Great War diaries: 1/8th Battalion, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment

The 1/8th Battalion, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment

This summary of the battalion's day-to-day history covers the period from October to December 1915. In many ways it is a typical illustration of the tedious and physically hard life of a battalion occupying a quiet front-line sector in poor weather. The diary also indicates the rapid growth of the British Army in France, with many new units coming under instruction from the more experienced Warwicks. The ever-present chance of death or injury is also illustrated, and there is an interesting observation on the non-repetition of the Christmas Truce of 1914.

October 1915

Date	Events
7 October 1915	Again the enemy shelled our lines in the early morning. No material damage. Considerable light transport was heard moving through GOMMECOURT WOOD, unloading of metal rails was distinctly heard, this between 6.30 and 9.00 pm. Moving of troops also heard, apparently a relief. A patrol went out under Lt ADAMS during the evening, but had nothing of importance to report. A German officer was seen wearing a round cap, the side of which was made up of two red bands separated by a white band. A large fire was seen during the night, apparently a large building on fire some distance behind the enemy’s lines in the direction of RETTEMOY FARM. Relieved by 7 Bn at 2.00 pm. No casualties. Retired to billets in BAYENCOURT.
9 October	Bathing at SAILLY.
10 October	Complete inspection of arms, equipment, etc. 2 officers and 20 other ranks commenced a course of instruction in bomb throwing at the Grenade School at LA HAIE.
11 October	Bn carried out a 12 mile route march through COIGNEUX, ST LEGER, AUTHIE, LOUVAINCOURT, BUS and BAYENCOURT. Dinner cooked en route and served to the men at BUS. A local machine gun course was started at BAYENCOURT.
12 October 1915	Bn devoted this day to the sterilisation of clothing by means of the ‘thresh’ apparatus at BUS. Usual working parties were found. Machine gun course, bomb throwing instruction and signalling course for reserved signallers were continued today.
13 October	Carried out practice attacks by Companies at LA HAIE. Usual working parties were found and various courses were continued.
14 October	Bn carried out a practice attack from trenches commencing at 10.00 am at LA HAIE. Usual working parties and courses continued.
15 October	Bn carried out an advance, flank and rearguard exercises in the region of SOUASTRE commencing at 10.00 am and ending at 1.15 pm. Usual working parties and courses continued.
16 October	Bn relieved 1/7 Bn Royal warwicks in the trenches and the relief was completed by 4.00 pm. No casualties.
17 October	FONCQUEVILLERS. About 8.15 am enemy sent over 9 Minenwerfer shells which were aimed at the FONCQUEVILLERS-GOMMECOURT road. 1 shell failed to explode and when measured was found to be 3’ 6” long and 9” in diameter. Damage was done to some work in progress, there were no casualties. 10.00 am our guns retaliated. 2.30 pm the enemy sent over three more minenwerfer shells, no damage with the exception of a portion of the parapet being blown down. There was a heavy mist this day.
18 October	2.20 pm enemy sent over another minenwerfer shell, followed a few minutes later by another. 1 shell was a direct hit on the trench causing a huge crater. While our working party was engaged on repairing this another another minenwerfer shell fell a yards behind, blocking a communication trench. No casualties. A patrol went out during the night but had nothing important to report. Enemy snipers active all day, enemy’s artillery active on our right. Enemy had evidently changed his position. Our snipers were active. 13/R Irish Rifles, 36 Division, attached to us today and the next 5 days. They appear to be a very good type of men.
20 October	Nothing of importance beyond the usual sniping and shelling. One or two patrols went out during the night but reported all quiet.
21 October	Enemy snipers were active, also several grenades and bombs were thrown. Our guns, after being advised, opened fire on a German working party, dispersing it. This information of the enemy working party was a result of patrolling.
22 October	Some shelling on the part of the enemy was evident. Our snipers were active, apparently doing good work. One of our patrols under 2/Lt TEAGUE approached within 70 yards of the German parapet but encountered nothing of importance. A machine gun position was located and fired on by our machine guns and artillery. Our machine guns have done good work in silencing the enemy and marking down exposed positions on several occasions. Bn unfortunate in losing one of its most capable sniping officers today, namely Lt D L SARJEANT, who was shot through the neck whilst observing for a sniper. A man who was lying near him was also hit in the arm. The former is our first officer killed. [Douglas Leslie Sarjeant, of Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, is buried in Fonquevillers Military Cemetery].
