Chronology of
Tunnelling in the La Boisselle Sector November 1915
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Date/ Source |
Mining |
Infantry |
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… 10am Capt
Alabaster & 1 or (batman) left to form 89th Field Co 12noon OC &
Capt Jones left with 4 lorries for 3.0pm 5 men
commence work of recovering old passages leading from the Moscow T [?] |
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Trenches very
bad. Nearly every available man put on the following work … 5. Mining
fatigue (carrying sandbags from shaft heads 6 shafts). |
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Conference in
GS office 10am. Question of appointment of tunnelling officer to each corps raised.
Recommended present arrangement only recently started should continue. |
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[Mining Report
by Lt Creswick] Work proceeded normally in all our workings. After It is reported
to me that the enemy have occupied the crater made by exploding the S2 mine
opposite Mangin, and also that H shaft in the Ilot is inaccessible. It is in
consequence impossible to continue listening in this mine. |
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… |
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[Mining Report
by Lt Creswick] With the exception of H pit the work has proceeded normally.
F1, 2, 3, 4.
The enemy resumed work again near the F pits at H. Access to
this shaft is still impossible. The consequences ensuing from this shaft
being stopped may be very serious. The enemy has been heard by the men who
work in W but in order to keep in touch with him properly we must
have access to H. |
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… 185th
Co took over work in L K G7 and [10am L/Cpl
sent to base for discharge.] |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] Nothing abnormal to report. Have handed over the F’s, O’s &
D’s G Shaft, Inch St incline, and the French well in Tummel St to the 185
Coy RE. I have however kept my own listeners in the F’s with those of the
185 Coy to accustom the latter to the sounds and give any necessary
assistance. Hope to hand over Z also as from tomorrow. |
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… Lt Ramplen
Jones, with 4 lorries, arrived from |
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Work started on La Boiselle
(No 3 Sector) works. This work was taken over from 179 co RE (OC Cpt Hance). 2nd Lieut
Wilson T joined for duty. After taking over from 179 co. we continued to
work on Gallery from French Well length driven 160’, also Inclined Gallery
at Inch St. length 170’, & shaft at G7 Depth 60’. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] Nothing abnormal to report. The F’s G7, Inch St Z the French
Well:- These have all been taken over by the 185 Coy RE as from this
afternoon. German
Mining from Y Sap I
have started a gallery at 70’ depth to drive in this direction from S4. Am
also arranging to sink a backing up shaft from [Mining Report by French Well gallery (L) distance driven 5’ 2”.
total length 165 ft. Inch St. Inclined gallery Distance driven 8’ total
length 178 ft. Shaft G7 sunk 5ft. Depth 65 ft. Z Inclined gallery and the F listening galleries
taken over today from the 179th coy. |
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During the
afternoon the 6” Howitzers fired about 75 rounds at the North end of Y Sap.
This was done because it was considered that the enemy had got some
mechanical digger making some large work, thought to be emplacements for
trench mortars. … |
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Z Gallery & the F listening galleries are being
taken over today from 179 co RE. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] Nothing abnormal to report. S4 gallery at 70’ being driven to test
report of German mining from Y Sap. Largo St. Excavation
for shaft chamber for gallery at 100’ against Y Sap begun. The position of
this shaft will be shown on plan after survey. C2 shaft
proceeding satisfactorily. In three days we should be able to drive out
towards last German sounds under the S2 crater. S2 Crater. I
respectfully submit that the edge of this crater on our side should be
occupied by at least observation posts, with loop-hole covering the interior
of the crater and the German lip thereof. This can easily be done by day
from Mangin trench. I have been onto and up the side of the crater today. A
decent sap under our wire is all that is required. If the enemy were to
occupy this crater they could enfilade Largo St, and make access to our
shafts H, C1, C2, S6, most hazardous. [Mining Report by L Gallery distance driven 7’ 3” Total length 172’
3” Inch St Gallery distance driven 8’ 3”. 186’ 3” G7 Shaft. Z Gallery & F, D, & G listening galleries
were taken over from 179 Coy yesterday evening. |
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… 98 BMs of 51st
Divn returned to their units at 2pm. Sections
equalised after BMs departure. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] Nothing abnormal to report. [Mining Report by L Gallery distance driven 2’ Total length 174’ Alterations to shaft head and winding gear delayed
work Inch St Incline Distance driven 8’. Total length
194’. G7 Depth 75’ (sunk 5’). Z Shaft 58’deep (Sunk 4’). |
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‘Foggy morning
but it got out a fine day. Had nothing to do so loafed about again &
wrote some letters. Met Cherry of the 179th in the afternoon, had
chat to him - says that leave is reduced for them…’ |
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Shaft head & winding gear have been improved at
L Gallery. |
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[Report on Y
Sap by Lt Col J Radcliffe CO 10/Essex on period in
trenches 30/10-8/11/15. clouds of smoke arising from left end of Y Sap at
regular intervals, as if coming from an engine, well diffused and seemed to come rather as if
gently liberated than forced up. 4.5 & 6” fired at this spot did great
deal of damage. Smoke still reported coming when I left the trenches.
working parties heard in the sap every night after 6” bombardment, 18pdr
fire directed nightly … work checked in sap but probably not halted, enemy
attached a great deal of importance to this sap. His opinion that enemy
constructing a position or platform so can bombard front line on left of sub
sector, sausages do not extend.] [Mining Report
by Hance] C2 shaft down
to a depth of 10’ below level of gallery last blown from S2, and gallery
started in the direction of last enemy sounds. Elsewhere
nothing to report. [Mining Report by L Gallery. Distance driven 9’ 6”. Total length 183’
6”. Inch St Incline. Distance driven 5’. Total length
99’ Very hard going. G7 Shaft. From collar set 80’ deep. Z Shaft Sunk to 58’ below old gallery i.e. about
90’ from surface. |
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… [Thompson
returns from leave.] 10.30am Major
Danford here & discussed N.IV. stores. 11.0am OC
selected 2 officers & 25 or from 53rd Bde to assist with the
mining. 2/Lt H D |
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8-15/11/15
8/Suffolk WD |
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[Permanent
Fatigues 8-11/11/15 inclusive. Bn in Bde Res] … 3 NCOs & 30 men (Carrying Party) 10.30am 179th
Tunnlg Coy RE at Bapaume Post Found by 10th
Essex on Nov 8th. … |
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7 NCOs & men arrived from No 4 GBD. |
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[Mining Report by L Gallery. Distance driven 12’. total length 195’
6”. Inch St. Distance driven 7’. total length 206’. G7 shaft. From collar set 84’. Z shaft. Sunk to 62’ below old gallery. |
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Points noticed
during period in trenches… 4. ??? of working with the tunnelling coy (179)
greatly improved, because one officer came to HQ every night and explained
exactly where he wanted fatigue parties. |
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… [Bde miners
arrive. Lt S R Jones to hospital. 2Lt L D Ford arrived from leave. 2/Lt Fox
8/ Norfolks arrived for duty with bde miners.] |
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185th Coy To 185th Coy Albert. Strength 285 this
Coy is being put to work alongside of 179th not time to visit
their work. […] Have promised
to revisit both 185th & 179th shortly & go
& look at their work. 179th
Coy. Captain Hance up at trenches.
Strength 390 of which 72 are Brigade miners attached. A request was
made to transfer Lt S Ramplen Jones to 173 Coy. But no news yet received of
this by the Coy. […] To 183.
Full strength except for RE personnel quartered at Froissy.
