The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 14th January1916

14^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Captain J Boyd left for general staff 2^nd Division. Lieut I.W.S Symons assumes the duties of adjutant.

2nd Battalion – Brigade Field Day. Continuation of scheme begun last week. Attack through RIENCOURT WOOD.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

Armourer Sergt, Rawnsley joined.

1/5^th Battalion - The Battn, took part in its first action The Battn, was ordered to parade at 9am to take part in a reconnaissance by the G.O.C. 12th Division, The troops consisted of 2 Squadrons. 12th Cavalry, 1 Section 30th Mountain Battery 1/5th Queen's. A surveying party was out, also G.O.C. 12th Bde. On assembling orders were given to the effect that the G.O.C's. was going forward with the cavalry and that the Infantry mountain artillery would follow & special protection was to be given to the surveying party if necessary, The signallers were ordered to keep connection between cavalry, column, and signalling Tower N of camp. The column started with D company under Capt. BRAY forming a sort of advance guard that is Capt. YETTS with 2 platoons was in front about 300 yards finding screen & vanguard but before Capt BRAY with the main guard were able to move the C.O. ordered everyone to start as the cavalry were in front. Capt. BRAY with ¼ company were therefore really at the head of the main body. Behind him was the section of Mountain Artillery, then H.Q. of the Battn, C Company the machine Gun Section, B Company, Major HODGES from them. Some time elapsed before the rear guard was in position to retire in the right direction & meanwhile the enemy's attack began with greater violence, all along the road, against the rear guard & on the right of Lieut KENNEDY.

2.45 pm The machine guns again had to come into action against the enemy attacking the road, the retirement continued steadily along the road with the 2 platoons of C Company protecting the right rear. These platoons past through a village on the E side of road & were then shortly afterwards heavily attacked by Arabs from this village who were practically enfilading the troops retiring along the road & facing the enemy on the W. To support Lieut KENNEDY & Lieut MOUNTFORD, Lieut CLEVERLY & some 40 men were turned

3.15 pm. back from the road & extended facing N E & by their help the 2 platoons of C Company got back. Meanwhile the 54th Bde, had come out from camp & had occupied a position in a semicircle E & W across the road & the Battn, passed through them, reformed & came slowly back to camp, reaching camp about 5.0 pm. The Battn, was in action practically 5 hours they paraded 25 officers & 498 other ranks.

Casualties 1 killed 1 missing believed killed Lieut. L. W. JARDINE & 11 other ranks wounded. 10840 rounds of ammunition were fired of which 850 were fired by the M.G.S. the troops throughout were very steady, fire control & discipline was excellent, especially considering that the ground was very broken & covered with scrub of which the enemy took full advantage.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion found working parties to work under the supervision of R.E’s at junction of O.B.F.L. & RUE CAILLOUX 60 men, advanced report centre RUE CAILLOUX 120 men, DANGER CORNER 30 men, 100x N of FESTUBERT Cross Roads 200 men, some of these parties went short as we could not find the men.

7^th Battalion – In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – 9.45pm The 8^th Queen’s were relieved by the 13^th Middlesex Regt, 73 I.B., the relief being complete by 9.45pm.

The Bn, marched back to Camp B at G 11 c, vacated the day before by the 2^nd Lienster Regt.