6th Durham Light Infantry War Diary v2

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S Regs. Part II. and the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY or

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY. (Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

Reconstructed War Diary for the 6th Durham Light Infantry – www.durhamlightinfantry.net

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information Remarks and reference so Appendices

GATESHEAD April 1915 10th

CAPTAIN F WALTON proceeded to HAVRE to make preliminary arrangements for the arrival of the battalion transport section.

17th

Transport and machine gun sections under MAJOR J E HAWDON (second in command) and LT H BIRCHAM (transport officer) entrained at Forth Goods Station for HAVRE via SOUTHAMPTON.

18th Captain S E Badcock appointed acting Major. Lt T Welch appointed acting Captain.

19th

22:20

Remainder of battalion entrained at Central Station for BOULOGNE via FOLKESTONEi. Left Folkestone via troop transport for HAVREii

20th

0:00

Arrived at HAVRE just after midnight. Marched to OSTROHOVE CAMP, BOULOGNE. Transport & machine gun sections entrained at HAVRE. Train continued to BOULOGNE where remainder of battalion entrained at the PONT DE BRIQUES station at SAINT-ETIENNE-AU-MONT.iii

CASSELL

21st

Arrived at CASSEL and marched to about 3 miles to billets at HARDIFORT. Brigade H.Q situated at the CHATEAU-DES-IFS.

HARDIFORT

22nd

Order from 50th Northumbrian division HQ for all troops to stand by in billets. Battalion remained at HARDIFORT. Reports received that a Gas attack had taken place north-east of Ypres against Canadian and French positions.

Ground hard and dry

HARDIFORT 23rd Durham Light Infantry Brigade (6th, 7th, 8th & 9th D.L.I) marched 2 miles to assembly point at RYVELD Cold and


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


and then marched another 2.5 miles to STEENVOORDE to be inspected by BRIG-GEN MARTIN. The 5th and 9th DLI battalions of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade were ordered to march to POPERINGHE; Ourselves and the 8th DLI were bussed to VLAMERTINGHE. Busses were delayed by the passage of French troops along the road. Took over huts from 9th Royal Scots on arrival at VLAMERTINGHE. Brigade H.Q situated at 31 GRAND RUE.

windy day.

VLAMERTINGHE

24th

Spent the day preparing for action but orders not received to move until the evening. Battalion then began moving through YPRES with occasional shelling but no casualties. Battalion took over trenches in the G.H.Q line from the Shropshire Light Infantry. This trench line was intended as a reserve line of defence of the breastwork type and stretched from ZILLEBEKE to MAUSER RIDGE. Capt CUMMINS A P commanding A Company, Major BADCOCK S E commanding B company, Capt DEVEY W H commanding C company and Capt TOWNEND J commanding D company. A Company took up position just south of the POTIJZE road. The remaining companies took up positions north of the road with B company on right, D company in centre and C company on left. The M.G section was attached to D company. The Transport section was based at POTIJZE CHATEAU near a Canadian artillery battery. The battery and transport section was shelled and suffered several casualtiesiv.

Heavy rain in the afternoon and evening.

POTIJZE 25th First full day spent by the battalion in the GHQ trench line we had occupied yesterday eveningv. Thick fog at


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


Remained in trenches until evening when ordered to move to position in VELORENHOEK VILLAGE (square C.30.C) and there to be placed under the command of 85th Brigade. Battalion rested in VELORENHOEK VILLAGE overnight.

dawn. Overcast and cloudy all day.

