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The following are excerpts from the War Diaries of that Regiment for the period June and July 1915, his first two months in France.
ALDERSHOT:31.5.15: Transport and machine guns section left FARNBOROUGH station LSWR for SOUTHAMPTON. They left SOUTHAMPTON at 4:30pm on 31.5.15 for HAVRE.
ALDERSHOT:2.6.15:The first trainload of Battalion left ALDERSHOT military siding for FOLKESTONE followed by the 2nd train load at 5:45 p.m. Embarked on SS Invicta for BOULOGNE and arrived at that place at 10:35pm. The Battalion the marched to rest camp at OSTROHOVE where it was accommodated under canvas.
OSTROHOVE:3.6.15:At 6:30pm the Battalion marched out of camp to PONT A` BRIQUE railway station a distance of about 4 miles, where it joined the train in which the transport and machine gun section was in from HAVRE. The train left PONT A` BRIQUE at 8:20pm and arrived at WIZERNES at 12:38am (4.6.15) The Battalion moved off at once to its billets at OUVE WIRQUIN and WIRQUIN a distance of about ? miles. It arrived at 3:45 am. The transport which had been delayed off loading by a lack of ramps at about 4:35 am. The Battalion was billeted in barns and stables . Headquarters being in the Chateau.
OUVE WIRQUIN:4.6.15:Rest day in billets. Orders for march to LYNDE received at 3:45pm.
OUVE WIRQUIN:5.6.15:Left billets at 7am and marched via CLETY-HERBELLE-INGHEM-ECQUES-QUIESTEDE-WITTES-BLARINGEM to LYNDE distance 16 miles. The Battalion was bivouacked for the night at LYNDE. The Battalion arrived at LYNDE 2:50pm. There is now a gap in my records until the 19th June
METEREN:19.6.15:Remained in billets. Received orders to proceed to ARMENTIERES on 20th for attachment to the 80th Brigade(General Smith).
METEREN:20.6.15:Left METEREN at 5:30 am and marched via BAILLEUL-NIEPPE to ARMENTIERES. Arrived at 9 o’clock and accommodated in railway goods yard and factories. A & B companies attached to 4th Kings Royal Rifles (KRR) and C & D companies to PPC Light Infantry (PPCLI) for instruction and billeting etc.
ARMENTIERS:21.6.15:Attachment to 80th Infantry brigade continues. A company into trenches attached to 2nd KSLI. One platoon of A company went into trenches occupied by one company of KSLI. B company to trenches with 3rd KRRC. C&D companies under instruction of 4th KRRC and PPCLI. During the day and at about 9:00pm each sent 100 men with above battalions to dig communications trenches.
ARMENTIERES:22.6.15:Attachment to 80th Bde continued. C&D coys proceeded to trenches with 2nd KSLI and 3rd KRRC respectively and relieved A&B coys who returned to billets at 1pm.
ARMENTIERES:23.6.15:Attachment to 80th Bde continued. A&B coys employed with 4th KRRC digging dugouts at ASYLUM. A coy 8-11am, B Coy 11am to 2pm. A&B coy to trenches of 2nd KSLI and 3rd KRR in evening. They went in with 4th KRRC and 4th RB who were relieving 2nd KSLI and 3rd KRR. The four company commanders and the machine gun officer proceed to CHAPELLE ROMPUIE and inspected the trenches which they were to take over from the 5th Royal Warwick Regiment.
ARMENTIERES:24.6.15:Attachment to 80th Bde continues. A and B coys returned from trenches. First casualty in the battalion reported No. 6744 Lance Corporal Bully A Coy being wounded in the head. A Conference was held at Bde Hqrs at which the company adjutant and Quartermaster attended regarding the taking over of trenches in the FRELINGHEIN section. (See Map)
Armentieres:25.6.15:Left ARMENTIERES at 7pm and were met by the guides of 5th Royal Warwick Regiment at CHAPELLE ROMPUE at 8:30pm at which hour the relief began. A coy relieved A coy R Warwicks and B coy B coy and so on . The relief was completed at about 12 midnight. Trenches were taken over as follows (Reference attached Sketch map) A coy 1 -5 and Fort Paul. B coy 6-10 and Fort Dudley. C coy 11-14. D coy 15-19 & Lancashire support farm. A coy of the R West Kent Regiment was at Reserve Farm (Bn Hqrs) in reserve.
In the trenches:26.6.15:Remained in trenches. Improvement of trenches carried out. One man killed by sniper. A quiet day.
In the trenches:27 & 28.6.15: Remained in trenches. Our line was shortened. The 6th Buffs taking over trenches 18 and 19 on the left at 4pm and 9th R Fusiliers (30th Bde) trenches 1-6 at 9pm. A coy who had been occupying trenches 1-5 came back to Reserve farm and relieved the Coy of RW Kent Rgt who went back to the subsidiary line. A coy had 2 sections in both Fort Paul and Fort Dudley. Casualties O.R. (Other Ranks) 2 killed and 5 wounded. Remained in trenches , work carried on. Casualties OR 6 wounded 5 of whom returned to duty after being dressed.
