2nd Battalion War Diary, September 1917

    2nd Border Regiment War Diary Transcriptions (1915-1918)
The National Archives WO/95/1655 & WO/95/1656    
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
Place Date Hour Summary of Events
Reference Maps: Belgium & France Sheet 27 and 28. Hazebrouck 5A.
LINDE GOED FARM
1/9/17
At 2.0pm The Battalion marched to billets in the STEENVORDE area arriving about 7.30pm.
2/9/17
The Battalion marched to billets in OUDEZEELE at 3.0pm arriving at about 5pm. At about 5.30pm 2 lorries conveying Officers, Warrant Officers, NCOs & men of the 1st Batt Border Regt arrived. This was the first time in history that the 2 Battalions have met and the party from the 1st Battn departed at 9.30pm after having contests in football and tug of war.
3/9/17
The Battalion continued the march and arrived in billets at HONDEGHEM at 2.0pm.
4/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
5/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
6/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
7/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
8/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
9/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
10/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
11/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
12/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
13/9/17
The Battalion remained in billets and carried out training daily.
14/9/17
The Battalion moved to camp at V3b 6.6. near HONDEGHEM.
15/9/17
The Battalion remained encamped.
16/9/17
At 2.0pm the Battalion marched to billets at ARQUES arriving at 7.30pm.
17/9/17
The Battalion marched to LONGUENESSE to join the Brigade for training.
18/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
19/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
20/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
21/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
22/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
23/9/17
The Battn remained in Billets and carried out training under Battn arrangements.
24/9/17
The Battalion attended an attack scheme under Divisional arrangements.
25/9/17
The Battalion attended an attack scheme under Divisional arrangements.
26/9/17
Training was continued under Battn arrangements.
27/9/17
Training was continued under Battn arrangements.
28/9/17
The Battalion marched to billets at COULOMBY and HARLETTES about 2.30pm. Battn Hdqrs, A, B & D Coys were billeted in COULOMBY and C COY in HARLETTES.
29/9/17
The Battn marched to ARQUES at 11am and entrained at 9.0pm.
30/9/17
The Battn detrained at ABEELE at 4.0am and marched to camp near RENINGHELST arriving at 6.0am.

The following officers joined during the month:
2nd Lieut. E.W. Little and 2nd Lieut. E. Irving[1] on 5.9.17.
Capt. A. Wright on 8.9.17.
2nd Lieut. S.J.C. Russell, MC, and 2nd Lieut. W.A. Herbert on 17.9.17. Drafts:- 6 OR on 5th      4 OR on 17th       4 OR on 20th      4 OR on 22nd      90 OR on 23rd      4 OR on 26th.

87 OR were evacuated sick during the month.

[signed] G.E. Beaty-Pownall[2]
Lieut. Colonel
Commanding 2nd Bn The Border Regt.

References / notes

  • National Archives Catalogue Reference: WO/95/1655
  • The transcription above is available under the National Archives Open Government Licence for public sector information.
  • War diary transcribed by P. Bramham.
  1. Ernest Irving (2nd Lieut.) Died 05/10/1917 Age: 25. Buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery. Son of George and Jane Irving of 19, Brunswick Square, Penrith, Cumberland; husband of the late Agnes Annie Irving.
  2. George Ernest Beaty-Pownall, DSO (Lt-Col.) Died 10/10/1918 Age: 41. 2nd Border Regiment (attd. 1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers). Buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. His brother Thomas also died with 2nd Border Regiment.