The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 31st October 1915

31^st October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Enemy’s snipers more active.

Casualties 2 Lt W.B. Carslake wounded. One Other Rank Killed & one Wounded.

2nd Battalion – Officers 22.    Other Ranks 739.

To Hospital 1.

From Hospital 2.

Trenches: Very quiet.

E.K.B. Furze, Capt

1/6^th Battalion – Quiet day. The usual evening bombing took place during the evening – orders for relief, which was to have taken place were postponed 24 hours – during the night the bombers were very active – 14 dozen Mills Grenades were thrown – Casualties -

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

R. J. FEW Major 2/4th Queen's

1/5^th Battalion – ARMS.

The C.C.M.A. being in LUCKNOW examined the arms of the FYZABAD detachment. Those at H.Q. had previously been done.

7^th Battalion – Enemy machine guns more active than usual during evening.

M. KEMP WELCH CAPT.

& ADJT.

7^th (SERVICE) Bn. THE QUEEN’S (R.W.S. REGT.)

8^th Battalion – Relieved by 9^th Battn E. Surrey Regt. Lt Col Tringham joined from 2^nd Battn to take command. Relief complete 9.30pm.

W.R.G. Bye.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 30th October 1915

30^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Quiet day. Enemy appear very inactive and supposed to be Saxons.

Casualties one Other Rank killed.

2 Lieut A. Mundye joined & 2 Lieut H. Battiscombe returned from duty with Trench Mortar Battery.

2nd Battalion – Officers 22.    Other Ranks 738.

Major A.R. Tringham left to take command of the 8^th Bn, Capt K.T. Cox wounded.

To Hospital 2.

Quiet day in trenches.

1/6^th Battalion – The enemy were very quiet during the day. Work continued on our trenches – the new line from A.28.c 0 9 to G 4 b 2 5 was occupied. The enemy again shelled our support trenches & THE QUARRY during the afternoon, but ceased on our guns retaliating. Casualties Nil.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – The detachment from LEBONG arrived, the bulk of the Battn, being then together.

7^th Battalion – Our trenches were fairly heavily shelled by enemy from N.E. of LA BOISSELLE, & some damage was done to works.

8^th Battalion – Quiet. Weather Good.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 29th October 1915

29^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – SECTION Z 1 CAMBRIN.

Battn, paraded at 9am and marched to CAMBRIN. Relief of 1/Middlesex in Z 1 Section completed by 1pm. Quiet day.

Casualties Nil.

2nd Battalion – Officers 24.    Other Ranks 740.

From Hospital 2.

The Battalion left BELLERIVE today & marched via BETHUNE to the trenches at GIVENCHY. Very quiet. At places only 15 yds, away from enemy.

1/6^th Battalion – The morning passed quietly – at about 2.30pm the enemy commenced to shell our Support Trenches and Bn, Hqrs, (THE QUARRY) with 5.9cm shells this continued until dark despite the retaliation of our guns – very little damage was done considering the number of shells that were sent over. The usual bombing went on during the evening and night. Casualties – Wounded Lt F.L. Simmons - & other ranks 5.

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

1/5^th Battalion – 7.30am Capt P.R. Whittington Lieut E.F. Evetts, Lieut C.R. Wigan and 144 N.C.O’s & men arrived from FYZABAD. 10 were left sick in Hospital & 2 hospital orderlies in charge.

7.15pm Capt Hodges and 4 men arrived with bulk of baggage.

S & T

Difficulties of transport at FYZABAD & LUCKNOW were experienced.

7^th Battalion – At 6.30am enemy fired a mine in front of TAMBOUR F 3 a 50 & shelled front trenches F 3 a & F 3 c slight damage done. A patrol under 2/Lt D. Neilson-Terry located sap joining craters F 3 a 50 to German lines, (in F 3 a & F 3 b).

8^th Battalion – Quiet day. Our snipers were active and accounted for some casualties.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 28th October 1915

28^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine.

2nd Battalion – Officers 24.    Other Ranks 738.

From Hospital 5.

2/Lt C.H. Pascoe struck off strength. The whole Battalion was on fatigue today. Digging trenches.

1/6^th Battalion – Day passed quietly – a little shelling took place – our snipers accounted for two of the enemy who exposed themselves while digging – During the night the hostile bombers were more active than usual, and attempted to bomb our machine emplacement – but could not reach it – A draft of 23 other ranks arrived. Casualties wounded other ranks one. Killed one.

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

1/5^th Battalion – Ordnance S & T

The Battn, holds mobilization equipment on English & Indian Scale. It also holds serge clothing. Considerable difficulty at once arises as to whether serge clothing & many items of English stores are to be taken. Ever since landing in this country this difficulty has been pointed out and shirked. The Division were asked to wire for information.

7^th Battalion – SUB-SECTOR D 3. BECOURT.

Some artillery activity on both sides. Very little rifle & M.G. fire.

8^th Battalion – Still quiet, and no casualties. Weather – dull. The wire in front of trenches 24 & 25 is to be worked on tonight by wiring section.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 27th October 1915

27^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – G.O.C 1^st Corps was to have inspected us but it was too wet and inspection was postponed. 4 Other ranks joined together with Capt F.B. Storey and 2 Lieuts J.G. Buckner, O.S. Flinn, H.H. Richards, C.W. Farwell.

2nd Battalion – Officers 25.    Other Ranks 733.

From Hospital 6.

2/Lt C.G.D. Thrupp struck off strength.

1/5^th Battalion - LUCKNOW.

