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WO-95_1663_2-77

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WO-95_1663_2-86

WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO 95_1663_2-2
1st April - 13th April 1916

Next page: WO 95_1663_2-75

22nd Brigade
7th Division
BECAME PIONEERS IN MAY 1916
24th BATTALION
MANCHESTER REGIMENT
APRIL 1916

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CONFIDENTIAL
WAR
DIARY
VOLUME VI
APRIL 1916
24th MANCHESTER REGIMENT
became Pioneers in May 1916

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VOLUME VI
C2 SECTOR, Apr. 1st to Apr. 2nd, 6pm to 6pm
Operations - Nil
Intelligence -
a. The enemy shelled GIBRALTER VALLEY from 9am to 10am with over 200 5.9 shells.
Enemy artillery again active about 3:30pm. Trench mortar shells dropped on BURLINGTON ARCADE and MAPLE REDOUBT.
Desultory machine gun fire on the night of the 1st April.
A heavy bombardment was heard about SUZANNE and FRISE lasting about an hour from 8:20pm.
b. Enemy's work on new trench F9b 68* is practically nil. A working party was engaged on trench at F3d 12.02 - 26.08. Work is suspected in FRICOURT WOOD.
c. Trench mortars suspected at F9.6 to 79.03 and machine guns at F9b 62.17 and F9b 48.37. Snipers silenced the former at 8pm.
d. Two enemy aeroplanes crossed over our line at about 9:30am 2nd inst.
e. Our patrol left our Left Half Sub Sector at 9:20pm, consisting of a Lance Corporal and two men to inspect the enemy's wire and listen for enemy work. They located an M.G. gun at F9 b 25.75.
f. A German dressed in khaki uniform wearing a stiff cap seen in FRICOURT on the afternoon of the 1st inst.
Work -
Left Half Sector :- Parados revetted. 84 St. deepened. CEMETERY ST. deepened. Dugout at 86B St. deepened.40 yds. wire put up in front of CEMETERY ST.
Right Half Sector :- Revetting firebays; clearing BURLINGTON ARCADE.
KINGSTON ROAD :- Clearing and revetting RAILWAY RD. 40 yds.new wire erected in front of KINGSTON RD.

* Ref Map MEAULTE 'F'
GBD

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C2 SUB SECTION - Apr. 2nd - to 3rd, 6pm to 6pm
Weather - Fine and warm. Wind light S.E. Bright sunshine.
Operations - The enemy exploded two mines at 4:26pm in the vicinity of the FORT C1 sub sector. The only damage done was to the enemy parapet.
Intelligence :-
a. Enemy artillery shelled the CEMETERY from 9:30pm to 10:30pm. At 5:15pm (3rd Inst.) the enemy opened H.E. and trench mortar fire on BURLINGTON ARCADE this lasted until 6am. Rifle grenades and machine guns active during the night 2nd-3rd.
b. Enemy work on F9b 6.8 prevented by our machine gun fire. Sounds of a truck being heard in front of FRICOURT on night of 2nd.
Enemy working in AEROPLANE TRENCH and at F9b 25.75.
c. A patrol was sent out by each front line company at 8:40pm under 2nd Lieut. Crinion to reconnoitre position for a covering party tonight about 25 yds in front of our wire. They remained out over 2 hours.
Work :-
Left Half Sector - 35 yds. parados revetted. 30yds. of 84 St. and 10 yds 85 St. deepened.
Right Company - BURLINGTON ARCADE deepened. RUE ALBERT cleared. 82a, 82b and 83a sapping. F9.2 deepened.
KINGSTON RD. - RAILWAY AVENUE deepened and boarded. KINGSTON RD. revetted. Second row of wire completed. 3 dugouts strengthened.
GBD

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C2 SUB SECTION, Apr. 3rd to 4th, 6pm to 6pm
Operations - A new trench was dug by the 1st R.W.F. behind our first row of wire in front of the left of C2 Sub sector. Work began at 8:40 pm and finished at 1am.There was a considerable number of enemy flares. The enemy also shelled KINGSTON RD. and the CEMETERY where our Lewis guns fired at intervals without screens to attract enemy's attention from the working party. Saps were dug out to trench from F92 bay 9 and F93 bay 6. The 24th Manchesters supplied a covering party in front.
There was one R.E. casualty (slight wound).
Work :-
Left Half Sector - Work suspended on account of new trench work.
Right Half Sector - KINGSTON RD. deepened. RAILWAY AVENUE boarded. 40 yds. new wire put up.
Support Line - NEW CUT cleared. SEEGAR CUT cleared.
GBD

C2 SUB SECTION, Apr. 4th to 5th, 6pm to 6pm
Weather - Weather slightly colder. Wind changed to S.S.W.
Relief - The battalion was relieved in C2 Sub Sector by the 20th Manchester Regt. Relief completed by 4pm.
GBD

BILLETS MORLANCOURT, Apr. 6th 10pm
Weather - fine and bright - breeze S.W. Slightly warmer.
Baths and Inspections - The baths at the HUTS, VILLE SUR ANCRE were allotted to this battalion. The remainder of the day was spent on inspections.

