X550/5/3/1712

WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1917 1 Dec 1917 - Houtkerque Training. 2 Dec 1917 Training. Lt A/Capt P.F.WATTS awarded the Military Cross for gallantry & devotion to duty in action. 3 Dec 1917 Training. Lt A/Capt.J.H.E.SANDFORD struck off strength on resuming his medical studies 4 Dec 1917 Training. 16 O.R. joined 6 Dec 1917 - Godewaersvelde March to GODEWAERSYELDE [sic] 9 Dec 1917 - Rocquigny Entrained at 3 a.m. arrived at MIRAUMONT at noon. Marched to ROCQUIGNY arrived in camp 7.30 p.m. 10 Dec 1917 5 O.R. rejoined. 13 Dec 1917 - Etricourt-Manancourt Marched to ETRICOURT. (under canvas) 15 Dec 1917 - Metz-en-Couture Marched to METZ. 16 Dec 1917 - Highland Ridge, Villers-Plouich 42 O.R. joined Batt. releived [sic] the 10th R.I.R. in the support trenches on HIGHLAND RIDGE near VILLERS PLOUICH 19 Dec 1917 - front line near Villers-Plouich Batt relieved HOOD batt. in front line. Lieut.Col. Collings Wells D.S.O. resumed command of Batt. 22 Dec 1917 Batt releived [sic] 7th R.Fus in front line. Lieut H.M.E.GUDGEON Taken on strength of Batt. 27 Dec 1917 - Havrincourt Batt releived [sic] by 7th R.Fus and marched to camp in HAVRINCOURT WOOD Total casualties during tour O.R. 3 killed and 10 wounded. Major F.W.F.LATHOM assumed temp command of 7th R.Fus. 29 Dec 1917 The following were mentioned in Dispatches of Nov.7th/17 - BLACKWELL Sec Lt (Actg Captn) J.B.COLLINGS-WELLS Capt (Actg.Lt.Col) J.J. D.S.O., PEARCE, No 13972 Sgt.F.C.; MARKS, No 4/6663 Sgt.W.G. 30 Dec 1917 - trenches near Villers-Plouich Batt moved up to line at one hours notice owing to Enemy attack on Div. front. 31 Dec 1917 Major G.P.Nunnelley M.C. rejoined from England. Batt moved to front line. 2nd Lt A.V.CLARKE wounded. Lt C.KEITH-JOHNSON and 2nd Lt. W.D.SMITH gassed, O.R. 5 Killed, 9 wounded, 8 gassed. The Following Messages are between Captain Spicer of B Company and other Officers - they were found mixed up with the 1st Battalion War Diary [X550/2/5] see also entries for January 1918 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H.Q. about R.2.b.8.0. For O.C. A & B 1. A & B Coys & H.Q. will proceed at once to the Counter Attack Area & occupy trenches in R.2.a.& c. 2. C & D Coys will occupy trench running north & south through R.2.central & R.2.c.central. 3. A Coy will occupy trench from R.3.a.25.50 - R.3.c.6.8. 4. B Coy will occupy trench from R.3.c.6.8 - R.3.c.90.50. J.H.Blackwell Capt & Adjt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O.C. COY NOBLE in trench L330-R8 Move your company to fill up gap from R.4.a.6.5 - R.4.a.5.0. They will have to consolidate a position there - there is no trench yet. Report at HQ R.4.a.3.3. M.B.Hewitt Lieut.A.Adjt. NOISY for L.Col.comdg. at H.Q. R.4.a.3.3. Artists 30.12.17 5.45 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To OC B Coy Posts have been working out for some time now and are still progressing. Can I come and see you about this A.V.Clark 2Lt. Rewired 1 p.m. About ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To Lt.Clark Come in with Runner Will send for Hayes & Childs later, after you have had some food. F.T.Spicer Capt. OC B Coy 30-12-17 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From O.C. B Coy. NOBLE To Major F.W.F.Lathom. Repeat to L.Col.J.S.Collings Wells D.S.O. I have established communication from HOODS at R.4.c.55.60 (Sunken Road) along Sunken road to About R.4.a.80.45. where I am in touch with 1st ARTISTS. Am consolidating as rapidly as possible, everything is quiet at present. My HQrs will be located at R.4.a.65.60. Please have my rations forwarded here. 30-12-17 8.30.pm F.T.Spicer Capt O C B COY NOBLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hawke Bn is relieving the HOOD Bn tonight & should be starting this by now. The HAWKE will put one platoon into CAMOUFLAGE ROAD on your right to relieve RF's and the HAWKE will relieve all your posts in CABLE TRENCH except the one nearest your end which you will continue to hold. I note what you say about the remainder of the Artists Rifles. J.S.Collings-Wells Lt.Col. NOBLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From O.C. B COY NOBLE T O.C. NOAH My Coy frontage now is from R.4.c.65.60 to R.4.a.90.80. 