24 October	Bn relieved by 7 Bn and went to FONCQUEVILLERS and LA HAIE.
25 October	Early this morning the 13/R Irish Rifles left for COUIN having completed their attachment for instruction. Weather cold and wintry.
26 October	From about 7.00 am for the remainder of the day there was considerable artillery activity both on our and the enemy’s parts, several shells falling in FONCQUEVILLERS. Bn provided several working parties for R Engineers, bathing was carried out by the LA HAIE detachment.
28 October	Capt and Adjutant WHITEHILL went sick and were sent to BAYENCOURT. 2/Lt MARTIN-JONES took over duties as Acting Adjutant. Practice alarm held to verify if officers and NCOs knew the various ways to alarm posts.
29 October	Working parties for R Engineers provided. Medical boards held on Captains WHITEHILL and HAIGH, decided both were suffering from nervous debility. Both officers were sent to hospital.
31 October	Usual working parties. Two officers, Colonel INNES and 2/Lt PROCTER, and 19 men sent on leave.

November 1915

Date	Events
1 November 1915	Relieved 1/7 Bn in FONCQUEVILLERS. 6 men went on leave. Continuous rain during the whole of the night.
2 November	Rain all day, trenches in horrible condition. Working parties busy baling and pumping out sumps. 10.00 am enemy sent over a hundred or more shells into FONCQUEVILLERS. A minenwerfer was found to have returned and was doing much damage to the trenches on our left.
3 November	Quiet day, working parties still busy clearing and draining trenches. At night wiring parties were occupied in front of fire trench. Sergeant HEATH gazetted 2/Lt and was posted for duty to C Coy.
4 November	Morning broke fine and clear. GOC of Division visited trenches in company with BGC.
5 November	Enemy very active with rifles, grenades and trench mortars. Casualties - 2 men injured, 1 slightly and 1 seriously. Large number of flares used by both enemy and ourselves during the night.
6 November	Quiet day. Instructions received for officers to reconnoitre approaches to 4 Division on our right and 37 Division on our left.
7 November	Enemy sent over several trench mortars into our trenches but no damage done. Heavy firing heard in northerly direction several miles away.
8 November	Enemy’s artillery very quiet. Bomb was used during the day to clear a sump in our trenches with the idea of attracting the enemy. When bomb was exploded water and mud was thrown high into the air. Two Germans were observed to get up and look over the parapet. One of these was shot through the head by one of our snipers.
9 November	Relieved by 1/7 Bn. and arrived in billets in BAYENCOURT at 5.30 pm.
10 November	Day devoted to cleaning up equipment and issuing new clothing. Goatskin coats were issued to the men.
11 November	Bn performed a route march of 13 miles through COIGNEUX, BUS, LOUVENCOURT, AUTHIE, ST LEGER and COIGNEUX. At one point on the road the Bn was delayed owing to the presence of an enemy aeroplane. GOC Division inspected Bn en route and expressed himself as being most pleased. He awarded two extra leaves to the Bn for good work done in the trenches and two for good march discipline.
12 November	Working parties of two Cos were found for transport fields and in COUIN WOOD. The whole of Bn was bathed at COUIN.
13-14 November	Working parties provided for making screens, cutting long grass, making horse stands, repairing billets, erecting tents and preparing camp for the R Irish Rifles. Courses of instruction in signalling, bombing, maxim guns and stretcher bearers were continued with.
15 November	In addition to working parties and courses of instruction, as above, the ‘Thresh’ fumigating machine was lent to the Bn. 500 mens’ clothes were treated. Lt Col INNES, 2/Lt & Adjutant HASKINS rejoined from leave. 12/R Irish Rifles arrived for attachment, two Cos going onto trenches and HQ, 2 Cos were accommodated in tents at BAYENCOURT.
16 November	Working parties and classes of instruction continued. Reconnaisance of 4 Divisional area was made by officers and practise in the use of smoke helmets was given.
17 November	FONCQUEVILLERS. Troops on left flank 37 Div, right flank 1/6 Bn Royal Warwicks. Relieved 7 Bn in trenches - which were in very wet and muddy condition - by 1.45pm. Remainder of day was occupied in baling operations and clearing out mud. Enemy very quiet, no casualties.
