| > > 64th Company,
the |
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| Extract from
the Company war diary 1 September to 10
October 1916 |
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| This
Company served with 21st
Division. |
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| September
1916:
the Company is approaching the end of a long spell occupying
forward positions at Arras |
| 1st: Arras.
1 OR wounded through negligence and struck off strength. |
| 2nd: 1
OR wounded and struck off strength. 1 OR taken on strength. 3 ORS struck
off strength from dates 1 August, 16 August and 28 August 1916.
2/Lt A. Shanley and 2 ORs returned from MG course at Camiers. |
| 3rd: 10am:
OC 106 MG Company arrived and proceeded to take over. 2 of his
officers and 6 NCOs were conducted around the positions. 11.30am:
Relief began two hours late. The relieving company sent 3
guns and teams to the wrong dump. 2pm: Transport that was not
required to bring material from the trenches proceeded to Izel
les Hameau. |
| 4th: 7am:
Arrival of the last party at Duisans where
breakfast was taken. 8.30am: Company and TM Battery moved off
to Izel les Hameau. Noon: Arrived and found that billets were
difficult to obtain owing to teh presence of the RFC and two
other battalions. 7pm: All arrangements were completed. Orders
were recived that hard training was to be indulged in with plenty
of marching. It was shortly found that many men were out of training
after five weeks in the trenches. 1 OR went to attend MG course
of instruction at MG Corps base depot. |
| 5th: |
| 6th: Sections
were allotted to officers as follows: No 1 Section Lt G. Coldham and
2/Lt F.E. Tranter; No 2 2/Lts J.C. Hogg and
M(?). Clutterbuck; No3 2/Lts J. L. Spence and
G. H. Whittaker; No 4 Lt A.N. Richardson and
2/Lt A. Shanley. Ther usual MG training was
carred out. |
| 7th: |
| 8th: Open
warfare practiced. Lecture by GOC 64th Infantry Brigade [Brig-Gen
H. R. Headlam]. The news that we are going back to the Somme
given out. Smoke demonstration.
1 OR taken on strength. 2 ORs of 10th KOYLI, attached for training,
returned to their battalion.. |
| 9th: |
| 10th: Address
by GOC 21st Division [Major-General Claude Jacob]. More about
our coming return to the battle of the Somme and an appeal to
uphold the name of the Division and finally "hallmark" its achievements
during the period 1 to 18 July. Inspection of tranpsort by GOC
64th Infantry Brigade. The General commented formally on our
turn out. |
| 11th: Moved
to Canettemont preparatory to entraining.
Orders received at 11pm to send transport, minus three limbered
wagons and cooks cart and officers horses, to meet rest of Brigade
transport at cross roads immediately north of the 1st E in Rebreuviette.
They are to billet at Sarton. Company
and remaining transport are to entrain at 3.30am at Frevent and
start for Heilly. On arrival to march to Dernancourt where the
Staff Captain will meet it. |
| 12th: |
| 13th: Company
entrained at Frevent and
detrained at Heilly. Marched to Dernancourt where
they bivouacked. |
| 14th: |
| 15th: Company
marched to Fricourt Camp (O.O.7.5).
At 3.15pm moved to Pommiers
Redoubt Camp. |
| 16th: 2.30am:
Company marched into action near Flers and took part in attack
by Brigade on Flea Trench, NE of Flers. No 1 Section took up positions
about 70 yards N of Flea Trench; No 2 in Flea Trench; No 3 in Flers
Trench, No 4 about 100 yards S of Switch Trench. A fair amount
of firing was done at odd parties of the enemy. Two MGs and one
sniper were located. At dusk No 4 Section took up positions on
left of No 2 Section. |
| 17th: 2am:
Preparations were made to withstand a counter attack which never
developed. From 9am to dusk the enemy shelled us very heavily.
Lt and Adjutant G. H. Coldham was severely wounded
in the head and left leg [2.30pm]. OC 165 Company was arranging
for relief during the afternoon. Casualties: Lt Coldham, ORs 1
killed and 6 wounded, 1 missing. Company relieved at midnight. |
| The Long, Long Trail has
researched the casualties. Those we have been able to trace
are: |
| Lieutenant
George Herbert Coldham, 19 years old son of the Rev. H. R.
