2nd Battalion. 12th Brigade, 4th Division: From assembly trenches east of the sugar factory on Mailly-Maillet-Serre Road moved forward 8.55 a.m. (1/7) in support of attack between Beaumont-Hamel and Serre. Advancing on Brigade’s left fought through into The Quadrilateral – by nightfall holding Burrow, Wolf and Legend Trenches. Casualties – 323. Withdrew to Ellis Square in support (7/7). Two companies to Mailly-Maillet (8/7). Relieved by 1st Rifle Brigade and to bivouacs between Bertrancourt and Acheux (10/7). To front line east of Auchonvillers (17/7), Louvencourt (21/7), Authieule (22/7). Entrained at Doullens for Cassel (23/7). Arrived Bertangles (17/9). To Cardonnette (25/9), La Neuville (27/9), Corbie (1/10), Citadel Camp (8/10). Moved forward via Bernafay Wood to Flers Line (9/10). Attack near Lesbœufs (Spectrum Trench) (12/10) – forming with 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers part of assaulting force. Casualties – 342. After further action around Spectrum (23/10) withdrew to Bernafay Wood. To Citadel Camp (25/10), Méricourt (27/10). Entrained for Airaines (29/10) and from there to billets Forceville and Neuville. Left Somme area during first week of November.
1/4th Battalion (T.F.). 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division: Moved forward from Senlis midnight (30/6) into assembly trenches at Aveluy Wood. Later (around 11.30 a.m.) to Crucifix Corner. Relieved 1/5th West Yorkshire at Johnstone’s Post (2/7). To Thiepval Wood (5/7), Aveluy Wood (7/7), Thiepval Wood (8/7). Took turns in line with 1/5th West Yorkshire. During this period in the front line Battalion’s historian Captain P.G. Bales, M.C. noted the British dead still un cleared from the battlefield – ‘the sunken Thiepval Road crowded as it was with the bodies of the Ulstermen who had fallen or crawled there to die on 1st July.’ To Raincheval (19/8), Forceville (27/8), Martinsart Wood (2/9) – assembled in Thiepval Wood during night. From trenches along Hamel-Thiepval Road attacked just after 5 a.m. towards the Schwaben Redoubt – German line soon penetrated – strong machine gun fire from the Redoubt and Strasburg Line together with a determined counter attack forced withdrawal to Martinsart Wood. Casualties – 347. To Hédauville (7/9), Martinsart Wood (15/9), Crucifix Corner (16/9). In support Leipzig Redoubt (18/9), to front line, Leipzig Redoubt (21/9), Léalvillers (24/9), Halloy (25/9), Humbercamps (27/9), Bienvillers-au-Bois (28/9), left sub-sector, Hannescamps (29/9) – line crossing sunken Hannescamps-Essarts Road. To Souastre (3/10), left sub-sector, Hannescamps (9/10), Bienvillersau-Bois (16/10), Humbercamps (18/10), St. Amand (19/10), Souastre (21/10), Foncquevillers (24/10) and duty in front line opposite Gommecourt Wood. To Souastre (30/10), front line (5/11). ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies to Souastre (11/11) – ‘C’ and ‘D’ in Foncquevillers providing working parties to front line.
1/5th Battalion (T.F.). 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division: Marched from Warloy at night to assembly trenches in Aveluy Wood (30/6). Moved forward to South Bluff, Authuille (1/7). Tours of duty in front line Thiepvai sector began (2/7) – Headquarters at Gordon Castle, support positions Belfast City, Johnson’s Post, Harley Street, Paisley Avenue. Relieved and to Raincheval (19/8). To Forceville (27/8). Moved forward via Martinsart Wood to front line Thiepval (2/9). On left of 147th Brigade’s attack on Schwaben Redoubt (3/9) – Official History of The Great War records that some loss of direction occurred during advance – heavy losses at German wire – failed to capture Pope’s Nose. War Diary records assault as a failure ‘the men fought splendidly and in many cases without N.C.O’s or officers … As a proof of the hard fighting there were 350 casualties out of 450 who assaulted the German lines.’ Relieved and to Aveluy Wood. To Hédauville (4/9). Via Martinsart Wood, Crucifix Corner to Leipzig Salient (15/9). ‘C’ Company in attack (16/9) – forced to retire after heavy shelling. Relieved by 1/4th West Riding and into Brigade support near Authuille (21/9). To Hédauville (24/9), Halloy (25/9), St. Amand (28/9), Pommier (1/10). Took over trenches in front of Gommecourt (9/10). To Pommier (18/10), St. Amand (21/10), Foncquevillers and Souastre (24/10), front line (30/10), Souastre (5/11), front line (11/11), Souastre and Foncquevillers (17/11).
