The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 2nd August 1916

2^nd August 1916 –

1st Battalion – Owing to the heat of the day – Work started earlier – Reveille 6 am & first parade 6.45 am till 7.45 am – Work ceased at 11.30 am in the morning, and resumed after teas at 5 pm. Fresh class of Bayonet Fighting for N.C.O’s commenced.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training.

Details of strength.

Officers 27. O.Rks 775

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Training – The G.O.C. 12^th Bde had an exercise for the senior officers & signallers. By 6.15 am the O.C’s A,C,D Coys were occupying an imaginary defensive position N.W. of camp facing East, Battn H.Q. a further 200 yards in rear of Battn H.Q. were some 200x in rear & Bde H.Q a further 200 yards in rear of Bttn H.Q. A mixed force of all arms under Lt Col Charlton 90^th Punjabis was ordered to manoeuvre in the neighbourhood of the brick kiln & Tombs near the SHATRA gate of the city & the O.C. Companies were to observe & report on what they could distinguish. A strong N.W. wind was blowing & much fine dust was in the air with the result that it was practically impossible to distinguish anything beyond 2000 yards. \An opportunity was thus given for some useful work in reporting.

Outposts - 11.10 pm – No 4 patrol consisting of 3 privates was surprised by a party of Arabs who crept inside the barbed wire at the junction of the circular & river bunds W of the camp & were fired at point blank. No 2519 Pte W Palmer D Coy was hit in the chest & died shortly afterwards in hospital & Ptes Cockley & Bacon were each severely wounded. When a party from the supports got up no traces of the Arabs could be found. Two rifles & bayonets were lost.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion furnished working parties & continued training. Enemy sent over a few shells into the wood during the day.

7^th Battalion – Company training proceeded with.

8^th Battalion – SAND PIT (E.18.d.3.1.).

2^nd – 7^th August.

The Bn remained in this area; training was continued - open warfare was practiced.

10^th Battalion – Operations in this sector normal. The following previously reported missing are now believed to be killed - No G/10222 Pte T.R Houghton, No G/9766 Lt H.A. Atkins.

11^th Battalion –