1st inniskillings

[nevgeoran]

hi all,does anybody have the war diary or unit history of the 1st inniskillings at the battle of albert 1st july 1916.i know they where in the 87 BDE,29th DIV.can find lots of info about somme 1st july 1916[not surprising]but nothing about the 1st inniskillings in detail.thanks for your help.

[bmac]

War Diary. Classic example of no-one involved being left to write a report it would seem.

Z Day. In accordance with Orders the battalion advanced on the objective which consisted of the first three lines of German trenches, the battalion advancing in lines of platoons in single file in the following rotation, B, A, D Companies, B Company being held in reserve in the original front line trench. Immediately our lines appeared on the parapet the enemy brought heavy machine gun cross fire to bear which heavily decimated the advance, none being able to gain further ground than the enemy’s wire. Under the circumstances the advance failed in the sector allotted to the battalion as it was also found impossible to bring up the reserves.

Strength of battalion on entering the action: Officers 36, Other ranks 916.

Casualties

Officers

Killed:

Lt Col R C Pierce

Capt B St G French

Lt F M S Bowen

Lt G A L Harbord

2nd Lt W Porter

Lt A D L Wilson

Missing:

Lt S T Martin

2nd Lt C A Stonor

2nd Lt W Porter

Wounded:

Capt J R C Dent

2nd Lt L D Watts, att. 12th Warwicks

2nd Lt A Fortescue

Lt R H Clarkson, att. 4th Highland Light Infantry

Lt W F C Peake, 1st Queen’s

2nd Lt P H Lindesay, att. 3rd R Inniskilling Fus.

2nd Lt S Jenkins

Lt W T Dickson, att. 6th R Inniskilling Fus.

2nd Lt E A Worskett, att. 4th R Inniskilling Fus.

2nd Lt B J Keene, att. 13th West Yorkshire Regt

Other ranks

Killed 50, Missing 225, wounded 265.

Remainder of battalion rallied in our front sector near St John’s Road.

Report on operations by 87th Brigade

Prior to the 30th June battalions had been equipped for the offensive operations as laid down in 29th Divisional Order No. 36 dated 14th June 1916, paragraph 40.

Bombers wore red arm bands and wire cutters white to enable them to be quickly distinguished.

On 30th June the line allotted to the Brigade, i.e. from Q.17.11/12 to Q.10.6/7 was being held by three companies of the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on the right and by 3 companies of the 2nd South Wales Borderers on the left with remaining company of each battalion in reserve at Englebelmer. The 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the 1st Border Regt being in huts in Acheux Wood. At 9.30 p.m. on this day the reserve companies of the battalions holding the line moved up by Withington and Tipperary Avenues reaching their destinations about 10.30 p.m.

By 11 p.m. the 1st R Innis Fus. and 2nd SWB had taken up their pre-arranged positions of assembly in the firing line – Regents Street – and old firing line.

The 1st KOSB and 1st Border Regt left Acheux Wood at 9.15 and 9.30 p.m. respectively and marching via Rotten Row moved up by Withington and Tipperary Avenues and occupied the line of trenches Buckingham Palace Road-St James-Brooke and Fethard Streets arriving there soon after 12 midnight.

There were no casualties while actually moving up to the assembly trenches.

Telephone wires from Brigade Headquarters (advanced) had been laid before hand to Battle Headquarters and were through practically throughout the operations.

When these headquarters moved up new lines were in position at the far end of the saps by 1st Avenue and Mary Redan ready to be continued but owing to the heavy casualties and the failure to attain the objective no communication was got through. The lines were laid as per attached diagram.

Visual signalling was arranged but due to the dense amount of smoke it was found impossible.

The only communication used was by runner.

The actual bombardment by the artillery immediately previous to the assault does not appear to have knocked the enemy trenches about or filled in the deep dugouts.

The Brigade advanced for the attack with two battalions in the front line and two in support.

The two leading battalions had 3 companies in the front line and one in support. The two rear battalions had two companies in the front line and two in support.

Every company in the Brigade adopted the same formation. Lines of platoons in column of sections. Wire cutters and bridge carriers in the first line, Lewis gunners and bombers for clearing the trenches in the 2nd and 3rd lines with the consolidating parties in the 4th line. Two machine guns went forward with each battalion reserve and the two Stokes mortars with the reserve of the two rear battalions.

The two leading battalions failed to reach the front German line owing to machine gun fire and the two supporting battalions did not get as far, being mown down as they passed through our own wire.

At 7.30 a.m. the two leading battalions advanced to the attack. Machine gun fire was at once opened by the enemy but at the same time it was thought that the objectives had been gained as lights were seen coming from the required direction. These lights may have been enemy as no troops on our left got as far as the German front line. On our right some of the Innis Fus. were seen placing their trench bridges over the German front line trench and going through their wire but in very small numbers.

A report was received from the artillery that bombing was seen going on in Station Road and later a report from the 36th Division came that the 9th R Irish Fusiliers at Station Buildings had joined hands with the 1st R Innis Fus. at Station Road. This information has received no corroboration.

The 1st KOSB and 1st Border Regt left their assembly trenches at about 7.30 a.m. and advancing under a very heavy machine gun fire failed to get as far as the leading battalions with the exception of some of the leading sections of the 1st Border Regt which got as far as the German wire.

At 10.30 a.m. the 10% which had been left behind in Englebelmer arrived and took over the front line.

At 2 p.m. the line was taken over by the 88th Brigade and the Brigade re-organised in the support trenches.

[nevgeoran]

thanks bmac,exactly what i needed.cheers