The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 14th July 1916

14^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – FRICOURT.

Battalion under orders to fall in ready to move at 3.25 am, but did not move until 10.50 am when Battalion went into a position of assembly South of MAMETZ main road, close to FRICOURT CEMETERY F 9.A. Transport was brigaded, but parked behind Battalion Bivouac later in the day. 16^th K.R.R’s were assembled South of the Road with The Queen’s – 2^nd Batt The Worcestershire Regt and 9^th H.L.I. on north side of the road –

Lt Col D.M. Crofts as understudy to the Brigadier remained with the transport – the following Officers were also left – 2^nd Lieut Flinn-Falkner - & Roff & Mundye with Capt Harrison transport officer to the Brigade – Major G.P. Parnell assumed command of the Battalion and had with him the following officers.

A Coy  T/Capt Foster, 2^nd Lieuts Buckner, Rouquette & Buist & Lieut Thrupp.

B Coy  T/Capt Slatter, 2^nd Lieuts Richards, Harland, Bottomley, Robinson.

C Coy  T/Capt Gurry, 2^nd Lieuts Burrell, Fairlie, Bower, Butterworth.

D Coy  Lieut Pillian 2^nd Lieuts Wheeler, Farwill, Foley, Milner.

H.Q. Major Parnell, Capt & Adjt Carslake, Lieut Brown (signals) 2^nd Lt Crook (bombs) 2^nd Lt Crichton (Lewis guns).

The strength of the Battalion going into action was 25 officers 697 other ranks – Coy Sergt Major, Coy Qr Mr Sergts & drummers were left with the transport and reserve men trained in Vickers Gun & stokes mortar –

At 6.0 pm the Brigade moved along the FRICOURT-MAMETZ Road to a point of assembly near FLAT IRON COPSE –

10. pm on night of 14^th – 15^th the Battalion moved to a position near BAZENTIN LE PETIT.

A&B Coys had orders to dig in on road from cross tracks near X to cross tracks Y on Sketch – C&D Coys in reserve at Z near BAZENTIN LE GRAND wood – the 9^th H.L.I. were to dig in on our right from Y to N.W. corner of HIGH WOOD, but failed to find H.L.I. – 2^nd Lieut Rouquette afterwards went out & found the H.L.I. about half way along West edge of the wood having been unable to get any further as the enemy were in possession of the N edge of the wood.

2nd Battalion – 3.25 am Zero hour for the attack by 20^th & 22^nd Inf Bde. The 91^st Inf Bde in Divl reserve. See scheme & op Order No 18.

FLATIRON VALLEY.

8.50 am Marched by Coys with 100 yds interval via WILLOW AVE road, E of BOTTOM WOOD to a position East of MAMETZ WOOD & FLATIRON COPSE VALLEY where the Bn, dug itself in, in artillery formation head of Bn, at S.20.a.2.9. at 11 am Bn, under heavy shell fire & Bn, Hd, Qrs moved to S.20.0.0.9. E of MAMETZ WOOD.

5.15 pm Orders reed to attack & capture HIGH WOOD at the same time forwarded message direct to G.S.O.1 7^th Div: (Capt Hoare’s report on situation in BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD) who stated that no movement to take place until he had spoken to B.G.C. 91^st Inf Bde on telephone.

5.35 pm 91^st Inf Bde to capture HIGH WOOD moving via N.W. side of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD 1^st S.Staffs followed by 2^nd Queen’s to move via cross road N.W. corner of B-LE-GRAND WOOD & deploy with left on CEMETERY, 2^nd Queen’s right on road junction, S.9.c.9.0. The left flank to direct. Artillery barrage to lift at 6.15 pm. 33^rd Div: to attack at this hour W of Cemetery & seize SWITCH TRENCH N.W of HIGH WOOD.

WINDMILL S.9.e.35.10.

6.45 pm Both Regts deployed, but owing to 33^rd Div: being absent from the left flank with a Lewis gun detachment & part of A Coy which necessitated a slight delay.

7 pm The advance started from line road running N.W. & S.E. of WINDMILL.

7.10 pm Heavy machine gun fire from about S.2.d. & S.5.a. on left flank, also machine gun & rifle fire from the front by enemy concealed in shell holes between WINDMILL road & HIGH WOOD.

