16th (Service) Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Church Lads Brigade)

War diary 6th to 20th July 1916 covering operations at High Wood, on the Somme

6th July 1916. At Gorre. Parades under Company arrangements. Battalion received orders for half-hours notice to move until further notice. Brigade orders received that 100 Infantry Brigade would be relieved by 116 Brigade, and proceed to new billeting area at Busnettes. Relief to be completed by 6am on 7th July. Battalion moved off 11:30pm and marched all night arriving at new billets at 5:30am.

7th July 1916. Battalion rested. Parades under Company arrangements in morning. Lieutenant E.M. Gonner rejoined the Battalion for duty from the Brigade.

8th July 1916. Received orders from Brigade for train movement. To entrain at Lillers at 1:50am on the 9th. Battalion paraded at 12 midnight and entrained. Strength 27 officers, 877 other ranks. Total 904.

9th July 1916. Battalion detrained at Saleux at 8:15am. We moved clear of the station and had breakfast on the roadside. Billeting parties went on to St Sauveur. On the road battalion received orders from Brigade to march to Vecquemont. Battalion halted for lunch just west of Amiens. Resumed march and arrived at 6pm very tired after this 17 mile march and were billeted in an old silk mill by the canal.

10th July 1916. Battalion rested during the day.

11th July 1916. Battalion moved off to Morlancourt and bivouacked. All packs were stored in the village. Battalion remained on short notice to move.

12th July 1916. Battalion rested all day. Marched off from camp 9:15pm to Becourt-Becordel and bivouacked in front of a battery of eight-inch howitzers.

13th July 1916. Battalion rested all day. Following men awarded the Military Medal: C1081 Rfn Harley, C062 Rfn Ansell, C1064 Rfn Rhodes. Battalion received orders to stand to from 3:25am and were order under orders to move at 20 minutes notice. Captain Hon Lindsay received orders from Brigade to act as liaison officer and to report at Brigade Headquarters at 3:25am on the 14th. Major Sitwell detailed to remain behind with first line transport.

14th July 1916. Battalion stood to at 3:25am. After breakfast men drew picks and shovels (60% shovels and 40% picks). Extra SAA was issued thus giving each man 220 rounds. Also two sandbags were allotted to each man. Extra Company Orderlies were detailed for action. Battalion marched off prepared for action at 10:30am to Fricourt where tea was obtained and the men rested.

Orders were received from Brigade to move forward into position of assembly in the valley west of Sabot and Flatiron Copses. Transport echelons were left in rear under command of Brigade. Battalion arrived at position of assembly 9:15pm and proceeded to dig themselves in and carry up ammunition, bombs, and water to HLI and 1st Queen’s. All our picks and shovels were handed over to 1st Queen's and 9th HLI.

The battalion assembled at the far end of this valley by 9:15pm. Mametz Wood is seen on the near left; Bazentin Wood in the distance. Sabot and Flatiron Copses on the right at the end of the track.

11:30pm. A Company under command of Major Cooban was sent up to support 9th HLI who were digging in west of High Wood. Battalion had little rest after fatigue parties had returned, enemy's tear shells caused some trouble during the night.

15th July 1916. Battalion received Brigade order for Divisional attack. The 33rd Division is to attack the enemy's Switch Line in front of Martinpuich at 9am today. Frontage of attack is allotted as follows - 100 Infantry Brigade on a frontage of 1000 yards from a line drawn north and south through S.3.b.8.2 with its right resting on this line, 98 Infantry Brigade on left of 100 Infantry Brigade with right in touch with 100 Brigade, and left resting on the Martinpuich - Bazentin Le Petit railway. The artillery bombardment of German line will commence at 8:30am and will lift at 9am, at which time the infantry will assault. They will advance as near to the hostile trench as possible during the bombardment. 19th Infantry Brigade will be in position of assembly at 7am where it will be prepared to advance through 98th and 100th Brigades on Martinpuich after German Switch is captured. Assault of 100 Infantry Brigade will be carried out by 9th HLI on right, 1st Queen’s on left, on frontage of 500 yards each. The left of 1st Queen’s, 200 yards east of where it now rests. 16th KRR will support the advance of 1st Queen’s and 9th HLI. 2nd Worcesters will be in reserve. Units will be in position as follows by 8am. 16th KRR in S.9.d. In the event of Switch Trench being taken with little loss, orders will probably be received later to push on to Martinpuich but objective in first instance is only Switch Trench.

