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The 2nd Battalion, the Queens' (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

This summary of the battalion's day-to-day history covers the period from 1st March to late July 1917, when they occupied positions acing the formidable Hindenburg Line, to which the enemy had recently withdrawn.

Date Events
1 March Battalion in Lyndhurst Camp. Baths in Bertrancourt, but owing to water and clean changes given out only 540 got through.
2 Provided working parties at Mailly-Maillet. Battalion moved to Bolton Camp (P17a9.4) after dinner. Outgoing unit left camp in an exceptionally filthy condition.
3 Working parties to the Sucrerie. Also a party to rendezvous at Mailly station for work on tramways.
4 As 3rd
5 Working party under Pioneer officer at Sucrerie, working on sunken road.
6 As 5th
7 Working party on trench tramways between Sucrerie and Serre. Tremendous gale today.
8 As 7th
9 A and B Companies found working parties. C and D had Platoon training: dealing with strong points, employing rifle grenades, bombs, Lewis guns and rifles.
10 Number 10 Platoon C Company under Lt Mawditt gave a demonstration of tackling a strong point, using live grenades, etc.
11 Same working parties as before. Brigade is to relieve 94th Brigade of 31st Division in line.
12 Left camp at 2.20pm to Sucrerie at 4.00pm then marched to Puisieux and took over front line north of village at F21d55.60 to railway L9d9.0 from 1`0th East Yorkshires and 12th York & Lancs. A Company in Fork Trench, C from the Puisieux-Bucquoy road to track running north/south through L15a3.0, B in support in sunken road. Relief complete by 10.30pm.
13 Enemy shelled Puisieux and valley north east of village, also tear gas in evening. Patrols went out to reconnoitre Bucquoy trenches. All reported still held with machine guns in places, and wire very thick. In the afternoon, an order was received to attack, with the 22nd Manchesters. Instructions issued to Company commanders, who had to pass through gas barrage to get to Battalion HQ. Also attended by CO 22nd Mancs and 2/HAC.
14 1.00am, zero hour, enemy artillery put an intensive barrage in front of their trenches and swept ground with machine gun fire. Owing to light rain and heavy state of ground, men had great difficulty in keeping their feet and when they fell their rifles clogged with mud. Eventually small parties got to the other side of the hostile wire but could not get through the third line of it owing to its thickness. At 3.00am, orders issued to withdraw. Carried out by 4.50am. Relieved and returned to Bolton Camp. A wet and cold night. 2/Lt N.F. Furze and 2/Lt A.W.Limbrick killed in action. [Both officers were 19 years old, and are both buried in Queen’s Cemetery, Bucquoy. ]
15 Baths planned in Mailly, but cancelled as orders received to move to Arqueves in the afternoon. This move then changed to Lyndhurst Camp. Received a draft of 10 men.
16 Moved to Lyndhurst Camp. Received a draft of 5 men.
17 Brigadier [Brigadier-General H.R.Cumming] addressed the Battalion, on parade.
18 Church parade. Battalion moved to billets in Mailly-Maillet in morning.
19 Whole Battalion on working party on Serre-Puisieux road. Casualties of the 13/14th raid buried.
20 Working party of 125 men. Remainder practicing attack in open warfare. Rain all day.
21 Whole Battalion on working party on Serre-Bucquoy road.
22 Battalion moved to shelters and dugouts in Puisieux.
23 Whole Battalion on working party road repairing. Moved to Ablainzeville (good billets) after dinner.
24 Whole Battalion road making again.
25 Voluntary church parade in chateau grounds. Whole Battalion road making again.
26 As 25th. Company commander’s conference to discuss Battalions share in attack on Croisilles. Draft of 3 received. Strength 896.
27 Moved to Courcelles.
28 Battalion in support to 1st South Staffordshire and 22nd Manchester in their attack on Croisilles. Paraded at 3.30am to be in position by 5.15am. The attack was unsuccessful, as the village was strongly held and both Battalions were held up by machine gun fire and uncut wire. Relieved 1st South Staffords in the line.
