Seven Serving Sons - The Peaty Brothers WW1

Seven Serving Sons - The Peaty Brothers WW1

There were seven brothers born to John Peaty and Rachel (nee Harris).  All seven served in the armed forces during the first world war prompting an article to be published in the Bournemouth Graphic newspaper on 17th September 1915.  Below is all the research I have gathered on the brothers lives up to the end of the first world war.

Original article from Bournemouth Graphic newspaper dated 15th September 1915.

William (Willie) Edward Peaty

William Edward Peaty was born in 1879 in Bournemouth.  He is present in the 1881 census, living in Parkstone, Dorset with his mother and father.  In 1891 he is listed as living in Holdenhurst, Hampshire with his mother and father.

He joined the Royal Navy in 5th December 1895 aged 16 as a bugler and joined the H.M.S Boscowen.  He was 5ft 3in and listed as having brown hair, blue eyes and of fair complexion.  His job on is service record at the time of his joining was garden boy.

The H.M.S. Boscowen was the name given to the training ship stationed in portland at the time. During the period of Williams training this happened to be H.M.S Trafalgar, a 120 gun first rate ship of the line first launched in 1841.

H.M.S Trafalgar (Boscowen)

He formally served in the Royal Navy (service number 185347) between on 8th July, 1895 and was with the Boscowen until 3rd November 1896.  During this period he was promoted from boy, 2nd class to boy, 1st class.  His conduct is stated as very good.

He joined H.M.S. Victory on 4th November 1896 until 18th January 1897 and his conduct is given as very good.  During this time victory was being used a signal school.

H.M.S. victory in Portsmouth 1884

After victory William was stationed on H.M.S. Excellent the shore establishment based on Whale Island in Portsmouth.  During this time it was being used as a gunnery school. He left Excellent on 2nd March 1897.

He then joined H.M.S. Royal Oak,  one of seven Royal Sovereign-class pre-dreadnought battleships on 9th March 1897.  The Royal Oak departed Portsmouth on 24 March 1897, and arrived at Malta on 5 April as part of the Mediteranean fleet.  On the 8th July 1898 William was promoted to Ordinary seaman.  He also remeasured and has grown to 5ft 5 inches tall.  He left the Royal Oak on 30th March 1899 with a character of very good.

H.M.S. Royal Oak in 1897

He joined the H.M.S Duke of Wellington on 31st March 1899 which was based in Portsmouth and was being used as a floating barrack and receiving ship.  There are many comments about it being a bit of a wreck and being in a state of major disrepair.  William left on 3rd July 1899 and his service record states his reason for discharge as "Run Portsmouth".  This seems to indicate that, aged 20, he left and never came back. The final statement on his service record states on 26th April 1906, "not to be claimed for further service in the Royal Navy.

H.M.S. Duke of Wellington

Perhaps for this reason I have been unable to find him in the 1901 census.

In 1911, he appears in the census living at1 Lime Cottages Bourne Valley Road Branksome Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset with his wife (Emily) Louisa, his daughter Ellen (a school pupil) presumably named after his sister, his son William (school pupil) presumably named after himself, his daughter Florence and David Langley who is listed as an unemployed coal porter.  William is working as a coal porter carter.

He married his wife Emily Louisa Short in the summer of 1914.

In February 1915, aged 35, he joined the 3rd Battalion the Dorset Regiment as a private.  He died in Poole hospital of pneumonia on the 13th October 1915. He had been in camp when taken ill with pleurisy and pneumonia.  He lived at 5 Gwynne Road, Branksome with his wife and four children. He had featured in the above newspaper article weeks previously.  Following a funeral procession that included the Mayor of Poole, he was buried in Branksome Cemetery on the afternoon of the 15th October.

(Arthur) Joseph Peaty

Joseph was born in 1881 in Bournemouth.  His birth was registered in the last quarter of 1880 with his name being registered as Arthur Joseph Peaty.  However, all further records appear as Joesph Peaty.  He appears in the 1881 census living with his parents and older brother at Bourne Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset.  He then appears in the 1891 census living at Terrace Road, Holdenhurst, Christchurch, Hampshire with his parents and siblings.

On 9th February 1898 he signed attestation papers to join the Royal artillery although on the papers it looks like Royal Dragoons of the line has been crossed through and replaced with Royal Artillery.  The attestation papers state he was 18 years and 2 months and working as a porter whilst living in Bournemouth.  He signed the attestation paper in Winchester and was given a service number of 26108.

He is noted as being 5ft 91/2 inches tall and 125lbs.  He has a 33 inch chest, a peach complexion with blue eyes and brown hair.  He has a scar on the inner side of his left wrist and a mark on the back of his hand but is marked as 'fit'.  He religion is stated as presbyterian.

He is first posted on 14th April 1898 to depot 15 as a gunner.  On 8th August there is a note which I believe states:

"Elects R.W. of 31 for missing allowance".

On 1st February 1899 he was posted to India with 11th Battalion as a gunner where he would spend the next 5 years.  On 16th Februrary 1901 he his granted G.C. pay at 1d. On 10th June 1901 he forfeited G.C. pay.  On 13th October 1901 he was posted to 6th battalion before moving to the 51st Battalion Royal Garrison Artillery on 1st January 1902.

On 26th February 1904 he was posted to Aden in Yemen, presumably with the 51st Battalion.

On 24th June 1905 he elected to extend his service to 8 years with the colours.  On 13th may 1905 he elects R.W. as G.C. as 1902 and is granted class 1 S.P. at 6d.  On 23rd July he is restored 1 G.C. badge. On 1st August he is granted class 1 S.P. at 7d.

On 16th December 1905 he is posted to 3 depot and left Aden on 2nd January 1906 returning home on 3rd January 1906.  On returning home he was placed in reserve on 7th February for another 4 years before being discharged from service on 7th February 1910.  In total he spent 12 years in service and left with 8years in pension payments.

In 1911, a Joesph Peaty appears as a house porter at Clifton Hall, Cliff Cottage Road, Bournemouth.

He married Hilda Osment in 1913 in Christchurch.

During the first world war Joseph enlisted for the Royal Army Medical Core as a private and then later joined the Royal Garrison Artillery.

They had a son, Reginald, born in 1915 and a daughter Barbara born in 1919.

He passed away in 1961.

John Walter (Jack) Peaty

John Walter (Jack) Peaty was born on 8th May 1882 in Bournemouth, Dorset.  He was the third son of John Peaty and Rachel Harris.

In 1899, aged 16 he joined the Royal Navy.  He is described as being 5ft 4 inches tall with light brown hair, grey eyes and having a fair complexion.  He joined the training ship H.M.S st Vincent, morred at Haslar, in June 1899 as a boy 2nd class.  He then joined the training ship H.M.S Boscowan, like his elder brother, in July 1899 and was promoted to boy 1st class in October 1899.

In February 1900 he joined H.M.S Minotaur and was promoted to ordinary seaman in May 1900.  At the end of May he joied the H.M.S. Duke of Wellington before moving to H.M.S. Alexandra, a coastguard ship in Portsmouth.  He then joined H.M.S. Resolution in July 1900 until Ocotber 1900. During this time he appears in the 1901 census on board H.M.S Resolution which is anchored off the coast of Gibraltar.  At 18 his height is remeaured and recorded at 5ft 3/4.