VERLORENHOEK

26th

10:30 11:15 18:00

151st Brigade orders placed battalion under command of LT. COL BRIDGFORD, 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry. Received warning of enemy forces to the east. Orders were received to advance and secure trenches on the line of HILL 37-ZONNEBEKE CROSSING (positions D.26.B – D.20.A). The advance was joined by the 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry on our right flank. The first enemy fire was received at 11:17.vi A defensive line was formed with A Company on ZONNEBEKE CROSSING, D company on HILL 37 and B & C company in centre. A & D Companies took heavy artillery fire including gas. CAPTAIN W H DEVEY wounded, CAPTAIN J MONKHOUSE killed, 2nd LT H H NICHOLSON wounded. The trenches were found to be occupied by elements of Rifle Brigade and Shropshire Light Infantry who became mixed in with this battalion. ADJUTANT CAPT JEFFRIES proceeded by horse up and down the line to establish location of troops and report back to battalion HQ at ZEVENCOTE BARN. Whilst with the Rifle Brigade MAJOR S E BADCOCK and 2nd LT C S KYNOCH killed, CAPTAIN F WALTON and 2nd LT G KIRKHOUSE wounded. Orders received to advance and drive enemy from FORTUIN-PASSCENDAELE ROAD (square D.21 – parallel to previous positions). 2 companies of 2nd Shropshire Light Infantryvii ordered to attack with 7th DLI supporting and 6th DLI in reserve. Battalion moved off between 19:00 and 20:00.

CWGC shows 2 officers & 41 O.R deadviii


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


21:00

No enemy were located so 7th DLI moved south towards ZONNEBEKE and 3 companies of the battalion were sent to assist the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment at GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE at 21:00. Remaining battalion returned to D.26.B to bring up rations. A company in reserve, H.Q and D company at ZEVENCOTE BARN. Machine Gun section was withdrawn to battalion H.Q. Very heavy casualties suffered by battalion, around 1 man in 25 has been killed - CQMS 576 BENNISON J,, Sjt 306 BURNIP A., Sjt 308 VENN T., Cpl 667 ACKERMAN E., Cpl 1815 URWIN S., Pvt 465 Ellwood J,, Pvt 626 DOWDEN J,, Pvt 1343 ROBSON G., Pvt 1503 CASEY M., Pvt 1513 FRANCIS W., Pvt 1554 WRIGHT P., Pvt 1591 MARTIN P., Pvt 1697 PENMAN J. , Pvt 1745 DENHAM W., Pvt 1799 STONEHOUSE L., Pvt 1803 SHOTTON W., Pvt 1942 BRAITHWAITE F., Pvt 2041 HALEY E., Pvt 2168 LEDGER Thomas, Pvt 2192 CUNNINGHAM M., Pvt 2223 RICHARDS T, Pvt 2239 MURRAY F., Pvt 2258 KELL W., Pvt 2307 HORSEMAN F., Pvt 2348 JARY G., Pvt 2355 EMERY J., Pvt 2391 FEATHERSTONE N., Pvt 2405 SOUTHAN J., Pvt 2427 LINSKEY M., Pvt 2440 FOX G., Pvt 2467 TULLY L all killed in action

27th

15:00 18:00

Remained in trenches. Battalions reminded by division of responsibility to arrange for men to receive rations. 2 companies returned to battalion as no longer required by Hampshire Regiment. LT WESLH and one company remained with Hampshire Regiment. A company sent forward to fill a gap between 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment and 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry. B company in contact with enemy, separated only by trench block of some 10 yards wide.

CWGC shows 1 Officer & 3 O.R deadx


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


Casualty report to Brigade – 8 OR dead and 103 OR woundedix. Sjt 370 BELL R. , Pvt 2250 SCAIFE S. and 2891 PICKERING E. all killed in action.

28th

Remained in trenches. LT COL WATSON evacuated sick and ADJUTANT CAPTAIN JEFFREYS took temporary command of the battalion with LT R V HARE as Adjutant. Pvt 2375 ALDER A. and Pvt 3000 WALTON W. killed in action.

Very fine day CWGC shows 2 O.R deadxi

29th

Remained in trenches. Pvt 1791 FOREMAN D. killed in action.

