1st Battalion War Diary – November 1914
In August 1914 the 1st Battalion was in Londonderry, Ireland. At the outbreak of War it became part of 15th Brigade, 5th Division. The War Diary was begun on the day War was declared, 4th August 1914, and is transposed below as written at the time by the C.O.
Key: Bde. = Brigade; Bn. = Battalion; Coy. = Company
…. Casualties for that day
Date | Details of Entry | Notes |
1st | Battalion in reserve 1½ miles SOUTH of DRANOUTRE. | |
2nd | Battalion in reserve 1½ miles SOUTH of DRANOUTRE. | |
3rd | Battalion in reserve 1½ miles SOUTH of DRANOUTRE. | |
4th | Battalion in reserve 1½ miles SOUTH of DRANOUTRE. Captain J A Busfield, Cheshire Regt., took over command of Battalion. Lt. T L Frost took over duties of Adjutant. Capt. G P Pollock-Hodsoll, 3/Sufflolk Regt attached for duty | |
5th | 7.15 a.m. Battalion marched to YPRES and took up position about 4 miles E S E holding 350 yards of trenches (relieving 2nd Bedfordshire Regt). These trenches were just South of the 6th Kilometre stone on the MENIN ROAD. | |
6th | YPRES Battalion in trenches heavy artillery fire & some rifle fire. | |
7th | Battalion in trenches. Very heavy shell fire in the morning, enemy’s infantry attacked at 2.30 p.m. ‘C’ Company went to reinforce regiment on our left. Enemy repulsed, 25 captured. Captain Pollock-Hodsoll & 2/Lieut. G R L Anderson killed. N.CO.s & men 4 killed, 22 wounded, 8 missing. | |
8th | Battalion in trenches. Shelling commenced later owing to morning mist. No infantry attack. 2 men wounded by our shells falling short. 2/Lieut Hands joined on promotion from Sergeant 1/East Surrey Regt. | |
9th | Battalion in trenches – shelling light. Night attack expected so a good deal of rifle fire at night. | |
10th | Battalion in trenches. Enemy shelled heavily in the morning. A certain amount of night firing. | |
11th | Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire in morning & evening. Enemy appeared to massing in a wood S of our position but our shells scattered them & they were easily repulsed by our rifle fire, with heavy casualties to them. | |
12th | Battalion in trenches. Enemy kept up shell fire most of the day otherwise quiet. 2/Lieut Skeates } transferred to 2/Lieut Dampier } 1/Bedfordshire Regt. | |
13th | Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire on our trenches and also on supports in dugouts. Small infantry attack easily repulsed. | |
14th | Battalion in trenches. To conform with the Division on our right, an order was given to retire from the advance line of trenches & take up another line about 150 yds in rear, this was commenced at midday and completed by 4 p.m. when the final line was held. The enemy were pressing on all the time & consequently our casualties were rather heavy. 2/Lieut H R Stables, 5/Royal Fusiliers, killed. 2/Lieut E G Carr wounded & 30 N.C.O.s and men killed, wounded & missing. Two German patrols of 15 & 7 men were shot down just outside our trenches. | |
15th | Battalion in trenches. A quiet day. Some shelling & sniping. Enemy digging into new position. | |
16th | Battalion in trenches. Our guns kept up heavy shell fire some sniping. | |
17th | Battalion in trenches, started with exceptionally heavy shell fire followed by an infantry attack which however was easily repulsed. | |
18th | Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire no infantry attack. Heavy rain. | |
19th | Battalion in trenches. A little shell fire & sniping. Started to snow and freeze. Relieved by the Worcester Regiment at 8 p.m. & went into reserve dugouts. | |
20th | Battalion in reserve dugouts. Some shelling. Total casualties since going into trenches, killed 35, wounded 99, Missing ___ | |
21st | 1.0 a.m. Battalion marched & arrived at billets near LOCRE at 7 a.m. roads bad for transport owing to hard frost. | |
22nd | LOCRE Battalion in billets. Wet & frost caused much rheumatism & a certain amount of frost bite which caused bad marching among many. | |
23rd | Battalion in billets | |
24th | BAILLEUL 11.45 a.m. Battalion marched to BAILLEUL, billeted there to act as Corps troops | |
25th | Battalion in billets:- Refitting & inspecting (Attached 2nd Army Corps Troops) | |
26th | Battalion in billets: – Refitting & inspecting. Furnished a guard for H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. | |
27th | Battalion in billets: – Inspected & congratulated on their work by Field Marshall Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief. | |
28th | Battalion in billets: – Inspected & congratulated on their work by General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien, Commanding 2nd Army Corps. | |
29th | Battalion in billets: – Church parade. The following Officers arrived today: Capt H S Hodgkin, 1/Cheshire Regt, & took over command. Capt. A E Harry, 3/Cheshire Regt. | |
30th | Battalion in billets. Parades, drill & Musketry instruction. J.A. BURFIELD, Capt. 1/Cheshire Regt. |
the 1st Battalion in action during November 1914.
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