On 10th October 1900 he joined H.M.S. Formidable where he spent the next two years before moving to H.M.S. Bruiser, an ardent class destroyer on 3rd November 1902.    He then rejoined H.M.S. Formidable on 4th January 1903 and was promoted to able seaman in May 1903.  He then leaves formidable on 30th September 1903 (possible for shore leave?) before joining H.M.S. Vivid, a shore based establishment based in Davenport on 1st October 1904.  Throughout his Royal navy career to this date his character has been rated as Very good.  During his stay at H.M.S. Vivid his conduct is downgraded to fair and his record states he was on the run for 42 days from 12th November 1904.  He stays at H.M.S. Vivid until 15th march 1905.

He joins H.M.S. Russell, a duncan class battleship, on 16th March 1905 until 5th May 1905. During his spell on Russell he spent 5 days in cells but, conversly his conduct is stated as very good.

On 21st April 1906 he joined, what looks like, H.M.S Wave until leaving on 9th July.

On 10th July 1906 he joins H.M.S. Implacable, a formidable class battelship. He stays with Formidable for the next two years before leaving in May 1908.

He returns to H.M.S. Vivid on 30th May 1908 and stays until March 1909.

In April 1909 he joins H.M.S. Lois (sp?) until October 1910.

On 4th October 1910 he returns to H.M.S. Vivid for a week before joining H.M.S. Majestic, a majestic class battleship, until 4th September 1911.  He then joins the H.M.S. Cumberland, a monmouth class armoured cruiser, on 5th September 1911 until 12th January 1912.

On 13th January 1912 he joined H.M.S Lundy (sp?) for two weeks before joining H.M.S. Inctus (sp?) on 24th January until completing his service on 4th May 1912.

He married Emil Hofflinstan Warren in 1914.

On 1st September 1914 he enlisted as a private in the 5th service battalion of the Dorsetshire regiment.  The battalion trained at Belton Park, Grantham and shortly after at Witley Camp near Hindhead before joining the 11th Northern division. The battalion along with other battalions formed the 34th infrantry brigade.  The 11th Northern division formed part of the mediteranean expeditionary force and on 1st July 1915 John left England via Liverpool on HMS Aquitania.  The battalion sailed to Lemnos and Imbros before finally reaching Suvla bay on 7th August 1915 which formed part of the Gallipoli peninsular.

The 34th  brigades initial orders to support the 30th brigade along the north coast of Suvla bay were hampered due to major shortages of food and water which would be a common problem during their time on the peninsula.  On 9th August the battalion came under heavy fire during an attack north east of hill 28 and by the time they were relieved the next day they had lost 60 men injured and 20 men killed.

On 13th August the brigade moved to trenches near Green hill and on 20th August the Turkish raised white flags requesting a meeting.  A truce was agreed in order to clear the dead bodies in no mans land.  The following morning the truce was broken with the Dorsets forming the front line of an attack.  They managed to take the first Turkish trench but were then subject to heavy enemy fire and took heavy casualties. 

On 21st August the battalion attacked again but suffered a large number of casualties among the officer ranks and by the 22nd August the battalion had been reduced to 250 men.  The dorsets were joined to other battalions to bolster numbers and were sent to hold trenches further down the line.

On 20th September the brigade were finally relieved after 35 men had been wounded by sniper fire and 25 men killed.  The brigade were moved to reserve until 28th September when they returned to trenches.  By this time sickness left the battalion short of men with dysentry having a major impact on the men.  They remained in trenches until 16th October where they were somewhat successful at locating and neutralising Turkish sniper posts.  After they were finally relieved, major storms during November caused growing number of the men to suffer dysentry, damage equipment and deplete resources even further. By early December circa 150 men had been evacuated to hospital in Alexandria.  By mid December only 17 officers remained.  

On 16th December the the battalion began their evacuation of the peninsular and arrived in Mudros to stock up on fresh food and water.  On 19th December they arrived in Imbros where they remained for a month to recover before being redeployed to Egypt in late January 1916.  They remained in El Ferdan on the Suez canal for 6 months before arriving in Marseille, France on HMT Transylvania on 9th July 1916 to start their service on the Western front.

On arrival in France they were transported by rail to the Arras front and were in trenches 3 miles south of Arras on 1st August.  During the early part of August they are hounded by gas alarms, smoke bombs and small mortar fire from rifle grenades.  They continue to patrol and in one instance discover an empty German trench filled with 100s of crows feet scattered around.  An unexploded mortar round is fired at during a patrol causing it to explode, damaging the enemy trench and accidently killing a lewis gunner.

They contine to take small numbers of casualties throughout early August moving to Riviere on the 9th August and then marching to Sombrin on the 21st August.  They are moved to Magincourt Sur Canche on 30th August.  During August they are joined by new officers and men and are at an effective strength of 43 officer and 861 other ranks by the beginning of September.  

On 3rd September they move by train to Puchevillers and march to Bouzincourt on the 8th September.  They continue to train before relieving the 2nd Canadian mounted rifles on  16th September in trenches opposite Mouquet farm.  On the first day in the front line the battalion loses a an officer wounder, 6 men killed and 16 wounded.  The battalion diary notes the the position was found not to be as thought, Mouquet farm was only half taken, not altogether as thought by the Canadians.  They found lines being held in the farm and 2 buildings to be strongholds for German snipers.  The proposed relief of the battalion was abandoned due to the poor conditions of the trenches. By the second day a further officer had been wounded, 3 more officers were relieved due to shell shock, 2 men killed, 7 wounded and 1 missing.  On the 19th their relief by the 11th Manchesters began but not before losing 4 men and 14 wounded.

On the 20th they were fully relieved and back in billets in Albert Englebelmer.  They had 5 days to recover before moving up to Ovillers Trenches on the 25th September.  

On 26th September they were ordered to attack the German positions on Mouquet farm.  The 9th Hampshires and 8th Northumberlands were to lead the attack with the 5th Dorsets in support and 11th Manchesters in reserve.  At 10:45 they took up positions in the support trenches.  The attack started at 12:35pm with the Dorsets following the front line by around 500yds.  The battalion started off well but suffered heavily from enemy barrage before reaching the 1st objective.  They also suffered heavily from bombs, machine guns and snipers from Germans still occupying Moquet farm.  They struggled to get messages of progress back to the commanding officers as all company commanders and company seargent majors were "knocked out" early in the advance.  Casualties amongst the N.C.O.s was heavy.  

By 8pm telephone messages from the commanding officer of 34th brigade to the commading officer of the battalion demanded that the battalion HQ be moved up to collect the battalion and consolidate the 2nd objective.  However, an initial attempt to move the HQ up to the quarry was prevented by heavy machine gun fire and German sniper fire from Mouquet farm. 

At 10:30 pm another attempt to move the HQ up to the battalion encountered heavy barage on the way to the quarry.  Battalion HQ carried water up to the front for the men, having to wait in the quarry for the barrage to abate, before reaching High trench where they found the Manchesters in the communication trenches.  They found East Yorks working on High trench and royal engineers working on communications trench forward.  HQ pushed on to ?R2yd5q?.  They picked up 2 officers and about 50 men along the way.

By 2am on the 27th September the enemy were sending up a lot of flares 100yds in front of the HQ.  It was decided to consolidate T Trench and then send out a bombing party but no bombs were available, instead sending out a party to recconietre but they were driven back by machine gun fire.  At 6:30am the Manchesters moved up to Schwaben Trench with the remaining Dorsets moving up to Zoller Redoubt.  The consoilidated the position and set up battalion HQ at a point NE ?R2yg17?.  An attempt was made to move to Stuff Redoubt by an officer and about 20 men but they were forced to withdraw due to heavy machine gun and sniper fire.  At 10:00am the enemy shelling became heavy and continued throughout the day.  The enemy were also active with snipers and machine gun fire making it very difficult to move up ammunition, bombs and rations.  At 13:30pm they received orders to attack Hessian Trench with Manchesters attacking Stuff redoubt on their left.  However, the order was quickly cancelled and so further consilidation of the current position continued. 