1/6th Battalion (T.F.). 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division: Moved from Warloy into reserve positions in Aveluy Wood during night (30/6). Forward to Crucifix Corner (1/7), Belfast City in Thiepvai Wood (2/7). Relieved 11 a.m. and withdrew to Aveluy Wood. To front line trenches just south of Thiepvai Wood (4/7). Battalion began series of tours in front line – War Diary records section held as between Union Street and Thiepvai Avenue – resting at North Bluff. To Forceville (19/8), Léalvillers (20/8), Forceville (27/8), trenches in Thiepvai Wood (28/8). In support during attack on Schwaben Redoubt (3/9). Withdrew to North Bluff (4/9) and from there to Hédauville. Took over forward positions Leipzig Salient (15/9). Relieved and to Crucifix dug outs, Aveluy (23/9), Léalvillers (24/9), Mondicourt (25/9), St. Amand (27/9). Relieved 5th Scottish Rifles in trenches between Foncquevillers and Gommecourt (28/9). To Humbercamps (2/10), support positions Bienvillers (9/10), trenches Hannescamps sector (16/10), Humbercamps (18/10), Souastre (21/10), trenches Foncquevillers sector (24/10), Souastre (30/10), front line (5/11), Souastre (11/11), front line (17/11).
1/7th Battalion (T.F). 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division: Moved forward from Senlis to assembly trenches in Aveluy Wood (30/6). To South Bluff, Authuille (1/7). Relieved 1/5th West Yorkshire in trenches Thiepval sector (2/7). Tours of duty included work on new trench near Oblong Wood. Rested at North Bluff. Relieved and to Hédauville (19/8) – War Diary notes that Battalion had been in the line for 7 weeks without a break and with about 350 casualties. To Arquèves (20/8), Forceville (27/8), Aveluy Wood (28/8). Moved to assembly trenches at Thiepval Wood (3/9) and ordered to stand by. Withdrew to Hédauville 8.30 p.m. To Martinsart Wood (15/9) and moved forward by night to recently captured trenches south of Thiepval. Took part in successful attack (17/9). Casualties – 220. Relieved and into support at Leipzig and Lemberg Trenches (18/9). ‘B’ company to Authuille. To Crucifix Corner (19/9), front line (22/9). Relieved and to Hédauville (24/9), Halloy (25/9). To Souastre (28/9), Bienvillers (29/9), Humbercamps (3/10), front line Foncquevillers sector (9/10), Humbercamps (18/10), St. Amand (21/10), Souastre (24/10). Entry in War Diary (30/10) – ‘Battalion paraded at 8.30 a.m. on clean fatigue. All ranks warned of the necessity for preventing waste in underclothing.’ Moved to front line. To Foncquevillers (5/11), front line (11/11), Souastre (17/11).
8th (Service) Battalion. 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division: Arrived Senlis from Arras sector (6/9). Relieved 11th Cheshire in front line Thiepval sector (7/9). To Martinsart Wood (10/9). Attacked (14/9) – Official History of The Great War records advancing from Hindenburg Trench behind an excellent barrage at 6.30 p.m. – with 9th West Yorkshire 2 companies swept through German front line and then the Wonder Work. 250 yards of Hohenzollern Trench on the right – trench on left as far as the Thiepval Road also secured. War Diary notes – ‘Objectives reached – attacking companies advanced 40 yards beyond and dug themselves in – communication trench to new position dug immediately.’ Counter attacks repulsed (15/9). Relieved at 4 p.m. and to Hédauville. Casualties – 258. To Bouzincourt (18/9), Mailly-Maillet (21/9). Relieved 7th South Staffordshire in front line Ovillers (23/9). To Bouzincourt (26/9). Moved forward into support positions for attack on Hessian Trench and Stuff Redoubt (27/9). In action until relieved by 8th South Lancashire and to Bouzincourt (30/9). Casualties since (28/9) – 247. To Acheux (1/10). Entrained for Candas (4/10) and from there took buses to Maison-Roland. To Domléger (6/10), Berteaucourt (14/11), Rubempré (15/11), Acheux (16/11).
