© Crown Copyright

WO-95-1646-2_3-4

© Crown Copyright

WO-95-1646-2_3-10

WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO WO-95-1646-2_3
5th APRIL 1917 - 30th APRIL 1917

Next page : File WO-95_1646-2_3-1

[1917
continued from last page in WO-95-1646-2_2

[ABLAINZEVILLE F. 28. b. 6.8. Map Sheet 57D N.E., 57C N.W., H.Q. & 1 Coy.
3 Coys. at COURCELLES HALTE, A. 16. b. 4.8.
5th. April ]
1 Pltn. B. Coy. widening & improving 3 ramps & commencing new one for cavalry track.
D. Coy. filling trenches, cutting wire, making ramps (7 hrs.) for cavalry track near BUCQUOY.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

ABLAINZEVILLE F. 28. b. 6.8. Map Sheet 57D N.E., 57C N.W., H.Q. & 1 Coy.
3 Coys. at COURCELLES HALTE, A. 16. b. 4.8.
6th. April
Weather: As previous day.
Training:
1 Pltn. per Coy. off working parties; Infantry Drill, Inspections etc.
1 Officer per Coy. & 1 section per Coy. received instruction on use of Bangalore Torpedoes.
Work:
D Coy. as previous day.
A & C Coys. clearing & repairing ERVILLERS - MORY road; 6 hrs.
¹/2 B. Coy. clearing & repairing COURCELLES - HAMELINCOURT road; 6 hrs.
1 Pltn. B. Coy. on Cavalry track as previous day.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

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ABLAINZEVILLE F. 28. b. 6.8. Map Sheet 57D N.E., 57C N.W., H.Q. & 1 Coy.
3 Coys. at COURCELLES HALTE, A. 16. b. 4.8.
7th. April
Weather: Fine; cooler. Wind fresh N.E.
Training: 1 Pltn. per Coy. as previous day.
Work: As previous day.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

8th April
Weather fine. Wind light N.E.
No work done.
Divine Services were held during day at both camps.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

9th April
Weather: some rain. Wind light N.E.
Training: B. Coy. did infantry training, hut[?] inspections etc.
Work:
D. Coy. 1 Pltn. repairing road; 3 Pltns. filling in trenches for cavalry track.
A & C Coys :
2 Pltns. worked on defensive line ST. LEGER - VRAUCOURT, digging & wiring posts.
6 Pltns. unable to work as above by day owing to exposed position; worked by night.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

10th April
Weather - as previous day.
Training: D Coy. as B Coy. above.
Work:
B. Coy. road repairs.
A & C Coys. worked on defensive line as above by night; brought back to camp in anticipation of possible move.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

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ABLAINZEVILLE F. 28. b. 6.8. Map Sheet 57D N.E., 57C N.W., H.Q. & 1 Coy.
3 Coys. at COURCELLES HALTE, A. 16. b. 4.8.
11th. April
Weather: Fine during morning; some snow in the evening.
Work: Bn. was standing by from 4:30am in anticipation of possible moves due to successful attack of First and Third Armys [sic].
A & C Coys. eventually worked on ERVILLERS - ST LEGER road, clearing & repairing, 4 hrs;
1 Pltn. making track round CRATER at B. 10. b. 5.9
Move: Bn. HQ. & D Coy. moved up to the detachment camp, COURCELLES HALTE.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
12th. April
Weather: Cooler; some rain.
Work:
A & C Coys. worked as previous day 6 hrs.
B Coy. standing by.
D. Coy. worked 3¹/4 hrs. night on defensive line, digging & wiring posts.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

13th. April
Weather: Mild; bright & clear; wind fresh W. S.W.
Work:
A Coy. worked on ST LEGER - ERVILLERS road draining & repairing ruts & holes with brick.
B Coy. filling craters in & near ST LEGER.
C Coy. worked on defensive line 6-7 hrs.
1 Pltn. D Coy. worked 4¹/2 hrs. night, on defensive line, digging & wiring no. 13 post.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

14th. April
Weather: fine; wind light Westerly.