OUT at present. If two Coys
are brought out for 2nd A 183 should relieve 179th
(Alabasters that was) as that Coy has been knocked about considerably and a
change would do the miners good. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] Have
visited trenches today in company of OC 8th Suffolks, and, to
meet his convenience, have arranged to start the largo St shaft a few yards
away from the position hitherto worked on. K Down to 100’
level, driving out started. [Mining Report by L Gallery
distance driven 8’. Total length 203’ 6”. Inch St. Distance driven 8’. Total length 214’ G7 Depth below surface 94’. Commences driving
gallery which is now 4’ in. Z Shaft. Depth 66’ below old gallery. |
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… [OC with OC
79th Field Coy & OC 8 Suffolks and fixed dumping grounds for
waste material from mines. Site of one shaft changed. |
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A good deal of
rain fell. Trenches in a bad state. it is difficult almost to the point of
impossibility to keep the trenches in anything like good repair, with the
numbers of men employed on miing fatigues etc. |
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[Mining Report by L Gallery. Distance driven 8’ 6”. Total length
212’. G7 Depth 94’ Distance driven 6’. total length 10’. Z Shaft Depth 68’ New shaft in |
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… [Pte… RE
[sic] tried by FGCM sentenced to 3 months? F P No 1. |
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New shaft in |
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[Mining Report by L Gallery. Distance driven 6’. Total length 218’ Inch St Incline. Distance driven 6’. Total length
227’ G7 distance driven 4’ 6” ? [sic] Total length 14’
6” Z Shaft. Enlarging shaft head and entrance gallery. New shaft in Lochnagar St. Forming shaft head. |
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The new mine in
Lochnagar Street progressing. The old difficulty of dumping the mine “dirt”
exists & every effort is being made to cope with this & to avoid
blocking the trenches. |
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Forming shaft head & entrance in |
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[Mining Report by L Gallery. distance driven 4’ total length 222’ Inch St. Distance driven 6’. Total length 235’ Z Shaft. Improving entrance and shaft head. G7 gallery. Driven 6’. Total length 20’ 6” New Shaft in Lochnagar St. Forming shaft head and
entrance. |
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[3rd
Army Routine Orders [now Allenby] allowance of gum boots increased to 50
pairs per tunnelling coy] |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] W. enemy heard
getting within range. Chamber being prepared. [Mining Report by L Gallery. Driven 4’. Total length 226’. Very hard
ground. Z Shaft. Improving shaft head and entrance. G7. Distance driven 9’. total length 29’ 6”. Lochnagar Shaft Sunk to 22’. |
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[GOC & SGSO
to E3 to witness bombardment by 6” Howsof Y Sap
& other places in La Boiss where TMS located,
about 120 rds fired, excellent … |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] K. temporarily
stopped to supply S5 with fatigue party. [Mining Report by L Gallery. Driven 4’. Total length 230’. Inch Z Shaft. Finished new shaft head. Preparing to
drive Making trench for dump behind shaft. G7. Distance driven 7’ 6”. Total length 37”. Lochnagar Shaft. Sunk to 28’ deep forming shaft
head chamber. Cutting trench close to shaft between |
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… [11.10am Lt
Cherry left with box-car for |
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[Major NG in
charge of mining operations visited Div HQ] |
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179th
Coy. Left Geophone. |
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‘Stayed on duty until |
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Finished new shaft head & preparing to drive at
Z shaft. |
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[Mining Report by L Gallery. Driven 1’ 4” – only worked for 8 hours
having no carrying party. Total length 131’ 4”. Inch Z Shaft began to drive at 80’ deep. Distance in 4’ Putting in new winch and improving entrance. G7. Down 9’. Total length 46’ Lochnagar Shaft. Entrance 54’ long completed. Shaft
head chamber nearly completed at depth of 30’. Sunk 9’ 6” of shaft on
incline 1 in 1. |
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… [4 new lorries
arrive…] |
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‘Wakened often in the night by the man sleeping
next to me snoring so I disturbed him until he stopped. I got up at 7.45
& found that it was snowing heavily again. I had to wash & shave in
an upstairs room of the house which had been shelled a bit, did not like it
so after breakfast went & saw the Town Mayor & got his order to find
another billet - this one is in a large fine house near the railway & 4
minutes walk away so I told Lightfoot to get the things transferred &
after lunch I rode off on Jess to Meault & saw
Lush about some things & got some of my letters. It came on a dense fog
very rapidly & I heard an aeroplane somewhere lost in the fog. When I
got back I went to the new billet & got my writing paper & wrote
some letters.’ |
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16-24/11/15
8/Suffolk WD |
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[Permant Fatigues 16-24/11/15 Bn
in Bde Res…] 2 NCOs & 30 men (carrying party)
10.30am 179 coy Bapaume Post. Found by 8th Suffolk Regt from 16th
Nov inclusive |
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Z Shaft, began to drive forward at 80’ depth, Lt E
Lyall arrived from 178 Coy RE, putting in new winch at Z. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] K. Resumed work
on gallery. Infantry fatigue party being re-supplied after having been
withdrawn for 48 hours from |
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…[Allen short
leave |
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‘Had a good night’s rest but it was a cold foggy
sort of morning. Loafed round a bit & read & answered some letters,
then had a walk in the afternoon as far as the stables & made
arrangements for Jess to be looked after if Lightfoot comes up to the
trenches. A great discussion rose at night about mess accounts & Shute
got into a muddle - he is a noisy chap & always shouting or clattering
& has a gramophone going constantly - think he is a bit of an empty
canister. Off to bed early.’ |
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Working [?] back drive at Lochnagar Shaft, under
Kingsgate St, & out inot open for dumping
purposes. 30 men arrived from No 4 GBD. |
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No 1 Coy {…
Mining Fatigues on 7 Saps from No 4 Coy {Whole
coy except 9 trench men employed on mining fatigues (from |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] W. chamber in
forward gallery should be finished by [Mining Report by L Gallery driven 7’ 4”. total length 245’. Very
stiff ground. Inch Z shaft driven 8’. total length 13’. G7. Driven 13’ 6”. Total length 68’ Lochnagar Shaft Driven 12’. total length 12’
towards |
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… Work of
recovering old tunnel leading from the Chateau Albert temporarily suspended
as the bottom of the shaft had been reached. |
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‘Very cold frosty foggy morning but felt better
after a real good night’s rest. After breakfast O.C. sent for me to go &
investigate cause of sounds heard underneath a dugout in gun emplacement.
Went away across allotment gardens & fields to the place & made a
careful examination, returned before lunch & made report, then O.C. said
I had better go up to the trenches & look after listening galleries as
he was not satisfied with the reports coming in so got changed into pit
clothes & set off with the motor lorry to entrance to communication
trench which will be about 2 |
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[5 RFA drivers arr for
Batmen from No 2 GBD] |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal save:] The chamber in
forward attack gallery is finished. Enemy heard working at a point estimated
by consensus of opinion from all available points as 15 yards distant. I
have spent 6 hours today investigating this point. I have begun charging a
mine in this chamber but before firing same will obtain Brigade sanction and
will also give my opinion as to when it should be fired, not just yet.
Meantime can do no harm and will expedite matters when it is really
necessary. Left Hand
gallery. Sounds heard but I do not consider it necessary or desirable to
stop this gallery at present. It is arrived at getting below H, round which
point the enemy have been heard for a long time. We are now within 45 ft of
H, but I think it well to go forward
until we are quite sure we can do the enemy some harm. [Mining Report by L Gallery. Driven 4’ 6”. Total length 246’ 6” Inch Z Shaft. Driven 9’ 9”. total length 22’ 9” G7. Driven 11’ 6”. total length 79’ 6” Lochnagar Shaft. Driven 7’. total length 15’ on
Inclined shaft. On back drive to Kingsgate St. Distance driven 30’ |
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… OC visited
trenches at |
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‘Was up at 7.30 & wrote report to O.C. then had
breakfast & arranged with Cutts to make tour of galleries but as he did
not meet me in time I went alone at 10.30 & did not finish until 12.30.
Came out & had a snooze afterwards. Whilst coming from saps to lunch,
found a dead Frenchman sticking out of trench side, frost had disclosed him.
