The Lonsdale Battalion

11th Battalion War Diary, September 1917

    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
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1918 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Place Date Hour Summary of Events
OOST-DUNKERQUE
1/9/17
 The Village was shelled considerably with long distance high velocity guns and during the night 31st July [August?]. Transport Lines were hit and 4 Officers Chargers killed.
- do -
2/9/17
 Battn finding Working Parties. Operation Orders received from Brigadier.
- do -
3/9/17
 Battn relieved 17th HLI in Left Sub Sector ST. GEORGES SECTOR. The first company marched off at 8.30pm. Relief was complete at midnight. Dispositions of Battn as follows:- A Coy on the right, B Coy on the left, C Coy in support, garrisoning 2 farms on the polders. D Coy in Brigade Reserve, acting as carrying parties for the front line Coys.
In the Line
4/9/17
 Front comparatively quiet. Trenches consist of breast works, only not in a good state of repair. There is an absolute break between the Left Coy Front and Right Coy Front, caused by a bridge over a large dyke being broken down. & men wounded.
- do -
5/9/17
 Comparatively quiet. Slight shelling on Left Coy Front. 1 man killed, 2 men wounded.
In the Line
6/9/17
 Some ‘Minnies’ troublesome on left Coy Front. 2/Lt A. Armer killed & 3 O.R. killed.
- do -
7/9/17
 Fairly quiet. Gas put over on the front. Enemy made practically no retaliation. 2 O.R. wounded.
- do -
8/9/17
 Some shelling on the Brickworks and Left Coy Front. 2 O.R. killed, 3 O.R. wounded. Operation Orders received from Brigade.
- do -
9/9/17
 Quiet. 1 man wounded.
- do -
10/9/17
 Early in the morning the Battn was relieved in the Line by the 2nd KOYLI and proceeded to billets in WULPEN. Relief quiet.
WULPEN
11/9/17
 No one allowed on Streets during day, owing to enemy balloon observation. Time spent in cleaning billets and working parties by night.
- do -
12/9/17
 Everything quiet.
- do -
13/9/17
 Battn finding working parties.
- do -
14/9/17
 Battn finding working parties. Operation Orders received from Brigade.
- do -
15/9/17
 Battn relieved 17th HLI in the Right Sub Sector, ST. GEORGES SECTOR, first Coy marching off at 8pm. Relief quiet and complete at 11.30pm. Disposition of Battn as follows:- C Coy on the right, D Coy on the left. A Coy in Support at WHITE HOUSE & B Coy in reserve at GROOTE LABEUR FARM. BHQ - VACHE GREVEE.
In the Line
16/9/17
 Front quiet.
- do -
17/9/17
 Raid on C Coys lines about 3.30am. Loss 1 O.R. killed and 1 O.R. wounded. Heavy hostile bombardment on left sub-sector (ST. GEORGES and LOMBARDZYDE) During afternoon, a Bosche wounded during raid on C Company, was brought into our lines.
- do -
18/9/17
 Germans used megaphone from ALPHA POST to C Coy POST.
- do -
19/9/17
 German came out of ALPHA POST towards C Coy POST. Later 2/Lt RIDGWAY went out from C Coy POST to meet German who came out of ALPHA POST. There was no result from these advances. Operation Orders received from Brigade.
- do -
20/9/17
 British Aeroplane down at KETTLERDAM BRIDGE. Pilot rescued. Relieved by 15 th HLI and went into billets at COXYDE.
COXYDE
21/9/17
 Left COXYDE at 2pm and marched to LA PANNE in Divisional Reserve. Operational Orders received from Brigade.
LA PANNE
22/9/17
 Left LA PANNE by sea route for ZUYDCOOTE and took over from 1/4th KOYLI.
ZUDYCOOTE
23/9/17
 Church Parade. Operations Orders received from Brigade.
- do -
24/9/17
 Marched from ZUDYCOOTE to LA PANNE by Sea Route.
LA PANNE
25/9/17
 Battn finding working Parties.
- do -
26/9/17
 Battn finding working Parties. Lecture to all Officers & Platoon Sgts by Divisional Commander. 1 Coy practicing Apron Fence wiring.
- do -
27/9/17
 Battn finding Working Parties. 1 Coy practicing Apron Fence Wiring. Operation Orders received from Bge.
- do -
28/9/17
 Battn relieved 15th Lancashire Fusiliers as Support Battn in the LOMBARDZYDE Sector with BHQ in "RUBBER HOUSE". Transport inspected by Div Com.
In the Line
29/9/17
 Battn finding Working Parties for Front Line Battalion. B Coy carrying party led astray by HLI guide, which resulted in 1 O.R. being wounded and missing and 1 O.R. wounded (S.S.) 1 O.R. killed at BHQ.
- do -
30/9/17
 Battn finding Working Parties. 2/Lt D WALKER and 3 O.R. wounded, 2 O.R. killed, 1 O.R. Died of Wounds.
C.H. Margerison, Capt.
XI Border Regiment

References / notes

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