7.15 pm 2^nd Queen’s ordered to push on, their right flank directing along track S.9.C.10.00. to S.E. corner of HIGH WOOD & to endeavour to out-flank enemy’s M.guns. Several prisoners were captured & a lot of the enemy killed, our men shooting them from the standing position whenever they got a target.

7.25 pm After advancing 700 yds C & D Coys captured 3 77mm guns & a limber also a lot of ammunition near hedge S.9.b.65.25. (the breach blocks had been removed). At about this time both cavalry & an aeroplane assisted our advance, the former by engaging the enemy on our right flank and the latter by dropping to a height of about 500 feet & firing into the enemy between our front line & HIGH WOOD.

7.50 S.W. edge of HIGH WOOD reached, leading Coys on the right paused for a few minutes to allow Bn, on left to come up into line before entering HIGH WOOD.

8.10 pm C & D Coys reached track running N.W. & S.E. through centre of WOOD & lit their green flares to signal their position to contact aeroplanes.

8.45 pm Final objective gained N.E. edge of wood. Coy then dug trenches in following positions:-

D.Coy S.4.a.10.20. – S.4.b.15.00.

C.Coy S.4.b.15.00. (exclusive) – S.4.d.19.85.

A.Coy S.4.d.19.50. – S.4.e.85.00.

B.Coy S.4.c.6.2. – S.4.c.2.6.

Bn, Hd, Qrs, at WINDMILL (S.9.c.35.10).

During the night Durham Fd.Coy R.E. came up & made strong points at S.4.a.10.30. East corner at S.4.d.19.85. at S.E. corner S.4.c.85.00. wiring the front of same. C Coys bombers cleared several deep dugouts in N.E. side in the wood, captured a doctor & several prisoners.

The attack were made with four lines 150x distance between each line. Frontage of each Coy 175 yds from left to right D Coy, C Coy in two lines right of C Coy on track  S.9.e.95.00. to S.E. corner of wood.

B Coy, A Coy in two lines.

Bn, First Aid post & reserve Lewis guns & S.A.A. at road junct, S.9.c.95.00.

10.30 pm About this time Units of 33^rd Div: passed on S side of WINDMILL and advanced in direction of S.3.Central.

11.30 pm Enemy made a counter attack from N.W. corner of WOOD towards D Coy’s left flank, they were driven back by M.gun. Lewis gun & rifle fire. D Coy (left flank now in the air) formed a defensive flank with his left platoon facing N.N.W. This was strengthened by Capt J.B. Hayes who brought up a platoon of B Coy, (2 Lt Rutter being killed leading this platoon through the wood).      

2/4^th Battalion – The Bttn fell in at 5.15 am & punctual to time passed out of the camp gate by the No 6 Post at 5.30 am. The Bd, formed up & moved off in column of route at 6 am. Lieut Evetts & his Platoon formed the right flank guard, the Battn less this platoon was in the main body. On arrival at the TOMBS the Brigade opened out on to a broad front & shortly after was ordered to return to camp, the Battn marching back through the city arriving in camp at 8.30 am, 2^nd line transport at 9 am. Only 2 men fell out & generally the march was not felt  but in this weather the ordinary fatigues having to be carried out in the hot hours of the day on return to camp also cooking proved most trying.

1/5^th Battalion –

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion sent a detachment under Captain Higgins of 6 officers & 170 O.R. to MAILLET WOOD where they were attached 29^th Division. They worked on the communication trenches. Major S.B. Schlam reported for duty.

7^th Battalion – Z2 SUB-SECTOR & BILLON VALLEY GROVETOWN CAMP.

At 2 am Battalion was relieved from LONGUEVAL ALLEY and proceeded to new trench between original Enemy 2^nd line and third line ( BEDFORD TRENCH). At 7.30 am the battn moved back into shelters in BILLON VALLEY at 7.30 pm the Battn moved back into camp at GROVETOWN CAMP.

8^th Battalion –

10^th Battalion – Normal – Wounded 21319 Pte F. Hodson; G/9487 P.J. Warren; 10115 A.G. Barber.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 13th July 1916

13^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – BICORDEL.

In afternoon C.O. & Coy commanders visited 2^nd Battn bivouac near old British front line South of MAMETZ Village and Lt Col Longbourne accompanied them to the high ridge above the bivouac and pointed out all visable features – A good view obtained of CONTAL MAISON – MAMETZ WOOD and the two HAZENTINS, then in hands of the Germans – Special order of the day from Gen Rawlinson Comdg 4^th Army Received.