29 Took over right sector of Brigade front. On our left, the railway running through T28_23.24, and on right the valley running through B5 central. B and Co Company remained in Ervillers. Royal Warwicks relieved Battalion, and practically all back in billets in Courcelles at 10.30pm.
30 Rest
31 Rest
1 April Parade at 7.30pm to relieve the Warwicks and form up on the tape. Companies halted in the Quarry in B8c where they had an issue of cocoa. At 10.15am, Battalion left the Quarry and marched to north end of St Leger, which was being shelled with 4.2s. Position of assembly T24c9.1 - T24c5.2 (200 yards south of windmill). B Company in front line, in two lines. C Company formed second wave, 100 yards behind. D Company in sunken road T30c and a. Enemy put barrage down valley on approach march. All Companies in positions by 1.00am. Bright moon and sharp frost. 21st Division on our left (west of Croisilles) and 20th Brigade on right (south of Ecoust). The Battalion, with 21st Manchester on the right, was ordered to attack and capture Factory Road at T24b4.2 to T24a85.45 and establish a forward line of posts.
2 5.15am Zero. After a short delay caused by part of our barrage firing short, the advance of B and C Companies started and was met with heavy machine gun fire from the railway embankment and the cutting on the left flank. As soon as Lewis gun covering fire opened, the advance was able to continue and made good the Factory road by about 7.30am. B Company’s officers had all become casualties soon after zero. B and C reorganised and a strong point made at the Factory under 2/Lt Thomas, and another at T24b5.2 under 2/Lts Gibson and Hullcorp. Posts were also established 600 yards in front of Factory road, to cut off enemy’s retreat from Croisilles. D Company found it was impossible to attack over open due to enfilade machine gun fire along the sunken road. Water and SAA issued to all Companies in the afternoon. Battalion relieved by 1st Royal welsh Fusiliers by 10.50pm and moved back to Ervillers. Casualties 25 killed, 42 wounded. Lt F.C. Woods, 2/Lts H.H.Richards, J.C.How, A.C.Fitch killed. [All officers named are buried in Croisilles British Cemetery.]
3 Battalion moved back to camp on Bucquoy-Achiet le Petit road, in orchards around L8c70.85. Received draft of 9 men.
4 Rest and kit inspection. Many men making shelters for themselves.
5 Working parties repairing railway near Miraumont.
6 Training. Sharp frost, heavy rain and sleet in day. Draft of 109 men arrived.
7 As 6th
8 Easter Sunday. Whole Battalion on working party on railway construction. Church parades.
9 Training. Violent hail and rain. GOC and BGC visited.
10 Training.
11 Training. Moved to camp at Ablainzeville. Violent snowstorm 6.00pm to midnight.
12 Returned to old camp on Bucquoy road.
13 Baths at Puisieux. Company commander’s conference on the subject of march discipline.
14 Whole Battalion on working party on repairing Serre-Puisieux road. Draft of 5 men.
15 Whole Battalion on working party transferring shells from train to lorry at Achiet le Grand station. Draft of 1 man arrived. 8.45am. Owing to temporary success of Boche attack at Lagnicourt, Battalion held ready to move at once. Cancelled at 10.30am. Moved to billets at Ablainzeville ready to move at 1.5 hours notice. 11.45am ordered to move to camp near Ervillers to prepare to relieve 21st Manchesters.
16 Moved to camp at Gomiecourt, arriving 4.00pm. Rain from 5.00pm to midnight.
17 Orders to relieve 21st Manchesters cancelled. New orders to relieve a unit of 186th Brigade, 62nd Division. Battalion moved off at 6.00pm, halting at L’Abbaye Mory for cocoa. Relief carried out. Battalion HQ in Ecoust; C Company along railway; A and B along embankment. Heavy hail and snow showers.
18 Artillery firing sporadic wire cutting near Bullecourt.
19 As 18th
20 Details moved to billets in Ablainzeville. Weather steadily improving.
21 Gas attack launched against Bullecourt. Battalion relieved by 8th Devons and moved to Balloon Shed camp. Details moved to Logeast Wood.
