The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 21st April 1916

21^st April 1916 –

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine.

2nd Battalion – BRAY.

Rained hard all day.

During morning our trenches were shelled by 77mm guns. At 7.30pm to the minute the enemy opened concentrated artillery & trench mortar fire on B 2 Subsector (chiefly MANSEL COPSE) For an hour this continued during which time our guns had opened with intense retaliation. The regiment on our immediate left is the 2^nd Borders (20^th Bde) & it was against them that the enemy made this raid. It is still unkown for certain whether the enemy actually entered the Borders trenches& secured a few prisoners. The Borders casualties were 1 Officer & 18 O.R. Killed, & 2 Officers & about 40 O.R. wounded. Our trenches were slightly shelled – 2 wounded. All was normal again by 10pm.

Officers 34.    O.R. 926.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Good Friday. Parade service 9.30am C & D Companies attended it. Remainder had to work.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion relieved by 6^th Buffs & went into Support “A” Coy in O B 1. “B” Coy cellars in VERMELLES “C” Coy LANCASHIRE TRENCH “D” Coy RESERVE TRENCH relief complete 11.35am. Battalion furnished working parties under R.E.

Casualties 2 wounded 2^nd Lieut M. Wallick reported for duty from 3^rd Bn.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 20th April 1916

20^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine. Riding school started for young officers.

2nd Battalion – Between 2.30 & 3pm enemy again shelled MANSEL COPSE with 77mm guns & 10.5 cm Hows. At about 9.20pm MANSEL COPSE was again shelled but our artillery was ready & replied instantaneously. At 10.14 & again at 10.30pm our Heavy Artillery opened on MAMETZ & enemy’s trenches in front of us & did excellent work. The South Staffords relieved us tonight, after 8 days in the trenches.

During morning our trenches were shelled by 77mm guns. At 7.30pm to the minute the enemy opened concentrated artillery & trench mortar fire on B 2 Subsector (chiefly MANSEL COPSE) For an hour this continued during which time our guns had opened with intense retaliation. The regiment on our immediate left is the 2^nd Borders (20^th Bde) & it was against them that the enemy made this raid. It is still unkown for certain whether the enemy actually entered the Borders trenches & secured a few prisoners. The Borders casualties were 1 Officer & 18 O.R. Killed, & 2 Officers & about 40 O.R. wounded. Our trenches were slightly shelled – 2 wounded. All was normal again by 10pm.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 926.

Wounded 2.

Reinforcement 30 O.R.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – The day was quiet, till 5pm when enemy opened intense bombardment with heavy T.M’s on the two right Coys bombardment stopped at 7pm. The night was quiet, except enemy’s M.G’s were active.

Casualties 3 killed 17 wounded 2^nd Lieuts A.J. Sells & F.C. Woods reported for duty from 3^rd Bn.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn was relieved by the 8^th R.W. Kent regt. Relief complete 1am & the Bn went back into Bde Reserve.

Disposition as follows:-

H.Q C & D Coys at KANDHAR FARM. (T 10 b.7.8), A, B & Specialists at AIRCRAFT FARM (N 32 c 9 8).

20^th – 26^th April

The Bn remained in Reserve. Bn H.Q. moved to BUS FARM (N 33 d 4 1) on the night of the 24^th. 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 19th April 1916

19^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Baths & cleaning up all day.

2nd Battalion – During morning our trenches were shelled by 77mm guns. At 7.30pm to the minute the enemy opened concentrated artillery & trench mortar fire on B 2 Subsector (chiefly MANSEL COPSE) For an hour this continued during which time our guns had opened with intense retaliation. The regiment on our immediate left is the 2^nd Borders (20^th Bde) & it was against them that the enemy made this raid. It is still unknown for certain whether the enemy actually entered the Borders trenches& secured a few prisoners. The Borders casualties were 1 Officer & 18 O.R. Killed, & 2 Officers & about 40 O.R. wounded. Our trenches were slightly shelled – 2 wounded. All was normal again by 10pm.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 898.

Struck off 1.

To Base 1.

To Hospital 2.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – A strong gale down stream started at 3pm & blew all night. Result was a serious rise in the river about 9 inches. The wash caused by the gale also damaged the Bunds in several places. Accordingly orders were issued for strong as possible working parties every day.

1/6^th Battalion – The day was quiet, enemy sent over a few T.M’s and rifle grenades.

Casualties 5 Killed 10 Wounded.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 18th April 1916

18^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – BETHUNE.

Quiet again, & wet. In evening, C.Q.M.S. Longhurst (C COY) & 1 man killed, & 2 other ranks wounded in brickstacks. Relieved by 1^st Cameronians, & proceeded to billets in Montmorency Barracks, Bethune.

Capt Nicholas (3^rd Buffs) admitted to hospital with shell shock.

2nd Battalion – During last night the enemy was heard to shout “Gentlemen = the Queen’s, how are you” Enemy’s artillery more active during day – apparently registering. Raining today.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 902.

Wounded 2.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The Battn carried out a route march, leaving camp at 7am & moving out 2½ N.W. until the floods were reached. Thence turning E to RUTHERS TOWER & returning to camp at 9.22am

Strength 22 officers 671 other ranks.

1/6^th Battalion – We blew a mine at 6am opposite SAVILLE ROW crater too far out to occupy. There was no retaliation by enemy. Quiet night.

Casualties 1.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 17th April 1916

17^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Quiet day. 2 wounded. In evening, party of D Coy, made reconnaissance of S crater, with mining officers, to look for suspected mine shaft. No shaft found; one mining officer killed; 4118 Pte Jones & 4737 Pte Edwards showed much gallantry in recovering his body from crater.

2nd Battalion – At about 5am today some men were seen walking about near ORCHARD ALLEY & PT 3437 (F.10.a) one was dressed in white, another had white tunic & a third white trousers.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 904.

Wounded 2.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Capt Bray & the attachment of D Coy from HAKIKA returned – They also picked up with them & brought the remains of the drafts from BASRA

1 officer & 43 other ranks.

1/6^th Battalion – IN THE TRENCHES.

Battalion relieved the 11^th Middlesex Regt in the Front Line Trenches, Battalions right was on RIFLEMANS ALLEY exclusive LEFT on SAVILLE ROW inclusive. Order of Coys readingright to left was “A” “B” “C” “D”. Relief was completed at 12.30pm. Enemy blew a mine under A & B Coys at 6pm. Otherwise the day was quiet except for a few rifle grenade.

Casualties 1 Killed 14 Wounded.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 16th April 1916

16^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Quiet day again. 1 wounded. A few 5.9” shells in Cuinchy Village again in evening.

2nd Battalion – Hostile aeroplane flew over our lines (F.11.4.) this morning at 9am. It appeared to be hit by our A.A. guns & descended very suddenly & rapidly behind enemy’s lines.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 906.

2/4^th Battalion – 

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion furnished working parties under R.E.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 15th April 1916

15^th April 1916–

1st Battalion – Quiet day. 1 killed, 1 wounded. A few 5.9” shells in Cuinchy Village.

2nd Battalion – Hostile aeroplane active early this morning but they soon retired when our A.A. guns opened fire.

Officers 34.    Other Ranks 906.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion furnished working parties under R.E.

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – 15^th – 20^th April

This tour in trenches has been much quieter than the last. All night patrols report repeatedly that the enemy is very quiet & that no hostile patrols are seen by any chance.