18 November	Trenches still very bad, two communication trenches still being passable. Working parties of 100 from the Bn and about 80 from 1/7 Bn, employed by both day and night trying to keep these trenches open. R Engineers assisted by lending both men and pumps. Enemy very quiet and chiefly engaged on repairing their trenches internally as signs of baling out were visible. A party of 12 Germans could be seen carrying planks, etc at 6.45 am. They were fired upon and quickly dispersed.
19 November	About 200 men of both this Bn and 1/7 Bn continue to work on the communication trenches and pumping. Trenches decidedly better, but a great deal of revetting is required. Many dugouts are decidedly unsafe and saps have fallen in. Repair work is going on with the available material. Enemy very little trouble, the few shells which they did fire were very ineffective. Col BROWN of the R Irish Fusiliers arrived from England and is attached to the Bn for a tour of instruction.
20 November	Work on clearing the trenches continues and they are decidedly better. Sumps have been well pumped. Enemy fairly quiet and in response to about 5 shells from them, the Worcester Battery returned about 18. The second the battery fired the wiring party and our sentries reported hearing long howls and groans as a result. The enemy also fired four rifle grenades into our trenches but no damage was done. At about 9.00 am a large bomb was thrown at the front barricade on the GOMMECOURT RD, it burst 30 yards in front and did no damage. The enemy very talkative at morning stand-to..
21 November	Work continued revetting and rebuilding the trenches. The state of the trenches is much improved and they are fairly dry. Enemy have considerably quietened down with their artillery, also their flare pistol ammunition is very inferior to that hitherto used. They have also ceased using coloured lights. A party of Germans seen working opposite T 18 ran back to their trench when fired upon. Considerable work has been done by the enemy on their line opposite T 19-21, fresh earth being thrown up. Enemy snipers have been fairly busy since 9.00 am.
22 November	Trenches are now in much better condition and repairs to damage caused by recent wintry conditions are now being completed. In reply to our artillery bombardments about 3.00 pm, enemy sent over about 30 shells into our front line trenches, doing very little damage. Our artillery responded in a like manner. About midnight a working party of Germans was dispersed by two shells from the Worcester Battery. About 9.00 pm a party of Germans attacked the covering party covering our wiring party in front of T 18 just a few yards north of GOMMECOURT-FONCQUEVILLERS RD. Enemy crawled forward to within about 30 yards when they were observed and fired upon, and a few bombs were also thrown. They replied with rifle fire and bombs. The working party having been withdrawn, the covering party was retired and heavy fire was opened on enemy’s front line. Enemy was seen to carry one of their party back. Casualties - Capt WILSON-CHARGE and 1 man slightly wounded.
23 November	Trenches are now really quite passable, if good weather prevails. It has been found that it is useless to dig trenches in this soil steeper than 3/1, therefore existing trenches will have to be cleared of topsoil and pared down to the necessary safe slope. Enemy’s artillery quiet, completely given up the practice of using flares and coloured lights. Snipers continue to be very busy. Private 2534 SMITH of D Co. being killed whilst on sentry duty.[Edward Smith, of Upper Thomas Street, Aston, is buried in Fonquevillers Military Cemetery]
24 November	Usual work continues but owing to the effect of the thaw on the steep sided trenches they fill up almost as fast as they are cleared and a general system of revetting along the whole line will have to be undertaken. A Maxim gun position was located at point E 28.d.1.9 and our howitzers placed about 10 shells, with very good result. Enemy retaliated with several small shells on GOMMECOURT-FONCQUEVILLERS RD destroying a bridge traverse and wounding 1 man. Artillery fire continued practically the whole day. At about 6.00 am four short whistle blasts were heard in the enemy trenches, followed by confused sounds including shouting. At about 8.00 am 12 British planes flew over GOMMECOURT WOOD. They were fired upon by 3 anti-aircraft guns from different points. Our machine guns took the opportunity to sweep the enemy’s parapets. Our snipers clearly accounted for two Germans. Enemy’s snipers fairly active.
25 November	R Irish Rifles withdrew from the line at about 5.30 am and were replaced by A Co. from reserve. Bn relieved by 1/7 Bn, commencing at 10.30 am. No casualties. Earlier in the day our snipers accounted for a German who was seen carrying a plank along a trench. Working party of 50 was provided at 6.00 pm for continuation of work in communication trenches. C and D Cos sent to garrison LA HAIE.
26 November	Night working parties provided by both the FONCQUEVILLERS and LA HAIE detachments. Baths arranged for the men.
