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Remembered Today:

11th Bn KRRC from 27 June to 31 August 1916


Bardess

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Thanks - my interest is the 13th and I have most of their War Diary if you need a look up

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  • 1 year later...
Here. Please post any errors or fill in the blanks.

Hi Diane where are the earlier installments? i have an officer wounded from 3 weeks earlier

Thanks MC

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At Diane's request, all the threads have been merged together now

Alan

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  • 2 months later...
  • 5 months later...

They are the previous posts to this one in Document Repository/Unit War Diaries [dated Dec 08]

Thanks for that i have i just released that my chap Lt H A Denison OBE,MC and Bar was the Acting CO of A company and was IC of it when Your Great Uncle DOW and Lt T B J Mahar DSO,MC also a group of medals i have was also in the same battalion what a Small war...

Cheers

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  • 2 months later...

27.06 – 06.07.16 POPERINGHE

The Battalion in Divisional reserve in RUE d'FURNES, POPERINGHE.

03.07.16 POPERINGHE

Captain B F G WILSON appointed Staff Captain, 59th Infantry Brigade to date May 5th 1916.

04.07.16 POPERINGHE

2/Lieut C N BARLOW rejoins the Battalion from sick leave. 7 OR reinforcements received.

05.07.16 POPERINGHE

Captain C T A POLLOCK Inns of Court OTC from the Second Army attached to the Bn from 5th to 19th June for instructional purposes. Lieut & QM A F NUTTING reverts to permanent rank and RQM Sgt WILSON takes over duties of QM.

06.07.16 POPERINGHE

Night

The Bn entrained at POPERINGHE and detrained at the ASYLUM, YPRES and relieved 7th Bn DCLI in the same line of trenches as before, A & B Coys being in the front line and C & D Coys in support.

07.07.16

Enemy artillery were very active shelling the whole of our area, including the POTIJZE DUMP with 7.7s and 4.2s. Wounded: R2022 Rfn TUDOR.

08.07.16

Lieut Colonel J F R HOPE to hospital. Major F L V SWAINE takes over command of the Bn and Captain M S ORMROD the duties of 2nd in Command.

11:30am Our artillery carried out a bombardment of the MOUND. In retaliation the enemy shelled A5a and A6 of which the garrisons had previously been evacuated.

6pm Enemy again shelled these trenches heavily in retaliation for bombardment by our right Divisional group.

Wounded: R282 Rfn BARRETT; R16031 Rfn LOMBARD, G; R738 Rfn COLSTON, T; R9147 Rfn JONES, A F; R3791 Rfn SEAMAN, G S; R4995 Rfn MIDDLETON A.

Killed: R6092 Rfn ING, S; R15365 Rfn MOSSOP, H.

09 - 10.07.16

Night

Officers patrols were sent out to reconnoitre the following points: I.5.b.5.4; THE MOUND; C.29.d.4.0; C.29.a.5.4 with a view to a raid the following evening.

Wounded: R1022 Rfn SHAW, T [since died].

10 – 11.07.16

Night

Four separate raids by parties of 35 NCOs & men and 2 Officers each were planned. The raid was to be preceded by a discharge of gas from A5a & A6 and by smoke from the adjoining Bn and trenches A7 & A8. The Rifle Brigade on our quantity of loot. The party returned soon after midnight. The German retaliation ceased as soon as our artillery barrage died down. The casualties were heavy but only 3 occurred in NO MAN'S LAND.

Killed: R1150 Rfn BUTLIN, R; R1055 Cpl TIERNEY, M; R4940 L/Cpl CASTLE, A H; R14108 Rfn WEINSTEIN, G;

R8644 Rfn MATTHEWS, H; R4884 L/Cpl BAILEY, T G.

11 – 12.07.16

Night

All being quiet the Bn was relieved by the 10th Bn KRRC and returned to the same billets in YPRES.

Wounded: R3748 Rfn WELLS, E; R4893 L/Cpl MASON, A.

12.07.16 FRONT LINE

Captain J M de PARAVICINI takes over Command of C Coy; Vice Captain W M MARRIOTT wounded.

Wounded: R3620 Rfn WAITES R; R3436 Sgt NEWBOLD, F; R3626 Rfn BROWN, F; R629 Cpl REEVELL (since died).

13.07.16

Extract from GOCs report "I consider the behaviour of all troops could not have been better and showed great dash and determination. The Officers' decisions I consider in every case sound. Although the casualties are heavy, I consider that the moral effect on the enemy of an attack on so large a front must have been great, while the offensive spirit of our men has been kept up."

