The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 31st August 1916

31^st August 1916 –

1st Battalion – BILLETS RIBEMONT. Move to MIRVAUX.

The Battalion moved into billets in MIRVAUX via main ALBERT – AMIENS road – LA HOUSSOYE – QUERRIEU – St GRATIEN – MOLLINS to billets by Bde Route march passing starting point at 8 am. It was a lovely day and the march was the best part of thirteen miles passing through Fourth Army Head Quarters which were at QUERRIEU where we turned off the main ALBERT – AMIENS road in a Northern direction to St GRATIEN. The Battalion completed the march in good order and arrived in very good billets at MIRVAUX at about 2 pm. Major General Landon visited the Battalion at about 6 pm and addressed the men praising them in warm tones, on their conduct throughout their operations in the parts from which we had just come and their conduct under the most trying of circumstances during the past couple of months during which the Division had taken part in the “Great Offensive” on the SOMME. He wished them all the best of luck and expressed his confidence in them to carry on in the future as they had done in the past – upholding themselves as a fine example of England’s best troops – The Battalion received orders for a move by Route march to billets in TALMAS about 5½ miles distant on the 1^st September Moving off at 8 am.

F. Godfrey Captain

Comdg 1/Queen Rgt. 

2nd Battalion – Bn paraded at 12 noon & ordered to go up to DELVILLE WOOD & relieve 1^st S. Staffords (at 7 pm) marched to MONTAUBAN ALLEY, and relieved 2^nd R. Warwickshire Regt there. A & C Coys to FOLLY TRENCH 3 pm arriving at 5.45 pm. Enemy made three attacks on EAST RIDGE of DELVILLE WOOD between 4 pm & 7 pm against 1^st S. Staffords then holding this front (T.13.a.4.7 to T.13.C.3.8.) – V heavy artillery barrage on DELVILLE WOOD & area S, of same to MONTAUBAN from 12 noon to about 8 pm – B & D Coys arrived & at once reinforced 1^st S. Staffords who were then holding East Edge of DELVILLE WOOD & occupying DEVIL Trench, DIAGONAL Trench, & ANGLE Trench, C & ½ A Coys also sent forward from FOLLY Trench to reinforce moving  via DIAGONAL Trench. By 11 pm Coys had occupied the line as follows :-

12 Platoons D Coy, 2 Platoons C Coy, 4 Lewis Guns) - DEVIL TRENCH from S.E. Corner of DELVILLE WOOD to S.18.6.85.50 opposite HOP ALLEY with their in the air.

2 Platoons D Coy in 22 ALLEY.

B Coy, 1 Platoon C Coy) – in DIAGONAL & TRENCH S of PILSEN LANE.

2 Platoons A Coy in Angle Trench.

2 Platoons A Coy in FOLLY Trench- (in Bn Reserve)

Coy Commanders preceded their Coys & were with the S. Staffords at the time of enemy’s attack – Capt Stovold reached the S. Staffs Coy he was taking over from but has not since been seen or heard of.

 W. Hayes

Maj for Lt Col.

Comdg 2/The Queen’s Regt.

2/4^th Battalion –

H.W.M. Watson Lt Col.

O.C. 2/4 Queen’s R.W.S. Rgt.

1/5^th Battalion – Strength. Strength of Battn in the country on this date is as under:-

                                      Officers                Other Ranks.

W Unit                              16                          678.

12^th Bde M.G. Coy            1                            24.

Divl employed.                  1                          110.

F.A. Nasariyeh                   1                            57.

Base Hosp.                         2                            47.

Base Depot.                        4                            40.

On Leave.                           2                              4.

At AMARAH.                  30                          960.

W.P. Spens Capt & Adjt.

1/6^th Battalion – Very quiet, wet weather impeded work 2/Lt E.W. Edwards joined for duty.

G.H. Higgins Capt.

Commdg 6^th Bn The Queen’s Regt.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn remained in Reserve and was bombarded from 9.30 am till 4.30 pm, and from 9.30 pm – 1.30 pm with gas shells. About 18 Casualties from gas effects were suffered & 1 Officer was killed.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Training.  Nothing unusual has taken place during our tour in billets.

R. Oakley, Lieut Colonel

Commanding 10 Queen’s.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 30th August 1916

30^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – BECORDEL Move to RIBEMONT.

The Battalion moved by Brigade route march to RIBEMONT leaving BECORDEL at 7.30 am. Route via MEAULTE-DERNANCOORT BUIRE- Billets in RIBEMONT. Passed the 8^th Battalion en route going through MEAULT, they were going up into the line.

