War Diary December 1916.htm

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1st/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Battalion War Diary December 1916

Place Date    Diary

COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE 1st Dec
The work of consolidation was carried out by all companies after some little difficulty had been experienced in collecting shovels. This work consisted in the main part in repairing the trenches and cleaning out the mud. A new Coy Headquarters was sited for the left Company and sniper posts were constructed along the whole length. Overland routes to the left Coy H.Q were laid by means of tape. At 12 noon the enemy artillery was active, replying to our bombardment. Their retaliation was directed on 'C' Coy and was resumed during the afternoon and night.   The Lewis Gun position on the right flank was demolished by a 5.9 shell which killed 3 and wounded 1 of the gun team. No enemy movement was observed during the day with the exception of two men wearing red cross on arms. These were not fired upon. Enemy snipers were very active all day and appeared to be sniping from shell holes. DYKE ROAD VALLEY was bombarded at irregular intervals and apparently at random with shells of every calibre. Our left Coy also received some attention from enemy artillery but their range was too long and the shells fell behind.

COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE 2nd Dec
The existing shelters were repaired and new ones made and the work of consolidation probeeded apace. Duck boards [were laid?] in several parts and paths made from Battn. H.Q. to 'C' and 'D' Coys by filling in shell holes, and bridging trenches. Patrols were sent out during the night from 'A', 'B' and 'C' Coys. 'C' Coy report:- 'Very little enemy wire has been put out. Approach difficult owing to the mud.' 'B' Coy report:- Enemy wholly wired in - seem to be digging a sap opposite Coy front. 'C' Coy report:- 'Enemy wire very thick. A big enemy working party out on the left.' Enemy shelled the front line during the night, particularly on the left. Their snipers are still active during the day - very hard to locate them. DYKE ROAD VALLEY was shelled intermittently.

COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE    3rd Dec
During the morning the Commanding Officer and CAPT LYALL went round the front line. The Commanding Officer was slightly wounded by an enemy rifle grenade on 'C' Coys front. The morning was frosty and the forenoon was clear and bright. The enemy snipers were particularly active all day, but there was very little hostile shelling. The Battalion was relieved during the night by the 4th GORDON HIGHRS. The relief was completed at 9 p.m. without incident. Platoons marched back independently to huts in OVILLERS AREA.

OVILLERS HUTS and BOUZINCOURT 4th Dec
During the afternoon the Battalion moved from WOLFE HUTS, OVILLERS to billets in BOUZINCOURT, the leading Coy moving off at 2.30 p.m. An advance billeting party under 2/LT THOMSON met the STAFF CAPTAIN at BOUZINCOURT at 10 a.m.

BOUZINCOURT 5th Dec
Parades were held as follows:- 9 a.m. 12 noon - Arms Drill, Platoon Drill, Musketry, Physical Exercises, Bayonet Fighting. 2 p.m.

BOUZINCOURT   6th Dec
Parades sames as 5th. Battalion concert was held in SCOTTISH CHURCHES' HUT at 7 p.m. A draft of 50 O.R. from Base were inspected by Medical Officer at 9.30 a.m. At 8.30 a.m. all ranks whose Box Respirators had not been tested paraded under 2/LT ANDERSON and proceeded to Testing Room.

BOUZINCOURT   7th Dec
The programme for the day was as follows:- Route march under Coy arrangements from 9a.m. to 12 noon; musketry, bayonet fighting and physical drill from 2 to 4 p.m..

BOUZINCOURT   8th Dec
The programme of training was continued as follows:- 9 a.m. - 12 noon Arm [?] Drill, Platoon Drill, Musketry, Physical Exercises, Bayonet Fighting; 2-6 p.m. Football and Recreation, Lecture on Digging Wide Trenches, revetting and leaving a wide berm. Forming up on tasks.

