WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Vol 1 Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices Confidential

WAR DIARY

Of

¼ BN OXFORDSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LT. INFANTRY

From 1st April 1915 to 30th April 1915

Volume I

P 1

A5834 Wt. W4973/M687 750,000 8/16 D. D. & L Ltd. Forms/C.2118/13 WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices April 1st Fine. Companies at disposal of Company Commanders. Gun musketry and Bayonet Reference Map 1915 fighting. 5A April 2nd Battalion as part of Brigade inspected by Sir H. SMITH-DORRIEN. 1/100,000 (Belgium) April 3rd Orders received that the Brigade would move Sunday April 4th to billet in the vicinity of FLETRE and MERRIS

Two supply wagons with horses and Drivers, 2 waggon men, a Corporal attached to A.S.L S.M.D. Train.

Fine all day. Wet night.

April 4th Marched off at 1.40 pm. Followed 5th Gloucester's, via , CAESTRE, FLETRE and billeted in farms round MOOLENACKER. Distance 8 miles, arrived about 4.45 pm.

Received Brigade instructions as to Billeting and other points to be noted.

MOOLENACKER April 5th Wet morning – and became worse – Coy's had inspection then marched to band.

April 6th Orders received that Brigade would move tomorrow and billet East of BAILLEUL. Fine morning, Company training. Continued training 2nd Machine Gun Section and range finders.

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices MOOLENACKER April 7th Fine morning, strong wind. No 2733 Pte WEST and 2736 Pte TURNER attached to HQ South Midland Division for duty.

Paraded at 2 pm. joined Brigade at cross roads 1 mile West of BAILLEUL. Marched via BAILLEUL to 1 mile short of . The Battalion was met by Staff Capt. 11th Inf. Brigade and to billets at OOSTHOVE FARM. Sheet 36 section B BELGIUM – Ref BELGIUM 1/40,000 The Billets very crowded. & FRANCE (Series B) 36 Stormy and cold. Got to billets about 7pm.

The Battalion is to be attached to EAST LANCASHIRE Regt. and LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE for instruction in trench work.

Officers of each battalion came and gave instructions for work for next 4 days.

OOSTHOVE April 8th Squally and heavy showers with some sleet. FARM A Coy on fatigue in PLOEGSTEERT WOOD at 8.15am. Remaining Companies under instruction in the morning. A Coy went into trenches attached to EAST LANCASHIRE Regt.

D Coy night work in PLOEGSTEERT WOOD. M.G. Section went into Trenches and a few shells fell near the Battalion Billets. Became fine and cold. No important orders received.

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices OOSTHOVE April 9th Fine morning. Nothing happened during the night. FARM D Coy afternoon fatigue in the wood. Paraded at 11.45am. Came on very heavy rain & thunderstorm. Cleaned up.

B Coy relieved A Coy in trenches.

April 10th Instruction continued. C & D Coy's went into trenches 1/2 to work with the LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE. Fine. No operation orders received, a few shells about 500 yards away.

April 11th Instruction continued. Orders received that the Brigade would move tomorrow. Very fine day. Several aeroplanes about.

1 man C Coy killed in trenches.

April 12th Paraded at 8.45am to march to new billets. Brigade starting point E of RABOT. 7 men sent home to take up Marched via station and STEENWERCK. Billets round cross roads 1 commissions in mile S of BAILLEUL Station. Rather hot march. new army. Sgt Robinson. Corp Hole, Corp Billets handy. Companies all together. Fine Bartlet. Ptes Benson, Hodkinson, Bayley and McIlroy

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices Billets 1 mile S. of April 13th Companies under Company Commanders. Two Officers per Company and two Sergeants No 2882 Pte BAILLEUL from Battalion went to instruction in bomb throwing. Capt. HADDON had his hand cut White D Coy Station with telephone wire on top of bus returning from this. to Hospital poisoned hand. Fine and warm. April 14th Wet morning, cleared off and became fine. Companies under Company Commanders. Instructions in bomb throwing continued. Orders received that Brigade would take over trenches of 11th Inf. Brigade. The Battalion to be in Reserve at NIEPPE and to be there at 5 pm. Reference Map April 15th Marched via STEENWERCK to NIEPPE and billeted in that place and PONT Du BELGIUM NIEPPE, transport near ROMARIN. Fine. Sheet 28 1/40000 NIEPPE April 16th Major OVEY and 1 Officer and two NCO's per Company attached to ARGYLE and Capt. SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS to get acquainted with trenches and act as guides. HADDON and 3 Men to Hospital. April 17th Marched to ROMARIN arrived at 10.30 am. Marched on to PIGGERY, T24d Sheet 28 One man to 1/40000. Hospital.

Two Platoons at 6 pm. took trench held by 5th Gloucester's.

