X550/3/WD/1509A

War Diary for September 1915 1 Sep 1915 - Front Line at Givenchy Battalion leaves Reserve Billets in LE QUESNOY at 2.30 p.m. to relieve R.S.F. in front line trenches at GIVENCHY. The battalion occupies practically the same trenches as on June 15th 1915. Dispositions. Front line D.Coy. Right. B.Coy. Left. Support C.Coy. Reserve A.Coy. Bn.H.Q. WINDY CORNER. Relief is completed at 4.30 p.m. Night fairly quiet. LE PLANTIN and WINDY CORNER slightly shelled at 9 p.m. During the night the Bn. is employed repairing parapet , & bailing water from trenches. A trench mortar bomb exploded on our front parapet, but men standing within 5 yards were not troubled. 2 Sep 1915 Battalion in trenches, no alteration in dispositions. Patrols report enemy having wiring parties out, which were fired on by us. Throughout the night enemy rather active throwing bombs & grenades into WARREN and RIFLEMANS Redoubts. About 60 trench mortar bombs, chieflt small, & 50 rifle Grenades exclusive of hand grenades being fired by them. Artillery asked to retaliate 3 times, as no trench mortar officers or teams could be found & there were no rifle grenades available. Our bombers continued most cooly [sic] at their posts throwing about 250 bombs into different enemy positions. About 11.45 p.m. an R.E. Officer reports that he heard enemy mining under our mine in SUNKEN ROAD. Precautions were taken in our line in that direction & all preparations made for eventualities. Nothing however happens. During this night no casualties are reported in the Bn. 2/Lieut.T.C.Pearson rejoins from hospital. 3 Sep 1915 - Bethune At 4.30 p.m. the 1st Bn.Queens R. commences to relieve Bn. The relief is completed by 5.50 p.m. The battalion march unto billets at BETHUNE (Cemetery Area) arriving about 8.30 p.m. There was a continual dowpour [sic] of rain from 6 p.m. onwards. 2/Lieut.R.B.Gibson 2/Lieut.H.E.Mudford rejoin from Hospital. During this tour in the trenches the Bn. broke the record. This is the first tour in which we have suffered no casualties. 4 Sep 1915 - Bellerive At 7 a.m. the Bn. leaves billets in BETHUNE and marches to billets in BELLERIVE, arriving at 8.30 a.m. 2/Lieuts.R.Hopkins joins the battalion from the 1st Royal Berks.R. & posted to A.Coy. The day is spent in cleaning kits etc. 5 Sep 1915 Billets BELLERIVE. Attack Practice under Coy.Arrengements. 6 Sep 1915 Billets BELLERIVE. Appointment Lieut.(Temp.Capt.) J.W.Hurrell is appointed Adjutant of 2 Bn.Bedf.R. (received on 5th). 7 Sep 1915 Billets BELLERIVE. Attack Practice. 8 Sep 1915 - Labourse Orders received at 6.50 a.m. for Bn. to move at once to LABOURSE & pass temporarily under command of 20th Bde. The Bn. leaves Bellerive at 10 a.m. & marches by Companies arriving at LABOURSE at 1.15 p.m. 2/Lieut.B.R.Taylor proceeds on leave. Billets in LABOURSE very dirty. 9 Sep 1915 - Noyelles-les-Vermelles Billets LABOURSE. The Bn. receives orders to move to NOYELLES & take over reserve billets from 1st S.Staffords between 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. At 1 p.m. this day the Bn.passes under command of the 22nd Bde. Battalion arrives in billets at 3.30 p.m. Aircraft active on both sides. Lt.R.O.Wynne takes over command of 'C' Coy. Sick wastage for week ending 9th Sept. 17 O.R. Whole Bn. employed as working parties. 10 Sep 1915 Reserve Billets NOYELLES. During night the whole Bn. is employed on working parties. 11 Sep 1915 Reserve Billets NOYELLES. Draft of 25 O.R. join from base. Considerable activity in the air. 12 Sep 1915 Reserve Billets NOYELLES. The whole Bn. on night working parties. 13 Sep 1915 - Fauquereuil Moved to FAUQUEREUIL. Large working party at night. 14 Sep 1915 Billets at FAUQUEREUIL. Working parties. 15 Sep 1915 Same. 16 Sep 1915 - trenches at Vermelles Took over trenches at VERMELLES from 1st Queens. 17 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES. Lt.L.F.Beal proceeded to base on instructional duty. 18 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES 19 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES 20 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES. Lt. W.A. SHAW to 1st Bn. 21 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES. Bombardment of German lines begins. 22 Sep 1915 Trenches VERMELLES. Lt.Stonier rejoins from base. 23 Sep 1915 - Fauquereuil Trenches VERMELLES. Relieved at 9.30 p.m. by 2nd Gordon Highlanders and marched to billets in FAUQUEREUIL. Troops marched through heavy rain. 24 Sep 1915 Arrival FAUQUEREUIL 4 a.m. 40 O.R. joined. 25 Sep 1915 - attack at Vermelles and Cit-St-Elie 12.5 a.m. Bn. proceeded to position of assembly at NOYELLES, arriving there 3.35 a.m. From there it proceeded at 6.5 a.m. moving by platoons at 200x distance to VERMELLES - moving up CHAPEL ALLEY. At about 11.30 a.m. the BN. debouched from the front line BRITISH TRENCH and proceeded on a front of two Companies in Column of Platoons extended at 50 yards distance with the right on the HULLUCH ROAD. The 20th Brigade were a considerable distance ahead, and the Wiltshire Regiment was on the left of the Battalion. The Battalion moved across and over the first line GERMAN TRENCH, practically without Casualties. As soon as it began to advance across the open behind the GERMAN front line it came under a very heavy Rifle fire from the direction of the QUARRIES and the NORTHERN houses of CITE ST. ELIE. the Battalion now suffered severely but continued to advance by rushes of small parties until GUN TRENCH was reached. 