The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 18th March 1916

18^th March 1916–

1st Battalion – Raid practised by C Coy. Half the battalion on fatigue. Capt Brodhurst Hill took over A Coy.

2nd Battalion – Whole battalion on fatigue.

Officers 31.    Other Ranks 831.

To Hospital 4.

Struck off 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Arab work on the Bund supervised by armed parties from the Battn also finished. This duty was very trying to all concerned as it meant a very long day 7.30-6.0pm standing about & making the Arabs work all the time.

1/6^th Battalion – “D” Coy relieved “A” COY in ALEXANDRA TRENCH & “C” Coy went to LANCASHIRE TRENCH. “A” & “B” Coys furnished the usual bomb & soup carrying parties, the afternoon was quiet. About 5.30pm Enemy commenced heavy bombardment of our Front Line reserve & communication trenches. At 6.20pm “B” Coy was moved forward to QUARRY from RESERVE TRENCH, A Coy moved from RAILWAY RESERVE TRENCH to RESERVE TRENCH & one LEWIS GUN was sent up to STICKY TRENCH. At 6.35pm orders were sent to “C” Coy to move from LANCASHIRE TRENCH to RAILWAY RESERVE TRENCH 6.40pm. Verbal message arrived via E Surrey orderly that CRATER C had been lost 2 mines were blown therein. 7pm disposition B Coy QUARRY A Coy RESERVE “C” Coy. RAILWAY RESERVE D Coy ALEXANDRA TRENCH (under O.C. Buffs) 7.25pm “B” Coy sent all bombers into front line remained of company on carrying party. 7.35pm “C” Coy moved to RESERVE TRENCH & orders issued to A Coy to move forward to QUARRY. 7.40pm “A” Coy sent 2 platoons to WEST FACE. At 9.25pm O.C. “B” Coy reported CRATER “C” was clear of enemy but outer lip was held by them. 11.10pm 2^nd Lt Passmore reported he had two LEWIS GUNS in STICKY TRENCH. With these two guns he was able to stop enemy advancing between B & C CRATERS. He also succeeded in blocking RUSSIAN SAP the further end being in the hands of the enemy at 2.30am Pioneers & Sappers arrived in RESERVE TRENCH. At 3.45am “B” Coy under Captain Cannon & in conjunction with A Coy of East surrey Regt seized the inner lip of CRATER “C”  & they met with very slight opposition but owing to daylight coming on they had to retire into the Saps as they were in full view of the enemy & there was no time to consolidate the inner lip, as Pioneers & Sappers did not arrive till nearly dawn.

Casualties 6 Killed 16 wounded.

7^th Battalion – In camp nothing to report.

8^th Battalion – Enemy snipers quieter, due to action by ours. Aerial activity great on both sides during the morning. One British plane was hit, and seen to descend near OBSERVATORY RIDGE.

In the evening Bn, H.Q. was moved from R 7 to LOVERS WALK – near its junction with GOUROCK ROAD, into dugouts recently vacated by 12^th Royal Fusiliers owing to shelling.