© Crown Copyright

WO-95-1646-2_4-5

30th September to
14th October 1917

WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO WO-95-1646-2_4
30th SEPTEMBER 1917 - 8th OCTOBER 1917

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Map BELGIUM and FRANCE. Sheet 28. Edition 3.
30th September 1917
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... was in consequence of heavy shell fire. The Company worked the above length of time under shell fire. When the Company had casualties the Company Commander withdrew the Company. He decided to send back the Company less 20 men. He kept these men with him for 11/2 hours. The shelling did not abate. He then decided to abandon the job for the day.
Two platoons of D Coy. on erection of Nissen huts, clearing of ground & sandbagging at Div. HQ. H. 30. a. 5. 0.
Casualties: 2 ORs killed; 5 wounded of which 2 remained at duty.
W.T.J.

signed] F.S. Pountney, Lieut. Colonel Commanding
24th Bn. The Manchester Regiment
(7th Divisional Pioneers)

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Vol XXIV
24th (S) Bt. The Manchester Regiment
(7th) Divisional Pioneers.
MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
Oct. 1st,
Weather: Fine. Wind: Southerly light.

A Coy: on repair of GLENCORSE TRACK. The Company commenced to repair track but was shelled off. Carried 130 Trench boards to N. end of PLUMER DRIVE then shelled off.
C: Coy: on formation and slabbing of HOOGE DIVERSION. worked on 50x of formation. Company had to be withdrawn in consequence of hostile shelling. Three attempts were made to get back to work.
B Coy: carrying trench boards to make POLYGONEVELD track. 100 trench boards carried from H in HOOGE to J. 8. b. 5.2 (near Btn. HQ.) and 100 mats from X roads J. 7. d. 89.13. Enemy counter barrage prevented any more journeys. The Company was complemented by the C.R.E. 7th Divn. who saw them attempting to get through the barrage.
D. Coy: Two platoons on work at Divisonal HQ. erecting Nissen Huts etc.
D. Coy: less two platoons on attachment at OUTERSTEENE on erection of concrete wards at C.C.S.

Casualties: 1 Officer wounded
1 Officer wounded remaining at duty.
5 O.Rs. wounded
6 O.Rs. wounded remaining at duty.
W.T.J.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
Oct. 2nd,
Weather: Fine. Wind: Southerly light

A Coy: on formation of a double track from J. 13. a. 35.35 to J. 14. a. 50.40. 1200x long.
Carried up and laid on the track 400 Trench boards - 800x.
B Coy: on making track and placing and fixing NOTICE BOARDS. Carried 100 boards from HOOGE to J. 9. a. 1.1. Marked out track from HOOGE to J. 9. b. 9.9 etc. just short of the front line. The track is now through to this point. O.C. B Coy. reported that the metalled road on the N. side of POLYGON WOOD is impassable for R.F.A.
C Coy: making Infantry Track. Commenced and finished making Infantry Track 6ft. wide and running from I. 18. b. 0.3 to and joining the CHATEAU WOOD at I.18. b. 4.8.
D Coy: Two platoons carrying up and erecting notice boards WARRINGTON ROAD & ZOUAVE TRACK, 91st Bde., 20th Bde, & 7th Div.

Pioneers and Company joiners made 20 Notice Boards "7" DIV TRACK". 32, 91st Bed., 26, 20 Bde.

D Coy: less two platoons arrived from detachment at OUTERSTEENE

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
2nd Oct.
Casualties: 1 O.R. killed, 3 O.R.S wounded, 3 O.R.S wounded remaining at duty.
W.T.J

Oct. 3rd,
Weather: Some rain. Wind: S. Westerly Fresh.
A & B Coys. + 2 platoons of C. Coy. resting in view of pending operations.
C Coy. 1 Platoon placing Notice & Direction Boards along Infantry track running from about I. 13. b. 24 and joining CHATEAU WOOD ROAD about I. 13. b. 5.8.
D Coy: on formation of 91st Inf. Bde. Track between these points and assisted R.Es. to place trench boards in position.
1 N.C.O. and party of 20 men as loading party at Divisional HQ. all day.
Casualties: 1 O.R. missing believed wounded; 7 O.Rs. wounded; 5 O.Rs. wounded, remaining at duty.