BOUZINCOURT   9th Dec
The training for today included - 9a.m. to 12 noon :- Company Drill, Attack Practice, Bayonet Fighting - from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Box Respirator Drill and Bombing. Extract from Battalion Order no. 286:- 'Honours and Awards - The General Officer Commanding in Chief has, under authority granted by His Majesty the King, awarded decorations to the undernamed for gallantry during the operations on 13th November 1916. The Fifth Army, Divisional, Brigade and Battalion Commanders congratulate all the recipients :- The Military Cross 2/LT W B ANDERSON, 2/LT M C WRIGHT. The Distinguished Conduct Medal - No. 544 Coy S M (A/RSM) JAMES MATTHEW, No. 1541 CPL JAMES MOIR, No. 2010 CPL JAMES URQUHART, No. 1383 CPL DAVID MCDONALD.'

BOUZINCOURT
and
OVILLERS HUTS 10th Dec The Battalion moved today from BOUZINCOURT into OVILLERS HUTS. The leading Company moved off at 8.15 a.m. Divine Service was held in CHURCHES' ARMY HUT at 3.30 p.m.

OVILLERS HUTS   11th Dec
[Note: the Diary from this point on is written in a different hand. Previously written by A.C. (Alexander Cheyne - A/Adj) who goes on leave on 13th Dec, and now by W.M.L]
A draft of eleven officers joined the unit from 4th (Res) Bn GORDON HIGHRS. The training for today included:- Inspections, Cleaning of Huts and Box Respirator Drill.

OVILLERS HUTS   12 Dec
The training for today was as follows:- Inspections of Rifles, Equipment, Ammunition, Tube Helmets and Box Respirators. Box Respirator Drill. Bombing and Sniping Sections paraded for training. A Battalion Concert was held in the Church Army Tent at 5 p.m. A Working Party of 250 men left the huts at 7.30 p.m. and returned at 3 a.m. 13th.

OVILLERS HUTS 13th Dec
The programme for today was as follows:- Between 9 a.m. and 12 noon the Coys went to the Baths at AVELUY. A working party of 250 men left the huts as 7.30 p.m. Capt McCULLOCH and 2/LT CHEYNE went on leave today.

OVILLERS HUTS 14th Dec
Parades were held as follows:- 10-12.30 Inspection of Rifles, tube helmets, box respirators and ammunition. Box respirator drill and bayonet exercises. A Working Party of 150 men left the huts at 3.30 p.m. and returned at 8 p.m.

OVILLERS HUTS and
WOLFE HUTS 15th Dec The Battalion moved today from OVILLERS HUTS to WOLFE HUTS. The movement was completed by 10 a.m.

WOLFE HUTS 16th Dec During the forenoon the huts and lines were cleaned. A working party of 190 men left the huts at 3.30 p.m. 2/LT MELDRUM and two other ranks were killed. Four other ranks were wounded.

WOLFE HUTS 17th Dec
Today 'C' and 'D' Coys went into reserve trenches at FRAZER POST and COURCELETTE respectively. The relief was completed by 6.30 p.m. 'A' and 'B' Coys remained in WOLFE HUTS. Every available man of these Coys was on a working party which left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. Today a draft of 28 other ranks joined the Battalion.

WOLFE HUTS and
RESERVE (COURCELETTE) 18th Dec
A draft of 72 other ranks joined the Battalion today. Every available man fron 'A' and 'B' Coys was on a working party which left WOLFE HUTS at 3.30 p.m. The men of 'C' and 'D' Coys were employed in cleaning trenches and dugouts in the forenoon. They rested in the afternoon and all available men went on working parties during the night.

WOLFE HUTS and
COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE   19th Dec
Today 'A' and 'B' Coys supplied as large a number of men as possible as carrying parties. They left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. 'C' and 'D' Coys moved out of FRAZER POST and COURCELETTE to the FIRING LINE to relieve 2 Coys of the 6th BLACK WATCH. Two men were wounded during the relief.

