1st Battalion. 11th Brigade, 4th Division: From Mailly-Maillet at 10 p.m. (30/6) marched to assembly positions on right of Serre Road, Redan Ridge sector. Attacked (1/7) – War Diary records that the men advanced in magnificent style – having entered enemy’s first line devastating fire came from The Quadrilateral – desperate fighting with bomb and bayonet followed and soon losses were mounting up. At one point while holding The Quadrilateral – only 2 officers remained. These were later wounded and command then passed to C.S.M. Chappell. Withdrew to British line after dark and ordered back to Mailly-Maillet at 10 p.m. Casualties (including Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. Thicknesse) – 464. To Bertrancourt (4/7), front line (10/7), support line (Ellis Square, View Trench) and Mailly-Maillet (15/7). Entrained at Doullens for Ypres sector (22/7). Arrived Longueau from Esquelbecq (17/9) and from there marched to Cardonnette. To Corbie (25/9), Méaulte (7/10), Citadel Camp (8/10), La Briqueterie (9/10), support line Lesbœufs sector (17/10). In reserve at start of attack (18/10) – later moved forward – ‘A’ Company supporting 1st Rifle Brigade – ‘B’ company entering and consolidating Frosty Trench. Counter attack repulsed (19/10). To Gillemont (21/10). In his history of the Somerset Light Infantry Everard Wyrall records the trying conditions at Frosty Trench – the men working throughout to improve the shallow line were exhausted and soaked to the skin. The mud was knee deep – upon arrival at Guillemont some 68 men were ordered to hospital suffering from trench feet and exhaustion, while 83 were sent to the transport lines for rest and attention. Later in the day the Senior Medical Officer would evacuate more men. Battalion, about 300 strong remained in Brigade Reserve. To Trônes Wood (24/10), Mansell Camp (25/10). Here War Diary records – ‘all ranks who had had no sleep for 8 nights enjoyed the luxury of tents.’ Entrained at Méricourt for Airaines (30/10) and from there marched to Citerne.
6th (Service) Battalion. 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division: Left Arras sector end July – arriving Prouville (1/8). Entrained at Candas for Méricourt (6/8) and from there marched 5 miles to camp on a hill overlooking Albert. To front line Delville Wood (12/8). Enemy attack repulsed during night (14/8). To support trenches in front of Montauban Alley (15/8) – working parties sent up to dig in Delville Wood during nights (15/8) and (16/8). Moved forward to assembly positions south-east corner of Delville Wood 3 a.m. (18/8) – attacked 2.45 p.m. – assaulting companies in German trenches by 2.50 p.m. – ‘A’ Company supported by ‘D’ taking Beer Trench – ‘C’ on left occupying Hop Alley – gains held against counter attacks and under heavy bombardment. Relieved at midnight (19/8) and to Fricourt. Casualties – 280. To reserve trenches in front of Bernafay Wood (26/8), 1 company to Delville Wood (27/8). To Fricourt (30/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Selincourt (31/8). Entrained for Méricourt (12/9) and from there marched to bivouacs just south of Albert. To camp near Méaulte (14/9), Pommiers Redoubt (15/9) and from there positions between Delville Wood and the Switch Line. Took over front line (16/9) – carried out attack on Gird Trench north-east of Flers 9.25 a.m. – under heavy fire from Gas Alley assault failed – all 17 officers that went into action and some 387 other ranks becoming casualties. Withdrew just before daybreak (17/9) – first to Pommiers Redoubt and then to Fricourt Camp. To Ribemont (18/9), Arras sector (27/9).
7th (Service) Battalion. 61st Brigade, 20th (Light) Division: Arrived Doullens from Ypres sector (25/7) and from there marched to Bois de Warnimont. To Bus-lès-Artois (26/7), Mailly-Maillet (27/7), front line (28/7) – same trenches held by 1st Somerset Light Infantry at beginning of its 1st July attack on the Redan Ridge. Regimental historian Everard Wyrall records that still laying all around were the unburied corpses of their comrades. Periods out of the line spent around Couin, Authuille and Sailly Dell. Began to move south (16/8), reaching Morlancourt (20/8), Happy Valley (21/8). Took over line opposite Guillemont (25/8), The Quarries (26/8). To Carnoy craters (27/8) – the withdrawal being noted as through trenches knee-deep in mud and full of half-buried corpses (Everard Wyrall). Headquarters, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies to La Briqueterie in support of 59th Brigade (31/8). Returned to craters at Carnoy midnight (2/9). Assembled on western edge of Trônes Wood (3/9) – attacked 12 noon – ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies leading took objective – the Wedge Wood-Ginchy Road south of the Guillemont cross roads. Later, ‘B’ company assisted 47th Brigade north of Guillemont-Combles Road – consolidating and holding their position until rejoining Battalion at midnight. Relieved and to Carnoy craters (5/9). Casualties for Guillemont operations – 166. To Sandpit Camp (6/9), Maricourt (8/9), Sandpit Camp (12/9), Citadel Camp (14/9), Talus Boisé (15/9) and from there moved forward to positions near Waterlot Farm. Attached to Guards Division moved up through Ginchy at midnight to line facing Lesbœufs. When Battalion attacked at 9.35 a.m. (16/9) it would be under the command of a second-lieutenant – all other officers having become casualties. The days fighting is described by Everard Wyrall as ‘brilliant’ – some 150 yards of German line captured with ‘bomb and bayonet’ – and many acts of bravery noted. Relieved and to Talus Boisé. To Citadel Camp (21/9), Méaulte (22/9), Citadel (25/9), The Quadrilateral (26/9), Carnoy Craters (28/9), trenches south of Gueudecourt (29/9). Advanced at 3.15 p.m. (1/10) and dug new forward line. Position held against counter attacks until relieved 11 a.m. (3/10). To Carnoy (4/10), front line (6/10). In support during attack on Rainbow and Cloudy Trenches (7/10) – moving forward later and consolidating gains. Relieved and to Méaulte (9/10). To Corbie (15/10), Allonville (19/10), Vaux (20/10), Riencourt (1/11), Warlus (18/11).
8th (Service) Battalion. 63rd Brigade, 21st and 37th Divisions: On left of 63rd Brigade’s (21st Division) attack on Fricourt (1/7) – moved forward into No Man’s Land just before zero hour – War Diary of 63rd Brigade noting that at this point almost all officers had become casualties. With some 50% losses – German lines entered and at midnight gains were being consolidated by just 100 men at the west end of Lozenge Wood – the sunken road and Lozenge Alley. Moved forward to Patch Alley (3/7). Relieved by 12th Manchester (4/7) and via Happy Valley and Méaulte to Dernancourt. Casualties since (1/7) – 443. Via Vaux, Bertangles and Talmas to Halloy where 63rd Brigade transferred to 37th Division (8/7). Took over trenches east of Hannescamps (11/7). To Hannescamps (14/7) and from there transferred to Vimy sector. Arrived Raincheval from Amplier (21/10). To Beauval (30/10), Léalvillers (12/11), Hédauville (14/11). From there assembled at Englebelmer and at midnight took over support positions at Beaucourt Trench. To Station Road (15/11) and from there worked on Engine Trench and provided carrying parties for forward areas. ‘C’ Company went forward to Ancre Trench and established post at Bois d’Hollande (16/11). German attack beaten off (17/11). Attack on Puisieux Trench (18/11) – advanced at 11 a.m. and immediately came under heavy machine gun fire – also high casualties from British barrage and attack halted. Later bombing parties from ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies took Puisieux Trench south of Miraumont Road. Relieved by 4th Middlesex during evening and to support positions east of Beaucourt.