The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 27th October 1915

27^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – G.O.C 1^st Corps was to have inspected us but it was too wet and inspection was postponed. 4 Other ranks joined together with Capt F.B. Storey and 2 Lieuts J.G. Buckner, O.S. Flinn, H.H. Richards, C.W. Farwell.

2nd Battalion – Officers 25.    Other Ranks 733.

From Hospital 6.

2/Lt C.G.D. Thrupp struck off strength.

1/5^th Battalion - LUCKNOW.

8.am Orders received from Army Headquarters to mobilise for field service.

Strength at this date was

Officers 28   Attached 1

Rank and File 793  Attached 5(R.A.M.C.)

Distribution was as follows :-

LUCKNOW   Officers 17, Rank and file 432.

FYZABAD      Officers 4, Rank and file 160.

LEBONG       Officers 2, Rank and file 118.

On Courses, leave, furlough, and regimental employment.   Officers 4, Rank and file 20.

Force D Attached 2^nd Norfolk Regt.   Officers 1, Rank and file 44.

En route to England

Invalided   5.

For discharge  10.

To take up commissions   4.

Orders were received as follows: - The S.S.O. LUCKNOW at 11pm on 26^th received the following telegram from Brigade H.Q. at ALLAHABAD “Please hold in readiness to mobilize and concentrate first fifth R.W. Surrey Regt to join 33^rd Infantry Brigade. If Regiment eventually moves it will be relieved by Half Battn, fourth Border Regt, from POON.

Orders mobilization and concentration will issue later pending on receipt of which leave men should not be recalled. All subsidiary action to be taken in direct communication with branches concerned Acknowledge”

This was communicated at once to C.O. The actual orders to mobilize were received by telephone from H.Q. 8^th Lucknow Division at 8am on 27^th & were “first fifth Royal West Surrey Regt, will mobilize at Lucknow as strong as possible. Field Service Clothing Winter scale and field service scale tentage. Movement orders will be communicated in due course”.

8.15am. On receipt of above orders absent personnel were immediately wired to return.

9.30am. All officers were informed & preliminary steps such as Medical examination, inspection of kits etc commenced.

10am. The C.O. & Adjt, visited H.Q. Division to ascertain what steps were to be taken to relieve detachment at FYZABAD & ascertained this was done by O.C. ¼ The Queens & arranged for this to be done on the 29^th inst. They also visited the S.S.O. & arranged for the O.C. The Queens to relieve them of all garrison guards and duties.

12.30 noon. Officers chargers & machine gun mules were inspected. 2 chargers were cast. As in peace the Battn, only held 8 & in war require 12 & 2 ponies.

1/6^th Battalion – The day was quiet, the enemy fired a few shells (H.E) into our support trenches but did no damage. Work continued during the day and night on new trenches – The usual enemy bombing went on during the evening but nether side did any damage as far as could be ascertained – Casualties wounded other ranks 5.

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 – The Battalion relieved 8^th East Surrey Regt in subject D 3 B & D Companies being in front line, A in second line & C in support. 7^th Bn, R.W. Kent Regt held E1 on our left 7^th Bedfordshire Regt D2 on left.

8^th Battalion – Very quiet day. German troops opposite surmised to be Saxons. Note for training in Rest Camp – The Snipers Section must be thoroughly organised. Weather rainy.