The dorsets were relived during the afternoon of the 28th September.  During the attack the Dorsets had lost 5 officers killed, 5 wounded and 3 missing.  Estimated casualties of other ranks was 410.  During the 29th September two officers and around 40 men were ordered to search the farm for bodies and bring in the wounded.  The battalions effective strength at the beginning of October was 30 officers and 593 other ranks (100 men were drafted in to the battalion as replacements).

At some point on 27th September 1916 John was admitted to hospital (index of admission T9678). The entry is filled with roman numerals IV.1, - Gunshot wound of chest.  Simple flesh contusion or wound.  He was sent to No, 21 ambulance train. (ref MH106/324 MH106/324 can be found at The National Archives in Kew, and contains First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen from No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station).

On 2nd November 1916 he is listed as "wounded" on the casualty list issued by the war office.

He was promoted to sergeant whilst with the 5th (service) Dorsetshire battalion, 11th division.  

He then joined the Somerset light infantry as a sergeant before being discharged on the 15th January 1919.

In 1925, 1926,1927,1929 he is shown in the electoral roll in St Pauls Road, St Pancras, London. Emilhofflinstan Peaty is shown at the same address.

He appears in the 1939 register, living at 3 Edbrooke Road, Maida Vale, City Of Westminster, Paddington, London with his wife Emily. His occupation is stated as a messenger for a shipping agent.

His wife Emily died in 1946 aged 63.

John passed away in 1953 aged 71.  His death is registered as Walter John Peaty in the district of Chelsea, London.

Frederick Peaty

Frederick Peaty was born in 30th April 1885. He appears in the 1891 census living with his parents and older brothers at Terrace Road, Holdenhurst, Christchurch.

He appears in the 1901 census, aged 16, living with his parents at 11, Mannington Place, Bournemouth, working as a Groom (not domestic).

In 1906 he married Agnes Clanfield in Poole.

In the 1911 census he appears living with his wife Agnes and their two children, a son Leslie, born in 1908 and a daughter Agnes Maud, born in 1911.  They live at 7 Branksome Cottages Archway Road Parkstone, Poole, Dorset.  His occupation is given as Hay corn and coal merchants labourer.

During the first world war he enlisted as a driver in the Army Service Corps.  His cap badge is owned by Poole museum.

In 1939 he appears with his wife Agnes and possibly his niece Barbara (daughter of Joseph? Born 31st July 1922) living at 11 Jubilee Road, Poole, Poole M.B., Dorset.  His occupation is given as a carter at a pottery works.

Henry Victor Peaty

Henry was born on 5th June1887 in Christchurch, Dorset.

He appears on the 1891 census living with his parents, elder sister and brothers at Terrace Road, Holdenhurst, Christchurch, Hampshire.

In the 1901 census he appears, living with his parents and brothers, aged 13, at 11, Mannington Place, Bournemouth and has a listed occupation of errand boy. 

On 31st March 1907 he married Florence Rose Horlock, daughter of William Horlock, in Heatherlands, Dorset.

In the 1911 census he appears with his wife Rose, daughters Nellie (8) and Violet (3) and two sons, John (2) and William (0).  They are recorded living at Victoria Crescent, Parkstone, Poole and Henrys occupation is given as Carter general.

Rose and Henry went on to have the following children Florence A (1912), Thomas R (1915), Mary T.L. (1918), Agnes C (1920), Edna M (1921), Joesph R (1923) and Patricia M (1928).

He appears in the 1915 electoral register at Victoria Crescent.

During the fist world war he enlisted with the Royal Engineers (50356), 17th Signal Company as a sapper and later promoted to lance corporal.  He entered the european theatre on 13th April 1915.  On 19th December 1915 his name is recorded in the company war diary as being injured whilst repairing lines near Reningelst, Belgium and "struck off strength".

He was wounded on 31st December 1915 and struck off strength.

On 4th January 1916 he was listed as wounded on the Casualty List issued by the War Office (ref DT14011916).  On 11th January 1917 he was discharged and transferred to class P army reserve.  He was issued with his partuclars on 30th June 1917 and badges and certificates on 27th July 1917 in Chatham.  He was awarded a pension of  A.46 d/ 06/06/1917 Pension 6/3 for 39 weeks conditional.  (ref War office number R.E. 791).

In 1939 he appears in the 1939 register living at 26 King Street, Yeovil, Somerset.  He is listed with an occupation of telecommunication foreman, PO engineering department, Skilled Workman C.  He is listed along with his wife Rose, an unpaid domestic (housewife) and daughters, Mary T L Rexin (Trevett, Peaty), born 5th March 1918, a packer in a laundry, Agnes C Brown (Peaty), born 28th January 1920, a gloving machinist, Edna Chislett (Peaty), born 26th May 1921, a packer in a laundry and finally, Patricia M Ramsey (Peaty), born 19th May 1928, a school pupil.  There is also another record on the register crossed through.

Daughters of Henry, left to right, Peggy, Patricia, Edna?, Violet, Mary and Florence

Henrys son Joesph during WW2

Rose and Henry Victor Peaty

Henry passed away at the age of 65 in 1952.

Reginald Peaty

Reginald was born on 5th January 1890, in Christchurch.

He appears in the 1891 census aged 1 living with his parents and older siblings at Terrace Road, Holdenhurst, Christchurch.

He appears in the 1901 census aged 11 living with his parents at 11, Mannington Place, Bournemouth, Christchurch.

On 1st December 1914 he was listed as "wounded" in the casualty list issued by the war office. (ref DT16011915)

From the Poole museum society blog post -A letter sent from R. Peaty to his brother and sister

I got my wound when we charged the Turks' trenches. A Turk made a lunge at me with his bayonet and I caught hold of his bayonet with my hand and the point of it went nearly through the centre of my hand. But I put him to sleep with the butt of my rifle; he will never wake up any more.'

‘We drove the Turks miles away, and captured their supply of food and ammunition. We also took twelve camels. We then advanced on Basra and took that. It is a big place. About nine days afterwards the Turks surrendered to us about forty miles away from Basra, and my chum got killed when we were advancing on the Turks. A shell burst by the side of me, and I looked round to speak to my chum, and found that the shell had caught him and two more chaps and had killed the three of them. Just afterwards my drum-major came alongside of me and said, ‘It isn’t half raining is it?’ He meant the bullets. He never spoke any more, a bullet had gone straight in the centre of his head. I was sorry for him, because he was married and had two children, and he was a good man at his work. We have had a lot of men die of their wounds since.

The drum major he mentions in the letter I believe could be Sergeant Joseph Charles Hoskins from Bridport who was killed in action on 17th November 1914.  He married Agnes Rose Carver in 1909 in Bombay.  He was listed as a musician in 1911.

On 23rd June 1916 Reginald was listed as "captured at Kut" in the casualty list issued by the war office (ref DT24061916).

On 25 March 1917, he appears in a list of soldiers reported missing after action.  

On 9th August 1917 there are reports received from various sources that having been reported previously missing, was now reported to be a prisoner of war in Turkish hands. (ref NLS 1917_WList02).

On 28th September he appears in a list of soldiers now found and reported as prisoners of war, interred at Jerueslem (sp?).  

On 20th December 1918 he is reported as "Released prisoner of War from Turkey". (ref War Office Daily List No.5753, NLS 1918_WList073).

