Chronology of Tunnelling in the La Boisselle Sector December 1915

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La Boisselle Contents

Date/ Source	Mining	Infantry
1/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [2Lt J Gibson RE reports for duty. 2Lt G Buswell IAR short leave to England]
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.’
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.
2/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [2Lt R Hawtrey 2/ Northants returns from leave] 3.35pm Mine at T fired successfully
2/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0249 [shaft to left of D1, blue tunnel] Mine 8,000 lbs Ammonal fired 2/12/15
2/12/15 18 Div GS WD		119 E2 We exploded a mine at 8.30pm. Our trench mortars co-operated.
2/12/15 Essex S Bn History p147		[10/Essex, just entered trenches on Dec 2^nd 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.
2/12/15 10 Essex WD		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 179^th 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.
2/12/15 8/ Norfolk		[mine exploded in front of Duhollou. no damage was done.]
2/12/15 Lyall diary	‘Rainy morning. After breakfast went into Amiens with Rickards in car, called at Station & got my two packages from RTO then met Can’ Wilson who had just come come back from Paris. Rickards had gone to do some shopping. Went to look for car which we had left on the road side with a burst tyre. We had managed to get a lift on a passing motor bus- went & bought some small mementos for Mater & Dot (small selection) then went back & found car & Rickards - all went to have lunch - had dozen oysters to start with. After lunch went back to the Station & met O.C. who is his twin. Went & had lunch then all came back out to Albert. I went & changed & came back to the office & had a talk to the O.C. & gave him details of all that had happened during his absence & explained reason of changing mine. Had cup of tea & set off up to the trenches & never had such a filthy walk before. The trenches were swimming & a foot deep in many places in slurry mud but arrived in due course soaked with mud. Wrote instructions of what had to be done & then went off down into the mines - enemy were working at distance - no doubt scared by firing of a mine by 179 Co this afternoon. Am off home on Saturday with Lightfoot for leave.’
2/12/15 WD 185 Coy	Commenced to drive to North from G7 Main drive – defensive.
3/12/15 8/ Norfolk		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.
3/12/15 10 Essex WD		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.
3/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘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.’
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 50miles an hour on the long straight road. We arrived at Amiens all right at 7.10 & were not long in finding out that the time of departure was very uncertain as the post from Bethune was held up by a smash upon the line so we went out into the town & had a good breakfast in the end. We did not leave until 1.30 but as we had got luncheon baskets aboard we were all right. Mine provided food for 3 meals. We crawled down to Havre & arrived there 1.30am weary & tired. We were not long waiting & got on board the boat, Connaught of Dublin, & picked a place in the saloon where supper was laid & I had a good tuck in. It had rained all day but seemed to fair up in the night but came on to blow pretty hard, however , after supper Shute came & told me he had got me a berth so I went & curled? upon it & fell asleep. I was tired as I had not had a decent night’s rest for some time. Coming into Amiens in the morning we nearly had a collision with another bus just as it was getting light. He would not give way & when he saw we were behind he suddenly pulled up, however we managed to scramble past him. Boat left Havre at 2am.
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.
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
8/12/15 WD 185 Coy	Commenced low level drive at Lochnagar shaft. X.20.C. 95’ deep.
9/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [4pm 2Lt P J Bates short leave England & 14 OR] [10am Maj. Jones AOD inspected explosive magazines. ] 2.5pm charge of 900 lbs Ammonal in C2 fired successfully with artillery combination[?]. Enemy retaliated with shrapnel and a few “sausages”. No damage done to our trenches & no casualties to RE or infantry.
9/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0244 [blue tunnel C2] Charge fired 9/12/15 DSCF0244 [blue tunnel C1] Charge fired 9/12/15 DSCF0244 [W1 blue tunnel] Camouflet 9/12/15 DSCF0244 [W1 blue tunnel] Destroyed by Enemy blow 9/12/15
9/12/15 18 Div GS WD		X.13.d.6.0 E3 We successfully exploded a large mine at 2pm at La Boisselle, joining up the Mangin and Ilôt Craters. Enemy retaliated weakly. Siege and Field Guns immediately opened fire on hostile trenches in la Boisselle for quarter of an hour.