Wounded: R8685 Rfn GRANGE, P; R2474 Sgt EDWARD, S L; R13559 Rfn ASHTON, T; R2484 Rfn COOPER, G;

R3294 Cpl WILLIAMS, W D.

14 – 15.07.16

Night

The Bn was relieved by 11th Bn ESSEX REGT and entrained at the ASYLUM, YPRES and detrained at BRANDHOEK going into B Camp G6d.

Wounded: R3936 Rfn PARKER, J T; R4531 Rfn COLLINS, H; R14486 Rfn DAVIS, H A.

2pm The Bn entrained at G1a on the light railway to HERZEELE (D10c, Sheet 27) where they went into billets.

16.07.16 HERZEELE

2/Lieut R W WHITMARSH & 2/Lieut C H FRESHWATER joined the Bn for duty from 23rd Bn KRRC.

18.07.16 HERZEELE

The orders to move with the rest of the Brigade to the BOLLEZEELE area (A24, Sheet 27) were cancelled.

19.07.16 HERZEELE

The Bn moved by bus from HERZEELE at 10am, at 8 hours notice via WATOU, ABEELE, BOESCHEPE, WESTOUTRE, DRANOUTRE and NEUVE EGLISE to KORTEPYP CAMP (T26b, Sheet 28) relieving the 1st Bn N Staffs Regt

KORTEPYP CAMP

The Division was attached to the 5th Corps commanded by Lieut H A DENISON transferred from B to C Coy and appointed 2nd in Command of C Coy. 2/Lieut G D B ROCHE appointed Bn Bombing Officer, Vice Lieut H A DENISON and transferred from C to B Coy.

20 – 21.07.16 FRONT LINE

Night

The Bn relieved the 8th Bn "The Queens'' West Surreys, 72nd Brigade, 24th Division in trenches 134, 135, 136 & 137; B Coy in WINTER trench; A Coy in DOUVE dug-outs and SPRING Lane; bombers & LG detachment in WELL Lane; Bn HQ STINKING FARM (U.7.a.6.7)

The trenches were good, having in most places breastworks 9ft to 10ft high. The wire however was poor and most of 134 trench was only held by patrols at night.

The 11th Bn Rifle Brigade was on our left and the 41st Division on our right.

Rations and stores came either to RATION FARM (T.12.a.6.1) or THE CELLARS cross-roads (U.13.a.8.6) at both of which places there was a trench tramway. There was a large mine in trench 135 which ran under the German salient opposite trench 134 at LA PETIT DOUVE Farm, the latter being a particularly strong point with concrete emplacements for machine guns and trench mortars. This mine was reputed to have been run through 20ft of quick-sands and have a charge of 20 tons of ammonal at the end of the main gallery. The attitude of the enemy during the 3 days we were in was extremely quiet; hardly a shell being fired. At night, however, there was a certain amount of machine gun fire which came mostly from opposite the 11th RB.

GABION FARM and the road there had been considerably knocked about by trench mortars or minenwerfers but none of these were fired while we were in the trenches. A blind shell from one of these mortars, 8" in diameter & 8" high, was secured; it was filled almost entirely with HE.

21.07.16 FRONT LINE

During the 3 days the Bn was in it suffered no casualties.

2/Lieut A P PEAKER joined the Bn for duty from the 23rd Bn KRRC. R6121 Sgt EASTAWAY, F; R894 L/Cpl WILLIAMS, M and R3210 Rfn WALL, L awarded Military Medal by the Corps Commander for "conspicuous gallantry during a raid on the night of 10/11th July 1916".

22.07.16

Lieut T B J MAHAR joined the Bn for duty from the 5th Bn KRRC.

23 - 24.07.16

Night

The Bn was relieved by the 11th and 13th Bns Royal Irish Rifles, 107th Brigade, 36th Division embussed at LE ROMARIN cross-roads (B.4.b.3.9, Sheet 36) arriving at DONCASTER HUTS (M.29.a.2.8) at 5am on the 24th.

The Bn marched from DONCASTER HUTS at 7pm to HOPOUTRE SIDING (L.17.d.5.6, Sheet 27) entraining at 9pm. They detrained at FREVENT (D3 – LENS No 11 1/100,000) and marched to billets in NEUVILLETTE on the 25th.

25.07.16 NEUVILLETTE

The Division is attached to the 8th Corps commanded by Lieut General Sir A HUNTER WESTON, KCB, DSO and in the Reserve Army under the command of General Sir H de la P GOUGH, KCB.