9th (Service) Battalion. 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division): At Bois des Tailles (1/7) awaiting orders to move forward. To Morlancourt (2/7), trenches around Fricourt (3/7). In action during operations at Contalmaison (4/7)–(7/7). Relieved and to Méaulte. Entrained at Méricourt for Ailly-sur-Somme (11/7) and from there marched to Molliens-Vidame. To Long (15/7). Entrained at Hangest for Méricourt (23/7) and from there marched through Ribemont to camp near Albert-Amiens Road. Moved forward via Fricourt to Longueval (1/8). In support during operations at Delville Wood. Relieved and to Pommiers Redoubt (5/8), Fricourt (8/8). To front line Delville Wood (10/8), Fricourt (12/8), bivouacs Albert-Amiens Road (13/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Candas (15/8) and from there to billets at Lucheux. To Souastre (27/8). Took over front line opposite Gommecourt Park (5/9). Relieved and to St Amand (11/9), Halloy (21/9), Barly (22/9), Montigny (23/9), Agenvillers (24/9), Hiermont (9/10), Barly (10/10), Halloy (11/10), Bouquemaison (19/10). Moved in buses to Poulain ville (22/10) and from there marched to Cordonette. To Corbie (23/10), Sandpit Camp (27/10), Trônes Wood (29/10). Relieved 2nd Worcestershire in front line Gueudecourt sector (30/10). Relieved (2/11), back in line (5/11), relieved (8/11), line (10/11). To Carnoy (12/11), Mansell Camp (13/11), Méaulte (14/11). Entrained at Edgehill for Hangest (15/11) and from there to Picquigny. To Ailly-sur-Somme (17/11).
10th (Service) Battalion. 69th Brigade, 23rd Division: Moved from Coisy to Baizieux 8 p.m. (1/7). To bivouacs north-west of Albert (2/7), Bécourt Wood (3/7). Attack on Horseshoe Trench (5/7) – Official History of The Great War records advance over the open soon after 6 p.m. With 8th and 9th Green Howards cleared both Horseshoe Trench and Lincoln Redoubt at its western end. Withdrew to positions south of Albert (6/7). Moved forward to captured trenches on left of Lozenge Wood (7/7). Took over positions at Shelter Alley (9/7). Attack and capture of Contalmaison (10/7). Relieved and to positions north-west of Albert (11/7). To Franvillers (12/7), Molliens-au-Bois (13/7), Millencourt (21/7), Bécourt Wood (26/7). Moved through Contalmaison to front line (28/7). In action at Munster Alley (28/7)–(29/7). Casualties – 205. Relieved and to Scots Redoubt (30/7). Total casualties for July – 419. To Albert (1/8), Scots Redoubt (3/8). ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies in front line Contalmaison (4/8)–(5/8). To Peake Wood (5/8), Bresle (8/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Pont-Remy (11/8) and from there marched to Buigny-l’Abbé. Entrained at Pont-Remy for Bailleul (16/8) and from there marched to Méteren. Arrived Longueau by train and marched to Coisy (11/9). To Hénencourt Wood (12/9), Millencourt (15/9). Moved forward to reserve trenches near Bazentin-le-Petit Wood (18/9). To Shelter Wood (22/9), Peake Wood (26/9), – Gourlay Trench (1/10). To front line Le Sars (2/10). Small party entered Flers support north off Bapaume Road (4/10) – held until bombs and ammunition ran out. In support during attack on Le Sars (7/10). Relieved and to Round Wood (8/10), Albert (9/10). Entrained for Longpré (12/10) and from there marched to Buigny-l’Abbé. Later transferred to Ypres sector.
12th (Labour) Battalion. Two companies ordered to the Somme from Ypres sector for work on Méaulte-Maricourt railway (8/7). Remainder followed (12/7). Camp near Contour Wood shelled (24/7). Worked on Méaulte-Trônes Wood, Méaulte-Fricourt, Fricourt-Longueval, Albert-Aveluy lines. Casualties from bombs dropped by enemy aircraft recorded in War Diary while ‘X’ Company were in camp near Bernafay Wood (23/10).