W.T.J.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28

Oct.. 4th,
Weather: Damp since rain. Wind: South Westerly, Gusty.
Night of 3rd/4th October:
1 Platoon on maintenance of 91st Infy. Bge. Track during the time the attacking troops were going up to the position of assembly. (A. Coy.)
1 Platoon on maintenance of 20th Infy. Bde. Track during the time the attacking troops were going up to the position of assembly. (B. Coy.)
After the last Battalion of each Bde. had gone along the tracks respectively these two platoons were withdrawn to the billets in the breastworks on the east side of ZILLEBEKE LAKE which had been taken up by A. Coy. & 1 Platoon of C. Coy. and B. Coy. & 1 Platoon of C. Coy.
A & B Coy. were not required for work by the Bdes. during the morning of the 4th so the two platoons of C. Coy. were withdrawn leaving A & B. Coys. intact. A Coy. attached to 91st Bde. & B. Coy. attached to 20th Bde. and C & D intact for Divisional reserve. After the Divisional Troops had reached their objectives.
C. Coy. on repair maintenance and improvement by reliefs of 4 hours. 1 Platoon per relief.

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D Coy. on repair, maintenance and improvement by reliefs of 4 hours. 1 Platoon per relief.
B. Coy: (under orders of 20th Infy. Bde.) on Forward Tracks. Laid out 20 Infy. Bde. Track from H. 4. c. 5.0 to to J5. Central along the roads passing N.E. corner of POLYGON WOOD along military road to J. 5. c. 1.5. and thence to J. 5. a. 6.2. this road was chosen because (i) Off the road the ground is impassable (ii) 20th Bde. side slipped 200x. to N. in conseuence of being pushed by the 91st Bde. who in turn had been pushed by the 21st Division. The road does not go to Battalion HQ. because they are still at the Butte de POLYGON. Work was carried on under exceptionally severe circumstances. Ground very bad, nearly knee deep in mud.
Track passable for mules.
A Coy. (under orders of 91st Infy. Bde.) were not permitted to go out.
Casualties: 3 O.Rs. killed; 8 O.Rs. wounded.

W.T.J.

Oct. 5th,
Weather: Rain; Wind: Westerly, fairly strong.

1 N.C.O. and 20 O.Rs. of the 113 draft sent as loading party to Div. HQ.
1 Officer and 20 O.Rs. of the 113 draft sent to LA CLYTTE loaded 1340 Mule Track mats ...

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
... on 10 Motor Lorries, guided to HOOGE DUMP and unloaded.
1 N.C.O. and 8 men of new draft of 113 reported to No. 6 Siege Coy. R.M.R.E. yesterday for wire boring at POLYGON BUTT. The N.C.O. returned today and stated that the party never arrived on the job, being caught in enemy barrage. The R.E. Sergt. in charge was badly wounded during last night and that no other person knew the location of the job.
1 Platoon of C. Coy. on maintenance of 20th Infy. Bde. Track to yesterday's assembly position. 6am to 10am 100 Trench boards carried from CHATEAU WOOD to JARGON CORNER and laid. 500x track repaired.
C Coy: on formation and laying mats on a new mule track. The Company worked by Reliefs. 1 Platoon at a time, 4 hours each. Carried mule track mats from HOOGE DUMP to track at J. 8. c. 0.4. Formation & 109x of double track laid.
D Coy: on maintenance and improvement of 91st Infy. Bde. track. Worked by reliefs. 356 Trench boards carried and laid along the track. The track is now passable and trench boarded from the MENIN ROAD to beyond GLENCORSE WOOD.
joined up to A Coy. working on forward track.

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[transcriber's note : No. 6 Siege Coy. R.M.R.E., is the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers ]

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
A Coy: (under 91st Infy. Bde.) on maintenance and improvement by reliefs of 91st Infy. Bde. track forward from D Coy.
348 trench mats laid along track. These boards carried from HOOGE DUMP, also bridged NONNE BOSSCHEN VALLEY.
B Coy: (under 20th Infy. Bde.) No work for them.
A & B Coys. were released from attachment from the 91st and 20th Infy. Bdes. respectively. They return to the Battalion for work orders but are remaining on detachment at ZILLEBEKE LAKE.

Extract from Battalion Orders:
Message of Appreciation : The G.O.C. 7th Division wished it to be known how very greatly he appreciates the admirable manner in which all ranks in the Battalion have accomplished their arduous work in the sector during the last fortnight. The above appreciation is to be made known to all ranks of the Battalion.