WOLFE HUTS and
COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE    20th Dec
'A' and 'B' Coys supplied working parties which left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. 'C' and 'D' carried on the work of improving their trenches. This for the most part consisted of clearing out mud, laying duckboards and erecting shelters. Overland routes to 'B' and MANCHESTER DUMPS which were situated close behing the firing line, were laid out by means of tape, posts and wire. The front line was quiet but DYKE ROAD VALLEY and BATT. HQRS were heavily shelled by 5.2 howitzers.

WOLFE HUTS and
COURCELETTE
FIRING LINE    21st Dec
Today 'A' and 'B' Coys left WOLFE HUTS and went into billets in BOUZINCOURT. 'C' and 'D' Coys carried on with improvement of trenches and existing shelters. The night of 20th was frosty abd this fascilitated operations. During the early morning the enemy [ two words illegible] bombs, but they fell short of our front line. For a short time he bombarded the front line with 7.7 shells. One man was slightly wounded. [Illegible] trenches and Batt. HQrs were shelled with 5.2 how. shells intermittently. 'C' and 'D' Coys were relieved by two Coys of the 4th GORDON HIGHRS. The relief was completed by 12 p.m. Platoons marched back independently to huts in OVILLERS AREA.

COURCELETTE
and
OVILLERS HUTS 22nd Dec 'A' and 'B' Coys were engaged during the day in cleaning billets and clothing etc. 'C' and 'D' Coys after cleaning up huts occupied in OVILLERS AREA left for BOUZINCOURT at 1.45 p.m. They reached their billets at 3.30 p.m.

BOUZINCOURT 23rd Dec
A working party consisting of 1 officer and 20 other ranks went today to load trucks at AVELVY SIDING. The hours of work were 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Draft which arrived on 11th and 18th were paraded and inspected and a report was made. The Coys were engaged in cleaning and repairing billets.

BOUZINCOURT 24th Dec
A working party of 1 officer and 20 other ranks left the billets at 7.30 a.m. to load trucks at AVELUY SIDING. The Companies had the use of the baths from 9 - 12 noon and 2 - 4 p.m. A church service was held at 10.30 a.m. The Brig. General inspected the drafts lately arrived and also the Battalion's Billets during the forenoon.

BOUZINCOURT 25th Dec
The programme of work for today was as follows:- 9 - 11 a.m. Close Order Drill and Bayonet Fighting. The rest of the day was observed as a holiday. A football match was played between 'A' and 'B' Coys versus 'C' and 'D' Coys

BOUZINCOURT 26th Dec
Today parades were held as follows:- 9-12.30 p.m. Close Order Drill, Bayonet Fighting and Cleaning and improving billets. A concert was held in the Cinema Hall during the afternoon.

BOUZINCOURT 27th Dec
A working party of 1 officer and 20 other ranks left the billets at 7.30 a.m. to load trucks at AVELUY SIDING. The programme of work was as follows:- 9-12.30 Bayonet fighting and Close Order Drill. 2-4 p.m. Gas Respirator Drill.

BOUZINCOURT and AVELUY and
OVILLERS HUTS 28th Dec The Battalion moved today from BOUZINCOURT. 'A' and 'B' Coys and Head Quarters occupied Huts in OVILLERS AREA. 'C' and 'D' Coys occupied billets in AVELUY. The leading Company marched off at 11.30 a.m.

OVILLERS HUTS 29th Dec
The programme of work was:- 10 a.m. Rifle Inspection, Cleaning and improving lines. At 4 p.m. a working party of 100 men and another of 75 men left the Huts.

OVILLERS HUTS 30th Dec
This morning at 7.30 , 2 officers and 100 other ranks left the Huts to bury telephone cable. They returned at 4 p.m. The usual inspections of rifles, respirators etc were carried out.

OVILLERS HUTS 31st Dec
At 7.30 a.m. 2 officers and 100 men left the Huts to bury telephone cable. They returned at 4 p.m. 1 officer and 25 men left the Huts at 3 p.m. to pull trolleys. They returned at 8.30 p.m. The men left in camp were engaged in improvements.