Cutts went down in the afternoon & Tomlinson took his place, then I had
an hour’s rest & after dinner went off again round the galleries with
Tomlinson & did not get back to dugout until midnight - it had been a
fairly fine day - one man shot. Was tired so rolled in a blanket & laid down on a 9” plank & fell
asleep. Tomlinson was startled ? about the sounds of the Bosh.’ |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] [normal] W. Charge of
6000 lbs ammonal will be completed, ready for tamping when required, by Special Report Today[20/11/15],
in our K shaft, being sunk in Tummel St, (sub-sector E2 150 yards west of a
line drawn from points 119 and 120) water has been struck at a depth of 118 ft
below the surface, the shaft having been sunk in chalk. Soft ground was
reached, and water came in almost at once. In one hour it had risen 5”. As
far as I know this is the first time water level has been reached in our
mining operations in the chalk, and for that reason this information would
appear to be of importance. If the contours
shown on trench map No 57 D.S.E. 4 are correct, the horizon of the water is
at 209’ above sea level. [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 5’ 3”. total length 254’ 9” Inch Z Shaft driven 9’ 6”. total length 32’ 5” Traverse progressed 2’ G7. Total length 80’. Drive to right started and
progressed 8’. Drive to Z commenced. Lochnagar Shaft. Driven 11’. total length on inclined
shaft 26’. On back drive to Kingsgate St. Driven 12 ½”. Total
length 42 ½”. |
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… 6000 lbs
Ammonal sent to trenches and placed in W. |
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‘I slept well, even on the 9” plank & woke up
about 6.30. Tomlinson sadly wanted me to go down to catch O.C. before he
went on leave so collected listening reports & arranged them &
showed him how to fill them up in future then put on all my regalia &
finally set out for Albert at 10am. Got half way down the trenches when
found a sentry posted making us go by another roundabout way. Was vexed
& could have said something as I had plodged
through rivers of mud. This delayed me so that I missed seeing O.C. However
when I got down I went over to my billet & had a bath with a bucket of
warm water. After lunch rode over to Meault &
saw some of the officers there & was sorry to learn that Macilligan servt? had had his
hand shot off at the wrist as he was coming out of the sap - hard luck on
him & he was a fine chap. Got some letters & information off Lush
& then rode back. It had been a fine morning but was raw & cold now.
Wrote home in afternoon. New regulations as to leave come out & think I
may get away on 4? Dec for 14 days.’ |
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Started traverse to G7 from Z. Inc [?] G7 also
started traverse to Z this is to use our Main line of defence. Drive to
Right from end of gallery at G7 started. |
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[Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 6’. Total length driven 260’ 9” Z Shaft. Main gallery driven 10’ 1” total length
42’ ½” Traverse to G7 driven 8’. Total length 10’ G7. Right hand drive off main gallery driven 9’ 6”
total length driven 17’ 6” Drive to Z Shaft driven 4’. Total length 4’. Lochnagar Shaft. Forward gallery advanced 12’.
Total length 38’. On back drive to Kingsgate |
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‘Woke up after sleeping like a top. After breakfast
went to Meault on a motor cycle & got letters.
I did not feel keen? on it. When I got back, saw Tomlinson who said that
alarming reports had come in from the mines that men had heard the enemy
talking & shoveling. This rather disturbed me
so I went to the store & got all the apparatus gathered together for sending
up to the mines for charging & firing & decided to go up at night
& see to things myself. Wrote a letter home & to Eggleston then
after dinner went & got changed & went up to the trenches & made
enquiries on the spot & found that there had been unecessary
alarm. I was just about to go into the mines at 1.40 when the dugout shook
from head to foot. I knew what it meant & at once went off to the saps
but found that all our men were safe, the mine having been fired on our left
in 179 district who lost 7 men. Made another tour of saps at |
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[2Lt A R Knox arr from No
4 GBD.] Enemy exploded a mine on our left at |
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[enemy explodes
mine at about X.13.D.5.1 at Evening Report:
enemy busy at work on their front line trenches opp
Ilôt & thought mine damaged these trenches. thick mist all day v largely
prevented observation.] [Int Rep: enemy explode mine at about X 13 D 5.1 [ Mine explosion.
I visited the scene of the explosion this morning, and herewith enclose two
rough plans [DSC0319] of present state of affairs which were executed by
Captain Wyeth. I have ordered Capt. Wyeth to occupy the lip of the enormous new crater by 3
posts on our side which will, in my opinion, prevent the Germans from
crawling up and overlooking us. Captain Wyeth had
commenced these immediately after the explosion on his own initiative. I
have also ordered a fourth post to be constructed marked (4) on plan. These four
posts should, in my opinion, make the whole front of my sub-sector safe. I
think, however, that the points marked * * on the plan just above Duhollo should be similarly treated. As it now stands,
if the Germans get to the edge of this crater they could do considerable
damage to the main portion of my Ilôt line. I am sending a written message
to OC Norfolks to ask him to do this. There is no
difficulty in making any of these posts, and the explosion seems to me to
make the E3 Sub-sector of Ilôt simpler to hold than before. Later on wire
should be placed between “work now in progress” and lip of new crater. At
present I cannot do this, but will when we are available. The trenches are
being cleared as rapidly as possible. [Mining Report
by Hance] Enemy blew mine
near H, 50 yards north of point 120. Regret that one NCO and 5 sappers of
this coy killed, also 7 men of 10/Essex. Time 1.30am This to form
subject of special report. Elsewhere…
Enemy heard in several places and arrangements being made accordingly. [Mining
Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery Driven 5’ 1”. Total length driven 266’ Z Shaft. Main gallery driven 7’ 6”. Total length of
main gallery 50’ Traverse to G7 driven 7’. Total length of traverse
17’ G7. Right hand drive off main gallery driven 7’ 9”.
Total length 25’ 5” Drive to Z shaft driven 9’. Total length driven 13’ Lochnagar Shaft. Forward gallery advanced 17’.
Total length driven 55’ On back drive to Enemy exploded a mine on our left at |
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X.13.d.6.1 E3 Enemy mine exploded at |
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… Enemy fired a
mine & killed 6 men & 7 infantry. 2 of our galleries closed and Ilôt
trench also damaged. Probably our charge at W was detonated by the enemy
explosion. [killed: Walker, Lane, Gavin, Glen, Taylor, Parker] |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0244 [W
blue tunnel] Destroyed by enemy Blow |
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… the enemy exploded a mine in the vicinity of La Boisselle, causing
13 casualties. The greater defensive part of the salient called the Ilôt is
now a mine crater; the defensive situation has, however, been improved. The
Western lip of this crater has now been occupied by our posts.
… Our mining operations continue normally and good progress is being
made in all cases.
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[10/Essex, enemy explodes lge mine. forms
huge crater, obliterates the front of the Ilôt, then held by d Coy, killed 5
bombers in a bombers dugout. the near lip immed
occupied & a snipers post formed. The RE had arranged to blow in an
enemy shaft at 4.30 and the men were being withdrawn, when at 2.30, the
enemy got his blow in first. The pltns in charge
of the Ilôt suffered severely and Lt G J Thompson, IC, had a narrow escape. He
was returning from the forward post when the ground opened up and the debris
rolled up to his very feet. He was thrown down by the concussion and when he
recovered himself, to his amazement, there lay between him and his company a
huge crater. Situation quickly appreciated at Coy hq
& aid hurried up, result that remnants of pltn
quickly released from their dilemma. in daylight, realised that crater made
holding the line easier- formed vg
cover from view and gave snipers a point of vantage over LaB.
…
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At
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‘Was up at
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Hance report to
HQ 53 Bde |
I have to report that the enemy blew a very
heavy mine at 1.30am [22/11] from
a point in sub-Sector E 3 about 50 yards North of point 120, killing, I
regret to say, a Cpl. and 5 sappers of this Company, and, I am informed, 7
men of the 10th Essex Regt.
I was informed that our W. shaft (entrance at X 19 b 5 8) and
galleries had been wrecked. I arrived at the spot shortly after
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[Int Rep: cas from enemy mine
blown morning [Mining Report
by Hance] W. bodies of
three men killed on morning of 22nd recovered. Straight in gallery found tightly closed 20 feet from the
side of the shaft. The electric leads leading to our charge show circuit to
be broken. These two facts point to our charge having been detonated. This I
think accounts for the galleries having been so quickly filled with gas. Right hand
traversal. Only very
slightly damaged and work resumed. Left hand
gallery. Considerable
debris has fallen from the roof pointing to the charge having been fired
from above. Gallery should be clear of debris as far as the first corner by C1. Air good, shaft and attack gallery
undamaged. C2. Air good. Transversal to S4 undamaged.