2/Lt.Forward was Killed & Lt.Col.C.C.ONSLOW, C.M.G. Capt & Adjutant J.W.HURRELL, Capt.J.W.HUTCHINSON, 2/Lieut.H.E.MUDFORD, 2/Lieut.R.HOPKINS were wounded (Capt.J.W.HUTCHINSON died from wounds later in the day). between TWO and THREE hundred Other Ranks became casualties. Two platoons got about 100 yards in front of GUN TRENCH, but being unsupported had to fall back by Ones or Two's - 2/Lieut.R.L.SHAW was then wounded, also Capt.J.McM.MILLING. The Battalion remained in GUN TRENCH holding the GUN PITS NORTH of the road during the afternoon, digging itself in. At dusk the men of the 20th Brigade who were in the trench were sorted out and rejoined their Brigade. All four Machine Guns were in the trench. At about 7 P.M. "A" and "C" Companies were withdrawn from GUN TRENCH and started digging a Support trench about 100x in rear. At about midnight a number of men were seen coming down the the [sic] HULLUCH ROAD at a Double calling out "Don't shoot we're the GORDONS"; close behind them came a number of GERMANS. Almost at the same time the BORDERS holding GUN TRENCH South of the road began to retire. At once bombs were rained upon GUN TRENCH and men began to leave it in increasing numbers, falling back on SUPPORT Trench, where they stopped. The Company on the left of "B" Coy. was not attacked and stood firm. Two Machine Guns were with the company & remained in action. A heavy fire was brought to bear from Support Trench and shortly afterwards a charge was organised, which was completely successful, practically all the GERMANS in GUN TRENCH were Killed or taken prisoners, including the Artillery Captain who led the Counter-attack. 2/Lieut.T.C.PEARSON & 2/Lieut.K.L.STEPHENSON were Killed and 2/Lieut.C.J.HUNTER wounded. The Left Company suffered some casualties from our own Shrapnel during this Counter-Attack. The rest of the night passed quietly. Two Companies were in GUN TRENCH and TWO Companies in Support Trench. At the commencement of the action. Capt. H.de Buriatte Commanded A Co. Capt. J.W.Hutchinson Commanded B Co. Lieut.R.O.Wynne Commanded C.Coy. capt.J.McM.Milling Commanded D.Coy. 2/Lieut.R.B.GIBSON and Lieut.B.R.Taylor both of 3/S.Stafford regt. attached took command of B. and D.Coys. respectively after Capt.HUTCHINSON & Capt.MILLING were wounded. 2/Lieut.W.J.STONIER took over A/Adjutant. Lieut.A.F.LOGAN was wounded on this date. 26 Sep 1915 - between Vermelles and Cit-St-Elie The Battalion remained in their position nothing material occurred. The Battalion was relieved about 8 P.M. by the R.S.F. & went back in the old GERMAN TRENCH (First LINE) remaining there for the night of 27/28th Oct. During these two nights working parties were supplied for the advanced Trenches. major General CAPPER commandinf 7th Division was wounded. 2/Lieut.G.H.D'AVIGDOR admitted to Hospital Sick whilst attending a course of Trench MORTAR at ST.VENANT. 27 Sep 1915 Battalion in GERMAN first line Trench. (Support) "Working Parties" Major Genl.Capper died of wounds. 28 Sep 1915 Battalion in GERMAN first line Trench (Support) "Working Parties". 29 Sep 1915 - Breslau Trench and Stone Alley near Hulluch On the evening of the 29th the Battalion relieved the 1/4th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS in BRESLAU AVENUE and STONE ALLEY with the right of the R.S.F. who were in GUN TRENCH. The night passed quietly as did the following day. A Draft of 70 other [ranks] joined but remained with Transport & did not go up into action. 30 Sep 1915 The Battalion had a post of Bombers in the communication Trench running E. from the North Gun Emplacement. At about 9 P.M. their front observed that GERMANS were running over the open on our right and had penetrated into the GUN Emplacement held by the R.S.F. and were working round their rear. They were the assailed by bombs from Three Sides. This party of bombers made its way back to STONE ALLEY with great difficulty. Meantime the men holding the right of the Battalion position had been forced to give way and were holding a block about 20x down the trench. The GERMANS came on, bombing with great violence, and owing to the clumsiness of the Ball Grenades with which our bombers were mostly armed, it was found hard to cope with them. Two Machine Guns that had been in GUN TRENCH and had got isolated, managed to extricate themselves by moving alternately & covering one another's retirement with GUN & Rifle fire. These were mounted on the parapet of STONE ALLEY, and assisted to prevent the enemy's bombers coming across the open. At about 1 a.m. a counter Bomb attack was attempted, this made some progress but the supply of good bombs was very limited to give a chance against the great numbers thrown by the enemy. 2/Lieut.E.F.S.DYER was wounded. Towards sawn under Orders from Brigade H.Q. 30 yards of STONE ALLEY was filled in and a block established. The GERMANS had been throwing bombs hard all night, and had been trying to work round the flanks. They had also brought up a Machine Gun to fire down STONE ALLEY. Our own Machine Guns were able to deal with this.

