| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of events and information |
| RIDGEWOOD | 1 | In Reserve to 41st Division - quiet - Weather very bad. Under ˝ hours notice | |
| 2 | Do Do Do Do | ||
| 3 | Do Do Do Do | ||
| 4 | Do Do Do Do | ||
| 5 | In Corps Reserve. Under two hours notice. | ||
| 6 | Do Do Do | ||
| 7 | Received warning order to move back | ||
| 8 | Moved back to Camp at M.6.d.5.8 (Sheet 28 N.W. 1/20000) | ||
| M.6.d.5.8 | 9 | Marched from M.6.d.5.8 to ARKELE thence by train to ST. OMER and marched to ESQUERDES. Inspected on the road by the 2nd Army Commander Genl. Sir. H. C. O. Plumer. | |
| ESQUERDES | 10 | Training for the offensive in open warfare | |
| 11 | Do Do Do | ||
| 12 | Church parade. Presentation of Bar to Military Medal to Sgt. BURTON by Brigadier Genl. R. MACDOUALL | ||
| ESQUERDES | 13 | Training/td> | |
| 14 | Battalion inspected by 2nd Army Commander General Sir H.C.O. PLUMER | ||
| 15 | Training | ||
| 16 | Training. Warning order to move. | ||
| HALIFAX | 17 | Moved to HALIFAX CAMP by tactical train and in the evening marched to YPRES. Battalion Headquarters at LILLE GATE. Lt. Col. D.B. PARRY D.S.O admitted to Hospital sick. Major W.H. MURPHY took over command of Battalion | |
| IN LINE | 18 | Relieved 2nd NORTHANTS and 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS in line at WESTHOEK RIDGE. Battalion Headquarters JAFFA TRENCH. 2nd Lieut. E.D.R. PINKERTON Wounded. | |
| 19 | In line. - shelling very heavy. Casualties - Wounded - 2nd Lieuts C.H.I. STEWART, S.A. THODAY and C.F. HAVORD. 2 Other Ranks killed and 9 wounded. | ||
| 20 | In line. Heavy shelling continues. 3 Other ranks killed, 2 missing and 13 wounded. | ||
| 21 | In line. Heavy shelling. 3 Other ranks killed and 30 wounded. Relieved by 20th Battn. LONDON REGT., Capt. M.B. O'BRIEN Wounded. | ||
| IN SUPPORT | 22 | In Support at HELLEWARDE RIDGE, Attacks launched by 14th and 15th Divisions. Zero hour at 4.45 and 7.0 a.m. Patrols pushed forward by 47th Division. Heavy counter attacks during the afternoon. Warned to "Stand to". Lieut. R.E.A. MALLET Wounded. 7 Other Ranks killed, 15 wounded and 1 Missing. | |
| 23 | In support. 2 Other ranks killed and 10 wounded. | ||
| 24 | In support. Relieved by 21st Battn. LONDON REGT and moved back to SWAN CHATEAU. In Divisional Support. 9 Other Ranks wounded. | ||
| 25 | At SWAN CHATEAU. 2 Other ranks wounded on Working party. | ||
| 26 | Do. Under ˝ hours notice. | ||
| 27 | Do. Daily working party of 2 Officers and 80 Other Ranks and work on repairing roads and paths round CHATEAU. Construction of Rifle Range started. | ||
| 28 - | Do Do Do | ||
| 31 | Do Do Do |
SECRET
Operation Orders
by
Lieut Col W M Hughes M.C.
4/8/17
1 MOVE
Battn. Will parade on Coy parade grounds at 8/45 AM for march to MURRUMBIDGEE Camp in the following order :- H.Q. A-B-C-D Coys.
Route via track to Light Railway thence by footpath along side of Light Railway to VIERSTRAAT - HALLEBAST CORNER Rd - HALLEBAST CORNER and LA CLYTTE. Distance of 200 yds will be maintained between Coys on the road. H.Q. Coy will move of at 8/45 AM.
2. TRANSPORT.
Coy Officers Mess gear will be ready for loading by D Coys HQ at 8 AM. H.Q Mess, H.Q Coy dixies and Medical Stores will be ready for loading at entrance to H.Q. Compound by 8 AM. Cookers and Water Carts to be ready for booking in by 8 AM. One limber for Water cans and one for Lewis Guns will be at D Coy H.Q for loading at 8 AM.
The 8 pack mules at present with the Battn will accompany the Transport which will move via KRUISTRAATHUEK - CAFÉ BELGE and DICKEBUSCHE.
Chargers for H.Q and Coy Officers will be at the Camp at 8/30 am.
AMENDMENT No. 1
to
OPERATION ORDER No. 17
3/8/17
Lewis guns: Reference para G of Order No 17 38 magazines per Lewis Gun will be assigned BUT 30 per gun
Operation Orders no 2
by
Major C Beresford
8.8.17
1. MOVE.
The Bn. Will parade in mass at 9.30 am tomorrow 9th inst. To march to ABEELE via RENINGHELST - ABEELE ROAD. Bn will entrain at ABEELE for WIZERNE area. Band will march between B & C Companies. Dress Sighting Order. All ranks will wear Shrapnel helmets.
2. BILLETING PARTY.
Billeting Party (2/Lt A B BROWN and 5 C.Q.M.Ss) will report to RENINGHELST Church at 4 AM and proceed by lorry to take over billets in new area.
3. RATIONS.
All ranks will be in possession of Haversack ration and full waterbottles.
4. SURPLUS STORES.
Companies Mess Gear and all Officers Mess Gear will be stacked at entrance ……. By 8.20 AM & also any surplus stocks etc. 2 runners will be detailed to report at RENINGHELST Church at 6 am to guide 2 lorries to camp.
