1918		January
In the field
1st		Bn on New Years' Day Holiday, Brigadier's instructions.
2nd		Bn training begun in earnest.  Parades arranged but intensely cold, training curtailed.
3rd		Bn training parades; still frosty; great difficulty in obtaining wood for stoves.
4th		Bn training parades; officers reconnoitre corps second line at Croiselles.
5th		CO inspected companies; hut competitions, lectures in afternoon.
6th		Church parade, farewell sermon by Padre McIvers.
7th		Platoon training; CO's parade and practise for march past of GOC inspecting next day. American
		Doctor Ewans left.
8th		GOC inspection at 10 am.  Snowstorm and blizzard at march past.  Trench cleaning and camp
		inspection.  Lewis guns training all cancelled.
9th		Bn on training, thaw begun.
10th		Bn addressed by GOC Brigade at conclusion of march past.  Very soft and muddy conditions.
11th-12th	Bn training.  Thaw continued.
13th		Frosty weather returns; Bn training coys drill; MO reported (US Army).
14th		Church service; thaw setting in.
15th		Bn training, everything soft.
16th		Bn training, visit from General P W Brown.
In the field
17th		Bn practised attacks, postponed an attack in conjunction with aeroplane, poor weather.
18th		Thaw continues, companies training.  Bn marched to see demonstration by 76th TMB.
19th		Bn practised counter attack conjunction with aircraft.  Range work in morning.
20th		Weather fine.  Church service.
21st-23rd	Bn training continues, ground wet.  (Field firing on 22nd)
24th		Bn paraded and marched to Wailly for demonstration before brigade, officers and NCOs of 3rd 
		Division.  Excellent conditions.
25th		Bn moved from rest area to Carlisle Lines south of Beaurains.
26th		Bn moved to trenches relieved 25th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers at Wancourt Givemappe Sector, no 
		casualties.
27th		Very clean trenches, shallow in places and not revetted.  Quiet, good view of enemy.
28th		Very misty, cleared later, 'B' Coy made concertinas in afternoon.  1 man killed by TM.
		Permission to alter dispositions at 2 Corps front at N/East of Wancourt.
29th		Div Commander changed back to old dispositions, substantial changes.  400 yards of concertina 
		entanglements put out.
30th-31st	Bn relieved by 10th RWF.  Few casualties.
		
		February
Wancourt
1st		Relieved 10th RWF front line all quiet.  (Report of disbanding of RWF).
Guemappe
2nd		Col Wolfe-Murray on leave.  Raid by Bn on our left 8.30 am.  Retaliation shelling on our front.
		2 killed.
3rd		Bn worked on improving trenches; hostile artillery, gas and HE, some casualties.
4th		Quiet; usual work, trenches dry.
5th		Quiet; usual work, trenches dry.  No casualties
Wancourt
6th		Bn relieved by 8th KORL; return to support behind Wancourt.  No casualties.
Neuville
Vitasse
7th-8th		Bn.  Baths at Neuville Vitasse; new support Bn HQ under construction.  Fatigues at night.  (8th
		January Weather fine and dry.)
9th		Some hostile artillery response to raid by our brigade tonight.  Relieved 2nd Suffolks in night 
		subsection.  All quiet.
10th		Bn HQ, received some gas shells in morning.  Stand to ordered, quiet otherwise.
11th		Quiet day; our snipers active, no retaliation.
12th		All as usual.
13th		Bn HQ some shelling Shikai Avenue in the day.  Usual work.
14th		Very clear and dry conditions.  Our snipers active again.  Usual work.
15th		Bn relieved by 8th KORL who moved into new Bn HQ.  Back to support.
Neuville
Vitasse
16th		Bn at Neuville Vitasse.  Usual work and wire carrying for KRRC
Wancourt
Guemappe
17th		Usual work on new HQ, and wire carrying for KRRC.
18th		Bn relieved 2nd Suffolks left subsection no casualties; some gas shells at Bn HQ.
19th		Quiet day; trenches dry, no casualties.
20th		Quiet day; but some TMs on EE post at 'C' Coy at 9pm.  Our 4-5s retaliated.
21st		More TMs on 'C' Coy, during 'stand to' retaliation by our artillery; our snipers very active.
22nd		First rain for weeks; work on Key and Cavalry trenches in new reserve line.