PROWSE POINT A & B Companies at 7.30 pm. left HYDE PARK Corner and took over trenches of 7th 28 SW4 Section ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS on left of 5th Gloucester's. The left PLOEGSTEERT section of South Midland Inf. Bde. 1:10000

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices PROWSE POINT April 17th The G.O.C. South Midland Division resumes Command of Division at 12 Midnight. The Trench Map Section (Contd.) Division holding line from RIVER WARNAVE to MESSINES – WULVERGHEM road. Attached The GLOUCESTER & WORCESTER Brigade right section. The trenches were taken on by 9.17 pm.

The Battalion took over two Machine Guns from Royal BERKS.

April 18th The section held by the Battalion named PROWSE POINT Section. Nothing happened. One man to Hospital. Orders received that Battalion would be relieved by Royal BERKS tomorrow and take over Support from that held by BUCKS Battalion.

Work done, improved Communications trenches and, making man “Dug Outs”. A little sniping. Fine and warm.

April 19th Nothing to report. Work continued during night, as last night.

Relieved by 4th ROYAL BERKS. Battalion moved to Support, have 2 Companies in huts PLUGSTEERT at HUNTERSTON, 2 Companies in PLUGSTEERT. The Companies in trenches relieved at about 8.30 pm. Nearly whole Battalion on fatigues at night.

April 20th Battalion on fatigues most of day and whole Battalion at night. Warm and fine. 2 Men to Hospital Capt. HADDON returns

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices PLUGSTEERT April 21st Fine day. Fatigues by day on second line, by night on front line.

April 22nd The same.

April 23rd The Battalion relieved 4th Royal BERKS in PROWSE POINT SECTION of trenches. B Coy – OXFORD Trench, D Coy – ARGYLL and SUTHERLAND Trenches, Lt PICKFORDS Platoon of C Coy in BERKSHIRE trench, 2/Lt CRAIGS Platoon of C Coy in Support in PARK AVENUE “Dug Outs”.

PROWSE POINT April 23rd A Coy and Headquarters at PIGGERY. 2 Platoons C Coy – GRANDE MANQUE FARM. Section Nothing to record. Very windy and dusty.

April 24th All quiet, usual working parties. 2/Lt. EDMUNDS Platoon, took over huts and “Dug Outs” just S of PROWSE POINT from GLOSTER REGT, not room for whole Platoon. Commander went into BERKSHIRE Trench.

Informed hence with that Lt. Col. F.W. SCHOFIELD had been appointed O.C. No 8 Infantry Depot at HAVRE. Major R.L. OVEY assumed Command of Battalion.

April 25th Lt. Col. SCHOFIELD left. All quiet.

The section was extended on the RIGHT and 4th Platoon of C Coy took over new trench known as GROUSE BUTT. Nothing to report.

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices PROWSE POINT April 26th Information received that enemy may have been relieved by fresh Corps. Nothing to send. Section April 27th Bat. relieved by ROYAL BERKS and move to ROMARIN to billet and most companies in ROMARIN trenches relieved by 9 pm. One man B Coy killed in OXFORD TRENCH. Information received at 10.30 pm. that line held by Brigade had been redistributed, and Bat. was to take over line held by 8th WORCESTER REGT from right of BUCKS Bat. to GERMAN HOUSE. With 2 Companies holding this line. One Company at HUNTERSTON SOUTH and one Company in PLUGSTEERT

ROMARIN April 28th Bat. took over trenches of area as before at 1 pm., with A & C Coy's. Headquarters at RIFLE HOUSE. D Coy in huts at HULVERSTON SOUTH. B Coy in PLUGSTEERT. PLUGSTEERT WOOD The Brigade area was thus divided in to 3 Sections. Right Section – BIRDCAGE Section, Centre Section – St IVES Section, Left Section – PROWSE POINT Section.

Very hot day. Men very tired.

PLUGSTEERT April 29th Nothing to report. 2 men Wounded, one by pieces of glass from a broken periscope. The WOOD line forms a sort of Horse Shoe ride. Map 1 MAP No 1 PLUGSTEERT WOOD

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top WAR DIARY Army Form C. 2118 Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence or Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs, Part II, And the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Will be prepared in manuscript. (Erase heading not required)

Remarks and Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices PLUGSTEERT April 30th A good many shells, about 30 fell near Bat. Headquarters. No damage done. Nothing WOOD occurred during night.

Battalion strength:- Officers – 29, Other Ranks – 966.

Total Casualties for April:- Other Ranks Killed – 1, Wounded - 3

11th 2610 Pte J H R WHITE Killed 19th 3222 Pte. GEORGE Wounded 27th 3107 Pte. STRONG Killed 29th 1772 Pte. GRANT Wounded “ 2441 Pte. WATSON Wounded

R. L. Ovey Major Commanding 1/4th Oxf. & Bucks Lght Inft.

1247 W3299 200,000 (E) 8/14 J.B.C. & A. Forms/C.2118/11 Top Map 1

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