|
WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1
ORDER PAPERS JULY 1916
Next page : WO-95-1646-2_1-56
SECRET
Copy No. 8
APPENDIX 1
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 17
I.
Battalion will move today to WELLINGTON REDOUBT - PERONNE AVENUE.
II.
(a). Parade 2:45pm on Sports Ground.
(b) Route : MERICOURT - TREUX - VILLE - MORLANCOURT - RED ROAD.
(c) Order of March : 'A', 'B', Band, 'C', 'D'.
III.
Cookers with reas and rations for July 11th will accompany Companies and return after dumping rations to 'B' Echelon Transport.
IV.
Transport less above with march in rear of the Battalion as far as TREUX and thence by VILLE and MEAULTE; 'A' Echelon to CITADEL, 'B' Echelon to E. 30. c.
V.
(a) Packs without greatcoats to be stacked by Companies on Sports Ground by 12 midday.
(b) All Officers' kit and baggage to be stacked outside Officers' tents and Battalion Headquarters by 2pm.
VI.
Greatcoats to be worn on banderole across right shoulder.
VII.
Tools likely to be required should be packed separately on one wagon and will accompany companies, returning to E. 30. c. after dumping.
VIII.
(a) The Band will accompany Battalion as far as E. 6. d. and then join 'B' Echelon Transport.
(b) All Officers will go with their Companies but only one Captain will go out for work at a time.
IX. Position of Battalion Headquarters will be notified later.
Issued at: 11:30am
Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. Quartermaster
6. Transport Officer
7. Headquarters
8. War Diary
9. War Diary
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : WO-95-1646-2_1-57
SECRET
Copy No. 3
APPENDIX 2
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 18
Reference, 1/20,000 MONTAUBAN, MARTINPUICH sheets.
July 13th, 1916
I. INTENTION:
The 4th Army will attack the enemy's second line at 3:25am July 14th, in conjunction with the French to the South and Reserve Army to the North.
II. INFORMATION:
(a) ENEMY:
The enemy has been greatly disorganised by our attacks. He has been forced to draw on his reserves from all parts of the front, from YPRES SALIENT, VALENCIENNES and CHAMPAGNE. These troops have been thrown into the line at the shortest notice. The LEHR Regiment (3rd Guards Division) hold the line in front of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD with the 122nd Reserve Regiment (183rd Division) on its right and the 16th Bavarian Regt. (10th Bavarian Division) on its left. Numbers of prisoners have been captured from all these units; but so much disorganisation has been caused by the hurried arrival of reinforcements, that it cannot be stated with certainty what Regiments will be met with in or behind the German Second Line.
(b) OUR FORCES:
1. The front in the enemy's line allotted to 7th Division is from S. 15. c. 15.40. to the point where the road crosses the German trenches at S. 14. a. 7.3.
2. On our right the XIII Corps is attacking the front as far as S. 18. c. 2.9. On our left the 21st Division is attacking the front as far as the South-East corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD.
3. The dividing line between the 7th Division and XIII Corps will run from point S. 20. d. 90.35 - Junction of roads S. 14. d. 90.15 to East Edge of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to the North East Corner of the CEMETERY inclusive.
Between the 7th Division and 21st Division on S. 19. Central Road running from East Corner of MAMETZ WOOD S. 20. a. 1.8. to road Junction S. 14. b. 1.5. - road along East of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to MARTINPUICH (road inclusive to 7th Division.).
III. CONSOLIDATION :
Strong points will be established at :
(1) S. 14. b. 2.3.
(2) S. 14. b. 65.50.
(3) S. 15. a. 25.90.
(4) Machine gun position in Wood at S. 15. a. 10.85. to cover Cross roads.
(5) A 'Keep' consisting of a group of houses surrounding point S. 8. d. 2.7., arrangements being made to fire up the MARTINPUICH ROAD..
(6) Northern corner of Wood covering CEMETERY S. 8. b. 9.1.
