Tuesday, 22 September 2015

21st Sept 1915 Tue (3 days to go go before battle)

21st September 1915 (Tue) - 9th RWF War Diary

  • Our artillery very active.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day

  • Artillery bombardment begins at 5.00 AM and continued throughout the day. Good deal of wire was reported as a cat and our machine guns and rifles fired at intervals throughout the night and prevented the enemy from carrying out any repairs. 
  •  The enemy made very little reply two our bombardment. 

Casualties

  • Four men wounded of the nine. (9th Welch)

Movement

  • None

Comments


  • Clearly the germans are being softened up by the bombardment or so it was believed
  • Much focus on ensuring that barbed wire was destroyed but as we will see later this was not the case which had terrible results
ORDERS FOR THE BATTLE


  • The men are now aware of the impending battle to come. The noise would be deafening and they would have little sleep.
  • There are 100 Royal Welsh assigned to the battle and the have been given there position.

DRESS

Equipment and how worn.
Blanket rolled 16 inch wide with two straps and buckles on to the big buckle of braces on shoulders. The end of forward should be next to body.
Haversack. containing iron ration, Completed in its bag also second iron ration, one pair of socks, knife, fork and spoon, towel and soap, fastened to buckle by buckles of brace's underneath the blanket. Two buckles on top of haversack To be drawn under flag up by a piece of string. Waterproof sheet folded same width as a the haversack . 
mess tins which should have food as well, and by jammed with paper to prevent rustling, if necessary, fastened to bolt and haversack with valise Straps on the bolt, through mess tin handle on the two lower buckles at the bottom of the haversack. 
Drinking mug to be carried on fastening strap of water bottle.
Smoke helmet to hang over her left shoulder resting just above water bottle.
One bandolier to be carried slung on each shoulder. 
Water bottle, entrenching implement, bayonet and scabbard as usual.

Image of dress code 











20th Sept 1915 (Monday) 5 DAYS BEFORE THE BATTLE

20th September 1915 (Mon)- 9th RWF War Diary


  • The 9th R. W. Fus. Moved into IND I (b) occupying the trenches from Barton Road to Fife Road.
  • The 9th Welsh on our right, and the 9th Cheshire's and the 6th Wilts being in Brigade Reserve.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • In view of forthcoming operations, 56 Bde took over IND.1C subsection and portion of IND.1B (as far as BARTON ROAD)
  • 9 RW Fusiliers moved into IND.1B, occupying from BARTON ROAD to FIFE ROAD.
  • 9th Welsh took over occupying from BATON ROAD to GRENADIER ROAD
  • 9th Cheshire moved back to intermediate line
  • 6th Wilts moved to NORTHERN Point(?)
  • The relief was carried out without a hitch
  • conference of Commanding Officers was needed for there attention when the PLAN for the forthcoming operation was explained and discussed 
  • The instructions were finally prepared that night and to be ..... early on the 21th













Casualties


  • Nothing recorded

Movement
  • See above
Comments

  • Things are starting to move along a pace now and the battalions are moved into position for the action in 5 days time

Friday, 18 September 2015

17th to 19th September 1915 (Fri - Sun) 6 DAYS BEFORE BATTLE

17 to19th September 1915 (Fri - Sun)- 9th RWF War Diary


  • Employed occasionally in working parties.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • Nothing of Tactical interest to record
  • There was a certain amount of shelling on both sides and trench mortars very active from enemy lines
  • Good deal of work on his lines(?)

Casualties


  • 3 Killed
  • 10 wounded

Movement
  • None
Comments

  • None

Image


I found this image of the 9th RW Fusiliers leaving for France 19th July 1915. Sam would be in this picture!!!

16th Sept 1915 - 9 days before battle

 16 and 17th September 1915 (Wed - Thu)- 9th RWF War Diary


  • Employed occasionally in working parties.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • Nothing to record

Casualties


  • No recorded

Movement
  • None
Comments

  • None

Images of recruitment 













Tuesday, 15 September 2015

15th September 1915 - 10 days to go before battle

 15th September 1915 (Tue)- 9th RWF War Diary


10 days to go before the Battle of Loos

  • Employed occasionally in working parties.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • Enemy quite on the whole
  • 9 RW Fusiliers relieved by Wilts in IND.1.C
  • Relive completed by 9:10PM

Casualties


1 RW Fusilier, 3 Welch wounded

Movement
  • As above 
Comments

  • Quite

14th September 1915 - 11 days to go before battle

 14th September 1915 (Tue)- 9th RWF War Diary


11 days to go before the Battle of Loos

  • Employed occasionally in working parties.

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • Enemy shelling on our Front at A3 and 5D also  XXXXX of LEES KEEP 
  • He also opened MG (machine gun) and rifle fire against IND 1A and shrapnel about A.3.C.3.7
  • About 9:40pm prevouse veneing on XXXX at A3C3.2 fired at and KILLED a patrol of 4 Germans.
  • Belonged to 57th Regiment which has been in our front line for some time 
  • at 2am everything opened!, Rifle MG and shrapnel fire against IND.1.C 
  • Was Silenced by our artillery

Casualties


Lieut C F King - 9th cheshire, 1 man killed 9th Cheshire

Movement
  • None
Comments

  • A Very lively day and night!

Examples of what the shelling was like and what Sam would have seen







13th September 1915 - 12 days to go before battle

 13th September 1915 (Mon)- 9th RWF War Diary


12 days to go before the Battle of Loos

  • Employed occasionally in working parties. 1 man wounded..

58th Brigade Head Quarters entry for the same day


  • Another quite day
  • Working parties active during the night. - Opposite IND 1B
  • A shift is believed to have taken place (?)

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.

    Some examples of what Sam would have have seen around the area.