9/12/15 3^rd Army GS WD	[Report of X Corps Ops…] A charge of 9000 lbs of ammonal was exploded at 2pm on December 9^th, and existing craters were connected. it is believed that the enemy suffered severely.
9/12/15 8/ Norfolk		[E2. Mine exploded by us in front of trench 120. RFA co-operated. enemy retaliated with 6 whizz-bangs NE end of Atholl St.
9/12/15 10 Essex WD		2pm We fired a mine forming a crater between Mangin & large German crater. 6” Howitzers, 4.5” Howitzers and 18lbs all fired a few rounds each into La Boisselle after the mine exploded.
9/12/15 Pi Bn 13 History p67	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 …]
10/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… 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]
11/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [10am Logan & King go to trenches to make their observations]
11/12/15 Essex S Bn History p147		[when 19/LF take over on Dec 11^th, 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.]
11/12/15 10 Essex WD		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.
11/12/15 19 LF WD (96 Bde 32 Div)		The battn went into the trenches a took over E3 sector from the 10^th 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.
12/12/15 19 LF WD (96 Bde 32 Div)		… The trenches were getting worse and worse. Communication almost impossible between trenches.
12/12/15 6/ R Berks WD	2/Lt Knox – 185^th Tunnelling Co killed by enemy sniper while superintending mining.
12/12/15 WD 185 Coy	iiLt A R Knox RE was shot in the head at Z dump & killed instantly.
13/12/15 WD 185 Coy	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.
13/12/15 10 Corps A&QMG	[Knox killed, OR 3 W]
14/12/15 19 LF WD (96 Bde 32 Div)		… A number of men going sick with trench feet. Weather frosty.
15/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [2Lt H D Burton 10/Essex returns to duty with his unit]
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.

16/12/15 WD 185 Coy	Shelling of Z dump continued.
17/12/15 WD 185 Coy	Entrance to Z shaft smashed by trench mortar. Work very much hindered by continual shelling.
18/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… Enemy fired mine at 1.30pm near shaft S4 killing [Conn & Grice RE, & Frances 8/Suffolks Brigade Miner] After the mine a trench mortar killed [Sherwood 6/ R Berks Bde Miner]
18/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0242 [Mangin S1?, blue tunnel] Destroyed by Enemy Camouflet 18/12/15
18/12/15 18 Div GS WD		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 1.35pm at la Boisselle. One of our dug-outs damaged. Our artillery retaliated.
18/12/15 3^rd Army GS WD	[Report of Ops X corps…]At 11.45am on the 18^th 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.
18/12/15 3^rd Army CE WD	Lt Col Danford reported to take up appointment of Controller of Mines.
18/12/15 6/ R Berks WD	[WD 15/1/15] The news of the death, on the 18^th Dec of No 17467 Pte J Sherwood, attached to 179^th 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.’
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.
19/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… 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.
19/12/15 96 Bde WD		The enemy exploded a mine about 3.15pm near the Ilôt crater, followed by 36 shells from Trench Mortars and 50 or 60 whizzbangs causing a block for about 60 yards in Duhollou Trench…
19/12/15 18 Div GS WD		[WD entry:] 3.10pm Enemy exploded mine opposite La Boisselle near Ilôt – X.13.d.6.0. The mine killed two men in a sentry post – and the Germans occupied their side of the crater. The 16^th Lancs Fusiliers – assisted by 6^th Royal Berks – organised bombing party to drive them out. [mines digest entry:] … enemy exploded a mine near the Ilôt at 3.10pm. No damage to our parapets. Immediately after explosion enemy fired about 20 Trench Mortar bombs. Our Artillery retaliated silencing the enemy’s trench mortars. [see also DSCF0085-86 ac of patrol in nml E2 by sap heard, poss mining & blasting, at time mine goes up]
19/12/15 3^rd Army CE WD	Enemy exploded mine X13D60 this afternoon without damage to our front line. Visited 3^rd Army Mine Rescue School Ribemont. Found to be in very satisfactory state. Controller of Mines returned to Mericourt.
19/12/15 3^rd Army GS WD	[Report of Ops on X Corps …] At 3.10pm on the 19^th he exploded a mine at X.13.d.6/0 without damaging our front line.