7am. Early morning misty. Commanding Officer and Company commanders received orders to go up and reconnoitre ground of attack. The CO proceeded to headquarters of 1st Queen’s at the cemetery at Bazentin le Petit village. Company Commanders reconnoitred road running south west to north east in S.9.d. The three remaining Companies followed later and took up their position in place of assembly along a road running south west to north east in S.9.d and were ready for attack at 8am. Message was received from 1st Queen’s stating that they would not require us to support them owing to danger of crowding in enemy's trench. Following a message from 1st Queen’s stating that they were not in touch with the 9th HLI, Brigade orders were received, to act as circumstances required but attack must be closely supported and any gap between 1st Queen’s and 9th HLI must be filled when assault starts.

While battalion was lined up for the attack, Second Lieutenant Grant was hit in the thigh. At 9am our artillery barrage lifted and B and C Companies were ordered to advance in half companies in line. C Company Commander Captain Donaldson on the left and B Company under Captain Deedes on the right. C Company came under hostile machine-gun fire directly they began to advance and lost heavily. Captain Donaldson was hit but remained with his Company urging them on till he was hit a second time and forced to return to the dressing station. The Company advanced to the old line vacated by the 1st Queen’s along sunken road running from north east corner of Bazentin le Petit village to north-west corner of High Wood. After reaching this position they remained there, awaiting further orders.

However upon seeing the 1st Queen’s retire owing to being held up by the enemy's wire being uncut and hostile enfilade machine gun fire, and take up position at crossroads S.8.b.6.7, C Company joined up with the 1st Queen’s right flank. Here they remained during the whole day under fire from enemy’s machine guns and hostile sniping. Lieutenant Hichens was hit in the leg while leading his platoon and while bandaging his foot was again hit in the head and died immediately. Second Lieutenants Giddens and Howard brought the remains of their Company out when relieved. However Second Lieutenant Howard soon went to the Field Ambulance after discover after that his heel had been hit by a machine gun bullet.

B Company under the command of Captain Deedes advanced in lines of half companies on the right of C Company. The objective of the right flank of this Company was north-west corner of wood. Both lines of advance passed over a line where the enemy had previously dug themselves in and went up hill at the top of which they came in touch with the 9th HLI most of whom were lying wounded or killed. Here they met the enemy’s machine-gun fire and only a small party of 10 reached a position within 25 yards of the sunken roadway. Eventually only two of this party arrived back untouched. While holding this position they were enfiladed by machine gun fire from north-west corner of wood and from isolated trees on the rise on the further side of roadway about S.3.c.9.9.

B Company, Second Lieutenant Howell, lead the first line consisting of No. 5 and 7 Platoons. Captain Deedes and Second Lieutenant Dennis brought over the second line. A section of a Lewis Gunners also went over with this line. Second Lieutenant Dennis is reported to have been hit three times before he was killed. Captain Deedes was hit by machine-gun bullet in the head and died immediately.

Seen here from the Longueval - Bazentin road at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, High Wood appears as a brooding mass on the skyline. The Church Lads attacked over the ground seen to the left of the wood.

11:30am. D Company under Captain Smith, J. R. was sent up to reinforce the 9th HLI. The 2nd Worcesters who were in reserve were also sent up to help the HLI. D Company held a position along south edge of High Wood. Here they remained all day under intermittent shellfire and continual machine gun sniping. At 8pm they withdrew to a line 50 yards back from the edge of the wood and dug in and made a support line in conjunction with the 2nd Worcesters, which ran from south corner of wood to HLI trench. Lieutenant Francis was hit in the arm. At 3am they were relieved by a Battalion from 19th Infantry Brigade and reached back to rest position without very many casualties.

12:30pm. Report was received at Battalion Headquarters that Major Cooban had been killed and all his officers wounded. Lieutenant Gonner was sent up to find the remainder of A Company and take command. Upon reaching south-west corner of High Wood he was unable to find any of A Company except a wounded corporal, who stated that a small remnant of A Company had joined D Company and were under his command. A Company upon arriving at High Wood took up positions along south east edge of wood. Here they received orders to advance through wood to further edge under cover of our artillery barrage. At 9am when barrage lifted they were to rush through wood and capture far trench at north corner of wood. The Company advanced in one line and after crossing first glade in wood were fired upon by machine guns. Major Cooban is reported to have been killed a little to the right of the German machine gun blockhouse at S.4.c.5.9. This blockhouse was reported to contain two or three machine guns which held up A Company line of advance, causing many casualties. Captain Harrison was wounded in the arm. Lieutenant Lewer had his leg broken and remained in a shell hole. He died of wounds. Second Lieutenant Atkinson was reported wounded and missing at the end of the day.

2:30pm Our Medical Officer and Second Lieutenant Spero were both hit by pieces from the same shell. Message received stating that enemy were storming High Wood trenches with bombs. All wires cut.

