The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 14th July 1916

14^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – FRICOURT.

Battalion under orders to fall in ready to move at 3.25 am, but did not move until 10.50 am when Battalion went into a position of assembly South of MAMETZ main road, close to FRICOURT CEMETERY F 9.A. Transport was brigaded, but parked behind Battalion Bivouac later in the day. 16^th K.R.R’s were assembled South of the Road with The Queen’s – 2^nd Batt The Worcestershire Regt and 9^th H.L.I. on north side of the road –

Lt Col D.M. Crofts as understudy to the Brigadier remained with the transport – the following Officers were also left – 2^nd Lieut Flinn-Falkner - & Roff & Mundye with Capt Harrison transport officer to the Brigade – Major G.P. Parnell assumed command of the Battalion and had with him the following officers.

A Coy  T/Capt Foster, 2^nd Lieuts Buckner, Rouquette & Buist & Lieut Thrupp.

B Coy  T/Capt Slatter, 2^nd Lieuts Richards, Harland, Bottomley, Robinson.

C Coy  T/Capt Gurry, 2^nd Lieuts Burrell, Fairlie, Bower, Butterworth.

D Coy  Lieut Pillian 2^nd Lieuts Wheeler, Farwill, Foley, Milner.

H.Q. Major Parnell, Capt & Adjt Carslake, Lieut Brown (signals) 2^nd Lt Crook (bombs) 2^nd Lt Crichton (Lewis guns).

The strength of the Battalion going into action was 25 officers 697 other ranks – Coy Sergt Major, Coy Qr Mr Sergts & drummers were left with the transport and reserve men trained in Vickers Gun & stokes mortar –

At 6.0 pm the Brigade moved along the FRICOURT-MAMETZ Road to a point of assembly near FLAT IRON COPSE –

10. pm on night of 14^th – 15^th the Battalion moved to a position near BAZENTIN LE PETIT.

A&B Coys had orders to dig in on road from cross tracks near X to cross tracks Y on Sketch – C&D Coys in reserve at Z near BAZENTIN LE GRAND wood – the 9^th H.L.I. were to dig in on our right from Y to N.W. corner of HIGH WOOD, but failed to find H.L.I. – 2^nd Lieut Rouquette afterwards went out & found the H.L.I. about half way along West edge of the wood having been unable to get any further as the enemy were in possession of the N edge of the wood.

2nd Battalion – 3.25 am Zero hour for the attack by 20^th & 22^nd Inf Bde. The 91^st Inf Bde in Divl reserve. See scheme & op Order No 18.

FLATIRON VALLEY.

8.50 am Marched by Coys with 100 yds interval via WILLOW AVE road, E of BOTTOM WOOD to a position East of MAMETZ WOOD & FLATIRON COPSE VALLEY where the Bn, dug itself in, in artillery formation head of Bn, at S.20.a.2.9. at 11 am Bn, under heavy shell fire & Bn, Hd, Qrs moved to S.20.0.0.9. E of MAMETZ WOOD.

5.15 pm Orders reed to attack & capture HIGH WOOD at the same time forwarded message direct to G.S.O.1 7^th Div: (Capt Hoare’s report on situation in BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD) who stated that no movement to take place until he had spoken to B.G.C. 91^st Inf Bde on telephone.

5.35 pm 91^st Inf Bde to capture HIGH WOOD moving via N.W. side of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD 1^st S.Staffs followed by 2^nd Queen’s to move via cross road N.W. corner of B-LE-GRAND WOOD & deploy with left on CEMETERY, 2^nd Queen’s right on road junction, S.9.c.9.0. The left flank to direct. Artillery barrage to lift at 6.15 pm. 33^rd Div: to attack at this hour W of Cemetery & seize SWITCH TRENCH N.W of HIGH WOOD.

WINDMILL S.9.e.35.10.

6.45 pm Both Regts deployed, but owing to 33^rd Div: being absent from the left flank with a Lewis gun detachment & part of A Coy which necessitated a slight delay.

7 pm The advance started from line road running N.W. & S.E. of WINDMILL.

7.10 pm Heavy machine gun fire from about S.2.d. & S.5.a. on left flank, also machine gun & rifle fire from the front by enemy concealed in shell holes between WINDMILL road & HIGH WOOD.

