Battalion war diary February 1916
1/6th Battalion South Staffordshire war diaries
1916
| FEBRUARY | ALEXANDRIA |
| 1st Tuesday | Platoon drill. Company Drill. Bathing for whole Battalion. |
| 2nd Wednesday | Platoon drill. Company Drill. Bathing for whole Battalion. |
| 3rd Thursday | Inspection by G.O.C. 137th Infantry Brigade. |
| 4th Friday | Day spent in issuing and fitting of equipment etc, and clearing of Camp prior to moving. |
| 5th Saturday | Battalion entrained at SIDI BISHR tram station for the Docks, embarking on H.T. “Transylvania” at 10 a.m. together with the remainder of the 137th Infantry Brigade. |
| 6th Sunday to 9th Wednesday |
AT SEA |
| MARSEILLES | |
| 10th Thursday | Ship arrived in MARSEILLES HARBOUR, FRANCE at 1 p.m. |
| 11th Friday | Troops did not disembark. |
| 12th Saturday | Battalion disembarked at 8-15 a.m. and entrained at ARENC station at 10 a.m. |
| 13th Sunday | Journey continued. |
| VAUCHELLES | |
| 14th Monday | Battalion detrained at 10 a.m. at LONG PRE station, and marched to VAUCHELLES, taking up billets there. |
| 15th Tuesday | Route march during morning by Companies. Company and platoon drill in the afternoon. |
| 16th Wednesday | Bayonet Fighting. Route march. Lectures to companies. Company and platoon drill. |
| 17th Thursday | Running Drill. Route march. Practice in bomb-throwing. Bayonet fighting. Instruction given to Lewis Machine Gun Section under formation. Lecture to N.C.O’s by Rgt Sgt Major. |
| 18th Friday | Extended order drill. Physical exercises. Bayonet fighting. Bomb throwing practice. Lecture to N.C.O’s on “Company in attack” by Adjutant. |
| 19th Saturday | Physical exercises. Bayonet fighting. Judging distance. Route march by Companies. Fire control and Fire discipline. Lecture to N.C.O’s on “Fire discipline and control”. |
| 20th Sunday | SUNDAY |
| BEAUMETZ | |
| 21st Monday | The Battalion moved into new billets at BEAUMETZ, arriving there at 2 p.m. |
| 22nd Tuesday | Instruction carried out on range. Trained bombers put through a refresher course at trenches. Companies at disposal of Company Commanders for Company and Platoon drill. |
| 23rd Wednesday | Bayonet fighting. Route march by companies. Trained bombers continued refresher course. Snipers practiced on Range. Judging distance. Fire control. Fire discipline. Lecture to Companies on “C.D.S.307.C.D.S.312″. Lewis M.G. instruction continued. |
| 24th Thursday | Programme for 23rd repeated. |
| 25th Friday | Programme for 23rd repeated. |
| 26th Saturday | Physical exercises. Bayonet fighting. Route march. Judging distances. Fire direction and control. Rapid loading. |
| 27th Sunday | Bomb throwing instruction. Lectures on bombs to Coys. Bad weather interfered with programme of work, which could not be carried out. |
| 28th Monday | Physical exercises. Route march by Companies. Bayonet fighting. Platoon drill. |
| AUTHEUX | |
| 29th Tuesday | The Battalion moved into fresh billets at AUTHEUX, arriving there at 1 p.m. |
| F. N. Law,Lieut. Colonel Commanding 6th Battalion,The South Staffordshire Regiment 29-02-1916 |
Notes:
CDS 307 “Defensive Measures Against Gas Attack”.