27 November	As above, except that working parties were also provided in the day. A sharp frost set in and the change from deep mud is much appreciated. The men have ample protection from the cold in the way of clothing, fur coats, leather jackets, long vests and gloves being provided. They complain that the issue of fuel is inadequate, but the authorities say it is too much. Draft of 2/Lt PEPPER and 26 men arrived. 11 of the men had previously served with the Bn in France and had been re-drafted out.
28 November	FONCQUEVILLERS. Battalion in Brigade reserve. Usual working parties provided and bathing of men continued. Lt Col INNES proceeded to DOULLENS to undergo a typhoid test. A class of signallers is at work at LA HAIE and the usual instruction in bombing, stretcher bearing and maxim gun is being carried out. Rifles inspected by Armourer-Sergeant.
29 November	Usual working parties provided. Men all issued with a second blanket. Weather conditions very bad. Nothing of importance.
30 November	Every available man employed on working parties. Maj TOWNSEND, Capt ARNELL and men proceeded on leave. Weather is very wet and cold. Nothing of importance. Practice alarm held at 8.30 pm.

December 1915

Date	Events
1 December 1915	FONCQUEVILLERS. Every available man employed on working parties. Weather conditions very bad. Nothing to report. (Map Ref 57D NE 1 2.1).
3 December	Troops on right flank 1/6 Bn Royal Warwicks, left flank 8/E Lancashire Regt. Relieved 1/7 Bn in trenches, commenced at 10.30. Trenches in awful condition, in places waist deep in liquid mud; parapets and parados continually falling in; communication trenches being equally as bad, in many places being quite impassable. Shelters and dugouts are in a wet and dangerous condition, many of them showing signs of a possible early collapse. 21/Manchester Regt in trenches undergoing a course of instruction. 2 platoons attached to each of our companies and Bn HQ. Manchesters losing a large number of men through sickness and exhaustion, they do not appear to be sufficiently acclimatised to the conditions. Enemy snipers are active and they appear to have some fixed rifle batteries in use. Private 2435 BEARD, D Co., killed whilst on duty in Sap 15 by the latter. Weather extremely bad, rain falling incessantly. [Edward Henry Beard of Laburnum Grove, Pugh Road, Aston was 29 years old when killed in action. He is buried in Fonquevillers Military cemetery]
4 December	Weather continues very bad and trenches becoming almost hopeless, 1 sub- section has had to be completely abandoned, there are no habitable dugouts for the men to rest in. Numbers 3 and 4 sub-sectors have practically filled themselves in and a system of strong sentry posts along the line generally has had to be adopted. Manchesters quitted the line at about 4.30 am and marched to COUIN. At about noon the enemy sent over 10 large minenwerfer shells. Retaliation by our artillery was at once obtained. A concentration of maxim guns of 8 and 6 Bns and 8/E Lancashires also turned on.
5 December	FONCQUEVILLERS. Trenches continue to get worse, notwithstanding supreme efforts to save them. After further consideration it has definitely been decided to make a series of strong posts along the whole line, keeping adequate communication to the same open and letting the remainder of the trenches go. Minenwerfer paid its usual visit at about noon and the usual artillery and maxim gun retaliation was accorded it. Enemy appears to be experiencing the same amount of difficulty with his front line trenches, pumps being heard at work incessantly and men carrying timber are frequently observed. Weather continues vile. Major CADDICK, Capt WILSON-CHARGE and a party of men proceeded on leave.
6 December	Trenches still as bad as ever, difficulty of getting the food up to the frontline trenches is very great and accidents are frequent. Nevertheless the cheerful spirit of the men is admirable. About noon our aeroplanes were very active over the German lines and produced remarkably little attention from the enemy. Their guns fired very little and the only machine gun which they used fired very badly and was quickly silenced by one of our guns. The machine gun located at point E 28 7 5.5 was making a great deal of smoke. It is suggested that this points to inferior ammunition is being used. Careful telescopic observation gives the impression that the German trenches opposite our line are very strongly held. The number of periscopes now used by them has increased and more fires are to be seen than was the case a week or so ago.
7 December	No improvement in trenches, in fact they may be said to be worse. Rain is falling so frequently renders it absolutely impossible with the few men at our disposal to cope with the conditions and to keep open anything like adequate communications. Minenwerfer paid a visit at about 2.15 pm and presented us with about 20 fairly well placed shells, but doing little damage. One of the signallers out repairing wire was buried up to his chin by one shell, but was immediately unburied by another which lifted him onto clear ground about five yards away. Remarkable to state that he received no ill effects other than shock. It is noticed that the enemy are using considerably more flares of late, coloured ones also being used.