I've been unable to find any more information following his release, however, the service record of L.Cpl John Snell who was reported missing on the same day and later found as a prisoner of war in Jerusalem was repatriated at Jasmnect(sp?) camp on 9th December 1918 and disembarked Port Said 9th December 1918 and immediately admitted to Kantara hospital (El Qantara, Egypt) suffering from Malaria. 

He married Annie W I Smith in Poole in 1920.

In 1923 they had a daughter named Barbara.

He appears on the 1931 register living at Fernside Villa in Dorset.

He appears with his wife on the 1939 register at 99 Layton Road, Poole.  His occupation is given as Concrete Tube Maker Heavy Worker.

He passed away in 1981.

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Thomas Peaty R.F.A. Return to the B.E.F and 130th Battery R.F.A (1915)

Return to the B.E.F

During the last days of 1914 Thomas was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever and returned home from the front to recover. The rigours of war and, in particulur, the exhausiting retreat after the battle of Le Cateau could have been the cause or could have been triggers for existing heart problems.  This page discusses some of the reasons why rheumatic fever was such a big issue during the early part of the 20th century and in particular the great war.  Whatever the reason, this seemingly continued to plague Thomas the rest of his life.

Thomas returned to France on 29th January 1915 and was posted to 130th battery (Howitzer) R.F.A. on 2nd February 1915 where he would spend the next 11 months.

The 130th battery was originally part of the 30th brigade R.F.A which was part of 4th division during 1914 but on 9th January it left to join 27th division. From 9th January to 21st February it was part of the 27th division before moving to 5th divison.

However, this is where it gets very confusing in two regards.  Firstly, on the roll of honour statement about Thomas service it states he left the european front for Mesopotamia in 1915 but in his service records there are no records of this service in 1915.  He was posted to the mediteranean expeditionary force in 1916 which did go on to operate in that theatre but his service records indicate he was in France for nearly all of 1915.  

Secondly, the war diaries for the 30th brigade barely mention the 130th battery in the first few months of 1915, partly due to the battery almost alway being attached to other units.  Although it is clearly under the administrative order of 30th Brigade according to the brigade war diaries, no daily report is made on the 130th battery until 2nd June 1915.  However, IWM hold a very interesting diary that is yet to be digitised,  a diary of an unknown soldier serving with 130th battery. I have emailed IWM for more information 7/11/2022 but as yet have not heard anything back from them.

8th Brigade, 65th Battery R.F.A. August-October 1914

 

65th Battery RFA 1914

August

17th: Half the battery under Capt French marched to Lucan.

18th: The remainder of the battery entrained at Carragh siding and met the remainder of the battery at Dublin quay.  Embarked on SS Oxonian. The following officers n.g.a (sp?) J C Livingstone Learmouth, Captain J French, Lt E G Palmer, Lt J H Richardson, Lt C E Groom, 196 all ranks 176 horses sailed at 5pm.  Horse decks very hot and fittings hastily constructed could not stand any rough weather.

19th:  Smooth crossing.  Arrived at Le Harve at 2pm.  Marched to a mid camp about 3 miles out.  Tents were found pitched and camp lit with electric lights.

20th:  Remained in rest camp.

21st: Entrained at 10 am. Station at 2pm.

Battle of Mons, Aisne and Le Cateau

22nd: Arrived Lamcheuis 7am. Marched to Lowrigny Bavai.  A hot march.  Met reception from inhabitants.

26th:Arrived at 4am at location NW of Troisville.  About 8am shell fire was opened on our part of the position by at least 2 batteries.  Located one and silenced it at 3500.  Shelled the village of Beaumont and Inchy.  Set them on fire at many places. There will mclad (sp?) attacks then made at this protect (sp?) of the position but each was upheld (sp?). By 2pm had responded 840 rounds, could get no more ammunition. About 3:30 sgrs(sp?) Drif (sp?) on my right section (sp?) and battery withdraw.  Sent Capt Frend for orders.  Before he returned, Colonel Duffus arrived and personally ordered me to win (sp?).  Did so with the loss of one ammunition wagon.  The battery was well concealed where located all day in so casualties from chance shell and bullets were few.  No Driver Butten  and No. 8 slightly wounded, one horse killed and 6 wounded.  Major Learmouth was knocked down and a piece (sp?) of  G. shell hitting .  Reached St Nanteuil at 7pm. (Next line no legible) him in the ribs, was somewhat banged but his coat was not even cut (sp?). 

27th: Retreated all night reached St Quentin 9am.  A very tiring march.  Halted for 3 hours.  Marched to Ollezy around 7pm and 

28th: Buried a German spy caught and killed by a sgt and 2 men of the Bedfords, he was wearing ASC overcoat patties over French and German uniforms.  Marched 3am bivouaced south of Noyon at 12 midnight.

29th: Divert (sp?) into Noyon during (sp?) the marching (sp?) found the town deserted. Marched at 6:30pm under bivouwac Carlepoint at 11pm. 

30th: Marched out of town during night. Marched at 3:30 am joined left (sp?) guard at 9am. Reached Croutoy at 7pm. Little (sp?) march to Crepy around 5pm.

September 1914

1st: Left at 8am.  In action south of Crepy to cover retirement of vanguard defence (sp?).  Halted Prussian cavalry.  Saw little of the enemy who were scattered severely.  Handled (sp?) by the 121st battery and our infantry.  Reached south of Nanteuil at 7pm.

2nd:  Left at 3:10 am reached Cuist at 10 am (about 22 miles from Paris).  

3rd: Left at 7am with men and battery 2 his at Esbly around Mont Pichet 6pm unmolested.

4th: Ordered to be ready to march at short notice.  at 10am Got money for pay.  Marched at 11pm to a point 2 miles south of Tourivant.

5th:  Arrived at 9am.

6th: Advanced.  Marched 6:30 am arrived Villeneuve. 9:30 am off saddled until 1:15 pm.  Marched to Mortcerf arrived 6pm. Marched at 7pm to Lacelle arrived 9:30pm. Heard many firing to NE all day.

7th: Marched at midday through Moroux and Coulommiers to Boissy arrived 6:30pm. Moroux and Coulommiers scelad (sp?), empty bottles and casks everywhere.

8th: Marched at 8am. Held up on the line St Gr - St Ouen by wooded clups (sp?) (illegible). Could see nothing, only opposition, a few German batteries and a few infantry.  Considerable delay. The division captured about 100 prisoners.

9th: Marched at 5am took up a position to cover crossing of the Marne at Saacy and Nanteuil.  No opposition to the crossing.  Marched on with ROLTs Brigade (col 8th)  Mery to south of Limon.  Came into action against a battery in action in the open at 4000.  Before the battery arrived down a lancer (sp?) lane a 3rd division battery had compelled the Germans to cease fire.  Was kind (sp?) off to watch it.  Detachments whined(sp?) to their flank upon join would all movement ceased. Remained in action until the 9th div infantry located the battery.  A battery chick (sp?) la could not locate shelled a farm 100 on our right firing heavily for at least two hours.  There was no one in the farm and the men found us.  Could not (illegible) (illegible) as 4th div (illegible). Got 2 (illegible) into action in a small clearing in a large wood, observing station 1 1/2 miles in front. Shelled (illegible) and rampart many (sp?) along the Chamoust-Montreuil road, stopped all movement along it.  (Illegible  - something about advancing against the 14th Bde ?).  Used Japparrand (sp?) telephone line, my (illegible) taken off a dead horse the day before.  This is the only occasion on which the telephone has worked wholly satisfactorily.

