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

7^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – GUINCHY LEFT.

Quiet day; a few L.H.V. shells in brickstacks. 1 Killed, 2 wounded. Two coys. 17^th K.R.R. attached for instruction.

2nd Battalion – TRENCHES TO BRAY.

Battalion relieved in trenches by 9^th Devons (20^th Bde). The Divisional front has now been much reduced. In future we shall hold from the CARMOY-MAMETZ Rly to the CARMOY-MAMETZ ROAD with Hd Qrs at MINDEN POST. (B1 Subsector).

Officers 35.    Other Ranks 901.

Wounded 3.

To Hospital 3.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – IN BILLETS VERMELLES & NOYELLES.

Battalion remained in billets & furnished Ration & working parties under R.E. Major N.T. Trolls was appointed SECOND in COMMAND of the battalion VICE major S.T. Watson appointed to Command 8^th Royal Irish Fusiliers dated 5^th March 1916.

7^th Battalion – In Billets nothing to report -

8^th Battalion – 

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

6^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – LE QUESNOY.

Working party of 100 men in morning – Relieved 16^th K.R.R. in GUNCHY Left. 1/6 Scottish Rifles on right.

2nd Battalion – Nothing unusual.

 Officers 35.    Other Ranks 907.

Killed 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion relieved by 6^th Buffs relief complete by 11.20am “A & C Coys went into billets at NOYELLES, B & D Coy in VERMELLES H.Q in Brewery VERMELLES.

Furnished working parties under R.E. also pushed Rations up for other battalion.

Casualties NIL.

7^th Battalion – In Billets nothing to report -

8^th Battalion – 

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

5^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – C.O & O’s C Coys reconnoitred “GUINCHY Left” in morning – Afternoon, moved to billets at LE QUESNOY. Working parties, 100 men in morning, 70 at night.

2nd Battalion – 2/Lieut E. Hobbs in command of a patrol did some excellent work tonight & obtained valuable information. The patrol consisted of 1 officer, 1 Sergt, 2 Cpls, & 5 men leaving F.11.7 at 9pm & returning at 1.40am Information gained, Patrol reached wire in front of German trench F.11.a.3.o. to F.11.c.2.9. They cut their way through this wire & reached enemy’s parapet. They found the trench unoccupied & filled with a thick tangle of wire. The trench is too wide to be crossed without bridges. Patrol then crawled along parapet as far as BANK of F.11.c.2.9. Enemy’s trench at this point is carried through the bank by a tunnel. There was a sentry post on top of Bank which challenged the patrol. The patrol through bombs & the officer used his revolver. The enemy then opened fire on the patrol which got back to our own open lines unharmed.

Officers 35.    Other Ranks 908.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – Quiet day continued consolidating sap out to left crater, during evening enemy knocked in sap with heavy T.M’s and bombed the working party, working party had to stop work.

Casualties 1 wounded.

7^th Battalion – In Billets nothing to report -

8^th Battalion – 

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

4^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine, as yesterday.

2nd Battalion – Enemy heavily shelled sector on our immediate left. Very quiet on our front.

Officers 35.    Other Ranks 908.

Wounded 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – 4^th 5^th 6^th 7^th April

Hut building continued vigorously with 45 N.C.O’s & men from each company & by the end of the week 9 were in occupation & another 10 were in course of completion.

The T 1 was again taken over from the 2^nd R.W. Kents. On arrival of “Snakefly” “Transfly” the up river patrol was taken over by these boats. The T 4 was sent down to Kurne & the T 1 is being used for work between NASARIYEH & HAKIKA.

1/6^th Battalion – Quiet day, enemy sent over heavy T.M’s and rifle grenades otherwise quiet at 12.1am we blew 3 mines in front of NEW CUT, we sent out two parties to seize the near lip also consolidating parties & at the same time attacked German LOOKOUT CRATER, after the bombers had gone out we sent out two LEWIS GUNS. The mines were not successfully & the enemy immediately opened fire with heavy T.M’s our bombers & covering parties were wiped out & the remainder driven back, we held the left lip of the CRATER & started consolidating it, but were driven off Centre & Right 2^nd Lieut Passmore reported missing 2^nd Lt Springfield wounded O.R. Killed 3 Missing 3 Wounded 27.

7^th Battalion – In Billet SUZANNE.

Nothing to report except the Bn was finding fatigues – health of the Battalion good – weather during the week in trenches was fine & dry.

8^th Battalion – 

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

 3^rd April 1916 –

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine; practice of bombing attacks & new bayonet fighting course.

2nd Battalion – Patches of new wire observed in front of enemy’s lines opposite, F.11.8 & left of F.11.7. Hostile biplane flew over our lines at about 9.30am.

Officers 35.    Other Ranks 909.

2/Lieut, Hine joined.

Killed 1.

Wounded 2.

2/4^th Battalion – Capt Herman 3^rd R.W. Kent Regt arrived with 93 N.C.O’s & men part of a draft of 142 sent from England of which 99 were Royal Fusiliers & 43 3/5^th Queen’s. Most of the Fusiliers have seen service in France, some of them are still suffering from the effects of wounds & some rather old for the country. Orders for the promotion of Lieut J.E.B. Jardine to temporary Captain vice Capt Master were received.

