2nd Battalion. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division: Entrained at Lillers for Candas (6/7) and from there marched to Flesselles. To Fréchencourt (8/7), Bresle (9/7), via Albert to Bécourt Wood (10/7), Fricourt (16/7), Contalmaison (18/7). Took over trenches opposite The Triangle (22/7). Attack (with 2nd K.R.R.C.) on Munster Alley (23/7) – Official History of the Great War records the 2 battalions coming under machine gun fire from the outset – their attempt to rush the trenches under cover of the barrage standing no chance of success. Withdrew to The Triangle. Casualties – 116. To Bécourt Wood (24/7), Franvillers (26/7), Hénencourt (30/7), Bécourt Wood (13/8). Moved via Mametz to front line High Wood (14/8). Attacked and captured part of new German trench running westwards across Bazentin-le-Petit Road from High Wood (16/8). German counter-attacks with flamethrowers (17/8). To Mametz Wood (18/8). Took over Clark’s Trench (20/8) – failed assault towards ridge between High Wood and Martinpuich. German attacks repulsed. Relieved and via Mametz Wood to Albert. Casualties since (14/8) – 480. War Diary notes Albert bombed by aircraft (21/8). To Mametz Wood (27/8), trenches High Wood (31/8), Bécourt Wood (2/9). Working parties in Mametz Wood (4/9). To Lozenge Wood (5/9), High Wood (7/9). Attack on Wood Lane (9/9) – objectives taken – secured gains by digging defensive flank. To Bécourt Wood (10/9). Casualties – 262. Via Albert to Baizieux (12/9). Via Hénencourt and Albert to Bécourt Wood (19/9). To High Wood (Starfish Line) (25/9). Attack on Prue Trench (26/9)–(27/9). Casualties – 161. To Bécourt Wood (28/9), Millencourt (29/9), Tœufles (3/10), Bresle (31/10). Via Laviéville and Millencourt to Albert (5/11), High Wood (18/11).
1/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion (T.F.). Pioneers, 48th (South Midland) Division: Located in and around Sailly-au-Bois (1/7). In the previous October war correspondent Philip Gibbs had visited the Battalion at Sailly and later feature them in an article published in The Daily Telegraph – ‘I saw the courage of men who get no public credit for heroism, through day after day they live with immediate death lurking about them.’ To Albert area (16/7) and from there worked around Ovillers and Pozières. To Aveluy (20/7). In action (21/7) – 2 companies came under attack while working. Counter attacked and went on to take and consolidate a strong point. To Acheux (28/9) and from there Souastre. Operating from camp near Bazentin-le-Grand by end October.
7th (Service) Battalion. 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division: Moved from billets at Fréchencourt to Baizieux Wood (1/7). Later into Albert-Bouzincourt reserve line. From these positions, Battalion historian records, ‘we had a good view of the German and British trench systems extending from the Albert-Bapaume Road up to Thiepvai.’ To railway cutting north of Albert station (3/7). Here Battalion witnessed a 12-inch howitzer working in collaboration with an aeroplane. The wireless direction used to plot the shots being subject to constant jamming by the Germans. To reserve line (4/7), trenches Ovillers sector (6/7). In attack with 8th and 9th Royal Fusiliers on village (7/7) – advancing at 8.30 a.m., War Diary recording heavy machine gun fire and bombardment by shrapnel shells. Withdrew via Crucifix Corner to Albert (8/7). Casualties – 461. To Senlis via Millencourt (9/7), Forceville (10/7), Bus-lès-Artois via Acheux (11/7), Sailly-au-Bois (14/7), Bus Wood (16/7), Mailly-Maillet (20/7), Bois de Warnimont (24/7), Hédauville (26/7). Took over support trenches between Ovillers and La Boisselle (27/7). Occupied trenches west of Pozières (30/7). Operations at Ration Trench, 6th Avenue accounting for some 224 casualties. To Albert-Bouzincourt reserve trenches (6/8), Bouzincourt (7/8), Varennes (11/8), Puchevillers (12/8). Began move to Arras sector (15/8). Arrived Bernaville from Agny (26/9). To Bouquemaison (27/9). Moved forward to Pommiers Redoubt (29/9). Took over trenches Gueudecourt sector (1/10). In support during attack on Bayonet Trench (7/10). Casualties since (1/10) – 182. Relieved and to Bernafay Wood (11/10). To front line (17/10). Attack on Bayonet Trench (18/10). To Mametz Wood (19/10), Fricourt (20/10), Buire (21/10). To Arras sector (22/10).
