12th September 1915 - 13 days to go before battle

 12th September 1915 (Sun)- 9th RWF War Diary

13 days to go before the Battle of Loos

• Nothing of interest to record

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

• A quite day and nothing of interest tro record.

Casualties

1 Killed 1 wounded 9 Cheshire

Movement

• None

Comments

• Sam and his mates are away from the trenches and on working parties until the 19th of Sept.

It must have been something like this (this is not Sam's battalion)  

11th September 1915 - 14 days to go before battle

 11th September 1915 (Sat)- 9th RWF War Diary

14 days to go before the Battle of Loos

• a hostile aeroplane was brought down to our left 

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

• Our machine guns opened fire on CRATER during the night to keep down enemy - working working parties(?)
• Every trench mortar was silenced by our artillery between 0900 - 0945 at s.27 C9.2
• A german aeroplane was brought down to our left. It fell within german lines and was destroyed by our artillery left
• IND 1.B was bombard by trench mortar between 0830 - 1000 - Slight damage to parapets(?)
• Relieved by the 9th Cheshire's. 

Casualties

2 welsh wounded

1 Wilts  wounded

Movement

• 9th RWF  IN BRIGADE RESERVE AT ESTAMINET CORNER

Comments

• Sam is now in a rest area but not very far back from the front line.
• The bombardment seems to be increasing and now very little rest from it
• The plane shot down clearly caused some excitement

 10th September 1915 (Fri)- 9th RWF War Diary

• Artillery and machine-gun active on both sides. 
• Relieved by the 9th Cheshire's. 
• Relief complete by 10:30pm

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

• Artillery and machine-gun active on both sides. 
• Artillery causing  damage to enemy's parapet opposite IND3A and C
• Relieved by the 9th Cheshire's. 

Casualties

9th RWF - 1 wounded

6th Wilts - 4 wounded

Movement

• 9th RWF relieved by the 9th Cheshire's.  in IND 1 B
• 
  

 9th September 1915 (Thu)- 9th RWF War Diary

Desultory sniping & some shell fire. 

Work continued and good progress made. 

1 wounded

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

Desultory sniping & some shell fire. 

Work continued and good progress made. 

Casualties

9th Cheshire  - 1 wounded

9th RWF - 1 wounded

9th Welsh - 3 wounded

6th Wilts - 5 wounded

Rob's Comment

None

8th Sept 1915 wed

9th RWF War Diary for the 8th September 1915

Nothing to record - work continued as before - all ranks working exceptional well and hard.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

Nothing to record - Work continued as before. All ranks working exceptionally hard

Casualties

Lt H G Durtnell - 9th Welsh Wounded

1 man , 9th Welsh Killed

Comment

1. Seems to be a quite day !! 
2. Note that only officers were mentioned by name if wounded or killed. Ranks were unlikely to be mentioned by name 
3. The map below give a general indication of where the 9th Royal Welsh were 

This is a photo taken in 2007 of the area above. No trace of the carnage which occurred here

7th September 1915 (Tue)- 9th RWF War Diary

 7th September 1915 (Tue)- 9th RWF War Diary

1. Enemy working hard at the end of the old German trench running from Barnton Road to their line. 
2. 2 wounded

58th Brigade Entry for the same day

1. Our trench mortars fired on enemy parapet with some effect.
2. Sandbags and stakes being thrown up.
3. Enemy reported working hard at there end of the end of old German trench  running from BARTON ROAD to there line.
4. Patrols during the night brought back some valuable information about ditches in front of our line
5. Casualties - 2 RWF wounded, 1 Welsh Wounded 

Comments

This is now a very dangerous place to be all types of action is going on. 

6th Sept 1915 (monday)

9th RWF Entry for Monday the 6th Sept

1 man killed

58th Brigade Entry for the same day

• Our Trench Mortar in IND 1 E fired a few rounds for ranging purposes with good effect. Enemy retaliated with rifle grenades.

• IND 1 A supported  ????? at junction of Grenadier Road  and fife trench? 
• Work continued as before
• Casualties - 1 man RWF Killed, 2 from Wilshire wounded.  

Comment -

This was the only comment made - It does not mention who he is or how he was killed. More than likely he was killed by the retaliation rifle grenades 

The record show he was 

The soldier was Pte William John Roberts 13640, aged 23.

Son of Edward and Ann Roberts, of Broad Oak Farm, Northop, Flints. Native of Bagillt, Flints.

5th of Sept 1915 (Sunday)

Entry for 5th Sept 1915 (Sunday) - Festubert

Work continued on dug-outs and communications trench

Comments 

On the 4th sept 1915 there was heavy rain  so this would have been hard work - Muddy and wet

In addition they would be seen by the germans and being shot at.

Entry for 5th Sept 1915 Brigade Headquarters  

1. Left company of IND 1 C , came under the fringe of a bomb attach on the orchard, salient (this is an area sticking out of the main trench in IND 2) but no damage was done.
2. 9th Welsh Regiment(not Sams regiment) relived the 9th Cheshire regiment in IND 1A on the night of 4th/5th.
3. Relive completed (?)
4. 01:30 Very bad weather  working continuing on Rothesay Bay communication trench and dugouts (Sams area)
5. Aeroplane on both sides action during the afternoon
6. Casulties 2 men - 6th Wiltshire Regiment wounded.