X550/3/WD/1606

War Diary for June 1916 1 Jun 1916 - Corbie Battalion in Camp at BOIS LES [sic] CELESTINS. Captain E.S.M.Poyntz and Captain H.Cressingham proceeded on leave. The Battalion left Camp at 4.10 p.m. for billets at CORBIE arriving at 7.30 p.m. 2 Jun 1916 - St-Sauveur Billets CORBIE. the Battalion left CORBIE at 4 p.m. for billets at St.SAUVEUR arriving about 11 p.m. SAIN SAUVEUR is about 5 miles N.E.[sic] of AMIENS. Reference Map AMIENS, Sheet 12. 3 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Sick Wastage for week ending 3rd June 7 O.R. 4 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. A Draft of 6 Other Ranks joined from Base. 2nd Lieut.H.A.CHAMEN rejoined the Bn. from 3rd Entrenching Battalion and posted to "B" Company. The Battalion commenced training with the whole of the 89th Brigade, in practising "The Attack" over a replica of the Trenches the Brigade held in MARICOURT Sector. 5 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. 6 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. Lieut W.WHITE and Lieut.H.C.PHILLIPS proceeded on leave. 7 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. 8 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. 9 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. 2nd Lieut.A.H.O.RIDDELL (3/Queens) attached to Bn admitted to Hospital sick. Lieut. J.C.HOUSTON, R.A.M.C., attached to Battalion during the absence on leave of Captain T.E.AMYOTT, R.A.M.C. from 10th to 16.6.16. 10 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. Sick wastage for week ending 10th 2 Other Ranks. 11 Jun 1916 Billets St.SAUVEUR. Battalion at Training. 2nd Lieut.L.DOLMAN proceeded on leave. 12 Jun 1916 - Bray-sur-Somme Billets St.SAUVEUR. the Battalion left billets at 10.40 a.m. for AILLY-SUR-SOMME. Entrained at AILLY for HEILLY en route to BRAY. Arrived at HEILLY at 3.5 p.m. detrained and left for Billets at BRAY 3.30 p.m., arriving at BRAY at 7.30 p.m. Capt.E.S.M.POYNTZ & Capt.H.CRESSINGHAM rejoined from leave. 13 Jun 1916 - Bray-sur-Somme and front line near Maricourt Billets BRAY. "C" and "D" Coys proceeded to MARICOURT (Z.1) at 8.30 p.m. and commenced digging new trench from MARICOURT AVENUE to N.W. Fire trench, during this, the enemy opened up a heavy bombardment and attacked the French who were holding trenches on our Right. It turned out to be a small raid. 2nd Lieutenant H.J.BRICKNELL (Commissioned from Ranks - Sergeant) joined the Battalion from 5th Lancers and posted to "C" Company. 2nd Lieutenant J.B.PRIMROSE-WELLS, 4th Bn.Bedfordshire REgt joined the Bn. from base and posted to "D" Coy. 14 Jun 1916 Billets BRAY. "A" and "B" Companies proceeded to MARICOURT Trenches at 8.30 p.m. and continued work on NEW Trench. At 4 p.m. a warning order was received that the Battn would proceed to MARICOURT Trenches on the 16th and take over Z.1 Subsector. At 11 p.m. the Daylight Saving Bill was adopted by B.E.F. 15 Jun 1916 At 8.30 p.m. "D" Company proceeded to MARICOURT Trenches and completed NEW Trench. Captain W.SHARPE admitted to Hospital Sick. 16 Jun 1916 - front line near Maricourt At 8.30 p.m. the Battalion left BRAY for Trenches (Z.1 Subsector) to relieve the 16th Bn.Manchester Regt, 90th Brigade. The relief was completed by 1.15 a.m. on 17th. Battalion held the line from A/16.b.2.0. (Right Flank) to A/9.d.3.5 (Left Flank) with the French (8th Company, 156th Regiment) on our RIGHT and the 2nd Bn.Royal Scots Fusiliers on our LEFT. Reference Trench Map MAUREPAS, 1/20,000. DISPOSITIONS: - LEFT "A" Coy. RIGHT "D" Coy. SUPPORT "B" Coy. RESERVE "C" Coy. Very quiet during relief. Casualties 1 O.R. wounded and remaining at duty. Battalion Headquarters vicinity of CHATEAU. 17 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. A very quiet day and night. During the day our Artillery registered on MONTAUBAN - BRIQUETERIE - GERMAN WOOD. During the night the 2nd Bn.Wiltshire Regiment relieved the 2nd Bn.Royal Scots Fusiliers on our Right. Casualties NIL. Sick wastage for week ending 17th June 4 O.R. Capt.T.E.AMYOTT, Lieut W.WHITE & Lieut.H.C.PHILLIPS rejoined from leave. 