5. LIAISON OFFICER.
2/Lt H. LINGE will act as Liaison Officer and will report to entraining officer (Major J STOKES, D.S.O., M.C.) on arrival at the station. He will obtain entrainment state from the adjutant.
6. CLEANLINESS OF CAMP.
Particular attention will be paid to Cleanliness of Camp. 2/Lt P W Cowlan will report to Adjutant at 9.30 am that the camp is clean & clear of all kit and stores
Operation Order No. 4
by
Major C Beresford
17.8.17
1. RELIEF.
The Bn will relieve 8th BORDER REGT tonight in the YPRES Area
Bn will parade in Marching Order outside Coy billets ready to move off at 8pm. Route via DEN GRONEN JAGER CABARET & BELGIAN CHATEAU. Distance 200 yards will be maintained between Coys.
2. GUIDES.
Guides will be at KRUISTRAAT Road junction H.18.d.9.6 at 9pm
3. BILETING PARTY.
One officer and one NCO per Coy, and 2/Lt H T CHAPPELL and Sgt ROLFE for HQ, will report to Orderly Room at 6.30pm to proceed to take over billets. They will report to 75 Inf Bde HQ in YPRES at I.8.d.0.1 and ascertain present position of 8th BORDERERS REGT.
4. WATER.
All waterbottles will be filled before moving off. Water Point East of OUDERDOM Road opposite Camp.
5. TRANSPORT.
Cookers will proceed with Coys. HQ Company Dixies will be carried on A and B Coy Cookers. HQ and Company Officers Mess Carts will be loaded by 8pm. Medical Cart will be loaded by 8pm.
Chargers for HQ Company Commanders will be at WINNIPEG Camp at 8pm.
6. CLEANLINESS OF BILLETS.
All billets will be left thoroughly clean and certificates to this effect rendered to Orderly Room by 7.30pm
7. Code word for Relief Complete:- LIFE
SECRET
MESSAGE
To ES 61
From SC877
Dated 8/8
Refce 00 No 160. Trains for units of this Brigade will be at YPRES STATION as follows. PETREL 12.30 midnight GUISE 1.30AM. Trains will await unit if late. PETREL will detail one officer to superintend entrainment and one officer to superintend detrainment of both units. Acknowledge
Received 2.45
Operation Order No. 67
by
Lieut. Colonel W.W. Hughes M.C.
Commanding "Q" Battalion
In the Field
30/8/17
1. RELIEF
The battalion will relieve "H" Battalion in the Right Section tonight, in the following order:- H.Q.-D-A-C-B:
"D" Company will relieve "D" Coy, "H" Bn on the Right
"A" " " " "A" " " " " " Left
"C" " " " "C" " " " In Support
"B" " " " "B" " " " In Reserve
Battalion will parade in Fighting Order on Company Parade Grounds, ready to move off at 6/45 pm. Route via KRUISSTRAAT - YPRES - ……. GATE - HELL FIRE CORNER. Distance of 100 yards to be maintained between platoons.
Party remaining out of the line will parade under Captain K.R. O'Brien at 6/30 pm West of the Camp
2. GUIDES
One guide per platoon and two for Headquarters will be at HOOGE CRATERS at 8/30 pm.
3. LEWIS GUNS.
Lewis Guns will be loaded on Limbers and proceed under Limber Corporal to point 500 yards West of HELL FIRE CORNER by 7/45 pm. Nos. 1 and 2 of teams will accompany the limbers, and will unload and be ready to join platoons as they pass.
4. AMMUNITION.
In addition to 120 rounds per man, front line platoons of "A" and "D" Companies, and the garrison of Posts, will take two bombs per man. Right hand platoon of "C" Company will also take two bombs per man.
5. SANDBAGS.
Three sandbags per man will be carried into the Line as far as lanes will allow
6. RATIONS AND WATER.
Rations for 31st inst and 1st prox will be cooked today and distributed INDIVIDUALLY to all ranks. All water-bottles will be filled before 6 pm.
Two days water supply will be taken into the line. 18 tins per Company and 18 tins for H.Q. Company will be issued by water duty men at Duck-boards, HOOGE, tonight, and carried into the line. It must be impressed on all ranks that this will be the only water supply for two days, and every care must be taken to avoid loss of water in transit.
7. TRANSPORT. Lewis Gun Limbers in charge of Limber Corporal will be at point 500 yards West of HELL FIRE CORNER at 7/45 pm. Nos. 1 and 2 of teams will accompany the limbers, and will unload and be ready to join platoons as they pass.
18 full watercans per Company and 18 for H.Q. Company will be sent to Duck-boards, HOOGE, by 6/30 pm where they will be issued to Battalion by Water Duty man. A Battalion Runner will act as guide. Medical Stores, and H.Q., and Company Officers' Mess Gear, will be ready for loading by 6/30pm. Chargers for H.Q. Officers and Company Commanders will be at the Camp by 6/30 pm.
Cookers and Water Carts will return to Transport Lines.
All surplus H.Q. and Company Officers' Mess Gear will be loaded by 6/30 pm., for removal to Transport Lines.
Officers' Valises and Orderly Room boxes will be ready for removal to Transport Lines by 5 pm.
8. TRENCH STORES.
Receipts for Trench Stores taken over will be sent to Battalion Orderly Room by 10 am 31st inst.
9. SANITATION.
Steps will be taken to ensure that the camp is left in a thoroughly clean and sanitary condition, and certificates to the effect that this has been done, signed by the Officer taking over, will be sent to the battalion Orderly Room by 10 am 31st inst.
10. CODE WORD for relief Complete - "LIGHTNING"
| July 1917 | Return to War Diary Index page | September 1917 |
If anyone has any additions or corrections to these transcriptions please let me know.