1st Battalion. 24th Brigade, 8th and 23rd Divisions: With 23rd Division moved from Rainneville to Hénencourt Wood (1/7). Battalion had transferred with 24th Brigade from 8th Division in October 1915. To Dernancourt (4/7). Moved forward that night and took up positions in support near church at La Boisselle. Attacked (5/7) – Regimental historian Colonel H.C. Wylly records that fighting continued for some hours at close quarters – by 7 p.m. all companies except ‘D’ had been driven back, and though this company had captured and made good its objectives, it also had to be recalled about 9 p.m. Relieved and to Dernancourt (6/7). Took up positions along Fricourt Wood and Lonely Copse (7/7). Later to Shelter Wood. Withdrew to Patch Alley (8/7). Relieved and to Dernancourt (10/7), Bresle (11/7). Entrained at Longueau for Béthune sector (14/7). Casualties since (5/7) – 326. Rejoined 8th Division. Arrived Doullens (14/10). Via Pont-Remy, Ailly-sur-Somme, Amiens and Ville-sous-Corbie arrived at Sandpit Camp (16/10). Moved forward to Trônes Wood (19/10) and from there to forward positions Lesbœufs-Gueudecourt line. Colonel Wylly notes the journey from Trônes Wood as ‘through a veritable sea of mud’ – by the time trenches were reached hardly a rifle was in working order. Relieved and to Sandpit Camp (29/10). To forward area (1/11). Relieved (20/11).
2nd Battalion. 71st Brigade, 6th Division: Entrained at Proven for Candas (2/8). Arrived (3/8) and marched to billets at Beauval. To Mailly-Maillet Wood (5/8) and from there began tours of duty in trenches west of Beaumont-Hamel. Relieved and to Beauval (29/8). Later via Flesselles, Allonville, and Méricourt to Méaulte – arriving (7/9). Moved forward to trenches around Arrow Head Copse (11/9). In action at The Quadrilateral (13/9)– (17/9). Relieved and to Maltz Horn Farm. To Ville-sur-Ancre (19/9), front line (24/9) – trenches taken over north-west of Ginchy-Lesbœufs Road. Casualties for September – 654. From positions north of Lesbœufs carried out successful raid on German gun pits (15/10). Gains held and consolidated. Relieve by 2nd Northamptonshire and to Bernafay Wood (19/10). To Corbie (20/10). Entrained for Béthune sector (24/10).
1/5th Battalion (T.F.). 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division: Attack on Gommecourt (1/7) – moved forward from Foncquevillers during early morning – advanced 7.30 a.m. – machine gun fire swept leading waves as soon as they left parapet – small parties crossed German front line, then attacked from rear and cut off. Relieved 7 p.m. and to Bienvillers. Casualties – 494. Captain John Leslie Green (Medical Officer) awarded Victoria Cross – while wounded and under constant fire, Captain Green rescued an officer from the enemy’s wire and was later killed while attempting to bring him in to safety. Arrived Third Army Training Area (St. Riquier) beginning of November.
1/6th Battalion (T.F.). 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division: Moved forward from Foncquevillers and in support for attack on Gommecourt (1/7). Withdrew to Bienvillers, Gaudiempré areas (2/7). Arrived Third Army Training Area (St. Riquier) beginning November.
1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion (T.F.). 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division: Moved forward from Foncquevillers for attack on Gommecourt (1/7) – on left of Brigade’s advance soon swept by heavy machine gun fire and leading waves driven back. Casualties given in Official History of The Great War as 409 out of an attacking force of 536. Withdrew to Bienvillers area. Arrived Third Army Training Area (St. Riquier) beginning November.
1/8th Battalion (T.F.). 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division: To assembly positions in front of Foncquevillers during night (30/6). Attack on Gommecourt (1/7) – from reserve line advanced about 8 a.m. – forward British trenches blown in and crowded with dead and wounded. Took over British front line during evening – ‘A’ Company searched No Man’s Land for casualties. Relieved and to Gaudiempré (2/7). Arrived Neuvillette from Le Souich (1/11). To Maison Ponthieu and Third Army Training Area (3/11).
9th (Service) Battalion. 33rd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division: Entrained at Frévent for Acheux (2/9). To Bouzincourt (5/9). Relieved 13th Cheshire in trenches at Ovillers (6/9). Withdrew to Ovillers Post and Donnet Post (12/9). To support positions (15/9), Constance Trench (16/9) – held against enemy counter attacks. To Mailly-Maillet (22/9). To Ovillers Post (25/9) and from there forward to Constance Trench. Attack on Schwaben, Zollern and Joseph Trenches 12.35 p.m. (26/9) – first objective taken by 12.48 p.m., second gained by ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies by 1.45 p.m., third by 2.30 p.m. Advance continued – Official History of the Great War notes parts of all 4 companies later in Hessian Trench – more than half of 33rd Brigade’s casualties (600) being sustained by the Foresters. Gains held until relieved by 1st Wiltshire and to Hédauville (30/9). Casualties for September – 492. To Acheux (1/10). Entrained for Candas (2/10) and from there marched to Boisbergues. To Agenville (3/10), Mesnil-Domqueur (5/10), Coulonvillers (11/11), Fieffes-Montrelet (14/11), Vadencourt (15/11), Hédauville (16/11), Camp near Martinsart (18/11).
