1st Battalion. 87th Brigade, 29th Division: Moved up from Acheux Wood during night (30/6) and took over support trenches on extreme right of 29th Division’s line in front of Beaumont-Hamel. Followed 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers into attack (1/7) – Regimental historian Captain Stair Gillon records the same machine gun fire that swept the Irishmen cutting into the Borderers ‘they did not succeed in even reaching the few Fusiliers who were lying out in No Man’s Land.’ In 1 company alone there would be some 202 casualties out of its strength of 219. Battalion losses (according to Official History of The Great War) – 552. Withdrew to Fort Jackson 4 p.m. Took over trenches in front of Hemel (2/7). Relieved and to Acheux (8/7). Further tours in front line carried out until (24/7). Entrained at Doullens for Ypres sector (27/7). Arrived Longueau (7/10) and from there marched to Cardonnette. To Buire-sur-l’Ancre (10/10), Fricourt (13/10), Bernafay Wood (19/10), support and front line positions Gueudecourt sector (20/10). Relieved and to Bernafay Wood (27/10), Fricourt (30/10). Entrained at Albert for Airaines (3/11). To Buire-sur-l’Ancre (14/11), Fricourt (15/11). From there began tours in line Lesbœufs sector.
2nd Battalion. 13th Brigade, 5th Division: Moved from Arras area (13/7) – passing through Heuzecourt and Hérissart before reaching Franvillers (16/7). To Méaulte (17/7). Took over trenches between Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval (19/7). ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies attacked enemy position in front of Wood Lane (20/7) – objective taken and held until relieved at night by 14th Royal Warwickshire. Attack on Wood Lane (22/7) – Machine gun fire from High Wood caused high casualties – just 1 platoon reached objective. Relieved by 1st Norfolk and to Pommiers Redoubt (23/7). To trenches at Longueval and Delville Wood (29/7). Attacked north-west of Delville Wood 6.12 p.m. (30/7). Relieved and to Pommiers Redoubt (1/8), Dernancourt (2/8). Entrained for Airaines (4/8) and from there marched to Métigny. To Heucourt (5/8). Entrained for Méricourt (24/8) and from there marched to Dernancourt. To Happy Valley (25/8), reserve positions at Maricourt (26/8), trenches opposite Falfemont Farm (29/8). In preparation for assault on Falfemont Farm (3/9), assembled on slopes of the Leuze Wood spur, some 400 yards from objective. Attack commenced 8.50 a.m. – Official History of The Great War recording the task as ‘impossible.’ Battalion swept by rifle and machine gun fire in front and flank. Casualties – almost 300. Relieved and to Citadel Camp. To front line facing Falfemont Farm (10/9), Carnoy area (13/9), support positions north of The Quadrilateral (18/9). Attached to 95th Brigade for Battle of Morval (25/9) – passed through 1st Devonshire and into southern half of village. War Diary notes that nearly every man secured a trophy. Regimental historian – Captain Stair Gillon records that in accordance with orders, Battalion did not continue the advance ‘but lay on the outskirts of the captured village taking pot shots at the Germans retiring from Combles.’ Relieved and to Citadel Camp (26/9). Entrained to Hallencourt area (27/9). Entrained at Abbeville for Lillers (1/10). Casualties for Somme operations given in War Diary as – 42 officers and 1,110 other ranks.
6th (Service) Battalion. 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division: From Pommiers Redoubt provided carrying parties for 18th Division during its operations at Montauban (1/7)–(2/7). Later moved forward to eastern perimeter of village. Attack and capture of Bernafay Wood (3/7) – Official History of The Great War recording that with only 6 casualties – 6th K.O.S.B, and 12th Royal Scots covered 500 yards of flat ground – entered the wood and took possession. Remained in position under continuous bombardment until relieved and to Billon Wood (9/7). Casualties – 316. Provided working parties during fighting for Longueval (14/7)–(16/7). In action (17/7) – heavy casualties from machine gun and rifle fire during advance in the dark. Withdrew to Talus Boisé. To front line – Clarges Street and Pall Mall (18/7). Heavily shelled until relieved during night (19/7). Casualties – 126. Regimental historian – Captain Stair Gillon notes strength at this time as about 3 officers and 100 men. Entrained at Méricourt for Hangest (23/7) and from there marched to Cocquerel. Entrained at Pont-Remy for Diéval (24/7). To Barly north-west of Doullens (5/10), Mirvaux (7/10), Laviéville (8/10), Mametz Wood (9/10). Moved forward via High Wood to take over line at Eaucourt-l’Abbaye (18/10). Almost all unit diaries and histories concerned with the 9th Division record this journey as being full of horrors, death and a fate more diabolical than could ever be imagined. The mud and filth doing as much damage as the shelling. Relief completed 6 a.m. (20/10). In action at 4 p.m. (20/10) – the Nose being taken, evacuated, and reoccupied. Occupied Snag Trench by nightfall. To support at Flers Line during night (21/10), Mametz Wood (24/10), Bécourt (25/10), Franvillers (26/10), Mirvaux (27/10), Talmas (28/10). Moved by buses to Croisette south-west of St. Pol (29/10).
7th/8th (Service) Battalion. 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division: Reached Candas from Béthune sector (28/7). To Flesselles (31/7), Molliens-au-Bois (4/8), Franvillers (5/8), Bécourt (7/8) and from there to forward positions near Martinpuich. German counter attack – (17/8). Casualties – 224. Relieved by 10th Scottish Rifles and to camp just outside Albert on Amiens Road (18/8). To support trenches (29/8), front line (31/8), Scots Redoubt (4/9). Moved forward (14/9) – attack and capture of Martinpuich (15/9). Relieved and to Béhencourt (18/9). War Diary gives casualties since arriving in Fourth Army area (28/7) as 34 officers and 886 other ranks. To Albert (30/9), Scots Redoubt (9/10). Took over trenches near Le Sars (15/10). To Lozenge Wood (18/10), front line (28/10), Millencourt (3/11), Baizieux (13/11). Later to Havernas and Wargnies.