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11th Battalion War Diary, October 1916

From the Lonsdale Battalion wiki
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[1] & 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.
  1. German trench mortars. Minenwerfers has a literal translation of ‘Mine Throwers’ that were developed around 1908-1909.
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