War Diary Look Ups

[ianmccallum]

Hi Guys

I got copies of the war diaries of 6th Bn.Royal Scots Fusiliers between May 15 and April 16. I also got 10th Bn. Argylls between May 15 and April 16. If anyone would like a date or period checked feel free.

Ian

[Amor]

Hi Ian,

I am trying to find details for S/1970 Pvt Peter Allan who served in the 10th Btn Argylls and was killed in action 25/07/1915. I would be grateful if you could provide the info for the period 1st July to 25th 1915.

Rgds,

Alex

[ianmccallum]

Hi Alex

Sorry for taking some time to get back to you.

War Diary Details: 1st - 4th July, Brigade took over line in front of Festubert and Le Plantin. Battalion in Reserve at Gorrewood. Bn. Machine Guns posted in trenches permanently. 500 men on work parties under RE supervision furnished each night by battalion. Two casualties among machine gunners one serious. 5th July battalion moved into trenches (sub section C2. during the evening relieving 6th R. Scots Fusiliers. "A" and "C" posted in the front line "D" in support and "B" in reserve. 6th July, Intermittent shelling all day 1 men slightly wounded. 7th July, Considerable shelling at dawn to which our artillery replied. The enemy also shelled Festubert and Le Plantin heavily during the course of the morning. 3 men were wounded. 8th July, At 2.30 a.m. the right of "A" company's trench was bombarded by a trench mortar which fired about 12 shells, and the parapet was blown away in several places, but no further damage was done. During the course of the afternoon support and reserve lines were heavily shelled. 3 men were wounded. 9th July, At 2.30 a.m. the trench mortar again opened fire and a parapet which had been repaired during the night was again breeched on a front of about 12 yards. At the same time the fire trench was heavily shelled. 2Lt. Stewart and several men were buried during the course of the bombardment but they were all safely rescued. 2Lt. Stewart handled his platoon with great coolness under trying circumstances. At 2 p.m. the trench mortar was bombarded by our artillery. There was one man wounded during the day. At 9.30 p.m. the companiesy of 6th R. Scots Fusiliers arrived in rotation to take over the trenches. Snipers were quiet and the whole operation was carried out without mishap and completed by 12 midnight. The battalion returned to billets at Gorre. 10th - 14th July. The battalion remained in brigade reserve at Gorre. Working parties furnished nightly for work in the trenches. On 14th July the Brigade moved off to Divisional Reserve, the battalion proceeding to billets at Quentin. 15th - 20th July. Battalion rested in billets. On 20th July officers recce'd Sub Section D2. preparatory to the battalion taking over from 11th HLI (28th Brigade). 21st July, Battalion moved from Quentin and marched to Sub Section D2. (The Orchard) and took over trenches. The relief was completed without mishap. Three companies took over the front line: D Coy on right, C Coy in centre and B Coy on left. "A" coy went into support close behind the firing line. Bn headquarters was 1000 yards rear of line. 22nd July, Some heavy shelling took place over the course of the morning over D company. Two shells burst in the trenches wounding 2Lt. Stevenson and 9 men of D coy. Shelling broke out again and Pte. Farmer was killed and 6 men wounded, all of C coy. 23rd July, Intermittant shelling of the front line trenches during which 3 men were wounded. 24th July, During the early hours of the morning some heavy shelling took place during which Pte. McPhee was killed and 3 men of D coy were wounded. 25th July, A patrol discovered a party of about 30 Germans working on a sap running from the abandoned trench at the apex of the "Orchard" due East to the German line. Some noise they made attracted the working party, who threw two bombs at them, luckily without doing any damage. Sgt. Malcolm who was in command immediately opened rapid fire on the Germans while another member of the patrol threw two grenades, which landed in the middle of the working party doing considerable damage. "C" and "D" Companies were shelled intermittently during the day. Pte. Allan, "C" company was killed and 8 men wounded. It was decided to send out a patrol that night to disturb the Germans at the sap afore mentioned. The patrol reported it was clear of Germans. 26th July, During the course of the day the trenches were very heavily shelled, luckily only two men were wounded. Considerable annoyance was caused by snipers situated at different parts of the Orchard. A man appeared among ruins dressed in khaki and wearing a Scottish bonnet. Sgt. Malcolm who was looking out for snipers couldn't understand how one of our men could get into that position. Accordingly he kept him covered with his rifle. Shortly afterward a head appeared this time obviously German. Sgt. Malcom fired and the first man dropped, a few minutes later he was able to get the second man who was trying to escape. At about 11 p.m. a patrol reported a working party in front. Fire was opened up with rifle grenades, machine gun and rifles. The work terminated abruptly. 27th July, A large number of rifle grenades were fired into our trenches by the enemy without doing much damage. Intermittent shelling during the day with 5 men wounded. L/Cpl Sim, B company was unfortunately killed by a sniper. 28th July, One man was wounded during the course of the day by shell fire. About 9 p.m. the first company of 6th R. Scots Fusiliers arrived to relieve the battalion. The relief was completed by 12 midnight without mishap. Companies proceeded to billets at Le Touret. 29th - 31st July, The battalion remained in billets providing 450 men nightly on work parties in the trenches.

Ian