and Mrs. Coldham, of "Anmer," North St., Sheringham,
Norfolk and a native of Stoke-on-Trent, he died of wounds
and is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery at Becordel-Becourt. |
|
| 18th: Returned to Pommiers
Redoubt Camp.At 3.15pm marched back to Fricourt Camp. |
| 19th: |
| 20th: 11am:
Brigadier addresses Brigade. |
| 21st: Company
rested. Captain A. E. Bevan handed over command of teh company
to Lt. A. N. Richardson in consequence of illness. |
| 22nd: Left Fricourt
Camp for Pommiers Redoubt Camp,
which we left at 3.30pm. At 5pm we reached HQ 62nd Infantry Brigade
and arranged for the relief of 62nd MG Company in the line to
the right of Geudecourt. Sections
1,2 and 3 went in. Section 4 remained at HQ N of Bernafay
Wood.. |
| 23rd: Company
was in the line |
| 24th: 7pm:
Company moved into battle positions, Sections 3 and 4 in front
line, Sections 1 and 2 in support. |
| 25th: 10am:
HQ moved with Brigade HQ to 1000 yards S of Flers. At 12.30pm Brigade
attacked but made no progress. 2/Lt Shanley was
killed and 2/Lt G.H. Whittaker wounded. 5am: HQ
moved up to front line. |
| 30
year old Second Lieutenant Andrew Shanley, son of Andrew and
Martha Ann Stanley, of "Penshurst", Park Rd., Hebburn,
Co. Durham, has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial
to the Missing at Thiepval. |
| 28957
Pte Harold Edwards, 19, from Selly Oak in Birmingham, has no
known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Thiepval. |
|
26th: 6am:
Brigade advanced and reached its objective. Company took up positions
in accordance. 10 guns in forward line, 2 guns in Gird Trench,
4 guns in reserve. MGs had several excellent targets, notably enemy
retiring from Geudecourt, and did great execution. 2/Lts F. E.
Tranter and J.C. Hogg were instrumental in capturing 360 prisoners.
2/Lt F.E. Tranter was slightly wounded. Casualties killed one officer,
7 ORs.
11.30pm: wounded two officers, 22 ORs. Company relieved by 62 MGC
Company |
| 5377
Pte Thomas Bennett, 18, Son of John and Eliza Bennett, of 3,
Devonshire Place, Repton St., Limehouse, London,
has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial
to the
Missing at
Thiepval. |
| 14165
Pte Robert Bush, born in Curlton in Norfolk, has no known
grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at
Thiepval. |
| 11956
Pte William Greenshields, 23, son of Benjamin and Alice Greenshields,
of 6, Greenbank Avenue, West Lane, Middlesbrough, has no
known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the
Missing at
Thiepval. |
| 5399 Sjt
Albert Hovell, from St Pancras in London,
has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the
Missing at
Thiepval. |
| 13366
Cpl Daniel Millward, from Dudley, died of
wounds and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery. |
| 27617
Cpl Wilfred Moran. Father of Miss W. Moran, of 9, Olive Grove,
Hulme, Manchester, he died of wounds
and is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery at Becordel-Becourt. |
| 10727
Cpl Sam Ravenhall, 23, from Saltley in Birmingham, has no known
grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at
Thiepval. |
| 39768
L/Cpl Gordon Spencer, from Hull, has no known grave.
He is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval. |
| 11589
L/Cpl William Walshe, from Carrickbeg, has no
known grave. He is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Thiepval. |
|
| 27th: Bernafay
Wood. Company
rested. Captain P.C. Bird arrived from 153 MG
Company to take command. 2/Lts J. H. Herbertson and
B.L. Way joined
the company. 28 ORs were sent to support 110 MG Company. |
| 28th: |
| 29th: |
| 30th: Company
marched to bivouacs at Ribemont. Reached bivouacs at 8pm. |
| |
| October
1916:
the Company begins preparations to leave the Somme |
| 1st: 1am:
Hour was put back one hour. Company rested. 2/Lt J. K. Hall reported. |
| 2nd: Noon:
Entrained for new area. |
| 3rd: Reached
Longpre at 6pm. Marched to Monfliers, in comfortable billets. |
| 4th: |
| 5th: Lt
G. F. Mason reported. Company rested and reorganised.
[This may be Lt Gerald Francis Mason, 3rd Hampshire regiment
attached MGC, who died in England on 1 september 1917] |
| 6th: 28
ORs attached to 110th Brigade since 28 september rejoined. No
casualties. |
| 7th: 5.30pm:
Entrained at Abbeville for a new area. |
| 8th: 2am:
Arrived at Chocques. Marched to Burbure, in comfortable
billets. |
| 9th: |
| 10th: Company
training. 8092 Sgt F. A. Eason and 10979 Pte
J. Pickett awarded
the Military Medal for gallantry in action during 25-6 September.
Company bathed at Auchel. |
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| This diary is held at the National Archives as piece WO95/2162
and is Crown Copyright. |
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