11th Battalion War Diary, October 1916

11th Border Regiment War Diary Transcriptions (1915-1918) The National Archives WO/95/2403
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1915											✔
1916	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
1917	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
1918	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events
ANNEZIN	1/10/16	10PM	Battn practiced crossing craters during morning. Commanding Officer was a member of a General Court Martial.
“	2/10/16	10PM	Battn practiced crossing craters during morning. Adjutant visited Bn. H.Q. in CAMBRIN SECTOR. Sector Battn is to take over. Commanding Officer witnessed crossing craters during morning. Very wet afternoon.
“	3/10/16	10PM	Battn found fatigues for R.E. during morning. No parades owing to wet weather. In afternoon Battn practiced crossing craters, General Rycroft was present.
CAMBRIN SECTOR (FRONT LINE TRS)	4/10/16	10PM	Battn left ANNEZIN for front line trenches in CAMBRIN SECTOR, relieving 1st DORSET REGT. (14th Brigade). Relief commenced 11.30am and was completed 4.15pm. At 7.55pm, 8.44pm & 10.29am a combined shoot of Stokes Guns, Rifle fire & M.G. fire was carried out by 8th Division lasting for 5 min (each shoot) Battn cooperated with rifle & M.G. fire. Enemy retaliated with a few minenwerfers & oil cans.
“	5/10/16	10PM	G.S.O. Colonel Wace visited Bn. H.Q. at 9.55am. Commanding Officer & Colonel Wace visited front line trenches. At 8pm a strafe on the enemy trenches (8 Division) was carried out lasting till 7.35pm, gas & smoke being sent over at intervals & short bombardments by our T.M., M.G. & Rfile fire.
“	6/10/16	10PM	Day comparatively quiet. Commanding Officer visited front line trenches during morning. At 11.45am a bombardment of the trenches was carried out by our Stokes & 2 T.M.s. Enemies trenches were damaged considerably. No retaliation.
“	7/10/16	10PM	Day very quiet. Major Moore (17th H.L.I.) visted Bn. H.Q. at 3pm an went round front line trenches with the Commanding Officer. During morning Commanding Officer attended a conference conducted by Brigadier General Jardine.
CAMBRIN SECTOR (SUPPORT LINE)	8/10/16	10PM	During morning Brigadier General Jardine & Commanding Officer visited front line trenches. At 3pm the battalion was relieved from the Right Subsector by the 17th H.L.I. and proceeded to take up position in Support (Village Line).
“	9/10/16	10PM	Major Wallace G.S.O.s visited Bn. H.Q. during afternoon. Battn found working parties or R.E. & Battn in the line during the day. [after this point the writing changes from the hand of C.J. Crossman to that of S.D. Webb.]
“	10/10/16	10PM	Battn found working parties for R.E. Draft of 20 men arrived as reinforcements for the Battn.
CAMBRIN SECTOR	11/10/16	10pm	Battn in Support line (VILLAGE LINE). Supplied R.E. parties. C.O. Col GIRDWOOD proceeded to England on leave. Major MOORE of 17th H.L.I. took over command of Battn. Re-inforcements of 12 O.R. arrived for Battn.
“	12/10/16	“	C.O. and party of 1st E. YORKS arrived for purpose of gathering information prior to their Battn taking over line from us. Supported R.E. parties.
“	13/10/16	“	Battn in Reserve line. Supplied R.E. parties. Visit to Battn of Brig. Gen. JARDINE.
BETHUNE	14/10/16	“	Battn left trenches for BETHUNE having been relieved by 1st E. YORKS. Supplied R.E. parties.
LABEUVRERE	15/10/16	“	Battn left BETHUNE full marching order. Arrived LABEUVRERE and billeted there. Battn parade in afternoon under C.O.
MONCHY BRETON	16/10/16	“	Battn left LABEUVRERE 7am full marching order. Arrived MONCHY BRETON 1pm. Remained there overnight.
MONCHEAUX	17/10/16	“	Battn left MONCHY BRETON 7am full marching order & arrived MONCHEAUX at 3pm.
LONGUEVILLETE	18/10/16	“	Battn left MONCHEAUX 7.25am full marching order and arrived LONGUEVILLETE at 3.15pm.
“	19/10/16	“	Battn left LONGUEVILLETE for HERISSAT full marching order. Marched for two hours and returning to LONGUEVILLETE.
“	20/10/16	“	Battn remained in billets during day. Battn parade for general instruction & bombing, live grenade throwing.
HERISSAT	21/10/16	“	Battn left LONGEUVILLETE 8am full marching order and arrived HERISSAT 1.45pm. Parade of bombers for live grenade throwing.
“	22/10/16	“	Battn remained in HERISSAT. Battn parade in morning, Bombing afternoon, live grenade throwing. Re-inforcement 6 men arrived. C.O. Col. GIRDWOOD rejoined Battn.
BOUZINCOURT	23/10/16	“	Battn left HERISSAT for BOUZINCOURT 11.45am, arrived BOUZINCOURT 6.15pm.
“	24/10 16	“	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parade of instruction.
“	25/10/16	“	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parade of instruction. R.E. working parties.
“	26/10/16	“	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parade of instruction. R.E. working parties.
“	27/10/16	“	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parade of instruction. R.E. working parties.
“	28/10/16	“	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parade of instruction. R.E. working parties. G.O.C. (Gen Haig) in company with O.C. Brigade & Divisions visited billets and also congratulated C.O. 11th Borders on the state of his Battn.
“	29/10/16	10pm	Battn in BOUZINCOURT. General parades. R.E. parties.
HERISSAT	30/10/16	10pm	Battn left BOUZINCOURT full marching order & arrived at 11.30am in HERISSAT.
LA VICOGNE	31/10/16	“	Battn left HERISSAT full marching order & arrived at LA VICOGNE
			[signed] A.C. Girdwood, Lt. Col. Comdg 11th Border Regt.

References / notes

• National Archives Catalogue Reference: WO/95/2403
• The transcription above is available under the National Archives Open Government Licence for public sector information.