WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO WO-95-1646-2_3
1st JULY 1917 - 31st JULY 1917
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-45
24th (S) Bn. The Manchester Regiment.
(7th Divisional Pioneers)
Vol. XXI
1917
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
1st July.
Weather: Fine but very cold. Wind North Easterly; strong.
Work:
A Coy: KNUCKLE AVENUE U. 20. a. 1.7 to U. 20. a. 4.8. Deepening and widening Trench from a point 100 x along KNUCKLE AVENUE for a distance of 220 x , also a berm of 2' put on this stretch and 105 trench boards laid.
B Coy: PELICAN AVENUE: Berm was cleared for 1' 6" from the top end of PELICAN AVENUE to within 200 x of TIGER TRENCH.
45 trench boards laid, channels being dug in the floor of the trench. Other parts of the trench were deepened, widened and cleared.
D Coy: BULLECOURT AVENUE: 40 yards of mats relaid. Deepening and widening trench continuation of BULLECOURT AVENUE for 450 yards.
Completed ready for trench boards from C. 3. c. 1.3 to C. 8. b. 7.7
C Coy: Rested.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
2nd July.
Weather: Fine and warm. Wind North Easterly.
Work:
A Coy: widened and deepened KNUCKLE AVENUE from point U. 20. a. 3.7 to Front line. distance 450 x also laid trench mats on same.
B Coy: Rested.
C Coy: Unloading 200 trench mats from train at ECOUST. Loading 240 trench mats on trucks at ECOUST and carting same to point U. 27. a. 5.1.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-46
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
[continued from previous page]
Carrying 150 trench mats from point U. 27. d. 5.1 and placing in BULLECOURT AVE. from the EMABNKMENT ready for fixing.
Cutting out 60 x of channel and fixing 30 trench mats above same.
D Coy rested.
Night
Casualties: Nil.
W.T.J.
3rd July
Weather: Fine & warm.. Wind North Easterly; kight.
Work:
A Coy: rested.
B Coy: Continuation of work on PELICAN AVENUE. The whole of the trench as far as the junction with TIGER TRENCH with trench boards.
200 x was channeled in addition. Berm cleared for 200 x . 50 x of TIGER TRENCH.
C Coy: BULLECOURT AVENUE to point 31 from EMBANKMENT deepened, widened and drained and trench mats laid. The Coy. afterwards worked on that part of the trench from EMBANKMENT to U. 27. d. 3.5 by taking trench mats, deepening and draining trench, afterwards placing trench mats in position.
D Coy: Deepening and widening LONDON TRENCH U. 29. a. 40.97 to U. 29. a. 7.7, 250 x .
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. killed; 2 O.Rs. wounded.
W.T.J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-47
[MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
this diary sheet apparently scanned out of order - location and month assumed as previous -
July]
9th
The Battalion moved at 9am to 61a Camp at LOGEAST WOOD.
Weather fine & very warm. Wind light N.W.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
10th
Weather: very wet. Wind: rather strong; N.W.
Baths at ABLAINZEVELLE, whole Battalion.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
11th
Weather: Fine. Wind S. Westerly, light.
Battalion inspected by Campanies. Training programme arranged.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
12th
Weather: Fine & very warm. Wind: S. Westerly, light.
A. C. & D Companies. training.
B Coy: Working on dugout G. 1. d. 7.2
Casualties: Nil
13th
Weather: Fine but cooler. Wind: strong N. Easterly.
A & C Coys: Training
D Coy: improving cross country track, new plank bridge constructed over drain on to the road. Watercart track improved and wheel guards arranged along the side. B. 26. a. 05.75.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-48
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
4th July
Weather: Fine & Sunny. Wind North to North Easterly.
A Coy: worked on KNUCKLE AVENUE from STRANGEWAYS - FRONT LINE.
i. Deepening to depth of 5' 6" and where possible widening the trench to 5' at top & 2' 6" at base. (This was very difficult as the ground here is one mass of shell holes & loose earth.) from U. 20. a. 5.5.95 to U. 20. a. 49.90 app. 80 x .
ii. Deepening to 5' 6", widened to 5' at top and 2' 6" at base from U. 20. a. 25.82 to U. 20. a. 40.85. app.180 x .