Attack gallery slightly damaged. From half way in to the face the right hand
side of the gallery has been bodily pushed about 6” towards the left. Roof
fallen in places, also pointing to a shock from above. East heading
round big crater. Enemy
heard here, estimated from 20 -25 yards away; chamber accordingly begun. M. new shaft in
[Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Work in this gallery has been stopped to
rearrange air apparatus and refix fan. total
length driven 266’ Z Shaft. Main gallery driven 5’. Total length 55’ Traverse to G7, work has been stopped here for the
last 24 hours. Men are employed on making excavation for winch chamber. G7. Right hand drive off main gallery driven 9’1”.
Total length driven 34 ½’ Drive to Z driven 6’. Total length driven 19’ Lochnagar shaft. Forward gallery advanced 10’.
Total length of drive 65’. At 45’ below surface level horizontal gallery has
been commenced forwards towards enemy. It has been reported that the enemy are
endeavouring to occupy the crater produced by the explosion of one of their
mines yesterday (22/1/15) This crater commands the entrance to our F
galleries, and it is therefore necessary that the enemy should be driven
from this place, and not allowed to occupy it. |
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… [Hawtrey
short leave to |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0244 [to
right of C1] Approx position of German Blow DSCF0244 [W1
blue tunnel] Destroyed by German Blow from point X |
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‘Got up at 7 feeling a bit stiff after sleeping on
the table. Went out & saw to the men digging explosive store. Had a walk
round outpost trench to try & locate where Germans had been working
during the night. When I got back one of the |
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Horizontal gallery has been commenced towards enemy
at Lochnagar Shaft. |
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[GOC 53 Bde
(Brig Gen W B Hickie) to 18 Div] [report by OC
179 Coy on German blow of The legacy left
to the Tunnelling Coy by its predecessors was such that all operations here
were fraught with danger, and it is possible that the mine exploded on the
22nd had been laid some considerable time. Although the
greater part of the Ilôt is now a mine crater, the defensive situation has
been thereby improved. The Western lip
has been occupied by our posts. The explosion
of this mine is no “set back” to our mining operations. I have only to
regret the loss of 13 men – 6 miners and 7 10th A noteworthy
point is that the Germans appear to have copied us by increasing very
largely the size of the charge. From our experience there must have been
10,000 lbs of explosive used, in addition to a charge of ours which probably
was fired by the explosion. [Mining Report
by Hance] W. Rt. Hand
Transversal Work resumed going well. N E Attack
Gallery. Have not been able to do any work on this yet. N Attack
gallery cleared to within 6 ft of bend. This work is being continued. S.6 Connection
made to C2 transversal as shown on sketch:
ventilation
excellent. S6 downcast, C2 & C upcasts. Distance from
S6 to transversal 72’ Distance from
intersection to C2 39’ Both these
shafts S6 and C2 have been sunk and connections driven since we blew the big
charge in S2 on 25th October, i.e. less than one month. S4 (a)
Transversal will reach its turning point towards C2 within next 24 hours and
an attack gallery started therefrom towards centre
of S2 crater at once. (b) Being
chambered, enemy estimated 20 yards away. (c) going
normally. (d) in 90 ft
from S4 inclusive at 100’ an attack gallery straight towards enemy and
parallel to S4 (c) will be started. [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Work on this gallery has been stopped.
Men are working on the construction of a magazine. Z Shaft. Main gallery driven 6’2”. total length
61’2” Traverse to G7. Driven 4’6”. Total length driven
21’6” G7. Right hand drive off main gallery driven 9’5”.
Total length 44’ Drive to Z. Driven 7’. Total length driven 26’ Lochnagar Shaft. Driven forward 9’. Total length
driven 74’. Back drive to surface and embankment made to cover operations of
dumping by day. |
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… |
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‘Fine day - after breakfast went with Shute to see
Brig Gen & tell him about the working parties of enemy & the danger
if they are not checked then prepared to go into Amiens with boxcar but as I
expected Shute never got ready to go & the day was more or less wasted.
I wrote several letters & went off early to bed. When I had just got in
I heard a shell screeching in the air & it burst somewhere near by but I
was sleepy, I just fell asleep. Had a look round the church today, it is
built astride the river & next to it have been fitting shops but they
have been burnt down & all the lathes & drills are junked up in a
wrecked state. It is all very pitiful.’ |
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Work started on construction of magazine. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] W. Right
hand transversal. going
well. Left hand
attack gallery. Opened up as far as bend and the body of the man engaged
there recovered. Gallery badly smashed (from above). Exploration continuing.
S4 (a) being
continued to connect with C2 transversal. Attack gallery towards enemy
started. (b) attack
gallery being chambered. Enemy 15 – 20 yds away. I
hope to complete this chamber within the next 36 hours. Enemy heard by me
working, and, of course, he may blow, but if he does he will not blow up our
trenches. The maximum damage he can do is to catch the sappers engaged in making
our chamber, and, possibly, damage our transversal, but after listening
myself, I feel justified in ordering men to complete the chamber at that
point. If we can do so, our blow in S2 has held the enemy long enough to
enable us to sink the C2 shaft and drive the transversal so far that we will
be through to S4 within a week, to also drive the C2 attack gallery and the
S4 (b) attack gallery so far out that our own chamber will be in the same
horizon as our old S2 attack gallery. In other words the enemy will not have
advanced one yard. Elsewhere
everything normal. [Report by
Hance to 53 Bde] I respectfully
beg to draw the attention of the General Officer commanding the 53rd.
Brigade to the following:- There is a big
crater opposite the Mangin. There is a big
crater almost, if not quite joining up with the former. There is a
third big crater, or series of craters, blown up the French [sic], or the
Germans, opposite Dohollu. There is a
fourth series of craters, now one big crater, opposite the F’s series of
shafts off The only gap in
this line of craters is, roughly round about the E and T shafts. The enemy
undoubtedly snips across this interval between the craters. The sentries
drew my attention to this today, and I was convinced by what I saw and
heard. The enemy has
frequently been heard underground between T and E. T shaft is 50’ deep. I
respectfully submit that it would be good tactics to blow a charge in the T
mine system:- (a) to damage
his system below ground, and (b) to for a
crater connecting his last big crater with the French craters opposite Dohollu, and (c) to blind
his field of fire for sniping. To do this the
approach to T shaft, off old Dohollu would have to
be improved, as it would be practically impossible to charge whilst the
approach trench is in the present condition, but a dozen infantry could do
all that is required in a very few hours. Accordingly I
respectfully submit that this approach trench should be improved so that a
sappers working party could tackle the job of charging T, in which case I
would arrange for this to be done should the G.O.C. 53rd Infantry
Brigade agree. [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Work on this gallery recommenced, driven
5’. Total length driven 271’ Inch Street. Driven 9’, Total length driven 333’ Z Shaft. On main gallery driven 6’10”. Total length
driven 68’ Traverse to G7. Driven 2’6”. Total length driven
24’ Men were taken off traverse G7 to open up entrance
to F1 which had caved in. G7. Right hand drive advanced 10’. Total length
driven 54’. Left hand drive started and advanced 5’3”. Total length driven
5’3”. Drive to Z from shaft advanced 8’. Total length
34’. Lochnagar Shaft. Main incline is driven 74’. Upper
level is driven 14’ working having started here yesterday. Back drive to |
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…[2Lt J W Reid
RE arrives for duty] |
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‘Up as usual this morning & a very fine day.
