12th Middlesex April 1916 war diary

[Steff Jacks]

Can anyone help me decipher this entry for the 12th Middlesex? I have got it from the National Archives for my research but can only seemingly read a few words. Any overall understanding of this info would be greatly appreciated. 

It's from 30th April 1916. 

Thanks

Steff

Copyright: National Archives

[PRC]

I believe it reads -

BRONFAY FARM?
+ BILLON WOOD

At 7.30 pm heavy bombardment was heard over Sector ??? +7th Divn (Division) Front. The Bn. (Battalion) was ordered to stand by. This continued till 8.15 p.m. The WOOD was shelled during the bombardment some 70-80 ‘duds’ being put in but no casualties occurred.

Three men were wounded + one killed on a mining fatigue however being in our trenches at the time. Operation orders received from 54th Bde (Brigade) for move and notice received that all specialists would be taken straight back for training to New Area.

Capn (Captain) HARRISON and 2nd Lt (Lieutenant) ROGERS left for leave to ENGLAND which dates from 2nd May.

Cas. (Casualties).

O (Officers) – k  -w   x (1 Suffering from shellshock).  (So no officers killed or wounded)
OR (Other Ranks) – 1 k 2w (One killed, two wounded - at odds with the text in the entry).

For the location this old thread may be of interest

Cheers,
Peter

[Steff Jacks]

Thanks for deciphering Peter @PRC The link is helpful too so thank you!

[Michelle Young]

Sector A 2 I think. 

[PRC]

5 hours ago, Michelle Young said:

Sector A 2 I think.

I can see it now, with the 2 written in Roman numerals

In the same Brigade was the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Their War Diary has been transcribed and put online. Entries for this period read:-

30-4-16 Quiet day up till evening. Enemy shelled support line & Hd.Qrs. for about 1½hrs. rather heavily - Communication trenches to front line damaged. 8 casualties.

1-5-16 Nothing happened of any importance in A2 Sector. 12th Middx. were relieved by 11th R.Fus. in A1. 31.4.16. 19th Manchesters on our left. General Officer Commanding 54th Brigade requested the C.O. to publish in Battn. Orders the communiqué appearing in the Times of 29th April respecting the raid carried out on night of 26/27th April by D Company.
http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/7thbn/7thbtn1916diary.html

(Not quite sure where the 31st April comes into it! 19th Manchesters were part of 30th Division).

Bearing in mind the contents of the 12th Middlesex War Diary entry, the entries for the days after the 7th Bedfords came out of the line on the 4th May may be pertinent.

6-5-16 Fatigue taken over from 30th Division. D Company at BRONFAY working on tramway line from BRONFAY FARM to BILLON WOOD. A Company sent 50 men to Ecluse Mericourt for permanent fatigue of unloading barges. Brigade School of Instruction for Specialists commenced at Oissy. Sent 5 Officers & 70 Other ranks.

Cheers,
Peter