The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 31st January1916

31^st January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Relieved by 2^nd Worcesters – went back to ANNEQUIN FOSSE.

S.Symons.  Lt Adjt.

1/Queen’s Regt.

2nd Battalion – CORBIE TO BRAY.

The battalion marched from CORBIE to BRAY-SUR-SOMME (distance 10 miles). The C.O. Adjutant & Company commanders rode in advance & reported to the 15^th Bde Hd Qrs in BRAY. This party then went up to the trenches which are about 2½ miles distant. We took over C2 Subsection & the 22^nd Manchesters C1. The Queen’s relieve the 16^th Warwicks (15 Bde). Two coys in front line, one in support & one in reserve. At one point, our trenches & the enemy’s are very close. There appears to be a large amount of trench mortar bombing.

Divisional frontage F 11.d to X 26 d WEST of FRICOURT. Until the 7^th Division is settled in new area, the 22^nd Manchesters & Queens come under the orders of the 30^th Division at present holding the line.

Major    Comdg 2^nd. Bn. The Queen’s Regt.

1/5^th Battalion - The Battn, changed the site of its camp to the N. corner of camp to site previously occupied by 44th MERWARAS.

W.P. SPENS Lt & Adjt. 1/5th Queens

1/6^th Battalion – RELY.

The Battalion marched back to billets, forming part of the MAIN BODY via BOURECQ-LILLERS & back to billets to BUSNETTES 1 man fell out.

H.W.F

7^th Battalion –

8^th Battalion – The Bn, relieved the 8^th R.W.K.Regt in the trenches. These were the same trenches as were occupied last week.

The disposition of the unit was practically the same as it was last week when in these trenches.

The units on our flanks etc were also the same.

W.R.G. BYE.  Capt.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 30th January1916

30^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Slight shelling, nothing to report. H Qrs at MAISON ROUGUE.

(2Lt Skeath left to go to his own Bat, 1 Royal Lancs. Kings Own.)

2nd Battalion – The Battalion marched to billets in POULAINVILLE to CORBIE (distance about 12 miles). Settled in billets at 1pm.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

2/4^th Battalion – BENI SALAMA CAMP. EGYPT.

During the past month the Battn, has been encamped at BENI SALAMA CAMP and has been engaged in Company Training. Special attention has been given to Musketry and Physical Exercises and classes have been formed for instruction in Machine Gun, Signalling and Scouting with the object of completing the Battn, establishment of these specialists whose ranks had been greatly reduced by sickness and casualties at Gallipoli Instructional Classes have been formed for junior N.C.O’s.

Upon the arrival of Battn, baggage from Gallipoli on 11-1-16, it was found that many packages had been rifled, including the Orderly Room stationary box. The latter contained War Diaries and all official papers & correspondence and the box is a serious inconvenience to the work of the Battn.

The health of the Battn, has considerably improved and is now good. The weather has been fine as a whole, with bright warm days and very cold nights. The daily range of tempreture under canvas has been from 38˚F to 98˚F. The present strength of the Battn, is 22 Officers and 343 other ranks.

A.F. Tredgold

Major & Adjt, 2/4 Queen’s.

1/5^th Battalion - Divine Service 11am. B Coy night outposts 30th/1st,

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion took part in 12^th Divisional Manoeuvres & furnished the Advanced Guard to the LEFT COLUMN.

O.C.  Advanced Guard Lt Col H.F. Warden.

VAN GUARD:- Commander O.C. Troops.

“A” Squad. K.E.H.

1 Troop “A” Squadron K.E.H.

1 Platoon 12^th Cyclists

MAIN GUARD:- 2 Sections 12^th Cyclists

“B” Coy 6^th Queen’s M.G.

6^th Queen’s “A” Coy 6^th Queen’s, 1 Section 69^th field Coy R.E, 1 Section 12^th Cyclists.

The rest of the Battalion were with the MAIN BODY under Major Watson, the Battalion went into billets at RELY for the night 30^th/31^st only local protection was furnished. The route taken to RELY was :- BURBORE-HURIONVILLE-BELLERY-AMETTES-WESTREHEN-RELY.

8^th Battalion – On the afternoon of the 30^th the bn, was disposed as follows :-

D Coy & 2 Platoons of A Coy – remained in Camp D.

C Coy & 2 Platoons of B Coy – CONVENT. YPRES.

2 Platoons of B Coy – Cellars. RUE de BEURRE. YPRES.

2 Platoons of A Coy – RAMPARTS. YPRES.

The Machine gun Section & Grenadiers relieved the M.G. Section & Bombing Posts of the 8^th R.W.K.Regt, in the left sectionof the left sector HOOGE trenches (Railway Wood).

