The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 28th August 1916

28^th August 1916 –

1st Battalion – BIVOUACS BECORDEL.

The Battalion rested and cleaned up. Companies were worked at the discretion of their Commanders and men were allowed to wash their cloths etc.

2nd Battalion – Coy training continued as far as weather permitted.

5.30 pm Map reading for all officers.

Details of strength.

Officers 30. O.Rks 839.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Field Operations The Battn paraded at 4.30 am as part of a column ordered to demonstrate towards SHATRA but to proceed not further than ABDUR RIDHAS TOWER. The operations were ordered partly to test the secrecy of the issuing of orders as latterly there had been considerable leakage of information whenever field operations were completed & the G.O.C. had ordered very special precautions to be taken. Orders were received verbally from the Bde at 7.50 pm on the 26^th for the Battn to be outside the barbed wire by No 5 Post at 4.45 am with 1^st line complete. Orders were issued to officers at 8.30 pm & to other ranks at 9.30 pm, the same evening. Absolutely no leakage occurred on this occasion.

The column commanded by Lt Col Carleton 90^th Punjabis and consisted of ½ squadron 12^th Cavalry

21^st Mountain Battery,

2 sections 12^th Bde M.G. Coy.

1/5 The Queen’s. (less those on outpost duty).

1 company 90^th Punjabis.

1 section No 3 C.F.A.

It assembled at 4.45 am at No 5 Post & moved off at 5 am.

A.G. 12^th Cavalry, 1 platoon 1/5 The Queen’s (No 4 platoon under Lieut C.R. Wigan).

R & L Flank G’s 1 platoon 90^th Punjabis respectively.

M.B. 1 company (less 1 platoon) 1/5 (A Coy) The Queen’s.

21^st Mountain Battery.

2 sections 12^th Bde M.G. Coy.

1/5^th Queen’s less 1 company & 1 (B & C Coys) platoon.

No 3 C.F.A.

R.G. 1 platoon 1/5 The Queen’s (D Coy remainder of D Coy on outpost duty).

Column advanced in this order as far as ABDUR RIDHAS Tower, where it halted & battalion deployed into two lines of platoons in fours. After ¾ hour halt the column retired on camp. Beyond one warning shot & groups of Arabs on far sandhills there appeared little signs of opposition & the villages in hostile territory appeared to have been completely taken by surprise.

Strength of Battn Officers 15 (including 2 attached) Other Ranks 396.

Transport 5 pm – The Battn took over & located in the lines just N of the horse lines its First Line Transport 1 pony, 70 mules & 2 personel.     

1/6^th Battalion – Extremely quiet, busy improving trenches & wiring by night.

1 O.R. wounded

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – RIBEMONT.

The Bn remained in rest billets.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Training.

11^th Battalion –