10th (Service) Battalion. 51st Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division: Moved up from Morlancourt 11.50 p.m. (1/7) – ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies to Bécourt, rest to Bonte Redoubt. ‘A’ Company in bombing attack along trench leading from Fricourt Farm eastwards during night (2/7) – 170 yards taken. Later during day (3/7) – ‘D’ Company moved forward up communication trench from Fricourt Wood to Railway Alley – 200 yards gained. Relieved and to Ville (4/7). Casualties – 141. To original front line near Fricourt (7/7) and from there via Lonely Copse to Quadrangle Trench. Attack on Quadrangle support. Relieved during evening and to Willow Trench and Red Cottage. Casualties – 252. ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies to Quadrangle Trench (10/7). Entrained for Saleux (11/7) and from there marched to Crouy-St. Pierre. Total casualties since (1/7) – 381. To Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher (14/7). Entrained at Hangest for Méricourt (23/7) and from there marched to bivouacs north-west of Buire. To Pommiers Redoubt (1/8), relieved 22nd Royal Fusiliers in Mine trench (4/8). To Longueval (5/8). Unsuccessful attacks on Delville Wood (7/8). Withdrew to Montauban Alley (9/8). To Mine Trench (10/8), bivouacs near Buire (12/8). Casualties since (4/8) – 227. Entrained at Méricourt for Candas (15/8) and from there to Longuevillette. To Neuvillette (16/8), St. Amand (21/8). Relieved 7th Lincolnshire in trenches east of Foncquevillers (27/8). To Brigade Reserve at Bienvillers (4/9) – 1 company in dug-outs west of Foncquevillers. To Mondicourt (10/9), Halloy (11/9), Bayencourt (17/9), Humbercamps (19/9), Humbercourt (20/9), Doullens (22/9), Frohen-le-Petit (23/9), Conteville (24/9), Mezerolles (2/10), Halloy (3/10), Bayencourt (4/10), trenches east of Hébuterne (6/10), Bayencourt (9/10) – 1 company at Sailly-au-Bois until (11/10). To Lucheux (19/10), Méricourt (22/10), Citadel Camp (26/10), Camp, Montauban (29/10), front line Gueudecourt sector (30/10), Mansell Camp (1/11), support line (5/11), front line (6/11), Camp, Montauban (8/11), Sandpits Camp (11/11). Entrained at Edgehill for Hangest (15/11) and from there ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies to Quesnoy. To Picquigny (16/11).
11th (Service) Battalion. 70th Brigade, 8th and 23rd Divisions: Attack on Ovillers (1/7) – heavy casualties moving forward to British front line from reserve at Authuille Wood – advanced to German first line – machine gun fire from front and both flanks holted attack in No Man’s Land. Relieved at night and to Long Valley. Casualties – 518. To Dernancourt (2/7). Entrained for Ailly-sur-Somme (3/7) and from there marched to Agrœuves. Entrained at Saleux for Bryas (6/7) and from there to Bruay. Entrained at Pernes for Longueau (15/7) and from there marched to Poulainville. To Pierregot (17/7), Baizieux (20/7), bivouacs near Contalmaison (26/7), trenches north of Bazent in-le-Petit (29/7). Withdrew to support trenches near Mametz Wood (2/8). To Franvillers (8/8). Entrained at Fréchencourt for Longpré (11/8) and from there marched to Pont-Remy. Entrained for Bailleul (13/8). Entrained at St. Omer for Longueau (10/9) and from there marched to Cardonnette. To Bresle (12/9), Black Wood (15/9), Contalmaison (18/9) – took over dug-outs in The Cutting. Carrying parties provided to front line. To Lozenge Wood (20/9). War Diary notes during following days the finding and burial in front of Authuille Wood of men from the Battalion killed on (1/7). Relieved 13th D.L.I, in front line (Push Alley – Prue Trench) (26/9). ‘C’ Company took 26th Avenue without loss (27/9). Attacks on Destremont Farm (28/9) – withdrew to support line. Attacked (1/10) – moved forward from The Tangle into assembly position in Destremont Trench 9.15 a.m. Attack on Flers Trench and Flers Support near Le Sars – ‘A’ Company on Right, ‘D’ on left – objective taken and consolidated. Relieved in evening (2/10) and to Lozenge Wood. Casualties – 169. Moved forward to Gourlay Trench in support of attack on Le Sars (7/10). Withdrew via Lozenge Wood and Fricourt to Bresle Wood Camp (8/10). Entrained at Albert for Longpré (12/10) and from there marched to Pont-Remy. To Gapennes (14/10). Entrained at St. Riquier for Proven (15/10).
