The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 9th August 1915

9^th August 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Ordinary Routine.

2nd Battalion – Officers 31.    Other Ranks 1015.

From Hospital 2.

To Hospital 1.

1/6^th Battalion – At 3.50am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment of the trenches on our Right (across the river LYS) & also fired a considerable number of shells into our Communication trenches - & LE TOUQUET ROAD. Several shells fell very close to Bn Hqrs – The bombardment lasted for nearly two hours – after which the remainder of the day was quiet – The Bn was relieved by the 7^th Bn East Surrey Rgt – the relief commenced at 8.30pm & was completed at 10.45pm. The Battn on relief returned to billets at LE BIZET. Casualties – one other ranks killed -

2/4^th Battalion – SULVA BAY.

2.30am Disembarked on “C” Beach.

5.30am Battalion ordered to proceed to a line S.W of Chocolate Hill, (Hill 53) and entrench.

6.40am Urgent message received for Battn, to move forward to N.W. slope of Hill 53 in order to reinforce 31^st Bde, which was then in action. Battn, advanced across open ground S-SE of Salt Lake during which it came under shell and rifle fire and had several casualties.

7.30am Arrived at Chocolate Hill and reported to Brig, Genl, Comdg, 31^st Bde –

8.am Ordered by him to join 33^rd Bde & to advance round N. Spur of Hill & thence E to support the Bde which was hard pressed, at 9.am joined 6^th Dublin Fusiliers Battn, advanced and occupied old Turkish trench running N. And S. Through 105,H.3.6.9. 3 Companies advanced 600 yards to front on to Hill 70, but were driven back by shell fire from our own guns in rear.

Advanced to Hill 70 a second time, but had to retire owing to heavy fire from our guns in rear and the fact that all scrub on hill was ablaze.

At this point had many casualties (8 officers & about 250 men.)

12 noon The Battn fell back to Turkish Trench and in absence of orders it was decided to strengthen this position & to hold on.

9^th/10^th night. Much firing from one front & from snipers all round. Received orders from 33^rd Bde to hold position at all costs. Battn, remained in this position until 9.pm 12/8/15 when it was relieved by Lancs & Yorks Regt & proceeded to beach where it reported to 160^th Bde.

                                                           Map showing Suvla Bay landings from 6 August 1915.

7^th Battalion – DERNANCOURT.

During the night 9-10^th, A Company (Major C.A. Russel-Stower) & B Company (Capt C.W.M. Price went forward into the trenches occupied by 1^st Bn Norfolk Regiment to which they were attached for instruction. The N.C.O’s & men were interspersed with those of 1^st Norfolk At about 9pm these companies came under fire for the first time, Lieut B.C. Haggard & C.S.M G.J. Denyer being both wounded in the right arm by the same bullet. No other casualties occurred.