Entrenching Battalions

Thursday 13th January 1916: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, in front line trenches near Maricourt on the Somme tells us that they are expecting 25 reinforcements today from 3rd Entrenching Battalion.  We were curious as to what sort of unit this entrenching battalion might be and the adjutant told us that it is a temporary formation put together by an army corps and comprising men sent out from any number of units and assigned to front line units needing reinforcements. Thus a man might join the Essex Regiment, for example, be sent to an entrenching battalion on arrival in France and end up in the Bedfords. The adjutant’s response to such a situation? He’s probably luckier than he deserves!

Source: X550/3/wd