30-12-17 8.57 p.m. F.T.Spicer O.C. B Coy NOBLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C. NOAH To O.C. B Coy NOBLE Hope soon to send some of my men so as to shorten your line. Will inform you but shall put them in in Camouflage road from the HOOD end. F.W.F.Lathom Major 9.15 p.m. 30.12.17 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C.B.Coy NOBLE To O.C. NOAH Am in touch with HOODS. along cable trench at R.4.d.15.85. Have established posts along Cable Trench as ordered. Am sending down for SAA & Bombs. Have you any Very lights? F.T.Spicer Capt 31-12-17 1.26 a.m. O.C.B Coy. NOBLE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From OC [unreadable] Coy NOBLE To O.C. B. Coy. NOBLE [sic?] Can you please inform me what time rations will be up. It is essential that I should have them before daylight, after dawn it will be difficult for me to get to all my positions. C.O. informed me that you would cover for me F.T.Spicer Capt O.C. B.Coy NOBLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O C B Coy. To 2/Lt A.V.Clark Try and get posts along Cable Trench again as soon as possible, & inform me. Try & keep your positions don't withdraw until you get orders. F.T.Spicer Capt 31-12-17 8.20 am OC B Coy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- URGENT From OC B Coy.NOBLE To 2/Lt Clarke. Reoccupy posts along Cable Trench at once HOODS are again retaking their posts along EAGLE AVENUE. Find a Runner & inform me when you have occupied these posts. This must be done. If HOODS are pressed send Bombing Section to help them. 9.5 am 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer Capt. OC B Coy NOBLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To O.C.B.Coy Have established LG post about 60 yds from road up Cable Trench also Bombing post about 40 yds from road. Cannot get any further at present 9.12 am Rewired. A.V.Clark 2Lt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C.B.Coy To Adj.NOBLE A small party of the 1st A.R.s between me & Plumbly have not yet been relieved yet. Plumbly says that he has not sufficient men to relieve them. I cannot thin my line any more, but as soon as my posts along Cable Trench (189 Bde) are relieved I can put them in when the A.R.s. are at present. I have been to see Plumbly and arranged this. 31-12-17 10.16 a.m. F.T.Spicer Capt OC B Coy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To OC B Coy. Posts just got out and retired to road on their own with report of enemy massing for attack on the right of our posts. A.V.Clark 2Lt Rewired 10.20 am FTS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From OC B Coy To 2/Lt Clark Ref: your message just received. these posts must again be occupied. These posts should not retire when they see enemy massing, they are sent there to repulse these attacks therefore they must be reoccupied at once. You must also watch your R flank & give HOODS assistance. Camouflafe road must be held at all costs F.T.Spicer Capt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C. B Coy NOBLE To OC NOAH Posts are now trying to get back along Cable Trench. 2/Lt Clark reports that the Boche are getting in strength in EAGLE AVENUE about R.[4?]d.40.85. 10.21 am 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer capt OC B Coy NOBLE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O C B Coy. NOBLE To Adj NOBLE Received your message re Reports. At present I am sending reports to O.C. NOAH but if possible will also forward them on to you. At present we are engaged with the Boch up EAGLE AVENUE, where he is trying to push on. He was seen massing there at 10.20 am. This has been reported to OC NOAH who is asking for Artillery Support. 11.13 am 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer Capt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C. B.Coy NOBLE. To 2/Lt Webb Send one Bombing Section down Sunken road to help HOODS in EAGLE AVENUE. 