X550/3/WD/1707

War Diary for July 1917 1 Jul 1917 - English Wood Battalion in reserve at ENGLISH WOOD (H.29.d. ref: Sheet 28 N.W.BELGIUM). Casualties: - 2 O.R. Killed 7 O.R. Wounded. 1 O.R. Wounded accidentally. No.9675 L/Sgt.G.Wilson attached Y.33 T.M.Battery awarded Military Medal (London gazette 18/6/17). The following awarded the Medal for "Long Service and Good Conduct" (Special A.O.1/4/17[)]. No.6229 C.S.M. (now 2/Lieut) A.F.Aldridge No.5846 Lce.Sgt.F.Selby No.6095 Pte.J.Harris 2 Jul 1917 Battalion in Reserve at ENGLISH WOOD. Casualties 1 O.R. wounded 3 Jul 1917 Battalion in Reserve at ENGLISH WOOD. Lt.Col.E.S.M.POYNTZ proceeded on leave. Major B.P.NEWBOLT proceeded to Base at ROUEN to join 48th Prisoner of War Company. Captain L.F.BEAL, M.C. rejoined from School of Instruction ALDERSHOT. Major C.H.de.St.P.BUNBURY joined from 2nd Bn.Yorkshire Regiment. Casualties: - NIL 4 Jul 1917 Battalion in Reserve at ENGLISH WOOD. Major C.H.de.St.P.BUNBURY took over command of Battn: Captain L.F.BEAL, M.C. took over command of "D" Coy. Casualties Nil. 5 Jul 1917 Battalion in Reserve at ENGLISH WOOD. Rev.R.B.PARSLEW attached to Battalion. Casualties 1 O.R. wounded. 6 Jul 1917 Battalion in Reserve at ENGLISH WOOD. Casualties NIL. At 11.45 p.m. the 7th Bn.R.W.Kent Regt commenced to relieve the Battalion. We then withdrew to Camp about G.24.c. (ref Sheet 28 N.W.) arriving at 1.30 a.m. 7th 7 Jul 1917 - Polincove At 10 a.m. Battalion left Camp at G.24.c. to entrain at G.21.a.6/7 for WATTEN arriving at WATTEN at 4.10 p.m. Battalion detraubed [sic] and marched to billets at POLINCOVE anout 2 miles S.E. of AUDRUICQ (ref.Map HAZEBROUCK 5.a.) arriving at 7.50 p.m. Sick wastage week ending 7th 4 O.R. 8 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 9 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE Battalion commenced training 10 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE Major R.O.WYNNE, D.S.O. left to command 19th Battn: Kings Liverpool Regiment. 11 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 2nd Lieut.D.D.WARREN accidentally injured by fall from his horse 12 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 13 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 2nd Lieut.K.C.J.JONES, M.C. to England (transferred to Indian Army) 14 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE Sick wastage week ending 14th 14 O.R. 15 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE Captain J.P.PITTS took over command of "A" Company from Captain H.de.BURIATTE. 16 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE Lieutenant J.T.COE rejoined Battalion from England. Major R.O.Wynne, D.S.O. rejoined from 19th Bn.K.L.R. 17 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 18 Jul 1917 Billets POLINCOVE 2nd Lieut.H.H.HARMAN proceeded on leave. 19 Jul 1917 - Steenvoorde At 1 p.m. Battalion left POLINCOVE to proceed by Lorries to STEENVOORDE arriving at 8.20 p.m. 20 Jul 1917 - en route to Wippenhoek At 5.50 p.m. Battalion left STEENVOORDE for WIPPENHOEK Area arriving at PATRICIA Camp (L.29.b.2/6 ref Sheet 27 BELGIUM) at 9.15 a.m. Came under 90th Brigade 21 Jul 1917 - Patricia Camp, Wippenhoek PATRICIA CAMP. Sick wastage week ending 21st July 7 O.R. 22 Jul 1917 - Dickebusch Huts At 5.15 a.m. Battalion left PATRICIA CAMP for DICKEBUSCH HUTS, H.20.d.5/0 (ref Sheet 28 BELGIUM) arriving at 7.45 a.m. relieved 11th Bn.R.Fusiliers. Casualties 3 O.R. wounded 23 Jul 1917 - front line in front of Zillebeke and Chateau Segard DICKEBUSCH HUTS At 7 p.m. the Battalion, 13 Officers and 376 O.R. strong, under Major R.O.WYNNE, D.S.O. proceeded to relieve the 8th Bn.East Surrey regiment in the Trenches in front of ZILLEBEKE taking over Line from ST PETERS STREET inclusive on the Right to about I.24.b.80/20. (Ref: Map ZILLEBEKE) with following dispositions. "A" Coy RIGHT FRONT "B" Coy LEFT FRONT "C" Coy RESERVE "D" Coy SUPPORT Headquarters in CRAB CRAWL At 10 p.m. remainder of Battalion left to take up position as Brigade Reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD arriving at 11 p.m. Casualties 2 O.R. wounded. 