The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 13th July 1916

13^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – BICORDEL.

In afternoon C.O. & Coy commanders visited 2^nd Battn bivouac near old British front line South of MAMETZ Village and Lt Col Longbourne accompanied them to the high ridge above the bivouac and pointed out all visable features – A good view obtained of CONTAL MAISON – MAMETZ WOOD and the two HAZENTINS, then in hands of the Germans – Special order of the day from Gen Rawlinson Comdg 4^th Army Received.

Special order of the day

The Commander-in-chief desires that the following may be made known at once to all the troops :- “ The Russians are attacking in great force and with success on many parts of their front and have captured many thousands of prisoners and much war material in the last few days.

The Italians have pressed the Austrians back a considerable distance and are following up their advance vigorously.

The French troops on our right have already gained brilliant successes and captured a large number of prisoners, guns, etc. They are pressing on steadily; their left flank co-operating closely with our right.

On the main front of attack our troops have broken, on a front of 12,000 yards, right through systems of defence which the enemy has done his utmost for nearly two years to render impregnable. We have inflicted heavy loss on him, capturing 8,000 prisoners and many guns, mortars, machine guns and other war material.

The enemy has already used up most of his reserves and has very few now available.

The defences which remain to be broken through are not nearly so deep, so strong, or so well prepared as those already captured, and the enemy’s troops, exhausted and demoralized, are far less capable of defending them than they were ten days ago.

The Battle is, in fact, already more than half won. What remains to be done is easier than what has been done already and is well within our power.

Let every attack be pushed home to its allotted objective with the same bravery and resolution as on the 1^st July.

Let all objectives gained be held against all comers as British soldiers has always known how to hold them.

There is no room for doubt that steady, determined, united, and unrelenting effort for a few days more will definitely turn the scale in our favour and open up the road to further successes which will bring final and complete victory within sight.”

H. Rawlinson, General,

Commanding Fourth Army.

Headquarters,

Fourth Army.

12^th July 1916.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training in the morning at 6 pm two bandoliers S.A.A. issued to each man.

9 pm Marched via WELLINGTON REDOUBT to No Man’s Land N of MANSEL COPSE.

MANSEL COPSE.

Bivouaced at 10 pm.

Strength:

Officers 30.

Other Ranks 1050.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The Battn took part in a Brigade Route March complete with 1^st & 2^nd line transport. Duties were handed over to the 1/4 Dorset Regt from retreat on the 13^th till retreat on the 14^th. A number of garrison employed men were relieved out of a total of 81 but in spite of this the strength on parade only amounted to Officers 17 Other Ranks 651. Loads were stacked ready for loading by 4 pm. Transport ordered for 4 am arrived at 4.20 am & roping & loading was easily completed by 5 am.

4759 Pte G. Prior B Coy died of cholera & he and Pte Harbour were buried at 6.45 pm.

4504 Pte E. Attewell B Coy died of cholera & was buried on return to camp of the Battn after the Brigade Route March on the 14^th inst.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion was inspected in billets by the G.O.C. 12^th Division & remained in billets.

7^th Battalion – (part missing) where he met Officers Commanding Companies – Orders for attack of Northern Portion of TRONES WOOD at 7 pm were then issued. Brigade operation orders were received at 4 pm. Company Commanders returned to their commands and issued instructions. Leading Coy moved forward from DUBLIN TRENCH at 5.30 pm. Battn was greatly  impeded by a relief moving up into LONGUEVAL ALLEY at the same time. At 7 pm Battn assaulted TRONES WOOD from northern extremity over a front of 750 yards. One Company of 7^th Buffs detailed to assist Battn in the assault, became much disorganised owing to casualties caused by shell fire when moving up to the attack and only one and a half platoons arrived in time to partake in the assault. Battn H.Q. arrived in LONGUEVAL ALLEY at 7 pm. (ZERO hour). Battn, on assaulting was met by very heavy rifle, machine gun & shell fire and the advance was definitely checked owing to no support troops being to hand. The enemy would appear to have suffered very little damage from our bombardment as he developed very heavy rifle fire. The enemy also barraged on LONGUEVAL ALLEY. At 8.50 pm a message was received that Northern Portion of TRONES WOOD would be re-bombarded & that attack was not to be pressed if success seemed unlikely. At 9 pm remainder of battn & 7^th Buffs reorganised for defence of LONGUEVAL ALLEY in conjunction with present garrison. At 12.30 am 14^th July instructions were received that Battn might withdraw to German old front line system if LONGUEVAL ALLEY was sufficiently held. At 2.30 am Battn withdrew to BEDFORD TRENCH.

Casualties, Officers 13, O.R. 216

8^th Battalion – The G.O.C.- in-chief has awarded the Military Medal to the N.C.O’s & men mentioned below, for general work and devotion to duty.

No.8929 Sgt Collis W. “C” Coy, 2955 L/C Roper E.G. ‘M.G. Det’; 2481 Cpl McDermott H. Transport Section, 445 Pte Westcott E.G. ‘A’ Coy.

10^th Battalion – Normal – Killed No 6643 Pte J. Miller; Wounded No 10046 L.Cpl H. Eastop; 10401 Pte  P. Wright; 10373 Pte E. Perkins.

11^th Battalion – Large number of shells were thrown into Glasgow Redoubt & trench 99 but little damage was done. Capt Hogan was slightly wounded and O.R. 3 wounded.

During the night 13/14^th the battalion was relieved by the Royal West Kent Regiment and went back to billets, located as follows:-

A Coy to Fusilier Terrace. When they were employed on working parties in Border Avenue.

B Coy – Soyer Farm.

C Coy –

2 Platoons – Tilleul Farm.

1 Platoon – Petit Rabeque.

1 Platoon – Grand Rabeque.

D Coy & Machine Gunners – Delaville Farm.

Headquarters – Soyer Farm.

The battalion was employed during rthe week, on emplacements in PLOEGSTEERT WOOD under the supervision of the Royal Engineers.