23rd		Raid by 7th Camerons on our left at 3.30 am, retaliation brought 1 killed and 2 wounded.
24th		Bn relieved by 8th KORL no casualties back to support.
25th-26th	Baths; work on new HQ and fatigues in the line as usual CO back.
27th		Bn relieved 2nd Suffolks night subsection, new dispositions with 2 Coys in front line and 2 in
		support.  No casualties.
28th		Bn working on new trench on Kestrel Avenue and wiring.  Ape support, 2 wounded.
		
		March
Wancourt Sector
1st 		Bn had quiet day; some shelling, snowing later, work on new trench continued, also wiring.
		Casualties Nil.
2nd		Work continued in trenches; snowing later; relieved by 8th KSLI and 2 platoons 2nd Suffolks.
		Bn moved back to support dugout.  1 wounded.
3rd		Quiet day.
Support
Dugouts
4th		Quiet day, very cold.  'A' Coy worked on new trench.
5th		Quiet day.  Bn worked on cable and new trench in front of Buzzard Wood.  'C' Coy relieved by
		2nd Suffolks.
6th		Quiet day, worked on new Bn HQ.  No casualties.
7th		Quiet day.  Brilliant sunshine, work on support dugouts, relieved 2nd Suffolks on left of
		sector.
8th		Quiet day after relieved by 8th KORL further work on new trench; 1 killed., 1 wounded.
9th		Quiet sunny day; some shelling on HQ.  Captain Horswell and 5 ORs wounded.
Support
Dugouts
10th		Quiet sunny day; work on Rake trench continues, also Shovel, HQ moved from Rake to Key support.
		1 casualty.
11th		Quiet day; very bright, trench work still continuing as before.  Relieved by 8th KORL.
12th		Companies disposed in trenches in support.
13th-14th	Our artillery began harassing fire on enemy lines.  No casualties.
15th		Quiet day; cold North wind.  Artillery fire continued on enemy lines.  1 wounded.
16th		Enemy shelling in response.  1 wounded.
17th-18th	Bn companies relieved each other in trenches.
19th		Quiet day; raining: no casualties.
20th		Bn.  Quiet day, Coys followed relief arrangements (weather good).
Wancourt
Sector
21st		Very heavy enemy offensive began on our right.  Our front quiet except for heavy barrage.
Support
Dugout
22nd-29th	76th Brigade, 3rd Division and Bn involved in German march offensive.  Diary record missing;
		see Reg History pages 187-194.
In the field
30th		Bn relieved by 3rd Canadian Infantry battalion at Neuville-Vitasse and marched to Raviere.
		After breakfast all ranks slept until 13.30 am dinner, then marched Warluzol, Beametz, Artois.
		Good spirits prevailed.
31st 		Bn rested and cleaned up.
En route	April
In the field
1st		Bn marched to Liencourt, embussed at 11 am for Bruay area.  Arrived Ourton at 3 pm.  Good
		billets, men rested thoroughly.
2nd		Bn cleaned up and reorganised.  Weather good men began to recover after events of past 10 days.
3rd		Bn still reorganising; looking smart again, specialist work and Lewis gun training.
4th		Bn marched to (Sains en Ganelle) at 2 pm.  Billeted in miners houses, very comfortable.
Fossied
5th		Bn.  Baths; raining, training coy arrangements.
6th		Bn training continued; draft of 5 of Ors arrived mostly boys of 19, very keen type.
7th		Church parade, BTC Coys work on Maistre Line.
8th		Bn on training A and D Coys work on Maistre Line.
9th		Bn on ranges and training; very foggy.
10th		B and C Corps on Maistre Line; orders for action.
11th		Bn ready for move to Barlin Mersin area but order cancelled.  At 1 pm embussed for battle area
		in area of Hinges.  Moved forward to Les Cauldrons.  No enemy encountered.
Hinges Sector
12th		Bn HQ, in front of Hinges, companies in area of surrounding farms.  Enemy shelling Bn HQ moved
		into village.
13th		Quiet day; shelling and rifle fire, enemy seemed far off.  Crossed to other side of canal bank
		at Arelette.
14th		Bn relieved by 1st Royal Warwicks.  Bn moved to Oblinghem.
15th		Bn rested and re-equipped.  Quiet day and night.  No casualties.
Oblinghem
16th		Bn quiet day; 4th Div on our left successful local attack.