App. 45 sumps made under trench mats; made 2 crossing places, 2 steps and bermed.
iii. Deepened to 5' 6", widened to 5' at top 2' 6" at base, bermed and laid trench mats from U. 20. a. 25. 8.2 to U. 20. a. 0.8 with the exception of 33 x from STANGEWAYS which did not require it. Steps, 18 sumps & Passing place constructed.
B Coy: worked on KNUCKLE AVENUE from STRANGEWAYS, S.W. deepening and widening and laying trench mats, and also made berms.
C Coy: (a) Deepening & widening 3 traverses in BULLECOURT AVENUE at LONGATTE. Carrying and laying 190 trench mats in BULLECOURT AVENUE working from C. 3. c. 0.2 to the rear of LONGATTE.
(b) Deepening & widening BULLECOURT AVENUE at point C. 3. b. 1.8 to point C. 3. b. 3.9 about 140 x .
D Coy: Deepening and laying 40 track mats thus completing TANK AVENUE.
Deepening and widening LONDON TRENCH from U. 28. b. 8.5.9.7 to U. 29. a. 89.70.
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-49
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
5th July
Weather: Fine & Sunny. Wind: Northerly to North Easterly.
A Coy : worked on KNUCKLE AVENUE deepening and widening (5' x 2' 6") & making sump hole, passing places and steps.
B Coy : worked on PELICAN AVENUE - 47 trench boards carried from DUMP and laid. Deepening and improving trench for 50 x at junction with TIGER TRENCH and a further 240 x deepened and widened, making sumps and relaying trench boards.
D Coy : Deepened, widened and drained BULLECOURT AVENUE for 150 x thus completing trench to the road point C. 8. b. 5.5 and laid trench mats.
Deepened, widened and drained 125 x BULLECOURT AVENUE from Point C. 3. b. 2.7 to pt. U. 27. d. 4.0.
C Coy : Rested.
Night.
Casualties: 2 O.Rs. killed; 1 O.R. wounded, remaining at duty.
W.T.J.
6th July
Weather: Fine, Sunny, Warm;. Wind: North Easterly, Light.
A, B & D Coys rested.
C Coy: Two Platoons on KNUCKLE AVENUE from U. 20. a. 5.9 to U. 14. c. 7.1 clearing and deepening the trench to a depth of 7 ft. relaying trench mats.
Two platoons on PELICAN AVENUE worked on 200 x of trench making it 6 ft. deep also making a berm on trench for 200 x .
Night.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-50
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
7th July
Weather: Fine during day. Very heavy thunder storms later. Wind: Easterly to S. Easterly, Light.
A Coy: Worked on KNUCKLE AVENUE. Dug new trench from U. 19. d. 8.7 towards EMBANKMENT 200 x completed to depth of 3' 3", 5' wide at top.
B Coy: Deepening and widening trench and clearing berm, making sump holes and replacing trench boards for 300 x from Railway cutting, PELICAN AVENUE.
C Coy: Worked on BULLECOURT AVENUE, cutting berm from EMBANKMENT to Sunken Road 250 x .
Deepening and widening 175 x of trench to 6' deep, 5' wide at top, 2' 6" wide at the bottom. Berm completed.
D Coy: Worked on TANK AVENUE - widening trench to 5' at top and deepening to an average of 6' 6" from U. 22. d. 86.00 to 28. b. 7.8. 150 x .Also berm cleared.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
8th July
Weather: Wet; Wind: South Easterly.
A Coy: Carrying for Engineers from DUMP at U. 19. b. 8.6 to U. 14. c. 4.5.
83 coils of wire and 410 pickets..
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-51
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
8th July
[continued from previous page]
B Coy : Deepening to average depth of 4' 9" QUEEN'S AVENUE from Post L1 towards front line. (This trench is very much worse than reported. It is very shallow, narrow and bady traversed.)
