Home > War Diaries > 1/6th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment

War diary covering the period from mobilisation in August 1914, through a lengthy period when it was not a front-line battalion, to January 1916.

 

 

August 1914

The Welsh Division mobilised very quickly on the announcement of a state of war. Only 5 days later, it was ready to move as a unit.

 


Date

Events, etc

9 Aug

Moved to billets in Shrewsbury.

22

Moved to camp in Church Stretton.

31

Moved to billets in Northampton, remaining there until October. During this period, training was intensified and equipment and stores collected that would enable the battalion to proceed overseas. At this time, men were asked to sign the Imperial Service Obligation form, consenting to serve overseas. Although a majority of men did so, there was also a resultant requirement to replace those who did not wish to sign.

 

October 1914

 

The Division continued to prepare.

 

Date

Events, etc

10 Oct

Moved to billets in Great Brinton.

25

Moved to billets in Stonham Aspall.

30

Moved to billets in Northampton. The battalion Adjutant later made some notes about the period since mobilisation: It proceeded smoothly but

Transport was inadequate;

Frequent moves reduced training time;

Staying in billets did not help with discipline or training;

Cleaning rifles and equipment was not taken seriously enough;

There were an insufficient number of compulsory drills;

Equipment was very old, and replaced only 5 days before embarkation. The men did not even know the new rifle [The standard British Army Lee-Enfield 0.303 inch rifle. The battalion had presumably been training with an obsolete model such as the Boer war era Lee-Metford], and the first issue of boots was bad;

More regular officers were needed, as the fact that all ranks were drawn from the same district militates against discipline [It is interesting to note that this was written at the very time that locally raised Pals units were being encouraged];

The men were mainly young and of poor physique. They would need a far stricter medical;

The unequal financial treatment of men who had rejoined the colours caused much dissatisfaction.

 

November 1914

 

Despite the problems, the 6th Cheshire was one of the battalions considered to be ready to move to France. It was detached from the Brigade and moved independently, coming under orders of GHQ in Saint-Omer.

 

Date

Events, etc

9 Nov

Proceeded to France with a strength of 26 officers, 1 warrant officer and 793 Other Ranks.

10

Landed at (le) Havre, and remained at rest camp.

14

Moved to Saint-Omer by rail, and occupied barracks.

17

A detachment under Major Rostron attended the funeral of Earl Roberts. The remainder of the battalion lined the streets. [Roberts served during the Indian mutiny, in which he won the Victoria Cross (1858), and commanded a division and later, the force sent to Kandahar during the Afghan War (1878-80). He was commander in chief of the Madras army (1881-85) and in India (1885-93) before becoming commander of the forces in Ireland (1895). As Commander in Chief of imperial forces in South Africa (1899-1900), he directed the campaign that achieved the capture of Pretoria, for which he was granted an earldom. Returning home, he served as Commander in Chief of the army until the post was abolished in 1904. Roberts, then 82, went to France in 1914 to cheer the troops, and died in Saint-Omer.]

20

Moved into new billets at Helfaut and Bilque. Training continued.

 

 December 1914

 

During the month, the battalion had its first experience of trench warfare - and its first war casualty. The appalling conditions of weather and flooded, freezing trenches at this time is clear from the entry on the 29th December.

 

Date

Events, etc

9 Dec

Marched to billets in Hazebrouck.

10

Marched to billets in Bailleul.

11

Marched to cross roads 2.25 miles south west of Neuve Eglise. B and D Companies occupied trenches near Wulverghem in support of 14 Brigade. Strength of this party 350 all ranks, of total 786. Half of this party was under the instruction of 1st Manchesters, and half with 1st DCLI. Remained in trenches for 48 hours. 1 man wounded.

13

A and C Companies relieved B and D in the trenches at nightfall. They remained 72 hours and had 1 man killed [1524 Private Walter Williamson died at the age of 19 on 12th December. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres] and 1 wounded.

16

Casualties 2 died of wounds, 2 wounded. Battalion reorganised:

A and E Half-Companies became No1 Company, and redesignated A Company. B and H became No 2, then B. C and G became No 3, then C. D and F became No 4, then D. A and D Companies returned to billets from the trenches.

17

Battalion became part of 15 Brigade in 5th Division.

18

Moved to new billets in Neuve Eglise. Lt-Col Heywood admitted to hospital. Battalion split for trench duties: A and D Companies under OC 1st Dorsets, B under 1st Bedfords, C 1st Norfolks.

19

Continued in trenches by alternate platoons and Companies.

20

2 men killed.

24

2 men killed.

25

1 man wounded.