17th		Quiet; warned to expect attack.
18th		Quiet; Pioneers wiring proceeded.
Chouquaux Sector
19th		Some shelling; attack expected after heavy barrage on either flank.  Prisoners captured; no
		attack.
20th		Quiet; CQMS Jackson killed when bringing up rations.  'C' Coy moved to take over 6OO yards of 
		line on canal bank from Arelette drawbridge.
21st		Enemy shelling, failed to hit.
22nd		Quiet day; our guns creeping barrage at 4 am, slight retaliation.
In support
Vendin
les Bethune
23rd		Bn relieved by 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers.  Bn moved to billets.
24th		Bn spent day cleaning and refitting.
25th		Bn parades cancelled, no movements allowed.
26th		Bn specialist training in billets then relieved 1st Hampshires at Bn HQ Chocques Bethane Rd.
27th		Bn in hangars, quiet day, 'C' Coy carry wire to front at Hinges.
28th-29th	Quiet day; wiring continued.
30th		'B' and 'D' Coys shelled in hangars, 21 casualties.
		
		May
Chocques
1st 		Quiet day.
2nd		'A' and 'C' coys to Shropshire Lane West of Hinges due to shelling of Abbaye, Lannoy and
		Clarence River Areat.
3rd		Some shelling in morning.  B and D coys confined to shelter trenches and B coy preparation for
		attack on orchard; held up by casualties, 8 wounded.
4th		Assembly at midnight, zero hour 2.30 am.  Parties of D Coy carried up ammunition, haversacks, 
		water bottles for assaulting platoons, left in breastwork forming part of battle HQ, across the
		canal.  5 platoons involved.
La Bassee 
Canal near
Hinges
5th		Attack proved successful, plan of attack according to programme: objective secured 42
		prisoners, 3 machine guns.  3 officers wounded, 3 ORs killed, 8 wounded.  'B' Coy relieved and
		8th KORL relieved by 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.  Brigade reserve relief by 13th Kings
		Liverpool Regt.  'D' coy remained open trench South of Chocques Vendin.  Quiet day.
6th		Bn at baths Lapuenoy; Corps Commander visited to congratulate the Bn on B Coys success.
7th		Bn had quiet day.
Logon
8th		Bn relieved 1st RSF at night Brigade section 'D' coy lost 3 ORs and 8 wounded on way up.
9th		Shelling, warning of possible attack.
10th		A Coy heavily shelled on left front, 2 officers wounded.
11th		Quiet in front line.  Shelling of back areas.
12th 		Further shelling; officer wounded.
Locon
13th		Quiet.
14th		Some aircraft activity, fine weather.
15th		Quiet.
16th		Relieved by 4th Royal Fusiliers, back to Chocques, no casualties, all coys in billets.
Chocques
17th		Cleaning up, inspections; and Bn pay out.
18th		Bn at baths.  2 officers joined.
19th-20th	Church service in orchard beside HQ, 2 working parties on cable laying in Hinges Chateau 
		grounds, 1 party lost 2 officers killed and 7 casualties.  Other party suffered gas bombardment
		of Hinges grounds, 7 wounded later over 120 cases of gassing reported.  Bn relieved 2nd Royal
		Scots that evening in Brigade Reserve; they suffered very heavily and much reduced, withdrew to
		Shropshire line from Suffolk line in Hinges.
21st 		Quiet.
22nd		One company worked for front line Bn on the canal bank.
23rd		Usual work.
24th		Heavy rain in morning, relieved 2nd Suffolks on left, no casualties.
Hinges
25th		Quiet;  Garrisons of posts worked at connecting up posts at night.  Platoons made concertinas 
		every day (50) put out in front line.
26th		Bn shelled at night, Bn HQ, mainly gas.  Usual work and wiring.  Some casualties.
27th		Quiet; 5 new officers arrived.
28th		Quiet, no casualties.
29th		Some shelling day, gas shells at night on Bn HQ at Pont Hinges.
30th		Quiet day usual work.
31st 		Quiet day, no casualties.
Hinges		June
1st-3rd		Quiet, some gas shells and HE; Bn HQ, gas shelled, mornings 'stand to'.
4th		Bn relieved in the line by 2nd Suffolks, went into Brigade reserve at Chocques Hill.
Chocques
5th		Cleaning up, routine inspections.
6th		Inspections, 1 coy on ranges.