Night.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
9th July
Weather: Fine but dull. Wind: Westerly.
C Coy: Left camp 3:00am. worked on BULLECOURT AVENUE C. 3. c. 1.3 - U. 27. d. 6.3 as follows:
(1) C. 3.c 1.3 - C. 3. a. 9.4 drained; small sumps dug under boards.
(2) C. 3. a. 9.4 - C. 3. b. 2.6 deepened to 5'.
(3) U. 27. a. 4.0 - U. 27. d. 6.3 deepened and widened to 6' 6" deep. 4' 6" wide at top (day)
D Coy : Left camp at 3:00am worked on TANK AVENUE from the RAILWAY EMBANKMENT forwards, deepening and widening.
Good work done for 3 hours when the party though working in the trench was spotted and the trench was shelled with 77mm and then with salvoes of 150mm, so the Coy. was withdrawn. (day)
C & D Coys. worked during the day as an experiment.
A Coy: carried up wire and pickets by train from ECOUST to train terminus, carried forward to front line. 2 dumps forward for wiring at U. 20. a. 9.9 & U. 20. b. 25.50. (night).
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-52
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
9th July
[continued from previous page]
B Coy: worked on QUEEN'S AVENUE widened and deepened to 6' on the stretch worked on last night.. New portion dug for 50 x to depth 5' 6". (Night)
Casualties: Nil
DETACHED PARTIES:
BEHAGNIES - ERVILLERS road - Anti Aircraft defence. 2 L.Gs. 7 men.
DOULLENS AREA : Anti Aircraft defence. 4 L.Gs. 1 Off., 25 men.
MORY: Permanent loading party at R.E. yard - 15 men.
ECOUST : Divisional tramway Officer.
W.T.J.
10th July
Weather: Fine and bright. Wind: North, strong.
A Coy: wired in front of KNUCKLE TRENCH - 350 x . Work not completed; one Platoon can finish.
D Coy: Continued work of previous time on BULLECOURT AVENUE; worked backwards from it 180 x ; widened to 4'6" at top 2'6" at bottom, deep to 6'6". 200 x berm cleared.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-53
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
11th July
Weather: fine. Wind: Northerly
C Coy: on BULLECOURT AVENUE widening and ['trimming' ?] sides from EMBANKMENT - C. 3. a. 9.7 (526 x ). Laying and fixing on trestles 160 x of trench mats.
Day.
C Coy: on BULLECOURT AVENUE widening & deepening and clearing berm in C. 3. a. 40 x mats laid on trestles. Parts repaired where blown in by shell fire.
D Coy: on TANK AVENUE. 300 x from RAILWAY forward, widened and deepened and ready for trestles. Tape laid from continuation of TANK AVENUE back to the NOREUIL ROAD. The tape was not laid for the last 150 x - 200 x to the road owing to insufficient supply.
Night
Detached Parties: As before. In addition 1 Off. & 30 O.R. dismantling huts at AVELUY.
Casualties: 1 O.R. killed; 8 men buried in BULLECOURT AVENUE this morning but all returned to camp.
W.T.J.
12th July
Weather: Fine & warm. Wind S. Westerly.
A Coy: completed wiring the KNUCKLE.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-54
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
[continued from previous page]
12th July
(b) Clearing berm both sides QUEEN'S AVENUE for 250 x .
Night
C Coy: on BULLECOURT AVENUE clearing berm on each side from RAILWAY to U. 27. d. 40.25 laying trench mats and fixing on trestles for 40 x . Deepening and widening trench and clearing berms C. 3. a. 9.7 to C. 3. a. 6.2; 240 x .
Night
D Coy : on TANK AVENUE from RAILWAY forward. 58 trestles carried up and laid. 170 x more trench deepened to 6' 6" deep - 4' 6" wide at the top. Berm cleared on this stretch and on stretch worked on last night.
Night.
B Coy: Pushed up by tramway, ECOUST - END OF TANK AVENUE and carried on to LONDON TRENCH about U. 29. a. 8.8. wiring material.