12th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers). Pioneers, 24th Division: Arrived Saleux from Godewaersvelde (25/7). To Camps-en-Amiénois (26/7). Entrained at Picquigny for Méricourt (31/7) and from there marched to Morlancourt. To Citadel Camp (1/8), bivouacs south-east of Mametz and north-east of Carnoy (5/8). Worked in Bernafay Wood, Montauban, Trônes Wood and Guillemont areas. To Citadel Camp (23/8), billets near Heilly (27/8), Fricourt (30/8). Worked in Pommiers Redoubt, Crucifix Alley, Savoy Trench, Orchard Trench, Tea Trench, Montauban Alley. To Pont-Remy (17/9), Ferfay (19/9).
15th (Service) Battalion (Nottingham). 105th Brigade, 35th Division: Entrained at Chocques for Bouquemaison (3/7) and from there marched to Sus-St. Léger. To Beauval (7/7), Bus-lès-Artois (10/7), Warloy (11/7), Heilly (12/7), Grove Town Camp (13/7), Billon Wood (14/7). Relieved 6th Northamptonshire in trenches south-east of Trônes Wood (16/7). Attack on positions between Maltz Horn Farm and Arrow Head Copse (20/7). Withdrew at night and to Talus Boisé. To bivouacs near Minden Post (22/7), reserve line (Silesia Trench) (24/7). Consolidated position and ‘Z’ Company formed garrison at La Briqueterie (25/7). To Talus Boisé (26/7), Dublin Trench (28/7), bivouacs near Minden Post (29/7), Sandpit Valley (31/7), Bois des Tailles (1/8). Entrained at Méricourt for Saleux (5/8). To Molliens-Vidame (6/8). Entrained at Hangest for Méricourt (10/8) and from there marched to Citadel Camp. To Talus Boisé (20/8), Maltz Horn Trenches (22/8), Billon Wood (23/8), Sandpit Valley (26/8), Bois des Tailles (28/8). Entrained at Heilly for Candas (30/8) and from there marched to Prouville. To Lucheux (1/9) and from there in buses to Wanquetin.
16th (Service) Battalion (Chatsworth Rifles). 117th Brigade, 39th Division: Arrived Neuvillette from Buneville (24/8). To Authie (25/8), Beaussart (28/8), front line Beaucourt sector (2/9). In reserve, provided carrying parties during attack (3/9). Relieved in evening and to Mailly-Maillet Wood. Casualties – 101. To Beaussart (4/9). front line (6/9), Beaussart (13/9), Bertrancourt (19/9), front line Hébuterne sector (20/9), Bertrancourt (1/10), Martinsart Wood (3/10), front line Schwaben Redoubt (5/10). Enemy attack with flamethrowers beaten off during night (7/10). Attacked 4.30 a.m. (9/10) forced to retire after 2 hours fighting. Relieved at 1 p.m. and to Authuille. Casualties – 238. To Senlis (10/10), front line left River section (15/10), Senlis (25/10), support line (27/10), Martinsart Wood (29/10), front line (Paisley Dump) (3/11), Senlis (5/11), Paisley Dump (6/11), South Bluff (8/11). Attack on St. Pierre Divion (13/11) – moved forward at 6.15 a.m. up the Ancre Valley from Mill Road – objectives taken. Relieved and to Paisley Avenue at 7.15 p.m. To Warloy (14/11).
17th (Service) Battalion. (Welbeck Rangers) – 117th Brigade, 39th Division: Entrained at Ligny-St. Flochel for Bouquemaison (24/8) and from there marched to Doullens. To Vauchelles-lès-Authie (25/8), Bertrancourt (28/8). Moved into trenches due south of Beaumont-Hamel (2/9). Attacked (3/9) – War Diary notes 20 officers and 650 other ranks going into action – advanced into No Man’s Land 5.10 a.m. – German front line captured 6.00 a.m. – assault on second line held up by strong machine gun fire. Ordered to withdraw to Gordon Trench 1.50 p.m. To Mailly-Maillet Wood 7.30 p.m. Casualties – 454. To Bertrancourt (4/9), Mailly-Maillet Wood (6/9), front line (12/9), Beaussart (19/9), front line Serre sector (20/9), Bertrancourt (30/9), Hédauville (2/10), front line Thiepval sector (5/10). Enemy attack with flamethrowers driven back (8/10). To Martinsart Wood (10/10), front line Thiepval (River section) (16/10), North and South Bluffs (20/10). Carrying parties to front line – ‘A’ Company attacked south of River Ancre (21/10) – some ground gained near Pope’s Nose. Took over former German front line in Thiepval (22/10). To North and South Bluffs (23/10), front line (24/10), South and Centre Bluffs (25/10), front line (27/10). Successful bombing attack 4.30 p.m. (29/10). Later relieved and to Senlis. To front line (3/11), Martinsart Wood (5/11), front line (6/11), Pioneer Road (8/11), Senlis (10/11). Moved forward to Paisley Avenue in reserve for attack (13/11) – ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies sent forward to clear dugouts in captured trenches 9.15 a.m. Gains consolidated. Battalion H.Q. to Spey Side. Relieved and to Warloy (14/11). To Gézaincourt (15/11). Entrained at Candas for St. Omer (17/11).
20th (Labour) Battalion. Entrained at Bailleul for Acheux (4/8). Worked Albert, Contay, Senlis areas.