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!!
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