How to Deal with Reinforcements

Monday 8th January 1917

The adjutant of the 1st Battalion told me today that they are now in support to the front line near Cuinchy. He also explained that their brigade (15th) has established a Brigade Training Depot at Beuvry two or three miles due west and thus two or three miles away from the firing line. This depot, under the command of Major Deakin of 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, is tasked with taking all drafts of reinforcements sent to the Brigade. They will remain at the depot until fully qualified in musketry and all branches of training at which point they will be sent to their allotted battalions. Second Lieutenant A J Fyson from the battalion has been sent to this depot as an instructor

Source: X550/2/5

More Reinforcements

Sunday 7th January 1917

The 8th Battalion has received more reinforcements for this years campaigning. The adjutant tells me that 98 other ranks arrived today. He commented on them: “Very good but mostly specialists” meaning men such as machine-ginners, signallers, scouts and so on. Meanwhile the Commanding officer, Lord Henry Scott inspected the draft of 174 other ranks which arrived yesterday. Thus the battalion has had its numbers boosted by more than a company’s worth of men in two days - in excess of a quarter of its total strength

Source: X550/9/1

New Men and New Responsibilities

Saturday 6th January 1917

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion tells me that Second Lieutenant Trewman, Second Lieutenant Kydd, Corporal Mears, Lance Corporal Morris and Lance Corporal Hersted have all qualified as Bombing Instructors at 54th Brigade Bombing School(1).

Meanwhile 8th Battalion, which suffered so badly in a number of enganements on the Somme has received a draft of one officer and 174 other ranks as reinforcements. Meanwhile about two hundred men are engaged on working parties at Vermelles near the old Loos battlefield.

Source: X550/8/1; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Chester Bishop Kydd would be killed at Chérisy on 3rd May, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. 13722 Sergeant John H Morris would be killed on 23rd March 1918 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial 

More Awards

Friday 5th January 1917

The New Year is a time when awards are granted to outstanding soldiers in the army. We heard of a number of awards to 2nd Battalion on New Year’s Day; yesterday we heard of seven members of the battalion mentioned in despatches: Lieutenant-Colonel H S Poyntz, DSO; Captain R O Wynne, DSO; Lieutenant J W Hurrell; 2nd Lieutenant G A Anstee, MC; 2nd Lieutenant L H Walker; 9009 Company Quarter Master Sergeant H Maidment and 9675 Lance Sergeant G Wilson(1)

Lieutenant J W Hurrell [X550/1/81]

Meanwhile, 8th Battalion has been informed that their regimental sergeant major has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. In addition the commanding officer (Lord Henry Scott), Captain Steyn, Captain Pares and Second Lieutenant Smith have been mentioned in despatches(2) .

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Walker was killed in the attack on Gird Trench on 12th October 1916 and is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

(2) Second Lieutenant W T Smith would be killed on 3rd March and is buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery.

Retaliation for Mines and a Re-organization

Thursday 4th January 1917

The land around Cuinchy and its northern neighbour Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée is somewhere that presents a face similar to the moon or to the face of an adolescent suffering with acute acne. The ground is covered with craters as the plan above shows. This assemblage was added to today when the army blew another mine close to positions occupied by the 1st Bedfords. With a certain gloomy detachment the adjutant told me: “The enemy retaliated very promptly with his artillery and eventually bombarded our left support trenches with 77 mm high explosive and shrapnel, blowing in a trench and causing ten casualties (three killed and seven wounded)”. He also mentioned that Lieutenant-Colonel F N Butler has gone on leave and that Captain C A S Morris has assumed command of the Battalion(1).

The adjutant of the 7th Battalion mentioned to me today that tey have set up different arrangements for specialist within the battalion: “Major J. H. Bridcutt was appointed officer commanding all specialists with other officers being in charge of their respective detachments such as signallers, Lewis gunners, snipers, scouts and so on. This organisation was started to keep under proper control men who were always away from their own Companies. The Companies continue to pay these men but all other administration is carried on independent of their Companies”.

Sources: X550/2/5; X550/8/1

Roll of Honour - 4th January 1917

Killed in Action

1^st Battalion: Frontline at Cuinchy, enemy bombardment

• 40050 Private Ronald KNIGHTS, 29, ex-28752 Suffolk Regiment, son of Samuel and Mary Knights of Gladstone Cottages, Kessingland, [Suffolk] (Gorre British and Indian Cemetery)
• 40047 Private George Alfred LING, 40, ex 28504 Suffolk Regiment, son of Charles and Georgiana Ling, of Ivy House, Bedfield [Suffolk] (Gorre British and Indian Cemetery)
• 14552 Private Lawrence MONDIN, 21, son of George R. Mondin of 106 Whitley Road, Rye Park, Hoddesdon [Hertfordshire] (Gorre British and Indian Cemetery) 

Men and Horses

Wednesday 3rd January 1917

The 2nd Battalion received fifty men as reinforcements on the 1st of this month, today the 6th Battalion has received the same number. There are rumours here (there are always more rumours in an army than men in the army, it seems) that High Command are looking to re-open the Somme offensive as soon as they can this year, having been forced to abandon it in the filthy weather of November. These reinforcements will add more grist to this rumour mill.

The adjutant of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, not far from Calais, tells us that their horses have been inspected by the veterinary officer today. An intelligence course is being held at divisional headquarters whilst a number of officers and men - Captain Holmes, Captain Proby, Lieutenant Foster, Sergeant Andrew, Sergeant Ekins and Sergeant Chapman have been sent on courses at the divisional school.

Sources: X550/3/wd; WW1/WD2