X550/3/WD/1705

War Diary for May 1917 1 May 1917 - Nuncq Battalion in Billets at NUNCQ about 5 1/2 miles S.S.W. of St.POL, ref.map LENS 11 Lieutenant G.R.JACOB, 2nd Lieut.E.L.MARSDEN, 2nd Lieut.K.C.J.JONES, 2nd Lieut.S.G.HAGUE and 2nd Lieut.S.H.SMITH joined Battalion. 2 May 1917 Billets NUNCQ 3 May 1917 - Buire-au-Bois Billets NUNCQ. At 2 p.m. Battalion left for billets at BUIRE-AU-BOIS (about 3 miles N.E. of AUXI-LE-CHATEAU ref Map LENS 11) arriving at 5.30 p.m. 4 May 1917 Billets BIURE-AU-BOIS. Sick wastage week ending 4th, 9 O.R. The following were arwaded MILITARY MEDALS: - 19078 Cpl.J.T.Williams Attached 89th Trench Mortar Battery 21055 Cpl.T.J.Hedges Attached 89th Trench Mortar Battery 9727 Lce.Cpl.J.Brown 19167 Pte.C.Furr 9873 Pte.G.Harding 5 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIS 6 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIS 7 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIRE. 2nd Lieut.S.H.Smith admitted to hospital sick. Battalion played Bedfordshire Yeomanry at Football. Result 2 goals each. 8 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIS. Draft of 10 O.R. joined from Base. 9 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIS. Photos were taken of Companies and various groups. Copies for Records When received. 10 May 1917 Billets BUIRE-AU-BOIS. 9357 Sgt.P.A.PAGE granted a commission and posted to Battalion. 2/Lieut.A.D.GREENWWOD and 2nd Lieut.A.D.BARNETSON joined Battalion. "C" Company played "D" Squadron of Bedfordshire Yeomanry at Football, winning 3-1. 11 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS 2nd Lieut.S.H.Smith rejoined from Hospital. Battalion played Bedfordshire Yeomanry at Football losing 2 goals to 1. Sick wastage week ending 11th 11 O.R. 12 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS. Brigade ceremonial parade and Medal Ribbon Distribution by G.O.C. XIX Corps (Lt.General H.E.WATTS, C.B., C.M.G.). The following were presented. 2nd Lieutenant C.SHEKURY Military Cross No.9606 Sgt.R.Foster Bar to Military Medal No.8883 Sgt.J.Wheeler Military Medal No.9757 A/Sgt.A.Thorogood Military Medal No.9297 L.Sgt.G.Gurney Military Medal No.21055 Cpl.T.Williams Military Medal No.19078 Cpl.J.Hedge Military Medal No.9873 Pte.G.Harding Military Medal No.19167 Pte.C.Furr Military Medal No.9727 L/C.J.Brown Military Medal 13 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS Battalion played 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment at Football winning 1-0. 14 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIRE No.7014 Company Sergeant major R.FIELD awarded the Military Cross. 15 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS 16 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS Battalion took part in Brigade Sports. See Attached Result of Events. 17 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS Battalion played 20th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment at football losing 0-1. 18 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS Sick wastage 14 O.R. week ending 18th. 19 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS. A draft of 17 O.R. joined from Base. 20 May 1917 BUIRE-AU-BOIS At 9 a.m. Battalion left for NUNCQ arriving at 12.15 p.m. 21 May 1917 - Bours Battalion left NUNCQ at 8.15 a.m. for BOURS, about 6 miles N.E. of St.Pol, ref Map LENS, arriving at 2.20 p.m. Lieutenant W.J.HOLBROOK, M.C. joined from 8.Bedf.R. 22 May 1917 - Bourecq Battalion left BOURS at 8 a.m. for BOURECQ, 5 miles S.E. of AIRE arriving at 3.30 p.m. (ref Map HAZEBROUCK). Captain H.de.Buriatte proceeded on leave. 23 May 1917 Battalion at rest in BOURECQ. 24 May 1917 - Steenbecque At 6.45 a.m. Battalion left for STEENBECQU, 4 1/2 miles N.E. of AIRE, ref Map HAZEBROUCK, arriving at Noon. 25 May 1917 - le Peuplier, Caëstre Battalion left at 6.45 a.m. for CAESTRE arriving at "LE PEUPLIER", about 3 miles N.E. of HAZEBROUCK at 10.40 a.m. Sick wastage 4 O.R. 26 May 1917 - near Watou Battalion left LE PEUPLIER at 7.30 a.m. for WATOU area arriving at 11 a.m. Battalion billeted in the vicinity of the BELGIUM border about 1 1/2 miles S.W. of WATOU, ref.Map HAZEBROUCK. Battalion Headquarters at K.15.d.4/6 ref.Map BELGIUM Sheet 27. Lieutenant D.Cogan, R.A.M.C. joined Battalion as Medical Officer. 27 May 1917 - Brandhoek At 6.30 a.m. Battalion left for BRANDHOEK Area, crossed BELGIUM Border at 6.45 a.m. arriving in Camp at G.11.c. at 10.45 a.m. Ref.Map Belgium, Sheet 28 N.W. Captain T.Amyot, R.A.M.C. left the Battalion for ROUEN. 28 May 1917 - Infantry Barracks at Ramparts, Ypres At 9 p.m. Battalion left Camp at G.11.c to entrain for YPRES to relieve the 8th Bn.Royal West Kent Regt in Brigade reserve. relief complete by 12.15 a.m. 29th May. Battalion billeted in Infantry Barracks with Battalion Headquarters at the RAMPARTS, I.14.b.1/8, ref.Map Sheet 28 N.W. 29 May 1917 - trenches in front of Zillebeke In reserve at YPRES. At 9.15 p.m. Battalion left to relieve 8th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regt, 72nd Brigade, in the trenches HOOGE, Sector in front of ZILLEBEKE, taking over line from I.24.d.65/05 Right Flank to I.18.d.3/1 Left Flank with following dispositions: - Relief complete 1.50 a.m. 30th May. RIGHT COMPANY - "A" Company. CENTRE COMPANY - "B" Company. LEFT COMPANY - "C" Company. SUPPORT COMPANY - "D" Company. Battalion Headquarters at DORMY HOUSE, I.23.a.6/3 Casualties 1 O.R. Wounded. 