1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 
1916 -Page 1 on to 1916 - Page 2 The information contained in this document was extracted from the diaries of the
1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
who were part of the 149th Infantry Brigade, 50th Division , during the Great War , 1914 - 18.
These original handwritten documents are held in the Public records Office, Kew, London under the reference WO95 2828
I am grateful to Bill Henderson for contributing these pages about his Grandad. The work you see here represents many hours at the Public Records Office in research.
These diaries record the daily events which the Battalion experienced on the Western Front in World War 1, from the Commanding Officer’s point of view. They are of particular interest to me because my Grandfather, Private 240571 ( formerly 5/2629) William Henderson, served at the front with the Battalion for two periods, the first from:
20th April 1915 until 5th June, 1915, then from 9th October 1915 until 9th June, 1916.
It is these two periods which this document covers, and the content is ,as far as possible, a full and accurate copy of the text contained in the diaries.
Guy Smith e mail: guy@trenchmap.com
1916 -Page 1
Ypres
Nothing to be done except work on dug outs. Very wet in
1st January places. No
casualties
Ypres
Wet and stormy. Worked on dug outs.
2nd January
Ypres
Fine day, no shells, no casualties. New Year list of mentioned
3rd January in
dispatches came out. Well done you all.
Ypres
Returned to the right sector and relieved the 7th Battalion
as
4th January usual. No
casualties.
Ypres
Clear , fine day. A lot of High Explosives on both sides. Our 5
5th January inch
howitzer sent upwards of 100 shells on to HILL 60. Some
Ypres
Officers sent out from England for a couple of days for a little
experience taken round the trenches.
2 Other ranks wounded.
Ypres
Quiet day on the whole. 3 Other Ranks accidentally wounded
6th January by a rifle
going off.
1916
Research
shows that the following soldier died on this date and
is buried in Lijssenhoek Military
Cemetery, Poperinghe,
Belgium:
Private 5/1696 Thomas Borthwick WATSON,
22years, son
of John and Agnes WATSON, of 15, Fourth
Street, Wallsend,
Northumberland.
Ypres
A lot of High explosives on either side. Another accident. 3 men
7th January wounded,
premature bursting of one of our rifle grenades.
Relieved by 7th Northumberland Fusiliers
in the evening. Returned to CANADA HUTS for 4 days out.
(Research shows that on this date, R.
HETHERINGTON,
Private 5/3106, died and is buried in
Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Ypres )
Canada Huts Cold windy day. Cleaned
up.
8th January Research shows that the following soldier died this date and is
buried in Lijssenhoek Miliray Cemetery,
Poperinghe, Belgium.
Private 5/ 2558 F. WARD, 119 years, son
of Hugh and Mary
Ann WARD, of 6, Byker Street, Walker,
Newcastle upon Tyne.
Canada Huts Sunday Church parade in
Y.M.C.A. tent.
9th January
Canada Huts The whole Battalion
bathed at POPERINGHE. Excellent baths
10th January where they all got
a change of clothes. Major IRWIN got a
concert up for the men, much appreciated.
Ypres
Returned to the trenches. Left camp 3.30pm., raining 3.35pm.
11th January and kept it up all
through the march. Later turned out into a
fine night.
Ypres
Very cold. Strong North wind. No casualties.
12th January
Ypres
Cold and quiet. Enemy very quiet, no sniping and very few
13th January flares.Bosches
have new relief and are finding their feet before
they become offensive.
Ypres
Fine bright day and consequently a good deal of High
January 14th Explosives both sides.
Our howitzer “straffed” HILL 60
continuously, so much in fact the Germans
got roused and sent
over 8 very large minenwerfen ( aerial
torpedoes ) which
shook the country for miles around
and frightened us to death
- but did no damage.
The next time we “straffed” the
HILL I came upon Lt.
ADAMS staring up in the air with a
whistle in his mouth and
shouting to his men “ If I blow
once, run to the right. Twice
and go left.” The explanation is
that you can see the
minenwerfen coming and you can gauge
where they will land,
but if you judge it wrong you
and the beastly thing will meet.
