Battalion relieved by the French (CHASSEURS d’ALPIN). B & C Coy [company] left at 7.40 p.m. & marched via BUCY-LE-LONG, Venire and Sentiments to HARTENNES & arrived 1 a.m. Continue reading
5th October – LE MONSEL
Shelled at intervals during the day. Received orders to be ready to move any time. Aircraft active in morning. Heavy Gun & Rifle fire on our left at 11 p.m. Reinforced from trench in case of attack. Nothing doing.
4th October – LE MONSEL
Shelled during morning. French aeroplane over at 3 p.m.which drew German fire. Church in Sleepy Hollow 3.30 p.m. fine.
3rd October – LE MONSEL
Foggy morning. General Rawlinson visited the trenches at 6.30 a.m. New trench shelled by light battery. One man of “A” Coy wounded by sniper.
2nd October – LE MONSEL
Trenches shelled at 4 p.m.but no casualties. Very foggy in morning. Trenches improved.
1st October – LE MONSEL
Quiet day. Snipers active. Trenches improved.
26th-30th September 1914
No diary entries.
After weeks of marching and fighting throughout the great retreat, Sir John French was given consent by General Joffre to take the BEF [British Expeditionary Force] back to Flanders.The 4th Division, including the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment were transferred to St Omer by forced march and train.
15th – 25th September 1914
No diary entries.
Deadlock. For the next ten days the wet weather set in. In the trenches of the Valley of the Aisne the Germans were being reinforced and their defences strengthened. Continue reading
14th September 1914
No diary entry.
14th September saw the beginning of stagnation which was soon to develop into trench warfare. British trenches above the Aisne consisted of longish burrows with a little earth or chalk shaped out with a grubber. Continue reading
12th September 1914
No diary entry.
After another day of marching in the rain the troops moved towards the River Aisne. It was a 30 mile march with little or no food for the troops for 24 hours. Continue reading