1st Battalion. 15th Brigade, 5th Division: Arrived Puchevillers from Wamin (14/7). To Lahoussoye (15/7), Ville-sur-Ancre (17/7). Moved forward to Pommiers Redoubt (19/7). In reserve during 5th Division’s operations at High Wood. To support positions 1 mile south of High Wood (23/7). Two companies relieved 1st Devonshire in trenches between High Wood and Longueval (25/7). Attack on Longueval (27/7) – leading waves met with strong machine gun fire and forced to retire. Relieved and to Pommiers Redoubt (28/7). To support line Delville Wood (31/7), Pommiers Redoubt (1/8), Dernancourt (2/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Hangest (4/8) and from there marched to Le Quesnoy. To Laleu (5/8). Entrained at Longpré for Méricourt (24/8) and from there marched to Sandpit Camp. To bivouacs south-west of Carnoy (26/8), Chimpanzee Trench (31/8), Angle Wood 1 a.m. (3/9) – later in action during attack on Falfemont Farm – ‘D’ Company assaulting left of objective forced back by strong machine gun fire. ‘A’ Company attacked during afternoon (4/9) – objectives taken and consolidated. Withdrew to Chimpanzee Trench (5/9) and from there marched to Citadel Camp. War Diary estimates casualties as 460. To Morlancourt (9/9) – War Diary notes village full of cavalry preparing to go forward. To Citadel Camp (16/9) and from there moved forward to reserve positions at Waterlot Farm. To support line Ginchy sector (18/9). Withdrew to positions around Guillemont (20/9), Oxford Copse (22/9). Moved forward to The Quadrilateral (24/9). Attack on Morval (25/9) – followed 1st Bedfordshire and by 3 p.m. held northern section of village. Relieved and to Oxford Copse (26/9). Casualties – 144. To Citadel Camp (27/9). Entrained at Grove Town for Longpré (29/9). Entrained for Béthune sector (1/10).
1/5th (Earl of Chester’s) Battalion (T.F.). Pioneers, 56th (1st London) Division: From Souastre took part in attack on Gommecourt (1/7) – Battalion in addition to its normal duties would on several occasions be called upon to fight. Casualties – 203. Remained working in area. To Doullens (20/8). Entrained for Hiermont (22/8). To St. Riquier (23/8), Corbie (4/9), Citadel Camp (6/9), Contour Wood (7/9). Dug communication trench across Death Valley to the recently captured Leuze Wood (8/9). To Favier Wood (14/9). New trench dug in front of enemy positions at Bouleaux Wood (19/9) – named ‘Gropi’ after code word taken from name of Commanding Officer (Groves) and word pioneer. New position later extended by digging of Ranger Trench. To Sandpit Camp (27/9), positions south of Montauban (30/9). Took part in operations at Le Transloy. Relieved and to Citadel Camp (10/10). Casualties since (7/9) – 175. To Condé-Folie (15/10), Hallencourt (21/10). Entrained at Pont-Remy for Le Cornet-Malo north of Béthune (24/10).
1/6th Battalion (T.F.). 118th Brigade. 39th Division: Arrived Grouches-Luchuel (24/8). To Bus-lès-Artois (25/8). Took over trenches from 2nd Durham Light Infantry north of Thiepval (26/8). Relieved by 4th/5th Black Watch and to Englebelmer (5/9). To left sector Beaumont-Hamel (12/9) – ‘The rats are quite a pest here. We have to hang our rations on lines. Then they are not safe as the rats can do tight-rope walking. They are a very hungry lot, as one of them bit the nose of one of our men whilst he was asleep’ (recalled by Sergeant James A. Boardman, M.M. and Bar in Battalion history). Relieved and to Martinsart Wood (5/10). Took over left sector Thiepval (10/10). Attack on Schwaben Redoubt (14/10) – all objectives taken. Enemy counter attacks repulsed. Relieved and to Pioneer Road (16/10), Martinsart Wood (25/10). To reserve trenches Thiepval sector (29/10), Pioneer Road (30/10), Right River Section Thiepval (1/11), Pioneer Road (3/11), Thiepval (8/11), Pioneer Road (11/11). Moved forward to assembly positions in readiness for attack on St. Pierre Divion (12/11). Attacked 5.45 a.m. (13/11) – all objectives taken. Casualties – 275. Relieved and to Senlis Camp (14/11), Warloy (15/11), Orville (16/11), Doullens (18/11). Entrained for Poperinghe (19/11).