19/12/15 6/ R Berks WD		At 3.25pm the enemy exploded a mine on our L. Their trench mortars and field guns co-operated. No harm was done to us by mine or shell.
19/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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 3pm by the enemy. I was sitting in the mess room at Albert at the time & felt it & said a mine had gone off.’
19/12/15 WD 185 Coy	[2Lt A J Latham joins from No 4 GBD]
20/12/15 8/Suffolk WD	[53 Bde Op Order: 179 & 185 Coys attached to 96^th Bde from this date]
20/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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 Rickards who I am afraid is breaking down. The Primus stove burst in the dugout kitchen just after tea, set fire to it, we had a job to get it out. Wrote some letters after dinner or rather after I had been down the galleries again. Officer of the NFs came into the dugout after dinner & had chat - he knows many people I know in Co. Durham.’
20/12/15 WD 185 Coy	The 96^th Bde took over lines from 53 Bde. Commenced new shaft 200 ft SE of Lochnagar Shaft at corner of Bonnimuir & Kingsgate Sts.
21/12/15 Lyall diary	‘Did not get to bed until near 3 & Cutts came in at 6 making a row & put an end to sleep. About 7 he wa------? to spill paraffin in the dugout so I made a noise, he had some things to say but I closed his mouth. Went round listening in the galleries & came out by Inch Street, a long round & felt pretty well tired. Arranged with Wilson to come out just before dark & did so round by the chateau which gave us a short length of trench but a long length of road & was much easier than the usual road. Felt a mine go up about 5am but could not find out where it was. Had a good hot bath in my room then dinner & soon off to bed. It had rained all day & was beastly.’
22/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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.’
23/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… 12.25 pm Camouflet of 3000 lbs guncotton fired in W mine at 12.25pm successfully. L L R – 20 – 25 ft estimated distance to enemy’s gallery. 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. 7.30pm Spr Farnell S died [alcohol]
23/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0257 [blue circle, in front of Z, Fairmaid St] Enemy Blow 23/12/15
23/12/15 96 Bde WD		[enemy fire 5 shells into Albert, 2 killed one a civilian] We exploded a camouflet near Ilôt crater at 12.25pm which improved our field of fire. [sic] Enemy replied with “sausages” and Artillery & we replied … at 3.10pm Enemy explode mine opposite junction of 120, 121 Trench E3 sub sector. No damage reported
23/12/15 18 Div GS WD		X.13.d E3 We exploded a Camouflet near the Ilôt crater at 12.25pm. enemy replied with Trench Mortar Bombs and Artillery. [Trench] 120/121 E3 At 3.10pm the enemy exploded a mine. No damage done to our trenches.
23/12/15 Norton Griffiths Diary Nat. Archives WO158/129	To 179^th Coy. Camouflet blown that morning, said to have caught Germans working. This in reply to Germans who blew on the 18^th. Killing 3. Trench mortar 1 = 4 On the 19^th killing = 5 After this blow (the 19^th) 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. 18^th Div. 179^th 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 185^th 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 E. Yorks via England. Remainder classified 3 V.G’s 8 Good 1 Fairly good (Recommend removal OC to request) 1 N.G. drinks 2 not yet arrived
23/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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 noon. He had not taken her at 1 so I looked for him & found him beastly drunk in her stable but fast asleep so I urge him lie still in the stable & sleep it off, he took her down in the afternoon in a half stupid condition. Major Norton Griffiths called on O.C. in the afternoon at 2 & left some port & a plum pudding. Had a talk with the O.C. re the mines & decided I would go up at night instead of tomorrow night so set off with Tomlinson at 4.30 & went over the top to the trenches, it was a bad looking night. When we got to the trench someone said we were wanted at once at the dugout, it seems that the enemy had blown a camouflet near our galleries & gassed 2 of our men to death, one other they had managed to revive but Cutts had gone down again & was missing so Tommy & Howland put on Salvo sets & went down F4. I went too but did not bother with the Salvo as the air seemed clear. We searched the workings but could find no one, only dead mice & a cat or two. Howland had not gone far before he was gassed as his set did not work right. I took him to some fresh air then after we had finished the search we all came out & then learned that Cutts had come out by the Inch St sap & was all right. As we came along, the trench was blocked by men carrying Capt.Linsey on a stretcher who had been shot through the thigh. I had spoken to him as I went down F4 - came back to dugout & wrote report to O.C. then had some dinner & read the paper I had brought up with me. At 11.45pm Tommy & I & a new officer Latham Made a tour of the galleries but all was quite quiet. It was pouring a deluge of rain.’