Ypres
Relieved in the evening by 4th Battalion Northumberland
15th January Fusiliers Went
back to BEDFORD HOUSE and H30. No
1916
casualties.
Ypres 16th Quite
quiet. No casualties, except one pilot shot in the leg. Plane
to
damaged. List of decorations out today:
18th January , Military Cross: Captain N.M.
NORTH
Captain
D.HILL
2nd
Lt. R.ELLIS
D.C.M.
: C.S.M. McDONALD W.
Sergeant
GRAY J. (R.A.M.C.)
Corporal
FITZGERALD C.J.
Ypres
Relieved the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers in the left sector.
19th January Quiet night. No
casualties.
Ypres
Very fine clear day, no casualties.
20th January
Ypres
Dull day. Some sausages over 39 in the morning but no casualties.
21st January Dark night, we
were able to get some wiring done.
Ypres
Quiet morning. A lot of high explosives both sides in the
afternoon
22nd January wounding 4 men.
Very fine night. No wiring done.
Ypres
Very foggy early. Got a lot of wiring done. Relieved by the 7th
23rd January Northumberland
Fusiliers. Sent to CANADA HUTS.
Canada Huts Usual routine
at CANADA HUTS.
24th/26th January Research shows that the following
soldier died this date and is
buried in Lijssenhoek Military
Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium.
Private 5/ 2080 Thomas
WARRINER, 23 years, son of Thomas
and Elizabeth WARRINER, of
Newcastle upon Tyne, husband
of Sarah WARRINER , nee
Ridley, of 99, Janet Street, Byker,
Newcastle upon Tyne.
Ypres
Relieved the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers. One man wounded
on
27th January the way up.
Ypres
A bad day. 39 was bombarded with sausages and rifle
grenades.
28th January 2 men killed and
8 wounded during the day.
(Research shows that on
this date, the following soldiers of the
5th Battalion of the Northumberland
Fusiliers were killed:
and are buried in Railway Dugouts Burial
Ground, Zillebeke,
Ypres:
Private 5/3099 Harold BRODRICK, 20years,
son of Edward and
Catherine Brodrick, of 88, High Street East,
Wallsend.
Private 5/2482 T. DICKINSON.
Henry TAYLOR, Private 5/3668, 19 years,
son of Margaret
Annie Taylor, of 208, Shipley Street, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.
John Colling WARD, Private 5/2355, 29
years, husband of
Mrs. S.E. Ward, of 29, Hedley Street,
Wallsend on Tyne.
Ypres
Another bad day. 1 Other rank died of wounds and Lt.DIGBY
29th January SEYMOUR badly
wounded with rifle grenades.
1916
(Research shows that the following
soldiers died this date, and
are buried in Railway Dugouts Burial
Ground, Zillebeke, Ypres.
Private 5/3124 J.DUNLEAVEY
Private 5/2013 Joe MAUGHAN, 20 years, son
of Mr & Mrs
Joseph Maughan, of 8, Stephendale
Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne. Grave number 1.J. 23.
Ypres
Fairly quiet day, relieved by the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers.
30th January This last period
in the trenches is the worst we have had for a
&31st January very long time.
Killed:
9 Other ranks
Wounded: 1 Officer and 30 Other Ranks.
Research shows that on
31st January, the following soldier
was killed and is buried in Lijssenhoek
Military Cemetery,Poperinge, Belgium.
Private 5/2223 D. MAIR, 38 years, husband
of Olive B.B. MAIR,
of 48, Byker Road, Walker, Newcastle upon
Tyne.
Ypres
Close support SQUARE WOOD etc.. Fairly comfortable,
1st February working
parties supplied to the front . Fine and cold. We hear
that the 4th are having a bad time in the
right sector.
Ypres
Still fine. Very cold. Capt. RANSOM goes on leave. Captain
2nd February Bruce LOW, from the 2nd
Field Ambulance is the replacement
doctor for the lucky devil.