7th-8th		2 coys on ranges, practice attacks in open warfare by platoons.  Sports in afternoon and
		evening.
9th		2 coys on ranges, practice attacks in open warfare by platoons.  Tug of war and football.
10th		Bn continued practise attacks over flagged course.  Sports evenings.
11th-12th	Bn continued practise attacks; sports later.  GOC Div present.
Hinges
13th		Bn moved into line for attack; relieved 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in left subsection, and
		2nd Suffolks and Bn HQ shared HQs in surplus house.  All carrying for attack finished,
		everything required.
14th		Anniversary of Infantry Hill; Quiet day, our artillery registering, normal enemy shelling.  All
		officers moved forward (CO, Adjt Signals, Adjt 2nd Suffloks) to battle HQ at 10 pm.  A and D
		coys advanced under barrage at zero hour 11.45 pm, B and C in support.  Occupied our old front
		line.
15th		No reports until 2 am from walking wounded, at 4 am definite word received that both assault 
		coy commanders were killed; CSMs wounded shortly after zero hour.  Both flanks were on their
		objective and in touch with 2nd Suffolks on right and 1st Rifle Brigade on left.  2 other
		officers were killed, 3 wounded.  At 5.30 am in broad daylight platoons of support coys rushed
		the machine gun posts which had held up the centre platoons.  Several machine guns taken, with
		25 prisoners.  The whole objective was now taken.  Enemy shelling on Canal bank every hour in 
		afternoon and night, no casualties as our men were not there.  Telegraph congratulations from
		General Deverill, Comm 3rd Division and General Moreland Corps Commander.
16th		Some shelling on our old front line and Canal Bank, but no counter attack.  Dispositions
		altered during day; 2 Coys Suffolks taking over Bn front.  Bn moved into Brigade Reserve in 
		Chocques, no casualties.
17th		Quiet day cleaning up.  Corps Commander and Div General visited Bn HQ.  3 officers joined.
18th		Bn at baths, on range later.  Bn marched to Sandpit Cemetery for funeral of 4 officers killed 
		on 15th.
19th		Bn relieved 8th KORL in Battle Zone trenches running in front of and through Hinges, no 
		casualties.
20th		Quiet day.
21st 		Quiet day usual carrying and work parties.
22nd		Quiet day some shelling at night.
23rd		Quiet day Bn relieved 8th KORL: some shelling evening; enemy machine guns and snipers very
		active, 1 officer wounded, 2 ORs killed, 4 wounded.
Hinges
24th		Bn HQ, subjected to shelling; machine gun fire on coys in front line, rifle fire, with 1 OR 
		killed and 7 ORs wounded.  7 new officers joined today and 71 ORs.
25th		Quiet day light shelling.
26th		Inter coy relief in front line, some machine gun fire.
27th		Noisy day!  24 hours intermittent shelling.
28th		Quiet day; slight enemy fire round Bn HQ.
Chocques
29th		Bn relieved in front line by 2nd Suffolks and moved back into Brigade Reserve.
30th		Bn at cleaning up and baths.
		July
Chocques
1st		Bn organised in coys on range and baths, some shelling.  Sergeants Mess and Mens' Reading Room 
		set up in the Brassiere.
2nd		3 coys training, 1 on range.  At night 400 men on cable burying fatigue near Hinges back at 6
		am.
3rd		No training; Bn resting.  Football later.
4th		1 coy on range, 1 coy on training area.  Platoon football competition.  CO on leave.
5th		Bn on ceremonial parade in morning.  Relieved 8th KORL in Battle Zone, very quiet.
Hinges
6th		Bn occupying lines; very hot, flies very bad.  Work on Canal Bank, Gordon line.
7th		Very quiet, work as usual, 1 casualty.
8th-9th		Very quiet.
10th		Div Commander visited the line.
11th		Very quiet.  Bn relieved 8th KORL in forward zone.
12th		Rain, work parties laying duck boards, fire positions, putting out wire.
13th		Usual work.  1 Casualty.
14th		Shelling day and night, machine gun fire; 1 officer killed on patrol, 7 ORs wounded during
		carrying parties from support to front line.
15th-16th	Quiet; usual work.
17th		Relieved by 2nd Suffolks.
Chocques
18th		Clearing up; Bn paid out, 2 coys baths.
