The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 7th March 1916

7^th March 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary Routine.

2nd Battalion – Very quiet day. Our listening post reported sounds of people walking through water in enemy’s trenches. A member of our wiring party walked towards the German lines opposite 71 Fire Trench & surprised a party of the enemy sitting on their parapet. They threw bombs at him but he returned in safety.

Officers 31.    Other Ranks 801.

Wounded 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Capt L.D. Bailey having been appointed sanitary officer had the Camp Bazaar where tea milk etc were being sold by Arabs closed. No medical precautions were being taken as regards the food & drink being sold here.

The appointment of Capt Bailey sanitary officer is the first step to try & obtain sanitary control of the camp to ensure the health of the troops in the hot weather. In addition the soda water factory has been taken over by Lieut Evetts & the ice making plant is being put together by & will be more or less controlled by Lieut Mercer.

1/6^th Battalion – Furnished working parties under R.E. “C” Coy relieved a company of Connaught Rangers in the KINK, enemy blew a mine & C Coy had 15 wounded otherwise quiet.

7^th Battalion – In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 6th March 1916

6^th March 1916–

1st Battalion – Draft of 47 joined Bn – good quality & up to average.

2nd Battalion – There was the usual trench mortar activity against us, but this was silenced by our 4.5 Howitzers. An officers patrol heard enemy talking in saps opposite MANSEL COPSE.

Officers 31.    Other Ranks 802.

Wounded 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Major F.W. Smallpiece + 11 N.C.O’s & men of draft arrived from BASRA. The N.C.O’s & Men were of the 10^th East Surrey Regt & arrived fitted with packs British Greatcoats regular webbing equipment. No information has been received as to whether these men have been transferred to us or attached. From the roll of the draft all are regulars or service Battn men and the terms on which they serve with a Territorial Battn require defining as questions of discipline pay etc must arise shortly. Lieut Montfords party returned without incident.

1/6^th Battalion – Furnished working parties under R.E. Quiet night.

7^th Battalion – A Company moved to HEILLY for work on railway siding.

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 5th March 1916

5^th March 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary Routine – Reserve line of Pailly La BOURSE examined by C.O & Coy Commanders in view of occupying them in case of hostile attack.

2nd Battalion – Day passed fairly quietly: except for a few trench mortar bombs which fell near 72 Fire Trench. A patrol of ours heard enemy pumping water from their trenches which points to their trenches being in as bad condition as our own.

Officers 31.    Other Ranks 803.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Church Parade at 10.0 o’cl. Work was continued at 1 till 4 on Sunday. Lieut Mountford & 20 Rifles went down the river on the T 1 with the C.O.C. 12^th Bde.

1/6^th Battalion – IN THE TRENCHES.

Battalion relieved the 11^th Middlesex Regt in reserve ‘A’ Coy in RAILWAY RESERVE “D” Coy BREWERY & C & B in LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Snowing, Quiet night.

7^th Battalion – In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – 5^th 6^th 7^th 8^th) Remained in billets POPERINGHE. Working parties of 100 were supplied each night, for work on CANAL LINE. Parties entrained at POP, at 6.30pm & returned by train from ASYLUM YPRES, at 1.30am.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 4th March 1916

4^th March 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary Routine.

2nd Battalion – BRAY to the TRENCHES.

The Battalion relieved the 1^st South Staffordshire Regt in the trenches in B2 Sub-Sector. Relief was quiet & was complete by 9.25pm

Officers 31.    Other Ranks 803.

Transferred 4.

Reinforcement 2/Lt E.S. Bingham.

To Hospital 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The Battn strong as possible started to construct a “bund” along the left bank of the river in front of 12^th Bde H.Q. & its own camp. Working pay is to be allowed for this work. Hours of work 8.- 12.  2.- 4..

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & continued training.

7^th Battalion – LA NEUVILLE DE CORBIE.

In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – 4.30am The Bn, moved into billets in POPERINGHE. Bn H.Q was at 17 RUE d’YPRES.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 3rd March 1916

3^rd March 1916 –

1st Battalion – Ordinary Routine.

2nd Battalion – Whole Battalion employed in working parties under R.E. supervision.

Officers 30.    Other Ranks 806.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & continued training.

7^th Battalion – C Company moved by rail to LONGPRE, with a further detachment at FREMONT, for the purpose of finding working parties. Battalion less B & C Companies moved to CORBIE & went into billets in LA NEUVILLE DE CORBIE. Brigade Hd Qrs moved to ST GRATIEN.

8^th Battalion – POPERINGHE.

This Bn, was relieved at BELGIAN CHATEAU by 9^th R.Sussex Regt. The whole Bn, was out as a working party on R S. Line & G.H.Q 2^nd line & entrained at 3am 4^th March at ASYLUM.

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

2^nd March 1916 –

1st Battalion – BETHUNE.

Cleaning up in billets.

2nd Battalion – Whole Battalion employed in working parties under R.E. supervision.

Officers 30.    Other Ranks 806.

Transferred 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Classes in loading camels were started & are to be continued on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays the days on which the Battalion is not engaged on garrison fatigue work.

Helmets, Trousers, Boots etc arrived.

All were badly required.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & continued training.

7^th Battalion – BUIRE-SUR-L’ANCRE.

B Company moved to HEILLY on detachment. Orders received that Battalion was to move back to new Divisional area in and N of CORBIE. The Divisional having been transferred to XIII^th  Corps 4^th, Major F.B.B. Pickard returned off leave & assumed command.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 1st March 1916

1^st March 1916 –

1st Battalion – Relieved by 1/5 Scottish –

2 Wounded.

2nd Battalion – BRAY.

Whole Battalion employed in working parties under R.E. supervision.

Officers 30.    Other Ranks 807.

To Hospital 6.

Discharged 1.

2/4^th Battalion – EL AZAB FAYOUM EGYPT.

The Battalion remains under canvas with the 160^th Brigade. Col F.D. Watney returned from Hospital & assumed command.

1/5^th Battalion – NASARIYEH.

The C.O. accompanied Gen Brooking 12^th Bde Gen Tidswell 34^th Bde and Gen Ottley Shore, asst, chief of staff to Sir Percy Lake on a reconnaissance on the T 1 up the river.

A further consignment of comforts arrived from the Ladies of Bombay.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & spent the day in cleaning up.

7^th Battalion – SUB-SECTOR E 1 BECOURT.

The Battalion was relieved by 15^th Bn H.L.I. & returned to billets at BUIRE-SUR-L’ANCRE. No casualties during this period of duty in the trenches. The health of the Battalion was very good in spite of very bad weather.

8^th Battalion – BELGIAN CHATEAU.

1^st, 2^nd ) The Battalion remained at the BELGIAN CHATEAU DUGOUTS. Lately, these have been heavily shelled by the enemy & other Bn’s have suffered several casualties.

Working parties of 300 have been found nightly for work on CANAL LINE.