Content added Content deleted
m (link update) |
m (Text replacement - "Albert (place)" to "Albert (Somme)") |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
It was a quiet start to the year. Seven days on and seven days off in billets for support seemed to be the normal rotation.<ref name="wylly77">{{wylly|pageno=77}}</ref> However, according to the Battalion war diary, throughout the entirety of January the Lonsdales did not endure hardships. Several days were “quiet,” with literally nothing else reported and only occasionally would “one man wounded” appear in the records to notify the reader of any casualties. If it wasn’t for the Lonsdales relieving the 17th Highland Light Infantry, or vice versa, you might wonder if there was a war on at all. On the [[14 January]] 1916, the Lonsdales returned to rest [[billet|billets]] in Bouzincourt and then back in the line on the [[21 January]] for another seven days where artillery bombardments where intermittent. By the end of January they had returned to Aveluy supplying fatigues<ref>Fatigue duty is the employment of manual labour assigned to military men that does not necessitate the use of weaponry.</ref> for the Royal Engineers. |
It was a quiet start to the year. Seven days on and seven days off in billets for support seemed to be the normal rotation.<ref name="wylly77">{{wylly|pageno=77}}</ref> However, according to the Battalion war diary, throughout the entirety of January the Lonsdales did not endure hardships. Several days were “quiet,” with literally nothing else reported and only occasionally would “one man wounded” appear in the records to notify the reader of any casualties. If it wasn’t for the Lonsdales relieving the 17th Highland Light Infantry, or vice versa, you might wonder if there was a war on at all. On the [[14 January]] 1916, the Lonsdales returned to rest [[billet|billets]] in Bouzincourt and then back in the line on the [[21 January]] for another seven days where artillery bombardments where intermittent. By the end of January they had returned to Aveluy supplying fatigues<ref>Fatigue duty is the employment of manual labour assigned to military men that does not necessitate the use of weaponry.</ref> for the Royal Engineers. |
||
The month of February was spent in much the same way. When they were at the front there seemed to be very little in the way of enemy activity. Even when, on the [[9 February]], a [[barrage|heavy bombardment]] ensued, casualties were minimal with one man killed and another wounded. The Lonsdales seemed to have luck on their side until the big offensive of July, which we will come to shortly. By the [[12 February]] the Lonsdales were in [[Albert ( |
The month of February was spent in much the same way. When they were at the front there seemed to be very little in the way of enemy activity. Even when, on the [[9 February]], a [[barrage|heavy bombardment]] ensued, casualties were minimal with one man killed and another wounded. The Lonsdales seemed to have luck on their side until the big offensive of July, which we will come to shortly. By the [[12 February]] the Lonsdales were in [[Albert (Somme)|Albert]], this time supplying working parties<ref>A group of soldiers (or prisoners) that are assigned to perform manual tasks or duties, for their own or other units.</ref> for the Royal Engineers. On the [[18 February]] they were supplying fatigues at Henencourt and again at Millencourt on the [[27 February]]. The weather had been particularly bad during this period with snow, frost and thaw alternating. As a result the ground was sodden and trenches were in a bad state of repair, some falling in. On the [[7 March]] a small shelter in a support line was shelled and the three occupants were buried. One man suffered from shell shock, six were killed (four of which were NCOs) and another NCO was wounded by a piece of shrapnel from a High Explosive shell.<ref name="wdmar16">[[11th Battalion War Diary, March 1916]].</ref> Whilst the Lonsdales were not involved in any battles they did, however, suffer a few more casualties during the rest of the month, the majority being from rifle grenades, [[shrapnel]] and High Explosive shells - a high percentage out on working parties. On the [[24 March]] they had a little respite in rest billets at Dernancourt, then five days later they were back at the front when 2nd Lieuts. Davidson and Monkhouse joined the Battalion. |
||
If the first three months of 1916 were relatively quiet then the latter half of April and beginning of May would be considered the quietest yet. It would be easy to conclude, especially from the steady pattern of several days at the front and several days in [[billet|billets]] the Lonsdales were used to, that nothing of any particular note happened. In most cases this is true. The war diary shows very little activity at the front but they were kept busy. The month started off with three very quiet days and fortunately, there was only one minor casualty. On the [[2 April]] a raid on German lines was postponed due to an unusually bright night<ref name="wdmar16" /> where, without the cover of darkness, raids into enemy territory were simply impossible. Two days later the Lonsdales were billeting at Senlis where the following seven days were spent resting, cleaning up and various training activities. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred until the [[14 April]] when A Company was sent to an isolation camp at Senlis.<ref name="wdmar16" /> Three days later the Lonsdales were quarantined in Contay Wood with a severe case of the measles<ref name="wylly77" /> and remained there until [[13 May]]. Whilst measles is uncommon in the UK today because of the advances in vaccination, in 1916 things were a little different. One of the most effective ways to combat this highly infectious (but not life threatening) viral illness was to ensure it didn’t spread further. Containing the infection from the onset was the most realistic action to take. Those that were ill spent isolation convalescing, those that didn't show any of the typical signs continued as normal and that meant training. Away from the immediate dangers of the front line and with plenty of time on their hands, the Lonsdales were involved mainly with small working parties, [[Battalion]] training and [[Brigade]] and [[Division|Divisional]] manoeuvres; keeping the men busy as not to idle the hours away when it could be spent more effectively. During isolation 2nd Lieuts. Green and Machell and 92 other ranks joined the Battalion. |
If the first three months of 1916 were relatively quiet then the latter half of April and beginning of May would be considered the quietest yet. It would be easy to conclude, especially from the steady pattern of several days at the front and several days in [[billet|billets]] the Lonsdales were used to, that nothing of any particular note happened. In most cases this is true. The war diary shows very little activity at the front but they were kept busy. The month started off with three very quiet days and fortunately, there was only one minor casualty. On the [[2 April]] a raid on German lines was postponed due to an unusually bright night<ref name="wdmar16" /> where, without the cover of darkness, raids into enemy territory were simply impossible. Two days later the Lonsdales were billeting at Senlis where the following seven days were spent resting, cleaning up and various training activities. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred until the [[14 April]] when A Company was sent to an isolation camp at Senlis.<ref name="wdmar16" /> Three days later the Lonsdales were quarantined in Contay Wood with a severe case of the measles<ref name="wylly77" /> and remained there until [[13 May]]. Whilst measles is uncommon in the UK today because of the advances in vaccination, in 1916 things were a little different. One of the most effective ways to combat this highly infectious (but not life threatening) viral illness was to ensure it didn’t spread further. Containing the infection from the onset was the most realistic action to take. Those that were ill spent isolation convalescing, those that didn't show any of the typical signs continued as normal and that meant training. Away from the immediate dangers of the front line and with plenty of time on their hands, the Lonsdales were involved mainly with small working parties, [[Battalion]] training and [[Brigade]] and [[Division|Divisional]] manoeuvres; keeping the men busy as not to idle the hours away when it could be spent more effectively. During isolation 2nd Lieuts. Green and Machell and 92 other ranks joined the Battalion. |
||