In the trenches:30.6.15:Relieved in trenches by 7th E Surrey Regt. Relief commenced at 2pm and was completed at 5:30pm. The battalion moved back to billets as on attached map. The battalion was held in a constant state of readiness to occupy the subsidiary line of trenches shown on attached map. Casualties OR 2 wounded. There is also a copy of the detailed orders available in my files.
IOEGSTEERTE:1.7.15: Remained in billets and coy commanders reconnoitred subsidiary line of trenches. Several working parties formed by coys to work in trenches. 260 men went to bathe in PONT DE NIEPPE Baths. A quiet day.
IOEGSTEERTE:2.7.15:Remained in billets. Quiet day. Several working parties at Observation farm.
IOEGSTEERTE:3.7.15:Remained in billets. Quiet day. One officer from each company proceeded to ARMENTIERES to reconnoitre billets.
IOEGSTEERTE:4.7.15:Were relieved at 5pm by Essex Rgt (35th Bde). Proceeded to ARMENTIERES and took over billet occupied by 5th Berkshire Rgt at the Blue Blind Factory Rue Jules Le Bleu. The whole battalion was accommodated on the ground floor of the factory which was still working.
ARMENTIERES:5.7.15: Remained in billets. One company route marched. Remainder held drill parades and bathing parades.
ARMENTIERES:6.7.15:Remained in billets and work carried on as yesterday.
ARMENTIERES:7.7.15:Remained in billets. Were Battalion on duty in Divisional Reserve. Was confined to billets.
ARMENTIERES:8.7.15:Remained in billets. Parades carried out as on previous day. Co adjutant and coy commanders visited trenches occupied by 7th R Susses Rgt at LE TOUQUET.
ARMENTIERES:9.7.15:Remained in billets. 1 Sergeant from each platoon went into trenches occupied by 7th R Sussex Rgt to get acquainted with trenches occupied by this platoon. A draft of 60 other ranks arrived from the base - 22 of these were men who had been left behind sick at various places since the Battalion left England. The remainder were from the 3rd Battalion.
ARMENTIERES:10.7.15:Battalion relieved R Sussex Rgt in trenches (Map 36., c10c, 5-7 to c16 d 3,7). The battalion left billet at 4am. Companies leaving in platoons at 200 paces interval. Guides met platoons at Motor car Corner (sq14 a 8-9) and conducted them to the trenches. The relief was complete by 8am. A,c (less 2 platoon) and D company were in the fire trenches. B coy less 2 platoon was at LYS Farm. 2 platoons of B coy and 2 platoons of C Coy were in support trench. Bn Hqrs was at CQD2.2. The transport moved on same day to PONTCEAU(B17 A 8.5). Casualties one other ranks wounded.
In the trenches:11.7.15:A quiet day. Rations were brought up by night (9:30pm) to Bn Hqrs and issued to companies. One water cart was brought up to Bn Hqrs by day and left there. Transport could not come up to Headquarters by day and a hand cart was found very useful for bringing baggage and stores up from Motorcar Corner. Casualties - wounded OR four.
In the trenches:12.7.15:Bn Hqrs was shelled at about 11am one shell hitting the roof. Capt G Chubb was killed being hit in the head by a sniper while looking over the parapet about 4pm. It was found more convenient to issue rations to companies early in the morning, as during the night the communication trenches were blocked by working parties proceeding from and to the subsidiary trenches which were under construction. Rations were therefore dumped at Headquarters by night, divided into company messes by Coy Quartermaster Sergeants and fetched by companies about 3:30 in the morning, Casualties - one officer killed (Capt Chubb) 3 other ranks wounded.
In the trenches:13.7.15:Quiet day. Companies worked at repairing parapets and making dugouts splinter proof. Casualties one OR wounded
In the trenches:14.7.15:At 3:45am our trench Howitzer opened fire on the German barricade on the LE TOUQUET Rd from A coy trench doing some damage - about 5am the Germans replied with Hand Grenades, Mortars and trench Howitzers wounding Capt G H Higgins, Capt Rolls (slightly) and 7 men (2 slightly). It was reported that one of the hostile grenades fell in our bomb store in g2 trench which caused an explosion and probably this caused our casualties. The remainder of the day was quiet.
In the trenches:15.7.15:Quiet day. Companies worked at repairing wire in front of parapets during the previous night. Our snipers claim to have hit 4 of a hostile working party. Officers of the 7th East Surrey Rgmt went round the trenches with a view to taking them over. Casualties two other ranks wounded.
In the trenches:16.7.15:Enemy fired trench mortars in to 94(D coy ) trench wounding 3 men. Battalion was relieved by 7th East Surrey Rgmt. The relief commenced from Motorcar Corner at 9pm (except for platoons of A coy which came in earlier). The relief was completed at 12:30am. It rained hard during the relief which made the trenches very muddy and slippery and somewhat delayed the relief. The battalion on being relieved proceeded to billets at LE BIZET. The last platoon to be relieved arrived in billets at 3:30am. Casualties wounded O Ranks 8 (one slight).