8th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers). Pioneers, 18th (Eastern) Division: From headquarters at Carnoy were involved in operations at Montauban (1/7). Consolidated strong-points and dug new communication trenches. War Diary records part of ‘A’ Company involved in fighting at Montauban Alley – ‘D’ Company bombers assisted in capture of The Loop. Relieved and to Grove Town Camp (7/7). Work began on Maricourt-La Briqueterie Road (10/7). To Copse Valley (12/7). Operations at Trônes Wood (13/7)–(14/7). Working in Guillemont area. Relieved and to Bois des Tailles (19/7). Entrained at Méricourt for Longpré (21/7) and from there marched to Hallencourt. Entrained at Pont-Remy for St. Omer (23/7). Arrived Doullens (31/8). To Forceville via Acheux (1/9), Aveluy Wood (3/9). Work commenced on tramway extension at Ovillers, light railways and roads. Thiepvai operations (26/9)–(28/9). To bivouacs Pioneer Road (5/10). Relieved and to Acheux (7/10). Later entrained for Candas and from there marched to Bernaville. To dugouts in Usna Valley (12/10). Work on Sudbury and Cliff Trenches. Moved forward (21/10) and stood by until Regina Trench was captured. Communication trench then dug across No Man’s Land. Work on Pozières Road, Mouquet Farm track, Courcelette Road. Ancre operations (13/11)–(18/11).
9th (Service) Battalion. 73rd Brigade, 24th Division: Arrived Saleux from Godewaersvelde (24/7) and from there marched to Montagne. To Corbie (31/7), Happy Valley via Sailly-le-Sec (2/8), Citadel Camp (8/8). ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies to Montauban (10/8), ‘C’ and ‘D’ to craters at Carnoy (11/8). Assembled at La Briqueterie (17/8). Attack on Guillemont (18/8) –1 company reinforced 7th Northamptonshire in German line near The Quarry – position consolidated during night. Relieved and to Carnoy craters (20/8). Casualties – 186. To Sandpit Camp (22/8), bivouacs near Dernancourt (25/8), trenches Delville Wood (30/8). German attack 2 p.m. (31/8) – ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies held line beyond Longueval-Flers Road. Withdrew to support line (3/9), reserve area (4/9). Casualties – 118. To Dernancourt (5/9). Entrained for Longpré (6/9) and from there marched to Brucamps. Entrained at Longpré for Béthune area (20/9).
11th (Service) Battalion (1st South Down). 116th Brigade, 39th Division: Entrained at Ligny-St-Flochel for La Souich (24/8). To Bois de Warnimont (25/8), Mailly-Maillet Wood (27/8). Took over trenches in front of Hamel (2/9). In attack 5.10 a.m. (3/9) – War Diary records first wave succeeding in entering enemy’s front line – second and third, owing to enemy barrage across No Man’s Land, suffered many casualties. Position between enemy’s wire and front line held until withdrawn at 6.30 p.m. Relieved and to Englebelmer. Casualties – 299. To Beaussart (6/9) – ‘a village containing sulky civilians’ (Edmund Blunden). To Auchonvillers (14/9). Took over trenches Beaumont right sub section. War Diary records patrols finding enemy wire to be thick and no less than 5 distinct belts. For attack on Thiepval (26/9), and in cooperation with units on the right, dmmies were made and put up over parapet to represent troops going over. Edmund Blunden notes in his book ‘Undertones of War’ that these were some 190 in number and produced by R.S.M. Daniels from sandbags and grass. Relieved and to Englebelmer (4/10). To Martinsart Wood (5/10), trenches at Hamel (7/10). Relieving 1/lst Hertfordshire and 4th/5th Black Watch in line from the Ancre to Piccadilly. Relieved by Hood Battalion and via Martinsart Wood to Authuille Wood (16/10). Moved forward (20/10) and in action (21/10). Stuff Trench captured. Casualties – 278. Relieved and to south side of Aveluy Wood (22/10). To River sector Thiepval (25/10), South Bluff (27/10), Thiepval Wood (29/10), Schwaben Redoubt (30/10), South and Central Bluff (1/11), Senlis (3/11), front line (5/11), Senlis (6/11). War Diary notes ‘Zeppelins over at 11 p.m.’ Relieved 1/lst Cambridgeshire in Schwaben Redoubt (10/11). To Warloy (14/11), Doullens (15/11). Entrained for Poperinghe (17/11).