Fine and sunny day CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxii

30th

A company relieved by 1st Northumberland Fusiliers and B company by Royal Fusiliers. B Company came under heavy shellfire whilst being withdrawn, enemy artillery being directed by spotter plane. In evening the battalion concentrated at VERLORENHOEK CONVENT. Battalion brought to battle positions due to German gas attack on front lines – battalion was not directly affected as in reserve trenches but collected many men who had been driven back. Submitted casualty reports to brigade HQ – 6 OR dead and 59 wounded.

Fine day

May 1915 1st

Ordered to move to west of YPRES and billet at BRIERLEN WOODS. Submitted casualty reports to brigade HQ – 13 OR dead, 56 wounded and 1 missing. Lt HARE R B wounded. 2395 Pvt LETBY A. died of wounds at BAILLEUL.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxiii


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


BRIERLEN WOODS

2nd

Marched some 10 miles west to SINT-JAN-TER-BIEZEN. Brigade headquarters established at CHATEAU de WATOU. Battalion billeted nearby. C in C SIR JOHN FRENCH addressed the battalion and complemented highly on the work done, special commendation to A and B companies. 2429 Pvt ROBINSON W died of wounds at HAZEBROUCK.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxiv

3rd

20:30

Rested during day. Brigade began moved to WATOU some 12 miles march away.

WATOU

4th

02:00 11:30

Arrived at WATOU. Brigade HQ established at WATOU Chateau. 2411 Pvt WATSON J. died of wounds at ROUEN. Brigade inspected by Sir John French who complemented us on the fine work done.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxv

5th Rested.

6th Rested. 755 Sjt NEAL G. E. died at Boulogne.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxvi

7th Rested. Draft of 12 officers arrived.xvii Report made to 28 Division covering action of 26 April to 1 May – 29 O.R dead, 224 O.R wounded, 33 O.R missing.

8th Rested. Draft of 8 officers arrived.xviii

WATOU

9th

Moved back to BRIERLEN WOODS as divisional reserve. Battalion stores moved to POPEINGHE.

POTIJZE 10th Moved to G.H.Q trenches at POTIJZE.


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


11th Remained in trenches.

12th Remained in trenches. Cpl 1932 BELL H. killed.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxviii

13th

Remained in trenches. Battalion was heavily shelled. Gas respirators issued to 1 man in every 12, respirators consist of strip of cloth and a cotton wool pad. Pvt 454 RIPLEY R killed.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxix

14th Remained in trenches. Sjt 1839 COATES T killed.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxx

15th Remained in trenches. Pvt 1875 STERLING N died of wounds.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxxi

16th Remained in trenches. Pvt 1731 DOBSON T died of wounds.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxxii


18th Remained in trenches. Pvt 1935 WILKINSON G and Cpl 2755 FRENCH J died of wounds.

CWGC shows 2 O.R deadxxiii


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


19th

Remained in trenches. MAJOR W E TAYLOR of York & Lancaster Regiment arrived and took over command of battalion from CAPT JEFFREYS. Pvt 1816 WILMOT A E killed in action.

CWGC shows 1 O.R dead


BRIERLEN WOODS

21st Relived by East Surrey Regiment and returned to huts at BRIERLEN WOODS.

22nd Remained in billets.

23rd Remained in billets.

MENIN ROAD

24th

Remained in billets but forced to evacuate for a period before breakfast due to clouds of gas from a German gas attack. In the afternoon the battalion marched to POTIJZE WOODS and entered reserve trenches in support of 3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. MAJOR W E TAYLOR wounded and CAPT JEFFREYS again took command of the battalion. In the evening battalion withdrawn to the MENIN ROAD. 2nd Lt HARE J M, Sjt 1681 HUNTER T and L/Cpl 636 PERRY M killed in action.

CWGC shows 1 Officer & 2 O.R deadxxiv

25th

Remained in dugouts. In the evening a working party was sent forward to dig trenches along a railway cutting with the enemy being just the other side. Work completed in 2 hrs and the trenches occupied by a battalion of the East Kent Regiment.

26th Remained in dug outs and provided working parties. CWGC shows 1


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


Pvt 628 ALLISON W killed in action.

O.R dead

27th

Remained in dug outs and provided working parties.

