1st Battalion. 13th Brigade, 5th Division:Arrived Hérissart from Outrebois (14/7). To Franvillers (15/7), Méaulte (17/7), trenches between Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval (19/7), forward trenches High Wood (20/7) – ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies in the track coming from south corner of Longueval. Attack on Wood Lane (22/7) – on left of 14th Royal Warwickshire advanced up eastern side of High Wood at 9.52 p.m. – machine gun fire from wood soon brought attack to a standstill – almost all officer casualties. Withdrew at dawn. Casualties – 421. To Pommiers Redoubt (23/7), Longueval (29/7). In support of 2nd K.O.S.B. during attack north-western edge of Delville Wood (30/7). Relieved and to Caterpillar Valley. To Pommiers Redoubt (31/7), Dernancourt (1/8). Entrained Méricourt (4/8) and to billets at Métigny (5/8). Battalion historian – Major C.V. Molony notes that on (19/7) the total strength of 1st Royal West Kent stood at over 1,100 all ranks. At the end of the month its fighting strength would be just 350. Entrained Longpré for Méricourt (24/8) and from there marched to bivouacs north of Buire. To Happy Valley (25/8), front line positions near Falfemont Farm (26/8). Withdrew to Dublin Trench in reserve (29/8). Assembled in trenches western edge of Angle Wood (2/9). In support during failed attack on Leuze Wood (3/9). Attack on Falfemont Farm (4/9) – advance between farm and Wedge Wood towards Leuze Wood more successful. Casualties – 201. To Citadel Camp (5/9), via Méricourt to front line trenches Leuze Wood (10/9), Dublin Trench (11/9), Billon Farm (13/9), Méricourt (14/9), Waterlot Farm (18/9), Maltz Horn Farm (20/9), front line facing Morval (22/9). Commenced construction of new advance assembly trenches. To craters at Carnoy (24/9), Wedge Wood (25/9), Citadel Camp (27/9). Entrained At Edgehill for Longpré (28/9) and from here to billets at Les Planches. Entrained at Abbeville for Béthune sector (1/10). Major Molony records Somme casualties as 31 officers and 900 other ranks.
6th (Service) Battalion. 37th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division: Moved from Bresle to Millencourt in reserve (1/7) – during night to trenches just west of Ovillers. In action (3/7) – ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies went forward 3.15 a.m. on left flank and under heavy machine gun fire reach German front line in front of village. ‘B’ and ‘D’ following suffered high casualties and could not force attack through to second line. Withdrew 7.a.m. and in evening to Bouzincourt. Casualties – 394. To trenches Quarry Post area (5/7). Relieved and to Warloy (9/7). To Vauchelles (11/7), Bertrancourt (21/7), Vauchelles (24/7), Martinsart Wood (25/7), front line between Ovillers and Pozières (26/7). Local fighting and attacks on strong-points for next few days. To support line Ovillers Post (31/7). Relieved 6th East Kent in Ration Trench (4/8) and in evening took strong-point on left of position. Relieved and to Bouzincourt (5/8). To front line (Ribble Street) (10/8). Failed attack at 10.30 p.m. (12/8). Relieved and to Forceville (13/8). To Acheux (14/8), Bus Wood (15/8), Halloy (16/8). Began move to Beaumetz area (17/8). Arrived Lucheux (28/9). Moved in French buses to camp west of Albert (29/9). To Longueval (1/10), Gueudecourt sector (4/10), front line northern side of village (6/10). Attack on Ration Trench (7/10) – suffered heavily from bombardment before moving forward at 1.45 p.m. – leading waves cut down in No Man’s Land. ‘C’ Company advanced 150 yards but held up until withdrawn at nightfall. Relieved and to camp near Bernafay Wood (10/10). Casualties – 308. To Ribemont (20/10), Wanquetin (21/10).