8 December	Trenches still in the same bad condition and work continues on the communication to keep them as passable as possible. Minenwerfer again active during afternoon and evening just after dark, this latter point is very unusual. Our artillery retaliated on both the village and the front line trenches with a considerable number of shells. Pieces of the German minenwerfer shells show that they are considerably thicker than previously and also that they break up into much smaller portions. Our snipers reported that they accounted for 2 Germans during the day. 17/Manchester Regt arrived in Brigade area being attached for instruction. B Co. was attached to our sector of the line and were accommodated in tents pitched behind the various buildings, there being no dugouts or cellars available.
9 December	Continuous pumping and baling continues in the trenches which are still thigh deep in liquid mud in many places. From observation on the minenwerfer firing yesterday it would appear that the range was well over 1000 yards. The shells appear to be much better and they are about 3/8” thick. The Germans have definitely thought it worth their while to improve this type of shell. Lt Col DICKIN of the KSLI arrived for instruction. Half of B Co. 17/Manchesters proceeded to the front line for a 24 hour tour of duty. The remaining half were instructed by Lt PROCTOR and 4 sergeants in trench duties.
10 December	Still in trenches. Right flank 6 Bn, left flank 10/R Fusiliers. Weather conditions very bad, trenches correspondingly so. Enemy appear to be very much troubled with their trenches, several men observed to quit the trenches and run to another part of the line, along the top; apparently to avoid bad portions of the trench. The following men were observed during the day: a) a man carrying two cooking pots wearing a dark blue uniform with round blue hat, long tassle; b) man in khaki wearing round blue hat with round, bright cap badge; c) man on sentry in front line wearing grey-green dress, this man was shot by our snipers, stretcher- bearers were seen carrying him away; d) man in shirt sleeves in front line, no equipment, seen on knees working in trench, dropped down behind cover when shot at; e) officer, apparently, with green-grey cap, black peak and beard; f) man in dark blue uniform and cap, red band around latter. Enemy snipers rather more active than usual. At about 8.20 pm enemy fired several rifle grenades but did no damage. The Worcester battery retaliated.
11 December	Trenches not quite as bad as yesterday. Enemy shelled our left flank and No. 3 communication trench with 15 heavy shells and 4 shrapnels. Eight of the heavies were blind , no damage was done. Bn relieved in the trenches by 7 Bn, relief being completed by about 1.00 pm. No casualties. Bn proceeded to BAYENCOURT for 8 days’ rest.
13 December	Bn bathing at COUIN and SAILLY. An unfortunate incident occurred at about 11.30 am. Lt JOHNSTON, 17/Manchester Regt killed by one of our own shrapnel cases. Our guns were firing at a German plane at the time. [24 year-old Robert Loudon Johnston of Park Street, Kersal, Manchester is buried in Fonquevillers Military Cemetery].
14 December	Clothing treated for vermin by Thresh machines. All officers NCOs and men trained in the use of the wire breaker, everyone trained actually broke the wire by rifle fire.
19 December	FONCQUEVILLERS. Troops on right 6 Bn, on left 8/E Lancashire Regt. Relieved 7 Bn, completed by 12 noon, no casualties. Took over the same sub- sector as before. B Co. of one of the Liverpool Regts was already in our sector, having arrived at about 8.30 pm the previous night. One section was attached to each of our front line platoons for duty and instruction. The remainder, 117 NCOs and men, were on working parties on breastworks in front of the first line. At about 2.00 pm the enemy sent over 5 minenwerfers which were accompanied by several grenades, no damage. Our artillery retaliated with about 40 shells of various calibre. Machine gun concentration also applied. Trenches were in much improved condition, though still very muddy and wet.
20 December	Trenches much drier, work continues on cleaning out and revetting of same. About 10.30 am the enemy threw about 12 bombs either into or just clear of their own wire, with no apparent reason or result. At stand-to the enemy’s snipers and machine guns were extremely active. Both their and our machine guns were firing for over 15 minutes. Good deal of smoke observed in the enemy’s front and second line. At 7.00 pm a patrol from A Co. went out to reconnoitre the enemy’s wire, they found that there was little or no natural obstruction between ours and the enemy’s wire, also the while the German wire was thin in front it was very thick at the back near their own parapet. They also reported that our transport made a great deal of noise and could be heard quite plainly near the German wire.