70th Brigade 23rd Division on our Right. 166th Brigade, 55th Division on our Left, with 19th BN.K.L.R. on our immediate left. Lieut.W.Hobbs, took over duties of Acting Adjutant from Lieut.L.A.L.Fink, M.C. 30 May 1917 Trenches - HOOGE Sector. Casualties NIL. 31 May 1917 Trenches HOOGE Sector. 7014 CS.M. Field, M.C., Wounded. 89th INFANTRY BRIGADE SPORTS held at BUIRE-AU-BOIS on 16th. May 1917 RESULTS (a)1st. Sgt.Bryan 17th Bn.K.L.R. 2nd Pte. Isaacs 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 3rd RSM Lovelady 17th Bn. K.L.R. 4th Pte. Chamberlain 2nd Bn. Beds. R. (b) 220 yards race. 1st Sgt. Chappell Machine Gun Coy. 2nd 2nd Lt. Shakury [sic] 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 3rd Pte. Whitehead 17th Bn. K.L.R. 4th Pte. Tingle 2nd Bn. Beds. R. (c) 440 yards 1st Pte. Isaacs 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 2nd Pte. Tudor 17th Bn. K.L.R. 3rd Pte. Howett 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 4th Pte. Tilley 20th Bn. K.L.R. (d) Half Mile Race 1st Cpl. Jeffery 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 2nd 2nd Lt.Childs 17th Bn. K.L.R. 3rd Sgt. Mallins 19th Bn. K.L.R. 4th Pte. Tranter 2nd Bn. Beds. R. (e) Mile Race 1st Cpl. Jeffery 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 2nd Sgt. Mallins 19th Bn. K.L.R. 3rd Pte. Spittles 2nd Beds. R. 4th Pte. Humphrey 2nd Beds. R. (g) High jump 1st Pte. Sutcliffe 17th Bn. K.L.R. 2nd CQMS Jack 17th Bn. K.L.R. 3rd Cpl. Aveling 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 4th L/Cpl. Anderson 17th Bn. K.L.R. (h) Long jump 1st Pte. Jones 17th Bn. K.L.R. 2nd Sgt. Chappell Machine Gun Coy. 3rd Pte. Wiffen 2nd Bn. Beds. R. 4th Sgt. Hawson 20th Bn. K.L.R. (i) Relay race. Winners 17th Battn K.L.R. (k) Tug of r Winners: 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regiment Runners up: 19th Battn K.L.R. (l) Wrestling pickaback. Winners: 20th Battn. K.L.R. (m) 1. "Turn out" Winners: 20th Battn. K.L.R. 2. pair of H.D. or L.D. with harness. Winers: 19th Battn. K.L.R. The winners of events will take part in Divisional Sports to take place on Sunday next, 20th inst., with the exception that each UNIT is allowed to enter one complete "Turn out" with vehicle. The Hurdle race will take place on a date to be notified later, on arrival of hurdles. The Committee Meeting called for 6 p.m. tomorrow will take place at Headquarters, 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt. at BUIRE-AU-BOIS, and not at the 20th Battn. K.L.R. as previously stated. 16th May 1917. (sd) C.A.EMERY, Captain, 20th Battn. K.L.R. Secretary 89th Brigade Sports Commte. The following is a copy of a letter received from The Right Hon. E.G.V. Earl of DERBY, K.G., G.C.V.O., C.B., by the Major General Commanding. "I am sorry that my visit to you yesterday was all too hurried but I am sure that you and your Division generally will realise that I was obliged to hurry back home having been away for 4 days. I cannot tell you what pleasure it gave me, not only to see the 89th Brigade, but those members from the whole of the Division who have received Honours in the late fighting. I have been associated with the Division from its very beginning and have taken and do take the greatest possible interest in its doings and feel as proud as the Division itself must feel when it receives well merited Honours. I shall never forget the satisfaction I felt when in the SOMME Battle I received telegrams from Sir DOUGLAS HAIG and General RAWLINSON congratulating me on the success of the Division, and I am even more proud of the Division now than I was then, when I feel that after continuous fighting they still uphold the splendid reputation they then gained. I fear there is much more fighting in front of us before the enc comes but however much fighting there is and however severe it may be I have no fear but that the Division will retain the confidence now felt in it by all Commanders and I am certain that you personally will appreciate having under your command such a magnificent lot of Officers and Men. I hope you will keep me informed on your doings and will realise the deep interest I feel in the welfare of all ranks." 23rd May 1917 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt. Daily Intelligence Summary - 31st May, 1917 1. Identifications. NIL 2. Operations (a) Enemy. Very inactive on the whole. At 12.5 p.m. enemy fired 4 5.9 just outside front line of Right Company, and then lifted on to Support Line. Enemy shelled intermittently throughout the day. (b) Our Artillery dispersed Boche working party in I.13.c. at 3.15 p.m. They fired intermittently during the day. 3. Enemy activity and attitude. There has been no rifle fire and a Machine Gun which traversed our front line was firing over the heads of men working on the parapet. The enemy was observed holding trench in front of CROSS Street very strongly at night, as though "Standing to" in anticipation of an attack. 4. Enemy defences (a) trenches Enemy is building up his parapet. A man was seen on the parapet this morning and new planks were seen. (b) Wire. Nil. (c) O.Ps. Nil (d) M.G's. Nil. 5. Movement No movement has been observed. 6. Signals A few lights were observed to have been fired in advance of main enemy line. 7. Air Activity. Nil. 8. Patrols See Patrol Report 9. Miscellaneous Nil. H.Hargreaves Lieut for Major Commanding 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment.