7th (Service) Battalion. 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division: In reserve east of Carnoy for attack towards western end of Montauban (1/7) – ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies moved forward 11 a.m. to assisted 8th East Surrey in Train Alley – ‘A’ held up at Pommiers Line with loss of almost all officers – ‘C’ took and consolidated Montauban Alley. To Bronfay Wood (4/7). Casualties – 183. To Mallard Wood (7/7), Trigger Wood (11/7), positions around Bernafay and Trônes Woods (12/7). Attack on Trônes Wood 7 p.m. (13/7) – assault reached railway line in centre of wood and line set up along eastern edge. Surrounded and cut off – isolated parties fought throughout night until relieved by 12th Middlesex and 6th Northamptonshire. Casualties – 250. To Grove Town Camp (15/7). Entrained at Méricourt for Longpré (20/7) and from there to St. Omer. Back at Puchevillers for three weeks training by beginning of September. To reserve positions around Hédauville (26/9) – moved forward in afternoon to Crucifix Corner. To Thiepval Château (28/9), captured positions at Schwaben Redoubt (29/9) – held against fierce counter attacks from the enemy. Relieved (5/10). Casualties – over 280. Only 1 officer that went into action on (29/9) remained, and he had been wounded 3 times. In reserve during attack and capture of Regina Trench (17/10) – taking over and holding captured positions until relieved (29/10). From Warloy in first week of November to camp near Albert and from there took turns in reserve and forward positions. Attack on Desire Trench (18/11) – on right ‘B’ Company reached objective against strong opposition – on left ‘D’ lost direction and surrounded would be almost totally lost.
8th (Service) Battalion. 72nd Brigade, 24th Division: Left Béthune area (24/7) and in neighbourhood of Sandpit Camp by (31/7). From Talus Boisé to trenches east of Trônes Wood (11/8) – occupied in digging new positions. Historian of the Regiment C.T. – Atkinson notes that although there would be no direct contact with the enemy, casualties from constant shelling amounted to 152 by (18/8). ‘A’ Company moved forward to recently captured positions at Guillemont (19/8) – dug new communication trenches – established strong-points while engaging enemy. To Citadel Camp (21/8), Ribemont (25/8), Delville Wood (30/8). In C.T. Atkinson’s opinion the move into Delville Wood was perhaps the most trying experience in the Battalion’s service. The last mile in pouring rain, under heavy shell-fire and through deep mud taking 11 hours to complete. Enemy attacked after 5 hour bombardment (31/8) – assault driven off by ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies in front line. To Caterpillar Valley (2/9). Relieved and to Abbeville area for rest and training (5/9). Casualties during Somme operations – over 300. Later moved via St. Pol area to Vimy sector.
10th (Service) Battalion (Kent County). 123rd Brigade, 41st Division: Moved to Somme end August and went into training in neighbourhood of Gorenflos. Entrained Longpré for Méricourt (6/9) and from there marched to Bécordel-Bécourt. To Fricourt Camp (9/9), Support positions Montauban Alley (10/9). Two companies sent forward to construct new strong points just in front of line north of Delville Wood (11/9). To front line Delville Wood (12/9), reserve line (13/9), Pommiers Redoubt (14/9), reserve at York Trench (15/9). Later to Carlton Trench and stood by for attack on Flers. At about 10 a.m. received orders to move forward and by afternoon held Switch Trench. Withdrew during night (17/9) and via Pommiers Redoubt to Bécordel. To Pommiers Redoubt (27/9), trenches north-east of Flers (28/9), Pommiers Redoubt (1/10), bivouacs near Mametz Wood (3/10). Moved forward and provided working parties in front line during attack on Gird Trench (7/10). To Mametz Wood (10/10), Dernancourt (12/10). Entrained Edgehill for Oisemont (17/10). Later, via Pont-Remy to Ypres sector.
11th (Service) Battalion (Lewisham). 122nd Brigade, 41st Division: From Bailleul reached Longpré (24/8) and from there marched to training area south-east of Abbeville. Entrained Longpré for Méricourt (6/9) and from there marched to Dernancourt. To bivouacs south-west of Fricourt (11/9), support positions north-east of Delville Wood (12/9). Attack towards Flers (15/9) – behind 15th Hampshire cleared Switch and Flers Trenches before entering Flers village and reaching final objectives – Box and Cox Trenches. Regimental Historian C.T. Atkinson makes special mention of the bravery and leadership of C.S.Ms – Halley and Judge who for best part of the fighting led the Battalion. Both later awarded the Military Cross. Withdrew 5.p.m. to positions south-west of Delville Wood. Casualties (including Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel A.F. Townsend) – 343. To Dernancourt (18/9), Mametz Wood (2/10), trenches Eaucourt l’Abbaye sector (3/10). Attack on Gird Lines (7/10) – assault checked by machine gun fire from both flanks soon after advance at 1.45 p.m. C.T. Atkinson records that out of 16 officers and 465 other ranks that went into action, only 4 officers and less than 100 men survived. These held the line until relieved (8/10). To bivouacs near Mametz Wood (11/10), Dernancourt (12/10). Entrained Méricourt for Oisemont (17/10). To Forceville (18/10). Entrained Longpré for Ypres sector (20/10).