LE BIZET:17.7.15:Remained in billets found working party of 600 men to walk on SFT during the afternoon and evening.
LE BIZET:18.7.15:Remained in billets. Church parade services for all denominations. Found working parties of 650 men. Casualties wounded other ranks two.
LE BIZET:19.7.15:Remained in billets. Found working party of 650 men. Casualties Other ranks one.
LE BIZET:20.7.15:Remained in billets. Found working party of 600 men. Casualties Nil.
LE BIZET:21.7.15:Remained in billets. Quiet day found working parties of 550 men to work on subsidiary line. No casualties.
LE BIZET:22.7.15:Took over trenches at LE TOUQUET (same as previously held) from 7th East Surrey Rgt. The relief was commenced at 8pm and completed as 12:30 AM. A quiet night.
LE BIZET:23.7.15:A very quiet day. Work on trenches carried out by coys.
LE BIZET:24.7.15:A quiet day.
LE BIZET:25.7.15:A somewhat lively morning. At 10:45am the enemy fired about 14 cylinder bombs into Barkenham House and the communication trench around old Snipers House. We replied with trench mortars and rifle grenades. The enemy again opened fire on 93 and 94 trenches with rifle grenades, cylinder bombs and 15 lb High Explosive shells, to which we replied and the gunners assisted with shrapnel, no damage was done to our trenches and the episode closed about noon, we having the last shot. The remainder of the day was quiet - wounded other ranks 5 including colour sergeant Major Anniss was severely wounded (afterwards died of his wounds 26 th).
LE BIZET:26.7.15:A quiet morning at 2pm our artillery heavily bombarded the crater adjoining the Brewery and the enemy`s trenches about this place. They appeared to make very good practise. The enemy did not reply. Casualties wounded other ranks one.
LE BIZET:27.7.15:The enemy fired 6 HE shells at Hdqr Farm at 12 noon all of which fell short and 4 of which were blind. The remainder of the day was quiet. Casualties wounded other ranks one.
LE BIZET:28.7.15:The enemy fired about 15 HE 15 lb shells in the vicinity of LUKERS HOUSES at 11:15am doing no damage. The battalion was relieved in the trenches by the 7th East Surrey Regt. Relief commenced at 8pm and was completed by 10:30pm. The Battalion on being relieved returned to billets at LE BIZET
LE BIZET:29.7.15:Quiet day, found working parties of 650 men at subsidiary line of trenches by night.
LE BIZET:30.7.15:Quiet day. Remained in billets. Found working parties as above.
LE BIZET:31.7.15:Quiet day. Found working parties as above.
The following is an extract from the book British Battalions On The Somme and describes the role played by the Queens in that battle from July to November 1916
6th Service Battalion. 37th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division:
Arrived Millencourt from Bresle 9am (1/7) - moved forward during evening to trenches north-west of Albert and later front line opposite Ovillers (Hen Trench - Rivington Street).
Took part in unsuccessful attack towards Ovillers (3/7) - ‘B’ company moved forward 3:15am - held up by uncut wire and machine gun from Mash valley. ‘C’ company on left of attack - War Diary notes 1st platoon moved too far to their left - just 8 men reaching German wire - bombers entered trench. Supporting waves also held up by strong fire. Casualties 304.
At 2:15 AM on the third July the opening bombardment started with two brigades of artillery from the 19th Division. 12th Division attacked Ovillers at 3:15AM. Assembly trenches had already been dug in No Mans Land reducing the width from 800 to 500 yards. On the right were 5th Royal Berkshires and 7th Suffolk(35 Brigade), and on the left the 6th Queens and 6th Royal West Kents. By 9:00 AM the Division reported total failure at a cost of 2400 casualties. One company of 9th Essex in support of the Berkshires drifted towards La Boisselle where it cut off 220 Germans.
Withdrew to Donnet Post and Ribble Street (4/7).
To front line (6/7).
Provided covering fire and smoke barrage during 36th Brigades attack (7/7).
To Warloy (9/7), Louvencourt (11/7), Bertrancourt (21/7), Louvencourt (24/7), Bouzincourt (25/7), front line north of Ovilliers - took part in succesful attack on Ration Trench.
To Martinsart Wood (7/8), Bouzincourt (9/8), Ribble Street (11/8), Forceville (13/8), Lealvillers (14/8), Bus-les-Artois (15/8), Halloy (16/8), Sombrin (17/8).
Arrived Grouched from Wanquentin (26/9).
To Shelter camp (29/9).
Moved forward via Montauban and Bernafay Wood to support line behind Gueudecourt (Pioneer trench, Gird trench, Bulls Road trench) (1/10), front line (3/10), support line (6/10).
In support for attack on Rainbow trench (7/10) - held front line until relieved (9/10).
To trenches near Bernafay Wood (11/10), bivouacs between Montauban and Pommiers Redoubt (16/10), Ribemont (20/10), Albert-Amiens Road (21/10) and there boarded buses for Arras sector.