1st Battalion War Diary, June 1917

1st Border Regiment War Diary Transcriptions (1915-1918) The National Archives WO/95/4311 & WO/95/2305
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1915	✔			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
1916	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
1917	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
1918

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events
MONCHY LE PREUX	1/6/17		Battalion holding Monchy defences. HQ in German Generals dugout Two men wounded today. Relieved tonight by 2nd Bn The Royal Scots & moved back to ARRAS. Rather heavy barrage put down by Boche during relief but as officers [?knew] this barrage [?] there were avoided & casualties saved. Arrived at Arras 6 AM.
ARRAS	2/6/17		Rested in Arras "in billets" Fairly lively shelling from a Boche long range H.V. gun (Quick Dick).
"	3/6/17		Training today on musketry ranges at citadel ARRAS.
"	4/6/17		Training continued. Leave for men is allotted daily giving great satisfaction.
CANDAS	5/6/17		Battalion entrained at ARRAS station 11 AM arriving CANDAS 6 PM comfortable clean little village, beautifully situated
	6/6/17		Training at Candas
	7/6/17		Do        Interrupted by robust thunder storm.
	8/6/17		Field day for battalion at AUTHEUX from 8 AM to 4 PM with picnic lunch – very much enjoyed by all ranks.
	9/6/17		Interior economy this morning – afternoon holiday. Weekly strength variation Officers Other ranks Increase Draft from Base 4 136 2Lt Park 2Lt ?? 2Lt Trotter 2Lt [?Gregson] Rejoined from Hospital 1 Decrease Wounded 2 Lt Thornburn Brown 2Lt ??
CANDAS	10/6/17		Divisional band played in CANDAS this afternoon.
"	11/6/17		Training at AUTHEUX Field day from 8.30 AM – 4.30PM.
"	12/6/17		Training at CANDAS.
"	13/6/17		Training at CANDAS.
"	14/6/17		Training at AUTHEUX Field day from 8.30 AM – 4.30PM.
"	15/6/17		Training at CANDAS.
"	16/6/17		Training at CANDAS. Interior Economy.
"	17/6/17		Church parade in orchard.
"	18/6/17		Field day at AUTHEUX. Lt General Sir Beauvoir De Lisle came round training today.
"	19/6/17		Training at CANDAS.
"	20/6/17		Brigade field day at AUTHEUX. Gen De Lisle & B. General Lucas present.
"	21/6/17		Training at CANDAS.
"	22/6/17		Another Brigade field day at AUTHEUX.
"	23/6/17		Interior economy this morning – afternoon rest.
"	24/6/17		Day of rest – much appreciate by all ranks.
"	25/6/17		Training again.
"	26/6/17		Entrained at DOULLENS arriving 9.30 PM & trained to PROVEN (Belgium).
PROVEN CANAL BANK	27/6/17		Arrived PROVEN about 10 AM detrained & marched to "W" camp - rested till 5 PM then marched to International Corner entrained for VLAMARTINGAE ELVERDINGHE detrained & marched, with guides, to CANAL BANK (YSER CANAL) into support trenches in relief of 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers 2Lt R.S. Wynne injured his fingers & was on entraining & was evacuated to field ambulance.
"	28/6/17		Moved into front line in relief of 14th Royal Irish Fusiliers in line almost due S. of PILKEM. BN HQ still canal bank. Sent out patrol & stray shell fell among them killing Sgt. F Pte Rothery, wounding 4, including Sgt FIELDS who died of wounds.
"	29/6/17		Another patrol sent out tonight 2 officers & 14 other ranks. Encountered a Boche patrol & had a running fight, resulting in our having one man wounded.
"	30/6/17		Two patrols out tonight no enemy encountered. Variation in strength. Weekly. Week ending 15/6/17 Officers Other ranks Increase Draft from Base 5 131 Lt Butler W.B. 2Lt Nicholson 2Lt Thompson W&C 2Lt Johnston 2lt Clucas Rejoined from Hospital 1 Decrease Evacuated Sick 1 To Transportation Depot Boulogne 1 School Instruction 2 Week ending 22/6/17 Increase From Base 2 2Lt [?Buttle] 2Lt B[?] Rejoined from Hospital 21 Decrease Evacuated Sick To transportation Depot 1 Transfer to [?20776 Sup Coy] 5 Week ending 29/6/17 Increase Draft from Base 2 2Lt Watson 2Lt Wynne Rejoined from Hospital 1 Decrease Death by Misadventure 1 Killed 1 Wounded 5
			[Signed] Arthur W Sutcliffe Capt. a/adjutant 1st The Border Regiment

References / notes

• National Archives Catalogue Reference: WO/95/2305/1
• The transcription above is available under the National Archives Open Government Licence for public sector information.
• War diary transcribed by Hugh Fulton