The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 31st May 1916

31^st May 1916 –

1st Battalion – In morning, battalion practised artillery formations in the Bois des Dames. A draft of 154 other ranks joined the battalion; first batch of Derby recruits were amongst them; rather a poor lot physically.

The battalion was mentioned in General Haig’s despatch for period Dec 19^th 1915 to May 19^th 1916 as follows :-

“while many other units have done excellent work during the period under review, the following have been specially brought to my notice for good work in carrying out or repelling local attacks or raids :-

1^st Battalion The Queen’s Regiment.

The following message was sent to H.M.S. Excellent for the Glorious First of June :-

All ranks 1^st Queens hope the luck of this day may soon be repeated”.

Battalion now at 2 hour’s notice, as the German attack seems not so imminent.

L.M. Crofts  Lt Colonel

Cmdg 1^st Bn The Queens.

2nd Battalion – Clearing up preparatory to taking over the trenches in B.2. Sub-sector from 1^st Bn. S.Staffs Regt.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 955.

F.C. Longbourne.

Lieut-Colonel.

Comdg, 2^nd Bn The Queen’s Regt.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Orders received that machine guns of each brigade to be formed into a machine gun company of 3 sections,

No 1 section British 4 Vickers guns.

No 2 Indian 4 Lee Enfield guns.

No 3 Indian 2 Vickers 2 Lee Enfield.

In order to effect this we were ordered to exchange guns with 90^th Punjabis.

W.P. Spens, Lt & Adjt.

31/5/16.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets, orders to move during the afternoon notice to move was altered to 4 hours notice from 8 am to 5 pm and 2 hours notice from 5 pm to 8 am.

H.F. Warden Lieut Colonel.

Commdg 6^th The Queens Regt.

7^th Battalion – 2^nd Lieuts: E.F. Bennett 2/Lt G.S. Dandridge 1816 Cpl Tyrrell A & 1441 L/Sgt Price F proceeded to Divisional School for course of instruction –

W. Kemp Welsh

Capt Comdg 7^th Queens.

8^th Battalion – Between 1.30 pm & 2.45 pm – the enemy shelled D 1 & D 4 & C 3 with heavy Trench Mortar bombs & 4.2’s. Most of these fell behind our front line. A good deal of damage was done to NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, and one trench mortar bomb fell into D 1 & one heavy shell into C 3, causing 6 casualties. Otherwise the day has been very quiet.

W.R.G. Bye

10^th Battalion – PLOEGSTREET.

7am In billets – marched from STEENWERCK (Div Reserve)

R. Oakley. Lieut Colonel,

Commdg, 10^th Queen’s.

11^th Battalion – Left for LE BIZET, rest billets of 2 battalions in the left sub-sector of the brigade sector of the front line trenches.

Arrived in LE BIZET at 8pm without opposition which was feared, owing to Germans having exposed placards in the vicinity to the effect that they were aware of the coming relief. The transport was billeted near PLOEGSTEERT.

R.C. Smith Capt for Lt Col

Cmdg 11^th Bn. The Queen’s Rgt.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 30th May 1916

30^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary training all day – Major Parnell & 2 coy commanders inspected Village Line behind 16^th & 1^st Divisions. In the evening Col Crofts returned from the Brigade & resumed command of the Battalion. Complementary memo received from Division regarding Guard of Honour on 26^th inst.

General de WIGNACOURT

Commanding the Sub-Division of ARRAS BETHUNE.

To General LANDON.

Commanding 33^rd Division.

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I beg to thank you for the honour you have done to our gallant wounded and mutilated soldiers in sending a detachment of your troops to the ceremony of presentation of “Medailles Militaires” and “Croix de Guerre”.

Seeing your brave soldiers marching past, looking so high-spirited and stalwart, your old English motto “Je Raintiendrai” was brought back to my memory and I could not help saying to myself that in these days of heroic feats, there was not a man amongst them who was not ready to put this proud “devise” into practice to the very utmost of his power.

Will you please tell them that when one sees such soldiers, one has the impression that no adversary, however “Boche” he may be, can overcome them.

The above is a copy of a letter received by the G.O.C. in connection with Fridays (May 26^th) presentation of French and British Decorations.

The G.O.C. has great pleasure in publishing the above letter to all ranks who took part in the ceremony, his approval of their turn-out, smart soldierly appearance, and the highly satisfactory manner in which they handled their arms.

