 pm. & returned to support at Ypres. 2nd Lts James, Harvey, Knight & Scott joined for duty
26-27 Mar 1915
Battalion remained in support. 1 casualty (wounded whilst with working party)
2nd Lt.Webb (4th N.Staffords) joined for duty.
28 Mar 1915
Battn relieved 1st Cheshire Regt. in trenches. 2nd Lts Morris, Pulleine & 119 men joined for duty.
29 Mar 1915
Quiet day. Much work done in improving trenches, making sniping posts etc.
30 Mar 1915
Do. Do. Constant duel between number 50 trench & opposing German trench with rifle grenades. Usual difficulty in obtaining various component parts of rifle-grenades, which are issued separately . On this occasion no blank rounds available, & shortage of detonators.
31 Mar 1915 - Ieper
Good work done from newly constructed concealed sniping-posts. battn relieved by West Riding Regt. (13th Bde) at 9 pm & returned to Divisional Reserve W. of YPRES.
Casualties during past 3 days - 2 killed & eleven wounded.
Language
English
Level of description
item