WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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Appendix I
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 27
31st August 1916
Reference Map: LONGUEVAL 57 c. s.w. 3. Edition E/10,000

I. Operations are suspended until further notice.

II. On the day of the attack the 24th Manchester Regt. has been ordered to assemble in the vicinity 0f MONTAUBAN, and when the 7th Division objective has been reached to prolong GINCHY AVENUE from PORTER TRENCH at T. 13. c. 55.40 to German Trench running from T. 20. a. 1.6. to T. 14. a. 40.25. which will then be our front line.

III. 'A' Company will work from PORTER TRENCH to German Support Trench due EAST at T. 13. d. 10.45 inclusive.
'B' Company from this point to NORTH Corner of Farm building at T. 13. d. 95.40 inclusive.
'D' Company from this point to the GINCHY - MAUREPAS Road at T. 13. d. 95.40 inclusive.
'D' Company from this point to nearest point of front line.

IV. The following method will be adopted to lay out trench.
On orders being given to move out each Company will send forward 1 Officer and a small party with tapes and pickets.
'D' and 'B' will go out together and lay out their task from T. 13. d. 95.40. 'D' to the EAST and 'B' to the WEST.
'A' and 'C' will lay out their tasks from T. 13. d. 10.45. 'C' to the EAST and 'A' to the WEST.
'B' and 'C' Companies must be careful to meet at their junction at North Corner of Farm T. 13. d. 55.40.
Companies will move off 15 minutes after laying out parties in the order 'D' 'B' 'C' 'A'.
A winding trench will be dug 5 feet deep by 3 feet wide.
On completion of tasks Companies will return to FRICOURT WOOD, reporting completion of work at Report Centre.

V. Position of Report Centre will be notified later.

Issued at 4:30pm

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. C.R.E.
6. 2nd in Command
7. War Diary
8. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY, Lieut. & Adjutant
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix II
Copy No. 8
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 28
2nd September 1916

I. The attack will take place on Sept. 3rd at 12 noon.

II. (a) That portion of Operation Order No. 27 which refers to tasks cancelled.
(b) the task allotted to the Battalion is from NORTH corner of Farm at T. 13. d. d. 55.40. to new front line about T. 14. c. 35.30.

III. For the purpose of work 'A' Company will be attached to 'B' and 'D' company to 'C'.

IV. (a) 'B' Company's Sector will be from new front line to road T. 13. d. 95.40 inclusive.
'C' Company from this point to NORTH Corner of Farm at T. 13. d. 55.40. where they will connect with the South Staffordshire Regiment.
(b) Laying out parties of one Officer and small party of other ranks will be detailed by O.C. companies.
'B' Company will arange to meet their Officer at Road T. 13. d. 95.40. and 'C' Company at NORTH Corner of Farm T. 13. d. 55.40.

V. On completion of trench 5 feet by 3 feet Companies will return independently to FRICOURT WOOD and report there.

VI. Orders for move to point of assembly will be given later.

VII. The importance of the completion of a good communication trench should be impressed on all ranks. It is only be means of this that wounded can be evacuated, stores and ammunition brought up and touch kept with our new front line. Companies must therefore complete the work at all costs.

Issued at 3:30pm.

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. C.R.E.
6. Commanding Officer
7. 2nd in Command
8. War Diary
9. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY, Lieut. & Adjutant
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix III
No. 162
THURSDAY
7th Septr. 1916
AFTER BATTALION ORDERS BY
LIEUT. COLONEL J.B. BATTEN COMMANDING
24TH BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT

1. WORK:
Cable trench to be dug by R.E. and Pioneers on following route: - BRIGADE HQ., POMMIERS REDOUBT -

2. ROUTE
A. 1. d. 5.8. Test shaft required here.
A. 2. a. 3.7 Test shaft required here.
A. 2. b. 2.0. Test shaft required here.
A. 2. b. 85.90.
A. 2. b. 95.98. Test shaft required here.
S. 27. c. 15.15. Test dug-out required here.
S. 27. c. 3.3.
S. 27. c. 7.9. Test shaft required here.
S. 27. c. 20.25. Test shaft required here.
S. 27. b. 25.35. Test dug-out required here.
S. 21. d. 8.1. Test shaft required here.
S. 22. c. 25.30.
S. 22. c. 5.6. Test shaft required here.
S. 22. b. 05.40 Test shaft required here.
S. 16. d. 6.1. Brigade HQ in mined dug-out.

