1st/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Battalion War Diary June 1915

Place Date Diary

CORNET MALO

RIEZ DU VINAGE

5th June 1915

15th June
From 31st May to 4th June inclusive the Battalion occupied the trenches in the ORCHARD in front of INDIAN VILLAGE. "C" Company occupied the trench in ORCHARD with "B" and "D" Coys on its right as firing line, whilst "A" Coy was in support. On the night of 4th/5th June at 11.55 p.m. the Battalion was relieved by 6th Seaforths, and marched via LE TOURET-LOCON to billets at CORNET MALO, remaining there till it marched at 6 p.m. to RIEZ du VINAGE arriving at 9 p.m. [and] remaining there till the morning of 16th June

TRENCHES
FESTUBERT 16th June At 5 a.m. on 16th the Battalion received orders to proceed to 2nd Line breastworks at LE TOURET and be under orders of G.O.C 154th Infantry Brigade, The Battalion arrived at LE TOURET at 8 a.m, proceeding to the trenches at 3 p.m., taking over portion of Reserve trench near LA CINQUE RUE at 4.30 p.m. taking place of 7th Black Watch. The Bn. marched via INDIAN VILLAGE and suffered a few casualties from shell fire on nearing the Reserve Trench.

TRENCHES
FESTUBERT
17th June -

18th June
An attack in conjunction with 2nd Gordons on our right was ordered for 3 a.m. 18/6 inst. The 1/7 Gordons in the trench were to attack, the 5th Gordons being in support. This attack was postponed till 5 a.m. owing to want of time from receipt of order till the attack should be launched. Preparations had been made for the assault on the German line on our front on L, 10 when orders were received postponing the attck for 24 hours. The 2nd Gordons however attacked unsupported at 4.55 a.m. Colonel A. Grant D.S.O. commanding [5th Bn] was wounded by a shell on the morning of 18th whilst returning from the support trench to the Bn. Headquarters.

LES CAUDRONS

TRENCHES
FESTUBERT 19th June -

26th June The Battalion was relieved by 1/6 Seaforths on 19th at 11.50 p.m. and marched to Billets on Canal west of LES CAUDRONS where it remained two days till 22nd. On this date the Bn. went into the trenches East of Festubert. 1 and a half Coys being in firing line and 1 and a half Coys. in Support, one company in Reserve trench. On 24th June, Major M.F. McTaggart from 5th Lancers took over command of the Battalion. On night of 25/26 June, the Battalion was relieved by the 1/7 Gordon Highlanders in the fire and support trenches, and came back to the reserve trench.

LA TOMBE WILLOT 27th June - 29th June On 27th about 11.45 p.m. the Bn. was relieved by the Yorkshire regiment and went into Billets at LA TOMBE WILLOT arriving at 4 a.m. Leaving La Tombe Willot at 8.30 p.m. the Bn. marched via Zelobes and La Gorgue to billets on the Pont du Hemestaires road west of Le Drumez arriving 12.1 a.m. 29th June. There was trouble in finding billets, owing to another Bn. being in the area. This was rectified on the following day.

NEAR LE DRUMEZ 30th June The strength of the Battalion on 30th June 1915 is 24 [unclear] officers 548 other Ranks.

Casualties during the month ending 30th June 1915:

Killed - Two officers - (Lt Hon. R.A. Forbes Sempill and 2/Lt W.L. Scott)

Wounded - Four officers - (Capt. F.S. Runcieman, 2/Lt L.C.H. Fuller, Col A. Grant D.S.O, Lt R. Cowie.)

Other ranks: Killed - Fourteen. Wounded - Sixty-nine.

Click her to view Casualty List for June 1915

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Carolyn Morrisey

Place	Date	Diary
CORNET MALO RIEZ DU VINAGE	5th June 1915 15th June	From 31st May to 4th June inclusive the Battalion occupied the trenches in the ORCHARD in front of INDIAN VILLAGE. "C" Company occupied the trench in ORCHARD with "B" and "D" Coys on its right as firing line, whilst "A" Coy was in support. On the night of 4th/5th June at 11.55 p.m. the Battalion was relieved by 6th Seaforths, and marched via LE TOURET-LOCON to billets at CORNET MALO, remaining there till it marched at 6 p.m. to RIEZ du VINAGE arriving at 9 p.m. [and] remaining there till the morning of 16th June
TRENCHES FESTUBERT	16th June	At 5 a.m. on 16th the Battalion received orders to proceed to 2nd Line breastworks at LE TOURET and be under orders of G.O.C 154th Infantry Brigade, The Battalion arrived at LE TOURET at 8 a.m, proceeding to the trenches at 3 p.m., taking over portion of Reserve trench near LA CINQUE RUE at 4.30 p.m. taking place of 7th Black Watch. The Bn. marched via INDIAN VILLAGE and suffered a few casualties from shell fire on nearing the Reserve Trench.
TRENCHES FESTUBERT	17th June - 18th June	An attack in conjunction with 2nd Gordons on our right was ordered for 3 a.m. 18/6 inst. The 1/7 Gordons in the trench were to attack, the 5th Gordons being in support. This attack was postponed till 5 a.m. owing to want of time from receipt of order till the attack should be launched. Preparations had been made for the assault on the German line on our front on L, 10 when orders were received postponing the attck for 24 hours. The 2nd Gordons however attacked unsupported at 4.55 a.m. Colonel A. Grant D.S.O. commanding [5th Bn] was wounded by a shell on the morning of 18th whilst returning from the support trench to the Bn. Headquarters.
LES CAUDRONS TRENCHES FESTUBERT	19th June - 26th June	The Battalion was relieved by 1/6 Seaforths on 19th at 11.50 p.m. and marched to Billets on Canal west of LES CAUDRONS where it remained two days till 22nd. On this date the Bn. went into the trenches East of Festubert. 1 and a half Coys being in firing line and 1 and a half Coys. in Support, one company in Reserve trench. On 24th June, Major M.F. McTaggart from 5th Lancers took over command of the Battalion. On night of 25/26 June, the Battalion was relieved by the 1/7 Gordon Highlanders in the fire and support trenches, and came back to the reserve trench.
LA TOMBE WILLOT	27th June - 29th June	On 27th about 11.45 p.m. the Bn. was relieved by the Yorkshire regiment and went into Billets at LA TOMBE WILLOT arriving at 4 a.m. Leaving La Tombe Willot at 8.30 p.m. the Bn. marched via Zelobes and La Gorgue to billets on the Pont du Hemestaires road west of Le Drumez arriving 12.1 a.m. 29th June. There was trouble in finding billets, owing to another Bn. being in the area. This was rectified on the following day.
NEAR LE DRUMEZ	30th June	The strength of the Battalion on 30th June 1915 is 24 [unclear] officers 548 other Ranks.
		Casualties during the month ending 30th June 1915: Killed - Two officers - (Lt Hon. R.A. Forbes Sempill and 2/Lt W.L. Scott) Wounded - Four officers - (Capt. F.S. Runcieman, 2/Lt L.C.H. Fuller, Col A. Grant D.S.O, Lt R. Cowie.) Other ranks: Killed - Fourteen. Wounded - Sixty-nine.