The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 10th October 1915

10^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Received orders at 8am that the 5^th Bde. Would relieve the 21^st & part of Guards Bde, today. Marched off at 11am BANNEQUIN where Battn, stopped for dinners. Relieved 1/Coldstream Guards by 6pm, Battn, H Qrs in Quarry. G4 a 2.5. 

2 Lieut G. Wheeler with 14 trained signallers and 19 machine gunners joined.

2nd Battalion – Officers 25.    Other Ranks 730.

To Hospital 3.

To Base 1.

The Battn, relieved today by 1^st S.Staffs & went into billets in HARLEY STREET as support, “C” Coy, remained in a defended post just in rear of the firing line (GUINCHY SUPPORTING POINT).

1/6^th Battalion – Took over front line trenches from G.12.D.5.5 to G.18.B.66. The relief commenced at 2.30pm and was completed by 5.35pm C & D Coys were in the front line A Coy in support & B Coy in reserve  in old German 1^st Line trench G.17.B. The night passed quietly. The enemy were busy all night digging a trench from about H.7.c.2.4 to H.7.c.2.0

No Casualties.

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

7^th Battalion – Enemy fired mine at 6.5am, small crater formed at F.3.C.4595, some damage done to our saps & some of our miners gassed, artillery fire from both sides followed, ours firing first enemy trench mortar fire damaged M.G. emplacement, trench 99, F 3 A 05. Our miners fired camouflet at 6.30pm, German charge also exploded by camouflet. A large mound & small crater made at F 3 C 37, about 25 yards of our trench was destroyed at F 3 c 25 65. Good work was done in repairing damage, by Capt Le Bas. Corpl Green, Ptes Bolton & Cardew.

8^th Battalion – At RENINGHELST. Church parade in field for the Brigade. The following message was read out by the Chaplin from Brig, Gen Mitford :- General Mitford who is unwell and unable to be present today, has asked me to say the following words to you on his behalf :-

“72^nd Inf, Brigade: Last Sunday the Brigade went into action for the first time, only a year after they came forward at their country’s call. The way the brigade advanced under very heavy machine gun fire from flanks and rear has evoked the approbation of the Divisional and Corps Commanders. You were an example in steadiness and determination to carry out your task, not only to the new armies but to seasoned troops who could not of done better than you did. As I say you carried out your task but had to retire. Yet do not think it was a failure, for it was not, as you caused 16 of the enemy’s Battalions of reserve to be brought up in to our area and taken away from the French just south of us, thereby enabling the French to make an appreciable advance. I should like all of you who know the relatives of those who are not with us to make known to them how gallantly they fought, and how nobly they served their country in whose service they fell, & what prestige they brought to the names of the regiments to which they belonged. Men of the Queens, Buffs, East Surreys & West Kents, you have added glory to the ancient regiments of which you are the children, you have made the 72^nd Infantry Brigade a name of which none of you can be other than proud & which I know in the future you will never allow to diminish. I feel it is a great honour to have had the chance of commanding such troops on service and I shall never forget the ground about Hulloch Village”.