24 Jul 1917 Battalion in the line at ZILLEBEKE and Reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD. Casualties 2 O.R. wounded 25 Jul 1917 Battalion in the line at ZILLEBEKE and Reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD. casualties 2 O.R. wounded 26 Jul 1917 Battalion in the Line at ZILLEBEKE and Reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD. Major R.O.Wynne, D.S.O. proceeded to 30th Division as Liaison Officer. Lt.Colonel C.H.de.St.P.BUNBURY proceeded to Trenches to Command Battalion. At 5 p.m. the 2nd Bn.Yorkshire Regiment and 18th Bn.Manchester Regiment carried out a raid in front of this Sector with successful results. No.8718 Cpl.F.Aveling, 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regiment, awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in this raid. Casualties. 2nd Lieutenant G.LENTON wounded. Other Ranks: 11 Killed 19 wounded. These included a party under C.S.Major R.KIRBY who were returning to CHATEAU SEGARD (17 Strong) and were knocked out by a shell near BEDFORD HOUSE, of which 6 were Killed. 5 Died of wounds. 6 Wounded. 27 Jul 1917 Battalion in the line at ZILLEBEKE and Reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD. 2nd Lieutenant E.[sic] LENTON Died of wounds. Casualties: - 1 O.R. Killed. 5 O.R. wounded. 28 Jul 1917 Enemy reported to be evacuating his Front System of Trenches North of YPRES. At 12.30 a.m. 2 Strong Patrols were ordered to go out and reconnoitre Enemy's Front Line to ascertain if they were withdrawing on our Front. Patrols from "A" and "B" Companies went out - see attached reports. CASUALTIES: - 2nd Lieut.I.T.M.COLLINS Missing. 2nd Lieut.P.A.PAGE Wounded Other Ranks: - Killed 8 Wounded 17 Missing 4 Gassed 18 At about 11 p.m. 2nd Bn.Yorkshire Regiment commenced to relieve the Battalion in the Trenches. Relief complete about 4.30 a.m. 29/7/17. The Battalion then withdrew to CHATEAU SEGARD The total Casualties during this tour in the trenches were: - 2nd Lieutenant G.LENTON Died of Wounds 2nd Lieut.I.T.M.COLLINS Missing 2nd Lieut.P.A.PAGE Wounded Other Ranks: - Killed 20 Died of Wounds 5 Wounded 43 Missing 4 Gassed 18 = 90 Sick Wastage week ending 28th 3 O.R. 29 Jul 1917 - bivouac near Ypres In reserve at CHATEAU SEGARD At 10.15 p.m. Battalion left for Bivouac at H.27a ref: Sheet, 28 N.W. BELGIUM Casualties 1 O.R. wounded Captain R.E.Oakley, M.C. to 30th Div as Liaison Offr. 30 Jul 1917 Bivouac at H.27.a. At 6 p.m. Battalion came under orders of G.O.C., 30th Division, as Divisional Reserve. Casualties 1 O.R. Wounded. 31 Jul 1917 Attack by Fifth Army commenced at 3.50 a.m. At 6 p.m. Battalion left H.27.a. and moved to CHATEAU SEGARD arriving at 6.50 a.m. At 10.15 a.m. left CHATEAU SEGARD for PROMENADE Trench, immediately South of ZILLEBEKE LAKE arriving at 11.30 a.m. Battalion Headquarters about I.22 Central. At 4.15 p.m. Battalion left PROMENADE for assembly position NORTH of MAPLE COPSE. 4.45 p.m. Battalion in assembly position in Artillery formation in file N.W. of MAPLE COPSE i.23.b. 4.50 p.m. Orders received that this Battalion on LEFT and 19th Bn.K.L.R. on RIGHT were to attack JARGON Trench W. of GLENCORSE WOOD. "A" and "B" Companies in Front Line, "C" Company in Support, "D" Company in Reserve. 5 p.m. Instructions sent to 19th Bn.K.L.R. that Battalion was ready to move off. 5.5 p.m. Orders received canceling attack. Battalion withdrew about 200 yards and lay in another Field about 300 yards E. of DORMY HOUSE. 5.30 p.m. Heavy shelling of Area in immediate neighbourhood of Battalion with 5.9's commenced. Battalion took cover in adjacent trenches. 6 p.m. Orders received that Battalion were to occupy JACKDAW RESERVE TRENCH immediately after dark, relieving elements of 90th Brigade. 