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. killed; 6 O.Rs. WOUNDED; 1 O.R, wounded, remaining at duty
Night.
Detached Parties : at AVELUY, MORY, DOULLENS, VALHEUREUX & BEHAGNIES.
W.T.J.
13th July
Weather : Fine & Warm. Wind: S. Easterly.
A Coy: on QUEEN'S AVENUE, 220 x widened, deepened and bermed.
B Coy: 160 coils wire and 600 screw pickets carted from ECOUST to TANK AVENUE.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-55
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
[continued from previous page]
13th July
C Coy: on BULLECOURT AVENUE deepening, widening & making berms on 220 x of trench. 90 x trench mats laid on trestles.
D Coy: 150 x TANK AVENUE dug out to 6' 6" x 4' 6" (digging completed to second tank.
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.
14th July
The Battalion rested.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
15th July
Weather: Fine. Wind: S. Westerly
C. of E. & Non C. of E. services held in Camp.
A Coy:
Less 1 platoon 76 x of QUEEN'S AVENUE deepened to 6' 6" , widened to 5' 0" at top, 2' 6" at base, from Post U. 20. a. 2.3 to U. 20. a. 10.25.
Carried and laid 150 trench mats from ECOUST to QUEEN'S AVENUE also 150 trestles.
64 x of KNUCKLE TRENCH dug to average depth of 2' 9" width, 5' at top 5' 6" at base. (intended) from U. 19. d. 7.3 to U. 19. a. 60.25
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-56
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
[continued from previous page]
15th July
D Coy: 160 x of TANK AVENUE to requisite depth (after assisting B Coy. to carry)
B Coy: 95 long screw Pickets and 36 coils of wire carried from C. 4. b. 5.6 to LONDON TRENCH. 70 x high wire erected from DIVISIONAL BOUNDARY, inclusive to left 4 x in rear of knee wire.
C Coy: Deepened and widened and making berm for 220 x BULLECOURT AVENUE .
Night.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
16th July: Weather: Showery. Wind: S. Westerly; moderating.
A Coy: Less 1 Platoon dug 160 x of KNUCKLE AVENUE to 2' 6" deep, 5' wide at top. Ground very hard but greasy on top. Work slow.
Night
B Coy: Less 2 Platoons. Carried 15 coils wire and 45 screw pickets from DUMP C. 4. b. 6.7 to Company HQ. LONDON TRENCH.
Night
C Coy: on BULLECOURT AVENUE clearing up, refitting boards, one platoon by day; where necessary laying 40 boards on trestles.
(2) Clearing out loose earth, clearing berm on 500 x . 3 passing places started & finished.
(3) Cleared out where blown in, in 5 places near Bn. HQ. Division G were
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-57
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
[16th July
continued from previous page]
informed when completed. This portion of trench shelled all night.
Night.
D Coy: 150 x of TANK AVENUE commenced last night completed. 1 Platoon on berm all along.1 section laying boards by day.
A Coy : by day 1 platoon on QUEEN'S AVENUE clearing up work done on night of 15-16 & laid 136 boards on trestles.
B Coy: by day. 1 platoon collecting 200 x M'entanglements & 32 knife rests from BEHAGNIES AREA, part dumped 400 x S. of waterpoint, part dumped at crossing of Railway & road, part conveyed to MORY R.E. YARD. 1 platoon at AVELUY.
Usual detached parties at DOULLENS, MORY & AVELUY.
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded (shell shock)
W.T.J.
17th July
Weather: Fine. Wind : S. Westerly.
A Coy: 1 platoon by day deepened KNUCKLE AVENUE for 120 x from 3' to 4' 6" also cut through from new trench into old one.
3 platoons by night conveyed by trolley from ECOUST DUMP to U. 19. d. (sunken road) 560 pickets, 190 coils of wire.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_3
1st JULY 1917 - 31st JULY 1917
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-58
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
17th July
[continued from previous page]
making dumps at (1) U. 20. a. 40.70 : 185 pickets; 60 coils wire.
