The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 13th October 1915

13^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Rehearsal for attack at 10am placing each bayonet man, bomber Vermoral sprayer man, spare bombers and working parties in the order that they will advance up NEW TRENCH. Zero at 1am when gas & smoke were started. Heavy rifle and machine gun fire was at once opened on our trenches. At 2pm the advance up NEW TRENCH was timed to begin. The Bde, bombers at the head of the attack were held up by rifle and machine gun fire from both flanks and the front, all directed on our sap head. The attack was held up for some minutes. Finally 2 Lieut A.R Abercrombie, 2 Lieut Tweedle-Smith and 2Bde, bombing officers with 6 men advanced out of our sap. 2 Lieut A.R Abercrombie and one man succeeded in reaching the German sap uninjured and advanced up this sap to its junction with LITTLE WILLIE. Here they waited for reinforcements. Finally 2 Lt A sent back the man with a message for supports, remained himself at the junction of the Comtn, trench with LITTLE WILLIE. The orderly was wounded on the way back & no message was delivered. At dusk 2 Lt A, advanced up LITTLE WILLIE and expended his grenades, placing a German machine gun out of action. He then returned safely to our lines and reported himself.

Five of our gas cylinders had been left in the quarry at Battn, H Qrs without our knowledge, by the R.E. One of these was hit by shell fire during the afternoon and caused considerable inconvenience to Hd Qrs before the source could be traced. A fresh attack  by Bde, bombers was timed to take place at midnight 13/14, but owing to a shortage of bombs it was not commenced until 5am and then only a short length of the trench (about 30 yards) was gained.

Casualties:- 2 Lt c St L. Perfect 3^rd Kings Own Died of Wounds, 2 Lt A Tweedle-Smith Killed. Other Ranks 11 Killed, 4 Missing and 47 wounded. 2 Lt Carslake led a second bombing attack on Western face of HOHENZOLLERN and made a successful advance to cover some digging operations, he withdrew after expending his grenades without incurring any casualties.

2nd Battalion – Heavy bombardment by our guns on enemy’s trenches etc, followed by gas. Infantry attacked in the vicinity of HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT & THE QUARRIES. Our Bde, held the trenches at CUINCHY & from there discharged gas to fog enemy as to real point of attack. Enemy’s gun retaliation very alight.

Officers 26.    Other Ranks 722.

To Base 1.

1/6^th Battalion – The early morning was quiet – at 12 noon our bombardment commenced & was instantly replied to by the enemy who did considerable damage to our trenches – especially the left front trench – HAIE ALLEY was also somewhat damaged – All (4 different lines) telephone lines to Companies were cut almost immediately the bombardment commenced, & and could not be mended till evening – At 1pm the smoke bombs were lighted – but did not form a very good barrage. They however drew a considerable amount of fire from the enemy. At 2pm the East Surreys on our immediate right assaulted the German trench between A.12.B 2 2 & G 12 B 5 7 & got into it.  At 4.30pm after repeated appeals for assistance from the Coy of East Surrey Regt in the German trench – one platoon of A Coy under Lt Pike & one section of D Coy was sent to his assistance. The platoon of A Coy succeeded in blocking the German communication trench at G.12 d 39 & held it. B Coy who were at the disposal of O.C. 7^th E. Surrey Regt were sent to support him at 4.30pm two platoons of this Coy were sent into the S.F.T trench behind the captured German trench & two were kept in reserve – Our Machine Guns made good practice on some of the enemy who were running out of the trench when the East Surreys advanced. At 10.50pm the platoon of A Coy & section from D Coy lent to the East Surreys returned – During the whole afternoon and evening the enemy kept up a lively artillery fire on our trenches, but did not do much damage. 2/Lieut Mann who had been sent to act as a Liaison Officer between the Buffs & the right of the 35^th Bde, did very good work during the day.

Casualties – Killed other ranks one. Wounded other ranks 15.   

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 trench mortar fire damaged about 10 yards of parapet trench 96, F 3 C 4590, their fire stopped by our howitzer fire.

8^th Battalion – At RENINGHELST. 2^nd Lieuts Payne Reynalds, Hopgood & Vipan joined for duty.