3. SPECIFICATION:
(a) After laying of cable, trench is to be filled in.
(b) Test shafts to be made of mining frames.
(c) Test dug-outs will be a test shaft with short mined gallery leading off it.
(d) Shafts will only go to floor of trench.
(e) Between POMMIERS REDOUBT and Point S. 27. b. 25.35., the trench is to be 6 feet deep. Between Point S. 27. b. 25.35. and Brigade HQ, at S. 16. d. 6.1., trench is to be 7 feet 6ins. deep.
(f) Between Points S. 27. c. 7.9. and S. 21. d. 8.1., there is an old cable trench which should be used.

4. TASK:
Daily task will be 3 yards per man. Depth is to be fully excavated; the floor may be sloped off to a point and trench must be as narrow as possible.
On completion of tasks Platoons can march off.

5. TIMETABLE:
Companies to report tomorrow at POMMIERS REDOUBT to an Officer of the XV Corps Signal Company (South African Signals) as under:-
'D' Company - 9:45am
'C' Company - 10:00am
'B' Company - 10:15am
'A' Company - 10:30am

6. DRESS:
Rifle, one bandolier, haversack and waterbottle.
Haversack ration to be carried. Dinners on return to billets.

7. TOOLS:
Picks and shovels, measuring rods and measuring tapes and laying out tapes.

(Signed) G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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Appendix IV
Copy No. 3
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 29
ORDERS FOR MOVE OF TRANSPORT
Transport will move with Field Companies of R.E., 7th Division, and on 12th September will pass starting point at Junction of Horse Track with the BUIRE LA VIE VILLE ROAD at 11:30am.
Transport at FRICOURT WOOD will leave there at 9:00am, and remainder of Transport at E. 12. will join them as they pass.

ROUTES:
12th September:
Horse Track just NORTH of FRICOURT - MEAULTE - BUIRE - HEILLY ROAD as far as HEILLY and thence via BONNAY and LA NEUVILLE to a bivouac just NORTH of DAOURS.
13th September:
Via VECQUEMONT - AMIENS SOUTH OF THE SOMME to CROUY. Columns clearing VECQUEMONT by 8:00am.
14th September
To area 5. Columns clearing CROUY by 9:00am and destination will be notified at CROUY.

2.. Lewis Gun Handcarts will move with Company Transport in charge of two Lewis Gunners per cart. Arrangements being made to attach each cart to a wagon.

3. One Limber Wagon will be left behind with the Battalion to accompany the Battalion to the Station. On completion of duty this wagon will rejoin Transport at DAOURS on night of 12th September.

Copy No.
1. Quartermaster.
2. Transport Officer
3. War Diary

11/9/16
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1

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SECRET
Appendix IV
Copy No. 8
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 29

I. The Battalion will move by train from ALBERT to OISEMENT tomorrow, the 12th.
Parade ready to move off at 6:45am. Breakfast 6:00am.
All wagons to be packed previous to this time.
Train leaves at 9:00am and is expected to arrive at OISEMENT ... [next line obliterated]

II. ROUTE TO STATION:
FRICOURT STATION - Track to BECORDEL - BECORDEL - ALBERT ROAD - ALBERT STATION.
Companies will move at 100 yards interval.

III. 2/Lieut. H.E. Braine with one man per Company will leave at 6:30am and proceed to station to allot accommodation. The men will meet 2/Lieut. Braine at HQ Mess at 6:00am.

IV. All boxes are to be neatly stacked in Company areas.

Issued at 10:45pm ... 11/9/16

Copy No.
1. C.O.
2. 2nd in Command
3. O.C. 'A' Company
4. O.C. 'B' Company
5. O.C. 'C' Company
6. O.C. 'D' Company
7. War diary
8. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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Appendix V
Copy No. 9
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 30

1. The 24th Manchesters will move by rail to the 2nd. Army area. Zero hour and date will be notified later.

2. The Battalion, less Transport and loading party will, be formed up ready to move off at 6 hours after Zero, in the following order: 'A', 'B', Band, 'C' 'D'. The head of 'A' Coy. to be opposite the main watering pond East of the village.
Captain H. Prendergast, Lieut. W. Watson and 2/Lieut. H.E. Braine and 100 men of 'D' Coy. will parade with Transport in their lines at 4:30 hours after Zero, and move off accompanied by handcarts. Two Lewis Gunners with each handcart.

3. Number of train 11. Serial Number 04. Entraining station LONGPRE. Time of departure of train 10 hours after Zero.

4. Covered van holds 8 horses or 40 men. Flat truck holds 1 G.S. wagon, and 1 two-wheeled vehicle, or four pairs of wheels in the case of limbered vehicles. Some trucks can carry two G.S. wagons.
No men are allowed to travel in open trucks or brake vans. Horses are to be loaded unharnessed and with their nose bags round their necks. Not more than 4 men are allowed to travel in each horse truck.