22 Remainder of Battalion moved to Logeast Wood. Draft of 5 men.
23 Baths. Draft of 9 men.
24 Cleaning up
25 Training
26 Training and finding working parties
27 As 26th. Draft of 5 men arrived.
28 As 26th.
29 Church parade. Battalion going into support, relieving 8th Devons.
30 Companies in Ecoust with nothing to do.
1 May Battalion being relieved by 2/7th Duke of Wellington’s and returning to Balloon Shed camp at Vaulx.
2 Rest. On the Divisional range at Courcelles, a team of 5 old Expeditionary Force men gave a demonstration of 15 rounds rapid fire at 300 yards. 91st Brigade team best score. Draft of 6 men.
3 3.45am Zero hour for attack on Bullecourt and Hindenburg Line by ANZACs and 62nd Division. Ready to move at short notice. Training, PT, musketry drill. After tea, Battalion to billets in Courcelles.
4 Baths
5 Training. Heavy thunderstorm.
6 Moved to camp at B20d6.6. Owing to wet and dirty condition of ground, whole camp had to be repositioned. Orders received that 2nd Queens and 22nd Manchesters will be attached to 20th Brigade, to be in a position of readiness by zero hour (3.45am). Draft of 7 men.
7 Moved to near L’Homme Mort and relieved Border Regiment in support.
8 Rained hard. Working parties.
9 Relieved by 22nd Manchesters and moved to camp east side of Mory.
10 Rest. At 7.30pm, Battalion moved to the Sucrerie-Earth Road-Windmill valley to relieve the 2nd Border in the front line, and the 2nd Gordon Highlanders in G2 line, in right sector at Bullecourt.
11 Hostile artillery active. Snipers also active all day from north west side of village. 2/Lt G.G.Smith killed. [Godfrey Smith has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing. ]
12 91st Brigade with 15th Brigade of 5th Australian Division on right and 62nd Division on left attacked Bullecourt. [Bullecourt was an inferno. The 62nd failed to get anywhere near on the left, as parties of the 1st South Staffords pushed through to link up with them. The latter held out for three days without any reinforcement being able to get near. A heavily fortified area of the village called the Red Patch held out against everything the British could throw at it. The Queens got off comparatively lightly. ]
14 Battalion relieved at midnight.
15 HQ and a few platoons were caught by an enemy gas shell barrage on the way out to the embankment. The Battalion occupied reserve trenches near Vraucourt all morning, standing-to ready to reinforce if necessary. At 3.00pm, marched to billets at Achiet le Petit via Mory light railway.
16 Baths, rest, cleaning up.
17 GOC Division addressed the Battalion, complimenting them on good work. Draft of 10 men.
18 Various working parties, conferences, etc.
19 Training
20 Church parade. Cricket match. Casualties for the 12th to 16th now known to be 163. Battalion strength now 720.
21 Training, working parties, etc.
22 Heavy rain stopped all outdoor work.
23 Training
24 BGCs inspection. Battalion gave a very creditable performance. On parade 19 officers and 342 OR.
25 Working parties on light railways. Boche plane dropped bombs about 11.00pm.
26 Exercise - Battalion in attack in open, objective Beauregard Dovecot. Draft of 4 men arrived.
27 Church parades.
28 Training, sports, lectures.
29 Battalion moved to Courcelles.
30 Battalion moved to camp about B20d. Attached to 58th Division to dig defences at Ecoust, assisted by 54th Field Company. Intermittent shelling, and heavy rain.
31 Fine day. Resting, some working parties. Draft of 3 men.
1 June Working parties in about 3.30am. Quiet night, no casualties. Party tonight paraded under Capt F.P.Mawditt MC. Loading party increased from 10 to 30 OR and carrying party from 20 to 50 OR. Usual telegrams exchanged between HMS Excellent and the Battalion.
2 Same working parties under Lt E.S.Bingham MC.
3 Parties back about 3.30pm. Quiet night. Church parade. Same working parties under Capt V.C.Harvey MC.
4 Same working parties under Capt H.B.Secretan MC.
5 Same working parties under Capt F.P.Mawditt. Track completed as far as railway embankment. 91st Brigade becomes responsible for defensive line St Leger - Vraucourt. Battalion acts in accordance with Operation Order No 40.