10th: Marched at 5am. Passed close to the battery we had tied down.  Got a telephone complete.  The equipment constantly knocked about.  Shell had punctuated some of the wagons with (illegible) doing more damage than (illegible) the shell.  Then saw 7 dead around the guns and clear 20 more behind a hedge close by.  The guns had been entrenched where (sp?) can (sp?) facing SW there had (illegible).  Much ammunition left on the ground.  Prisoners report that the gun crew were short of food but there was plenty on all their vehicles.   Saw column of German infantry in the far distance and passed the spot near Chezy where our Cav and J Batty had captured a convoy.  Much transport and ammunition wagons in confusion all along the road.  Again, supplies  seen to be plentiful.  Remained at Chezy.

11th: Ready to march at 5am, at 6:30am advanced to push on with 120th reg to find(sp?) 3rd Cav Brigade. Near Chouy found them after a many hand march at Villeniviontoire.  A wet cold day, to date weather has been perfect.  Marched into billets at Hartennes.

12th: Marched at 5am with (illegible) towards Ciry.  Found enemy occupying right bank of the Aisne.  Came into action to cover 3rd Cav Bde opactly(sp?) on Chassemy ridge.  Fired a far shell at targets engaged on R.H.A.  Weather bad could not see where they fired at.  Billeted at Epritel farm.

13th: In action before daylight (ineligible) 1/2 mile south of Ciry at N of Vasseny.  Shelled missy village to can (sp?) missy of the men at trench points.  Shelled wood north east of Nissy expended about 300 rounds.  Our ridge was heavily shelled by guns and howitsers.  Lost 2 men 1 killed Gunner Woodridge Driver Lawrence (sp?) 8 wounded.  Capt French.  19 horses killed and 7 badly wounded.

14th: Very cold and wet.  Counter attack (illegible) from woor north east of Missy, turned all our guns on to it.  The counter attack was repulsed. Brig Gen Headlam congratulated the battery on the success of its fire.  Flank shells bursting continuously on other side of the valley.  When the mist lifted saw part of gun battery in the open turned on it.  So did 108th H.B. soon silenced it .  A few German (illegible) late in the day but we had no difficulty in keeping quiet. 

15th: In the half light saw flashes in the front edge of wood round Conde (sp?) fort and the heavies turned on this battery and slienced it, not without difficulty.  It must have been well entrenched as it could bring any accurate at fire to bear on it.  The battery we fired on yesterday is (illegible) except one ammunition wagon.  Searched on ridge on the right of the fort for another battery whose flashes were seen, it ceased firing. There are several batteries in the neighbourhood of fort Conde which is (illegible), the 108th H.B. with the aid of aeroplanes is endeavouring to silence these.  In one case we certainly succeeded.

16th: A quiet day did little shooting at the wood near Missy.  Saw two batteries firing on 3rd div evidently under cover from them. Reported to H.Q.  Saw Bde of many E.  A fence good about 800 on part of observing station was heavily shelled for about 2 hours, there was no one there.

17th: A wet cold windy day.  Shot little.  Ciry haevily shelled, no one there.  Fired about 50 rounds at (illegible) in the evening did no damage.  Reported another battery to 3rd div.  

18th: Very cold and wet.  Marched observing station to cover Conde bridge.  Got a good veg (sp?) and can see the (illegible).  Saw trenches during day north east of Missy; shelled them.

19th: Cold and wet.  Nothing going on till enemy shelled command location then (illegible).

20th:  3rd Div attacked, Germans repulsed.  Nothing doing on our part.

21st: Shelling and rifle fire at Missy about 5pm.  Shelled trenches in that quarter.  Put a far lydditte round Conde bridge.  Germans digging hardne ar Vregny.

22nd: More movement on our front.  Saw trenches during day on right of Conde fort, shelled them.  Captain N Davidson joined.

23rd:  A warmer day.  Fired a few rounds at the neighbourhood of Conde bridge.  

24th, 25th, 26th: Battery fifiring on land after shots (not sure here)

27th: Alarm at 3:30am that enemy is crossing Conde bridge in large numbers.  Fired a few rounds in the dark.  False alarm.

28th: Marched to position 100 West of Pavillon.  Ft Jask top of Chevres plateau round Conde Ft.

29th:  Nothing of interest occurred.

30th: A few shells fired on the ridge in front of the battery.  Fired a few reaching towards West of Ft Conde and enemy ceased fire.

October

8th Brigade, 61st Battery R.F.A August-October 1914

 From the 8th Brigade war records (WO-95-1527-4_1):

August

 

4th: Orders recieved by the battery stationed at Kildare to mobilise for active service.  The battery at this time was on the higher establishment.

5th: Mobilisation equipment issued and marking commenced.

6th: All marking and issue of equipment finished.  The battery suffered severley by promotions, losing two sergeants and the majority of the battery staff.  It is important that in the future the services grades of n.c.o.s for the ammunition column should be maintained in piece.

7th: Reservists commenced to join.  The gunners are good, the drivers indifferent, bad horseman and unaccustomed to riding and driving for some years. Thomas arrived in Ireland to join the unit around this time.

8th: About 50 horses joined and more reservists.  The horses are good standing but apparently soft and straight from grass.  Will probably fall easily.

9th: Completed in horses ??

10th:  Horses fitted and teams sent out in draft.  The majority went quietly. Reservist drivers very raw and useless.

11th: Took battery out for a short march.

12th: Battery inoculated against enteric fever (m.b. typhoid).  All men sick.

13th: Men still sick.  This inoculation is a great nuisance to a battery as we cannot get the ?? of men out to work.

14th: Heavy rain.  Men recovering.

15th: Drill order.  Reservist drivers nearly useless. A pity we have wasted these days over inoculation.

16th: The 1st line wagons, transports and riders to Lucan, bivouacking for the night. 

17th: Remainder of the battery entrained at the Carragh riding for the North Wall at 8:30 am arrived at 10 am and joining up with the road party at the quayside, embarking at once on the S.S. Oxonian.  Embarkation completed by 1pm. 65th Battery on same boat, Sailed at 5pm.  Transport only received orders on arrival at Dublin at 4am to embark horses.  Stalls being put up while the embarkation was going on.

18th: At ?? during the night the majority of the planks between the horses ?? away and also some of the front beams.  This in calm weather.  If it had been rough or any roll on the ship, the horses would probably all have been injured. 

19th: Arrived off Le Havre at 11am.  Ships derricks had to be used for disembarking the vehicles and the battery on shore till 8pm.  Arriving at no 2 Rest Camp about 9:30 pm.

20th: Rest.  One horse badly kicked had to be left behind.  The reservists are very fractious on the lines and kicks are numerous.

21st: Marched at 5:30 am to entrain at the dock station. Entrained by 8:30am and left at 11:15am.  The French horse trucks are a great improvement on our own cattle trucks leaving room for men and saddles in the middle.  Consequently horses can be easily watered and fed during the journey.

Battles of Mons, Marne, Le Cateau and Aisne

22nd: Detrained at 3am at Le Cateau and marched 21 miles to Bavai.  A very hot day and mostly collar work.  Reservists cooked.  Bivouwacked a mile south of Bavai in an orchard.

23rd: Marched to Elouges, nine miles, at 5:15 am.  Roads much blocked.  Arrived 11 am.  Turned out at 1pm and marched 3 miles to the north of Dour.  The march took about 4 hours owing to roads being blocked in Dour.  Took up a good position behind two tailing heaps.  Entrenchments made in shale.  Took till nearly midnight.