26.07.16 NEUVILLETTE

10:10am Orders were received to move at 11:15am. At 12:30pm we marched as rear Bn of the Brigade via DOULLENS, ORVILLE & AUTHIE to Camp in BOIS DE WARNIMONT (I24b, Sheet 57d)

27.07.16 BOIS DE WARNIMONT

2/Lieut C P E de PARAVICINI joins the Bn for duty from the 15th Bn KRRC.

The 59th Brigade relieved the 114th Brigade of the 38th Welsh Division, the 10th Bn KRRC and 10th Bn RB relieving the support and reserve battalions of that Brigade.

28.07.16

The 10th Bn KRRC and 10th Bn RB relieved the battalions of the 114th Brigade in the line, this Bn relieving the 10th Bn KRRC in bivouacs at J24a.

The Commander-in-Chief awarded the Military Cross to 2/Lieut RUDD for conspicuous gallantry and good leadership on the night of 10th/11th July and cancelled the Corps Commander's award of the Military Medal to Sgt EASTAWAY, F, awarding him the DCM in its place.

29.07.16

The Division was once more attached to the 14th Corps under the command of Lieut General R F The Earl of Cavan, CB, MVO, on the arrival of the 6th and Guards Divisions into the Reserve Army area.

Wounded: 2/Lieut C N BARLOW; R3789 Cpl PACEY, F; R13885 Rfn HAMMERSLEY; R4643 Rfn LEBATT, W; R291 Rfn WITHERS, G; R293 Rfn WELLS, J J; R661 Rfn NOONAN, C; R8692 Rfn DEWONEY, W; R1374 Rfn GUPPY, A; R15195 Rfn ROOME J.

30.07.16

The bivouac was shelled with about a dozen 4.2s air-bursts. It is suggested the position had been given away by hostile aeroplanes.

01.08.16

2/Lieut S A Smith transferred to General List for duty with TM Battery. Bn in bivouac at J24a (Sheet 57d)

2/Lieut H C James transferred to RFC and struck off strength.

02.08.16

Bn moved into a fresh bivouac in some orchards in the village of SAILLY-AU-BOIS (J.18.a.5.5) by arrangement with the 56th Division in whose area the bivouac was situated.

03.08.16

Lieut Colonel J F R Hope rejoins the battalion for duty from hospital and takes over the Command of the Bn. The new bivouac was shelled with 6 – 4.2s there being a 60 pound battery immediately in rear for which the enemy artillery were searching.

R682 ALDRIDGE R was wounded and the following were wounded at duty: RB608 Rfn BRADBURY, L; R1103 Rfn PHIPPS, A J; R4696 Rfn SPENCER, J H; R15012 L/Cpl JUTSON, H.

05.08.16

The Bn relieved the 10th Bn KRRC in the trenches, leaving the bivouac at 11:30am. Dispositions were as follows: Bn HQ in HEBUTERNE K.16.a.1.6. A Coy HQ and 2 platoons in HOPE ST, 2 platoons less 2 sections in DONE ST from K.11.c.2.0 to K.17.c.1.8; 2 sections as advanced posts in A A Line. B Coy HQ at junction of VILLON LANE and '23' Street, 2 platoons in CARENCY, 2 platoons in DONE ST (less 2 sections) from K.17.c.1.8 to 1st barrier K.17.c.5½.0, 2 sections as advanced posts in A A Line. C Coy HQ and 3 platoons in RAGLAN, 1 platoon in HEBUTERNE K.16.a.4.7. D Coy HQ and 4 platoons in VERCINGETORIX; transport lines J.8.a.0.3 (Sheet 57d).

There was a certain amount of counter battery work going on during the relief during which 2 men were wounded at duty. R4929 Rfn ELLIS, A J and R3221 Sgt CARLEY, B.

The trenches were all dug deep, there were no breastworks and only 4 or 5 dug outs in the front line which were German pattern, very deep. There was plenty of communication trenches and on the whole they were in a good state of repair. The advanced trench and all the run ups to it were very shallow as they had only recently been begun. Owing to the depth to which enemy trenches were dug there was no sniping to be done and the snipers were used as observers, there being an excellent view of the whole German system from several points on the edge of HEBUTERNE wood.

2/Lieut A N HORTON joined the Bn for duty from 6th Bn.

06 - 08.08.16

A dead German was found in our wire at K.17.a.1.7½ belonging to the 170th Regt. He had not been long dead and it is suggested that he was one of a patrol on which the 10th Bn KRRC fired one night during their tour of duty.