21 December	Weather turned out very wet again, trenches flooded accordingly. Pumping and baling continues day and night. The Co. of Liverpools were relieved by another Co. of the same unit at 3.30 pm. At 3.05 pm the enemy fired a ‘minnie’ which burst on the communication trench. Worcester battery retaliated with 4 shells on K 4 A 5 8, from which point the shells seemed to rise. It is possible that the enemy were trying to locate our guns by the flashes. About 1.50 pm the enemy fired 4 ‘minnies’ from a position E 28 D 2 3, another was also firing from a point about E 28 D 4 8 which fired shells on the trenches occupied by the Bn. Retaliation by our guns was very prompt both by artillery and machine gun. Enemy replied with about 30 small shells which did no damage, being blind.
22 December	Left flank 6 Bn, right flank 10/R Fusiliers. Trenches very muddy and constant pumping required to keep them open. Liverpool Co. and all available men of this unit being engaged throughout the night on breastworks in front of line. Very little labour is available to cope with the present wet conditions, with the consequence that men who have done a tour of sentry duty have to devote a portion of their rest to pumping and baling. No enemy shelling or working parties observed during this period.
23 December	Trenches in the same state as yesterday, notwithstanding constant pumping during the night. Enemy observed to be pumping out their trenches also. Enemy have also considerably strengthened their wire during the night. 1.35 pm our artillery started shelling the enemy trenches in front of the line. This seemed to be effective and much damage to trenches and communication done. Enemy retaliation consisted of about 20 ‘minnies’ and 12 common shells, no damage done and no casualties.
24 December	Trenches still very, and every other work has had to be postponed to enable the whole of our resources in men to cope with the conditions. 3.30 am enemy sent over 12 small shells and 7 4.2 HE. One of the latter hit our trench 14 at about point C.27.D.8.2. The remainder did no damage. Enemy fired several minnies which fell at point E.27.B.0.0 which killed CSM 200 R BORRASTON. Heavy retaliation. The CO, Adjutant, 1 Officer and 2 NCOs per Co. attended a lecture by an artillery Brigade-Major at CHATEAU-LA-HAIE. [Richard James Borraston, 26, of Richmond Road, Handsworth is buried in Fonquevillers Military Cemetery].
25 December	Trenches still bad. Constant use of pumps and bailers keeps them passable. Strain of constant work is telling on the men. Enemy are still baling and pumping out their front line trenches too. 8.00 am the funeral of CSM BORRASTON took place, very keen and well liked soldier. His funeral, on Christmas Day was felt very much by all ranks. The enemy have been shouting across at intervals but have been met by rifle fire each time. They were blowing bugles in their front line this morning. Enemy snipers and machine guns were very quiet. 12.30 pm the enemy fired 4 4.2s behind our trench 22, three of which were blind. Several rifle grenades and bombs were fired by the enemy, but there was no damage. Enemy has been exceptionally quiet, no attempt at a truce has been made although a certain amount of shouting took place by the Germans. This was always replied to by rifle fire. Hardly a shot was fired by them however.
26 December	Trenches same as yesterday. Owing to constant rain it is impossible to improve them, in fact in many places the amount of water is steadily gaining on the pumps. A flare sent up revealed that the German wire is very effective and very strong. 2.05 pm enemy fired 9 minnies of which 4 dropped in a communication trench at point E.27.D.7.6 1/2, blocking the same up. Remainder fell more towards HEBUTERNE. Retaliation by our guns very prompt, machine guns also used and our TMB also fired. Enemy are now firing a flare which does not light until it reaches the ground. It is fired into our wire when possible. Enemy snipers and machine guns very quiet.
27 December	Relieved by 7 Bn, completed by noon, no casualties. Bn moved to FONCQUEVILLERS, A and B co.s to LA HAIE, Maj JN TOWNSEND commanding this detachment. The usual detachments at FORT DICK Keep and NORTH Keep being furnished.
28 December	Working party of 50 men were sent to 7 Bn for work on M sector and about 50 men were employed on the various garrison duties.
29 December	Working parties as for yesterday. Enemy artillery very active. Retaliation by our heavies took place. Aircraft on both sides active.

This is an extract from the Battalion war diary which is held at the Public Record Office, in document WO95/2756.

With thanks to Rob Williams for supplying this diary