9th (Service) Battalion. 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division: Moved forward from Bresle during night (30/6) and assembled on railway embankment near Albert. Took up position in Tara-Usna Line 10 a.m. (1/7). Later moved forward to Bécourt Wood and from there relieved 34th Division holding German line around Lochnagar Crater. In action around La Boisselle (2/7)–(4/7). Relieved and to Tara-Usna Line. Casualties since (1/7) – 307. To positions on hill near Bécourt Wood (6/7), Heligoland trenches (7/7). ‘A’ Company in support of the 9th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Relieved and to Albert (8/7). To Baizieux (9/7), Bécourt Wood (20/7), Mametz Wood (21/7). War Diary notes Mametz Wood as consisting of gaunt trunks of trees – dead branches covering the ground – shell holes making movement other than on foot impossible. The smell of dead bodies is also mentioned and that the only sign of life other than troops was a fair amount of magpies. Moved forward under orders of 57th Brigade to northern edge of wood 4 a.m. (23/7). War Diary records 2 captured Russian 8-inch guns cl 880 near position. Provided carrying parties to front line. Two companies moved forward to line just south of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood (30/7). Relieved and to Fricourt Farm (31/7). To Béhencourt (1/8). Entrained at Fréchencourt for Longpré (3/8) and from there marched to Francieres. Entrained at Pont-Remy for Bailleul (7/8). Entrained at Bailleul for Doullens (5/10) and from there marched to Bois de Warnimont. To Sailly-au-Bois (7/10). Relieved 9th Welsh in trenches east of Hébuterne (9/10). Relieved by 6th Wiltshire and to reserve at Rossignol Farm (13/10). To Vauchelles (16/10), Rubempré (17/10). War Diary notes delayed start to march – Divisional Artillery had moved on same route and heavily loaded ammunition wagons experienced difficulty getting up steep hill on Vauchelles-Puchevillers Road. To Bouzincourt (21/10), camp just north-east of village (22/10). Working parties to forward area Thiepval. To front line Thiepval sector (Stuff Trench) (26/10). Relieved and to Donnet Post (30/10). To front line (Lucky Way) (2/11), Donnet Post (5/11), camp near Aveluy (9/11), front line (13/11), Marlborough Huts (16/11). Moved forward to Zollern Trench 2 p.m. (18/11) and assembled for attack on Desire Trench. Advanced 4.25 p.m. – War Diary notes thick fog – direction lost after reaching Stuff Trench – mud was deep and men could not get free – attack swung to left and later abandoned.
10th (Service) Battalion. 7th Brigade, 25th Division: Arrived Varennes from Puchevillers 1 a.m. (1/7). To Forceville (2/7) – at night to reserve positions Aveluy Wood. To Authuille Wood (3/7) and from there relieved 19th Lancashire Fusiliers in front line extending from Mersey Street to Chequer Bent Street. Relieved and to Aveluy Wood (7/7). To trenches La Boisselle sector (8/7). Enemy pattack driven back (9/7). Attacked (12/7) – 3 strong-points taken and consolidated. ‘B’ Company attacked line left of Ovillers – held up by machine gun fire – later occupied part of trench evacuated by the enemy. Attacked south of Ovillers 11 p.m. (14/7) – line entered in places – later forced to retire under heavy machine gun fire. Renewed assault during early morning (15/7) also driven back. Relieved and to bivouacs just outside Albert. Casualties – 400. To Forceville (16/7), Beauval (18/7), Bois de Warnimont (20/7). To Englebelmer (23/7) and from there took over forward trenches from 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Relieved and to Bus-lès-Artois (6/8). To Vauchelles (11/8), Puchevillers (15/8), Hédauville (17/8), dug-outs near Authuille (18/8). Relieved 3rd Worcestershire in Leipzig Salient (23/8). To Hédauville (26/8), Bouzincourt (28/8), front line under orders of 75th Brigade (31/8), Bouzincourt (2/9), front line (3/9), Bouzincourt (7/9), Arquèves (8/9), Gézaincourt (10/9), Heuzecourt (11/9), Mesnil-Domqueur (12/9), Gézaincourt (25/9), Arquèves (26/9), Hédauville (29/9). Moved forward to trenches south face Stuff Redoubt (30/9) – planned attack cancelled and withdrew to support trenches (2/10). To Stuff Redoubt (7/10) – attack cancelled and withdrew to reserve line (8/10). To Stuff Redoubt (9/10) – successful attack on German held north face of redoubt 12.35 p.m. – forward posts established and counter attacks repulsed during evening. Relieved and to reserve line (10/10). To Crucifix Corner (15/10), Bouzincourt (16/10). Moved forward to positions north of Mouquet Farm, Hessian Trench and Zollern Trench (17/10). War Diary records all companies working as hard as possible carrying up materials for forthcoming attack. Relieved and to reserve line (19/10). ‘D’ Company to Stuff Redoubt (21/10). To Bouzincourt (22/10), Hérissart (23/10), Hardinval (24/10). Entrained at Doullens for Bailleul (29/10).
