Letting the Enemy Know They are There

Friday 24th May 1918

Last night the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment had the satisfaction of handing the enemy a nasty surprise. Having suffered during the March retreat and lost a lot of men they conducted a raid on the enemy positions south-east of Mesnil at the north end of Aveluy Wood and west of the River Ancre. It was around here in November 1916, in the dying days of the Battle of the Somme, that the battalion first saw action, capturing Hamel. As the adjutant observed to me with some asperity "We want to remind the enemy that we are still here and still dangerous to them".

Source: X550/5/3

Royal Engineers are Always Busy

Thursday 8th February 1917 from our correspondent in the field

The 1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers is in and around Aveluy Wood, north of Albert on the banks of the River Ancre. Its adjutant reports that it is supplying skilled labour to the Divisional Hutting Officer, making brushwood mats and cutting timber in the wood.

The Company’s other task is preparing Bangalore torpedoes for use of 6th Infantry Brigade, erecting a camouflage screen at Courcellette and the establishment of wire dump near front line. These activities suggest an attack somewhere in the vicinity of Courcelette soon(1)

Source: WW1/WD3

(1) They were preparations for an attack on Desire Support Trench on February 17th as part of a general attack around Miraumont.

Work of the Royal Engineers

Friday 19th January 1917

Your correspondent has heard today from 1st Field Company East Anglian Royal Engineers, attached to 2nd Division, who are north-west of Albert on the Somme. They have taken over work from 2/2nd Highland Field Company Royal Engineers of 51st Division.

This is the work detailed for the rear Field Company of royal engineer unites of the division and consists of supplying labour for the divisional sawmill and Royal Engineer dumps, repairs to hutments, cutting pit props and making brushwood mats. Most of this activity takes place in Aveluy Wood. Second Lieutenant Haward has been detailed Divisional Hutting Officer and has left the company to assume these duties.

Since Monday 25 other ranks each from 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and 13th Battalion Essex Regiment and one officer and 25 other ranks each from 1st Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment and 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment have been attached to company as “Sappers’ Mates”, doing simple manual labour under the expert eye of the engineers.

Source: WW1/WD3