Special order of the day

The Commander-in-chief desires that the following may be made known at once to all the troops :- “ The Russians are attacking in great force and with success on many parts of their front and have captured many thousands of prisoners and much war material in the last few days.

The Italians have pressed the Austrians back a considerable distance and are following up their advance vigorously.

The French troops on our right have already gained brilliant successes and captured a large number of prisoners, guns, etc. They are pressing on steadily; their left flank co-operating closely with our right.

On the main front of attack our troops have broken, on a front of 12,000 yards, right through systems of defence which the enemy has done his utmost for nearly two years to render impregnable. We have inflicted heavy loss on him, capturing 8,000 prisoners and many guns, mortars, machine guns and other war material.

The enemy has already used up most of his reserves and has very few now available.

The defences which remain to be broken through are not nearly so deep, so strong, or so well prepared as those already captured, and the enemy’s troops, exhausted and demoralized, are far less capable of defending them than they were ten days ago.

The Battle is, in fact, already more than half won. What remains to be done is easier than what has been done already and is well within our power.

Let every attack be pushed home to its allotted objective with the same bravery and resolution as on the 1^st July.

Let all objectives gained be held against all comers as British soldiers has always known how to hold them.

There is no room for doubt that steady, determined, united, and unrelenting effort for a few days more will definitely turn the scale in our favour and open up the road to further successes which will bring final and complete victory within sight.”

H. Rawlinson, General,

Commanding Fourth Army.

Headquarters,

Fourth Army.

12^th July 1916.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training in the morning at 6 pm two bandoliers S.A.A. issued to each man.

9 pm Marched via WELLINGTON REDOUBT to No Man’s Land N of MANSEL COPSE.

MANSEL COPSE.

Bivouaced at 10 pm.

Strength:

Officers 30.

Other Ranks 1050.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The Battn took part in a Brigade Route March complete with 1^st & 2^nd line transport. Duties were handed over to the 1/4 Dorset Regt from retreat on the 13^th till retreat on the 14^th. A number of garrison employed men were relieved out of a total of 81 but in spite of this the strength on parade only amounted to Officers 17 Other Ranks 651. Loads were stacked ready for loading by 4 pm. Transport ordered for 4 am arrived at 4.20 am & roping & loading was easily completed by 5 am.

4759 Pte G. Prior B Coy died of cholera & he and Pte Harbour were buried at 6.45 pm.

4504 Pte E. Attewell B Coy died of cholera & was buried on return to camp of the Battn after the Brigade Route March on the 14^th inst.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion was inspected in billets by the G.O.C. 12^th Division & remained in billets.

7^th Battalion – (part missing) where he met Officers Commanding Companies – Orders for attack of Northern Portion of TRONES WOOD at 7 pm were then issued. Brigade operation orders were received at 4 pm. Company Commanders returned to their commands and issued instructions. Leading Coy moved forward from DUBLIN TRENCH at 5.30 pm. Battn was greatly  impeded by a relief moving up into LONGUEVAL ALLEY at the same time. At 7 pm Battn assaulted TRONES WOOD from northern extremity over a front of 750 yards. One Company of 7^th Buffs detailed to assist Battn in the assault, became much disorganised owing to casualties caused by shell fire when moving up to the attack and only one and a half platoons arrived in time to partake in the assault. Battn H.Q. arrived in LONGUEVAL ALLEY at 7 pm. (ZERO hour). Battn, on assaulting was met by very heavy rifle, machine gun & shell fire and the advance was definitely checked owing to no support troops being to hand. The enemy would appear to have suffered very little damage from our bombardment as he developed very heavy rifle fire. The enemy also barraged on LONGUEVAL ALLEY. At 8.50 pm a message was received that Northern Portion of TRONES WOOD would be re-bombarded & that attack was not to be pressed if success seemed unlikely. At 9 pm remainder of battn & 7^th Buffs reorganised for defence of LONGUEVAL ALLEY in conjunction with present garrison. At 12.30 am 14^th July instructions were received that Battn might withdraw to German old front line system if LONGUEVAL ALLEY was sufficiently held. At 2.30 am Battn withdrew to BEDFORD TRENCH.

Casualties, Officers 13, O.R. 216

8^th Battalion – The G.O.C.- in-chief has awarded the Military Medal to the N.C.O’s & men mentioned below, for general work and devotion to duty.