11th (Service) Battalion. 75th Brigade, 25th Division: Moved from Touten-court to Hédauville during night (30/6). To Martinsart Wood (2/7). Moved forward via Black Horse Bridge and assembled for attack south of Thiepval during night. Attacked on right (3/7) – leading waves noted in War Diary as passing over No Man’s Land in perfect order – heavy machine gun fire later brought assault to a standstill about 50 yards from German first line – ‘line after line of troops were mowed down.’ Official History of The Great War records some 60 men drifted to the right and joined Highland Light Infantry in the Leipzig Salient. Commanding Officer killed while going forward with reserve company. Withdrew to start positions. War Diary records 20 officers and 657 other ranks going into trenches, just 6 and 350 coming out during night (4/7). Relieved by 1st Wiltshire and to Aveluy Wood. To Albert (6/7) and from there moved forward to Usna Redoubt during night. To front line Ovillers (7/7) – patrols sent out along Albert-Bapaume Road. Unsuccessful bombing attack on southern edge of village (10/7). War Diary records sniper claimed 15 victims close to Battalion Headquarters. Relieved by 8th Border and to Usna Redoubt during night (11/7). Moved forward to Brigade reserve positions during night (13/7). Moved forward to front line in preparation for attack north of Ovillers Church during night (14/7). War Diary notes strength as about 100. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies lay out over the parapet throughout night but did not advance. Relieved and to Senlis (15/7). To Hédauville (16/7), Amplier (17/7), Vauchelles (21/7), Acheux (22/7). Took over line opposite Beaumont-Hamel (24/7). Relieved by 8th Border and to bivouacs near Mailly-Maillet (30/7). Provided working parties to front line trenches. To front line (5/8), Bois de Warnimont (10/8), Raincheval (15/8), Forceville (17/8), Hédauville (19/8), Aveluy Wood (19/8). War Diary notes the fighting of early July being in the thoughts of all original members. Except for nightly working parties found for digging new trench in No Man’s Land in front of Thiepval, and the stinging of the mosquitoes, the stay in Aveluy Wood is recorded in War Diary as a very happy one and a ‘veritable holiday.’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies to Authuille Wood (22/8), ‘A’ and ‘D’ to The Bluff near Black Horse Bridge (23/8). War Diary records that until end of August work was carried out on trenches under difficult conditions. In support during attack on Thiepval (3/9)–(7/9). Relieved and to Bouzincourt. To Léalvillers (8/9), Amplier (9/9), Autheux (11/9), Agenville (12/9), Amplier (25/9), Léalvillers (26/9). War Diary notes ‘experiments undertaken in intensive digging.’ To Bouzincourt (29/9), Crucifix Corner (30/9). Relieved Canadians in Hessian and Zollern Trenches (4/10). Relieved and to Ovillers Post (6/10). Work parties dug Bainbridge Trench. Relieved 10th Cheshire in reserve line (15/10). To Hessian and Zollern Trenches (16/10), reserve line (17/10), Hessian Trench (19/10). Attack cancelled and withdrew to reserve line. ‘A’ Company attached to 8th Border for attack on Regina Trench (21/10) – objective taken and 400 yards beyond. Relieved and to Albert (22/10). To Warloy (23/10), Authieule (24/10). Entrained at Doullens for Bailleul (29/10).
