X550/3/WD/1602

War Diary for February 1916 1 Feb 1916 - Suzanne and trenches near Maricourt 2 Platoons A. Co. from VAUX WOOD returned to Billets at 5.30 PM At 5.30 P.M. other two platoons A.Co left SUZANNE for Battle Dug-Outs. At 5.30 P.M. B Co. under Capt E.S.M. Poyntz relieved 1 Company 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers in A.2 Subsector. 2 Lieut H.A.Deacon and 26 O.R. transferred to 21st Bde M.G. Co. and struck off strength. 2 Feb 1916 - trenches near Maricourt Relieved 2nd R.S.F. in A2 Subsector Right Front 'C' Co Left Front 'B' Co. Support 'D' Co. Reserve "A" Co. Day quiet. Practically no artillery fire. capt. J.W.H.T. Douglas takes over duties of 2nd in Command. Lieut W.White to command 'A' Co. Casualties NIL. 3 Feb 1916 A quiet day. Casualties nil. 4 Feb 1916 Artillery active. 'A' and 'D' Coys to front line. 'C' in support, 'B' Co reserve. 1.O.R. Killed and 2 O.R. wounded. 2/Lieut L.K.Lawrence returned from Hospital. 5 Feb 1916 A quiet day. Artillery quiet. 1.O.R. wounded. Sick wastage 9.).R. 6 Feb 1916 Casualties NIL. 7 Feb 1916 - Maricourt Defences Relieved by Royal Scots Fusiliers in A2 at 7.40 p.m. After relief the Battalion took over MARICOURT DEFENCES from the 17th BN Kings Liverpool R. Relief completed at 10 pm. 2Lieut H.A.Chamen and 2Lieut G.Anstee join the Battalion. The former posted to B.Coy the latter to 'A' Co. A quiet day. Companies work hard in very wet trenches. 8 Feb 1916 A quiet day. 24 men proceed to A2 at 7pm for sapping. Connecting 14 and 15 Sap heads. 9 Feb 1916 A quiet day. Companies employed in improving trenches. 10 Feb 1916 Between 6 and 7.15 pm Enemy's Artillery active especially in the neighbourhood of BN.H.Q. 2 O.R. wounded. 2 Lieut R.F.C.Ballard proceeds on short leave. 11 Feb 1916 - front line near Maricourt 1.O.R. wounded. relieved at 7pm by 1/7 Black Watch. After relief BN. relieved R.S.F. in A2 subsector. Relief complete about 12 midnight. 12 Feb 1916 Very quiet day. 1.O.R. wounded. Sick wastage 1.O.R. 2Lieut H.A.Chamen to 3rd Entrenching Bn. French attack on our right, take 100 prisoners. 13 Feb 1916 Nothing to report. Companies engaged improving trenches. Dispositions: - Right Front 'C' Coy. Left B.Coy. Support 'D' Coy. Reserve 'A'Coy. 14 Feb 1916 Dispositions - Right Front D Coy Left A Coy. Support B Coy Reserve "C" Coy. About 12 midnight message received from Bde that a German captured by the French stated "That the German 12th Div, would attack our front the following morning protected by a Gas attack". 15 Feb 1916 No sign of any attack, in fact, an exceptionally quiet day. Lieut R.B.Gibson proceeds on leave. Casualties NIL 16 Feb 1916 - Suzanne A quiet day. relieved by 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers at 7 p.m. After relief Battalion moves into SUZANNE. C Company remain behind in 'U' Work MARICOURT DEFENCES. 2 Lieut R.T.OLDFIELD appointed 89th Bde Grenade Officer. 2 Lieut B.NEWTON appointed BN. Grenade Officer 17 Feb 1916 Billets SUZANNE 'B' Coy relieve 'C' Coy in 'U' WORKS. Very quiet. 18 Feb 1916 Billets SUZANNE 19 Feb 1916 During this tour in SUZANNE moist of the BN is occupied on different working parties. Sick wastage 8 O.R. 2Lieut E.G.Hankinson proceeds on leave. 20 Feb 1916 - front line near Maricourt Relieved 20th BN. Kings Liverpool R. in the new A" Subsector. The old A2 Subsector being renumbered Z2 with exception of 18 TRENCH. Z2 is now two Subsections south of the present A2. Relief completed 9.50 pm. Trenches in new Subsector found in very much better condition than the old Subsector. position of BN H.Q. Ref.MARICOURT TRENCH MAP 1/10000 62.c.NW1 - A.22.a.1.6. British trenches extend from A.16.b.8.6. to A.16.a.2.7. This being front of A.2.Subsector. 