24th: Action at Dour.  Silenced a section of the enemys guns which did not reopen fire while the battery was in position.  There was no attack on the section of defense to which the battery was alotted.  During the retirement the battery was sent out to the left flank and took a position near Onnezies near the cavalry division.  The cavalry retiring almost at once.  The battery had to retire being entirely expired (sp?).  Retired through Wargnies ou Bavai.  No orders being received and men and horses much done up bivouwaked (sp?) with brigade headquarters and brigade ammunition coloumn half-way between Wargnies and St Waast les Bavay.  Total road distance about 25 miles.  Remounts and reservists beginning to fall.

25th: Marched at 4am on Bavai and joined the rear guard.  Took up several positions but only opened fire in one, on enemys artillery under cover.  Drew its fire. One shrapshell (sp?) bursting over a viaduct is reported to have destroyed a company of infantry causing it in ??.  This shell was off the line.  Reached a wet camp at Reumont at 7pm.  The horses have had only one feed of corn for the last two days and are giving (sp?) in instantly (sp?). Stooks of oats provide food when passed by the battery.  Distance 28 miles.

26th: Action at Le Cateau.  Battery in action under cover and entrenched.  Although the enemy searched the cover with fire he never got on the battery.  Observation very difficult owing to trees.  Localities were searched by using the map under orders from h.q. Effect in some areas said to be great.  Infantry gave way and started retiring in the afternoon.  A belt of fire was drawn front of the abandoned infantry trenches search the slopes of the hill.  Fire stated by G.O.C., R.A. to have been most effective.  One strong attacking line about eight deep, stated to have been blown to bits and carried to ruin by sweeping with lyddite (m.b. a high explosive shell containing picric acid). Net result no German infantry appeared over the crest in front while the battery was in action and the infantry retired through the battery untouched by rifle fire.  All ammunition being expended the battery was ordered to retire.  As the battery was retiring to ammunition wagons from the 37th battery joined it and the L.X. (left section, R.X is right section and C.X is centre section) was brought into action farther back covering the withdrawal of the infantry.  Marched all night arriving at St Quentin at 8am.  Distance 30 miles.  Officers, men, horses exhausted.

27th: Halted for 4 hours a then marched to Ollesy unmolested.  Distance 10 miles.  German spy discovered and shot.  Had on a Khaki uniform over a French one, superimposed on a German one.  Actually got some corn for the horses and rations for the men, all being short of food.

28th: Marched to Pont l'Eveque, 15 miles, turning out at 4am.  Battery on rear-guard.  Infantry hopelessly weary.  Supposed/suffered (sp?) eventually to form(sp?) the starting point (sp?) at 8:30am. Did not do so till about 11:30am.  Reached bivouac at 10pm unmolested.  A very tiring march of about 1 mile an hour behind tired infantry.  The battery has now marched 140 miles by road exclusive of movements to positions in 7 days.  The majority of the horses have been within or on short rations and have galled(sp?) badly and lost condition.  Rations for the men have been few and the men are tired but full of fight.

29th: Rest at Pont l'Eveque.  Marched at 7:15pm to Croutoy arriving about 6:30 am on 30th after two hours halt in the night, about 17 miles.

30th: Rest at Croutoy.

31st: Marched at 8am to bivouac north of Crepy.  About 16 miles.

September

1st: The withdrawl of the rearguard.  Rearguard in action against German cavalry who suffered some loss.  Opened fire about 1:30pm on German cavalry who scattered.  Retired about 1:40pm and took up a position further back.  Battery then detailed for rearguard with East Surrey Reg.  No further fighting.  Reached bivouwac at Nanteuil about 8:30pm in the dark.  Distance about 8 miles.

2nd: Marched at 3 am to bivouwac at Chambre Fontaine, 1 mile north of Plessis arriving about 9am.  Distance about 10 miles.  Horse inspection by V.O. battery 2 horses short and 28 unfit from strangles, condition, falls and lameness.  The continuous marching has been very hard on the shoes and there has been very little time to get the horses shod up.

3rd:  Marched at 7am to Mont Pichet, 2 miles north west of Crecy, halting for 3 hours at Esbly.  Arrived about 5pm. Distance about 12 miles.  A very hot and dusty march.  The battery was in a position of readiness for nearly 3 hours at La Baste to cover withdrawl of rearguard but no enemy appeared.

4th: Sundry orders issued regarding struggling on the march which is now bad in the infantry.  Left section turned out in the afternoon to support the outposts but was not required to fire.  Marched at 10pm.

5th: After marching all night the battery reached Gagny south of Tour in the morning.  The route lay chiefly through forest and from the numerous changes of direction it would appear the wrong turnings were taken.  Distance about (blank) miles.  Requisitioned oat hay for the horses/  The majority of the horses are now picking up again. Gallo (sp?) nearly well and no fresh ones as the remounts received at Kildare put on muscle.  A few horses will not recover under a months rest after their hard work in soft condition.  At 11pm orders were received that the division was going to reovercome (sp?) the offensive, much to the joy of all ranks.  Prolonged retirement to discourage the rank and file.

6th: Marched at 5:30 am to Villeneuve, halting to bivouwac at 9am.  Considerable firing to the front on both flanks. Continued march at 1pm to Montcerf.  Battery allotted to the advanced guard with 15th Infantry Brigade. Halted till dark and then moved forward to La Celle Sur Morin.

7th: Considerable delays in starting owing to 3rd Division having to clear owl (sp?) road.  Finally started at 11:30am with 15th Infantry Brigade, advanced guard and marched to Boissy le Chatel arriving at 6pm.

8th: Marched at 8am.  Passage (cannot read).  Sent out to left flank with Bedford Regiment to keep touch with 4th division. Action near Montgoins against enemys artillery which stopped firing.  Line judged by ground. Advanced across river in persuit but no targets were visible when the battery arrived on the far side.  The pull up from the river was very steep and took time.  The battery was the first up of the division.  Bivouwaced at Chamesseuil.

9th: Marched at 5am and formed advanced guard with 15th Infantry brigade. The battery was rigorously shelled in column on route on the road but got safely into action under cover without casualties, except to the water cart which was charged and smashed up by an abandoned infantry s.o.a. cart.  Opened fire on enemys artillery and infantry.  Enemys guns impossible to locate the country being very broken and covered with forest. Advanced under fire to Bezu Le Guery in closed support of 15th Infantry brigade which was being severely punished by shell and rifle fire. Came into action to cover their withdrawal if necessary. Impossible to give support in teh brigades existing position owing to forest. Remained in action all night.

10th: Marched at 5am.  Had a long trot of about 4 miles to catch up the advanced guard of 15th infantry brigade passing on route an abandoned artillery battery of the enemy.  Arrived in the nick of time and came into action south of Dhoisy against enemys rear-guard consisting mainly of cavalry which bolted, range about 4000, also fired at enemys convoy at 7000, caused considerable confusion.  Convoy also fire on and stopped by R.H.A. with 5th Cav (sp?) Brigade on right flank. Shelled roads along which enemy was retiring through woods with some affect as enemy refused to stand.  Continued advance to Cheze En Orxois having abandoned convoy with several dead. Bivouacked here at 7pm.  Several prisoners taken in woods.

11th: Marched at 7am to Billy Sur Ourcq.  A wet march and wetter bivouwac, short of rations for men and horses. Limes in a ploughed field in a valley which soon became a hopeless morass.  Men made wigwams our of branches and shaves of corn.

12th: Marched at 5am to Mont de Soissons from north of Nampteuil sous Muret.  Position of readiness till dark during reconnaissance of Aisne valley.  Every one wet to the skin.  Billetted at Mont de Soissons farm getting men and horses under cover. 