6 Battalion relieved by 2/Royal Warwickshire Regiment and relieved to old billets in Courcelles, changing camp by 10.30am. Resting for remainder of day.
7 Brigadier conducted a demonstration of - The attack in the open. All available officers and sergeants present. After breakfast Companies practiced attack formations. Lts Streeter and Swainson visited the Army Trench Mortar School.
8 Companies again practicing attack formation before breakfast. Musketry, bayonet fighting etc during rest of morning. Baths allotted to Battalion. Capt Mawditt and Lt Sh--- visited Army Infantry School. Two platoons working on range in A15a at 6.30pm.
9 Companies training as usual. Conference of Lewis Gin Officers at Divisional HQ at 10.00am to discuss "Carriage of spare parts in view of experience gained in recent operations". Divisional Musketry Officer carried out list of Platoon and Section commanders at 5.00pm (?).
10 Church parade 10.00am. Divisional commanders conference in Theatre at 11.30am. Officers down to Company commanders attending.
11 Divisional range in G3a allotted to the Battalion. Application and rapid practicing from 6.30(am) to 6.30pm. Range being allotted to a Company for two hours at a time. Attack formations being practiced to and from the range. 5.00pm. Working party of 1 officer and 30 OR completing Field Firing Range.
12 Baths allotted to Battalion from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Companies not bathing using Field Firing and No 2 ranges.
13 From today 22nd Brigade assumes responsibility for L’Homme Mort - St Leger line. Corps Field Firing range allotted to Battalion. Draft of 5 men.
14 The Battalion, less classes under instruction, on working party under officer of No 1 Siege Company RMRE, work from 8.00am to 3.00pm.
15 Companies training. PT, bayonet fighting, arms drill, etc. Night exercise 9.00pm.
16 No 2 and Divisional ranges allotted to the Battalion.
17 A and C Companies finding working part of 2 officers and 120 OR for RFC. D Company working party 1 officer and 60 OR at Ablainzeville. B Company on Corps field firing range.
18 A,B and D Companies and HQ finding working party of 2 officers and 120 OR for RFC, and 1 officer and 60 OR at Ablainzeville. C Company training. Battalion jumping competition v. Divisional Train. Battalion represented by Col. Longbourne, Capt Driver, 2/Lts Perry, Badcock, and Howells. Battalion badly beaten.
19 A,C and D Companies finding working parties for Hampshire RE Company. B Company on Corps field firing range. HQ Section finding  ---illegible--- party. Baths for battalion 8.00am to 12.30pm.
20 All Companies on Brigade bayonet fighting course in the morning. Regimental sports in the afternoon. Divisional band and drums of the 1st Battalion in attendance. Success of the afternoon due largely to the work of the Chaplain, the Rev. B.Churchward, Capt Driver and Lt O.K.Belchem. The Brigade re-assumes responsibility for L’Homme Mort - St Leger line. 8.00pm A and C Companies relieved 2/1st HAC.
21 B and D Companies training in the morning, Lewis Gun classes firing on completion of the course.
22 Companies training in the morning. 3 cornered jumping competition in the afternoon. Brigade, Divisional HQ and Train. Brigade team Brigadier Morshead, Col. Longbourne, Major Hayes, Lt Badcock, Lt Wilson (22nd Manchester). Brigade 1st, Train 2nd, Div. HQ 3rd. Close competition. Band of the battalion went to 1st Battalion to play an evening programme.
23 Training in the morning. Battalion moved to St Leger.
24 Church parade 10.30am.
25 Companies cleaning up and repairing billets. Companies on parade till 11.00am.
26 Baths at Ervillers allotted to the Battalion. Finding 2 working parties each of 100 OR carrying RE wiring stores to front line.
27 Cleaning up and repairing billets. Same working parties as last night.
28 The Battalion relieved 22nd Manchesters in the line. Front line positions: D Company Crucifix U27a99.99 to U20d9.4. A Company U2.20d9.4 to road block U20b5.2 with a detachment at Mebus (German concrete post) U20b90.45 (200 yards in front of front line). B Company in support at Railway Cutting U25d95.90 with 1 officer and 7 OR at 14 Post, 7 OR at Nos 6 and 7 Posts. C Company in reserve at railway embankment at U26c70.20 with 7 OR at No 12 Post. Battalion HQ at U25b5.3. Relief complete by 12.30am.
