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

13^th December 1915 – 

1st Battalion – BETHUNE.

Battn, paraded at 10.30am and marched to billets in the RUE D’AIRE at BETHUNE. Remainder of day occupied in cleaning up billets and preparing for G.O.C’s inspection tomorrow.

2nd Battalion – Officers 32.    Other Ranks 804.

To Hospital 3, From Hospital 3. Reinforcements 50.

2/4^th Battalion – Embarked by light on H.M.T. "ELKAHIA". Strength of Battn, 14 OFFICERS, 224 O.R's.

1/6^th Battalion – IN THE TRENCHES.

At 12.1am the mine was successfully exploded. The enemy opened machine gun & rifle fire for a short period. They sent up a red light but no artillery fire resulted. Our bombers and riflemen seized the near lip of the crater & fired rifle grenades into the far lip of the crater to prevent the enemy taking possession of the crater – meanwhile a sap was dug out of the new crater. This was completed at 5.40am. Our trench was only slightly damaged by the explosion & this was repaired immediately after the explosion the enemy put a trench searchlight on the crater. During the day the enemy were quiet, with a exception that they threw a few rifle grenades into the DUCKS BILL. At 10.15am two Coys (A&B) of the 16^th K. Royal rifles (33 Division) arrived at WINDY CORNER for attachment and instruction. They were to be sent to the trenches as complete Companies – They therefore relieved C & D Coys in the centre & left sectors of the line, these Companies coming out to – D Coy LE PLANTIN, C Coy WINDY CORNER. One officer from C & D Coy & the bombers of these two Coys were left in the front trenches to instruct the K.R.Rs & to hold the bombing saps. The relief of these two Coys was completed by 1pm. The afternoon was quiet – During the night the sap to new crater was improved.

Casualties – 3 Killed, 6 Wounded.

7^th Battalion – Orders received as to reliefs etc for remainder of month of December.