19th		2 coys on ranges; 2 coys baths.  Sports day.   Football, played 20th KRRC, lost 2-1.  Concert 
		in Brassiere in evening.
20th		Reveille at 4.30 am, Bn on cable laying fatigue.  Officers and men on tactical exercise in
		manning trenches, 6-9 pm, east of Youdin and Oblingham.
21st		Church parade, enemy shelling, long range over Chocques and San Savour.  War Savings 
		Certificates campaign begun.
22nd		Bn marched to tracer bullet demonstration.  Some shelling afternoon.  2 ORs wounded.
23rd		Heavy rain all day.  Parade cancelled.  Bn left Brigade Reserve relieved 8th KORL at Battle 
		zone.  War Savings Certificate campaign ended.
Hinges
24th-29th	Savings Certificates set new record, 2059 sold.  Normal tour over recent 5 days, some shelling
		work on Gordon line and Canal Bank.  2 platoons carrying each night for the front line Bns.
		Relieved 8th KORL forward zone, nil casualties.
30th		Front line much as before, very dirty.
31st		Some shelling of Park Lane and Bn HQ during night: 1 OR wounded.
		
		August
Hinges
1st-4th		Bn under heavy shelling; very heavy rain.  La Banoriere and Chocques shelled, light shelling of 
		front line.  Heavy snow.  Back areas shelled.
5th		Quiet day.
6th		Bn relieved by the Wiltshires, moved back to embussing point at Chocques, served hot meal at 4
		am.
Lieres
7th		Bn at Lieres 6 am, billeted in barns, very comfortable; paid out in evening.
8th		2 coys at baths, 2 at ranges.
9th		2 coys at baths, 2 at ranges.  Army commander visited in evening.  Sports in afternoon.
10th		All coys at training.  Bn paraded and marched to main road between Ferfay and Bellery, saw HM 
		The King pass in car.  Cheers lustily.
11th		Church parade.  Div Commander present.  Boxing competition
12th		Bn training morning; marched to Ferfay where XIII Corps Sports day held.  Bn Tug-of-War took
		2nd Place.
Sus-st-Leger
13th		4 coys at training; Bn visited by Corps Commander and Brigadier General.  CO inspected Mobile 
		Reserve and Transport loaded up ready to move to Sus-st-Leger. 
14th		Bn marched to Permes, train to Sus-st-Leger.  Great search for billets, Bn in GHQ reserve under 
		24 hours notice.
15th		Corps parade, platoon training, sports, football.
16th		Corps parade, platoon training, sports, football.  Bn paid out Div General visited.
17th		Bn at billets and training, rounders match between officers and 2nd Suffolks.
18th		Church parade.  Div Commander presented medal ribbons; sports in afternoon.  Div band played.
19th		Bn ready to move, marched to Berles-au-Bois arriving at midnight.
Berles-
au-Bois
Ayette
20th		Bn lay out in orchards all day, paraded ready to move off at 10 pm, proceeded to assembly 
		position behind Ayette.  Bn at zero hour 4.50 am, moved forward through dense mist for a mile,
		thereafter splitting into artillery formations.  Difficulty in seeing more than 100 yards; Bn 
		reached most of Courcelles but Railway not taken.
21st		Failure to take objectives, heavy casualties.  Bn withdrawn after dark to Blue Line; rested all 
		day.
22nd		Bn rested; Major Pearson took command; moved up after dark with remainder of Brigade for
		assembly positions for attack on Gourniecourt next morning.  Bn was to guard Right Flank of 
		attack by the other Bns of the Brigade as the taking of Gourniecourt above would make a
		pronounced salient in our line.  Enemy had ME in assembly position and this had to be dislodged 
		before the assembly.
23rd		Attack began and the two right flank coys met some opposition on Railway Embankment, half way 
		to the objective.  Considerable MG fire forced them to dig in on the flank thus saving a large
		number of casualties.  The 2nd Division went through at 11 am, relieved the pressure - at 4 pm
		Bn moved forward to South East of Gourniecourt and dug in for night.
Ayette area
24th		Bn rested all day, movements restricted because in view of the enemy at Bahagnies and Sapiqnies 
		about 1 mile in front.  Bn later withdrawn at 8.30 pm to the Purple Line west of Douchy.
Douchy
25th		Bn rested all day - heavy rain.
26th		Fine day; Bn moved in the evening to trenches in front of Hamlincourt.