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – Day very quiet, Enemy sent over rifle grenades & heavy Trench Mortars about 6pm. Night passed quietly 2^nd Lt H.E. Smith wounded by rifle grenade.

Casualties 1 officer & 2 men wounded.

7^th Battalion – SUZANNE Y III Subsector.

The Battalion was relieved by 7^th Buffs at about 7-30pm relief would have been carried out earlier in the day but on account of a German observation Balloon coming up - on the left of our line – between CONTALMAISON & BAZENTIN LE GRAND about midway between our relief – caused a standstill - & we all got to a position behind cover – as far as possible – but unfortunately – “C” Coy which were standing in the trench – at S works point BEA 23-A-50 had 3 shrapnel shells fired into the trench which killed two men – Pte Street & Wisdom & Pte Jones & Cox were wounded. We arrived in billets SUZANNE about 8pm Captain R.S. Le Bas & Lieut & Q.M. S.C. Eastwood proceeded on leave.

8^th Battalion – 3^rd – 8^th April

During this tour in trenches, a great deal of work was done in repairing the trenches. On the 4^th 5^th and 7^th our Support Line was shelled by H.E. Shrapnel and Whizzbangs, but little damage was done. On the 5^th A Corps Retaliation Scheme, lasting for 20 mins was carried out, and effectively silenced the enemy. Our snipers gradually gained the upper hand, and our Grenade Company was active in retaliating on the enemy with Rifle Grenades etc. Good Patrol work was done by 2/Lt Hopgood, 2/Lt Lane Nicholls, Sgt Chacksfield, Cpl Johnson and other N.C.O’s of Grenade Coy. Useful information was given with respect to enemy works etc.

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

2^nd April 1916–

1st Battalion – Church parade in morning. Afternoon, moved from MONTMORENCY BARRACKS to ECOLE DES JEUNES FILLES, relieving 1/4 Suffolks.

2nd Battalion – All quiet in our sector. Three hostile aeroplanes flew over our lines during morning but soon returned.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 912.

2/4^th Battalion – EL AZAB.

One Company returned from detachment duty at KAFR MAHFOUZ, being relieved by a Coy 1/4^th R. Sussex Regt.

1/5^th Battalion – Church Service at 10am. Everyone busy all day getting rid of mud caused by the heavy rain of the previous day. – 3 tents had to be repitched on dryer sites. The huts erected by the Battn had let some water through but had otherwise stood the gale excellently. Lieut J.E.B. Jardine, J.L.C. Mercer, & E.F. Evetts went up the river on the T 1 & were instructed by Lieut Sewell Bombay Volunteer Battery in the working of the 3Pds. The T 4 was dismantled previous to being sent down the river.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion relieved 6^th Buffs in the front line trenches A Coy on the right B Right Centre Coy “D” Left Centre Coy & “C” Left Coy Relief completed by 10.45am. The day was quiet enemy sent over a few rifle grenades & heavy Trench Mortars.

Casualties 1 wounded.

7^th Battalion – Captain J.R. Walpole – rejoined from 1^st Bn.

8^th Battalion – on the night of the 2/3^rd, the Bn relieved the 8^th R.W. Kent Regt in the Right trenches of the Bde Sector. The relief was complete at 3am, 3^rd, as the Bn did not move in relief until after midnight. The Trench Distribution was as follows:-

Trench C 3 – held by A Coy.

Trench C 4 & Part D 1 – held by B Coy.

Part D 1 & D2 – held by  Coy.

Battn, Reserve – D Coy billeted at SOUVENIR FARM and PETAWAWA FARM. Bn H.Q. was at ST QUENTIN CABARET T 5 d.2.4 WULVERGHEM. On our right was the 2^nd Leinster Regt a unit of  the 73^rd Bde. On our left was the 1^st N. Staffs Regt a unit of the 72^nd Bde.

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

1^st April 1916 –

1st Battalion – BETHUNE.

Ordinary routine- Wiring party of 100 men at Le PREOL – Awards, 2/Lt Inkyn, Military Cross; 9290 Sgt Brice, 3705 Cpl Geering; 3467 Pte Paterson, D.C.M’s.

2nd Battalion – BRAY TO TRENCHES.

Battalion relieved 1^st South Staffords in trenches.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 912.

Reinforcements 58.

To Hospital 1.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – NASIRIYEH.

The day started with heavy showers which culminated at 3.30pm in a very violent storm & gale. As the centre of the camp lies in a hollow, by 7pm when the rain stopped parts of the camp had 8 inches of water in a hut. Parties were promptly turned out to cut drains & a number of men were turned out of their huts & put in the partly erected huts & the 4 which had been occupied the previous day.

1/6^th Battalion – IN THE TRENCHES.

Battalion still in support. Enemy blew three mines on the LEFT Bn (E Surrey Regt) front, we supplied a bomb carrying party also working party to clear left Bn trenches. The night was quiet. Casualties 3 wounded 2^nd Lieut J.T. Horsford joined the Battn, for duty from 9^th Bn.

7^th Battalion – Y III Subsector.

In trenches – nothing to report.

8^th Battalion – The Bn remained in Bde Reserve, being billeted at TEA FARM, AIRCRAFT FARM and KANDAHAR FARM.