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COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
14th. April
[continued from previous page]

Work:
A Coy. worked 6 hrs. on ERVILLERS - ST LEGER road.
B Coy. worked 6 hrs. on HAMELINCOURT - ERVILLERS road.
C & D Coy. worked 4¹/2 hrs. on support posts for defensive line in ST LEGER wood, digging, clearing brushwood & wiring.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

15th April
Weather: Wet; wind fresh northerly.
Work:
B Coy: 1 Offr. 42 O.R. repairing ERVILLERS - ST LEGER road; loading & unloading 10 wagons with brick.
C. Coy: Worked 5 hours night wiring posts of defensive line; 3 wagons took up pickets from camp; wire had to be collected from various places.
Remainder of Bn. rested.
Divine Service held in camp during day.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

16th April
Weather: Showery.
Work:
¹/2 B Coy. & Band worked on ERVILLERS - ST LEGER & ERVILLERS - HAMELINCOURT roads.
A & D Coys. worked in defensive line improving posts & wire & clearing brushwood in front for field of fire.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

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COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
17th. April
Weather - showery; wind northerly.
Work:
A Coy. training: infantry drill inspection; bombing & L.G. training etc.
B Coy. wiring post of defensive line L'HOMME MORT - ST LEGER; 88 men carrying.
C & D Coys. : road repairs ERVILLERS - ST LEGER & ERVILLERS - HAMELINCOURT roads.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

18th. April
Weather - showery; wind strong, northerly.
Work:
D Coy. on Defensive line improving trenches & wire.
C Coy. training as A Coy. above; programme modified by bad weather.
A & B Coys.: road repairs as C & D Coys. above.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

19th. April
Weather - slight showers, warmer; wind changed towards South
Work:
D Coy. Training.
A Coy. Road repairs on ERVILLERS - ST LEGER road.
B Coy. Road repairs on HAMELINCOURT - ERVILLERS road.
C Coy. improving posts & wire on Defensive Line.
Casualties - Nil.
A.St.G.W.

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WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_3
5th APRIL 1917 - 30th APRIL 1917
ORDER PAPERS Etc.

Next page : File WO-95_1646-2_3-6

COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
20th. April
Weather - As previous day.
Work:
B Coy. training
A Coy. road repairs; ERVILLERS - ST LEGER road and C Coy. road repairs, ERVILLERS - HAMELINCOURT road, [together] with 12 wagons carrying brick
D Coy. on Defensive Line, improving support post & joining up wire of front line posts.
Casualties - O.R. 1 wounded
A.St.G.W.

21st. April
Weather: Fine & warm; wind north - north west.
Work:
A Coy. training.
B & D Coys. road repairs as A & C Coys. above.
C Coy:
1 Pltn. on crater COURCELLES - AYETTE road, pumping out water, filling with earth etc. & making brick & sleeper divisions.
3 Pltns. on defensive line as D Coy. above & digging 2 flank post on left.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

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COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
22nd. April
Weather: Bright & clear; wind light N.E.
Coys. rested.
Divine Services held in camp during day.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

23rd April
Weather: Fine, warm. Wind light N. - N.E.
C Coy. Training: close order drill, artillery formations, signalling, bombing, Lewis Gun classes.
Work:
D Coy. Joining wire in front of posts of Defensive Line.
A & B Coys. Road repairs.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

24th April
Weather: Fine & warm. Wind strong northerly.
D Coy. training as C Coy.above.
C Coy. worked as D above.
A & B Coys. Road repairs.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

25th April
Weather: Cooler. Wind strong N.
B Coy training

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COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
25th April
[continued from previous page]

Work:
C Coy. repairing ERVILLERS - ST LEGER & ERVILLERS - HAMELINCOURT roads.
A Coy. enlarging posts of defensive line.
D Coy. improving wiring of posts & working on road B. 3. c. 8.4 to ST LEGER.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

26th April
Weather : cool; wind dropped to light.
Work:
A Coy: Training; P.T. & B.F., close order drill etc.
B Coy. out 8¹/2 hrs. improving wire, enlarging & deepening posts & camouflaging defensive line.
C & D Coys. repairing road ERVILLERS - ST LEGER, filling craters B. 3. b. 8.4 & A. 6. c. 00.75 & making brick tracks across; out 7 - 7¹/2 hrs.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