27th		Enemy shelled intermittently.
28th		Bn moved forward at night and relieved the 2nd Grenadiers in the front line SW of Ecoust.
29th		Bn patrols out to keep in touch with enemy, one platoon of the left coy advanced too far and
		was practically wiped out by MG fire from the flank.  Bn co-operated with the 8th West Yorks 
		(62 Div), but the operation planned did not take place.
Mory
Ecoust
30th		Bn advanced with the 2nd Suffolks who took Ecoust on our left, but because of a heavy attack
		our left coy was left in the air and suffered heavy casualties.  On the right the Bn reached
		its objective with few casualties and dug in to consolidate the position.  The Brigade was
		relieved at night except the Bn and 1 coy of 8th KORL who came under the orders of the 9th 
		Brigade.
31st		Brigade attacked on a 3 Bn front in the morning, Ecoust was retaken.  Bn reached objective, dug 
		in; the adjutant Captain Gammell MC was killed.
		September
Vrauxourt
1st		9th and 76th Infantry Brigade took objective, the 8th KORL achieved this before daylight 
		without barrage.  Patrols found Noreuil strongly defended, much sniping and shelling - Bn HQ
		moved forward to Ecoust - Mory road.
2nd		8th Brigade passed Bn at 5.30 am.  Quiet, no shelling.  1st Scots Guards moved in behind Bn at 
		dusk.  Captain Gammell buried in cemetery at Douchy les-Ayette.
3rd		Bn withdrawn at 1 am, marched to rest trenches at Moyenville and Ayette, arriving 5 am.  Rested 
		and paid in afternoon.  Fine and warm.
Ayette
4th		Baths at Boiry-st-Martin.  2/Lt D Kennedy buried at Douchy les-Ayette in afternoon.  Bn rested.
5th 		Coys practised compass marching and extended order in forenoon.  Major Pearson presented 
		gallantry cards.  Lt Col The Hon W Fraser DSO MC took over Bn.
Gaudiempre
6th		Bn moved to Gaudiempre morning.  Half for diner 2-4 pm.  Billets at 6.45 pm.
7th		Bn cleaned up and improved billets.  Brigadier General Burnett DSO visited Bn.
9th		Inspection 7,30 am.  Extensive training.
10th 		Bn inspections; extensive training; drills, lectures; musketry at 2 pm.
11th		Parade at 7.30 am.  Bn marched to Adinfer Wood at 2 pm, reached trenches at 5 pm.  Draft of 51
		ORs arrived - all out for first time.
Sapignies
12th		Bn moved at 10 am.  Rain, arrived 1 pm.  Billets comfortable.  Bn Paid out.
13th-14th	Bn inspections, demonstrations of movement with tanks, general training.  114 ORs all under 19, 
		from 52nd Grading Bn, arrived.
Fremicourt
15th		Church Parade.  Bn moved to Fremicourt at 2.30 pm.  Poor billets.  Some bombing.  1 enemy
		aircraft brought down.
Beaumetz-
les-Cambrai
16th		Bn moved to sunken road at Beaumetz-les-Cambrai at 8.30 am.  Poor shelters.  Timber and iron
		used to improve them.  Bn soaked by heavy rain.
17th		Bn engaged in extensive training.
18th		Bn practised attacks, arms handling, wire cutting; lectures by CO.
19th/		Bn on tactical exercises; awards parade; extensive attacks practised; helmets painted.
25th		Bn continued extensive practise, model of ground to be attacked inspected.  New draft of 
		officers arrived.
26th		Reveille at 7.30 am.  CO addressed each coy.  Bn rested 2-5 pm.  Evening at assembly trenches.
Front line
near Flesquieres
27th		Bn attacked, after heavy barrage by our artillery at 5.20 am, going forward at 6 am with the 
		8th KORL (76th Brigade), some difficulty at the start owing to the inexperience of the young
		platoon commander but pressed on ahead, leading companies suffered considerable loss.  Enemy 
		resistance was strong at this stage, but 62nd Div passed through but halted 1000 yards short of
		the main objective.  Thereafter, the Bn rested at Havrincourt Chateau.
Havrincourt
28th-29th	For 2 days, poor accommodation.
30th		Bn reorganised in forenoon.  CSM Rollo DCM MM buried in cemetery N of Havrincourt.  Bn moved to
		trenches at Ribecourt at 5.30 pm.  Orders received at 11 pm to attack Rumilly and marched off
		at 1.30 am.