(2) U. 20. a. 6.9 : 300 pickets; 76 coils wire.
(3) U. 19. a. (Sunken Road) : 75 pickets; 54 coils wire.
B Coy: 1 Platoon by day collecting wire at BEHAGNIES AREA.
1 Platoon at AVELUY.
2 Platoons by night 16-17, 21 coils wire, 30 long screw pickets carried from C. 4. b. 6.7 to forward dumps in LONDON TRENCH.
85 x of wire erected in front of LONDON ROAD TRENCH in continuation of work previously done.
C Coy: 1 Platoon by day on BULLECOURT AVENUE clearing & repairing trench and refixing trench mats from EMBANKMENT to SUNKEN ROAD.
3 Platoons by night preparing for wiring from GORDON SWITCH to TANK AVENUE. Wire & pickets were conveyed from dump at ECOUST and dumps formed at :
(1) U. 28. a. 6.6; 25 coils wire & 150 pickets.
(2) U. 28. c. 2.3; 25 coils wire & 150 pickets.
D Coy: conveyed 100 coils wire and 250 pickets from ECOUST DUMP to DUMP at C. 4. b. 6.6;
80 coils of wire, 150 pickets carried from C. 4. b. 6.6 forward dumps.
150 x of
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-59
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
17th July
[continued from previous page]
fence wire erected in front of LONDON TRENCH.
Usual detached parties : DOULLENS, MORY, AVELUY.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
18th July
Weather: Fine but cold. Wind: S. Westerly, strong.
A Coy: 20 men by day improving trench & fixing trench boards. KNUCKLE AVENUE.
B Coy: - 1 Platoon. 20 men collecting M frames & knife rests. BEHAGNIES.
C Coy: 20 men clearing trench and fixing loose trench boards. BULLECOURT AVENUE
D Coy: 20 men by night getting up wire from DUMP at ECOUST to C. 4. b. 6.6
Remainder of Battalion rested.
Usual detached parties.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
19th July
Weather: Fine & warm. Wind: S. Westerly
A Coy: Conveyed 120 coils of wire and 470 Pickets from ECOUST DUMP to forward DUMPS at KNUCKLE.
Wired 3 stake wide wire in front of KNUCKLE AVENUE from STRANGEWAYS to QUEEN'S AVENUE.
12 O.Rs. employed repairing KNUCKLE AVENUE near front line.
B & C Coys. - 5 Platoons: carried pickets and wire from EMBANKMENT on to job. Wired a single fence of 3 wires from app. U. 28. a. 6.5 to
TANK AVENUE.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-60
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
19th July
[continued from previous page]
B Coy: 1 platoon at AVELUY (on detachment).
C Coy: 2 Platoons by day repairing ERVILLERS - ST-LEGER road from B. 13. b. 3.3 to B. 8. d. 1.6.
Unloaded 15 loads of metal and used 10 of these. Remaining 5 dumped at side of road.
D Coy: Carried 30 coils wire and 80 long screw pickets from C. 4. b. 6.6 to No. 3 Machine Gun Post in LONDON TRENCH. Wired 120 x length in front of LONDON TRENCH in continuation of work previously done.
Casualties: 1 shell shock remaining in camp.
W.T.J.
20th July
Weather: Fine and much warmer. Wind: S.W. Light.
A Coy: 200 x of Apron and Fence wire completed from QUEEN'S AVENUE to app. U. 19. d. 95.80.
340 coils wire, 250 pickets carried up from ECOUST DUMP to QUEEN'S AVENUE.
DUMP on KNUCKLE AVENUE removed to U. 19. d. 95.80
B Coy: One platoon on KNUCKLE AVENUE clearing and improving forward end.
One platoon on PELICAN AVENUE clearing and improving.
One platoon on detachment at AVELUY. (taking down Nissen Huts.)
C Coy: Wiring LONDON TRENCH : carrying material from RAILWAY EMBANKMENT to
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-61
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
20th July
[continued from previous page]
to dumps in LONDON TRENCH. One stretch of 100 x was completed. A further 50 x was started. One row of stakes up & 3 straight wires.