Ypres
Quiet day. Still fine and cold. 2 Other Ranks wounded when we
3rd February 1916 relieved the 7th.
Ypres
1 Other Rank wounded . All our Companies are in the front line
4th February at the same time.
Good job it is a quiet day.
Ypres
A bad day for us. Captain P.D. FORRETT killed and 2nd Lt.
5th February PHILLIPS badly
wounded when a shell exploded in a dugout
doorway. A valuable and loyal
officer, who will be missed.
Research shows that
Captain P.D. FORRETT, is buried in
Maple Copse Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ypres.
Ypres
Fine day, wet in the evening. We hear over the wire that poor
6th February PHILLIPS died from
his wounds. Another brave and promising
Officer lost. In the evening
we were thankful to be relieved by
5th Yorks. arriving at DICKEBUSCH HUTS at
2am.
Research shows that
Second Lieutenant FREDERICK CHARLES PHILLIPS,
21 years, son of Frederick and Margaret Jane Phillips, of 204, Portland Road,
Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge.
Dickebusch Cleaning up.
Inspections etc.
7th February Research
shows that the following soldier died on this date and
1916
is buried in
Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium:
Private 5/ 2935 J. WATT, 20
years, son of Mr. & Mrs. E.
WATT, of 150, Kirk Street,
South Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Dickebusch Fine day.
Training.
8th February
Dickebusch Battalion
visited the baths at DICKEBUSCH and clean clothes.
9th February.
Dickebusch Concert put
on by Captain Bruce LOW - very good.
10th February
Dickebusch Wet day.
Excellent concert by Doctor Bruce LOW and party
11th February from 2nd Field Ambulance.
Heavy firing to the North of Ypres
during the night.
Ypres
Doctor RANSOM returns from leave, Bruce LOW goes back to
12th February Field Ambulance. A lot of
firing all day. We prepare to go back
1916
to the trenches. Bosche attacked
somewhere North of the salient
but was repulsed. The Brigade
relieves the 151st Brigade. We
take over from 6th Durham Light
Infantry in RAILWAY
DUGOUTS with one Company in
MAPLE COPSE.
Ypres
Fine day with little shelling.
13th February
Ypres
Fine day. Heavy shelling. Germans attack in several places
14th February round the salient and succeed in
taking trenches from 17th
Division. 17th Division counter attack
and fail. All attempts to
advance on our Divisional front are
repulsed.
Ypres
Fine day and cold. Trenches still in enemy hands. A good deal of
15th February shelling. Officers come up to view
the new sector.
Ypres
Counter attack by 17th Division not successful. Day quiet. Relief
16th February 7th Northumberland Fusiliers in
night, left sector.
Ypres
17th bombard lost trenches. Bosches reply with minenwefrers.
17th February Otherwise a quiet day.
Ypres
Wet day, very quiet. No shelling. Patrols out all day checking
18th February saps in front of CLONMEL
CLOSE. 1 Other Rank killed 2
wounded.
Ypres
Dull , cold day. Quiet. A lot of wiring done through the night.
19th February
Ypres
Quiet day. Battalion relieved by 7th Northumberland Fusiliers
20th February and moves into close
support in MAPLE COPSE. Lt.SWAN
goes to hospital and Lt. ADAMS
returns from leave.
Ypres
Battalion distributed amongst supporting points and dug outs
21st February in SANCTUARY WOOD, ARMAGH
WOOD and Headquarters in MAPLE CLOSE.
1 Other Rank killed.
Research shows that the following soldier
was killed on this
date and is buried in Maple Copse
Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ypres:
Private 5/2168 W. CHRISTIE
Ypres
Some snow. Working parties supplied to all Companies. Quiet.
22nd February
Ypres
Snow and frost. Very cold. A few shells into MAPLE CLOSE in
23rd February the evening - otherwise quiet.