12th (Service) Battalion (2nd South Down). 116th Brigade, 39th Division: Arrived Bois de Warnimont (25/8). To bivouacs near Englebelmer (27/8), Mesnil (2/9). Provided carrying and working parties during 116th Brigade’s attack opposite Hamel (3/9). Relieved and to Fort Moulin. To Englebelmer bivouacs (4/9). Took over front line at Auchonvillers (10/9). Relieved by 11th Royal Sussex and to Beaussart (14/9). To trenches Redan left sub sector (19/9). Relieved and to Mailly-Maillet (30/9). To Auchonvillers in Brigade reserve (3/10). ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies to bivouacs in Englebelmer Wood (6/10). Relieved 14th Hampshire in Auchonvillers North sector (7/10). Front extending from junction of Watling Street and Clive Trench to Beaumont-Hamel Road. To Englebelmer Wood (13/10). To Schwaben Redoubt (15/10). War Diary records ‘D’ Company on left coming under attack about 10 p.m. – enemy coming up Strasbourg Trench and using flamethrowers – ‘attack beaten off with heavy loss to the enemy.’ Relieved and to Aveluy (17/10). To Wood Post (21/10). ‘C’ Company marched to Schwaben Redoubt and took part in 116th Brigade’s successful attack on Stuff Trench. Battalion moved forward 4.30 p.m. and took over captured positions. Relieved and to Martinsart (22/10). To River sector Thiepvai (25/10). Relieved and to Pioneer Road (27/10), front line (30/10), North Bluff (1/11), Senlis (3/11). Moved forward to Brigade reserve at Thiepvai (5/11). Occupied during early hours of the night in making a road through towards Crucifix Corner. Relieved and to Martinsart Wood (6/11). To front line (9/11), North Bluff (13/11), Warloy (14/11), Doullens (15/11). Entrained for Poperinghe (17/11).
13th (Service) Battalion (3rd South Down). 116th Brigade, 39th Division: Arrived Bois de Warnimont (25/8), Mailly-Mailly Wood (27/8). Took up assembly positions at Hamel (2/9). In support of 11th Royal Sussex during attack (3/9). Casualties – 135. Relieved and to Mailly-Mailly Wood (4/9), Bertrancourt (6/9). Relieved 1/5th Gloucestershire in Beaumont-Hamel sector (10/9). Relieved and to Mailly-Maillet (14/9). Took over trenches at Redan Ridge from 25th Royal Fusiliers (19/9). Relieved 1/lst Hertfordshire at Y Ravine (3/10). To Englebelmer Wood (10/10). Relieved 12th Royal Sussex in Redan sector (13/10). Relieved (16/10) and via Englebelmer Wood took over positions at Schwaben Redoubt sector. Carried out work in preparation for attack on Stuff Trench – communication trenches dug and dumps formed. To Wood Post (20/10). Moved forward for attack (21/10). Held captured positions until relieved (22/10) and to Martinsart Wood. War diary records the success being largely due to accuracy of artillery barrage – this enabling the infantry to get within 20 yards of objective before the barrage lifted. Relieved 4th/5th Black Watch at the Schwaben Redoubt (25/10). To North Bluff (27/10), left River Section Thiepvai (30/10), Pioneer Road (1/11), Martinsart Wood (2/11), front line (5/11), Martinsart Wood (6/11), Thiepvai (10/11), front line (12/11). Held line during attack (13/11). Relieved and to South Bluff 5 p.m. To Warloy (14/11), Authieule (15/11). Entrained at Doullens for Poperinghe (17/11).