5. Lamps are usually provided by the French authorities in the covered vans, but not in the Officers compartments.

6. Orders concerning rations to be carried will be notified later.

Issued at 6:30pm, 16/9/16

Copy No.
1. C.O.
2. 2nd in Command
3. O.C. 'A' Company
4. O.C. 'B' Company
5. O.C. 'C' Company
6. O.C. 'D' Company
7. Quartermaster
8. Transport Officer
9. War diary
10. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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Appendix VI
Copy No. 9
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 31

1. The times referred to in Operation Order No. 30 are cancelled.

2. The train leaves LONGPRE at 4:45am on the 18th.

3. PARADES:
Transport, Handcarts and Loading Party will parade on Transport Ground and move off at 11:00pm 17th.

4. RATIONS:
Rations for 18th will be carried on the cookers and issued to Companies on the train at LONGPRE ready cooked.
Fires must be out before entraining cookers.
Rations for 19th will be carried in Supply wagons.
Refilling point tomorrow at same place as today. Suppy wagons will join Battalion at Station.

5. Officers' kits etc., will be packed at Transport lines by 9:00pm, 17th. All tool wagons packed and returned to Transport lines before 6:00pm.

6. The Quartermaster will arrange to keep out enough lamps ready fitted with candles to assist in entrainment of Transport and men.

7. All ranks are reminded that they are not allowed to hang their legs out of the sides of trucks nor to get out of the train without permission.
Company Commanders will arrange for a responsible N.C.O. to be in each truck. If this order is disobeyed the sides of the truck are to be closed.

Issued at 10:00pm., 16/9/16

Copy No.
1. C.O.
2. 2nd in Command
3. O.C. 'A' Company
4. O.C. 'B' Company
5. O.C. 'C' Company
6. O.C. 'D' Company
7. Quartermaster
8. Transport Officer
9. War diary
10. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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Appendix VII
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 32
REFERENCE MAP, Sheet 28 S.W., and 36 N.W.

1. 'B' and 'D' Companies will move tomorrow, the 20th, to T. 29. d. 8.6. and take over from the 5th Bn. S.W.B. for work in BOIS de PLOEGSTREERT. The detachment will be under the command of Capt. Wall.

2. 100 men of 'D' Company will parade outside HQ Mess at 7:00am and move by Motor Lorry. The remainder of the detachment under Capt. Prendergast will parade at 8:00am and move by road.
Route to be followed by these men will be the road running SOUTH of BAILLEUL past the Station. They are not to go through the town.
Officers kits of the detachment must be stacked outside HQ Mess by 6:45am and loaded on the lorries.
Two Company Cookers will proceed with the detachment.
No other Transport will be taken.

Tool carts will join these Companies on the 21st.

3. Troops moving EAST of BAILLEUL will move by platoons at 100 yards interval.

4. Battalion HQ will remain where they are until 9:00am on the 21st when they will move up to OOSTHOVE FARM at B. 11. d.

Issued at 8:45pm, 19/9/16

Copy No.
1. C.O.
2. O.C. 'A' Company
3. O.C. 'B' Company
4. O.C. 'C' Company
5. O.C. 'D' Company
6. Quartermaster
7. War diary
8. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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Appendix VIII
Copy No. 6
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment
OPERATION ORDER No.. 33
REFERENCE MAP, Sheet 28 S.W., and 36 N.W.

1. The Battalion less 'B' and 'D' companies will move tomorrow, the 21st, to OOSTHOVE FARM.
ROUTE: Road SOUTH of BAILLEUL - Main BAILLEUL - ARMENTIERES ROAD - PONT D'ACHELLES - LA RUE du SAC - LE DON - OOSTHOVE FARM.
Transport will move in rear of the Battalion to OOSTHOVE FARM, detaching 'B' and 'D' Companies tool wagons and sending them on to T. 29. d. 8.6. After unloading all wagons the Transport will return to billets at PONT D'ACHELLE.

2. Order of March: - Band, 'C', 'A'.
TIME TABLE:
Reveille: 6:00am
Breakfast:: 7:30am
Wagons packed by: 8:30am
Parade at : 9:30am
Head of column will be at Cross roads ROUGE-CROIX.
Baggage wagons will be packed in the QM Stores yard by 8:30am.

Issued at 9:10pm, 20/9/16

Copy No.
1. C.O.
2. O.C. 'A' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. Quartermaster & Transport Officer
5. O.C. lewis Gun Section.
6. War diary
7. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.

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