18 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. A quiet Day and Night. 2nd Lt. T.J.PEMBERTON, 4th Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment and a Draft of 50 Other Ranks joined from BASE. 2nd Lieut.PEMBERTON posted to "C" Coy. A party of 2 Officers 2 Lieuts G.A.ANSTEE and D.P.CROSS and 50 Other Ranks left Trenches for BRAY to practice for a Raid. Casualties NIL. 19 Jun 1916. A very quiet day and night. Raiding Party practising at BRAY. 2nd Lieut. D.D.WARREN, 4th Bn.Bedfordshire Regt joined from base and posted to "C" Company. Lieut.HOUSTON, R.A.M.C. ceased to be attached to the Battalion. Casualties - 1 O.R. Self-inflicted wound. No.17796 Pte.F.Chambers. 20 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. At 6.15 p.m. Enemy heavily shelled the vicinity of the CHATEAU lasting about 10 minutes wounding 2 O.R. In the evening Lt.Colonel H.S.POYNTZ and Lieut.J.W.HURRELL proceeded to BRAY to supervise Raiding party. News received that No.9078 Cpl.W.EADE, D.C.M., had been accidentally killed and No.9521 L/C.Tyrrell W, accidentally wounded by a Bomb explosion at BRAY in the morning. Casualties: - 3 O.R. wounded. A quiet night. No.10002 Cpl.F.JOHNSON wounded himself in the left foot self-inflicted when proceeding to Trenches. This N.C.O. joined with Draft on 18th. 21 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. Eemy shelled MARICOURT intermittently during the Day. A quiet night. C.O. and Adjutant returned from BRAY. Casualties 1 O.R. Killed. 22 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. Considerable Aerial Activity. the CHATEAU and LEXDON Street shelled heavily from 9 to 10.30 p.m. A quiet night. Casualties NIL. 23 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. Registering by our Guns. Enemy shelled MARICOURT at intervals in retaliation. Commanding Officer and Adjutant proceeded to BRAY. A very quiet night. Casualties NIL. 24 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. We bombarded Enemys Front and Support Line and Strong Points all Day, very little retaliation. At 10 p.m. we opened up a very heavy bombardment lasting till 11.30 p.m. Commanding Officer and Adjutant returned from BRAY with Raiding party. Casualties NIL. Sick Wastage for week ending 24th 7 Other Ranks. 25 Jun 1916 Trenches Z.1. Bombardment continued all day. At 4 p.m. our Aircraft brought down in flames immediately to our front 3 Enemy Observation balloons. At 11.15 p.m. a party of 2 Officers and 49 O.R. (see Appendix "A") carried out a raid on the Enemy's lines opposite our subsector from A/10.c.30.70 to A/10.c.55/60. Reference Trench Map MARICOURT 1/10000 62.c.N.W.1 Edition 2.c. It was quite a success. All the Party returning to our lines safely, capturing one prisoner (wounded). Very little retaliation on part of the enemy. Our Casualties were: - 6 O.R. wounded. 1 O.R. Shell Blindness. 1 O.R. accidentally wounded by Barbed Wire. Other Casualties during the day: - 1 O.R. Killed, 2 O.R. Wounded. 26 Jun 1916 - support trenches near Maricourt Trenches Z.1. The following message was received. To ROOT. Hearty congratulations on your success of last night due to careful and thorough preparation. I am very pleased. Please thank Officers and men of MINNIE Expeditionary Force. From Major General SHEA. The Code Words referred to above came into force on 19th June. for telephonic communication, owing to enemy tapping our Wires. 30th Division Code Word TREE. 89th Brigade Code Word ROOT. 