1-31 May 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

item

Jacob, G.R.,
Marsden, E.L.,
Hague, Sydney George,
Jones, K.C.J.,
Smith, S.H.,
Greenwood, Arthur Donald,
Barnetson, A.D.,
Watts, Herbert Edward,
Shekury, Cecil,
de Buriatte, H.,
Holbrook, William J.,
Cogan, D.,
Amyot, T.E.,
Hobbs, W.,
Fink, Lawrence Alexander Lewis,
Derby, Edward George Villiers, 17th Earl of,
Williams, Hugh Bruce,
Emery, C.A.,
Childs,
Hargreaves, H.,
Hedge, Thomas John,
Williams, J T,
Brown, J.,
Furr, C.,
Harding, G.,
Page, P.A.,
Foster, R.,
Wheeler, J.,
Thorogood, A.,
Gurney, George,
Field, R.,
Bryan,
Isaacs,
Lovelady,
Chamberlain,
Chappell,
Whitehead,
Tingle,
Tudor,
Howett,
Tilley,
Jeffrey,
Mallins,
Tranter,
Spittles,
Humphrey,
Sutcliffe,
Jack,
Aveling,
Anderson,
Jones,
Wiffen,
Hawson,
Haig, Douglas [1st Earl],
Rawlinson, Henry Seymour [1st Baron Rawlinson of Trent]

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 20th Battalion (4th City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 19th Battalion (3rd City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, 17th Battalion (1st City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, athletics, wrestling, maps, 89th Trench Mortar Battery, 89th Infantry Brigade, Bedfordshire Yeomanry, football, XIX Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, 8th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, 8th Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, 72nd Infantry Brigade, 70th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Division, 166th Infantry Brigade, tug of war, 30th Division, 55th (West Lancashire) Division, Buire-au-Bois, Hooge, Ypres, Ypres Ramparts, Ypres Ramparts Infantry Barracks, Aire-sur-la-Lys, Steenbecque, Caestre, Hazebrouck, Watou, le Peuplier, Belgium, Brandhoek, Rouen, Zillebeke, Dormy House (Ypres), Bourecq, Nuncq, Bours