27th April
Weather : fine
C Coy Training
B & D Coys. out 7 - 8 hours on road s & craters as above.
A Coy. out 6 hrs (night) digging intermediate posts in the defensive line; 4 bays & 3 traverses average depth 3 ft.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

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COURCELLES HALTE. a. 16. B. 4.8 Sheets 57C, N.W.; 51B, S.W.
28th April
Weather: Fine, bright & clear. Wind N. - N.W. light.
D Coy. Training
B Coy & ¹/2 C Coy. out 6 - 8 hrs.on roads & craters.
¹/2 C Coy. out 8 hrs. making overland track from Railway at A. 16. d. 4.0 to ERVILLERS.
A Coy. out 2¹/2 hrs. in the evening continuing above; making ramps, filling trench & clearing wire; marking out with white 'suckets'[?].
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

29th April
Weather: as previous day.
Coys. rested. Divine Services held during day.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

30th April
Weather: Fine. Wind light N. - N.E.
Work:
A Coy & C Coy. worked 6 hrs. completing overland track above & setting out with white posts & notice boards.
B Coy. Training
D Coy. out 7 - 8¹/2 hrs. night digging communication trenches from ST LEGER - VRAUCOURT road to 2 posts of the defensive line 250^x & 80^x long; half finished.
Casualties - Nil
A.St.G.W.

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Next page : File WO-95_1646-2_3-10

SECRET
Copy No. 12
OPERATION ORDER NO. 15 BY
LIEUT. COLONEL. J.R. CHADWICK COMMANDING
24TH BATTALION THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT.

Reference - Sheets 51B S.W. and 57C N.W.
14th April, 1917

1. On a date at an hour to be notified later, the V Corps will be attacking the HINDENBURG Line in conjunction with the 1st ANZAC Corps attacking on the right, and the VII Corps on the left.

2. The attack of the V Corps will be carried out by the 62nd Division with objectives as shown on the attached map, which also shows the hour of departure from each objective.
The 7th Division will be in Corps Reserve.

3. Action by 7th Division:
(i) The 220th Machine Gun Company is placed at the disposal of the C.O.C., 62nd Division.
O.C. 220th Machine Gun Company has already received verbal instructions to ret[i]re to 62nd Divisonal Headquarters on evening of April 18th.

(ii) The 22nd Infantry Brigade will be concentrated in the valley North-West of MORY by Zero plus one hour.
The Brigade Commander will keep in close touch with the situation and from Zero will keep a Staff Officer at 62nd Division Advanced Headquarters on the ERVILLERS - ARRAS Road (B. 18. b. 1.8), also one at the Headquarters [o]f the centre attacking brigade.
Headquarters 22nd Infantry Brigade near MORY at B. 28. a. 1.6.

(iii) The 20th Infantry Brigade will be concentrated at COURCELLES by Zero plus three hours.

(iv) The 91st Infantry Brigade will concentrate two battalions at LOGEAST WOOD, two battalions ABLAINZEVILLE, by Zero plus three hours.

(v) Divisional Headquarters will remain at COURCELLES in the first instance, and will be prepared to move to MORY as the situation develops.

4. The role of the 7th Division must depend upon the way in which the action develops.
It may be required to assist the 62nd Division; or it may be required to follow up the enemy.
All units will be prepared to move at short notice and to take with them only the baggage, supplies, and stores laid down in War Establishments. No extra transport will be available.

5.
(a) Company Commanders will ensure that their Companies are ready to move at short notice when Zero hour has been notified.
(b) Waterbottles must be filled, too - carts packed, blankets and greatcoats rolled in bundles of ten.
(c) The Quartermaster and Transport Officer will make the necessary arrangements for storing surplus stores and moving.

ISSUED AT 4:00 PM
Copy Nos:
1. C.O.
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
8. Transport Officer
9. Lewis Gun Officer
10. Medical Officer
11. War Diary
12. War Diary

(Signed) A. St. G. WALSH, Lieut. and Adjutant
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.

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