Casualties: 1 O.R. killed; 1 O.R. wounded; 3 O.Rs. missing believed wounded. These casualties reported today occurred yesterday in addition to those enumerated under date 4/10/17.
WTJ

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28

6th Oct.
Weather: Damp and cold. Wind: Variable gusty
NEW GLENCORSE WOOD TRACK One company worked on formation, moved a dump and laid 40x - 50x of boards. (C Coy).
MULE TRACK Making mule track J. 7. d. 8.2 - J. 8. c. 2.3. Relaid 100x of track and continued track for another 250x. Carried up 250 Mule Track Mats. Track is now complete. from about J. 7. d. 8.2 to J. 8. c. 2.3. Carrying party stopped for 30 mins. owing to heavy barrage 10:45 - 11:15 (D Coy).
Div. HQ. 1 N.C.O., 20 O.Rs. reported at Div. HQ. for loading.
91st Infy. Bde. Track Carried up 34 bundles of Facines and 230 Trench Mats and got the track nearly up to POLYGON VELT (A Coy).
Casualties : 3 O.Rs. killed; 5 O.Rs. wounded.
W.T.J.

7th Oct.
Weather: Wet; Wind: Westerly strong.
Div. HQ. Loading Party 1 N.C.O. & 20 O.Rs..
J. 13. a. 50.85. One officer, 26 O.Rs. and 4 Machine Guns LEWIS. Protection of 7th...

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... Divisional Artillery against hostile aircraft since 3rd October 1917.
LA CLYTTE DUMP to I. 12. c. WESTHOEK Road : Loading 4 G.S. Waggons with Facines and carted same. The waggons are unable to proceed further than WESTHOEK Road.
91st Infy. Bde. Track: Maintenance and improvement of track. 104 trench boards carried up from HOOGE DUMP and laid on track at about 200x from NONNE BOSSCHEN J. 9. c. 1.4. A few were laid in GLENCORSE WOOD. 25 Facines were carried up from MENIN ROAD at J. 8. c. 5.1. Party delayed by shell fire 11:00 - 11:30am.
MULE TRACK : Carried from HOOGE DUMP to job at J. 8. c. 8.6. Mule track boards. Laid these from that point for 62x (double) to J. 8. d. 1.7. 54 of this party was unable to get any more boards up because of hostile shelling of CHATEAU WOOD TRACK from 9:50am to 10:05am. & 10:15am until party was withdrawn.
2nd Relief carried 150 Track boards from HOOGE DUMP to job at J. 8. c. 8.6. No boards were laid because of shelling until the party left at 4:15pm. Hours worked 4.
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
8th Oct.
Wind: Westerly; Weather: wet.
Div. Hq.: Loading Party. 1 N.C.O. & 20 O.Rs..
LA CLYTTE DUMP to WESTHOEK RD. Loaded 4 G.S. waggons with 100 Fascines and carted same..
J. 13. a. 50.85 1 Officer, 26 O.Rs..and 4 Lewis Guns protection of 7th Div. Artillery against hostile aircraft.
Mule Track Formation and slabbing. Carried up 188 Mule track mats to track at J. 8. b. Also carried 54 mats from MENIN ROAD to CHATEAU WOOD. Laid 140x of track to J. 5. a. 0.5.
GLENCORSE WAY TRACK Slabbing and formation 80x slabbing completed on Track J. 14. c. 5.5. 2nd Party worked the whole time on the formation. Shelling intermittent throughout the whole day. Party shelled off 3 times.
Casualties: 1 O.R. wounded.
W.T.J.

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Top of page

WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_4
9th OCTOBER 1917 - 14th OCTOBER 1917

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
9th Oct.
Wind: S. Westerly. Weather: Wet.
Div. HQ. Loading Party 1 N.C.O. & 20 O.Rs..
LA CLYTTE DUMP. Loaded 4 G.S. waggons with Fascines. The waggons were retained in transport lines loaded ready to take up early on the 10th.
J. 13. a. 50.85 1 Officer, 26 O.Rs.. & 4 Lewis Guns protection of 7th Div. Artillery against hostile aircraft.
CHATEAU ROAD - MENIN ROAD JUNCTION: 1sr Relief A Coy. repaired CHATEAU ROAD & HOOGE Division at I. 8. c. 9.6 and built piers to carry road across the corner. 20x of track (slab) made on MENIN ROAD (I. 18. a. 9.6) towards HOOGE CRATER.
2nd Relief carried 200 slabs from BIRR X Road to the job. Laid 55x of slab road from I 18. b. 8.5 to about I. 18. b. 9.5 (C Coy.)
HOOGE DEVIATION B Coy. 1st Relief 200 slabs carried from various points between HOOGE CRATER and BIRR X roads.
I. 19. b. 2.8. and turning point at I. 18. a. 95.58. completed. 40x ...

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
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... slab track completed along N. side MENIN ROAD from turning point to Ambulance Car stand against HOOGE CRATER.
2nd Relief D Coy. carried 200 road slabs from BIRR X ROADS to HOOGE DIVERSION. (These slabs were laid by the 95th Co. R.E.)
Casualties : Nil
W.T.J.