Casualty List for December 1916

Conditions at Courcelette

For some information on 2/Lt Alexander Cheyne, the Assistant Adjutant who wrote the Diary for November and December, click here.

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Carolyn Morrisey

Place	Date	Diary
COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	1st Dec	The work of consolidation was carried out by all companies after some little difficulty had been experienced in collecting shovels. This work consisted in the main part in repairing the trenches and cleaning out the mud. A new Coy Headquarters was sited for the left Company and sniper posts were constructed along the whole length. Overland routes to the left Coy H.Q were laid by means of tape. At 12 noon the enemy artillery was active, replying to our bombardment. Their retaliation was directed on 'C' Coy and was resumed during the afternoon and night. The Lewis Gun position on the right flank was demolished by a 5.9 shell which killed 3 and wounded 1 of the gun team. No enemy movement was observed during the day with the exception of two men wearing red cross on arms. These were not fired upon. Enemy snipers were very active all day and appeared to be sniping from shell holes. DYKE ROAD VALLEY was bombarded at irregular intervals and apparently at random with shells of every calibre. Our left Coy also received some attention from enemy artillery but their range was too long and the shells fell behind.
COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	2nd Dec	The existing shelters were repaired and new ones made and the work of consolidation probeeded apace. Duck boards [were laid?] in several parts and paths made from Battn. H.Q. to 'C' and 'D' Coys by filling in shell holes, and bridging trenches. Patrols were sent out during the night from 'A', 'B' and 'C' Coys. 'C' Coy report:- 'Very little enemy wire has been put out. Approach difficult owing to the mud.' 'B' Coy report:- Enemy wholly wired in - seem to be digging a sap opposite Coy front. 'C' Coy report:- 'Enemy wire very thick. A big enemy working party out on the left.' Enemy shelled the front line during the night, particularly on the left. Their snipers are still active during the day - very hard to locate them. DYKE ROAD VALLEY was shelled intermittently.
COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	3rd Dec	During the morning the Commanding Officer and CAPT LYALL went round the front line. The Commanding Officer was slightly wounded by an enemy rifle grenade on 'C' Coys front. The morning was frosty and the forenoon was clear and bright. The enemy snipers were particularly active all day, but there was very little hostile shelling. The Battalion was relieved during the night by the 4th GORDON HIGHRS. The relief was completed at 9 p.m. without incident. Platoons marched back independently to huts in OVILLERS AREA.
OVILLERS HUTS and BOUZINCOURT	4th Dec	During the afternoon the Battalion moved from WOLFE HUTS, OVILLERS to billets in BOUZINCOURT, the leading Coy moving off at 2.30 p.m. An advance billeting party under 2/LT THOMSON met the STAFF CAPTAIN at BOUZINCOURT at 10 a.m.
BOUZINCOURT	5th Dec	Parades were held as follows:- 9 a.m. 12 noon - Arms Drill, Platoon Drill, Musketry, Physical Exercises, Bayonet Fighting. 2 p.m.
BOUZINCOURT	6th Dec	Parades sames as 5th. Battalion concert was held in SCOTTISH CHURCHES' HUT at 7 p.m. A draft of 50 O.R. from Base were inspected by Medical Officer at 9.30 a.m. At 8.30 a.m. all ranks whose Box Respirators had not been tested paraded under 2/LT ANDERSON and proceeded to Testing Room.
BOUZINCOURT	7th Dec	The programme for the day was as follows:- Route march under Coy arrangements from 9a.m. to 12 noon; musketry, bayonet fighting and physical drill from 2 to 4 p.m..
