X550/3/WD/1604

War Diary for April 1916 1 Apr 1916 - Grovetown Camp Battalion under Canvas at "GROVETOWN CAMP", BRAY. Reference Map ALBERT (combined sheet 1/40000 L.8.). Battalion employed on Working Parties under Royal Engineers. 2 Apr 1916 GROVETWON CAMP - Church Parade. In the afternoon the Battalion played the 8th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment at Football, winning by 3 Goals to 1 following [sic] by a Concert in the Sussex Lines at 6 p.m. 2nd Lieutenants B.NEWTON and A.YOUNG proceeded on leave. 3 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Working Parties under R.E. Lt.Colonel H.S.POYNTZ takes over Temporary Command of 89th Infantry Brigade during the absence of the Brig: General F.C.STANLEY, D.S.O. Captain J.W.H.T.DOUGLAS takes over temporary command of the Battalion. 4 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion employed on Working Parties under R.E. Sergeants of the Battalion played the Sergeants of the 8th Bn.Royal Sussex Regiment at Football winning by 2 goals to NIL. Extracts from List of Appointments No.75 dated 26.3.16. No.6246 C.Q.M.Sgt. E.C.PLEDGER to be Second Lieutenant and posted to 16th Bn.Lancashire Fusiliers. 5 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 6 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. Lt.Colonel H.S.POYNTZ resumes command of Battalion. The Battalion played the 11th Bn.South Lancashire Regiment at Football winning by 3 Goals to NIL. 7 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Captain L.F.BEAL and captain W.SHARPE proceeded on Leave. Lieutenant J.W.HURRELL rejoined Battalion from Hospital. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 8 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. A Draft of 20 Other Ranks joined from BASE. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. SICK WASTAGE for week ending 8th April, 1916, 2 O.R. 2nd Lieutenant E.C.PLEDGER left to join 16th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers. 9 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP - Church Parade. Lt.Colonel H.S.POYNTZ proceeded to 4th Army School at FLEXICOURT. captain J.W.H.T. DOUGLAS took over command of Battalion. the Battalion played the 8th Bn.Royal Sussex Regiment at Football and lost by one goal to Nil, afterwards pulling them at Tug-of-War which we won. 10 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 11 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. The Battalion played the 7th Bn.Bedfordshire Regt at Football losing by 3 goals to Nil. 12 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 13 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. A Boxing Tournament was held between the 2nd and 7th Battalions, the 2nd Bn. winning 3 Fights and the 7th Battalion winning 2 Fights. 14 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 15 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 1 O.R. accidentally wounded. SICK WASTAGE for week ending 15.4.16, 1 O.R. 16 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP - Church Parade. Lt.Colonel H.S.POYNTZ rejoined from 4th Army School and resumed command of Battalion. The following Football Matches were played: - Officers 1 goal v Officers Servants 5 Goals. N. C. O's NIL v Privates 1 Goal. 17 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 18 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 19 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 2nd Lieutenant B.NEWTON proceeded to take over command of 89/2 TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY. 20 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 21 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. Approval given for captain J.W.H.T.DOUGLAS to be Temporary Major. 22 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. SICK WASTAGE for week ending 22.4.16 NIL. Result of INTER-COMPANY FOOTBALL LEAGUE. "A" Company Winners. "B" Company "Runners Up". 23 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP - Church Parade. Captain E.S.M.POYNTZ proceeded to 4th Army School FLEXICOURT. 2nd Lieutenant F.A.SLOAN took over command of "C" Company. Lieutenant R.B.GIBSON took over command of "B" Company. The Battalion played the 8th Bn.Royal Sussex Regt at Football losing by 2 Goals to 1. 