10th Oct.
Div. HQ. Loading Party. 1 N.C.O. and 20 O.RS..
LA CLYTTE DUMP : Loaded 130 mule track mats on 4 G.S. Waggons. Waggons were taken to transport lines and retained there until tomorrow.
A Coy: Repaired track and laid 60^x new slab tracks at HOOGE (I. 18. a. 9.6) also carried up slabs from BIRR X ROADS (3 Platoons)
1 Platoon made a Gun track for 25th Battery R.F.A. 200^x long at J. 7. d. 05.35.
C Coy. on Mule Track 60^x of track laid using a large number of Facines. Relaid 40x of track which had been damaged by shell fire. Carried Facines from WESTHOEK near BIRR X ROADS also track boards from HOOGE DUMP to the job.
D Coy. 49 slabs were carried up from HOOGE DUMP & BIRR X ROADS to GLENCORSE ...

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
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... WAY ROAD at J. 14. a. 9.7. 115 feet of roadway laid from this point forward. Parties also making formation.
B Coy. in reserves for providing small loading parties etc.
B Coy. later in the day. taped 91st Infy. Bde. Track towards front line from the end of the Trench boards to the BUTTE de POLYGON.
B Coy. provided 1 Officer, 6 N.C.O. & 20 men to be under orders from A.P.M. 7th Div. for Picquets & guiding relieving Brigades.
Casualties : Nil
W.T.J.

11th Oct.
Wind N. Westerly. Weather: Some rain.
A Coy. Carried two loads, 107 planks from BIRR X RO.ADS ro GLENCORSE WAY TRACK.
B Coy. Constructed Gun Track & extricating the 105 Battery R.F.A. (18 Pdrs.) and a 4.5 How. Battery. As the 20 men detailed were insufficient for the job the O/C Company put all available men on the job and took them off carrying.
D Coy. Carried 110 slabs from BIRR X ROADS to GLENCORSE WAY TRACK.
C Coy. resting in Camp & as Divisional reseves.
Casualties: Nil
W.T.J.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
11th Oct.
The Battalion moved camp to across the way as per Instructions from X Area Commandant. The present camp now in IX Corps. Area and the latter objected to the Bn. being in their area whilst working for X corps.
Old Camp map reference N. 5. a. 3.6.
New Camp map reference N. 10. b. 9.6.

12th Oct.
Wind: Westerly, light; Weather: Rain.
The Battalion given a day off to make a camp as the place allocated yesterday is in a bare field.
C Coy. who rested yesterday. 3 Platoons carrying slabs. 70 carried from HOOGE DUMP to GLENCORSE WAY TRACK.
C Coy: One platoon on formation and slabbing in two places a track to extricate R.F.A. Battery; length of track 150^x at J. 7. c. 8.4.
1 Officeer, 2 N.C.Os. & 30 O.Rs. loading party. Waited at LA CLYTTE DUMP from 7am until 1:30pm for lorries from X corps. Lorries did not turn up so party withdrawn.
Casualties: Nil.
W.T.J.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
13th Oct.
Wind: Westerly, light; Weather : rain.
A Coy carried 104 slabs on to GLENCORSE WAY. 83 of the above slabs were taken away by the 106 Battery R.F.A.
1 Officer & 25 O.Rs. reported to 106 Battery R.F.A. Made a slab road from GLECORSE WAY to the Battery.
B Coy. carried from BIRR X Roads to GLENCORSE WAY ROAD 72 slabs.
Provided Guides for 6th Bn. Leicesters to take them to GLENCORSE WAY Road.
1 Officer, 3 N.C.Os. and 40 O.R.s. loading party at LA CLYTTE DUMP, guiding lorries to BIRR X Roads and unloading.
W.T.J.

14th Oct.
Wind : Westerly, light. Weather: Rain.
B Coy. on GLENCORSE WAY ROAD carried 85 slabs from BIRR X ROADS to J. 14. b. 0.9.
C Coy. on GLENCORSE WAY ROAD carried 82 slabs from HOOGE DUMP to GLENCORSE WAY ROAD.
D Coy. on GLENCORSE WAY ROAD carried 96 slabs from HOOGE DUMP to GLENCORSE WAY ROAD.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
LA CLYTTE Loading party: loaded 29 waggons at LA CLYTTE as under:
24 waggons with slabs 40 each (960)
5 waggons with half logs 40 each (200)
960 + 200 + 1160.
1 Officer, 2 N.C.OS., & 40 Privates.
Unloaded at I. 18. a. 40.65.
No. 6 SIEGE Co. R.M.R.E. : 1 N.C.O. & 10 men guiding and unloading waggons. 6 waggons. guided from Siege Co, Camp to BIRR X Roads; slabs unloaded. G.S. waggons guided to LA CLYTTE, unloaded and returned to Siege Co. Camp ready for the morning of the 15th.

