31st August 1916 –
1st Battalion – BILLETS
RIBEMONT. Move to MIRVAUX.
The Battalion moved into billets in MIRVAUX via main ALBERT
– AMIENS road – LA HOUSSOYE – QUERRIEU – St GRATIEN – MOLLINS to billets by Bde
Route march passing starting point at 8 am. It was a lovely day and the march
was the best part of thirteen miles passing through Fourth Army Head Quarters
which were at QUERRIEU where we turned off the main ALBERT – AMIENS road in a
Northern direction to St GRATIEN. The Battalion completed the march in good
order and arrived in very good billets at MIRVAUX at about 2 pm. Major General
Landon visited the Battalion at about 6 pm and addressed the men praising them
in warm tones, on their conduct throughout their operations in the parts from
which we had just come and their conduct under the most trying of circumstances
during the past couple of months during which the Division had taken part in the
“Great Offensive” on the SOMME. He wished them all the best of luck and
expressed his confidence in them to carry on in the future as they had done in
the past – upholding themselves as a fine example of England’s best troops –
The Battalion received orders for a move by Route march to billets in TALMAS
about 5½
miles distant on the 1st September Moving off at 8 am.
F. Godfrey Captain
Comdg 1/Queen Rgt.
2nd Battalion – Bn
paraded at 12 noon & ordered to go up to DELVILLE WOOD & relieve 1st
S. Staffords (at 7 pm) marched to MONTAUBAN ALLEY, and relieved 2nd
R. Warwickshire Regt there. A & C Coys to FOLLY TRENCH 3 pm arriving at
5.45 pm. Enemy made three attacks on EAST RIDGE of DELVILLE WOOD between 4 pm
& 7 pm against 1st S. Staffords then holding this front
(T.13.a.4.7 to T.13.C.3.8.) – V heavy artillery barrage on DELVILLE WOOD &
area S, of same to MONTAUBAN from 12 noon to about 8 pm – B & D Coys
arrived & at once reinforced 1st S. Staffords who were then
holding East Edge of DELVILLE WOOD & occupying DEVIL Trench, DIAGONAL
Trench, & ANGLE Trench, C & ½ A Coys also sent forward from FOLLY
Trench to reinforce moving via DIAGONAL
Trench. By 11 pm Coys had occupied the line as follows :-
12 Platoons D Coy, 2 Platoons C Coy, 4 Lewis Guns) - DEVIL
TRENCH from S.E. Corner of DELVILLE WOOD to S.18.6.85.50 opposite HOP ALLEY
with their in the air.
2 Platoons D Coy in 22 ALLEY.
B Coy, 1 Platoon C Coy) – in DIAGONAL & TRENCH S of
PILSEN LANE.
2 Platoons A Coy in Angle Trench.
2 Platoons A Coy in FOLLY Trench- (in Bn Reserve)
Coy Commanders preceded their Coys & were with the S.
Staffords at the time of enemy’s attack – Capt Stovold reached the S. Staffs
Coy he was taking over from but has not since been seen or heard of.
Maj for Lt Col.
Comdg 2/The Queen’s Regt.
2/4th
Battalion –
H.W.M. Watson Lt Col.
O.C. 2/4 Queen’s R.W.S. Rgt.
1/5th
Battalion – Strength. Strength of Battn in the country on this
date is as under:-
Officers Other Ranks.
W Unit 16 678.
12th Bde M.G. Coy 1 24.
Divl employed. 1 110.
F.A. Nasariyeh 1 57.
Base Hosp. 2 47.
Base Depot. 4 40.
On Leave. 2 4.
At AMARAH. 30 960.
W.P. Spens Capt & Adjt.
1/6th Battalion
– Very quiet, wet weather impeded work 2/Lt E.W. Edwards joined for duty.
G.H. Higgins Capt.
Commdg 6th Bn The Queen’s Regt.
7th
Battalion –
8th
Battalion – The Bn remained in Reserve and was bombarded from 9.30 am till
4.30 pm, and from 9.30 pm – 1.30 pm with gas shells. About 18 Casualties from
gas effects were suffered & 1 Officer was killed.
10th
Battalion – Billets – Training.
Nothing unusual has taken place during our tour in billets.
R. Oakley, Lieut Colonel
Commanding 10 Queen’s.
11th
Battalion –
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