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BILLETS Apr. 6th 10pm
Work - A party of 3 officers and 300 men was sent up to the trenches to continue the work on the new trench in front of our lines.
They worked from 10:30pm to 1am. There were no casualties.
Move - Orders were received to move to BRAY to take over a portion B1 Sector, on a two-company frontage. These orders were cancelled in a few hours. The battalion was to have been attached to the 91st Brigade.
GBD

BILLETS Apr. 7th 10pm
Weather - Fine and bright. Breeze S.W. Warmer.
Work :-
1. Billets were improved especially with regard to sanitation.
2. A party of 340 other ranks was engaged from 7:45am to 4:30pm preparing a track for light railway to run from the R.E. dump on the MORLANCOURT - MEAULTE RD. (point F22c 9.7) to MORLANCOURT via F22a.
3. A party of 2 NCOs and 52 men were engaged by the 232 Coy. R.E. building huts on the RUE de MOULIN, MORLANCOURT, 8am to 4:30pm.
GBD

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BILLETS Apr. 8th 10pm
Weather - Fine and warm - wind south. slight sunshine.
Work :-
500 men working from 7:45 to 12 noon and 1pm to 4:20pm on the new MEAULTE - MORLANCOURT supply line.
40 men unloading trucks at R.E. dump MEAULTE 8am to 12 noon and 12:30 to 3pm.
52 men road making on VILLE - MORLANCOURT - BRAY road from 8am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm.
Joined for Duty - 2nd Lieut. H.C. Collins (10th East Surrey) attached to this battalion for duty.
GBD

BILLETS Apr. 9th 11pm
Weather - Fine. Wind S.S.E.
Work - Working parties were supplied as above except that the afternoon was regarded as a holiday.
GBD

BILLETS Apr. 10th 10pm
Weather - Fine. Wind changed to N.N.W. Signs of rain.
Work :-
500 men 8 and a half hours on MORLANCOURT - MEAULTE line.
40 men 8 hours unloading at R.E. dump.
12 men 8 hours unloading at R.E. dump.
40 men 8 hours road mending on VILLE - MORLANCOURT - BRAY RDs.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLET) Apr. 11th, 10pm
Weather - Wind fresh. W.N.W. - heavy rain in morning. slight rain in afternoon.
Joined for Duty - 2nd Lieut. R.C. Chapman joined for duty.
Work : -
500 other ranks 7:15am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm work on new railway line.
40 other ranks eight hours unloading wagons at the M.M. dump.
52 other ranks road making on MORLANCOURT - BRAY RD.
Situation - Heavy bombardment lasting about an hour and beginning about 7pm was heard on our left.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLET) Apr. 12th, 10pm
Weather - Strong wind with heavy rain at intervals during day. Wind W.S.W.
Work - Working parties as before.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLET) Apr. 13th, 10pm
Weather - Wind strong N.W. Heavy rain at intervals during day.
Work - Working parties as on the 11th with a party of 50 other ranks in addition erecting hutments in the MORLANCOURT area.
GBD

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WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO 95_1663_2-2
14th April - 30th April 1916