Ypres
Battalion taken out of line and relieved by 4th Yorks.. Sent to
DICKEBUSCH HUTS
24th February,1916
Dickebusch Battalion bathes at
DICKEBUSCH and POPERINGHE. Baths
25th February and bombing practice.
Dickebusch Practice again
on bombing range. Live bombs for men who
26th February have not thrown them before. Heavy
bombardment of enemy
position on THE BLUFF in the evening.
Dickebusch Wet Day. Usual
Sunday Parade at Y.M.C.A. hut. We have to
27th February crowd in with the 6th
Northumberland Fusiliers as the 4th
Northumberland Fusiliers have been taken
out of the Scottish
lines and have no shelter. We expect to
go at any time in
support.The 3rd Division is going to
attack THE BLUFF and
we have to be ready in case of a
counter attack.
Dickebusch Wet day. Battalion
confined to quarters. Lectures.
28th February
Dickebusch Still confined to
camp. Are told we will not be going up to the
29th February lines tonight.
Dickebusch In DICKEBUSCH HUTS
in Divisional reserve. We should
1st March return
to the trenches tonight, but , owing to the forthcoming
attack on THE BLUFF , reliefs are
postponed. We are on
orders to move out at 1 hours
notice, so all men are confined to
the hut area. Weather is fine. Our
artillery is very active today,
particularly during the afternoon ,
when enemy trenches in
THE BLUFF were heavily
bombarded.
Ypres
4.30am. Attack on THE BLUFF took place with great success.
2nd March From accounts
received all the lost trenches were retaken by
the Division on our right, who also
succeeded in taking a salient
of the enemy’s original front trench, with
5 Officers and 246
prisoners. In the evening, the Battalion
moved up to the right
Sub Sector of the right Brigade sector,
HILL 60. One Company
of the 6th Battalion hold trenches 37L and 37YL
support, ‘A’
Company 38 trench, ‘C’ Company
39 trench, ‘B’ Company 40,
‘D’ Company 41 and 47. The
enemy had established a barrage across
the RAILWAY CUTTINGS and we have had some
difficulty carrying out the relief.
Fortunately, our casualties were
very small, considering the amount of hostile shell fire.
‘A’ Company - 1 Other
rank killed , 1 wounded
Battalion Headquarters behind THE DUMP
heavily shelled
for 30 hours and shelling continued throughout the night without ceasing.
The trenches, especially support line, very badly knocked about.
The 8th Durham Light Infantry, who we relieved, have been unable to remove their dead, who
unfortunately number about 40. There are also 50 wounded left
to be evacuated, but owing to the enemy barrage, this can not
be
done. Relief completed by 11pm.
Research shows that the following soldier was killed this
date. He has no known grave and is commemorated
on the
Menin Gate, Ypres, panel 8 & 12
Private 5/ 4173 William LAKEY.
Ypres
Shelling of the Battalion headquarters continues until 11am.
3rd March Enemy artillery
does not trouble the front line and work of
burying the dead and evacuating the
wounded carries on all
day. Parties also rebuild the damaged
parapets in the front
line and undertake to drain off
accumulated water. Heavy
snowstorm in the afternoon. Owing
to the number of dug outs
which have been blown in, there is little
shelter for the men,
most of whom are soaked. Their spirits
however are excellent
and they are remarkably
cheery.
A new draft of 36 arrived last week and
now numbers about 20,
the remainder being sick, one killed and
two wounded. They
are experiencing life in the trenches for
the first time.
ration parties have great difficulty getting up
stores due to the
railway line being badly smashed during
the recent shelling and
consequently the trollies could not be
worked. Rations and stores
have to be carried from ZILLEBEEKE
STATION to the
trenches.
Ypres
Heavy snow storm. Trenches very wet and uncomfortable.
4th March Our artillery
has been most effective, as can be seen and as
recounted by prisoners captured on our
right. The enemy
blew in one of our mine galleries,
killing two of our miners, who
were in the act of preparing to blow in
the enemy’s gallery. The
explosion forms a crater in front of
39 trench. The Battalion has
now evacuated all the wounded left by the
7th, 8th and 9th Durham Light
Infantry. The total number of wounded
evacuated during the last two days
is now over 70 and together with the
assistance of the close support
Company of the 6th and 8th , we have
buried 44. This, together with
clearing up front line trenches, has
taken up all our time and labour.