13th: Came into action early supporting advance of 14th Infantry brigade at Le Mesnil.  Enemys position across the Aisne strongly held by guns and infantry. 14th Brigade unable to cross owing to no bridge being available.  Remained in action all night.

14th: 4th Division on our left crossed during night at Venizel by means of pontoon bridge and damaged bridge.  Fired on enemys infantry retiring in front of 4th division.  Enemy waved white flags on sheets. 14th infantry brigade followed 4th division and moved east to Saint Marguerite.  Battery ordered to followed in closes support.  Shelled while crossing the pontoon and valley, no casualties.  Came into action at Sainte Marguerite against Chivres plateau.  Silenced and entrenched battery and detached section, who fired on infantry.  Battery under very galling and continuous enfilade fire from guns, but fortunately little damage was done owing to good cover.  Casualties - 3 men wounded, 6 horses killed, 3 wounded.  The battery fire nearly 2000 rounds.

15th: Engagement continued.  The battery and section on Chivres plateau were withdrawn during the night.  Fired chiefly at enemys infantry and an entrenched battery on plain 3700 north east where fire was (obscured).  The enfilade fire on the battery continued more or less all day. Lt. H.A. Tyler and 3 men wounded.

16th: Battery returned during the night to gun pits on Chivres plateau and opened fire at dawn. It fired about six rounds before own fire became effective.  When it stopped for the day.  Range 2200. Our guns shooting very badly.  Had to stop and have sights tested and put right.  The experimental sight carriers (sp?) loaned to the battery for this years practice have also given out, the sliding drums (sp?) not working properly.  Replaced them with the old eight carriers (sp?) which we brought with us in case of this occurrence. 

17th: Battery on Chivres plateau re-opened at dawn but was stopped at once.  Tried for direct hits.  Hit the enforcements several times but never seemed to get really in.  This battery was withdrawn during night.  This left a wheel lying outside one emplacement. Fired on trenches in Chivres valley.  The observation station coming in for a good deal of strafing daily at about 1200.  The snipers in front of Chivres about 600 distant fortunately cannot use it on account of the bevel of the hill.

18th: The whole line is now strongly entrenched.  The battery position is behind the extreme left of the 5th division and the observing station is in the middle of the 12th brigade of the 4th division. The battery is having the main work of the line, only two others being across the river, one belonging to the 4th division which is not allowed to fire, being kept for close defence, the other belonging our own division, barely being able to fire.  Consequently the battery is paid a good deal of attention by the enemy.  Went for direct hits on the battery on the plain, which re-opened this morning.  Shut it up with line shrapnel first of all, which was effective judging from the stretchers brought up when we stopped firing.  Tried for direct hits with lyddite when the afternoon sun got round.  Hit two emplacements, one shell detonating, the first to do so in this campaign. The weather has turned we an the trenches are quagmires.

19th: The battery on the plain has gone leaving what appears to be an ammunition wagon behind. Parties were at work filling in the two gun pits we hit yesterday.  Possibly burial parties so did not fire.  Usual routine of shelling trenches etc.  Wet continues.

20th: Same work as yesterday, shelling trenches.  Snipers are improving in their shooting.  Wet continues.

21st:  The battery observing station were heavily shelled by a battery on the left flank towards Vregny.  Shelled trenches.

22nd: Same as 21st.  The aeroplanes are endeavouring to locate the Vregny battery so as to turn the heavy battery on to it.

23rd: Same as 21st.  Shelling worse than ever.  Men remained under cover most of the day as their was nothing important to shoot at.  1 horse killed, 6 wounded.  Every vehicle is now marked by shell.

24th: New battery opened from behind a wood and joined in with the enfilading battery.   Located it by sound and fall of shell.  Searched behind wood and silenced it.  Decided to find enfilading battery for ourselves.  Sent out both subalterns to reconnoitre, who located it from a tree about 1/2 mile on our left flank in front of infantry firing line.  Ran back the right section and obtained line to as night fell.  Borrowed (sp?) belgate (sp?) telephone cart to run out wire to new station.

25th: Established Lt Housden at new observing station before dawn, covered by an advanced post of the Essex regiment.  Post in thick bush in which you can hear the German patrols talking.  Fire of battery silenced by R.X. under Lt Housden. A good piece of work for which the battery and infantry are duly thankful.  Battery fired at trenches and parties of the enemy.  Snipers have the battery observing station under close fire.

26th: Same as 25th. Fired on an anti aeroplane battery

 located by Rosewood (sp?) behind a wood.  Forced it to retire to longer range.  Fire lyddite at trenches in front of Chivres and hit them, four shell in trench, one in bomb proof.  Right section did good work against German guns at Vregny.

27th: Fired on Chivres trenches. Searched for heavy howitzers behind Chivres.  Used a good deal of ammunition to ono purpose.  Right section engaged with Vregny batteries.  Observing station and battery much shelled.

28th: A new battery opened fire early from behind wood on Pt Verdonne.  First two shells burst in the battery wounding sergeant Stannard (sp?). Enemys guns stopped after a few ranging shots from us.  The observing station and battery were under intermittent shell fire all day.  The right section had a hard task keeping down the fire of the Vregny batteries which it (did) very well.

29th: Still searching for the howitzers, occasionally even to get on to him, but more probable that the detachment knocks off work at intervals.  Shelled a new bomb proof getting one lyddite shell in.  Only one man came out who seemed dazed and stumbling.  The section of guns opened about 4pm behind the edge of wood on Pt Verdonne.  Position now easily recognised by two new V shaped cuts in the trees on the sky line.  Our trial ranging shots yesterday were therefore on the right line.  Silenced fine with L.X. R.X. had a busy time with the Vregny guns which now appear to be dispersed in sections.  Just before dusk the flashes of the heavy howitzers were seen from the forward observing station.  They are in two groups.  C.x. turned on right group L.X. on left group.  Howitzers stopped firing. 

30th: The Vregny guns have hardly fired today, consequently the R.X section had an easy time which they have deserved. Opened fire with C.X and L.X on enemys second line of trenches. Lyddite first and then timed shrapnel.  Shooting not good due to having to use No.1 charge at a big elevation. Guns on Pt Verdonne reopened from point about 200 west by sound, of their position yesterday.  Was able to silence them at once.  Searched with telescope for observing station and spotted a horses tail moving on edge of small clump of bushed.  Switched on to it and bolted two mounted and three dismounted men, presumably subaltern and his party.  These guns did not open fire. Noticed a new long thin pole in Verdonne forest. Sent for an R.E. officer who identified it as a wireless station.  Knocked down with lyddite.  Enemys howitzers opened fire from two positions which were identified by forward observing station seeing smoke. Turned C.X on to one lot and L.X on to the other.  Silenced fine.  Enemy re-opened later but was at once silenced and kept silent till dark by salvos at irregular intervals.  The battery has now fired over 5000 rounds in this position and the guns are shooting as well as ever.

October

1st:  Very misty and cold in the morning.  Quiet day, battery did not fire and enemy accepted the holiday.  Orders received at 6pm to retire across the Aisne at Venizel, the battery being relieved by the 55th battery of the 4th division.  Bivouwaced for the night at Le Mesnil.

2nd: Halted all day in thick mist. Marched at 7:15pm to Nampteuil.

3rd: Halted all day.  Horses taken into woods to hide from aeroplanes.  Guns etc hidden by boughs (sp?). Marched at 6pm to longpont.