No.8929 Sgt Collis W. “C” Coy, 2955 L/C Roper E.G. ‘M.G. Det’; 2481 Cpl McDermott H. Transport Section, 445 Pte Westcott E.G. ‘A’ Coy.

10^th Battalion – Normal – Killed No 6643 Pte J. Miller; Wounded No 10046 L.Cpl H. Eastop; 10401 Pte  P. Wright; 10373 Pte E. Perkins.

11^th Battalion – Large number of shells were thrown into Glasgow Redoubt & trench 99 but little damage was done. Capt Hogan was slightly wounded and O.R. 3 wounded.

During the night 13/14^th the battalion was relieved by the Royal West Kent Regiment and went back to billets, located as follows:-

A Coy to Fusilier Terrace. When they were employed on working parties in Border Avenue.

B Coy – Soyer Farm.

C Coy –

2 Platoons – Tilleul Farm.

1 Platoon – Petit Rabeque.

1 Platoon – Grand Rabeque.

D Coy & Machine Gunners – Delaville Farm.

Headquarters – Soyer Farm.

The battalion was employed during rthe week, on emplacements in PLOEGSTEERT WOOD under the supervision of the Royal Engineers. 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 12th July 1916

12^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – Remained in billets – Hand carts for Lewis guns were taken over from another division and guns completed to eight.

Marched at 10.0 pm to BICORDEL, 4½ miles, where Battalion bivouacked just N.E. of the village.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training continued in the morning – Men under Coy arrangements washed in the D craters in Old No Man’s Land. All officers taken up to German craters from where the situation & all prominent landmarks in the promised land were pointed out to them.

Strength:

Officers 30.

Other Ranks 1050.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Death.

News was received of the deaths of No.4754 Pte F. Davis A Coy at BUSRA on the 1/7/16 of malaria and of No.2625 Pte A. Watson B Coy at BUSRA on 5/7/16 of cholera. No.1735 Pte A. Harbour D Coy died of cholera late at night.

Medical.

The death of Pte Harbour was disconcerting as the N.C.O’s & men of No 16 Platoon amongst whom the majority of the cholera cases had occurred had been isolated in the cholera camp on the 10^th July.

1/6^th Battalion – LOUVENCOURT.

The Battalion remained in billets, Battn, sent 2 officers & 80 men to AUTHIEULE as a working party where they were billeted.

7^th Battalion – Page Missing

8^th Battalion – T 18 d 6 4½ RED LODGE BDE. RESERVE.

12^th- 14^th Bn remained at RED LODGE. Parades were held from 7.15 am – 7.45 am 9 - 10 am & 11 – 12 noon.

10^th Battalion – Quiet – Wounded G/9753 Pte G.F. White – died of his wounds.

11^th Battalion – Our Artillery was unusually active. Enemy retaliated by a bombardment of trenches 99, 100 & 102, with minenwerfers, and aerial torpedoes and did considerable material damage. Reserve farm was also shelled damage being done to Suffolk Avenue.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 11th July 1916

11^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – MORLANCOURT.

Marched at 7.30 am to MORLANCOURT 12 miles – Town very full and no billets for officers who slept in a loft.

During afternoon the 2^nd Battn under command of Lt Col Longbourne marched through the town. In the evening all the mens packs were collected and stored.

2nd Battalion – 2.30 pm marched via MORLANCOURT (where we passed the 1^st Bn in billets here) W of BOIS DES TAILLES to CITADEL in F.21.d. where the Bn. Bivouacked.

5. pm CITADEL.

22^nd Inf Bde 91^st Inf Bde in area F.21. :- 20^th Bde Minden Post.

Strength:

Officers 30.

Other Ranks 1059.

1 From hospital.

2/4^th Battalion – FRONT LINE.

Battn relieved the 2/4 R.W.Kent Regt in front line, taking over posts on left half of “B” Subsection frontage. Work consists of wiring, making trenches. Training of Lewis Gunners, Grenadiers, Runners & etc has been carried out.

R.J.Few Major

O.C. 2/4 Queen’s.

1/5^th Battalion –

1/6^th Battalion – WARLOY.

The Battalion proceeded to LOUVENCOURT at 9.48 am arriving at 12.50 pm. No man fell out on the line of march. The 12^th Division is now in the VIII Corps 5^th (Reserve) Army.

