2/6th Battalion war diary May 1918


2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire war diaries

1918

May RENINGHELST
1/5/1918 The Battalion still in Reserve in Reninghelst – Ouderom Reserve Line. Slight enemy shelling – Working party of 3 Off. & 300 O.R. under R.E. supervision.
Lt. Col. H.M.C. Curtis D.S.O. awarded Bar to D.S.O.
2/Lieut. S.G. Maitland awarded Military Cross.
Casualties during day;- 3 killed, 6 wounded.
2/5/1918 3 Off. 300 O.R. working party under R.E. supervision. – 1 O.R. killed.
3/5/1918 3 Off. 400 O.R. working party under R.E. supervision. – 7 O.R. killed.
4/5/1918 4 Off. 200 O.R. working party under R.E. supervision on Defence Line. – Own artillery very active.
5/5/1918 Battalion moved from Rengnhelst and proceeded by march Route to Camp near Watou; billeted at Trappiste Farm; arrived 7 p.m. in heavy rain. – Transport and Q.M. stores moved from near Poperinghe to same camp. – 2 casualties, wounded, before Bn. left line.
  WATOU
6/5/1918 Transport left camp 10 a.m. and proceeded by road – bivouaced at Rousbruck for the night. Battalion left camp 3 p.m. and embussed at Watou. Arrived at Camp at Lederzeele at 8 p.m. 3 miles from St. Momelin.
  LEDERZEELE
7/5/1918 Cleaning up; Coy. Parades. Instructions received for personnel of Battalion to be sent to Base.
8/5/1918 Coy. parades etc. Preparations for departure of personnel for Base.
9/5/1918 Battalion parade. Address by G.O.C. 59th Division, who distributed the following decorations:-
Bar to D.S.O.     - Lt. Col. H.M.C. Curtis D.S.O.
Military Cross    - 2/Lieut. S.G. Maitland.
Belgian Croix de Guerre   - 242175 Sgt. King H.R.
Belgian Croix de Guerre   - 16832  Sgt. Bowler T.
Military Medal    - 242075 Cpl. Coe H.G.
Military Medal    - 242310 Pte. Wren A.
                      (att. 176th Inf. Bde.)
Military Medal    - 201823 Cpl. Burgess H.
                      (att. 176th L.T.M.B.)
Divisional Cards  - 242313 L/Cpl. Chapman A.
                      (att. 176th Inf. Bde.)
Divisional Cards  -   9597 Pte. Philpot W.H.
                      (att. 176th Inf. Bde.)

18 officers and 746 O.R. left Camp at 2.30 p.m. and proceeded by march route to Watten where they entrained for Base.
A Training Staff and Transport only remained; 11 officers & 100 O.R. approx.

10/5/1918 Training Cadre and Transport left Lederzeele at 6 a.m. and marched via. St. Omer to Mametz.Arrived 12 noon; billeted in barns etc.
  MAMETZ
11/5/1918 Left mametz 7.30 a.m. and marched to FIEFS arriving at 12.30 p.m. – billeted in barns etc.
  FIEFS
12/5/1918 Church parade.
13/5/1918 Orders for move received but cancelled; Bn. remained at Fiefs.
14/5/1918 Training Cadre only left FIEFS at 9.30 a.m. and marched to MAGNICOURT-LE_COMPTE – billeted at HOUVELIN. Transport left behind with Lieut. Carter and subsequently proceeded to 59th Din. Surplus transport Concentration Camp, Etaples.
  MAGNICOURT-LE-COMPTE
15/5/1918 Training Cadre left MAGNICOURT 9.30 a.m. and proceeded by march route to SOMBRIN; arriving 3 p.m. Camped in tents.
  SOMRIN
16/5/1918 Training Cadre took over Administration of the 2nd. & 3rd. Prov. Garrison Guard Battalions.
17/5/1918 Training; classes for instructors of Training Cadre. Instructors sent to Battalions.
18/5/1918 Training; classes for instructors of Training Cadre. Instructors sent to Battalions.
19/5/1918 Training; classes for instructors of Training Cadre. Instructors sent to Battalions.
20/5/1918 Bathing. Courses.
Lieut. (A/Capt) R.J.I. Lane (att. 176th L.T.M.B) awarded bar to M.C.
Lieut. J.H. Grice (prev. att. 176th L.T.B) awarded Military Cross.
21/5/1918 Left camp at 5 a.m. and marched to MAGNICOURT-LE-COMPTE. arriving at 11.30 a.m. Billeted in barns etc.
  MAGNICOURT-LE-COMPTE
22/5/1918 Left Magnicourt 7 a.m. and marched to Vielfort near HOUDAIN; Tents pitched in wood.
  HOUDAIN
23/5/1918 In camp at Veilfort; Instruction in Gas.
24/5/1918 In camp at Veilfort; Instruction in Gas.
25/5/1918 In camp at Veilfort; Instruction in Gas. Bathing.
26/5/1918 Inspection. Training Cadre to be in readiness to move to 30th Division at short notice. 240761 Pte Chilton R. A Coy reported Missing 21.2.18 at Bullecourt arrived in United Kingdom 6.5.18. Prisoner of War escaped from territory occupied by enemy.
27/5/1918 Training.
28/5/1918 Training Cadre left camp3.30 p.m. and entrained at HOUDAIN 10 p.m.
29/5/1918 Arrived NOYELLES at 7 p.m. Encamped in Rest Camp.
30/5/1918 left Camp 10 a.m. and marched to BUIGNY-ST_MACLOU. Arrived 12.30 p.m. Battalion under orders of 198th Infantry Brigade. 66th Division.
Capt. R.J.I. Lane joined Unit ex hospital and 176th L.T.M.B.
  BUIGNY-ST_MACLOU
31/5/1918 Preparations made for arrival of American Regiment to whom Training Cadre is to be attached.
Company Training Cadres dispatched to respective Training areas:-
A.Coy. (Capt. S. Bradbury)      - PORT-LE-GRAND.
B.Coy. (Capt. M.E. Williams)    - NEUILLY-L’HOPITAL.
C.Coy. (Lieut. J.H. Grice M.C.) – HAUTVILLIERS.
D.Coy. (Capt. R.J.I. Lane M.C.) – ROMAINE.
Headquarters and Stores remaining at BUIGNY-ST_MACLOU
  H.M.C. Curtis Lt. Colonel 
Commanding 2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment.

NA WO 95/3021

3 Responses to “2/6th Battalion war diary May 1918”

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