| Place | Date | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|
| VILLER SOUS-AILLY | 1/11/16 | The Battalion moves at 9 am to BERTHENCOURT. during our stay in VILLERS some useful training has been done, we experienced a good amount of wet but by using training grounds in the Vicinity of Company Billet it was possible to take full advantage of any dry days. Company's were trained in Bayonet fighting. Close order Drill, Musketry instruction and each Company was put through Company in attack practice on special ground. the various parties being detailed and their ?? in the attack throughly explored. during our stay concerts were held for the men. they were much appreciated. a special Battalion Hospital was used for the sick, also the men were supplied with Hot Soup Bovril and Milk diet. I would like to place on record the great assistance afforded me the Australian Comfort Fund, with their aid I have been able to keep the men supplied with Hot Coffee Soup and light diet, this has Kept many Rifles available that would have been lost to the Battalion for a time at least. no men are permitted to Evacuate from the Battalion while it is possible to treat them in our own Hospital. I consider that many men could be saved to the Forces if this System was carried out. |
| BERTHENCOURT | 1/11/16 | arrived here at 12.30 pm weather very fine. men in good heart , no one fell out on the march. each man carried his Blanket and Oil Sheet in addition to full marching order. |
| VAUX | 2/11/16 | moved from BERTHENCOURT at 9 am to VAUX a distance of about 8 miles. roads in a very bad condition, ??? all the way. no one fell out on the march although conditions were very trying. |
| VAUX | 5/11/16 | VAUX is not large enought with the Billets available to hold 2 Battalions, consequently I had to move two company's to FREMONT. training was carried out as usual, special attention being paid to Lewis Guns and Bombing. a very good range was used just outside FREMONT. while Bombers used trenches outside VAUX. Football matches were arraned between Company's. This is quite a good area and good training can be got in there being such a lot of suitable ground in the Vicinity of the Billets. special training classes were held for Officers in Lewis Gun, also Revolver practice in the range. |
| DERNENCOURT | 7/11/16 | We left VAUX at 7.30 am yesterday morning and marched to FLESSELLES here we embarked in Buses for DERNENCOURT. arrived at that Village about 1 pm. Billet very poor and extremely dirty, weather cold and wet. Special attention is being paid to mens feet. each man massages his feet twice daily with whale oil |
| DERNENCOURT | 10/11/16 | Company training carried ??? ???. advantage was taken of Wire entanglements and trenches to practice attacks. |
| DERNENCOURT | 11/11/16 | The Battalion moves this morning for FRICOURT arrived? there tonight and then moves on tomorrow to SWITCH TRENCH near FLERS. Dress Fighting order. 1 Blanket and Oil sheet only to be carried. Extra Blanket and Overcoat will be dumped. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 12/11/16 |
I moved ahead of the Battalion and Visited SWITCH and
GAP TRENCHES where I will reamin in Reserve. Mud
is very bad and no Cover whatever provided for the men
the trenches are deep in mud and water,, and I am
informed that it is not possible to supply the men with
hot meals whilst in Firing line and Support.
however the Battalion managed to do it at POZIERES and I consider it quite possible here. Saw BRIGADIER GENERAL GLASFORD being carried into the 2nd Field AMBULANCE this morning. he was wounded in the side by Shell Fire, he looked very ill. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 13/11/16 | Evening's Artillery Very active, a number of shell fell in our trenches One man Wounded. Men at work all day improving Trenches and erecting shelters from ??. Special Feet inspections by Company Officers and rubbing in of WHALE Oil. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 14/11/16 | Boche Planes very Active over our lines very few of our Machines? Visible. more shelling during day.3 men wounded. one dangerously he died later on his way to the ambulance. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 15/11/16 | Visited the front line this morning. Trenches in a very bad condition no communication on the right whatever. It means giving over the top nearly all the way to the Front line. I consider Supports are too far back. they could easily be dug in along ??? Road. Cooking arrangements going well. established a dump to receive rations on Flers ROAD. Carried from there by Fatigue parties to SWITCH TRENCH. All cooking done in trench. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 16/11/16 | Enemy Shelled our position again today. using both GAS and H.E. 4 men wounded. 1 man evacuated suffering from GAS. Enemy's Planes very active. one brought down SWITCH TRENCH |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 17/11/16 | Special Patrol 1 Officer 4 OR. was detailed to reconnoitre Enemy's Strong Points N20 D 3.4. N20 D1.5. reported ground in a bad condition no wire that would prove an obstracle in our attack. Enemy trenches appeared to be strongly manned. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 18/11/16 | Very Cold. Snowed during night and early morning, Artillery Quiet 1 man wounded. men in good health and spirits. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 19/11/16 | moved into Front line and relieved 47 BN. A & B Coys. in the line C & D in support. Battalion HQs. BULLS ROAD. ground very difficult, on account of the wet. Trenches full of mud. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 20/11/16 | men hard at work cleaning mud out of trenches and deepening Communciations trench. Enemy Artillery very active 8 Casualites 2 since dead. arrangements working well for supply of Hot food to men in front line, The food is cooked in FLERS and carried by Fatigue parties 1500 to the Front line, a hot meal is provided morning and Evening. also Bovril and Soup is sent up at 5 am and 3 pm daily. This means hard work for the Fatigue parties, but is well worth the trouble on account of the effect it has on the men. |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 21/11/16 | The Battalion Aid Post is in GRASS? LANE, and all men suffering from Fatigue due to Cold and wet are specially treated, Feet are massaged with whale oil. they are kept warm and plenty of hot Coffee and Soup provided. In most case men are quite fit to return again to the Firing line in a few hours. in addition men on Carrying parties are given hot drinks day and night. I am able to do this through the assistance of the Australian Comfort Fund who provide all the necessary materials. Special observation is being kept on Enemy's Strong Point SUNKEN ROAD. N20 D. and patrols reconnoitre the position at night. Enemy trying hard to improve his strong points and put out ???. Artillery fairly quiet. 1 man Killed. |
| SWITCH TRENCH "FLERS" | 22/11/16 | Our Artillery shelled Enemy's stron point in N20D. also used Gas. Shooting was very bad indded our trenches being knocked about in many places. This was reported a number of times but without any result. 2 men wounded. |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 23/11/16 | C & D. Coy's relieved the two Companys in the Firing line. Enemy Artillery active during the day. also Planes, trenches nicely cleaned out and a lot of improvement doen. Lost today 3 men Killed, 2 wounded. |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 24/11/16 | Our Artillery very active on Enemy's strong points N20D. Enemy retoboted? on our front line trenches breaching them in several places near GUN Pits. Snipers report good success |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 25/11/16 | Enemy reported working hard on improving his trenches. on account of the rain our trenches are very wet and muddy again. It is impossible to do much permanent good until A frames and Duct boards are provided and properly put in. 11 men wounded today |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 26/11/16 | Our Patrols were active during the night, and report that no mans land is in a very bad condition. Patrol of Enemy was captured by Left Coys listening post. Consisted of 1 Corporal 2 OR of 101 Saxon R???? Regiment. the patrol lost its way and walked towards our trenches. Enemy's Artillery active Casualties 3 OR Killed 6 OR wounded |
| BULLS ROAD FLERS | 27/11/16 | My Right Coy Commander reported at about 9 pm last night, that a strong Enemy Working Party were working our Enemy's strong Point N20.D.45. Immediately got onto Artillery and their response was very quick and Effective, our Lewis Guns stood by and when the Artillery opened they swept the position with machine Gun fire, Catching the Boche as he ran for Cover. when morning Came 3 Enemy dead were observed on Parapet and a number in front of trench about 10 in all, Very satisfactory indeed. |
| MAMETZ | 28/11/16 | 14 BN relieved the 48th BN during last night. The relief started at 4 30 pm but on account of the very wet and muddy state of the trenches it was not completed until 12.15 am. The men marched back to Mametz HUTS. about 6 miles through deep mud and over bad roads. D Coy was the last to arrive and reported having brought everyone through men are resting today. Feet being inspected and thoroughly rubbed with whale oil. Everyone has Colds. Still the Spirit of the Battalion is good. |
| MAMETZ HUTS | 30/11/16 | The battalion has gone through a very trying time indeed since the 12/11/16. 8 days in SWITCH TRENCH and 8 DAYS in FRONT LINE most of the time wet. even though the Conditions were extremely difficult, the men were supplied during the whole time with Two Hot meals each day, besides Soup & Bovril. Special Credit is due to my Medical Officer MAJOR WOLLARD, and senior MAJOR, MAJOR IMLOY who assisted me loyally in my endeavour to Keep up the Efficienty fo the Battalion, I am quite sure that taken in time, there would be no Cases of TRENCH Feet. my experience being our last tour of duty, Condition could not be worse and I proved that where the man was promptly dealt with in the dressing station, He was quite fit again for duty within a few hours. I am sure men are evacuated to Hospital without Cause, good Battalion Medical arrangements, and an Efficient M.O. with the interest of the service at heart, would do much to stop unncessary Wastage. |