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt Code Word MINNIE 17th Bn.Kings Liverpool R. Code Word ANNIE 19th Bn.Kings Liverpool R. Code Word EMILIE 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regt Code Word MARY. Bombardment continued all Day. Enemy heavily shelled MACHINE GUN WOOD and continued all day. Enemy probably brought up more Guns as this was the heaviest retaliation we had since our bombardment. At 10 p.m. the 17th and 20th Bns Kings Liverpool Regiment commenced relieving the Battalion in the front line, on completion of relief the disposition of the Battalion was as follows. "A" & "B" Companies in GROVE AVENUE East of CENTRE AVENUE. "C" & "D" Companies in GROVE END ROAD West of CENTRE AVENUE. Battalion Hd.Qrs remained at the CHATEAU. Casualties: - 10 Other Ranks wounded. 27 Jun 1916 Trenches MARICOURT. Heavy bombardment of hostile Trenches continued all day. Enemy retaliation was very heavy. During the morning 2 Companies were withdrawn to the CHATEAU and DONES REDOUBT to thin out the Liverpools, the 17th Bn. & 20th having had about 120 casualties during the night and early morning. At 2.25 p.m. sounds of a Mine Explosion was heard in the enemy line. At 5 p.m. the following Officers proceeded to Transport as a Reserve of Officers for the coming offensive. major J.W.H.T.DOUGLAS. Captain E.S.M.POYNTZ. Lieut N.V.DABELL. Lieut H.C.PHILLIPS. Lieut.H.A.CHAMEN. Lieut W.WHITE. Lieut H.G.FYSON. 2nd Lieut. A.L.GORDON. 2nd Lieut.F.E.PLUMMER. 2nd Lieut. J.B.PRIMROSE-WELLS. 2nd Lieut.T.J.PEMBERTON. 2nd Lieut.D.D.WARREN. 2nd Lieutenant T.J.G.REYNOLDS, 4th Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment joined and remained with reserve of Officers at Transport in BRAY. 2nd Lieutenant F.HAGUE (commissioned from Ranks) joined the Battalion from Bedfordshire Yeomanry and remained at Transport with reserve of officers. Casualties 1 O.R. Killed. x7 O.R. Wounded. x includes Sgt.Robinson wounded and C.S.M. P.Chandler Severely Wounded. 28 Jun 1916 Trenches MARICOURT. Bombardment continued all day. About 5 p.m. Orders received that the Attack was postponed for 48 hours (probably on a/c of the weather which had been very wet for the previous two days). News received that C.S.M.Chandler had died of wounds. At 8 pm the Battalion relieved the 17th and 20th Kings Liverpool Regts in Z.1 Subsector. 2nd Lieut.L.H.WALKER and 2 N.C.O's and eight men carried out a very successful reconnaissance of the enemy lines during the night. Patrol penetrated into enemy support line and returned with very useful information. 2/Lt.L.K.[sic]WALKER returned with the whole patrol intact. 2/Lt. L.A.FINK and 2 N.C.Os and ten men also reconnoiterred [sic] enemy front line trenches. Unfortunately Corporal Thurgood and six men lost touch and did not return. Casualties 5 O.R. wounded. 1 O.R. Shell Shock. 29 Jun 1916 2.1 Subsector. Zero Hour 7.30 a.m. 30th June postponed apparently on account of bad weather. Bomnardment continues. 2nd Lieutenant E.G.HANKINSON wounded and Sergeant Laycock killed when visiting Lewis Gunners in front line trenches. Corporal Thurgood and Privates Sutton, Palmer, Humbles and Gray return after 24 hours in the German Lines. Casualties: - 1 O.R. Killed, 2 O.R. Wounded, 2 O.R. missing. 30 Jun 1916 Z.1. Subsector. Bombardment continues. Battalion busy preparing for the morrow. Notified that attack would be launched at 7.30 a.m. on the 1st July. casualties from 16th to 30th June, 2nd Lieutenant E.G.HANKINSON Wounded KILLED 6 Other Ranks. KILLED Accidentally 1 Other Rank DIED OF WOUNDS 2 Other Ranks MISSING 2 Other ranks WOUNDED 35 Other Ranks WOUNDED Accidentally 3 Other Ranks WOUNDED Self-inflicted 3 Other Ranks SHELL SHOCK 9 Other Ranks WOUNDED - At Duty 5 Other Ranks SICK 5 Other Ranks Total: 1 Officer 71 Other Ranks Appendix A RAIDING PARTY 2/Lieutenant G.A.ANSTEE. 