After breakfast went in to |
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Lefthand
drive from end of gallery at G7 started, [2Lt H C Hall arr
from No 4 GBD] Back Drive to Kingsgate St from Lochnagar Shaft finished
& is 83’ long, plus a length of open trench 21 long. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] W. Reopening
left hand gallery. Proceeding normally. Gallery badly pushed about. Right hand
transversal. going
well. S4 (b) chamber
should be finished tomorrow morning (27th am). Charge being
prepared on top (loaded into sandbags). [elsewhere
normal] [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 13’5”. Total length driven 284’5” Inch St. Driven 9’.Total length driven 342’ Z shaft. Driven 7’. Total length driven in main
gallery 75’. Traverse to G7. Men taken off this work to repair
winch chamber. G7. Right hand drive advanced 9’. total length
driven 63’ Drive to Z from shaft, advanced 5’ total length
driven 39’ Left hand drive advanced 5’9”. total length driven 11’ Lochnagar Shaft. Main incline driven to a distance
of 74’ Upper level driven 13’ total distance driven 27’ |
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…[FGCM for 2
sappers & 1 Pte. Allan returns from leave] |
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[details of
snow, conditions etc during month] Pte Willmot B
Co. tried by FGCM for “Attempting to Commit Suicide”. Pleaded Guilty. |
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‘Slept well in spite of hearing shells falling into
the town as I got into bed. After breakfast I went off up to the trenches
with |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] S4 (b) Chamber
will not be ready until early morning of 28th. Delay due to
hardness of ground and ventilation troubles. Charge (6000 lbs ammonal) ready
bagged on surface and being stored close to minehead.
[elsewhere
normal] [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 2’7” Total length driven 287’ Inch St. Driven 10’ total length driven 352’ Z shaft. Main gallery driven 11’ total length
driven 86’ Traverse to G7. Driven 9’. total length driven 33’ G7. Right and drive advanced 1’ Total length driven
64’ This drive is now finished. Left hand drive advanced 5’ Total length
driven 16’ Drive to Z advanced 3’ total length driven 42’ Lochnagar shaft. Main incline driven 13’ Total
length 87’ Upper level driven 11’ Total length driven 38’ |
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… S4 charged
6000 lbs ammonal. |
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[3rd
Army Routine Orders Canvas rubber soled shoes are approved for issue to
Tunnelling Companies RE on a scale of one pair per man. DDOS GHQ |
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‘Woke early & had walk out in the trench - fine
frosty morning & all white - went listening after breakfast in the saps
& determined that certain action would have to be taken, also saw the
Major of the Bucks? & told him about the condition of the old front line
trench in which the S’s ? are situated - said he would try & have them
improved. Tomlinson came up just after lunch so I put the case to him &
he agreed that we ought to have a mine from one place to another. Listened
again in afternoon & was confirmed in my opinion that this should be
done so after we had had dinner we set to work & got it changed but we
had no primers so I went along the trench to 179 to borrow. It was a good
long walk on a brilliant moonlight night - saw a cat prowling in the
p------- Tomlinson came in at 3 & reported all explosive removed &
restacked so I turned in.’ |
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Right Hand from G7 is now finished & is 64
long. |
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[Mining Report
by Hance] S4 (b) charge
of 6000lbs ammonal laid and tamped (fired [Hance to 53
Bde, separate report] Yesterday
morning our suspicions were aroused as to the position of an enemy shaft
head. Observation this morning at dawn confirmed these suspicions, and we
are now practically convinced that the entrance to one enemy mine is at
point X 13 D 52.211 (On the German line). Steam, not smoke, was clearly
rising at this point, almost certainly the upcast of a mine system. I
respectfully submit that the artillery should be called on to shell this spot. [Mining Report by Lt P B Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Men employed on improving shaft and
overhauling air piping. Total length driven 287’ Inch St. Driven 7’ Total amount driven 359’ Z shaft. Main gallery driven 4’ Total amount driven
90’ Traverse to G7. Driven 4’ Total amount driven 37’
men taken from these saps to transfer charge. G7. Right hand drive is finished. Total length 60’ Left hand drive advanced 10’ Total length driven
49’ Main drive continued, advanced 9’6” Lochnagar Shaft. Main incline driven 10’ total
length driven 97’ Upper level driven 14’ total length 52’ |
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… Fired mine at S4 successfully. [poss that described in Kerr interview] |
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X.13.d E3 We exploded a mine at |
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5.30pm We
exploded a mine at La Boisselle. No crater formed. Damage unknown. enemy
retaliated with shrapnel. |
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28/11/15 6/ R
Berks WD |
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At about 5.30pm
the 179th Tunnelling Company RE exploded a mine on our left –
opposite the sector held by 8th Suffolk Regt. |
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28/11/15 Lyall
Diary |
‘Up & out at7am.It had been very cold & I
was stiff & outside all was frozen hard. After breakfast went down to
Albert & had a bath & some lunch & found that Canadian Wilson
was about to go to Paris for 4 days leave. It was a lovely frosty day &
I went back to the trenches in the afternoon with Tomlinson with the
intention of tamping. At 6.45 was in dugout & felt a mine go off so went
to 4 saps to see if the men were safe & found them all right, later on
went in & tested leads & found them all right but as the enemy were
so very quiet I advised Tomlinson to withdraw his men to top of shaft &
just make an hourly examination - remained on the spot personally until
midnight then as all was still quiet we came away - halfway down the
trenches sentry said we had to go back & come round another road but as
we were very tired we climbed out of trench & came on down the main road
(Albert-Bapaume) home. It was freezing hard & the moon shone brilliantly
on the land which was covered with snow.’ |
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28/11/15 WD 185
Coy |
Main drive in G7 is continued, from entrance to
Right & left Galleries at end of drive. |
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29/11/15 53 Bde GS WD |
[Int Rep: E3 We successfully exploded 6000lb charge in
S4(b) at [Mining Report
by Hance] S4. Have
explored this mine system. Very little damaged by the blow yesterday. This
indicates that the gases found a vent, and, as only a small addition has
been to the S2 crater, we may assume it reached the enemy’s galleries as
well as, possibly, the old, high level, mine system. No sounds of any work
heard today. Our work resumed this afternoon. [elsewhere
normal] T. Charge of
8000lbs ammonal being put into bags in readiness for charging when rain
stops. [Mining Report by Capt David Bowen 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 2’8”. total length driven 289’8” Inch St. Driven 7’5”. total amount driven 366’5” Z Shaft. Main gallery driven 11’8”. total length
driven 101’8” Traverse to G7. Driven 4’9”. Total length 41’9” G7. Left hand drive driven 6’3”. Total length 32’3” Drive to Z shaft advanced 3’3”. total length driven
52’3” Main drive advanced 6’6”. Total length 96’ Lochnagar Shaft. Main incline driven 9’. Total
length 106’ Upper level driven 2’. Total length 54’ A good deal of work has been done in connection
with protecting our dumping ground and making great height in the upper
level. |
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29/11/15 Lyall
Diary |
‘Laid in bed until 9.30 as I was tired the came
across & got some breakfast but I was not feeling up to the scratch
& had a nasty headache which never left me all day - borrowed some aspyrin & took it but it did not exactly remove the headache.
Wrote one or two letters but never turned out of the HQ all day as it never
ceased to rain. Shute did not mature? all day either altho’
he had the car to |
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29(or 30)/11/15
WD 185 Coy |
The work on our sector is generally speaking in very
hard chalk, but good progress has been made, & the men are working
extremely well. We have added to our footage by using explosives &
drills. Progress made up to date is: L Gallery 292’ long. Inch St Gallery 376’ long Z 54’ long. Central drive in G7 105’ long. Left Hand drive in G7 39’ long Right hand drive in G7 finished 64’ long. Back Drive to Kingsgate St for dumping purposes
from Lochnagar shaft finished, length is 83’ long plus a length f open
trench 21’ long. Main Incline at Lochnagar shaft 115’ long Upper Level at Lochnagar shaft is 54’ long. Considerable improvement has been made in the
various shafts & we have completed a very useful lot of timbering. [sgd] P B Shute Lt RE for OC 185 Co RE 30/11/15 |
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30/11/15 53 Bde GS WD |
[Mining Report by Shute 185 Coy] L Gallery. Driven 2’4”. Total length driven 292’ Men helping on construction of magazine. Inch St. Driven 7’7”. Total length driven 374’ Z shaft. Main gallery driven 1’4”. Total length
driven 103’ Traverse to G7. Driven 4’3”. total length driven
46’ Part of shift engaged in laying rails. G7. Drive to Z advanced 1’7”. Total length driven
54’ Central drive advanced 9’ total length advanced 39’ Lochnagar Shaft. Main incline driven 9’. Total
length driven 115’. Work on upper level has been stopped men employed
throwing up logs from the incline. |
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30/11/15 Lyall
Diary |
‘Fine Springlike morning.
