WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_3
1st JUNE 1917 - 30th JUNE 1917
ORDER PAPERS Etc.
Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-36
[6 days missing from the Diary entries (9th to 13th inclusive).
No surviving Orders showing Battalion moved, so assuming still in the same location, ie.
Maps 57C N.W. ECOUST-St-MEIN 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT), as it is the same map reference in the first Diary entry for July]
23rd June
Weather: Heavy rain. Wind: N. Westerly, fresh.
A & C Coys: moved at 9am to Camp B. 15. c. 0.3 from LOGEAST WOOD.
B Coy: Moved to Camp at B. 15. c. 0.3 from H.I.D.
D Coy: Moved to Camp at B. 15. c. 0.3 from B. 13. c.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
24th June
Weather: Fine but dull; Wind: South Westerly, light.
C Coy: deepening and widening front line trench LONDON TRENCH, U. 22. d. 2.0 - U. 22. d. 5.0
A Coy: deepening and widening front line trench LONDON TRENCH, U. 22. d. 5.0 - U. 28. b. 90.95
D Coy: deepening and widening front line trench LONDON TRENCH, U. 28. b. 90.95 - U. 29. a. 40.97.
Only about an hour's work was done when hostile barrage was put down on the trench and a withdrawal compelled.
B Coy: Widening and deepening and preparing for Trench Boards communication trench PELICAN AVENUE, U. 27. a. 3.9 - V[?]. 21. c. 3.1.
Night.
Casualties: 1 O.R. killed; 20 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-37
[6 days missing from the Diary entries (9th to 13th inclusive).
No surviving Orders showing Battalion moved, so assuming still in the same location, ie.
Maps 57C N.W. ECOUST-St-MEIN 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT), as it is the same map reference in the first Diary entry for July]
25th June
Weather: Fine during day; wet at night; cool. Wind: Westerly, light.
B Coy: Less two platoons on communication trench PELICAN AVENUE, U. 27. a. 3.9 - U. 27. a. 00.75. 90 x of trench widened and deepened to 6'-0" and made ready for Trench boards, and one passing place made.
A Coy: Less two platoons on communication trench KNUCKLE AVENUE deepening and widening to 5'-6" deep. 2' wide at bottom 3'-6" at top. 70 yards completed. Trench Boards were carried from ECOUST RAILWAY DUMP. 24 Trench Boards laid.
The remainder of the Battalion rested in consequence of Brigade Relief.
Night.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
26th June
Weather: Dull & cold. Wind: Westerly, strong.
1⁄2 A Coy: Deepened and widened KNUCKLE AVENUE for 60 x now 5'-6" deep, 3'-6" wide at the top and 2' at the bottom.
1⁄2 A Coy: Rested.
1⁄2 B Coy: Worked on PELICAN AVENUE communication trench. 40 x deepened to average depth 5'-9". 1 Passing place made; 1 set exit steps made.
C Coy: widening & deepening 250 x of LONDON TRENCH working from junction of GORDON SWITCH and LONDON TRENCH towards TANK ALLEY. A great amount of
[continued on next page]
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-38
[6 days missing from the Diary entries (9th to 13th inclusive).
No surviving Orders showing Battalion moved, so assuming still in the same location, ie.
Maps 57C N.W. ECOUST-St-MEIN 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT), as it is the same map reference in the first Diary entry for July]
[26th June continued from previous page]
clearing was necessary, such as dead bodies, equipment, bombs etc.
D Coy: Rested
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.
27th June
Weather: Fine morning. Rain afterwards. Wind: South Easterly, light.
A Coy: dug KNUCKLE AVENUE U. 20. b. 5.9 to U. 14. c. 75.05 (where it joins the front line trench) a distance of 162 x to a depth of 5'-6", width at top 3'-6", width at bottom 2'.
Dug KNUCKLE AVENUE U. 20. a. 40.8.5 to U. 20. a. 3.8 a distance of 70 x similarly.
B Coy: Worked in communication trench PELICAN AVENUE dug 200 x N.E. from TIGER TRENCH.
C Coy: Dug 250 x of Front Line LONDON TRENCH, U. 22. d. 3.0 to U. 22. d. 7.0.
D Coy: Dug 250 x of Front Line LONDON TRENCH, U. 22. d. 7.0 to U. 20. a. 4 - 9.7.
Night
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
28th June
Weather: Fine until noon. Violent storm at night. Wind: South Easterly, light.
A Coy: working on KNUCKLE AVENUE - 160 x yards dug to required dimensions. U. 19. b. 9.6 towards front line.
B Coy: working on PELICAN AVENUE, U. 26. b. 7.4 - Front line. U. 26. b. 7.4 - U. 26. b. 2.2.
[continued on next page]
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-39
[6 days missing from the Diary entries (9th to 13th inclusive).
No surviving Orders showing Battalion moved, so assuming still in the same location, ie.
Maps 57C N.W. ECOUST-St-MEIN 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT), as it is the same map reference in the first Diary entry for July]
[28th June continued from previous page]
C Coy: Rested.
D Coy: Worked on LONDON TRENCH from U. 28. b. 9.95 to U. 29. a. 4.9.7. 250 x .
Work was much impeded by water from heavy storm.
Night.
Casualties: Nil.
W.T.J.
29th June
Weather: Showery & colder. Wind: S. Westerly to North Easterly.
A, B & D, Coys: resting.
C Coy: Widening and deepening 200 x of LONDON TRENCH from U. 22. d. 6.0 to TANK AVENUE.