1-30 Sep 1915

From: 1915 To: 1915

item

Pearson, Terence Charles,
Gibson, Robert Bowness,
Mudford, H.E.,
Hopkins, R.,
Hurrell, J.W.,
Wynne, Richard Owen,
Beal, Leonard Frank,
Taylor, B.R.,
Shaw, W A,
Stonier, William John,
Onslow, Cranley Charlton,
Forward, Charles Arthur,
Hutchinson, James Walter,
Shaw, R.L.,
Milling, J.McM.,
Stephenson, Kenneth Langton,
Hunter, C.J.,
de Buriatte, H.,
Logan, A.F.,
Capper, Thompson,
D'Avigdor, G.H.,
Dyer, E.F.S.

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, local references drainage, land weaponry, 1st Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 22nd Infantry Brigade, aerial action overseas, 1st Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, weather, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, 20th Infantry Brigade, town & local roads, Germans, general quarries, deaths, 2nd Battalion Border Regiment, 3rd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 7th Division, 1st/4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders, Givenchy-les-la-Bassee, Bethune, le Quesnoy, Windy Corner [Cuinchy], le Plantin, Warren's Redoubt [Givenchy], Rifleman's Redoubt [Givenchy], Bellerive, Sailly-Labourse, Labourse, Noyelles-les-Vermelles, Fauquereuil, Cite-St-Elie, Vermelles, Chapel Alley [Givenchy], Gun Trench [Hulluch], Saint-Venant, Breslau Trench [Hulluch], Stone Alley [Hulluch]