Enemy's attitude was fairly quiet, they usually sent over about 12 or 15 large trench mortars every 24 hours at various times, but our artillery programmes, which were carried out daily, caused little or no retaliation.

A large TM shell, which fell on the entrance of a deep dug-out, knocked it in completely and buried the occupants, killing R3245 Rfn GILLESPIE, G; R1656 Rfn SUTTON, J and R12378 Rfn THORNE, W, the latter behaved very gallantly in holding up the block in order to let in some air to the remainder instead of attempting to free himself which must inevitably have caused a fall of earth and blocking of the air passage. R8344 L/Cpl SHARP, the team Commander, also did very well.

10.08.16

8am An enemy aeroplane flew over HEBUTERNE and dropped some bombs without doing any damage. 2 officers patrols went out from the right and left of our line but failed to encounter any hostile patrols in NO MAN'S LAND.

A reinforcement of 5 NCOs from the 1st, 2nd and 23rd Bns was received.

11.08.16

R4883 Gnr HORLEY, W H and R2484 Spr COOPER, G E were killed and R2483 Rfn NELSBY, S was reported missing under peculiar circumstances. This party were some of right Coys wirers and went out to decide where they would begin work before sending out a covering party. Immediately they reached our wire they were bombed, Rfn COOPER ran back and fell dead in the trench. Rapid fire was opened on a German patrol which was seen retiring but the subsequent search for Rfn NELSBY was unsuccessful although it was carried on by daylight. It is difficult to see how he could have been captured as the patrols were one side of our wire and his party the other.

12.08.16

An officers patrol went out 24 strong in order to attack the 16th POPLARS (K17a) in which an MG and bombing post were suspected, they found them unoccupied and, although they entered and held the place for 2 hours, no enemy were seen.

R16496 L/Cpl SMITH, J was wounded.

13.08.16

Noon

The Bn was relieved by 10th Bn KRRC and went back to bivouac in SAILLY-AU-BOIS. During relief 3 men of 10th Bn KRRC and 12 men wounded by one 7.7 shell which burst over a platoon on the road outside Bn HQ.

14.08.16

R665 L/Cpl PARKES, W J wounded.

16.08.16

9:30am Bn was relieved by 1st Bn Scots Guards and went into 'B' Camp in WARNIMONT WOOD (I24a) Sheet 57d where it stayed 2 days.

18.08.16

7am Bn moved to billets in BEAUVAL via SARTON and TERRAMESNIL with the remainder of the Brigade. We were rear Bn. At the same time we came into the V CORPS Commanded by Lieut General E A FANSHAWE, CB.

19.08.16

59th Brigade transport except hand carts moved to VILLERS BOCAGE (AMIENS 1/100,000 D1) starting 11:00am. Reinforcements of 45 OR received from the 20th Infantry Base Depot at HAVRE.

20.08.16

Transport moved to MEAULTE E17b (ALBERT 1/40,000) where it was joined by the remainder of the Bde.

The 20th Division entrained at FIENVILLERS – CANDAS station (LENS 1/100,000) whence it proceeded to MERICOURT (J14a – ALBERT 1/40,000).

Bn moved by 2nd train at 7:30am, arriving noon, whence we marched to billets in MEAULTE, the worst we have ever been in. The Bn came into the XIV Corps commanded by Lieut General T L N MORLAND, KCB, DSO.

21.08.16

8am Bn led the Bde which marched C Coy to THE CITADEL (A21b, 1,40,000 ALBERT). 2/Lieut R W WHITMARSH invalided to England.

22.08.16 Bn relieved the 1st Bn N Staffs in the trenches in front of GUILLEMONT. A Coy took over the front line and the QUARRIES trench; B Coy had 3 platoons in PIONEER (since renamed SAPPER) and 1 in KNOT; C Coy had 2 in EDWARDS and 2 on the right of SHERWOOD; D Coy had 2 in JENA and 2 on the left of SHERWOOD. Bn HQ was at the junction of BRIGHTON ALLEY and EDWARDS. The relief passed off quietly and there were no casualties.

23.08.16

It was the intention of the GOC 20th Division to attack GUILLEMONT from the N flank on the afternoon of 24th in conjunction with the XV Corps on the left and the French on the right. This Bn was going to carry out the attack, being the only one of the Bde in the line, and special tranchees de depart were going to be dug on our left.