The Battalion reached RIBMONT at about 10.30 am and were billeted. It rained all day from early morning to late evening. 2 Lt W.J. Cross joined the Battn and 2 other ranks.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training – Weather still bad.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 847.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Reinforcements Lieut (Temp Captain) J.C. Crowley 1/4 The Queen’s & Lieut C.D. Ingram 1/5 East Surrey Regt who had been ordered from BASRA up river without any destination or unit to which they were to go being given them, having found their way to NASARIYEH & being acquainted with the Battn having reported to the C.O. on the 24^th inst were this day ordered to be attached to the Battn for duty. Both officers are thoroughly trained machine gun officers.

Before the telegram received today neither they nor Battn H.Q. had any intimation that they were likely to come to us, and as machine gun officers they appear wasted on regimental duty. Meanwhile three 2/Lieut’s who have been sent out from 3/5^th Queen’s & who arrived at BASRA some 5 weeks ago remain there in spite of many requests to the Base to send them up.

Staff Appointments Lieut J.D. Gabb was ordered to the Bde Staff as orderly officer.

1/6^th Battalion – Very quiet, busy improving trenches, draining riveting & laying floorboards & putting out wire.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 5.45 am - The Bn left RIBMONT at 5.45 am and marched to the Reserve Camp at F 8 d to relieve a Bn of the 42^nd Infy Bde.

The route was :- BUIRE – E 20 b 1 5 – DERNANCOURT – VIVIER HILL – MEAULTE – CARCAILLOT FARM – F 8 a.4.0. – F 8 d. This camp was reached at 9 am It was a very wet day.

4 pm – The Bn left the Rest Camp and marched via FRICOURT & MAMETZ to the CHECK LINE, S 23 c (LONGUEVAL Sheet) to relieve the 6^th Somerset Light Infantry in support. The 1 N. Staffords and 8^th R.W. Kents were in front line on the E edge of DELVILLE WOOD, while the 9^th E. Surrey Regt was in Reserve near MONTAUBAN. 1

Relief complete at 7 pm.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Training.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 29th August 1916

29^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – The Battalion still in same place in DIVISIONAL reserve – Companies carried out their own programs of Training – Bayonet fighting etc. Draft of 36 other ranks joined the Battalion.

2nd Battalion – Very heavy thunder showers again interfered with Training.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 847.

8 Draft.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Training For the first time for nearly seven weeks thanks to the hut building and new defence scheme being completed a company was able to be placed at its O.C’s disposal for training & it is hoped one, if not two, will continue to be available daily.

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring by night.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn remained in rest billets.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Training.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 28th August 1916

28^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – BIVOUACS BECORDEL.

The Battalion rested and cleaned up. Companies were worked at the discretion of their Commanders and men were allowed to wash their cloths etc.

2nd Battalion – Coy training continued as far as weather permitted.

5.30 pm Map reading for all officers.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 839.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Field Operations The Battn paraded at 4.30 am as part of a column ordered to demonstrate towards SHATRA but to proceed not further than ABDUR RIDHAS TOWER. The operations were ordered partly to test the secrecy of the issuing of orders as latterly there had been considerable leakage of information whenever field operations were completed & the G.O.C. had ordered very special precautions to be taken. Orders were received verbally from the Bde at 7.50 pm on the 26^th for the Battn to be outside the barbed wire by No 5 Post at 4.45 am with 1^st line complete. Orders were issued to officers at 8.30 pm & to other ranks at 9.30 pm, the same evening. Absolutely no leakage occurred on this occasion.

The column commanded by Lt Col Carleton 90^th Punjabis and consisted of ½ squadron 12^th Cavalry

21^st Mountain Battery,

2 sections 12^th Bde M.G. Coy.

1/5 The Queen’s. (less those on outpost duty).

1 company 90^th Punjabis.

1 section No 3 C.F.A.

It assembled at 4.45 am at No 5 Post & moved off at 5 am.

A.G. 12^th Cavalry, 1 platoon 1/5 The Queen’s (No 4 platoon under Lieut C.R. Wigan).

R & L Flank G’s 1 platoon 90^th Punjabis respectively.

M.B. 1 company (less 1 platoon) 1/5 (A Coy) The Queen’s.

21^st Mountain Battery.

2 sections 12^th Bde M.G. Coy.

1/5^th Queen’s less 1 company & 1 (B & C Coys) platoon.

No 3 C.F.A.

R.G. 1 platoon 1/5 The Queen’s (D Coy remainder of D Coy on outpost duty).