Sergeant A.M. TOPHAM ,
signaling sergeant , is Gazetted
and
a 2nd Lt. joins us as signaling Officer with Headquarters.
Research shows that
the following soldier died this date. He has
no known grave and is commemorated on the
Menin Gate,Ypres,
Panel 8 & 12.
Private 5/2967 Thomas PAXTON
Ypres
A fine, sunny morning, giving the men the opportunity of getting
5th March somewhat dry.
The Hun remains very quiet, which is
1916
exceptional for a Sunday, which he generally makes a day of
hate and strafes us accordingly.
Unfortunately, he is still slowly
recovering from his shock of last week.
Heavy fall of snow at
night.
Ypres
Snowing, but a quiet day. ‘A’ , ‘B’ and
‘D’ Companies quartered
6th March in BEDFORD
HOUSE - ‘C’ Company in SWAN CHATEAU.
Ypres
Snowed all day. Resting and drying. A number of cases of trench
7th March foot from the
Brigade and their suffering seems to be intense.
Working parties supplied in the evening
to mend the road at
SHRAPNEL CORNER and to carry Engineers
stores from
ZILLEBEEKE STATION to the trenches.
Ypres
Snowed heavily. 3 or 4 inches lying on the ground. Fine and
8th March dry however
and after all too short a rest, we move up to close
support and the trenches again. Battalion
headquarters to
SQUARE WOOD, ‘B’ Company to
trenches 37L and 37S, ‘C’
Company to 47 , support, 49 and GLASGOW
CROSS, ‘D’
Company to X trench and ‘A’
Company to LARCHWOOD
DUGOUTS and R7.
Ypres
A fine clear day. The enemy take advantage and bomb our
9th March trenches ,
doing a certain amount of damage. ‘A’ Company have
2 men killed in R7. Two machine gunners
from the Battalion
killed in 41S. We witness a thrilling
fight in the air between a
large and well equipped Fokker and a
small scouting biplane of
ours. The Fokker hovers above his
prey like a hawk over a
sparrow, suddenly darting down with
his machine guns in
action. Our machine swerves and
attempts to escape, but the
Fokker, recovering rapidly, circles
round its foe and rising
above, once more continues the fight. Our
plane does not appear
to be armed and is so slow it is unable
to put up any resistance to
the Fokker, The Fokker dives again and
the British plane falls,
crashing to the ground , both pilot
and observer undoubtedly
killed. The Fokker, instead of
heading back to their lines,
continues to reconnoiter our trenches and
our only reply is some
anti aircraft firefrom MAPLE COPSE.
This, like many other
instances which we have witnessed, makes
us doubt the
politicians statement that we hold the
superiority in the air.
Our 8 inch guns bombed THE DOGS TOOTH, but there are
many duds. They go over like the roar of a tram car, but drop
like tram tickets.
Research shows that on this date, the following soldiers
were
killed and are buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground,
Zillebeke, Ypres :
J. H. NORTON, Private 5/3336.
Samuel Verow OLIVER, Private 5/1590, 21 years,
son of
Ralph and Sarah Oliver, of 1577, Walker Road,
Walker,
Newcastle upon Tyne.
William WRIGHT, Private
5/3061
Ypres
Snow again. On the move again. ‘A’ Company to 39
trench, ‘B’
10th March Company to 38,
‘C’ Company to 40, ‘D’ to 41, 41S and 47S.
Two new officers arrive at Battalion, 2nd
Lt. H.G. ROBSON and
2nd Lt. A.S. WINTON. Another Officer, 2nd
Lt. A.E. RENDELL
reports at the huts, but goes sick. 2nd
Lt. DODDS departs to
hospital sick.