4th: Halted all day in woods to hide from aeroplanes.  Four horses dies in last night from acute poisoning due, presumably, from eating crocuses in the woods at Nampteuil.  Received ten horses from the Brigade ammunition column.  Marched at 7:30pm to Le Bernal.  Delayed for three hours en route by motor lorries transporting French troops to the left wing.

5th: Arrived Le Bernal about 5am.  Halted all day.

6th: Marced at 2pm to Bethisy St Martin crossing our line of retreat on the 31st August.  Arrived about 7pm.

7th:  Marched at 5:30am to Comiegne where the battery entrained, leaving at 3pm for the north. 

8th: Arrived Abbeville at 12:30am.  Detrained at once and marched to Nedilly l'hopital arriving at dawn and bivouacking with the 15th Infantry brigade. Marched at 6pm to Boufflers arriving at 12:30am.  Nights very cold with hard frost.

9th: Marched at 5pm to Trois Vaux south of St Pol arriving at 5:30am.  10th delayed for 4 hours by motor lorries transporting infantry.

10th: Halted at Trois Vaux.  A good deal of firing on our right in the direction of Arras.  Town full of refugees  (sp?) from Arras and Lille.  The former town is reported as being set on fire and destroyed by the German artillery.

11th: Marched to Vendin west of Bethune arriving late in the afternoon.  Selected a position to cover the advance of the division in the morning, across the canal.  Country very flat and wooded difficult to find an observing station.

12th: Thick mist in the morning.  The battery was told to accompany the 14th infantry brigade across the canal at Locon.  Halted for several hours.  Orders received in the afternoon to move to Festubert in support of the 15th infantry brigade.  Roads blocked by French cavalry division withdrawing from own front.  Reached Festubert about 4pm where a sharp action was in progress.  Ordered to find a position near the canal to support the Dorset Regiment.  Country between Festubert and the canal is marshy, wooded and intersected by ditches.  Battery could not move by the direct road as it was under close rifle fire.  Reconnoitred a practical route by the canal tow path by which time is was dark, also a position for the battery at Pont Fixe.  Bivouacked beside canal about one mile west of Givency.

13th: Occupied position, reconnoitred the evening before, at Pont Fixe, losing one wagon on route in the canal owing to the bank giving way.  Observing station in a factory.  Pont Fixe was shelled all day but the battery being well under cover only lost two men wounded.  The observing station came in for a good deal of attention and was shelled out of the factory three times.  Fired at Cuinchy enfilading the Germans living in a ditch which was cleared, several dead being left in the ditch. Field behind Dorsets and Bedfords heavily attacked in the afternoon.  Bedfords retired which necessitated retirement of Dorsets.  Battery covered retirement but was unable to save the Dorsets heavy casualties owing to the immediate retreat of the Bedfords on the left flank of the 13th infantry brigade on the right which enabled the enemy to enfilade them from both flanks .  Part of the Dorsets retired past the battery but one company was at once rallied behind the battery staff and lined the buildings on either side of the factory. The Germans occupied Givenchy and opened machine and rifle fire on the left section.  Lt Housden turned on the left section and stopped the fire.  At the moment the battery finished its ammunition but fortunately more arrived from the column in about ten minutes just as night fell.  The position of the battery at this time was uncomfortable.  In the night the Germans were about 600 in front; in front their advance was stopping about 1500 from the battery one one roughly handled company of the Dorsets between us on the left they were in line with the battery about 500 distant.  The battery remained in action till about 11pm.  When it received orders to withdraw to billets During the attack the battery stopped the direct advance of the enemy, who moved away from the front into Givenchy.  Wounded returning after dark reported no enemy in front.  The fire of the battery was therefore , as appeared from the observing station, effective in stopping the direct advance of the enemy on Pont Fixe but we were unable, in addition, to cope with the attack on Givenchy.  Lt J.P. Hickie joined.

14th:  Battery received orders to occupy the same position at dawn as on the 13th.  It was however unable to get forward owing to the enemy shelling the tow path. The O.C. Dorset Regt also requested the battery commander to select a position further in rear (sp?).  Took up a position further back, action can called in by group commander.  Our position on 13th would been absolutely untenable as by now it was enfiladed from the left at short range and badly visible to hostile artillery forward observers.  Probably the order to re-occupy it was raised under a misconception "of the situation". Fired on Cuinchy, Givenchy and various towns where the infantry had located misaims (sp?).  Returned to bivouac at dark.

15th: Same position.  Shelled Givenchy and church tower which was hit repeatedly.  Capt McClymont fired on the Germans occupying the houses and trenches on the west of Givenchy with success causing them to retire.  Withdrew to bivouac at dark.  The observing station on a haystack came in for a fair proportion of rifle and shell fire directed at the infantry trenches about 15 in front, but no damage was done.

16th: Occupied same position at dawn. This mist prevented any shooting.  Infantry patrols reported enemy withdrawing.  Capt. McClymont injured, sent to hospital. 

17th:  Same position. Infantry occupied Givenchy.  Shifted observing station to south side of Givenchy and shelled enemys trenches at La Bassee station.

18th:  Moved battery forward to a position immediately south of Givenchy.  Shelled trenches at La Bassee station in support of French attack and the trenches along the canal bank towards La Bassee.  Our infantry advanced to about 1000 east of Givenchy and entrenched.

19th: Same position and same objectives.  A French battery came into action alongside the 61st.  Our infantry did not advance.

20th: Same position and objectives.

21st: ditto

22nd: Shifted battery to a position 500 in rear, just in time as the battery has been located by the enemys aeroplanes.  The left and centre sections got clear without trouble but the right section had two bombs dropped on it and came in for heavy shell fire from howitzers.  Opened fire from new position towards Violaines which had been captured by the enemy.  Battery remained in action all night.

23rd: Moved at 5am to a position near Festubert to cover the area Rue d'oucert-canteleux.  The infantry have withdrawn to practically the same line except that we still hold Givenchy.  Shelled Rue D'ouvert and Canteleux and remained in action all night.  The French now hold Givenchy and Pont Fixe which strengthens our line.

24th: Same position.  Enemy shelled Festubert hard and appear to be getting the range of the battery with their heavy howitzers.  One gun of the 52nd on our left was knocked out.  Observing station had rather a warm time.  At dark moved battery back about 500 to a position about 200 north of that occupied on the 14th keeping the same observing station.

25th: Observing station came under a terrific shell fire, had to be vacated. B.S.M and Corpl Rentall wounded.  Selected a new observing station and re-organised the battery staff. Two French batteries came into action beside us.

26th: Same position, quiet day.

27th: Same position.  Battery did not fire.  Germans fairly quiet.

28th: Same position.  Fired on Rue D'Ouvert in conjunction with 52nd battery.  61st using Lyddite to bolt the Germans and 52nd putting shrapnel.  Result difficult to see but all sniping stopped for some time in the line.

29th: Enemy attacked from Rue D'Ouvert in the morning which was missed.  Searched and swept. Attack repulsed.

30th: Same position.  Our infantry are being relieved by the Meerut division and gun batteries to be relieved tonight.  Question of relieving howitzers not yet decided. German opened fire on Ghurka trenches with a new mortar stated to fire a 200lb shell.  Makes a terrific noise and cleared the front trench.  Germans tried to attack.  Asked the two French batteries to open fire and observed it for them,  Fire reported by infantry to have been most effective and to have stopped attack on out immediate front.  Congratulated French commanders on halt.

31st: Howitzer batteries not to be relieved but the battery was allowed a day off in billets.  The XVth brigade R.F.A and 5th division moved back except for a few odd regiments.  The battery is now under the g.o.c. R.G. meerut division.