12 noon 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer Capt OC B Coy NOBLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From OC B Coy. NOBLE To O.C. NOAH Have put one Bombing Section to assist HOODS along EAGLE AVENUE. Have also order [sic] posts to reoccupy Cable Trench as soon as posts are all along Cut Trench will inform you 12.15 p.m. 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer Capt OC B Coy NOB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O C B Coy NOBLE. To 2/Lt Clark Continue to push out along Cu[t] trench with all Haste and info[rm] me when this is completed. It is very urgent, as I am wait[ing] to report this to Bn.H.Qrs. I have ordered Webb to send one Bombing Section to assist the HOODS along EAGLE AVENUE. Will inform you when to com[e] and see me, not at present but make sure & see the pos[ts] along Cable Trench, this is t[o] assist the HOODS 12.30 pm 31-12-17 F.T.Spicer Capt OC B Coy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C.B Coy. NOBLE. To O C NOAH HOODS have been driven back a little way along EAGLE AVENUE. My most forward post in CABLE TRENCH has had to withdraw slightly owing to the HOODS being driven down EAGLE AVENUE. Have given orders to reoccupy these posts, at once. Situation Enemy heavily shelled my positions from 7.30 am to 8.20 am. S.O.S.was fired on my Right. German Aeroplane flew low over my front at 8.15 a.m. 8.30 a.m. Enemy appears to be bombing down EAGLE AVENUE. My positions in SUNKEN ROAD are intact. F.T.Spicer Capt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From OC B Coy. NOBLE To Adj. NOBLE 2/Lt A.V.Clark is badly wounded along Cable Trench R.4.a.8. Have taken steps to have him brought in 2.15 pm F.T.Spicer Capt Received M.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From OC B Coy NOBLE To OC NOAH Posts are now along Cabl[e] Trench. 2/Lt A.V.Clark is badly woun[ded] along Cable Trench. 31-12-17 2.45 pm F.T.Spicer Ca[pt] O.C. B Coy NOBL[E] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O C B Coy NOBLE To 2Lt Webb Please send for Bombing Section that was sent to HOO[DS] This Afternoon. HOODS Have now been reinforce[d] by one Platoon of A Co[y] 31-12-17 3.20 pm F.T.Spicer C[apt] OC B Coy NOBLE A Coy will relieved [sic] ARTIS[TS R] on your Left at Dusk. FTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From O.C. B.Coy. To Adj. NOBLE Could you let me have some V[ery] lights. Also some picks. I have sufficient shovels. Capt Plumbly also can do with some Very lights. 31-12-17 6.20 pm F.T.Spicer Capt O C B Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From OC B Coy To Adj NOBLE Inteligence [sic] Report ARTILLERT (Hostile) At 7.30 am enemy opened heavy barrage on Sunken road (R.4.b.0.9 to R.4.a.8.a.) this lasted until 8.25 am. SOS was fired by Batt on Right HOODS. Also at two minute intervals at 8 & 11 pm enemy artillery [unreadable]. Our Artillery was very active during the morning. M.G. Hostile M.G. were active. One M.G. located about R.5.a.1.3. SIGNALS From 4.15 to 5.30 p.m. enemy fired oairs of red lights AEROPLANE At 8.15 a.m. an E.A. flew low along camouflage road, again at 4 pm, this time the E.A. was n[ot] so low. MOVEMENT. About 10.15 am much movement was seen in EAGLE AVENUE about R.4.b.8.2. where trench crosses road.

1-31 Dec 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

item

Watts, P.F.,
Sandford, J.H.E.,
Collings-Wells, John Stanhope,
Gudgeon, H.M.E.,
Lathom, Farquhar William Forbes,
Blackwell, J.H.,
Pearce, F.C.,
Marks, W.G.,
Clark, Albert Victor,
Smith, W.D.,
Keith-Johnson, C.,
Nunneley, George Paterson,
Plumbly, L.G.,
Hewitt, M.B.,
Spicer, F.T.,
Hayes, Arthur,
Childs, George Wilmot,
Webb

4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, trains, 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Hood Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, land weaponry, 1st/28th Battalion (Artists Rifles) London Regiment, military aircraft, food & drink, Hawke Battalion, maps, Germans, Houtkerque, Godewaersvelde, Miraumont, Rocquigny, Etricourt-Manancourt, Metz-en-Couture, Villers-Plouich, Highland Ridge [Cambrai], Havrincourt, Havrincourt Wood [Arras], Eagle Avenue [Arras], Cable Trench (Arras), Camouflage Road [Arras], Cut Trench [Arras]