8:30pm Unfortunately the enemy put a strong barrage on the support and reserve lines and Bn HQ and attacked A Coy with about 100 men. The attack commenced by bombing; the Germans having approached quite close to our trenches under cover of the mist; he was driven off by rifle and MG fire. None of the enemy succeeded in effecting an entry into our trenches. There was so much artillery fire and the trenches were badly blocked with troops, who were sent up to reinforce and wounded being evacuated, that the parties who were sent up to dig the new trenches could do nothing. The casualties were Lieut H A DENISON, Lieut F D STEEN (at duty) and 2/Lieut FRESHWATER wounded. 9 OR killed, 12 OR missing, 86 OR wounded of whom 21 were at duty.

24.08.16

11am The Infantry operations were cancelled as far as the 20th Division were concerned owing to the fact that no trenches had been dug.

4pm Our preliminary bombardment began and produced almost instant retaliation on the reserve line and TRONES WOOD, the barrage then shortened to EDWARDS and Bn HQ. It began dying away and by 5:00pm had practically ceased.

6pm Our intense bombardment produced a very heavy barrage on EDWARDS and Bn HQ and right across the valley, and lateral barrages were also put on the GUILLEMONT - MONTAUBAN ROAD, down the valley and on TRONES WOOD, thereby making a perfect box; these were kept up till 7:45pm.

8:30pm A bombardment of our front line began in which trench mortars were used, and shortly afterwards the QUARRIES line was attacked with smoke and other bombs but A Coy had been reinforced by a platoon from B and were quite prepared so the attack never developed. During the afternoon A and D Coys took over from the DCLI all trenches S of the railway, so after the attack C Coy sent up 2 platoons to take over from A their new section in the front line.

The casualties were Lieut C T PONSONBY and 8 OR killed, 2 OR missing, 52 OR wounded, of whom 11 were at duty.

25.08.16

1am The Bn was relieved by 11th Bn RB and went back to the old German front line at CRATERS A8b (ALBERT 1/40,000). The following were wounded: R15559 Rfn LATIMER; R8643 Rfn BIBBY; R13991 Rfn EYRE; R2661 Rfn PESTILL; C4739 Rfn SCOTT; R1693 Rfn DURBRIDGE.

26.08.16

2 Coys and Bn HQ were moved up into area occupied by 10th Bn KRRC near Bde HQ at LA BRIQUETERIE (A4b) as 10th Bn KRRC moved up into forward in rear of No 1 Bn, the Bde having extended its front S of the GUILLEMONT – MONTAUBAN Road so as to put 2 Bns in the front line, the 2 remaining Coys moved up to German second line at A.3.c.4.4. Lieut Colonel HOPE went to hospital, Major SWAINE took over the command of the Bn. R5297 C.S.M. LOE; C7684 Cpl BOYD; R2224 Rfn FOLEY were killed, R4940 L/Cpl CASTLE was wounded by a shell which burst in their dug-out. R1697 Rfn CHARGE; R992 Rfn HOWE; R819 Sgt KENNEDY were also wounded that day.

27.08.16

The 2 rear Coys received orders to join Bn HQ but these were cancelled as no accommodation could be found for them. R15196 Rfn ROOME J wounded.

28.08.16

The weather, which up till then had been good, turned very wet which possibly may account for the postponement on the following day of resumption of the offensive for 48 hours. Rfn 18161 NEWLANDS, J wounded.

29.08.16

In conjunction with the 5th and 7th Divisions respectively on the right and left, the 20th Division had received orders to attack GUILLEMONT from the west. The flank attacks were to be launched approximately 4 hours before the frontal attack, the 59th Brigade were given the right attack of the Division and the 60th the left, the 10th Bn RB and the 10th Bn KRRC were to attack with the 11th Bn RB in support and this Bn in reserve.

R4937 Rfn BLAINEY wounded. Reinforcement of 13 OR received from 20th Infantry Base Depot HAVRE, all except one being sick, evacuated, returned.

30.08.16

The weather continued wet and the state of the roads and the going was generally very bad.

31.08.16

The Bn relieved the 7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry at A8a except C Coy who relieved a Coy of the 12th Bn King's Liverpool as a permanent garrison at LA BRIQUETERIE.

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Diane

Would you by any chance had the 11 KRRC diary for the following dates ?

About 13 May 1917 (Pte Higkey wounded)

Thursday 20 September 1917 (Pte Welsh KiA)

Friday 30 November 1917 (Pte W. ******* taken PoW) (his name is the same for illegitimate but the Forum declines it)

Many thanks,

Graeme

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great stuff i have 2 officers in there l b j mahar and h a denison both lts

cheers

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