26

3 men wounded, and 1 RAMC man attached also wounded.

29

Moved to new billets 1 mile east of Bailleul, for a period of rest. All men inoculated against enteric fever. During the period 11-29 December, over 120 men of the battalion were admitted to hospital, mainly with frostbite.

 

January 1915

 

Date

Events, etc

4 Jan

Moved to new billets at Ravelsberg. The battalion was involved in fatigues, digging redoubts, and providing carrying parties. The general health of the men improved, and when off duty they were encouraged to play football.

11

14 men were returned to Base, unfit for further duty.

16

Moved to new billets at St Jans-Capelle for rest.

24

Moved to new billets between Dranoutre and Ravelsberg. A and C Companies under Major Hesse moved to trenches. Battalion marched past Corps Commander Sir Charles Fergusson outside Bailleul.

25

Party in trenches remained until 28 January, when relieved by the other two Companies. Casualties 1 Sergeant killed, 4 men wounded.

28

Relieved. Weather good on the whole, little rain and some frost. Ground saturated but our trenches relatively dry. Health of men excellent.

29

1 NCO wounded. Received a draft of 4 officers and 243 Other Ranks.

31

Battalion strength now 30 officers and 826 Other Ranks.

 

February 1915

 

The quality of the draft recently received was not altogether good; a number of ‘originals’ in the battalion had also been proven incapable of withstanding the physical rigours of trench warfare and much fatigue work of the infantry. The Battalion’s officers began to ‘comb out’ the less capable.

 

Date

Events, etc

1 Feb

Moved to billets near St Jans-Capelle. Party in trenches relieved by units of 13 Brigade. Battalion moved into Divisional Reserve.

3

29 men sent to Base for service on Lines of Communication.

4

13 men sent to Base unfit for service in any capacity.

7

Battalion inspected by the King of the Belgians, at Bailleul.

9

Battalion less D Company moved to trenches at Wulverghem. D Company moved to billets in Dranoutre.

10

1 man wounded.

11

D Company relieved B in trenches. 1 man killed, 1 wounded.

13

B Company relieved A in trenches.

15

A Company reinforced trenches, and all remained until 18 February. 5 men wounded.

18

Battalion moved to billets in Dranoutre.

23

Received a draft of 126 Other Ranks. Moved back to trenches in Wulverghem. 2men killed, 9 wounded, and 2 missing, believed wounded. Orders received to leave Brigade and become GHQ Troops.

27

Relieved, and back to Dranoutre billets.

 

March 1915

 

The battalion had been withdrawn from front-line duty, presumably after the chain of command had decided that the physique and quality of its men was not of the standard required. It would not return to the front until mid January 1916.

 

Date

Events, etc

1 Mar

Moved by bus to Saint-Omer, and took over infantry barracks from 2nd Royal Irish Regiment. Took over duties as guards, etc at GHQ.

4

A party of 50 men were furnished as an honour guard for French General de la Croix.

There is no further comment for the rest of the month.

 

April 1915

 

The battalion was split up and deployed to various points along the rail network behind the British lines. Here they provided guards and assisted with various tasks at the depots and stores.

 

Date

Events, etc

2 Apr

Battalion less C Company left Saint-Omer for the Lines of Communication. HQ and B Company proceed by rail to (le) Havre; A to Rouen, ‘Right half’ of D Company to Dieppe and ‘Left half’ to Abbeville.

3

C Company left Saint-Omer for Boulogne.

8

A draft of 59 arrived at Havre; 20 at Abbeville and 19 at Dieppe.

28

12 men who had been discharged from hospital arrived at Havre.

 

May 1915

 

Date

Events, etc

The diary makes no comment about the month.

 

June 1915

 

Date

Events, etc

10

A draft of 18 Other Ranks arrived from England, together with 9 men returning discharged from hospitals.

 

July 1915

 

Date

Events, etc

1 Jul

A draft of 94 Other Ranks arrived from 2/6th Cheshires, and 35 men discharged from hospitals also arrived.

18

7 officers arrived from 2/6th Battalion. (and 3 more on 23rd)

 

August, September, October, November 1915

 

Date

Events, etc

The diary records only minor troops movements and drafts..

 

December 1915

 

Date

Events, etc
28 Dec

Orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved on the Lines of Communication by the 6th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders.

The battalion replaced the Gordons in 20th Brigade, 7th Division on 9 January 1916.

 

 

This page is in memory of 999 Private Harry Winnett and 1445 Private Albert Page, both originals who went to France with the battalion in October 1914.

 

This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is Crown Copyright and is held at the National Archives in document WO95/1572.

 

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