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 14th, 11:15pm
Weather - Brighter. Wind N.W. fresh - very slight rain in the morning.
Work :-
500 other ranks 8 and a half hours on MORLANCOURT - BRAY RD.
52 other ranks 8 hours road work on MORLANCOURT - VILLE RD.
50 other ranks 8 hours erecting hutments in MORLANCOURT area. 8 hours.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 15th, 10pm
Weather - Wind N.N.W strong. Rain at intervals during day.
Work - Working parties as above.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 16th, 10pm
Weather - Wind W.N.W fresh. Fine during greater part of day. Heavy rain in the evening.
Work - as above
An inspection parade of Transport and Battalion was held at 6pm.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 17th, 10:30pm
Weather - Wind W.N.W. fresh. Rain at intervals.
Work - As above.
The enemy sent six howitzer shells onto the cross roads VILLE.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 18th, 10pm
Weather - Wind W.N.W. Showery. Wind fresh.
Work - As on the 17th
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 19th, 10pm
Weather - Wet. Rain during greater part of day. Wind W. strong.
Work - Working parties were re-arranged as under:
50 other ranks 8 hours with 232nd Field Coy. R.E. (A.T.) Hut building MORLANCOURT.
50 other ranks 8 hours with 54th Field Coy. R.E. Road work BRAY - CORBIE RD.
50 other ranks 8 hours with 232nd Field Coy. R.E. (A.T.) BOIS DESTAILLES.
50 other ranks 8 and a 1/2 [half] hours with 110th Railway Co. R.E. (A.T.) Track laying.
50 other ranks 8 and a 1/2 [half] hours with 110th Railway Co. R.E. (A.T.) Track preparing.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 20th, 11pm
Weather - Wind fresh N.W. Rain during day; fine at night when wind dropped to very light breeze.
Situation - S.O.S. B2 Sector calls received 9:30pm. Battalion stood to for 3/4 [three quarters] hour. Nothing transpired.
Work - As above. Two railway parties of 100 ceased work at 12 noon.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 21st 10pm
Weather - Wind fresh W.N.W. Fine in morning, Rain during afternoon and evening.
Working Parties :-
50 O.R., 8 & 1/2[half] hours work with 232nd Coy. R.E. Hut building.
50 O.R., 8 & 1/2[half] hours work with 54th Coy. R.E. Hut building.
50 O.R., 8 & 1/2[half] hours work with Labour battalion road making.
500 O.R., 8 & 1/2[half] hours work with 110th Ry. Coy. R.E. track laying.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 22nd 12pm
Weather - Wind light, freshening in the evening N.W. fine.
Working Parties - As above.
Situation - Two raids were carried out by our troops on the night of the 22nd. One at LA BOISELLE the other at THIEPVAL. The latter was successful resulting in 30 Germans killed and 13 captured. Our casualties were slight - 12 slightly wounded and none missing.
Ref. AMIENS Sheet 12.
Our artillery kept up an intensive bombardment after the raids for about 1&1/2[half] hours.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 23rd, 11pm
Weather - Wind N. light breeze. Fine during day.
Working Parties - Working parties as on the 21st. Hours of work were from 10:30am to 4pm so that men could attend early Easter Sunday Services.
Joined for Duty - 2nd Lieut. R. Pickles from 27th Reserve Battalion.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 24th, 10pm
Weather - Fine. Wind light breeze N. Much warmer. Sky overcast later in the day but no rain.
Working Parties - As above.
All parties worked 8 &1/2[half] hours. The party for the 54th Coy. R.E. was reduced from 50 other ranks to 40 O.R.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 25th, 12pm
Weather - Warm and bright. Continuous sunshine. Breeze northerly.
Situation - The 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment made a raid on the enemy trenches from the right of C2 sub section (Ref MEAULTE trench map) on the south end of craters. The enemy opened fire with guns and machine guns at 10pm. Further particulars entered later.
Joined for Duty - 2nd Lieut. R.V. Davidson from the 26th Reserve Battalion Manchester Regiment.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 26th, 10pm
Weather - Brilliantly fine. Breeze southerly.
Working Parties - As previously.
Situation - Ref the raid carried out by the 20th Manchester Regt.:- The enemy's front line trench was entered but communication trench was discovered blocked by barbed wire. The patrol met with no Germans nor fire. It was ascertained that further mine craters lay beyond those marked on the MEAULTE trench map Sheet F.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 27th, 11pm
Weather - Fine; wind S. light; bright day
Working Parties - Continued as before.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 28th, 10pm
Weather - Fine, wind S.E. fresh breeze; continuous sunshine.
Working Parties - In the same numbers and at same times as before.
GBD

MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 29th, 11pm
Weather - Fine light breeze, E.S.E.; continuous sunshine.
Working Parties - As on the 21st.
GBD

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MORLANCOURT (BILLETS) Apr. 30th, 11pm
Weather - Fine and warm during day. Breeze S.E. Heavy shower at 5:30pm.
Working parties :-
50 Other ranks 5 hours erecting huts in BOIS des TAILLES (Map ALBERT combined sheet)
50 O.R. 4 &1/2[half] hours road making on BRAY - CORBIE RD.
50 O.R. hut erecting for 54th Coy. R.E. in MORLANCOURT area. 4 &1/2[half] hours
50 O.R. pipe laying for water supply VILLE SUR ANCRE to BRAY.
500 O.R. 5 hours work on railway MEAULTE to BRAY.
The afternoon was regarded as a holiday.
Situation - The[re] was a short heavy bombardment on the enemy lines by us on the night of the 30th from 7:40 - 8:30pm.
Joined for Duty - 2nd Lieut. J.E.B. Barton joined for duty from the 26th Reserve Bn. Manchester Rgt.
GBD

P.M. Magnay, Major, Commanding 24th Manchester Rgt.

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