2/Lieutenant D.P.CROSS. No 9212 Sergt Nicholls.H. "D" Company No 9931 Sergt Compton P. "A" Company No 9909 L/Sgt Smith L. "B" Company. No 9759 L/Sgt Simons S. "C" Company No 3/7234 A/Cpl Cannon E. "A" Company No 10016 A/Cpl Howard A. "B" Company No 9757 L/Cpl Thorogood A. "C" Company No 9578 L/Cpl Mason A. "D" Company No 9891 L/Cpl Mee A. "B" Company No 9818 L/Cpl Seagrave H. "A" Company No 10731 L/Cpl Clark C. "D" Company No 9387 L/Cpl Boyce F. "A" Company No 18817 L/Cpl Fynn D. "A" Company No 18550 L/Cpl Dawson F. "A" Company No 18639 Pte Bristow W. "C" Company No 4/4964 Pte Bennett J. "C" Company No 19270 Pte Barker W. "B" Company No 20995 Pte Bean A. "A" Company No 13082 Pte Cleaver W. "D" Company No 17572 Pte Church W. "B" Company No 18600 Pte Cleeve J. "D" Company No 9646 Pte Cann F. "D" Company No 20973 Pte Dawson W.A. "C" Company No 10060 Pte Fairweather C. "D" Company No 9178 Pte Fynn L. "C" Company No 6584 Pte Gurdler A. "A" Company No 9726 Pte Gilbey A. "D" Company No 18180 Pte Gray H. "C" Company No 17590 Pte Hands T. "C" Company No 21156 Pte Henry J. "A" Company No 9700 Pte Hoval J. "B" Company No 17754 Pte Hall C. "B" Company No 7198 Pte Higgins H. "B" Company No 17738 Pte Jarman H. "B" Company No 21168 Pte Kidd J. "A" Company No 9022 Pte Milliard A, "B" Company No 6542 Pte Marrables J. "C" Company No 4/7476 Pte Osborne P. "D" Company No 4/6813 Pte Osborne E. "A" Company No 3/7372 Pte Poole G. "C" Company No 6655 Pte Reed H. "B" Company No 14429 Pte Staughton E. "D" Company No 10226 Pte Senior F. "D" Company No 17923 Pte Sinfield A. "D" Company No 13050 Pte Sams A. "D" Company No 10797 Pte Stratton F. "A" Company No 21090 Pte Sharp E. "C" Company No 7017 Pte Wood B "C" Company No 3/7644 Pte Waldock D. "C" Company No 21050 Pte Walker A. "A" Company

1-30 Jun 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Reynolds, Thomas Josceline Gordon,
Fyson, Harold George,
White, William,
Chandler, Percy,
Poyntz, Hugh Stainton,
Poyntz, Edward Stephen Massey,
Douglas, John William Henry Tyler,
Cressingham, Hugh Montrein,
Chamen, Harold Ashcombe,
Phillips, H.C.,
Riddell, A.H.O.,
Houston, J.C.,
Amyot, T.E.,
Dolman, Leonard,
Brickell, H.J.,
Primrose-Wells, James Bowen,
Sharpe, W.,
Pemberton, T.J.,
Anstee, G.A.,
Cross, Dennis Patrick,
Warren, D D,
Hurrell, J.W.,
Eade, William,
Tyrrell, W,
Chambers, F.,
Johnson, F.,
Shea, John Stuart Mackenzie,
Dabell, N.V.,
Gordon, A.L.,
Plummer, F.E.,
Hague, F.,
Robinson,
Walker, Laurence Hall,
Fink, Lawrence Alexander Lewis,
Hankinson, E.G.,
Nicholls, H.,
Compton, Percy,
Smith, Levi,
Simons, S.,
Cannon, E.,
Howard, A.,
Thurgood,
Humbles, E.,
Sutton,
Palmer,
Gray,
Mason, A.,
Mee, A.,
Seagrave, H,
Clark, C.,
Boyce, Frederick,
Fynn, D.,
Fynn, Leonard James,
Dawson, F,
Dawson, Walter Arthur,
Bristow, W. (d),
Bennett, J.,
Barker, W.,
Bean, Albert,
Cleaver, W.,
Church, W.,
Cleeve, J.,
Cann, F.,
Fairweather, Charles,
Gurdler, A.,
Gilbey, A.,
Gray, H.,
Hands, T.,
Henry, J.,
Hoval, J.,
Hall, C.,
Higgins, H.,
Jarman, H.,
Kidd, J.,
Milliard, A.,
Marrables, J.,
Osborne, P.,
Osborne, E.,
Poole, G.,
Reed, Herbert Joseph,
Staughton, E.,
Senior, F.,
Sinfield, A,
Sams, Arthur William,
Stratton, F.,
Sharp, E,
Wood, B.,
Waldock, D.,
Walker, A.

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 3rd Entrenching Battalion, 89th Infantry Brigade, Royal Army Medical Corps, maps, deaths, Germans, prisoners of war, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 5th Lancers, 16th Battalion (1st City) Manchester Regiment, 90th Infantry Brigade, French, 156th French Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, land weaponry, aerial action overseas, military balloons, medicine & health visual impairment, 30th Division, 17th Battalion (1st City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 19th Battalion (3rd City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 20th Battalion (4th City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Bois des Celestins [Somme], Corbie, St-Sauveur, Maricourt, Ailly-sur-Somme, Heilly, Bray-sur-Somme, Maricourt Avenue [Somme], Chateau Maricourt, Germans Wood [Somme], Lexdon Street [Somme], Machine Gun Wood [Somme], Dones Redoubt [Somme]