After breakfast set off with Tomlinson & Hill to trenches. Hill said he
knew a good way up to the trenches so we went with him via the chateau but
it seemed to me |
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… [2Lt J Gibson
RE reports for duty. 2Lt G Buswell IAR short leave to England] |
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1/12/15 Lyall
Diary |
‘Beastly wet morning but cleared up later. After
breakfast rode over to Meault & saw Capt. Wellsley & had chat to him. Also saw Ireland & Macilligan & Irving then as it was threatening I
hurried back to Albert. In the afternoon I got electric wires & rolled
220 yards of leads ready to fire mines. It was miserable & dark & I
could not find a decent spot to sit & write or read either. Shute &
some of the officers went in the evening to Mericourt
to see the pictures & a few of us remained at home & did nothing.
There is not a decent lamp in the place to see to read by. Jess cast a shoe
on my road back this morning. I think she loosened it as we had a gallop
over some grass fields. She is very fit & does enjoy a gallop.’ |
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1/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Work in E2 Sector opposite La Boisselle X.19.b on
1/40,000 map Albert. Commenced to drive to North from Z Main drive for
protection on left flank. |
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… [2Lt R
Hawtrey 2/ Northants returns from leave] 3.35pm Mine at
T fired successfully |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0249 [shaft
to left of D1, blue tunnel] Mine 8,000 lbs Ammonal fired |
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119 E2 We
exploded a mine at |
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[10/Essex, just
entered trenches on Dec 2nd when a British mine went up in front
of Ilôt, which was believed to have considerably damaged two attack
galleries which the enemy had pushed out towards the right of the Ilôt. Offs
& men of 19/LF att. for instr.
Weather v bad & trenches filled with mud. |
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3.30pm We fired
a mine in front of Ilôt which joined up two previous craters, this explosion
caused no damage to our own trenches but is calculated by the OC 179th
Tunnelling Company to have done considerable damage to two attack galleries
which the enemy have been pushing out towards the right of the Ilôt. The near lip of
the newly formed crater was immediately occupied by our snipers. |
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[mine exploded
in front of Duhollou. no damage was done.] |
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2/12/15 Lyall
diary |
‘Rainy morning. After breakfast went into Amiens
with |
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2/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Commenced to drive to North from G7 Main drive –
defensive. |
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3/12/15 8/
Norfolk |
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A sentry on
left of 117 at about this time reported mining in progress beneath them
& stated that he heard sounds which he suggested to be blasting. |
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2.30pm … No
mining fatigues required by the Tunnelling Coy until 4pm from which time 33
men every 4 hours on 7 different saps and shafts. |
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‘Got to bed about 2.30 ,or rather laid down on a 9”
plank with a blanket & did the best I could. My clothes were all wet
& thick with mud, however I got some rest & was up at 6 feeling a
bit stiff. It was a wet morning & more of the trenches had fallen in.
After some breakfast went down the C
Saps again & listened & heard the enemy working plainly but at a
greater distance than usual. As I write a shell shrieks overhead into the
town but fails to burst. Set off to go down to Albert at 11am. In some
places trenches were a yard deep in squelch & in others it was liquid
& over a foot deep, the sides were slipping in all the time & I got
soaked with mud right up to the waist. Had interview with O.C. after &
then made arrangements to go off on leave tomorrow. Harrison of 178 Co
called to see me in the afternoon & we had a chat, then Hill came over
to my billet with me & decided to take a room. Had a good warm bath
today on coming out of trenches - in my own bath - have packed all I want to
take & am ready for 5am.’ |
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4/12/15 Lyall
Diary |
Was awakened at 10 to 5 by Lightfoot. It was
pouring with rain. By 5.45 I was sitting down to breakfast having walked
across in the dark &collided with2 horses in the drenching rain. It was
6.20 when we finally got away in the car. Shute & I & the driver let
it go & was soon running at 50 Boat
left Havre at 2am. |
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6/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Inch St Incline holed through to Transverse from G7
to Z. This incline is to be used as a main haulage way for all the spoil
from the workings to a dump behind Monifieth [sic]
St, the ground here being on the reverse slope of the hill & therefore
better protected from observation. |
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7/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Made second
entrance to z shaft head. Commenced upward incline from G7 main drive to
connect to high level listening galleries 50’ above. rising in steps on
grade of 1 ½ -1 |
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Commenced low level drive at Lochnagar shaft.
X.20.C. 95’ deep. |
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… [4pm 2Lt P J
Bates short leave England & 14 OR] [10am Maj.
Jones AOD inspected explosive magazines. ] |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0244 [blue
tunnel C2] Charge fired DSCF0244 [blue
tunnel C1] Charge fired DSCF0244 [W1
blue tunnel] Camouflet DSCF0244 [W1
blue tunnel] Destroyed by Enemy blow |
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X.13.d.6.0 E3 We successfully exploded a large mine
at |
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[Report of X
Corps Ops…] A charge of 9000 lbs of ammonal was exploded at 2pm on December
9th, and existing craters were connected. it is believed that the
enemy suffered severely. |
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9/12/15 8/
Norfolk |
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[E2. Mine
exploded by us in front of trench 120. RFA co-operated. enemy retaliated
with 6 whizz-bangs NE end of Atholl
St. |
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6” Howitzers,
4.5” Howitzers and 18lbs all fired a few rounds each into La Boisselle after
the mine exploded. |
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On 9 December
with an enemy blow listening post Pioneer Maier was clamped in a tunnel by
collapsing timbers. With the rescue attempts Pioneers Schmiederer,
Kastler, Reininger and
Schulze unfortunately lost their lives due to gas poisoning. [see also
Ehrenbuch pp528-530, 1 wurtt.Res.=Pion.=Komp. incident at La
Boisselle 9/12/15 3pm, heavy British blow, Pionier
Georg Maier at listening post, duty officer Lt d R
Stolze …] |
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… 4pm Maj.