Night
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J
30th June
Weather: Very wet and cold. Wind: Easterly, strong.
A Coy: wiring in front of LONDON TRENCH.
Work done:
1st Party. 200 x Picketed and wired
2nd Line: " ditto ditto
Diagonals for 160 x and all loose in the 160 x wire.
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-40
[6 days missing from the Diary entries (9th to 13th inclusive).
No surviving Orders showing Battalion moved, so assuming still in the same location, ie.
Maps 57C N.W. ECOUST-St-MEIN 1/10,000 (BULLECOURT), as it is the same map reference in the first Diary entry for July]
[30th June continued from previous page]
2nd Party: 200 x Picketed and wired
2nd Line: 100 x Picketed and wired.
B Coy: Picketed and wired front line of posts from U. 21. c. 00.55 to U. 21. d. 05.15 in three parties. The centre party completed its stretch the other two parties nearly did so. There was 1 Officer, 1 Sergeant and 24 men to each party. The remainder of the Company were used as carrying parties for maintaining the supply of material for each carrying party. Length of wiring 600 x .
D Coy: Carried 260 iron pickets and 36 bundles of wire and unloaded 4 G.S. waggons from RAILWAY EMBANKMENT to point U. 29. b. a. 7.5.
200 x 1st wire complete. 3 rows pf pickets up for this distance. 100 x 1st diagonal and 50 x loose wire put in.
Only 50 infantry instead of 100 turned up for carrying and only 28 of the former reached their destination consequently work was impeded through lack of material.
C Coy: Constructing berm on each side of trench BULLECOURT AVENUE between point U. 27. d. 5.1 and point U. 28. c. 2.7 distance being 450 x . Deepening and widening trench in places between these two points.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.
F.S. POUNTNEY, Major
O.C. 24 Bn. Manchester Reg.
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APP. A
[Battalion Stamp]
24th (S) BATT. MANCHESTER REGT. THE DIVISIONAL PIONEERS.
Headquarters,
7th Division
_________________
For your information hereunder is set out copy of message received from the G.O.C., 58th Division:
"General Fanshawe will ride over between 11:00 & 11:30 am to say good-bye to your officers and thank you for the good work you have done,
(signed) Hd. STACKPOOLE, Captain,
G.S., 58th. Division"
8/6/17
General Fanshawe called at our Headquarters at 11:00am and after saying Good-bye to the Officers he requested them to express to all ranks of this Battalion the grateful thanks of the G.O.C., Officers and all ranks of the 58th Division for the work done by the Battalion whilst attached to the 58th Division.
Signed W. TAYLOR-JONES, 2nd Lieut. & A/Adjutant,
for Lieut. Colonel,
Commanding 24th Bn. The Manchester Regt. (Piioneers)
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-42
APP. B
[Battalion Stamp]
24th (S) BATT. MANCHESTER REGT. THE DIVISIONAL PIONEERS.
COPY
7th Div.No. G. 343
24th Bn. Manchester Regt.
(Division Pioneers)
________________________
The Divisional Commander has received your letter dated the 8th inst. enclosing remarks made by the 58th Division on the work done by you whilst attached to that Division. He is very pleased indeed and asks me to inform you that it is only what he expected from your Battalion, and further that the greatest test of the efficiency of a Battalion is when it works well for a formation other than its own.
I attach a letter that the Divisional Commander has received from the G.O.C.,
58th Division.
(signed) E.C. GEPP, Majpr,
General Staff, 7th division.
58th Div. No. G.S. 694
8-6-17
G.O.C.,
7th Division
_______________
I should like to bring to your notice the extremely good work that has been done by the 24th Battalion Manchester Regiment, during the time that the Battalion has been attached to the 58th Division.
We are all very grateful to both Officers and men for the great assistance that they have so cheerfully given us.
(signed) H.D. FANSHAWE, Major-General,
Commanding 58th Division.
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Next page : File WO-95-1646-2_3-43
APP. C
[Battalion Stamp]
24th (S) BATT. MANCHESTER REGT. THE DIVISIONAL PIONEERS.
COPY
O.C.
24th Bn. Manchester Regt.
___________________________
I wish to express my appreciation of the good work you have done for my Division. The work carried out has been thorough and good: please let your officers and men know that I very much appreciate the work they have done for me.
(signed) E.M. NEWELL, Lieut.-Colonel, R.E.
C.R.E. 58th Division
7th June, 17
The C.R.E.
58th Division
________________
All ranks join me in thanking you for your kind message.
It is very pleasing to hear that our work is appreciated.
(signed) E. VINER, Lieut.-Colonel
Commanding 24th Bn, Manchester Regt. (Pioneers)
6-6-17
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APP. D
7th Division
3124/60/A
_________________
Officer Commanding
24th Manchesters.
_____________________
The G.O.C. wishes to inform all C.Os. that he has received a letter from the G.O.C. 58th. Division, thanking him for the excellent condition in which the various camps and billets in the COURCELLES - ABLAINZEVELLE - LOGEAST WOOD area were handed over.
He particularly drew attention to the fact that the many Recreation Rooms, tables, beds etc. which had been made were handed over in good condition instead of being removed as is too often the case, and he wished to inform all units of the 7th Division how much this was appreciated by the relieving units of the 58th Division.
The G.O.C. has much pleasure in bringing this to the notice of all units, as it is a proof that such action largely contributes towards maintaining the reputation of the 7th Division.
(signed) W. WINGFIELD, Lieut. Colonel,
A.A. & Q.M.G., 7th Division..
Divl. Headquarters,
June 30th. 1917
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