BOUZINCOURT	8th Dec	The programme of training was continued as follows:- 9 a.m. - 12 noon Arm [?] Drill, Platoon Drill, Musketry, Physical Exercises, Bayonet Fighting; 2-6 p.m. Football and Recreation, Lecture on Digging Wide Trenches, revetting and leaving a wide berm. Forming up on tasks.
BOUZINCOURT	9th Dec	The training for today included - 9a.m. to 12 noon :- Company Drill, Attack Practice, Bayonet Fighting - from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Box Respirator Drill and Bombing. Extract from Battalion Order no. 286:- 'Honours and Awards - The General Officer Commanding in Chief has, under authority granted by His Majesty the King, awarded decorations to the undernamed for gallantry during the operations on 13th November 1916. The Fifth Army, Divisional, Brigade and Battalion Commanders congratulate all the recipients :- The Military Cross 2/LT W B ANDERSON, 2/LT M C WRIGHT. The Distinguished Conduct Medal - No. 544 Coy S M (A/RSM) JAMES MATTHEW, No. 1541 CPL JAMES MOIR, No. 2010 CPL JAMES URQUHART, No. 1383 CPL DAVID MCDONALD.'
BOUZINCOURT and OVILLERS HUTS	10th Dec	The Battalion moved today from BOUZINCOURT into OVILLERS HUTS. The leading Company moved off at 8.15 a.m. Divine Service was held in CHURCHES' ARMY HUT at 3.30 p.m.
OVILLERS HUTS	11th Dec	[Note: the Diary from this point on is written in a different hand. Previously written by A.C. (Alexander Cheyne - A/Adj) who goes on leave on 13th Dec, and now by W.M.L] A draft of eleven officers joined the unit from 4th (Res) Bn GORDON HIGHRS. The training for today included:- Inspections, Cleaning of Huts and Box Respirator Drill.
OVILLERS HUTS	12 Dec	The training for today was as follows:- Inspections of Rifles, Equipment, Ammunition, Tube Helmets and Box Respirators. Box Respirator Drill. Bombing and Sniping Sections paraded for training. A Battalion Concert was held in the Church Army Tent at 5 p.m. A Working Party of 250 men left the huts at 7.30 p.m. and returned at 3 a.m. 13th.
OVILLERS HUTS	13th Dec	The programme for today was as follows:- Between 9 a.m. and 12 noon the Coys went to the Baths at AVELUY. A working party of 250 men left the huts as 7.30 p.m. Capt McCULLOCH and 2/LT CHEYNE went on leave today.
OVILLERS HUTS	14th Dec	Parades were held as follows:- 10-12.30 Inspection of Rifles, tube helmets, box respirators and ammunition. Box respirator drill and bayonet exercises. A Working Party of 150 men left the huts at 3.30 p.m. and returned at 8 p.m.
OVILLERS HUTS and WOLFE HUTS	15th Dec	The Battalion moved today from OVILLERS HUTS to WOLFE HUTS. The movement was completed by 10 a.m.
WOLFE HUTS	16th Dec	During the forenoon the huts and lines were cleaned. A working party of 190 men left the huts at 3.30 p.m. 2/LT MELDRUM and two other ranks were killed. Four other ranks were wounded.
WOLFE HUTS	17th Dec	Today 'C' and 'D' Coys went into reserve trenches at FRAZER POST and COURCELETTE respectively. The relief was completed by 6.30 p.m. 'A' and 'B' Coys remained in WOLFE HUTS. Every available man of these Coys was on a working party which left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. Today a draft of 28 other ranks joined the Battalion.
WOLFE HUTS and RESERVE (COURCELETTE)	18th Dec	A draft of 72 other ranks joined the Battalion today. Every available man fron 'A' and 'B' Coys was on a working party which left WOLFE HUTS at 3.30 p.m. The men of 'C' and 'D' Coys were employed in cleaning trenches and dugouts in the forenoon. They rested in the afternoon and all available men went on working parties during the night.
WOLFE HUTS and COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	19th Dec	Today 'A' and 'B' Coys supplied as large a number of men as possible as carrying parties. They left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. 'C' and 'D' Coys moved out of FRAZER POST and COURCELETTE to the FIRING LINE to relieve 2 Coys of the 6th BLACK WATCH. Two men were wounded during the relief.