D Coy: Two platoons on BULLECOURT AVENUE cleaning & improving. 100 x finished.
Two platoons on TANK AVENUE cleaning & improving. 200 x trestled; 100 x finished.
Casualties: 2 O.Rs. wounded (Machine gun bullets)
W.T.J.
21st July
Weather: Sunny and very warm. Wind: S.W. Calm.
A Coy: KNUCKLE, TANK AVENUE LINE. 230 x of Apron and Fence wire completed from U. 19. d. 95.80 to U. 20. c. 50.48. (Sunken road)
380 pickets and 80 coils of wire conveyed from ECOUST DUMP to Sunken Road U. 20. c.
B Coy: Deepening and widening of KNUCKLE AVENUE and PELICAN AVENUE.
C Coy: Wiring LONDON TRENCH in U. 23. d. Wired 130 x complete. Conveying 60 coils of barbed wire & 550 pickets from ECOUST DUMP to EMBANKMENT and from EMBANKMENT to forward dumps.
D Coy: 8 men and 1 N.C.O. loading pickets at ECOUST & pushing same along
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-62
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
21st July
[continued from previous page]
railway to TANK AVENUE 250 pickets. 60 trestles carried from CAMP to TANK AVENUE: 30 men completed 30 x of diagonal loose wire & second fence, also completed another 100 x of wire from U. 23. c. 1.0. to U. 22. d. 9.0.
36 men deepened & widened & digging SUMP holes in TANK AVENUE U. 28. b. 5.3 - U. 28. b. 5.4.
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded remaining at duty.
W.T.J.
22nd July
Weather: Sunny & very hot. Wind: N. Easterly, light.
Voluntary C. of E. & Non C. of E. Services in Camp in afternoon.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
23rd July
Weather: Fine & very hot. Wind: Nil
A Coy: Reserve line from KNUCKLE AVENUE 250 x dug 6' wide at top, 2' to 4' 6" deep according to hardness of ground. 12' x 21'.
B Coy: One platoon on KNUCKLE AVENUE maintenance.
One platoon on PELICAN AVENUE maintenance.
One platoon at AVELUY.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-63
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
23rd July
[continued from previous page]
One platoon providing small detached parties.
B Coy: LONDON TRENCH. 1 Platoon wiring;
1 Platoon carrying from EMBANKMENT to job.
1 Platoon pushing trench mats & trestles from ECOUST DUMP to BULLECOURT AVENUE & then carrying wire from EMBANKMENT to job.
100 x of wiring was completed. 70 x commenced; both lines of pickets and three straight lines on centre pickets.
1 Platoon on BULLECOURT AVENUE, clearing trench and replacing broken trench boards.
D Coy: Wired from TANK AVENUE to FOX TROT U. 22. d. 9.1 to U. 22. a. 65.05, 200 x of wire.
60 x of trench boarding trestled in TANK AVENUE: Carried wire from ECOUST DUMP. 40 coils and pickets 180
During the afternoon D Coy. moved their quarters from CAMP B. 15. c. 0.3 to near the Sucrerie at VRAUCOURT.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
24th July
Weather: Thunder & very close. Wind: Easterly, very light.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-64
MORY B. 15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
24th July
[continued from previous page]
A Coy: Reserve Line from KNUCKLE AVENUE U. 20. c. 0.6 to U. 19. d. 9.7. 250 x . deepened to an average depth of 4' 6".
36 coils of wire carried up for wiring.
B Coy: Divided into two parties:
one on maintenance of KNUCKLE AVENUE.
one on maintenance of PELICAN AVENUE.
C Coy:
1 Platoon wiring 130 x LONDON TRENCH working from R. to L.
1 Platoon carrying wire & pickets from EMBANKMENT dump to job.
1 Platoon pushed up by tramway, from ECOUST DUMP to EMBANKMENT, 45 coils barbed wire, 150 long pickets, 114 trestles, 40 trench mats.