(7) The North end of the BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT village will be prepared for an all round defence.
The 95th Coy. R.E. prepare (1), (2), (3), and (4), two Companies 24th Manchesters Regt., Pioneers, (5), and (6),
The 54th Coy R.E. (7),
The XIII Corps will establish strong points at S. 15. c. 15.40.
[continued on next sheet]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page :WO-95-1646-2_1-58
[continued from previous sheet]
Sheet 2
and at the Northern end of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND village (S. 15. b. 0.0.
The 21st Division will form a strong point at North West corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD.
IV. DETAIL :
(a) 'A' and 'B' Companies will prepare works (5) and (6) under command of Captain Wall. Orders to move forward will be issued by Battalion H.Q.
(b) 'C' Company will work on road MAMETZ - West End of QUEENS NULLAH - N.W. of CLIFF TRENCH - S.E. to E. of MAMETZ WOOD - S. 14. a. - S. 14. b. 1.5. - Cross roads S. 14. b.1.8. through BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT on the MARTINPUICH ROAD. The first objective being to fill in shell holes etc. and make a track passable for Artillery.
This Company to move off at 4:5am. July 14th
(c) 'B' Company will remain at Headquarters in reserve.
V.
(a) Dump for Battalion will be at [space left but no location inserted] for tools, wire etc.
All Battalion tools not required will be dumped by Companies at WELLINGTON DUMP and collected by tool carts when Battalion Headquarters moves forward.
(b) Two days rations including emergency rations to be carried by each man.
(c) Two bombs per man to be carried.
VI.
'A' and 'B' Echelon transport will remain in their present positions at 71 North and E. 18. c.
VII.
Divisional headquarters will be at MINDEN POST.
VIII.
Battalion Headquarters will be at WELLINGTON REDOUBT.
Issued at 5:15pm
Copy No:
1. Commanding Officer
2. War Diary
3. War Diary
4. 2nd. in Command
5. O.C. 'A' Coy.
6. O.C. 'B' Coy.
7. O.C. 'C' Coy.
8. O.C. 'D' Coy.
9. Transport Officer
10. Quartermaster
G.B. DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1
ORDER PAPERS JULY 1916
Next page : WO-95-1646-2_1-59
SECRET
Copy No. 8
Appendix 3
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER no. 19.
18th July, 1916
Reference MARTINPUICH, MONTAUBAN - 1/20/000
I.
The 4th Army will continue the attack tomorrow at 'Zero' hour.
II.
The 7th Division will capture HIGH WOOD and portion of German Switch Trench West of the Wood as far as the Central North and South line through squares M. 33. and S. 3., with the 33rd Division operating on the left.
The position on the right will not be attacked.
III.
'B' and 'C' Companies under Capt. A. Best will act under command of G.O.C., 20th Infantry Bregade, and dig a support trench from the West Corner of HIGH WOOD to S. 3. b. 2.6.
'A' and 'D' Companies will remain at WELLINGTON REDOUBT in reserve.
IV.
'B' and 'C' Companies with their Lewis Gun Sections will move up by platoons this evening and bivouac for the night in the vicinity of WHITE TRENCH at an hour to be arranged by the O.C. They will move off from there one hour before 'Zero' to FLATIRON COPSE.
V.
All tool carts to be loaded as soon as they return from working parties. 'B' and 'C' Companies to pack their coats on carts before marching off.
'A' and 'D' Companies to be ready to stack their coats on orders being received for them to move off.
VII
Unless otherwise ordered Companies return to WELLINGTON REDOUBT on completion of work.
VIII.
During operations reports showing progress of work, situation and approximate casualties (Numbers only) should be sent to Battalion Headquarters every two hours if practical.
IX.
Battalion Headquarters will be at WELLINGTON REDOUBT.
Divisional Headquarters MINDEN POST.
There will be an advance Battalion Headquarters, established at 'Zero' hours at X. 30. a. 85.35. in WHITE TRENCH. Orderlies and messages to be sent there by Companies forward of this position.