Our heavies and 18 pounders bombard
supposed mine heads
during the night. No retaliation from the
Hun.
Research shows that on this date, the following soldier was
killed
and is buried in Railway Dugouts Burial
Ground, Zillebeke,
Ypres :
James RAPER, Lance Corporal 5/2667,
23 years, son of William
and elizabeth Raper, of 22, Mary Agnes
Street, Coxlodge ,
Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Ypres
Fine morning. Our bombardment continues , 9.2 Howitzers, 8
11th March
inch,4.5’s and 18 pounders. At 4pm. the enemy artillery opened
from all sides and heavily bombarded THE
CUTTING of the
YPRES / MENIN railway, THE BRIDGE
and trenches 37L to
47S. This bombardment continues
throughout the night.
Battalion Headquarters at THE DUMP
heavily strafed. 2nd Lt.
TOOVEY goes to hospital, sick.
Research shows that on
this date, the following soldiers were
killed and are buried in Railway Dugouts
Burial Ground,
Zillebeke, Ypres:
J. HUME, Private 5/1972.
A. MAUGHAN, Private 5/1351
R. PATTERSON, Private 5/3770
J. BAISTOW, Private 5/3881
Ypres
Fine day. Enemy bombardment continues until 4am ,exactly 12
12th March hours. Ration
parties unable to get down the railway until
1916
4.15am. During the remainder of the
day, the enemy is fairly
quiet. We are able to see the damage to
our trenches and work
begins to repair same. LOVERS LANE is
cleared. Work started
on BENSHAM AVENUE, JOHNSONS
TRENCHES and JACKSON STREET.
Support trenches are absolutely wrecked.
2nd Lt. TOPHAM, who only joined us
a few days ago, is badly
wounded in the face this morning.
Research shows that
on this date, the following soldiersof the 5th
Battalion were killed and are buried in
Railway Dugouts Burial
Ground, Zillebeke, Ypres.
D. ALLAN , Private 5/1677
J . HESLOP , Private
5/3163)
Ypres
Repairing badly damaged trenches and cleared communication
13th March trenches. Far
from being in fightable condition a large amount of
water has accumulated and will only be
got away with difficulty.
With the exception of half a dozen whiz
bangs over 41, the enemy
has remained quiet.
Ypres
A magnificent day. Still hard at work clearing support trenches.
14th March Enemy quiet. We are
relieved by the 8th Durham Light Infantry
and march to the YPRES / VLAMERTINGHE and
at 2am. we
entrain for POPERINGHE.
Research shows that the
following soldier died this date and is
buried in Lissenthoek Military Cemetery,
Poperinge, Belgium.
Private 5/1829 B. DAVIS.
Poperinghe Arrive at
POPERINGHE at 3.30am. Hot tea and comfortable
15th March billets
provided. The men slept till mid day and then had dinner.
Those who had need were issued with
new equipment.
Poperinghe A beautiful
day. Battalion at the baths. Washed and then given
16th March new clothing.
The men look spick and span. The arrival of the
Guards Regiment in POPERINGHE today ( splendid looking
fellows ) helps smarten them up too. Everyone is trying to look
like a Guardsman. The change and rest is doing everyone a power of good.
Poperinghe Another fine
day resting at Poperinghe.
17th March
Poperinghe To stay 6
days at POPERINGHE was too good to be true. We are
18th March ordered back
to DICKEBUSCH. At 4pm., we left POPERINGHE
and
at 6pm we arrived back at our old billets at DICKEBUSCH
HUTS.
Dickebusch Huts Fine day - Services in the Y.M.C.A.
19th March
Dickebusch Huts Company parades and bombing practices carried out - a good deal
20th March of heavy shelling during
the day and one or two got fairly close to
1916
the huts.
Research shows that the following soldier died of wounds this
date and is buried in Byker & Heaton
cemetery, Newcastle upon
Tyne.
Private 5/3214 J.H. GRAHAM.
Dickebusch Huts Drill day. Battalion practices attack, with the bombers in the
21st March morning on the
“dummy” trenches. Returning to the trenches in
1916
the evening.