1 Platoon on maintenance of BULLECOURT AVENUE.
D Coy:
Completed wiring from U. 22. d. 6.1 to U. 22. d. 2.1 approx. 200 x. 1 Platoon.
1 Platoon pushed up to EMBANKMENT by tramway wire & pickets.
1 Platoon carrying wiring material from EMBANKMENT to job.
1 Platoon on maintenance of TANK AVENUE.
Night
D Coy. working from R. to L. joined up with C Coy.
Usual detached parties at AVELUY, DULLONS [DOULLENS], MORY etc.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-65
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
25th July
Weather: Fine & warm. Wind: Westerly.
A Coy: NEW Reserve Line Left Sector (KNUCKLE). Completed to 6' 6", fire-stepped, bermed and lowered parapet of trench 250 x from U. 20. c. 0.6 to U. 19. d. 9.7.
Dug 60 x of new trench 6' wide from U. 19. d. 80.75 to U. 19. d. 9.7 to an average depth of 1' 9".
Carried 20 coils of barbed wire & 100 pickets from ECOUST DUMP to U. 20.c. 1.5.
B Coy:
1 Platoon improving and maintaining PELICAN AVENUE
1 Platoon improving and maintaining KNUCKLE AVENUE
1 Platoon at Aveluy taking down Nissen huts.
1 Platoon finding small parties collecting wire etc.
C Coy:
2 Platoons wiring on new support line in Right Sector in U. 28. b. after carrying from EMBANKMENT to job.
1 Platoon pushing material from ECOUST DUMP to job.
1 Platoon on maintenance of BULLECOURT AVENUE.
400 x of wiring was completed with exception of the outside apron. A further 100 x started, the 2nd row of pickets was put up & some diagonal wire
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-66
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
25th July
[continued from previous page]
D Coy: Erected single fence (3 wires on pickets 3 x apart) from TANK AVENUE (U. 28. b. 55.40) to the Horseshoe (U. 29. c. 20.85) a distance of 520 x . 3 Platoons carried wire one journey from EMBANKMENT to forward DUMP and afterwards improving TANK AVENUE..
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
26th July
Weather: Fine & warm. Wind: Westerly.
The Battalion rested.
In the evening the Battalion played the 1/10 Manchesters at Rugby Football (Northern Union Rules)at COURCELLES. Very large attendance.
The Battalion won 11 points against 3.
W.T.J.
27th
Weather: Fine, very hot. Wind: South Westerly (light)
A Coy: on MANCHESTER RESERVE lowered parapet and parados, bermed and generally improved it. Completed to 6', fire-stepped trench 60 x from KNUCKLE AVENUE U. 19. d. 80.70 to U. 19. d. 9.7. Widened trench to take trench mats from U. 20. [?]. 0.6 to U. 19. d. 9.7.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-67
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
27th July
[continued from previous page]
and revetted fire steps.
B Coy: On maintenance KNUCKLE AVENUE Carried up 50 trestles and 11 trench mats. Laid 22 trench mats on trestles. Work on 50 x deepening and widening.
On maintenance PELICAN AVENUE carried 38 trestles and 12 trench mats from R.E. DUMP ECOUST and laid same in trench. Widening and deepening 50 x of trench.
Stretch of 20 x new junction TIGER TRENCH which had been blown in was cleared.
C Coy: wiring GORDON SWITCH to TANK AVENUE. Pushing material from ECOUST to EMBANKMENT
(2) Carried material from EMBANKMENT on to job and wiring stretch completed with the exception of the outside apron.
1 Platoon on maintenance and improvement of BULLECOURT AVENUE.
D Coy: wiring TANK AVENUE to HORSESHOE. Trucking 55 coils wire and 130 pickets from ECOUST [word illegible] EMBANKMENT. Carried material from EMBANKMENT on to job and wiring. Completed apron on line from U. 28. b. 55.25 to U. 29. b. 17.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-68
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
28th July
Weather: Fine & very hot. Wind: Northerly, light.
A Coy: Pushed up from the ECOUST DUMP 259 coils of wire and 170 pickets and formed dumps at U. 14. a. 3.5, U. 20. a. 2.9 and U. 20. a. 1.8.