21 Feb 1916 Capt E.S.M. Poyntz and Capt H. Cressingham proceed on leave. Dispositions - Front line A.B.C. Coys from left to right. D Coy. in Reserve at BN H.Q. Right of 21st Gap between 32 and 33 trenches connected up. About 70 yards of trench constructed. Lieut J.T. Coe takes over command of B Co. 24 hours very quiet. 22 Feb 1916 Heavy snowstorm and very cold. No Artillery fire. At dusk (about 5pm) Germans attack 7th Division in D1 and D2 Subsectors on our left. The attack was preceded by an intense bombardment lasting about half an hour. Heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire prevented any of the enemy gaining a footing in our Trenches. Those of the enemy who left their own trenches did not return. The night was very quiet. 23 Feb 1916 Lieut.Col.Poyntz proceeds on leave. Still snowing and very cold. 2Lieut.E.E.A.Collisson Killed. Capt.J.W.H.T.Douglas takes over command of the Battalion. Very quiet. 24 Feb 1916 - Etinehem Lieut.W.White proceeds on leave. 2Lieut.F.A.Sloan takes over command of A.Coy. Very quiet. Still snowing and frost. relieved by 20th BN K.L.R. at 7 p.m. After relief the Battalion marches by platoons into Billets at ETINEHEM. the last platoon arriving at 12.50 am. 25th. 'D' Coy are ordered to remain under O.C. MARICOURT DEFENCES. Dispositions 2 platoons 'U' WORKS. 2 platoons Hd Qrs. 25 Feb 1916 Snow falls throughout the day. The BN is ordered to parade at 2 p.m. for work under RE's. Parade cancelled at 1.50 pm on account of weather. 26 Feb 1916 - trenches near Maricourt On account of severe weather reliefs will now be every 48 hours. Lieut R.B.Gibson on return from leave takes over command of 'A' Coy. At 6pm the battalion leaves billets to relieve 20th K.L.R. in A2. relief commences 8 P.M. Completed 10.10pm. Weather still very severe. 1.O.R. wounded. 27 Feb 1916 1O.R. wounded. Artillery active about 2 miles South. The French warn us they will fire on German Communications and that we may expect retaliation. Enemy fires about 100 77m.m. and 30 5.9 shells into MARICOURT. Many falling near BN.H.Q. 1 O.R. Died of wounds. After 6.30pm rest of night very quiet. Very wet. 28 Feb 1916 A very quiet day. After wet and thaw trenches in terrible condition. 1.O.R. wounded. 29 Feb 1916 - Maricourt Defences A quiet 24 hours. New work on trenches hopeless. On account of wet and mud trenches fall in in many places. At 7pm 20th K.L.R. commence relieving us. Relief complete 9.35pm. After relief Battalion takes over MARICOURT DEFENCES. 'D' Coy. holding 'U' WORKS. DEFENCES taken over completely by 10.40 pm

1-29 Feb 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Poyntz, Edward Stephen Massey,
Anstee, G.A.,
Chamen, Harold Ashcombe,
Douglas, John William Henry Tyler,
Deacon, H.A.,
Lawrence, L.K.,
Poyntz, Hugh Stainton,
Ballard, Robert Francis Cooper,
Gibson, Robert Bowness,
Oldfield, R T,
Cressingham, Hugh Montrein,
Coe, J.T.,
Collisson, Evelyn Ernest Arnold,
Sloan, F.A.,
White, W,
Newton, B.

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, land weaponry, deaths, weather, local references drainage, 17th Battalion (1st City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, French, Germans, 1st/7th Battalion Black Watch, 3rd Entrenching Battalion, 12th German Division, prisoners of war, 7th Division, 89th Infantry Brigade, 20th Battalion (4th City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Suzanne, Vaux Wood, Maricourt, U Works [Maricourt], Etinehem