October 1917

Menin Road
1st During night Sept 30th - Oct 1st front line garrison was increased by 3 sections & wire was repaired. 5 am to 6 am heavy enemy shelling: our protective barrage opened at 5.15 am. S.O.S. went up on our left at 6am but no infantry action followed on our front. Heavily shelled about 12.30 pm especially round Batt H.Q. Enemy aeroplanes active all day flying low and firing : fire was opened from the ground but without effect. 6.30 pm enemy bombarded & at 7 pm was seen massing: the artillery put down the barrage promptly in reply to our S.O.S. & quashed the attack; after this, the night was quiet.
2nd Protective barrage at dawn. Intermittent shelling during the day. Relieved by 1st R. West Kents. Relief complete 11.45 pm.
Casualties during tour killed 1 officer 3 O.R. Wounded 3 officers 22 O.R.s: Missing 3 O.R.s

3rd Battalion moved to METEREN area by bus, embussing at 2 pm and arriving in billets by 6 pm.
METEREN
4th - 8th Kit, clothing, box respirator, rifle inspections etc. Specialists carried out training under their own officers.

5th The Commanding Officer inspected the Bn. on the 5th inst.
2nd Lt D H WEBBE was transfered to England & struck off the strength. Capt C Palmer ordered a Medical Board and also struck off (Authy A G No D/1981)
7th The Bn attended a Brigade Church Parade. Winter time was adopted on this date.
8th All officers attended a Lecture by the A.D.M.S. in the Y.M.C.A. hut at METEREN.
A.D.M.S. stands for Assistant Director of Medical Services. Thank you Paul & Tim
9th Two companies fired on No. 2 Range whilst the other 2 companies carried out Musketry and Physical training and Bayonet Fighting. A class for Junior N.C.Os under the RSM was held during the morning. At 4 pm the Bn embussed for RIDGE WOOD arriving there at 7 pm and bivouacking for the night.
10th At 2pm the Bn moved to the front line and relieved the 11th Bn W. Yorks.
11 to 14 Casualties Capt. S. Riddell killed 2Lts A. J. Walters & R Coyles wounded 12 O.R. killed 77 OR wounded 4 OR missing believed killed. Night of 14th to MICMAC camp.
(Around 10% of the Battalion killed or wounded in 3 days.)

Major Gylls A.R. wounded to England 1-10-17. 2Lt A Barber ditto 2-10-17. 2Lt H G Smith ditto 29-9-17 2Lt J.E. Hall ditto 25-9-17
15 & 16 MICMAC CAMP. cleaning up: C.Os inspection. 2Lt A J Walker died of wounds 16th: Capt S. W. Wicks hosp? sick 16th.
17 Relieved 11 W Yorks in reserve Zillebeke Bund about5.30 pm
18 Batt moved to line and relieved 8 KOYLI. 2 Lt Wheliker to England.
20 Btt relieved by 11 W Yorks. Batt H.Q. B & D Coys to BUND: A Coy relieved Coy of 11 W Y nr J 11 a & became support coy to 8 York: C Coy to bout J s c in support to 11 W Y. Total casualties for tour 4 O.R. killed, 20 O.R. wounded.
21 To Brewery Camp.
22 Cleaning up 2Lt H Park to Eng wnd. 22-10-17
23 Batt less A & C Coys (Harry is in C Coy) entrained at Dickebush Stn for Wozerines - on detraining to billets in Esquerides area: arrived 5.30 pm. H. Q. in Leulise: B & D coys in Audenthun.
24 Cleaning up: A & C Coys rejoined: C. O's inspection. 2Lts N S Wilson & RCM Douthwaite joined batt 18.10.17 : 2LtH Hyes reoined 25.10.17. 2Lts F Lempton & R Roberts joined 24.10.17. Hon Lt & QM J Bll to Engand 24.10.17 & struck off strength. In this area, programmes of work were carried out, close order drill, P.T. Arms Drill. specialists trained: G.O.C. brigade inspected billets.
26: scabies inspection by M.O.
27 range practice at Quelms.
28 To billets in Wizennes 2.15 pm arrived 5 pm. instructions recvd to recall all men on leave, courses etc.
29 G.O.C. Div inspected batt 10 a.m. draft of 95 O.R. joined.
30 range practice for the draft; cleaning up etc. for C in C's inspection. 2Lt W T S Smith joined.
31 C in C inspected the Brigade
drafts of 50 O.Rs & 75 O.R.s joined.