15 men widened, deepened and revetted MANCHESTER RESERVE trench where required.
B Coy: on maintenance of PELICAN AVENUE.
C Coy: 1 Platoon, pushing by tramway, material from ECOUST DUMP to EMBANKMENT.
2 Platoons carrying from EMBANKMENT on to job and wiring. Completed 350 x apron fence GORDON SWITCH - TANK AVENUE; a further 100 x half completed.
1 Platoon on maintenance of BULLECOURT AVENUE.
D Coy: Completed wire belt from TANK AVENUE U. 28. b. 55.40 to the HORSESHOE (U. 29. c. 20.85). 2 Gaps are left (1) 200 x from TANK
AVENUE (2) 150 x from HORSESHOE.
1 Platoon on maintenance of TANK AVENUE.
Casualties: 1 Officer wounded, seriously.
Night
W.T.J.
29th July
Weather: Very wet. Thunder storms. Wind: Northerly, light.
A Coy: 220 x of wiring, 3 stakes wide, complete with apron and loose wire on the
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-69
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
29th July
[continued from previous page]
the North side of KNUCKLE AVENUE between STRANGEWAYS and the front line. Also carried up 120 coils of wire and 400 pickets.
B Coy: Wire trench mats carried from DUMP near EMBANKMENT end of PELICAN AVE. 60 x of PELICAN dug out ready for matting.
14 mats laid and nailed on trestles.
C Coy:
Wiring 300 x of apron fence GORDON SWITCH - TANK AVENUE and improved other parts of wiring. This job is now finished. (2 Platoons)
1 Platoon pushing up, by tramway, wire and pickets to D Coy.
1 Platoon on maintenance of BULLECOURT AVENUE.
D Coy:
Pushed up by tramway 15 coils of wire, 30 trench boards, 180 pickets & 30 trestles.
Wiring along RAILWAY EMBANKMENT from U. 27. c. 9.7 to U. 27. c. 7.8 (app. 120 x ) 1st fence and diagonal. This job was very difficult to find as grass was very long and no wire was to be found where stated.
Usual detached parties at DOULLENS, VALHEUREUX, MORY etc.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-70
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
29th July
[continued from previous page]
Casualties: 9 O.Rs. wounded; 2 O.Rs. wounded remaining at duty.
Voluntary C. of E. & N.C. of E. Services in Camp at 5 and 5:30 pm.
Night.W.T.J.
30th July
Weather: Fine but cool. Wind: N. Westerly, fresh.
The Battalion rested.
In the evening the Officers played a team of privates at Association Football. Privates 2; Officers 1.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
31st July
Weather: Showery. Wind: Northerly.
A Coy:
erected 130 x. 3 stake wide wire completed with loose and apron on the North side of KNUCKLE AVENUE, STRANGEWAYS END.
90 x of 3 stake wide wire completed with apron and loose in continuation of MANCHESTER RESERVE.
Also carried up and dumped for further 144 coils wire and 350 pickets.
[continued on next page]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-71
MORY B.15. c. 0.3. Maps 57 C, N.W., ECOUST-ST-MEIN, 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT MAP)
31st July
[continued from previous page]
B Coy: on maintenance of PELICAN AVENUE 40 x at top and deepened and widened, cleared berm, trestled and boarded.
1 Platoon on detachment at AVELUY.
C Coy: Wiring the EMBANKMENT in U. 26. d.
Completed 130 x with the exception of the Apron. 20 x of pickets were put up with one strand of wire on outside line.
1 Platoon pushing up by tramway, wire and pickets from ECOUST DUMP.
1 Platoon on mainenance BULLECOURT AVENUE.
D Coy: 300 x of partly erected wire completed (U. 27. c. 9.5.6.5 - U. 27. c. 45.80)
1 Platoon on maintenance of TANK AVENUE.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
[signed] F.S. Pountney, Lieut. Colonel Commanding
24th Bn. The Manchester Regiment
(7th Divisional Pioneers)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