7^th Battalion – Page Missing

8^th Battalion – Quiet day. A great amount of ‘salvage’ was returned to the Stores from the trenches. On the night of the 11/12^th July, the front held by 72 I.B. was re-adjusted.

The front allotted to the 72 I.B. holding the right sector of the 24^th Div front, will be as follows :-

From R. DOUVE to Trench 140 (U 1 b 21) inclusive (U 8 a 4½ 2¼).

Right boundary – From point where front trench crosses the R. DOUVE to road junction U 7 b 21 (including WINTER TRENCH) thence along to RED LODGE, and thence along the main road to PETIT PONT and T 25 d. central  Boundary between Right (72^nd) and Centre (73^rd) Brigades the NEUVE EGLISE-MESSINES Road (as far as ST QUENTIN CABARET inclusive to 72^nd and thence forward to 73^rd I.B.)

The 8^th Queen’s on relief moved into Bde Reserve at RED LODGE T.18.d.6.4½. the 9^th E. Surrey Regt moving from RED LODGE to the right section of trenches.

10^th Battalion – TRENCHES.

Took over trenches 112 to 120. 123^rd Infantry Bde on our right 26^th Royal Fusrs, on our left.

11^th Battalion – Nothing worthy of note. 2 Lt C.A. Lindup slightly wounded & 2 O.R. wounded.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 10th July 1916

10^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – Remained in billets resting. Excellent bathing facilities in stream and canal and all Battalion bathed – Drums played in the evening.

Special order received from Gen Haking cmg XI Corps on Division leaving his Corps.

G.O.C.

33^rd Division

-----------------------

I wish you to convey to all ranks in your Division my great appreciation of the successful operations they have carried out during the time they have been in the Corps, operations which have received frequently the approbation of the General Officer Commanding the First Army, and of the Commander-in-Chief.

The many raids that have been undertaken by the 33^rd Division have furnished models for other Divisions, newly arrived from England to join the Corps, and the two recently carried out by the GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS and the ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS respectively, have shown a brilliance in design and gallantry in execution which could not of been surpassed.

I have to thank all ranks for the ready response that they have made whenever I have called upon them to undertake any offensive operations. I have found a fine fighting spirit throughout the Division at all times, and it is with the greatest regret that I have to say “Good-bye”.

I have seen and spoken to nearly all the officers and many of the N.C.O’s and men of the Division and I shall regret your departure more than that of any of the sixteen Divisions that have been in my Corps since it was formed, because you are all such fine fighting soldiers.

I wish you ‘God speed and victory’, and I hope before the end of the war that I may again have the high honour of including the 33^rd Division in the XI Corps under my command.

R. Haking, Lieut General

Commanding XI Corps.

2nd Battalion – Coy Training – Coys bathed in RIVER ANCRE near VILLE in the afternoon.

Strength: Officers 30.

Other Ranks 1058.

Draft of 109.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Death. 5021 Pte A.Earl D Coy having died of cholera last night was buried at 7.0 am.

5103 Pte H.Stuart D Coy died of heatstroke at BASRA.

Medical. In view of the prevalence of disease the C.O. had a long conference with Company Commanders & the Medical Officer with the following result.

(a) It was decided to close the coffee shop run by an Indian contractor with Arab servants.

(b) as it was thought men were not eating sufficiently with the dinners served at 4.0 pm (about the hottest hour of the day now) times for meals were altered so that dinners for all except those going on duty to be served at 7.30 pm.

Death.  2524 Pte A.Hackman D Coy died of cholera & was buried at 7.0 am on the 11^th.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets & cleaned up.

7^th Battalion – Page Missing

8^th Battalion – Quiet day. ‘Salvage’ work continued.

10^th Battalion – Rest Billets. Wounded No 6462 L.C. H. Roberts.

11^th Battalion – 

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 9th July 1916

9^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – SALEUX, SAINT SAVEUR, DAOURS.

At 3.30 pm arrived at SALEUX. Transport unloaded by 4.40 pm (2 ramps in use; actual time of unloading, 1 hour).

Moved off at 5.0 pm; marched for 1 hour, then stopped for 40 minutes for men’s breakfasts; marched via DREULL and ARGOEUVRES to SAINT SAVEUR, arriving & getting into billets at 8.50 am.

Men rested till dinners. At 2.0 pm got sudden orders to move at 2.30 pm marched via AMIENS to DAOURS.

