| Place | Date | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|
| BIEFVILLERS Ses.. BAPAUME | 1/4/17 | Battalion moved here today from EAUCOURT L ABBAY. a distance of 6 miles Full marching order and 1 Blanket carried on the march. The weather Cold and wet. no one fell out on the march |
| BIEFVILLERS Ses.. BAPAUME | 2/4/17 | Village very much Knocked about but good cover for men also Stables for Horses. All the Battalion employed on Fatigues |
| BIEFVILLERS Ses.. BAPAUME | 5/4/17 | Men Employed on Fatigue and specialists doing bombing and Lewis Gun training a good number of German? Grenades ?? and men trained in use of them. all Officers ??? in making ??? ??? and Plotting ???. |
| BIEFVILLERS Ses.. BAPAUME | 6/4/17 | Fatigue works carried out. Officers inspected Front line and are NORCUIL and BULLECOURT. |
| BIEFVILLERS Ses.. BAPAUME | 7/4/17 | Inspect Front line and arranged to relieve 52nd Bn. Left BIEFVILLERS at 6pm. Pack dumped at transport? lines? BOUGNATRE. |
| NORIEOIL? | 8/4/17 | Relief of 52nd Bn completed at 2.35. Caualites 1 OR. Killed 3 wounded. I 3 OR came into our lines this morning. they were members of 5th DORSETS Battalion and were Captured by the Boche last JANUARY escaped from prisoners Compound last night. Enemy Shelled reguarly through the day. weather fine. |
| NORIEOIL? | 9/4/17 | Quiet all day. Special Patrols entered Enemy wire South East Corner? of BULLECOURT advanced through 3 rows each about 8 yards in depth and found it in very strong Condition. between that the Parapet of fire Trench there was a space of 50 Yards. Strong wire Entanglement about 10 feet thick row? up to parapet. Patrol was fired on from U28 a 5.4. Trench appeared to be strongly held on their side. |
| NORIEOIL? | 10/4/17 | 46th & 48th Bn were ordered to attack Enemy Trench U28 U29 on a footage of about 600 Yards. The Battalion were to be in position to attack at 4.30 am in Conjunction with the Tanks. all were in position to time but the Tanks failed to appear, and orders were given to retire at about 5.30am. This retirement had to be done in full view of the Boche at Close range. He opened a heavy Barrage Fire, but the retirement was successfully carried With Slight Causalties under the Circumstances. Major LEANE was Killed. 4 OR. 17 OR wounded. |
| NORIEOIL? | 11/4/17 | The attacks on BULLECOURT was carried out this morning assisted by TANKS. The attack was timed to Commence at 4.20 am. The TANKS were late getting away and slow in moving forward the Consequence was that the attack was delayed and it was not until 6.19 that my men were able to penetrate the 2nd Position, as the Barrage lifted off the East edge of BULLECOURT at 5 am it meant that my men were exposed all this time to Rifle and Machine Gun fire, we suffered heavy Casualties before reaching Trenches Casualties 14 Officers. 421 OR. a full report is attached herewith. Both Officers and OR did Splendid Service. moved back to BAPAUME on night of 11th inst being relieved by 45th Bn |
| BAPAUME | 12/4/17 | Entrained at 8pm and moved back to ALBERT. reached at 7 am 13th inst |
| FRICOURT | 14/4/17 | Marched to FRICOURT and went into Huts. men rested during afternoon Inspected by G.O.C. 1st ANZAC this morning. Spent the rest of day cleaning and inspecting Clothing and Equipment. tracing Casualties. |
| FRICOURT | 15/4/17 16/4/17 | Work of Reorganizing the Battalion carried out. Weather wet, men sent down to Baths for Change of clothes and warm baths! |
| HENENCOURT WOOD | 17/4/17 | Training carried out and units reorganised. 30 Reinforcements arrived moved from FRICOURT to HENENCOURT Wood Weather wet and Cold, men marched well and no one fell out on the march. Health and Spirit good. |
| HENENCOURT WOOD | 18/4/17 19/4/17 | Training Started again this morning. Specialist Support arrived from ANZAC and took over the instruction of 16 ??? Lewis Gunners. Special Areas? opened for the instruction of men in Bayonet Fighting, Bombing and Musketry. |
| HENENCOURT WOOD | 20/4/17 | Training Carried out as usual. Arrangements made to hold ANZAC DAY on the 25th april. each Battalion to Subscribed £25 towards prize money. This Camp has not proved very healthy. Water has ??? about until it is Green and Smells badly. two fresh Cases of Diptheria. |
| HENENCOURT WOOD | 21/4/17 | Gargle Parade held every morning. Men Isolate who were Contacts of the Diptheria patients. ?? Bombing & Lewis Gun training being Carried out. Reported Camp not fit for troops. Inspected by Major Jeffreys who Condemned it. |
| MILLENCOURT | 22/4/17 | moved to Millencourt this morning and went into Billet. This sould prove more Satisfactory. |
| MILLENCOURT | 23/4/17 | Route march Carried out this afternoon in full marching order the men marched well no fell out distance 7½ Miles. Health of Battalion is very good. Gargle parade held each morning. no fresh Cases of Diptheria. Weather fine but Cold. good traing being carried out. |
| MILLENCOURT | 25/4/17 | Special Holiday granted for ANZAC Day. The Battalion marched to HENENCOURT WOOD where the Sports were held, £100 being given in Prize money, Events were very Satisfactory. This Battalion secured a good number of the Prizes. including 1st & 3rd Prize for cleanest and best turned out Cookers. Some very isntructive events were Carried out. |
| MILLENCOURT | 27/4/17 | Inoculation of Battalion started. all available men doing Specialist training Every man in Battalion put through Course of Bombing. Training going on Successfully. Rifle Shooting Lewis Guns, and musketry Instruction. Health and Discipline very good. |
| MILLENCOURT | 28/4/17 | Physical Training Carried out under instruction from 1st Anzac Corps men Inoculated during morning, after spent in games?. Battalion |
| MILLENCOURT | 29/4/17 | Election voting Carried out today, also Inoculations |
| MILLENCOURT | 30/4/17 |
men marched to Albert for baths, but were unable to procure Change
of Clothes. This is most unsatisfactory. the men have now been a long
time without a change. I returned the 2nd Garment in December with
the promise that a Change would always be available. It would have been
better to have returned it and made arrangement locally for washing.
Inspection of Boots carried out. Boots proved to be in good Condition. Issue of Small lot of ?? Australian Boots. these are very popular and I consider a much better boot at the money. All Officers taken out and lecture given on the Ground. Subject "The Out Post Company". Health of the Battalion good. |
Attached are 13 typed pages:
48th Battalion Special Order
Letter from Lieut-General W.R. Birdwood to Major-General W. Holmes
Report on Operation 11th April 1917 from Commanding Officer 48th Battalion
Report on Operation of TANKS 11th April 1917 from Commanding Officer 48th Battalion
and copy of signal sent 11 April