		October
1st		Bn at assembly points beyond canal with 2nd Suffolks.  Attacked west of Rumilly continued
		successfully, and objectives taken.  Elsewhere the attack was renewed and consolidated.
Masnieres
2nd-7th		Bn occupied trenches and rested; reorganising as far as possible.  Draft of 20 ORs sent to each
		coy.  Relieved the 2nd Suffolks East of Rumilly.  Little enemy activity.
8th		Advance of the VI Corps resumed 4.30 am.  3rd Div on right, 2nd on left; Bn stood by till
		afternoon.  Attack in trouble.  The 9th Brigade called upon Bn CO to take position at La
		Targette and attack at 6 pm.  This was successful and the objective reached, and next morning
		the Guards Division passed through.
9th		Enemy began to retire.  Tactics were designed to halt the British advance by a multitude of 
		machine gun posts but the rear guards usually retired.  The retreat was 12 miles.  Enemy 
		brought in fresh divisions and artillery.
Havrincourt
10th		Bn rested, cleaning up trenches.
11th-12th	Awards for gallantry announced, lessons in Lewis gun arranged.  Baths organised.
13th		Inspections of rifles by armourer.  Box respirators inspected.  Drafts of officers and men 
		arrived.  Clean clothing issued.  Leather jerkins issued.  Bn marched off and reached Marcoine
		at 12.30.  Poor billets.
Marcoine
14th-15th	CO inspections.  Gallantry cards issued.  Training programmes followed.  Large draft.
16th		Routine duties, inspections, wet weather.  Training on lewis Gun, musketry, lectures.  Some 
		football.
17th-18th	Bn on routine duties; inspections and training.
Cattenieres
19th		Bn moved to Cattenieres at 2 pm, good billets.
20th		Bn moved to Quievy at 11 am.  Rum ration was issued after the rain during the long march Co
		complimented men.
Quievy
21st		Bn on 2 hours notice to move.  Cleaned up and coys training. CO lecture on 'open warfare'.
22nd		Bn on routine duties.  All ammunition was made up.  Bn moved to Solesmes, arrived at 5 pm.
		Good billets.  Assembly positions for following morning were inspected.
Romeries
23rd-24th	Bn attacked and took Romeries.  Took over billets at 9.00 am.
25th		Bn remained in Romeries, reorganising.
Escarmain
26th		Bn moved to Escarmain took over billets from 2nd RSF 8th Brigade.
27th		Bn on routine duties.  Moved to Ruesnes.  2 casualties, shellfire.
Ruesnes
28th		Bn in posts on main front.  Heavy gas shelling during night.
29th		Quiet day.  Bn relieved by 52nd Light Infantry at 4 pm moved to St Python.  Hot meal on
		arrival.  Captain Lee DSO MC wounded during relief.
St Python
30th		Reveille and routine duties.  Bn paid out.
31st		Bn at baths, issue of clean clothing.  Took over billets at Carnieres from 1st Irish Guards.
		
		November
Carnieres
1st-2nd		Bn on reveille; Inspections, iron rations at 7.45 am breakfast at 8 am.  Training routines 
		followed; Baths for 'D' coy and clothing change, musketry exercises, rapid loading, aiming and
		firing, lecture and drill.
Quievy
3rd		Bn moved to Quievy at 6 pm arrived at billets at 6 pm, very wet conditions.  Billets good, hot 
		meal at 19.30 rum ration at 20.30.  Officers posted to coys.
Romeries
4th		Bn moved in fighting order to Romeries.
5th		Later moved to Orsinval.  Very wet.
6th		Inspections.  All parades cancelled, very wet conditions.  Lectures, Lewis gun classes.
7th		Company inspections; warning order from Brigade prepare to move.  Lecture by CO on 'Open
		Warfare'.
8th		Bn moved to Gommegnies, occupied billets in civilian houses.
Gommegnies
9th		Reveille at 7 am.  Bn moved to Le Grand Sart, billets required for Corps; arriving at 10 am,
		training by corps.  Worked on cleaning roads.
Le Grand Sart
10th		Bn moved to Longueville, billets taken over from 2nd Scots Guards, barns mainly.
Longueville
11th		Bn received news of Armistice!!
Return To Diary
Return To Hompages