Issued at 1:30pm
Copy No.
1. Commanding Officer
2. 2nd in Command
3. O.C. 'A' Coy.
4. O.C. 'B' Coy.
5. O.C. 'C' Coy.
6. O.C. 'D' Coy.
7. Quartermaster & Transport Officer..
8. War Diary
9. War Diary
G.B. DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : WO-95-1646-2_1-60
SECRET
Copy No. 8
Appendix 4
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No. 20.
I.
The Battalion will move tomorrow to a new bivouac.
Headquarters, Lewis Gun Section, 'A' and 'D' Companies to field West of BECORDEL.
'B' and 'C' Companies next to 54th Coy. R.E. at F. 4. a. 5.3.
II.
Time table:
Reveille 5:30am Breakfast 6:30am.
All tool carts to be packed by 7:15am
'A' and 'B' Companies move off 7:30am.
'C' and 'D' 7:45am.
III.
Route for all Companies MANSEL COPSE along main ALBERT - PERONNE ROAD.
IV.
Major Chadwick will proceed at 8:0am to take over Bivouac area for Headquarters, 'A' and 'D' Companies, from Staff Captain, 91st Brigade.
'B' and 'C' will detail Officer to proceed to select Bivouac area.
V.
Dress :
Marching order less packs with Greatcoats on banderole.
VI.
Transport :
'A' Echelon will proceed with 22nd Infantry Brigade to F. 4. c. 7.4. Tool carts will accompany their Companies.
VII.
Companies will report to Headquarters when new Bivouacs are occupied.
Issued at 11:15pm.
Copy No:
1. Commanding Officer
2. 2nd in Command
3. O.C. 'A' Coy.
4. O.C. 'B' Coy.
5. O.C. 'C' Coy.
6. O.C. 'D' Coy.
7. Transport Officer & Quartermaster
8. War Diary
9. War Diary
18th July 1916
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : WO-95-1646-2_1-61 & 62
[Handwritten instead of typed]
Copy No. 6
Appendix 5
24th Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No. 21.
1.
The enemy counter attacked XIII Corps yesterday and regained possession of a portion of DELVILLE WOOD and Northern portion of LONGUEVAL.
2.
to relieve pressure on XIII Corps and to assist their attack, the XV Corps will tomorrow attack HIGH WOOD and roads leading to LONGUEVAL. The 7th Division will capture the road from S. 11. c. 5.8. to eastern corner of HIGH WOOD with the 5th Divn. on their right and 33rd on the left.
3.
The 7th Divn. attack will be carried out by the 20th Infy. Bde. and one Battalion 22nd Bde. The assault will take place at 3:35am.
Boundaries: dividing line between 7th and 5th Divisions S. 16. a. 3.9. to S. 10. d. 8.8. thence to road junction S. 11. c. 5.8. Between 7th & 33rd Divns. S. 9. c. o.0 - S. 10. a. 5.3 junction of tracks thence by track to S. 4. d. 2.8. western corner of wood.
4.
B&C Coys are attached to 20th Infy. Bde. to assist in consolidation. A & D Coys. will remain in reserve.
5.
sort trenches facing eastwards have already been dug near S. 10. d. 8.8 & at S. 10. a. 5.5
[continued on next sheet WO-95-1646-2_1-61 ]
2
6.Capt. A. Best will command B & C Coys. and take his orders from G.O.C. 20th Infy. Bde. Tool carts of B & C Coys. will remain in their present position under Captain Robertson.
Reports of progress of work and situation and numbers of casualties will be sent if possible every two hours to Bn. H.Q.
7.
Dress etc. as in Operation Order No. 20 of 18/7/16
8.
Divn HQ at MINDEN POST.
Bn. HQ at E. 12. b. 2.2 west of BECORDEL.
Issued at 9:15pm
19/7/16
Copies to all concerned.
G.B. Dempsey
Lt. & Adj.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