7.15 pm 2^nd Queen’s ordered to push on, their right flank directing along track S.9.C.10.00. to S.E. corner of HIGH WOOD & to endeavour to out-flank enemy’s M.guns. Several prisoners were captured & a lot of the enemy killed, our men shooting them from the standing position whenever they got a target.

7.25 pm After advancing 700 yds C & D Coys captured 3 77mm guns & a limber also a lot of ammunition near hedge S.9.b.65.25. (the breach blocks had been removed). At about this time both cavalry & an aeroplane assisted our advance, the former by engaging the enemy on our right flank and the latter by dropping to a height of about 500 feet & firing into the enemy between our front line & HIGH WOOD.

7.50 S.W. edge of HIGH WOOD reached, leading Coys on the right paused for a few minutes to allow Bn, on left to come up into line before entering HIGH WOOD.

8.10 pm C & D Coys reached track running N.W. & S.E. through centre of WOOD & lit their green flares to signal their position to contact aeroplanes.

8.45 pm Final objective gained N.E. edge of wood. Coy then dug trenches in following positions:-

D.Coy S.4.a.10.20. – S.4.b.15.00.

C.Coy S.4.b.15.00. (exclusive) – S.4.d.19.85.

A.Coy S.4.d.19.50. – S.4.e.85.00.

B.Coy S.4.c.6.2. – S.4.c.2.6.

Bn, Hd, Qrs, at WINDMILL (S.9.c.35.10).

During the night Durham Fd.Coy R.E. came up & made strong points at S.4.a.10.30. East corner at S.4.d.19.85. at S.E. corner S.4.c.85.00. wiring the front of same. C Coys bombers cleared several deep dugouts in N.E. side in the wood, captured a doctor & several prisoners.

The attack were made with four lines 150x distance between each line. Frontage of each Coy 175 yds from left to right D Coy, C Coy in two lines right of C Coy on track  S.9.e.95.00. to S.E. corner of wood.

B Coy, A Coy in two lines.

Bn, First Aid post & reserve Lewis guns & S.A.A. at road junct, S.9.c.95.00.

10.30 pm About this time Units of 33^rd Div: passed on S side of WINDMILL and advanced in direction of S.3.Central.

11.30 pm Enemy made a counter attack from N.W. corner of WOOD towards D Coy’s left flank, they were driven back by M.gun. Lewis gun & rifle fire. D Coy (left flank now in the air) formed a defensive flank with his left platoon facing N.N.W. This was strengthened by Capt J.B. Hayes who brought up a platoon of B Coy, (2 Lt Rutter being killed leading this platoon through the wood).      

2/4^th Battalion – The Bttn fell in at 5.15 am & punctual to time passed out of the camp gate by the No 6 Post at 5.30 am. The Bd, formed up & moved off in column of route at 6 am. Lieut Evetts & his Platoon formed the right flank guard, the Battn less this platoon was in the main body. On arrival at the TOMBS the Brigade opened out on to a broad front & shortly after was ordered to return to camp, the Battn marching back through the city arriving in camp at 8.30 am, 2^nd line transport at 9 am. Only 2 men fell out & generally the march was not felt  but in this weather the ordinary fatigues having to be carried out in the hot hours of the day on return to camp also cooking proved most trying.

1/5^th Battalion –

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion sent a detachment under Captain Higgins of 6 officers & 170 O.R. to MAILLET WOOD where they were attached 29^th Division. They worked on the communication trenches. Major S.B. Schlam reported for duty.

7^th Battalion – Z2 SUB-SECTOR & BILLON VALLEY GROVETOWN CAMP.

At 2 am Battalion was relieved from LONGUEVAL ALLEY and proceeded to new trench between original Enemy 2^nd line and third line ( BEDFORD TRENCH). At 7.30 am the battn moved back into shelters in BILLON VALLEY at 7.30 pm the Battn moved back into camp at GROVETOWN CAMP.

8^th Battalion –

10^th Battalion – Normal – Wounded 21319 Pte F. Hodson; G/9487 P.J. Warren; 10115 A.G. Barber.

11^th Battalion –