8.am Orders received from Army Headquarters to mobilise for field service.

Strength at this date was

Officers 28   Attached 1

Rank and File 793  Attached 5(R.A.M.C.)

Distribution was as follows :-

LUCKNOW   Officers 17, Rank and file 432.

FYZABAD      Officers 4, Rank and file 160.

LEBONG       Officers 2, Rank and file 118.

On Courses, leave, furlough, and regimental employment.   Officers 4, Rank and file 20.

Force D Attached 2^nd Norfolk Regt.   Officers 1, Rank and file 44.

En route to England

Invalided   5.

For discharge  10.

To take up commissions   4.

Orders were received as follows: - The S.S.O. LUCKNOW at 11pm on 26^th received the following telegram from Brigade H.Q. at ALLAHABAD “Please hold in readiness to mobilize and concentrate first fifth R.W. Surrey Regt to join 33^rd Infantry Brigade. If Regiment eventually moves it will be relieved by Half Battn, fourth Border Regt, from POON.

Orders mobilization and concentration will issue later pending on receipt of which leave men should not be recalled. All subsidiary action to be taken in direct communication with branches concerned Acknowledge”

This was communicated at once to C.O. The actual orders to mobilize were received by telephone from H.Q. 8^th Lucknow Division at 8am on 27^th & were “first fifth Royal West Surrey Regt, will mobilize at Lucknow as strong as possible. Field Service Clothing Winter scale and field service scale tentage. Movement orders will be communicated in due course”.

8.15am. On receipt of above orders absent personnel were immediately wired to return.

9.30am. All officers were informed & preliminary steps such as Medical examination, inspection of kits etc commenced.

10am. The C.O. & Adjt, visited H.Q. Division to ascertain what steps were to be taken to relieve detachment at FYZABAD & ascertained this was done by O.C. ¼ The Queens & arranged for this to be done on the 29^th inst. They also visited the S.S.O. & arranged for the O.C. The Queens to relieve them of all garrison guards and duties.

12.30 noon. Officers chargers & machine gun mules were inspected. 2 chargers were cast. As in peace the Battn, only held 8 & in war require 12 & 2 ponies.

1/6^th Battalion – The day was quiet, the enemy fired a few shells (H.E) into our support trenches but did no damage. Work continued during the day and night on new trenches – The usual enemy bombing went on during the evening but nether side did any damage as far as could be ascertained – Casualties wounded other ranks 5.

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

7^th Battalion – The Battalion relieved 8^th East Surrey Regt in subject D 3 B & D Companies being in front line, A in second line & C in support. 7^th Bn, R.W. Kent Regt held E1 on our left 7^th Bedfordshire Regt D2 on left.

8^th Battalion – Very quiet day. German troops opposite surmised to be Saxons. Note for training in Rest Camp – The Snipers Section must be thoroughly organised. Weather rainy.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 26th October 1915

26^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine.

2nd Battalion – Officers 26.    Other Ranks 727.

From Hospital 1.
1/6^th Battalion – IN THE TRENCHES.

The day passed quietly – A great deal of work was required in the trenches, new trenches had to be dug – and trenches cleaned up. They were in a very bad state a large number of dead lying in and about the trenches from the recent fighting. The night was very quiet, spasmodic bombing on both sides from the left of the HOGSBACK TRENCH.

Casualties wounded other ranks one. 

2/4^th Battalion – Major Few returned and took over the command of the linked Battalions. During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

7^th Battalion – Nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – Day very quiet. German snipers active but no casualties occurred. Slight bombardment of support line in 26 by enemy but retaliation by 2^nd Belgian Battery stopped this.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 25th October 1915

25^th October 1915 – 

1st Battalion – Heard we are to take over trenches from 19^th Bde, on the 29^th.

2nd Battalion – Officers 26.    Other Ranks 726.

To Hospital 1.

From Hospital 2.

Reinforcement Capt the Rev, F.N. Waggett

1/6^th Battalion –VERQUIN.

The Battalion left billets at 10.30am at 20mins interval. Men did not take their packs with them, these were left with the Quartermaster. Dinners were eaten on the LA BOURSE VERMELLES ROAD & the Battn, proceeded from thence to the trenches about G.4 a where they relieved the 1^st Bn, The Welch Guards. The relief was completed at 7.50pm A & D Coys held front line trenches B Coy in support & C Coy in reserve. The night passed quietly except a few bombs were exchanged from bombing saps in front of our trenches.   

2/4^th Battalion – During this period the Battalion was employed digging trenches on and around LALA BABA and garrisoning the trenches by night.

7^th Battalion – VILLE.

The Battalion, with 10^th Essex of 18 Division, 1^st Norfolk Regt & 1^st Dorset Regt of 5^th Division, & 7^th Gordon Highlanders & 7^th Black Watch of 51^st Division, was inspected by H.M. THE KING & M. Poincare at 11am 2 miles N of RIBEMONT. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES was also present. The parade was under the command of Major General F.I. Maxse. 2/Lt P.R. Woollett Joined Bn.

8^th Battalion –Battalion left camp at 2pm & marched to CAFÉ BELGE, DICKEBUSCH where tea was cooked. Guides from 9^th East Surreys met Companies here and Battalion took over trenches 24. 25. 26. From 9^th East Surrey Regt. Battn Hdqrs at I 32 b 6 3. Brigade Hdqrs at H 23 c 5 3. The weather was good. A new draft of 200 was left in segregation camp at RENINGHELST.