6.30 p.m. 2nd Lieut.A.P.METHUEN left for JACKDAW RESERVE with reconnoitering party. 9 p.m. Reconnoitring party returned and Bn. left for JACKDAW RESERVE 10.30 p.m. Battalion Headquarters established about J.13.c.3/7 taking over from 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment. No information regarding location of Companies could be obtained. 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt. Report on Operations, night of 27/28th July, 1917 "A" Company 1. Strength. "A" Company formed up with a strength of 3 Officers, 14 N.C.Os and 43 men. Each man carried 2 Bombs, 220 Rounds of S.A.A. Nearly all men had shovels and 2 Boxes of Bombs were sent to the second line to be carried up as a Company Reserve. 2. Formation All "A" Company closed on the top of CRAB CRAWL Trench and went into No Man's Land under their Platoon Sergeants. The formation adopted was two extended lines at 15 yds distance. The extension was to 5 paces. Nos 3 & 4 platoons were in front line, Nos 1 & 2 were in second line. One Lewis Gun went with each line and two with Right Half of Battalion Headquarters. 3. Patrols. (a) 1 N.C.O. and 3 men were sent out about 100 yards with orders to stay out until the Company passed through them. (b) Later, two parties of 1 N.C.O. and 3 men were sent out at an interval of 50 yards and were told to go out 150 yds (i.e. about 50 to 70 yds the other side of JEFFREY Trench). They were told to stay there and send one man back to report all clear. Two men were sent back with this message and were told to return to their patrols and tell their N.C.Os that they must remain there as soo[ sic] as we moved forward they would advance with us making a left incline. These two men could not find their patrols consequently the patrols withdrew after a short while. On the supposition that 3 N.C.O's and 9 men were out in front of us an officer and 3 men were sent out. the orders given to the Officer were to the effect that he would gather the men who were out and form a strong patrol. he was then to push out another small patrol and work on to JEFFREY RESERVE. he was to report when he had reached the 9 men and had pushed out a further patrol. He (the officer, 2nd Lt.I.T.M.Collins) sent back a runner with a message. The runner was wounded and lost the message. the three patrols mentioned in (a) and (b) of this para came back without orders and 2/Lt.Collins is left now with 2 men somewhere in front of JEFFREY TRENCH. 3. Keeping in Touch. (a) "A" Company to keep in touch with "B" Coy had to move along 150 yds to our left. Then three patrols were sent out to get in touch but all returned not having found "B" Coy. Later "B" Company was seen in the trench & communication was established. (b) The Company got in touch with the battalion on our right and received the information that they had sent out a strong patrol which found the enemy 400 yards in front of their line (Buff's front line.) Sd. G.R.Jacob, Lt. O.C. "A" Company 28/7/17. 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt. Report on operations, night of 27/28 July, 1917 "B" Company. 12.30 a.m. My Company, consisting of myself, 2nd LtP.A.Page, and 40 O.R. took up a position in WARRINGTON AVENUE with the intention of making a preliminary reconnaissance and if possible ultimately occupy the Bosche front line system as far as J.19.b.0.5. on the left to J.19.c.7.8. inclusive. With this party were two Lewis Gun Teams. The right rested on junction VANCOUVER STREET - WARRINGTON AVENUE. The sentry on duty in advanced sap in WARRINGTON AV reported six Very lights fired from 11 p.m. to 12 m.n. from his first line, second line, and also behind the ridge, this was confirmed by our own observation. I despatched immediately a patrol of 1 N.C.O. and 4 O.R. On returning they reported having reached Bosche wire roughly at I.19.a.4.2. A Very Light was put up, several forms were seen moving in the trench. They were this time lying on the parapet. As only half of the party returned I sent out a second patrol to find the remainder. Both parties however returned individually but their reports were identical, additionally one party heard mumbling in Bosche front line and movement on duck boards. The other party was sniped at on their way back. Their Light Guns seemed to be well up. 1.15 a.m. Our Light Guns were shelling his front line system, i.e., our objective. 