Men very tired, as some had started marching without having had dinners; quite a number fell out. Got into DAOURS at 7.50 pm fairly good billets for the men, bad for officers.

A very hot day; distances marched 8½ miles in morning, 12½ miles in afternoon. Steel helmets were worn; this may have been cause of some men falling out. Learnt later that the arrival of the Australian Corps was the reason of our having to move from SAINT SAVEUR. The drums played excellently throughout both marches.

2nd Battalion – Church parade in the morning.

Strength: Officers 30.

Other Ranks 949.

3 transferred.

2 To Base.

Draft of 173.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – 4848 Pte F.E.Vine C Coy died of Cholera & was buried at 5.40 pm

1/6^th Battalion – WARLOY.

Battalion was relieved by 11^th Border Regt. Relief was complete at 4 amwhen it proceeded to billets in ALBERT arriving there at 5.30 am. At 8 am the Battalion marched to WARLOY where it arrived at 10.30 am nobody fell out on the line of march. Complementary messages received

7^th Battalion – Page Missing

8^th Battalion – Total trench strength – 618

The Bn left LOCRE at 9.15 pm by Companies at ¼ hr, intervals. The relief was complete at 12.30 am 9^thJuly. The day passed quietly. ‘Salvage’ work commenced.

10^th Battalion – Rest Billets. Wounded 9913 Pte G.C. Fell, slightly – at duty.

11^th Battalion –

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 8th July 1916

8^th July 1916 –

1st Battalion – LILLERS.

Orders for move received in morning, troops rested. Transport moved off at 4.35 pm rest of battalion at 5.50 pm. Marched to LILLIERS and entrained there. The drums accompanied & played for the first time. The transport was loaded in 45 minutes; trucks for the troops very dirty. Train started 7.50 pm destination SALEUX. The 33^rd Division is being relieved from BETHUNE area & is moving down by train to the Somme in support to our offensive there.

Later we learnt we were relieving 31^st Division who had been cut up. Thus we left XI Corps & joined II Corps in the IV Army.

The Battalion having been in the trenches since June 1915 and in the BETHUNE AREA since Xmas 1914 –

2nd Battalion – Coy training. G.O.C. 7^th Div. (Genl, Watts) inspected the Bn on parade & complemented officers & men on their share of the operations 1^st to 4^th July also stated that he knew that they would give a good account of themselves when they next took part in future fighting.

Strength: Officers 30. Other Ranks 781.

4 to Hospital.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Death. No.4875 Pte H.Hoskins B Coy died at BASRA of hartstroke.

Death.  No.2456 Pte B.Collins A Coy having died of dysentery yesterday evening was buried at 6.45 am.

Death.  No.1925 Pte J.White B Coy died of colitis & was buried at 6.45 pm.

1/6^th Battalion – The night was quiet. “D” Coy returned to CONISTON ST. “A” Coy relieved “C” Coy in front line, C Coy took over “A” Coy’s part of CONISTON ST. Received information Brigade would be relieved by 97^th Inf Bde. Enemy shelled front line & RIVINGTON ST.

Casualties 1 Killed 13 Wounded.

7^th Battalion – Page Missing

8^th Battalion – TRENCHES.

The 72^nd I.B. relieved the 7^th and 2^nd Australian Brigades in the trenches on the night of 8^th/9^th July 1916. The 8^th Bn The Queen’s relieved the 25^th Bn Australian Regt in the trenches C3 -141 inclusive. These trenches are on the immediate right of the line of trenches previously held by the Bn, C3 having been in the original Bn front. This front extended from T 6 b 3½ 8 – U 1 b 21. The trenches were garrisoned as follows :-

C3 – D Coy under Lt G.A. Penrose.

C2 – B Coy under 2/Lt J.L. Hopgood.

142 & 141 (Fort Osborne)– A Coy under 2/Lt D.W. Lane-Nicholls.

Coy in Reserve BARBARY COAST Dugouts – C Coy under Lt F.D. Higham.

H.Q. were in the ‘Mc BRIDES MANSIONS’ dugouts at T.6.c.¼.1

10^th Battalion – Rest Billets.

11^th Battalion – A quiet day – At about 11.30 pm a party of 1 officer and 20 men R. West Kent Rgt accompanied by a party of miners with explosives, attempted a raid on the German trenches from D GAP – but they were unsuccessful, the officer in charge being mortally wounded.