WOLFE HUTS and COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	20th Dec	'A' and 'B' Coys supplied working parties which left the Huts at 3.30 p.m. 'C' and 'D' carried on the work of improving their trenches. This for the most part consisted of clearing out mud, laying duckboards and erecting shelters. Overland routes to 'B' and MANCHESTER DUMPS which were situated close behing the firing line, were laid out by means of tape, posts and wire. The front line was quiet but DYKE ROAD VALLEY and BATT. HQRS were heavily shelled by 5.2 howitzers.
WOLFE HUTS and COURCELETTE FIRING LINE	21st Dec	Today 'A' and 'B' Coys left WOLFE HUTS and went into billets in BOUZINCOURT. 'C' and 'D' Coys carried on with improvement of trenches and existing shelters. The night of 20th was frosty abd this fascilitated operations. During the early morning the enemy [ two words illegible] bombs, but they fell short of our front line. For a short time he bombarded the front line with 7.7 shells. One man was slightly wounded. [Illegible] trenches and Batt. HQrs were shelled with 5.2 how. shells intermittently. 'C' and 'D' Coys were relieved by two Coys of the 4th GORDON HIGHRS. The relief was completed by 12 p.m. Platoons marched back independently to huts in OVILLERS AREA.
COURCELETTE and OVILLERS HUTS	22nd Dec	'A' and 'B' Coys were engaged during the day in cleaning billets and clothing etc. 'C' and 'D' Coys after cleaning up huts occupied in OVILLERS AREA left for BOUZINCOURT at 1.45 p.m. They reached their billets at 3.30 p.m.
BOUZINCOURT	23rd Dec	A working party consisting of 1 officer and 20 other ranks went today to load trucks at AVELVY SIDING. The hours of work were 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Draft which arrived on 11th and 18th were paraded and inspected and a report was made. The Coys were engaged in cleaning and repairing billets.
BOUZINCOURT	24th Dec	A working party of 1 officer and 20 other ranks left the billets at 7.30 a.m. to load trucks at AVELUY SIDING. The Companies had the use of the baths from 9 - 12 noon and 2 - 4 p.m. A church service was held at 10.30 a.m. The Brig. General inspected the drafts lately arrived and also the Battalion's Billets during the forenoon.
BOUZINCOURT	25th Dec	The programme of work for today was as follows:- 9 - 11 a.m. Close Order Drill and Bayonet Fighting. The rest of the day was observed as a holiday. A football match was played between 'A' and 'B' Coys versus 'C' and 'D' Coys
BOUZINCOURT	26th Dec	Today parades were held as follows:- 9-12.30 p.m. Close Order Drill, Bayonet Fighting and Cleaning and improving billets. A concert was held in the Cinema Hall during the afternoon.
BOUZINCOURT	27th Dec	A working party of 1 officer and 20 other ranks left the billets at 7.30 a.m. to load trucks at AVELUY SIDING. The programme of work was as follows:- 9-12.30 Bayonet fighting and Close Order Drill. 2-4 p.m. Gas Respirator Drill.
BOUZINCOURT and AVELUY and OVILLERS HUTS	28th Dec	The Battalion moved today from BOUZINCOURT. 'A' and 'B' Coys and Head Quarters occupied Huts in OVILLERS AREA. 'C' and 'D' Coys occupied billets in AVELUY. The leading Company marched off at 11.30 a.m.
OVILLERS HUTS	29th Dec	The programme of work was:- 10 a.m. Rifle Inspection, Cleaning and improving lines. At 4 p.m. a working party of 100 men and another of 75 men left the Huts.
OVILLERS HUTS	30th Dec	This morning at 7.30 , 2 officers and 100 other ranks left the Huts to bury telephone cable. They returned at 4 p.m. The usual inspections of rifles, respirators etc were carried out.
OVILLERS HUTS	31st Dec	At 7.30 a.m. 2 officers and 100 men left the Huts to bury telephone cable. They returned at 4 p.m. 1 officer and 25 men left the Huts at 3 p.m. to pull trolleys. They returned at 8.30 p.m. The men left in camp were engaged in improvements.