P. Commings

Lieut Colonel,

A.A. & Q.M.G.

33^rd Division.

2nd Battalion – Finer day. Nothing to report.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 955.

1 Wounded.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets, orders to move at one hours notice.

7^th Battalion – Lt W.A.L. Marriott R.A.M.C. took over duty of M.O. temporarily attached vice Capt G.D. Yates who returned to his unit.

8^th Battalion – The Bn relieved the 8^th R.W. Kent Regt in the right trenches.

Relief complete at 1am. The Bn was distributed as follows :-

C3 – D Coy; D2 & Part D1 – C Coy.

C4 & Pt D1 – B Coy.

Coy in Reserve – A coy.

Total Trench Strength 435.

10^th Battalion – STEENWERCK.

8pm In billets - marched from OTTERSTEEN.

11^th Battalion –

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 29th May 1916

29^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – FOUQUEREVIL.

Major Parnell & 2 coy commanders reconnoitred Village Line behind 15^th Division. Ordinary routine for the troops.

The battalion was ready to move at short notice.

2nd Battalion – Usual fatigues. Very wet & cold.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 956.

1 Att.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Numbers of working parties reduced to one company & half with the result that machine gunners signallers & 2 companies can train daily.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets, orders to move at one hours notice.

7^th Battalion – Battalion Training. Lt D.R. Heaton, Lt O.E. Saltmarsh, Lieut V. hook, 2/Lt M. Shuldham-Legh returned from leave – Capt G.D. Yates R.A.M.C. joined the Battalion for temporary attachment – Lt C.A. Haggard took over command of “B” Coy -

8^th Battalion – DRANOUTRE.

11.30 am The G.O.C. 2^nd Army presented ribbons to the recipients of awards in the Bde at 11.30 am at DRANOUTRE.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Outterstien.

11^th Battalion – 5 pm Battalion left STRAZEELE for NOOTEBOOM, where it was billeted for the night and following day.

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 28th May 1916

28^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – Church parade in morning; the C.O. & 2 coy commanders inspected Village Line behind 15^th Division in morning, owing to expected German attack on Loos Salient. At 4.30 pm received sudden orders to move & proceeded to billets in FOUQUEREVIL. Col Crofts took over command of 100^th Brigade owing to absence on leave of the Brigadier – General.

2nd Battalion – Everything still as usual.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 956.

1 Att, Draft.

2 to Hos.

2/4^th Battalion – 28^th-31^st May

FERRY POST SUEZ CANAL.

Battalion marched with 160^th Brigade for FERRY POST, relieving 30^th Australian Battalion.

Encamped at Ferry Post. Work consists of providing guards at Bastions forming part of defence of the post & in garrisoning outlying posts at BENCH MARK & RIDGE POST, in working PONTOON Bridge & FERRIES & providing numerous guards & fatigues.

Transport. The Battalion is now complete with horses & vehicles, but is still deficient in saddler.

Strength. During the past month the Battalion has been reinforced by 2 Officers & 74 O.R. It has been diminished by 2 Officers 35 O.R. detached to 160^th Bde, Machine Gun Coy, 1 Officer 28 O.R. to 5^th Coy imperial Camel Corps & 24 O.R. classed by Medical Board as Permanent “B” to Abbassia, Cairo.

Present strength is 34 Off, 843 O.R.

Health. On the whole is good. Inoculation & Vaccination has been interfered with owing to outlying detachments & move, but will now be proceeded with as quickly as possible.

Weather. A heat wave accompanied by gusty squalls of dust occurred from 13/5/16 to 17/5/16. The temperature during this rose to 125˚ in the tents.

A.F. Tredgold

Maj & adj,

For 2/4 Queens.

Ferry Post Camp,

Eygpt.  1/6/1916.

1/5^th Battalion – Church Parade at 8am.

1/6^th Battalion – ALLOUAGNE.

The Battalion remained in billets, under orders to move at short notice.

7^th Battalion – Brigade sports held at PICQUIGNY. Capt I.P.W. Bennett and 2192 a/R.S.M. Greenfield A.F. proceeded to 4^th Army School for course of instruction – 2/Lt F.L. Gammon granted special leave to June 4^th 1916. Lieut C.A. Haggard and Lieut W. Wigham- Richardson returned from leave. Lieut R. Anderson R.A.M.C. proceeded to 4^th Army Mine Rescue School, RIBEMONT.