March off from the huts about 6.30pm.
Distribution: ‘A’ &
‘D’ Companies - GLASGOW CROSS trench.
‘C’ Company - 41, 41S &
47S. ‘B’ Company R.Y. L.
LARCHWOOD DUGOUTS.
Headquarters SQUARE WOOD.
Quiet night - no trouble.
Ypres
Fairly quiet day. No casualties. 2nd Lt. GILL to
hospital sick. News
22nd March is received that Colonel LUHRS
is to be called home for munitions
work.
Ypres
Very quiet day. No casualties. A few
‘sausages’ over 41 in the
23rd March evening
Ypres
Quiet day up till 7pm., when the enemy broke
out and started
24th March shelling all around -
particularly on 41 and 41S, which was heavily
shelled for a time. Our
‘C’ Company was being relieved by a
Company of the 7th Northumberland
Fusiliers and luckily
succeeded in getting away without
any casualties. ‘C’ Company
sent to dugouts in ARMAGH
WOOD. Some dozed fair sized shells
were put into SQUARE WOOD - 2nd Lt.
ROBSON being slightly
wounded and also 1 Other Rank.
All quiet again about 9.30pm.
Ypres
In the morning, ARMAGH WOOD was crumpled rather
badly, 2 25th March
Other Ranks being killed and Lt.
ELLIS being wounded. The
dugout in which ELLIS was sitting
was hit by a shell and he was
lucky in not being killed, as it
was, his leg was fractured and we
lose a very reliable officer for an
indefinite period, LUHRS, who is
proceeding home on munitions
work, 2nd Lt. BLACKBOURN and
2nd Lt. WINTON to hospital ,sick.
Research shows that
the following soldiers were killed on this date
and are buried in Maple Copse
Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ypres:
Private 5/3407 T. BROWN
Private 5/4030 J. McCARTHY, aged 24
years.
Ypres
We are now lamentably short of officers, the
trench strength being
26th March 11. A quiet day -
no casualties.
Ypres
Wakened up at 4.15am. by very heavy
bombardment to the south -
27th March soon found out that our
trenches were not affected, although some
1916
shells were put over Glasgow Cross
trench, killing one man of ‘D’
Company. The bombardment
continued until about 9am.
Received information that the 3rd
Division had made a small
attack near St. ELOI, blowing
up two mines. The remainder of
the day was fairly quiet.
Interchanged trenches with the 4th
Northumberland Fusiliers that
night. we took over 43 to 49. Nasty
wet night - relief not completed
until 3.30am.
Research shows
that on this date, the following soldier was killed
and is buried in Railway Dugouts
Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Ypres:
Private 5/2617 J. BEETON .
Ypres
Quiet day - relieved in the evening by
the 16th CANADIAN
28th March REGIMENT, our long
looked for Divisional Relief at last.
Research shows that the following soldier died on this
date and
is buried in Maple Copse
Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ypres:
Corporal 5/1745 M. MURPHY, 30
years, son of Thomas MURPHY
of 22, Emilley Street, Wheatley
Hill, Co. Durham.
Ypres
Returned safely to DICKEBUSCH HUTS, for the
last time we
29th March hope. Very cold night.
Got in about 3am.
Dickebusch Huts Got up at 9.30am., when the Bosche suddenly began
shelling near
30th March the camp.
After one shell had come into the camp, we cleared all
the
men out and it is lucky we did, as after that, some half a dozen
shells were put right amongst the
huts, destroying several, but
causing no other damage. After this
little entertainment, all was
quiet for the rest of the day.
Dickebusch Huts Did nothing but rest and prepare for the mach tomorrow. The men
31st March are due to march
out of camp at 8-30am.
1916 -Page 1 Back to1915 - page 1 Back to1915 - page 2 on to 1916 - Page 2
Click here for Captain Francis Buckley 7th N.F. He edited the official history
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Guy Smith e mail: guy@trenchmap.com