1.30 a.m. Enemy machine guns firing half right from WARRINGTON AV enfiladed No Man's Land. 1.45 a.m. Liason Patrol I had despatched to Left Battalion returned & reported that none of them had gone over from their front and the officer they spoke to said the Bosche was still there. 2 a.m. The enemy traversed whole of front line some few times with Machine Guns. At this time it was my opinion that we should not go forward. 2.30 a.m. At 2.30 a.m. according to instructions I sent out two patrols each of 1 Sgt and 4 O.R., with instructions to establish themselves in the enemy's front line. Both parties going to different parts of the trench reported they were fired on by Machine Guns and rifles. 3.26 a.m. A Liason patrol dispatched to Left Battalion reported they were still "Standing To" and had no information. Under instructions from my Commanding Officer I got into touch with the Trench Mortar Officer who arranged to put a barrage on the enemy system from 5 a.m. to 5.15 a.m., which was my objective [sic]. This he did, and at 5.15 a.m. our own Artillery barrage opened. The patrol I detailed (Cpl.Fulford and 10 men) were "Standing To" but I would not allow them to leave the trench as simultaneously with our own barrage, the enemy opened heavy Artillery fire on our front line system combined with Machine Gun and Rifle fire. I did not consider it advisable for this party to leave trench until 5.35 a.m. when matters had eased somewhat. This they did under cover of Smoke and Dust got through the wire and on to Bische parapet. A sentry on their left immediately shot at the, shouted, and our patrol heard answering shouts in the near neighbourhood. He retired and reached our front line without casualties. I had arranged to support this patrol and the remainder of my company immediately on receiving information from him, but I consider he was justified in returning as my support would have consisted of 2 Officers, 13 O.R's and 1 Lewis Gun. Sd. Wm.J.Holbrook, Captain. Commanding "B" Company.

1-31 Jul 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

item

Holbrook, William J.,
Beal, Leonard Frank,
Wilson, G,
Aldridge, A.F.,
Selby, F.,
Harris, J.,
Poyntz, Edward Stephen Massey,
Newbolt, B.P.,
Bunbury, C.H.de St.Pierre,
Parslew, Reginald Bowering,
Wynne, Richard Owen,
Warren, D D,
Jones, K.C.J.,
Pitts, J P,
de Buriatte, H.,
Coe, J.T.,
Harman, H H,
Aveling, F.,
Lenton, Gerald,
Kirby, Robert Gladstone,
Collins, I.T.M.,
Page, P.A.,
Methuen, A.P.,
Jacob, G.R.,
Fulford

2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, deaths, London Gazette, 48th Prisoner of War Company, 7th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, maps, land weaponry, 19th Battalion (3rd City) King's (Liverpool) Regiment, horses, motor vehicles, 90th Infantry Brigade, 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 30th Division, 18th Battalion (3rd City) Manchester Regiment, 16th Battalion (1st City) Manchester Regiment, Crab Crawl (Ypres), Dormy House (Ypres), English Wood [Ypres], Rouen, Aldershot, Watten, Polincove, Steenvoorde, Wippenhoek, Patricia Camp [Ypres], Dickebusch Huts [Ypres], Zillebeke, St.Peter's Street [Ypres], Chateau Segard (Ypres), Bedford House [Ypres], Zillebeke Lake, Promenade Trench [Ypres], Maple Copse [Ypres], Jargon Trench (Ypres), Glencorse Wood (Ypres), Jackdaw Reserve Trench [Ypres], Jeffrey Trench [Ypres], Jeffrey Reserve Trench [Ypres], Warrington Avenue [Ypres], Vancouver Street [Ypres]