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 29th January1916

29^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Relieved 2^nd Worcesters. (K.R.R. on right 19^th Bde, on left). Bombing raid on Crater at night, this was easily repulsed by B Coy.

2nd Battalion – The Battalion marched to billets in POULAINVILLE (distance about 15 miles) leaving RIENCOURT at 8.30am.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

 1/5^th Battalion - D Coy day outposts, A & C Coys under Major F. W. SMALLPEICE were on convoy escort. The Battn, 44th MERWARAS and SUSSEX BATTERY returned with convoy to NASARIYEH.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets. Coys did 3½ hours training Physical Drill, Bayonet Fighting, Close Order Drill, Handling of Arms, Fire Discipline & Fire Control. Games in the afternoon.

8^th Battalion – The Bn remained in Camp D. Working parties of 150 were furnished each night for the 103^rd R.E. Coy.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 28th January1916

28^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Very heavy bombardment from 10am to 5pm. Standing to, Cavalry attacked but easily held their own. HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT heavily shelled also during the night.

2 Killed 3 Wounded.

2nd Battalion – Late last night the Brigade Field Day was cancelled & orders received that Brigade would move tomorrow to a new area. At a late hour orders were received. The Division is to take over a part of the line near FRICOURT per attached march table which applies to the 91^st Bde.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

1/5^th Battalion - The Battn, paraded at 10.30am for an attack practice. Towards 5pm it again came on to rain & B & C companies who had been ordered for night outposts had not to go out.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & did 5 hours training men inspected by Divisional Commander, Divisional Manoeuvres ordered to take place on 29^th cancelled & Brigade Route March ordered, Brigade Route March cancelled & again ordered to be ready to move at 2 hours notice.

8^th Battalion – Camp D OUDERDOM. G 24 d.

The Bn remained in Camp D. Working parties of 150 were furnished each night for the 103^rd R.E. Coy.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 27th January1916

27^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Expected attack.

Shelling on both sides. Relieved by K.R.R. starting at 1pm finished at 4.30pm.

Went back to FACTORY TRENCH, in support to HORSE GUARDS behind Quarry.

One Killed.

2nd Battalion – Battalion route march – Protection on the move.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets, Coys did 5 hours training Physical Drill, Close Order Drill etc & Outpost in the afternoon.

The Corps Commander inspected the men at drill during the morning. Divisional Manoeuvres which were to take place, all arrangements cancelled & orders received to be ready to move at 2 hours notice.

7^th Battalion – Appended are a number of various casualties occurring in the Battalion since embarkation, representing approximately the wastage of six months active service owing to wounds & sickness.

8^th Battalion – Enemy more active to-day. He shelled CAMBRIDGE Road with Shrapnel & H.E. but no damage was caused. Our retaliation was very good. Owing to the fact that today is the Kaiser’s birthday, the ʹGAS ALERTʹ order was issued by the Bde, & was enforced from 3am – daybreak. Nothing occurred.

9pm In the evening the Bn was relievedin this section of trenches by the 8^th R.W.K. regt. The Bn, marched to Camp D OUDERDOM.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 26th January1916

26^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Relief cancelled, attack feared. Shelling all day & night by our guns. Enemy feeble retaliation.

2nd Battalion – Lecture on Tactical value & use of Machine Guns by the M.G.O.

Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

1/5^th Battalion - Another wet day clearing up towards evening. A Coy on night outposts 26/27 A Battn, parade was ordered but put off on account of rain.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets, Coys did 5 hours training Physical Drill, Close Order Drill etc & Outpost in the afternoon.

7^th Battalion – In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – Quiet day – nothing of importance has happened.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 25th January1916

25^th January 1916 – 

1st Battalion – Shelling in the morning, one wounded, ordered to be relieved by K.R.R. (16).

2nd Battalion – Demonstration in grenade throwing – Individual night training.

 Officers 32.    Other Ranks 868.

1/5^th Battalion - Scouts. B, C & D Companies convoy escort under Major F. W. SMALLPEICE A Coy were on day outposts.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion took part in Brigade Route March & all subaltern officers did an Outpost Scheme under Company arrangements.

7^th Battalion – In billets nothing to record.

8^th Battalion – Nothing of importance has occurred during the morning & afternoon. One casualty – L/C killed by Sniper in A1.

4. Enemy trench mortar’d H 20 but shell fell to rear. Good retaliation.

8.30 Strange officer, tall, robust, wearing rain-coat but no hat – head being covered with cap comforter, appeared at Ry, barricade & enquired way to North Staffs line. He was directed. Was seen later at our F.H.Q. in Ry, bank & enquired for MENIN ROAD. Suspected, and information passed to Bde.

Working parties again provided for 103^rd Field Coy R.E. & 177^th Tunnelling Coy.