3pm Situation report sent in. Remains of A and D Companies hold south-west edge of wood. These were reinforced by Brigade on our right. General line - joining west of Bazentin le Petit with north-west corner of High Wood being held by groups. No information from 1st Queen’s.

5:40pm. Casualty report. Number passed through Battalion dressing station – 4 officers, 149 other ranks. A report in that 2 officers killed, 6 wounded, and not yet brought in.

7:45pm. Colonel Wyld hit in the wrist by one of our own shrapnel shells falling short. Captain Wenham, the Adjutant, took over command of Battalion. Lieutenant Watts sent up with spare Lewis gun to try and put out of action machine gun in north-west corner of High Wood. He was hit while going up into action. Shortly afterwards message received to send up two Platoons to reinforce 2nd Worcesters. Our last two Lewis guns under charge of Machine Gun Sergeant and 30 men sent up to Captain Smith.

10:20pm. Message received stating that Colonel Darling of the 9th HLI had taken over command of our defences. Situation: remainder of B and C Companies were spread out in small groups between 1st Queen's and 9th HLI. Remainder of A and D in trenches round High Wood under command of Captain Smith.

10:30pm. German prisoner brought down from High Wood and sent on to Brigade Headquarters.

10:45pm. Six Germans found on edge of road by a Battalion Headquarters. Two killed, four wounded. From appearances it seemed as if they had broken through our line and had been hit by one of their own shells.

16th July 1916. 2:10am. Orders sent out from Brigade that we should be relieved by the 19th Brigade. The 20th Royal Fusiliers came up and took up the line of support previously held by us on previous morning. Battalion march back to S.19.c.7.7. Some small holes dug by previous Battalion. Men very tired.

Rested all morning. Parties sent out in the afternoon and collected all their missing articles. Rain came on in the evening. Enemy sent gas shells round the outskirts of our camp. Men were obliged to put on gas helmets. No casualties.

17th July 1916. Rested all day. In the afternoon the Battalion had orders to move to Wood Trench behind Mametz Wood. Battalion marched off at 9:15pm and after a slow journey reached our destination. Battalion headquarters in old German dugout.

18th July 1916. Men improved trenches and rested as much as possible. Large party away all morning filling 80 petrol tins with water for a Brigade dump.

6:15. Second Lieutenant Cork went up to reconnoitre position held by 19th Infantry Brigade which we should support if necessary. A new draft of 79 other ranks joined the Battalion.

19th July 1916. Battalion rested during the day. Very hot weather. Draft of three new officers arrived at Battalion Headquarters at 2:30pm. They were put in the following companies. Second Lieutenant Whately A Company, Second Lieutenant Bevan B Company, Second Lieutenant Reed C Company. Very quiet all day, no shelling near our lines.

9:30pm. Orders received from Brigade Headquarters to stand to at 4am in the morning since the 100th Infantry Brigade less one battalion had been detailed for Divisional Reserve during an attack on High Wood and German entrenchment to its north. The 7th Division on our right would also be carrying out an attack at same time. Quiet night; no shelling.

20th July 1916. 4am. Stand to and ready to move at short notice.

11am. Had orders from Brigade to push up and hold trench along road S.9.c.9.0 – S.16.a.3.9 and cover the withdrawal of the Brigade from High Wood. Captain Wenham received orders to report at 19th Infantry Brigade Headquarters for instructions. Battalion was met by Captain Wenham at 19th Brigade Headquarters and proceeded to position as ordered above. A and C Companies moved into position untouched, but B and D were hampered by enemy’s shells causing a few casualties.

Second Lieutenant Cooper received shell shock in a dugout on the way up and also injuries which caused him to go to Field Ambulance. Lieutenant Paravicini and Second Lieutenant Oxley and a class of five other ranks joined the Battalion. The former being attached to A Company, the latter to D Company. 19th Brigade orders were received here that one company would keep up supply of SAA, trench mortar bombs and water for dump at south corner of High Wood. Each company was detailed in turn for this work accompanied with an officer. Few casualties occurred although they kept passing through a heavily shelled area. Battalion Headquarters was shelled heavily with 4.2 and 5.9 guns. After shelling had stopped, one of our aeroplanes drove down a German machine so low that Battalion Headquarters Company opened rapid fire on it and at once caused it to drop rapidly into the village of Bazentin le Petit.

10:30pm. Orders received from 19th Infantry Brigade to move up at once and relieve force holding High Wood. Battalion moved up by Companies and in spite of heavy barrage on road, had very few casualties and by dawn we completed the relief of a vacated line.

This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is held at the Public Record Office, in document WO95/2430.

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