Copy Correspondence

Headquarters (Headquarters, 4657 A , 7th Division)
Second Army
113 Other ranks have this day been placed under orders for the 24th (Pioneer) Battalion Regiment, 7th Division, X Corps.
These men are ex R.E. who have been specially transferred to Infantry Pioneer Battalions.
On their arrival an equal number of men now serving with the ...

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... Battalion due to be posted and sent as follows:
50 to 2/7 Manchester Regiment 66th Division 2nd ANZAC CORPS.
63 to 2/5 Manchester Regiment 66th Division 2nd ANZAC CORPS.
Nominal rolls of men dispatched under the orders should accompany them, copies being sent to this office.
G.H.Q. 3rd [?]ch.
26:9:17
(sd) C. Mansell Jones, Lt. Col. A.A.G. for Major General.

(2)

Headquarters
X Corps
For Information
26:9:17
(sd) Mansell Jones, Lt. Col. A.A.G. for Major General.Deputy Adj. Genl.

7th Division
X Corps. No. 28/91A
For information and necessary action.
28:9:17
(sd) F. Tyrwhitt[?] Major, D.A.A.G. X Corps.

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MAP : BELGIUM & FRANCE SHEET 28
14th Oct.
24th Manchester Regt.
For Information
Please arrange despatch of the 113 men to the Division Railhead, and render copy of nominal roll through this office.
29:9:17
A.L.W. Chichester, Major
D.A.A.G. 7th Division

Headquarters 4657A 7th Division
Headquarters,
2nd Army
265 Other Ranks have this day been placed under orders for the 24 (Pioneer) Battalion, Manchester Regtiment. 7th Division X Corps.
These men are ex R.E. who have been specially transferred to Infantry Pioneer Battalions.
On their arrival an equal number of men serving with the Battalion are to be posted and sent as follows: -
50 to the 20th Battalion Manchester Regt. 7th Division X Corps.

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50 to the 21st Battalion Manchester Regt. 7th Division X Corps.
40 to the 22nd Battalion Manchester Regt. 7th Division X Corps.
60 to the 18th Battalion Manchester Regt. 30th Division VIII Corps.
65 to the 19th Battalion Manchester Regt. 30th Division X Corps.
Nominal Rolls of men despatched under the orders should accompany their copies being sent to this office.
2/10/17
Major General
Deputy Adjutant General

Headquarters 7th Division
For Information
(sd) C. Mansell Jones, Lt. Col. for Major General
Deputy Adjutant General
3rd Ech. 2/10/17
24th Manchesters Information and action.
Copy of nominal rolls to be forwarded to the officer and departure reported.
A.L.W. Chichester,Major
D.A.A.G. 7th Division

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Headquarters
7th Division
Reference your 4657/A of 29:9:17 and 4657A of 4:10:17 and copies of D.A.G's instructions contained thereon.
I desire to point out that the carrying out of these instructions will mean the complete destruction of the Battalion under my command for the following reasons: -
The instructions are to send away, to seven different units, belonging to three different Divisions, 378 of the men at present serving with my Battalion. This draft, together with the 80 casualties which have occurred since the unit came into the line here would exhaust the whole of the working strength of the Battalion, leaving only a number of Senior N.C.Os. the Transport section and the specialists.
The 378 men I am instructed to take are all wholly untrained and undisciplined and their physical standard is low. None have seen war service. They are apparently, low category men who have been kept at home to do ordinary civilian work in the Army. They do not possess the rudiments of a unit, any ...

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... training, have had no musketry instruction, and scarcely know how to salute. They are called 'Sappers' but certainly have no right to the name. I state this of my own knowledge, having personally examined 113 men of the draft who have been sent on to me. The behaviour of these men under fire has been tested and was found to be very unsatisfactory.
I need scarcely lay stress on the very different nature of the work which the Pioneers of the 7th Division are being called upon to do, at the present time. It is work that demands the very highest form of discipline and of physical fitness. These qualities, the Battalion under my Command has shown itself to possess. But if the old men are drafted out and the new ones taken in, the standard of the unit would be reduced to that of a training Battalion at home. To put it quite bluntly I could not guarantee to do the work we are doing with such a battalion.
I would draw your attention to the fact that the excellent esprit de corps at present existing in the Battalion and the satisfactory way in which it has hitherto answered all the calls made upon it, are mainly due the the constitution ...

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30th September to
14th October 1917