8^th Battalion –

10^th Battalion – Billets – Outterstien.

11^th Battalion –

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 27th May 1916

27^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – Working party of 3 officers & 100 men in morning & similar party in afternoon – C.O. & Adjutant attended Bayonet Fighting Demonstration in morning. In afternoon C.O. & company commanders reconnoitred the line in Cuinchy Left. In evening, move for next day suddenly cancelled. Col Crofts returned from leave & resumed command of battalion.

2nd Battalion – The Battn, is still finding the usual fatigues and today, a Cpl was killed and a private wounded whilst on mining fatigue.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 958.

1 Att, Draft.

1 Killed.

1 Wounded.

1 Hos.

Increase 36 Draft. Dec.

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion – Work on the circular bund continued uninterruptedly all week except that from the 24^th onwards 100 were detailed for work on the river bund but by the end of the week the bund was completed & the river had dropped 14 inches.

The bridge of boats is to move further up stream just E of our camp. 300 men started the new Bridgehead.

Capt L.M. Yetts was appointed A.P.M. 1^st Div.

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets & furnished working party 450 strong to dig trenches on Hill 140 1 mile N of BOMY. At 7 pm Battalion received orders to be ready to move to “B” Area, Reserve Divisional Area. At 8.30 pm received orders to concentrate at 10.46 pm in the square in FLETCHIN. Battalion arrive in ALLOUAGNE at 4.10 am. Four men fell out.

7^th Battalion – Battalion training – 2/Lt F.L. Gammon returned from Bde Bombing School. 2^nd Lt R.C. Herbert, returned from Bde Bombing School.

8^th Battalion –

10^th Battalion – Billets – Outterstien.

11^th Battalion –

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 26th May 1916

26^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine, in morning – Regiment found Guard of Honour under Capt Brodhurst Hill to French General & General Monro for presentation of medals in the Grand Place. A very smart turn0out & very steady on parade.

2nd Battalion – GRANTOWN.

The whole of the Battn, are out of the trenches and are doing fatigues. Today there are over 300 on different working parties.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 925.

1 Att, Draft of 3 O.R.

2/4^th Battalion – 1 Officer & 28 O.R. detached for duty with 5^th Company, Imperial Camel Corps.

MOASCAR ISMAILIA.

Battalion with Transport & Baggage moved to FAYOUM, where detachments from KAFR MAHFOUD, KOM ABU RADI, KOM SHE SHA & FAYOUM rejoined, having been relieved by Montgomery Yeomanry. Battalion thence proceeded by rail to MOASKAR, ISMAILIA & bivouacked for the night.

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets & furnished working party 450 strong to dig trenches on Hill 140 1 mile N of BOMY.

7^th Battalion – Battalion training. 2/Lt D. Neilson Terry struck off the strength of the Battalion owing to developing illness while on leave in England. Medical Board by W.O. order.

8^th Battalion –

10^th Battalion – Billets – Outterstien.

11^th Battalion –

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 25th May 1916

25^th May 1916–

1st Battalion – Ordinary routine. Guard of Honour practised. Finals of Brigade Boxing Tournament in theatre.

2/Lt Hobson joined battalion.

2nd Battalion – A & D Coys were relieved by two Coys of the 6^th Berk’s Regt & so from today, all companies are in Grantown & doing fatigue.

Officers 36.    Other Ranks 922.

1 Att.

2/Lieut Hine to England Sick.

2/4^th Battalion

2/4^th Battalion –

1/5^th Battalion -

1/6^th Battalion – The Battalion remained in billets & furnished working party 450 strong to dig trenches on Hill 140 1 mile N of BOMY.

7^th Battalion – Capt R.S. Le Bas proceeded to Hd Qrs 55 Inf, Bde, for attachment thereto Capt J.M. Du Buisson took over command of “A” Coy.

Capt J.R. Walpole, Capt H.L. Martin and Capt J.M. Du Buisson were accidentally wounded by an explosion of Stokes Gun ammunition at a demonstration – The former officer returned to duty, the latter being evacuated to hospital.

8^th Battalion – Training was continued. 70 men were sent to be trained at the 72 I.B. Grenade School.

10^th Battalion – Billets – Outterstien.

11^th Battalion –