24 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. 25 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Lieutenant J.J.[sic] COE and 2nd Lieutenant L.K.LAWRENCE proceeded to leave. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. Lieutenant R.B.GIBSON admitted to Hospital, Sick. 2nd Lieutenant L.H.WALKER took over Command of "B" Company. The Battalion played the 7th Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment at Football winning by 4 Goals to NIL. 26 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. INTER-COMPANY TUG-OF-WAR (Heats). Headquarters beat Transport "A" Company beat "C" Company. "B" Company beat "D" Company. 27 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP Battalion on Working Parties under R.E. INTER-COMPANY TUG-OF-WAR. "A" Company beat Headquarters. "B" Company - BYE. FINAL: - "A" Company beat "B" Company. In the evening Preliminary Rounds of 89th Infantry Brigade Boxing Tournament took place. 28 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. The following Sports took place in the Afternoon and Evening. INTER-PLATOON RELAY RACE. No.15 Platoon were the winning Platoon and "B" Company the Winning Company. INTER-REGIMENTAL TUG-OF-WAR. 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regt beat 17th Bn Kings Liverpool Regt. 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt beat 19th Bn Kings Liverpool Regt. FINAL 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt beat 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regt. the finals of the 89th Infantry Brigade Boxing Tournament then took place with results as follows: - 9 Stone and Under won by Pte.Leray, 2.Bedf.R. 10 Stone and Under won by Pte.Pilkington 2.Bedf.R. 11 Stone & Under won by Sgt.Baker (19th Bn.K.L.R.) Heavies won by Sgt.Baker, 2.Bedf.R. At the conclusion of Sports the Prizes were presented by Brigadier General F.C.STANLEY, D.S.O. 29 Apr 1916 GROVETOWN CAMP. The Battalion again pulled the 8th Bn.Royal Sussex Regiment at TUG-OF-WAR and beat them. SICK WASTAGE for week ending 29.4.16, 2 O.R. At 8.30 p.m. the Battalion left Camp to relieve the 10th Bn.ESSEX Regiment in the Trenches at MARICOURT Z.2. Sub-sector, taking over the same trenches as when the Battalion was in the Line before, with the following Dispositions. "C" Company Right Front 1 Platoon Support. "B" Company Centre 1 Platoon Support "D" Company Left Front 1 Platoon Support. "A" Company in reserve at CHATEAU KEEP under command of Officer Commanding MARICOURT Defences. The 11th Bn.Royal Fusiliers being on our left in A.1, and the 17th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment on our right in Z.1. It was exceptionally quiet during the whole of the relief which was completed by 12.25 a.m. 30.4.16. Casualties NIL. 30 Apr 1916 Lieutenant J.W.HURRELL and 2nd Lieutenant F.A.SLOAN proceeded on Leave. At 5.20 p.m. Enemy opened up a short bombardment lasting 10 minutes. At 7.30 p.m. the Enemy opened up a heavy bombardment on A.2 on our left; at 7.35 p.m. S.O.S. received from A.2 and orders were given to "STAND TO". At 8.30 p.m. all was quiet again. Casualties NIL.

1-30 Apr 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Newton, B.,
Young, A.,
Poyntz, Hugh Stainton,
Stanley, Ferdinand Charles,
Douglas, John William Henry Tyler,
Pledger, Earnest Charles,
Beal, Leonard Frank,
Sharpe, W.,
Hurrell, J.W.,
Gibson, Robert Bowness,
Sloan, F.A.,
Lawrence, L.K.,
Coe, J.T.,
Walker, Laurence Hall,
Leray,
Pilkington,
Baker

Royal Engineers, church services, 8th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, football, concerts, 89th Infantry Brigade, 16th Battalion (2nd Salford) Lancashire Fusiliers, 11th Battalion (St.Helens Pioneers) South Lancashire Regiment, 4th Army, tug of war, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, boxing, 89th/2nd Trench Mortar Battery, athletics, 20th Battalion (4th City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 19th Battalion (3rd City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 17th Battalion (1st City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Grovetown Camp (Somme), Bray-sur-Somme, Flexicourt, Maricourt, Chateau Keep [Maricourt]