Church Parade 11 am. Resting.

A & B Coys rejoined Battalion at 6 am having come in Motor Buses from Elverdinghe. Got settled down, men cleaned up.

Batt less A & B Coys proceeded to HOUTKERQUE at 8 pm & arrived 1.30 am. 10^th & went into bivouac about 2 miles from village. A & B Coys had 2 killed 16 wounded & 3 missing.

D Coy heavily shelled in morning. 11^th Brigade heavily engaged all day, fighting mostly with hand grenades. 1 Platoon of B Coy sent up to re-inforce D Coy whose bombers were sent up to front line. At 9.30 pm “B” Coy relieved D Coy in Support, “A” Coy were put in Reserve at HULL’S FARM. Continue reading →

Major Forster took over command of left Sector 11^th Brigade & Major Bannerman went later to assist him. “C” Coy heavily shelled all day. D Coy relieved them in the evening. 2 Machine Guns sent up to relieve Rifle Brigade. 2^nd Lieut Keller wounded. Casualties 3 killed, 25 wounded 1 missing.

Our Artillery opened a heavy bombardment at 5 am. on German trenches in front of 11^th Brigade & at 6 am 11^th Brigade attacked. 1^st Rifle Brigade took the trenches with little loss but suffered later from Bombs. A & D Coys were lent to 11^th Brigade & were in reserve under Major Forster. Fighting continued all day but all German attempts at counter attacks were repulsed with heavy loss. We lost 1 killed & 25 wounded from shell fire. “C” Coy went up in support of Lancashire Fusiliers who relieved Rifle Brigade at 12 midnight.

“B” & “C” Coys West Side “A” & “D” Coys East Side. Quiet day. Found 3 Working Parties under R.E. Casualties 6 men wounded.

At 5.15 pm our Howitzers opened a bombardment on German Sap [?] head in front of Seaforths which was taken by R.Seaforths & R.E. at 6.30 pm. Germans retaliated heavily at 7 pm & our front & support trenches were heavily shelled but without much damage. Lieut Bowman slightly wounded.1 man killed 5 wounded. W ere relieved at 10.30 pm by R.Dub Fus & went into Support in dug-outs on Canal Bank.

More shelling than usual during the day but no damage done. Enemy fired Gas Shells at 7 pm found smoke helmets very efficacious. 1 man wounded.

Quiet day. Reserve trench shelled during the afternoon blowing in the parapet. No casualties. 23 men joined from base.