WAR DIARY

1/8th (ARDWICK) BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT

MAY 1917


MAY 1 1917 - PEIZIERE
12.00-2.00 am. Bn. continued work commenced at 9.00 pm last night. During the day hot baths established and supplied. Blankets and Packs dumped prepartory (sic) to relief of front lines. 9.00 pm. Marched off by Coys. at 10 minutes (?)intervals(?), sections 20 yds. apart to relieve 1/6 BN. MANCH. R. in left half of 127 Bde. Sector.
A COY. (CAPT. PRESTON) took over OUTPOST LINE position, 6 posts, 5 LEWIS GUNS.
B COY. (CAPT. BARLOW M.C.) took over PIQUET LINE (LINE OF RESISTANCE) a series of unconnected trenches.
C COY. (LIEUT. FORBES) took over SUPPORT LINE.
D COY. (CAPT. MOORE) remained in CUTTING as RESERVE (3 L.M. Guns). Bn H.Q. at "THE WILLOWS" X26 a50.
Transport proceeded through EPHEY along 3rd class road to X28 a09 with LEWIS GUNS, GRENADES, S.A.A., and Petrol Tins and other receptacles filled with water which were manhandled from there to respective positions. Circumstances preventing ration parties communicating by day, day's rations had been cooked beforehand and carried on the men.
Specialists carried 50 rounds S.A.A. remainder 120.

MAY 2 1917 - [EAST OF PEIZIERE]
12.30 am relief completed.
After relief work was carried out constructing latrines and lengthening trenches in order to complete connecting same when possible. D Coy. worked from 9.00 pm until 3.40 am connecting strong posts of PICQUET LINE.
Patrols reported an enemy sniper at X17 d80 and that the enemy held OSSUS WOOD at X29 b55 (strength not ascertained).

MAY 3 1917 - [EAST OF PEIZIERE]
2.55 am. C Coy. relieved A Coy. in outpost line.
Work continued in all trenches and Patrolling as usual. Canal Wood held by enemy and railway service to it suspected.
11.15 pm. Our artillery bombarded OSSUS WOOD and CANAL Wood during which enemy fired Red, Red and Green, and Golden Rain Rockets.

MAY 4 1917 - [EAST OF PEIZIERE]
During night work continued as usual, no work is possible by day. Quiet day little evening artillery activity. Casualties 4 Killed 2 Wounded - O.R. Work as usual during night.

MAY 5 1917 - [EAST OF PEIZIERE]
Enemy artillery active shelled Support line Chiefly. Casualties O.R. 1 Killed 4 Wounded.
During night trench connecting with Bn. on left constructed and wired.

MAY 6 1917 - [EAST OF PEIZIERE]
2.00 am. Relieved by 1/6 MANCH. R.
Bn. into Bde. Reserve in PEIZIERE.
During night 3 Coys. worked at BROWN LINE and one Coy. at NO. 13 COPSE.

MAY 7 1917 - PEIZIERE
8.00 am - 12.30 pm. PEIZIERE shelled, 21 shells between 8.00 am and 9.00 am and 14 at 12.30.
Two L.G. sections training, remainder nil owing to night work.
Night work as usual.

MAY 8 1917 - PEIZIERE
Training and work as yesterday.

MAY 9 1917 - PEIZIERE
8.30 pm. Bn. relieved by 1/5 LANCS. FUS.
A & D Coys. took over minimum permanent garrison of Bde. Sector of BROWN LINE and construction thereof.
B & C Coys. to VILLERS FAUCON.

MAY 10 1917 - VILLERS FAUCON
Nothing to report.

MAY 11 1917 - VILLERS FAUCON
VILLERS FAUCON shelled - 5.9 Shells. Casualties O.R. 1 Killed 4 Wounded.
Working parties under R.E.

MAY 12 1917 - VILLERS FAUCON
One Coy. work under R.E. One Coy. training.

MAY 13 1917 - VILLERS FAUCON
Work under R.E.

MAY 14 1917 - VILLERS FAUCON
LT. COL. H.T. DOBBIN D.S.O. (D.C.L.I) assumed Command vice MAJOR C.S. WORTHINGTON D.S.O. to 1/5 BN. MANCH. R. command.
Work as usual under R.E.

MAY 15 1917 - SAULCOURT
10.30 am. Bn. moved to SAULCOURT.

MAY 16 1917 - SAULCOURT
Training.

MAY 17 1917 - RUYAULCOURT
Marched to RUYAULCOURT. Bn. head of Bde. Column.
Billeted.

MAY 18 1917 - RUYAULCOURT
Preparations for move into Centre sector of Bde. Section.

MAY 19 1917 - RUYAULCOURT
Baths.
Relieved 1/7 SOMERSET LIGHT INF. Three Coys. in front line. C Coy. in Support. Bn. H.Q. at Q1 c52.

MAY 20 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy artillery active all day. 1 O.R. wounded.
Work on trenches which are only partially constructed and Patrolling by night.

MAY 21 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy artillery quieter. One O.R. wounded.
Work and patrolling as yesterday. Enemy activity normal.

MAY 22 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Quiet day. Work and patrolling as usual. One O.R. wounded.

MAY 23 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy shelled near Bn. H.Q. using 5.9 H.E. No damage.
Work and Patrolling as usual. One O.R. Killed.

MAY 24 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Normal day. Work and patrolling continued.

MAY 25 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
As yesterday.

MAY 26 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Patrols report Enemy working activity.
Enemy Artillery very quiet.

MAY 27 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy still busy with night work, were covered by patrols.
Enemy Artillery very quiet.

MAY 28 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Quiet day.

MAY 29 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy shelled our positions K25 a44. Casualties 1 Killed 2 wounded.
At night Lt. C.R. ELLER went out in charge of a patrol of 6 O.R. which was dispersed by enemy fire. Lt. C.R. ELLER and 4 O.R. failed to return.

MAY 30 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Quiet day.
At night two patrols went out but no sign of Lt. ELLER and 4 O.R. could be found.

MAY 31 1917 - [HAVRINCOURT WOOD]
Enemy artillery moderately active.
Patrols having indicated that the enemy was attempting to establish a line from about K33 centre to K34 d central and covering this work by active patrolling, a Bde. scheme was organized to re-establish control of this area and to ascertain definitely the extent of the enemies (sic) works.
Commencing 11.00 pm Artillery and M.G. Bombardment. After which this Unit to send out two patrols.


Officers O.R.

Casualties
(from above listings)

Killed

8

Wounded

15

Missing

1 4


(Additional casualty listings from other sources)

Killed Wounded Missing

O OR O OR O OR

--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

42nd WD *

0 7 0 27 1 1



* 42nd Division Headquarters Adjutant and Quarter-Master General War Diary

NOTE: Discrepancies can and do exist between the casualty listings of the battalion, brigade, and division reports. These may be the result of errors or omissions in recording at the battalion level, the timing and reporting protocol to the higher levels of command, possible transcription errors, or when the totals were tabulated which could include further investigations or corrections not included in lower, or higher, levels of command at the time the listings were entered in the war diaries.


JUNE 1917