Column advanced in this order as far as ABDUR RIDHAS Tower, where it halted & battalion deployed into two lines of platoons in fours. After ¾ hour halt the column retired on camp. Beyond one warning shot & groups of Arabs on far sandhills there appeared little signs of opposition & the villages in hostile territory appeared to have been completely taken by surprise.

Strength of Battn Officers 15 (including 2 attached) Other Ranks 396.

Transport 5 pm – The Battn took over & located in the lines just N of the horse lines its First Line Transport 1 pony, 70 mules & 2 personel.     

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring by night.

1 O.R. wounded

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – RIBEMONT.

The Bn remained in rest billets.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Training.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 27th August 1916

27^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – The Battalion still in Brigade reserve in the Wood, the weather was very inclement. Orders were received for the relief of the Battalion by the 2^nd R.W. Fus 19^th Bde and the relief was completed by 10 pm the Battalion marching into Bivouacs with the rest of the 100^th Inf Bde at BECORDEL in the same place as on the 13^th inst arriving in Bivouacs at about 11 pm. The following officer reinforcements joined the Battn, Lieut A.C. Allen – 2 Lt H.D. Taylor – 2 Lt N.B. Avery – 2 Lt D.E.H. Millard.

2nd Battalion – E.8.C.1.1.

Church Parade cancelled owing to wet weather. Lieut Col Tringham from 8^th Bn and some officers of the 1^st Bn in FRICOURT WOOD, came over in the afternoon.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 839.

2/Lieut A.T.L. Noble joined.

2/Lieut H.H. Greig to Roy Flying Corps.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion –

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring at night. One man killed by a rifle grenade. 2/Lt Read M.R. rejoined battalion for duty. 2/Lieut E.E. Elliot, 2/Lt J.A. Christe, 2/Lt E.H. Aspden reported for duty.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn went into billets in RIBEMONT sur L’ANCRE. A draft of one officer and 64 O.R. joined the Bn.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Sunday – Inspections, Bathing etc,

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 26th August 1916

26^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – FRICOURT WOOD.

The Battalion remained in Brigade reserve and spent the day which was a very wet one in resting.  

2nd Battalion – Bn Paraded at 1 pm and marched to new camp at E.8.C.1.1.

 Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 839

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Training the Brigade exercise on the 16^th inst was repeated – guns were allotted to areas & the 21^st M.B.  was supported both 90^th Punjabis & 1/5 Queen’s. A & C Coys on our right failed to get any messages taken up by the gunners.

Huts D Coy huts were completed & the company moved back into the lines from the isolation camp.

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring at night.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – A draft of 36 O.R. joined the Bn for duty.

10^th Battalion – Billets –Coy training in semi open tactics.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 25th August 1916

25^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – The Battalion was relieved by the 9/H.L.I. and came back to the Reserve line at about 5 am on the 25^th inst. The Battalion were successful in taking their objective and the Bombers advanced about 100 yards up WOOD LANE trench and captured a German Block establishing their own about 10 yards in advance of it, the signal for their final position was Very Lights fired whereupon a platoon of the 20^th Royal Fusiliers came up and took over the post, captured by the Battalion and proceeded to consolidate it.

Casualties were as follows for the action of the 21^st inst.

Officers Killed – 4.     O Ranks Killed 19

        Wounded - 6              Wounded 76

Total                                            Total 95.

OFFICERS KILLED (Names)

2 Lt Rope. J.A.

2 Lt Bennett. L.E.

2 Lt Long. A.W.E.

2 Lt Campbell. A.M.

OFFICERS WOUNDED (Names). 24^th.

Lt Col L.M. Crofts.

Capt O.S. Flinn.

Capt Lukyn S.E. (Shell shock retd to duty 26^th inst)

2 Lt Bennett L.H. (retd to duty 26^th inst)

2 Lt Howell. W.J.

2 Lt Carpenter J.W.

The Battalion remained in the Reserve trenches until orders were received for their relief at about 2 pm by the 98^th Inf Bde. The relief was completed without mishap, the Battalion were relieved in the DEVILLE WOOD Trenches by the 2^nd Argyle & S.Hqrs. There was no casualties.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training.

2.30 pm 91^st Bde Gymkhana. Heats run off in the morning. Lieut Col Longbourne 2^nd in jumping on “IVANHOE”.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 839

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Training The C.O. had a tactical exercise for officers in connection with the scheme for signalling to the guns.

Musketry A start was made on range for the Battalion.

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring at night. Captain A.S.K. Anderson, The Medical Officer was wounded by a piece of Anti-aircraft shell.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn moved at 9.45 am to a destination in E.7.c. into bivouacs.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Company in attack – musketry drill.

11^th Battalion –