13th (Service) Battalion. 74th Brigade, 25th Division: From Warloy to Bouzincourt (3/7), trenches at Boisselle (5/7). Positions consolidated and held. Attacked Ovillers 8.05 a.m. (7/7) – objectives reached and consolidated. Casualties – 261. Successful bombing attacks (8/7) – trench leading to Ovillers Church taken. War Diary later records Battalion very weak and unable to take part in fighting. Provided carrying parties for Brigade. Relieved by 3rd Worcestershire (10/7) and via Bouzincourt to Senlis. Moved forward to Albert in support of 7th Brigade (13/7) – not required and withdrew to Marmont Bridge. Moved forward to trenches near Ovillers (15/7). Attacked (16/7) – over 120 prisoners taken at south-east corner of Ovillers. Relieved at midnight and to Bouzincourt. To Forceville (17/7), Beauval (18/7), Bus-lès-Artois (21/7), Mailly-Maillet Wood (24/7). Took over trenches south-west of Beaumont-Hamel (Mary Redan) (30/7). War Diary notes British aeroplanes flying low over enemy lines and firing into trenches. Relieved by 2nd Notts and Derby and to Beaussart (5/8). To Mailly-Maillet (7/8), Bertrancourt (9/8), Bus-lès-Artois (11/8), Léalvillers (14/8), Hédauville (18/8). Took over trenches Thiepval Wood (19/8). Relieved and to Bouzincourt (26/8). To reserve positions at Ovillers Post and Donnet Post (28/8), front line (Skyline Trench) (1/9). Relieved and to Bouzincourt (6/9). To Léalvillers (7/9), Puchevillers (8/9), Beauval (10/9), Candas (11/9), St. Ouen (12/9), Beauval (25/9), Hédauville (27/9), Ovillers Post in support of 146th Brigade (29/9). Relieved and to Bouzincourt (5/10). Relieved 2nd South Lancashire in Hessian Trench (6/10). Withdrew to reserve line (13/10). To Hessian Trench (16/10), reserve Une (19/10), Hessian Trench (20/10). Attack on Regina Trench (21/10) – War Diary records that whole Battalion went over the parapet at 12.06 p.m. – German trenches entered – 250 prisoners taken. Relieved 6 p.m. (22/10) and to bivouacs near Albert. Casualties – 210. To Vadencourt (23/10), Beauval (24/10). Entrained at Candas for Caéstre (29/10)
15th (Service) Battalion (1st Birkenhead). 105th Brigade, 35th Division: Arrived Beauval from Sus-St.Léger (7/7). To Bus-lès-Artois (10/7), Warloy (11/7), Heilly Wood (12/7), Grove Town Camp via Celestines Wood (13/7). Later via Billon Wood took over trenches in Bernafay Wood. Carrying parties provided for front line. High casualties during bombardment (18/7). Relieved and to Talus Boisé (21/7). Working party of 500 to front line (23/7) – took over new bivouacs north of Carnoy. Moved forward to trenches south of Montauban (24/7). Took over trenches Maitz Horn area, Arrow Head Copse (26/7). Relieved by 16th Cheshire and to Talus Boisé (28/7). To reserve positions north of Carnoy (30/7), Sandpit Valley (31/7), Boisé des Tailles (1/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Saleux (5/8) and from there marched to Oissy. Entrained at Hangest for Méricourt (10/8) and from there marched to Citadel Camp. To Silesia Trench in Brigade reserve (19/8). Working parties to Arrow Head Copse. Moved forward to support trenches (21/8). Relieved and to Bronfay Farm (22/8). To Sandpit Valley (26/8), Bois des Tailles (28/8). Entrained at Heilly for Fienvillers (30/8) and from there marched to Heuzecourt. To Milly and Bout des Pres (31/8). 15th Cheshire was a ‘Bantam’ battalion and War Diary records recent drafts as ‘undesirable degenerates of poor physique.’ Began move to Arras sector (1/9).
16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Birkenhead). 105th Brigade, 35th (Division): Arrived Beauval from Sus-St.Léger (7/7). To Bus-lès-Artois (10/7), Heilly via Warloy (11/7), Grove Town Camp via Celestines Wood (12/7), Billon Wood (13/7). To trenches at Trônes Wood attached to 54th Brigade (16/7). ‘W’ Company moved forward to Waterlot Farm (17/7) – drove off enemy attack (18/7). War Diary records heavy bombardment of positions – Lewis gun buried 3 times but recovered and remained in action. Withdrew to Bernafay Wood (19/7). Casualties since (16/7) – 244. To Talus Boisé during night. To Carnoy (23/7) and from there to trenches south of Montauban. To Dublin Trench (26/7), trenches at Maitz Horn Farm (28/7). Relieved and to bivouacs south of Carnoy (30/7). To Sandpit Valley (31/7), Bois des Tailles (2/8). Entrained at Grove Town for Saleux (5/8) and from here marched to Molliens-Vidame. Entrained at Hangest for Méricourt (10/8) and from there marched to Citadel Camp. To front line Arrow Head Copse (20/8), Silesia Trench in reserve (22/8) and from there Bronfay Farm. To Sandpit Valley (26/8), Bois des Tailles (28/8). Entrained at Heilly for Candas (30/8) and from there marched to Beaumetz. To Lucheux (31/8). Began move to Arras sector (1/9).
19th (Labour) Battalion. Entrained at Bailleul for Heilly (17/7) and from there marched to Méaulte. Work began on railway around Fricourt and Mametz areas and the stations at Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval. Moved camp to Bazentin-le-Grand (22/10) and later Longueval.