29 Work concentrated on main communication trenches, making sump pits and laying trench boards, burying bodies, etc.
30 Line fairly quiet. 2 snipers posts, to command enemy front line, commenced.
1 July C Company relieved D on right front, and B relieved A on left front.
2 Usual artillery activity on both sides. All available men employed on wiring posts, digging them out, and also Dog Lane. Cricket match in the afternoon. Details v. 252 Tunnelling Company RE, who won by 10 runs.
3 Carrying on with same work. Braganza sniping post finished.
4 Battalion relieved by 22nd Manchesters. Relief completed 7.30am and Battalion returned to billets in St Leger.
5 Baths in Ervillers allotted to Battalion in the morning. Remainder of the day spent in resting and usual inspections. About 9.00pm ten 5.9 high velocity shells sent into the chateau and surrounding buildings. Pioneers and shoemakers shops hit but only one casualty.
6 3.30am chateau garden slightly shelled. 8.00-8.35am lower end of town and valley leading to Croisilles received about 300 rounds. One Company in support, one employed on work on billets. Two Companies training. D Company relieved a Company of 1st South Staffords in support in Strangeways. Relief complete by 6.00pm.
7 Companies training. Two Companies, A and B, up the line on working parties for RE night work, starting at 9.00pm. Battalion moved back to camp at B9c3.3, Tangier Camp. Very heavy rain fell during the night.
8 Large farm near baths used as a drying room. Baths also again allotted to the Battalion.
9 Site of camp slightly altered and Companies spread over large area. New type of shelter composed of two sheets erected. Companies at disposal of the Commanders.
10 Companies at disposal of the Commanders for training.
11 Companies training.
12 Conference of Company officers at 12 noon to discuss details of relief and go through paper on trench routine. Battalion relieved 22nd Manchesters. Relief complete at 1.10am. A and D Companies in front and B and C on railway line.
13 Working party of 40 OR carrying for Trench Mortar Battery. 11.00pm Mebus No 2 taken by Boche owing to casualties inflicted on garrison and patrol which was out at the time. Working party of 1 NCO and 75 working on RE dump at Ecoust from 2 to 4.00pm, and from 10.00pm a daily party (?). Head of Pelican Avenue and vicinity of Company HQ shelled with 5.9 from 12 noon to 1.00pm.
14 Heavy trench mortar firing on Dog Lane between R10 and R16 taken on by (British) 4.5 Howitzers and seen to explode. 1st South Staffords carried out a raid on trench between U20b4.7 and U20b35.95. A patrol under 2/Lt Short working in U21a found Mebus Gog and Magog unoccupied. Another patrol reported Mebus 2 occupied. 71st Siege Battery fired on U21a4.7 in retaliation for hostile shelling on Pelican. 9.2 Howitzers fired 25 rounds on Mebus No 2 from 4 to 5.00pm. 2/Lt Howells wounded.
15 B Company relieved A on left front. No trench mortars fired. Quiet day except for usual shelling of Pelican Avenue. 1 man killed, 16 wounded.
16 C Company relieved D on right front. Yukon Pack tried in taking up rations last night proved no good for trench warfare, though excellent in the open.
17 U21a3.7 enemy working party dispersed by artillery about 6.15am. Front of left Company shelled by 4.2 but no damage done.
18 A relieved B on left front. Left Company again shelled with 4.2 and again no damage. Working party of 15 Boche at U15c5.7 dispersed by artillery.
19 B relieved A, relief complete by 6.00pm. 1 man wounded.
20 528 Field Company RE gave a demonstration of wire cutting with Bangalore Torpedoes at 3.00pm, representatives of 2 Companies attended. Quiet day. Battalion relieved by 22nd Manchesters.
This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is held at the Public Record Office, in document WO95/1670.
This history is in memory of G/22345 Private Frederick Northcote, who was killed in action on or about 14th July 1917. Frederick is buried in Croisilles British Cemetery.
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