The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 3rd May 1916

3^rd May 1916 –

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine. Working parties of 325 men.

2nd Battalion – Coy parades. Attack, open warfare. Company Drill.

Officers 35.    Other Ranks 897.

3 to Base.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The Battalion was ordered to improve the trench line inside the barbed wire entanglement with a view to holding it to defend the Bridgehead. A large proportion of the line had fallen in but a start was made by A & C Companies. D Company doing work on the Bund. The river rose 5 inches during the last 24 hours.

At 6.45pm the Brigade Major issued orders that 2 companies were to fall in at once & move out to RUTHERS TOWER to repair a break in the Bund there. A & B companies were detailed & at 7.10pm Major Hodges & 2 platoons moved out as an advanced guard. The remainder under Capt P.R. Whittington followed immediately each man in addition to his rifle & equipment carrying a gaming bag. On approaching RUTHERS TOWER the party had to halt for some time as CARTERS village & others near had taken the alarm. Eventually work was started & it took some 4 hours to complete the work. The party returned to camp at 3.30am.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battn received orders at 5am to pass the Starting Point (crossroads W. of ALLOUAGNE) at 6.30am on a test of a defence scheme. The Battn marched to LILLERS, where it should, according to the scheme, have entrained. The Brigade continued on a route march getting back to billets about 11am.

7^th Battalion – ETINEHAM.

Battn rested at ETINEHAM CAMP

8^th Battalion – the points of assembly (marked B) at T.15 b 92 (sheet 28SW) and at N33 d 38 were reconnoitred. These points are applicable to the Bn of the 72 I.B. in Divisional Reserve.

10th Battalion – ALDERSHOT.

The battalion, under the command of Lieut Col H.B. Burnaby D.S.O. left Aldershot for Southampton, the port of embarkation. The following officers were present with the battalion :-

Lieut Col H.B. Burnaby D.S.O. (in command)

Major H. Wardell (2^nd in command)

Major R.C. Graham Clark

Captain R.C. Smith (Durham Light Infantry Adjutant)

Captain C.J. Hogan

Captain F.C. Vignoles

Captain A.A. Langley

Captain T. Kelly

Captain Wilbur C. Sharpe

Lieut E.G. Bowden

Lieut W.L.S. Cox

Lieut J.P.H. Cookson

Lieut W.J. Hedley

Lieut W. McDonald (Transport officer)

Lieut A. McKenzie

Lieut R.V. Peddar

Lieut M.C.L. Porter

Lieut G.P. White

Sec Lieut W.H.G. Chapman

Sec Lieut H.N.F. Cook

Sec Lieut J.A. Cowan

Sec Lieut H.A. Head

Sec Lieut G.M. Lewis

Sec Lieut C.A. Lindup

Sec Lieut A.L. Keep

Sec Lieut R. Love

Sec Lieut O.J. Partington

Sec Lieut G.E. Penman

Sec Lieut T.B. Smith

J. Wardroper (Signalling Officer)

C.W. Wiley

D.C.H. O’Byrne

Lieut & Quarter-master B.J. Jordan

Regimental Sergt Major A.C. Middleton

Other Ranks – 924.

After a delay of 24 hours, owing to a fog, the battalion, having embarked on S.S. CAESAREA, arrived at HAVRE in the early hours of 5^th May 1916. Left HARVRE on the evening of 5^th May by train, arriving at GODEVAERSVELDE – afternoon 6^th May – thence by march route to

STRAZEELE, where it was billeted in 5 separate farm – houses.