Danford conferred with OC at Coy HQ. [4pm] Lt D
Logan and Lt King Advisors to E in C on medical and geological matters
respectively arrived. [Buswell back from leave] [6.30pm 2Lt W
Hudson RE reports for duty] |
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… [10am Logan
& King go to trenches to make their observations] |
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11/12/15 Essex
S Bn History p147 |
|
[when 19/LF
take over on Dec 11th, the Ilôt had practically disappeared as a
consequence of enemy mining activity, and the line was held by sniping posts
cut into the top of the near lip of the craters.] |
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|
General Notes
during period in trenches: … 3. the almost
complete disappearance of the Ilôt owing to the several large mines that had
been exploded. In consequence the holding of that portion of the line made
much easier, it all being done by sentries in sniping posts cut into the top
of the near lips of the craters. |
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|
The battn went into the trenches a took over E3 sector from
the 10th Essex Trenches in very bad condition – in many places
waist deep in mud or water – C coy got bogged marching in from E2. A great
many men had to be dug out but lost equipment – weather wet. |
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… The trenches
were getting worse and worse. Communication almost impossible between
trenches. |
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2/Lt Knox – 185th
Tunnelling Co killed by enemy sniper while superintending mining. |
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iiLt
A R Knox RE was shot in the head at Z dump & killed instantly. |
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|
Owing to trenches becoming full of water & I
very bad condition a way was made across the open through barbed wire
entanglements& over trenches to be used after dark. The reliefs were
altered so that two shifts went in by night & only one by day. |
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[Knox killed,
OR 3 W] |
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… A number of
men going sick with trench feet. Weather frosty. |
|
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… [2Lt H D
Burton 10/Essex returns to duty with his unit] |
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15/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
The dumps of Z & G7 workings were very heavily
shelled & trench mortared all day & through the night. No damage
done to shafts but the trenches were very badly knocked about, making
disposal of spoil almost impossible by day. |
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16/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Shelling of Z dump continued. |
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17/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Entrance to Z shaft smashed by trench mortar. Work
very much hindered by continual shelling. |
|
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… Enemy fired
mine at After the mine
a trench mortar killed [Sherwood 6/ R Berks Bde Miner] |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0242
[Mangin S1?, blue tunnel] Destroyed by Enemy Camouflet |
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X.13.d.4.2 E3
Enemy exploded a Camouflet at 11.30 at la Boisselle. No damage. X.13.d.5.0 E3
Enemy exploded another Camouflet at |
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|
[Report of Ops
X corps…]At 11.45am on the 18th the enemy fired a small mine at
about X.19.b.8/0, and at 1.10pm another and heavier mine in the same
locality. |
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18/12/15 3rd
Army CE WD |
Lt Col Danford
reported to take up appointment of Controller of Mines. |
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18/12/15 6/ R
Berks WD |
[WD 15/1/15]
The news of the death, on the 18th Dec of No 17467 Pte J
Sherwood, attached to 179th Tunnelling Coy was reported to me. |
Enemy exploded
a mine on our L about 1.30pm. No damage or excitement in our sector. |
|
18/12/15 Lyall
Diary |
‘Woke as we were about to enter the river at Havre
- it was a calm moonlight night & I had slept most of the way over, got
ashore at 1am & into a first class carriage & again made myself
comfortable & fell asleep & dozed more or less up to 9am - shortly
after we called at a station & got some breakfast, then went on &
arrived at Amiens at 1pm. Went into a restaurant & had some food. Shute
had telephoned to Albert to send the Box car down but it did not arrive
until 4.15 & brought with it O.C. Wilson & Cutts. Went & had a
shave & shampoo & then we all returned to Albert. I learned that Lt.
Knox had been killed about a week ago when in company with Tomlinson on the
dump. The mine I laid was still intact but the enemy had shelled the
trenches & saps & knocked them about considerably. I found that O.C.
had sent Lightfoot up to the trenches so I had no one to attend to me on my
return, however I managed to get to bed & to sleep in good time.’ |
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18/12/15 WD 185
Coy |
Both entrances to Z shaft were broken in at
different times during the day – could only work at one face from shaft
owing to difficulty of removing spoil. |
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… 3.0pm Enemy fired mine in front of W
workings killing [5 RE]. [see Norton Griffiths Diary Nat. Archives WO158/129
below] 4pm Spr [sic] Sherwood killed 18/12/15 buried in Albert
military cemetery. |
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The enemy
exploded a mine about |
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[WD entry:] [mines digest
entry:] … enemy exploded a mine near the Ilôt at [see also
DSCF0085-86 ac of patrol in nml E2 by sap heard, poss mining & blasting, at time mine goes up] |
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Enemy exploded
mine X13D60 this afternoon without damage to our front line. Visited 3rd
Army Mine Rescue School Ribemont. Found to be in
very satisfactory state. Controller of Mines returned to Mericourt.
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19/12/15 3rd
Army GS WD |
[Report of Ops
on X Corps …] At |
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At |
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‘Woke in good time - after breakfast had a look
through the rescue apparatus in stores, then went into a field &
destroyed a live shell. Had some lunch but there was not much peace as the
Canadian Incubus made so much row & clattered with his foul tongue.
After lunch I wrote some letters then went across & got changed &
ready to go up to the trenches - had a cup of tea & then set off in the
motor wagon with the men & material, got to Bapaume Post, gave each man
a load & wet them off, told them to go up the road & over the top to
High St. When the infantry fatigue came I gave them each their load &
set off up the main road. We went the whole way over the top until we came
across the front trench & then jumped down. I found that the men I had
sent on were afraid of the moonlight & had taken to the communication
trench which was a yard deep in mud. O.C. came up later & twisted? Me
for losing the men but he himself lost half the fatigue party which he
piloted back. Inspected the workings at night & found all very quiet. A
mine was exploded at |
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[2Lt A J Latham joins from No 4 GBD] |
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[53 Bde Op
Order: 179 & 185 Coys attached to 96th
Bde from this date] |
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‘Up at 8am & had some breakfast, I did not
sleep much as reports were coming in all night. I arranged a special
listening time with Tomlinson & went into the galleries at 9.00 &
was pleased to find we drew a blank, the same applies to the midday &
night reports - it has been a fine day, the NF’s have taken over & seem
a better lot than the last. Cutts came up in the afternoon & Tomlinson
went down. Hall also came up instead of |
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The 96th Bde took over lines from 53
Bde. Commenced new shaft 200 ft SE of Lochnagar Shaft at
corner of Bonnimuir & Kingsgate Sts. |
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‘Did not get to bed until near 3 & Cutts came
in at 6 making a row & put an end to sleep. About 7 he |
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‘Got up at 8, it was dull but no rain so after
breakfast I hunted up certain stores & then got Jess & rode to Meault for letters & saw Capt. Wellsley
who told me that they had had a bad blow yesterday 8am & lost 17 men.
Later, I met Harrison who told me all about it. They walked back to Albert
with me & we had some refreshment in the local cafe. In the afternoon I
wrote some letters & sent my badges off to the Mater. Capt.
Richardson went up to the trenches today & did not get back until night
- it was a beastly wet day & he complained of being tired. I slacked about all the rest
of the day & have gone to bed early. 9.20 - a shell has just burst
somewhere down the street. I heard it come whistling. It has disturbed the
men in the billets who are all chattering mingled with a mouth organ or
two.’ |
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… 12.25 pm Camouflet of 3000 lbs guncotton
fired in W mine at Tamping – 10 ft
solid followed by solid ?? & air spaces for a total distance of 81 ft
& back to the shaft. the tamping was probably more than was absolutely
necessary but as the gallery had twice before been damaged by enemy blows it
was thought advisable to give extra support as the first 40? ft requires to
be reopened. |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0257 [blue
circle, in front of Z, |
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[enemy fire 5
shells into Albert, 2 killed one a civilian] We exploded a camouflet near
Ilôt crater at |
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X.13.d E3 We
exploded a Camouflet near the Ilôt crater at [Trench]
120/121 E3 At |
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To 179th
Coy. Camouflet blown that morning, said to have caught Germans working. This in reply to Germans who blew on the
18th. Killing 3. Trench mortar 1 = 4 On the 19th killing = 5 After this blow
(the 19th) Infantry apparently walked off. Captain Hance ultimately succeeded in
collecting enough infantry to occupy inner edge of crater after chasing G’s
off. This O.C.’s
conduct is spoken of in the highest possible terms by the G.O.C. 18th
Div. 179th
up to strength & has 60 Brigade miners attached. New levels being run at 100 ft 6
shafts down & commencing to break out. A very good lot of officers, * Lt
H J Humphries [* ex Govt Insp of Mines] probably
the best & would make an excellent O.C. for one of the new Coy.s. To 185th also quartered in Albert. Has
10 shafts working 15 faces – depth 90ft – deepest level 120’. Company full
strength – none attached. 1
officer – Captain Bowen – too old can’t work & is an ex-professor. Came
from Remainder classified 3
V.G’s 8
Good 1
Fairly good (Recommend removal OC to request) 1 N.G. drinks 2
not yet arrived |
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‘Woke in good form this morning, day fairly fine.