BRIERLEN WOODS

28th

Returned to billets at BRIERLEN WOODS. Pvt 1883 STEPHENSON R. killed in action.

CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxxv

29th Remained in billets.


31st Remained in billets.

June 1915 1st

Remained in billets.

POPERINGHE

2nd Marched to POPERINGHE.

3rd


OUDERDOM

4th Marched to OUDERDOM.

5th


CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxxvi


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.



CWGC shows 1 O.R deadxxvii


8th Official war diary takes over.


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


i Based on estimated times taken from other war diaries the battalion probably took about 12hrs to travel to FOLKESTONE, ii Time of leaving Folkestone is based on the typical crossing time for a troop transport of 1hr 40 mins, the time of arrival was known to be midnight. iii Based on estimated times taken from other war diaries the battalion probably left PONT-DES-BRIQUES at about 21:00, this suggests that the transport section entrained at HAVRE about 16:30. iv CWGC shows no deaths for the Canadian artillery battery for this period. The machine gun section of the 6th DLI did take several casualties but non reported dead. v Approx location in GHQ line during 25 April 1915


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


vi Approx location at 11 am on 26 April 1915

vii 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry were part of the 80th Brigade, 27th Division. The War Diary reports 2 officers wounded. 4 other ranks killed and 37 wounded. viii Major S E Badock killed. Lt C S Kynoch killed. Capt W H D Devey and 2nd Lt H Nicholson wounded. 41 other ranks also died, ix These figures are the preliminary figures taken from the 151st brigade diary. x Capt J Monkhouse killed. 3 other ranks also died of which Pvt Erick Pickering died of wounds sustained on 26 April 1915. Pickering is buried at Hazebrouck so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. The CWGC report that Capt Monkhouse was killed on 27 April 1915 but the battalion history reports the date as 26 April 1915. xi Pvt Alfred Alder died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Bailleul so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. Pvt William Walton died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Boulogne so likely died at one of the hospital in the town, possibly whilst being evacuated home. xii Pvt David Foeman was killed in action. His burial location is unknown. xiii Pvt Arthur Letby died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Bailleul so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. xiv Pvt William Robinson died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Hazebrouck so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. xv Pvt Jeremiah Watson died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at St Sever , Rouen so he likely died at one of the hospitals in the town. xvi Sjt G Neal is recorded by SDGW as having being killed in action on 6 May 1915. This is doubtful as the battalion was out of action and he died at Boulogne, a site of many hospitals. More likely is that he died of wounds. xvii The following officers arrived in France on 6 May 1915. Captain LIVESEY F H, Lt BROWNE F G, Lt HANSELL W B, 2nd Lt BROCK A, 2nd Lt MILLER J C 2ndLt WARWICK J H xviii Pvt Bell is recorded as being in killed action whilst the battalion were in trenches. He is recorded on the Menin Gate as no grave location is currently known. xix Pvt Ripley is recorded as being in killed action whilst the battalion were in trenches. He is recorded on the Menin Gate as no grave location is currently known. xx Sjt Coates is recorded as being in killed action whilst the battalion were in trenches. He is recorded on the Menin Gate as no grave location is currently known.


WAR DIARY or


Army Form C. 2118.


xxi Pvt Norman Sterling died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Bedford House , Ypres so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. xxii Pvt Thomas Dobson died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Wolsingham. He died in the UK. xxiii Pvt G Wilkinson died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Boulogne so likely died at one of the hospital in the town, possibly whilst being evacuated home. Cpl J French died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Bailleul so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. xxiv 2nd Lt J M Hare killed. xxv Pvt R Stephenson killed in action. xxvi Pvt Robert Greenwood died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at Bedford House, Ypres so he likely died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations in the town. xxvii Pvt Robert Lane died of wounds sustained earlier and was buried at West Auckland. He died in the UK.

6th Durham Light Infantry War Diary v2

Documents

Transcript of 6th Durham Light Infantry War Diary v2