After breakfast arranged that Jess should go down to the stables & told
Lightfoot to see about it at |
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At |
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… [MO 56 Fd Amb PM on Farnell died 23/12 death by heart failure following
alcoholic “gastritis”. |
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We exploded a
Camouflet near the Ilôt enemy replied with sausages … |
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Lt Penman to see
me & report progress at |
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‘Woke feeling stiff at |
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The transverse gallery from Z to G7 was holed
through. total length 460’. |
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‘Had a fairly good night’s sleep, had a walk out at
8am into the trenches & could hear enemy shouting a great deal then went
& had breakfast & had another walk out with a periscope & took
stock of enemy lines, all was very still & quiet & very few shots
were exchanged, made many useful observations then came back & the few
men who had to do duty came & were all treated & all went off to Albert
except Tomlinson & myself then the O.C. turned up with Hall & we
visited Inch St saps & arranged about the dumps. We had a long chat in
the dugout on various topics, then at 3.30 then decided we might as well get
along to the billets (shell has just fallen in the street) so we went off
down by the chateau & kept to the road in full view of the trenches but
cut diagonally over the country to Albert across ground strewn with scraps
of shells. However as it was Xmas day & pouring in torrents I don’t
suppose we were observed as no shot was fired. I got to my billet at 4.15
soaked through about the legs so had a hot bath & changed & felt
better, then went & had a cup of tea. A new officer arrived called
Smith. Read the newspaper & the had dinner at |
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[2Lt T H Smith arrives from No 4 GBD] |
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… [2Lt R N S
Fox 8/Norfolks & 16 ORs to [10am FGCM A/ii
Cpl Dewhurst R?] |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0244 [W or
W1 red tunnel] Camouflet 400lbs Ammonal fired |
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‘Rose from my plank bed in good time. It had rained
heavily all night but it was a fine morning. Had breakfast alone & got
away to the trenches before |
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12 |
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‘One does not get much of a rest as someone is
always coming in to report or to ask questions. I woke about 5 & found
the place jam? Full of smoke & saw that the paraffin stove was sending
out clouds. I thought it was on fire so I jumped up forgetting the floor was
all aswim with water & got my socks wet as I
had taken off my gum boots to sleep. I found my rubber shoes & put them
on & with the aid of a wet sandbag carried the lamp up into the open,
but the trouble was caused by an officer (Waterfield)
who had gone out very early having put his carpet slippers on to the stove
top to dry. He came back in time to get his share of the smoke. I had a busy
day going round & looking after the work, especially as the enemy
shelled us most of the day. A shell burst against us just as we came out of
one sap, wrote a couple of letters. Tommy came up at night & brought
Latham with him. Tommy made two journeys over the top for material & as
he came back he saw a man peep over the parapet then dart back but not
before he had hit him with his stick thinking it was a German but it had
been one of our men dodging. I decided to stay on until morning & talk
things over with Tommy.’ |
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Bonnimuir
Shaft head heavily shelled, no damage done to work but several miners &
infantry fatigue men were wounded. |
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A couple of
Camouflets were exploded by the enemy about |
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[trench] 119 E2
Enemy exploded a mine at |
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‘Kept being wakened all night long by NCOs bringing
in alarming reports & Germans firing shots underground etc. Was up at
7.30 & went out, it was a lovely morning & the colouring in the sky
was a lovely picture. Enemy had shelled Z dump all night & hindered the
work a good deal. After breakfast made out the reports & showed
Tomlinson how to do it. Tomlinson had brought in word that Cutts was to go
on leave & he jumped about like an excited child so at about 10am Cutts
& I set off for Albert via chateau, he half ran but I went a steady pace
as the mud was very greasy in places. I cautioned Cutts but finally he
slipped & fell full length & went steadier afterwards. As they shelled
our road we walked through the fields. O.C. greeted me cheerily as I came in
& said we would have a chat after - went & had a hot bath & then
off back & had lunch after which had a long conversation re the officers
& the work. They plagued Cutts at dinner until he thought he was not
going to get home. Enemy had an observation baloon
up away on the Bapaume road this afternoon’ |
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… 12 |
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[10/Essex,
morning occupy sector just n of Becourt. the 2
CTS, Becourt Ave & Berkshire Ave, almost
impassable, so Bn had to march overland to avoid
mud, by Meaulte, Becordel
& Becourt, a fatiguing business & a long
way round. The left coy was on the fringe of La Boisselle and not more than
50 yds from enemy. The spot was named ‘the Glory
Hole’ because of its unsavoury reputation for mining and trench mortars, but
the |
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Mine was
exploded in the Ilôt at |
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[179 & 185 Coys att to 53 Bde from this
date] |
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‘Slept very heavily & did not get up till 8.40,
then after breakfast went into orderly room & had a long chat to O.C.
& arranged new lists for officers there. Col. Danford came & spent a
long time here & also Capt. Logan who stayed to lunch. Saw a dozen
aeroplanes up over the lines - think they had been raiding & all day
long there has been a cannonade. Wrote some letters & as I had A bad
headache went over to my billet to get some tablets. It started to rain
again & it has been very wet ever since O.C. went up to trenches about
4o’clock & did not get back again until 8. A new officer arrived
tonight. Am off to bed early tonight , it is wonderful how one looks forward to getting into one’s bed & thinks of
the luxury of it after nights on a 9” plank.’ |
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[2Lt H O Routledge arr from Commenced to drive due N. from bottom of Z shaft. |
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During the day
about 50 Enemy’s Rifle Grenades and a few wizzbangs
behind Rigth Front coy HQ (junction of Kingsgate
& Lochnagar Street) on to a “Dump” of sandbags from Miners [added belong
185th RE] Shaft in Lochnagar St. Work during day
fatigues on Mines in 119 & 116 also fatigues on “dugouts” … |
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‘Slept well, was up in good time & went over to
breakfast with Hall after which went into orderly room & drew up a new
programme of officers. Got a tracing made of the workings then had a look at
the listening reports with O.C. who decided that we had better mine the
gallery of F1 & get it fired as soon as possible so sent & got 3000 of
high explosive (Ammonal) Had a busy time testing new listening apparatus
& finally got ready for the trenches at 4pm & went up via the
chateau with a fatigue party who carried up the explosive. We set to work
right away & put the explosive in & had a pretty busy night. Howland
Smith & Latham laid the explosive & I superintended - visited them
several times & about midnight as I came out of the sap I slipped on the
mud just as I sprang into the trench & fell heavily back into the sap. I
hurt my back pretty badly but after I had gone & had a rest, felt
better.’ |
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Enemy suddenly commenced to work in a gallery under
our old system of workings. No sound had been heard here since the company
took over. A charge was put in during the night in the bottom of a shaft
sunk on to the lower level [?] & slightly below German working. Sounds
of working were so close that it was feared they would break in while the
charge was being laid. |
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… [ 11am Trench
Mortar wounded the following while entering the trenches for relief of men
on shift [4 named, of which 2 still on duty] |
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WO153/904 La
Boisselle Plan |
DSCF0242
[Mangin S1?, blue tunnel] Destroyed by enemy Camouflet |
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X.19.b.9.7,
X.20.a.0.6. E3 We exploded two mines at la Boisselle, at X.13.d.13.15 E3
Enemy fired a Camouflet at |
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La Boiselle 2 mines exploded by us at X.19.b.17 &
X.19.b.06 [?]. Enemy heard working in their galleries up to time of
explosion. [query date?] |
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31/12 3rd
Army GS WD |
[As above] Our
artillery and trench mortars co-operated. |
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11.0[?] pm to |
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[10/Essex, mine
exploded which blocked part of trench but was cleared during night.] |
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Immediately
after the mine exploded, [18lb c30 rds shrapnel]
forming a barrage over German trenches opposite 119. [6” How about 5 rds..] Two men gassed slightly from our own mine. Enemy made no
retaliation. … |
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‘Had a busy night looking after things, the men
stuck at it hard & the mine was finished at about |
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The charge put in yesterday was fired at A smaller camouflet of 3000 lbs GC was fired at the
same time to wreck another advancing gallery. A draft of 50 men arrived from No 4 GBD. Lt E Lyall was I charge of these operations &
carried them out very efficiently. The General situation is satisfactory. the main
line of defence is now practically finished but trouble must be expected as
the galleries move forward. from enemy workings that existed before the
Company took over the line, in which he is waiting for us & of which no
definite record has been kept. [sgd] T C |
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© Simon Jones 2006