23/12/15 WD 185 Coy	At 3.3 pm a camouflet was fired by the enemy in front of D4 shaft. No damage was done to the galleries but the charge being fired in already blown ground gave off a great deal of gas & two men in the listening galleries were killed by it before they could get out. iiLt L E Cutts went down at once with Salvus apparatus but the men were dead before discovered.
24/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [MO 56 Fd Amb PM on Farnell died 23/12 death by heart failure following alcoholic “gastritis”. 5pm buried Albert Mil cem]
24/12/15 96 Bde WD		We exploded a Camouflet near the Ilôt enemy replied with sausages …
24/11/15 [check] 3^rd Army CE WD	Lt Penman to see me & report progress at Mine Rescue School.
24/12/15 Lyall diary	‘Woke feeling stiff at 5am & went round the galleries at 6 & then came back to the dugout. It was pouring with rain & the trenches were knee deep in mud & water - met the bodies of our two men being carried out - laid down on my plank for another hour’s sleep - after breakfast wrote out report & the tried to get a bit of rest but at midday or shortly after O.C. 7 Hall came up having heard that we were buried in the dugout - O.C. had a look round then came back to cabin & had chat telling me that he intended putting myself & Tomlinson in charge of all work in this part of the line & that we would have to arrange officers etc - went down again into saps but all was quiet. It was arranged that all men who had overstayed their leave were to come & work Xmas day & lots were drawn for an officer to stay up with them - the lot fell to Hall much to his disgust.’
24/12/15 WD 185 Coy	The transverse gallery from Z to G7 was holed through. total length 460’.
25/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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 7pm - had roast goose & plum pudding with two or three other courses. The Canadian & Shute vied with each other in making a noise & doing things wrong & after dinner got people up proposing each other’s toasts & such like. Tommy got very merry. I left with Hill about 11 & came over to have a night’s rest as I am to go up again tonight. All the troops seem very quiet in the town. A band was playing hymns at the back of the Bosh lines this morning but they were not asleep as they shot an NF sniper about 8am.’
25/12/15 WD 185 Coy	[2Lt T H Smith arrives from No 4 GBD]
26/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [2Lt R N S Fox 8/Norfolks & 16 ORs to England short leave] [10am FGCM A/ii Cpl Dewhurst R?]
26/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0244 [W or W1 red tunnel] Camouflet 400lbs Ammonal fired 26/12/15
26/12/15 Lyall diary	‘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 9am, went via chateau & in due course arrived at our dugout. Spent most of the time making new arrangements for officers & NCO’s duties. Germans were getting very heavily shelled all day at Fricourt opposite the Tambour. It came on to rain in the afternoon, visited all the drives & dumps then got to bed about midnight on my 9” plank. As our dugout rains in or rather drops of water fall from the roof everywhere it is difficult to keep one’s blanket dry, however I managed to get fixed up so that the drops fell just clear of me. One of the bunks was full of water & we used it to wash our hands in.’
27/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	12 noon CO left on 48 hours leave to First Army area. 6pm Lts Creswick & McKay White went to Thiepval (8/ Liverpool Regt) to investigate sounds of supposed enemy. They reported that they were satisfied that the sounds were not due to mining.
27/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘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.’
27/12/15 WD 185 Coy	Bonnimuir Shaft head heavily shelled, no damage done to work but several miners & infantry fatigue men were wounded.
28/12/15 96 Bde WD		A couple of Camouflets were exploded by the enemy about 3.45pm opposite trench 117 and 118 little damage was done. This was followed by a bombardment of sausages into E2 sub sector …
28/12/15 18 Div GS WD		[trench] 119 E2 Enemy exploded a mine at 4.25pm, followed by Artillery fire and trench mortar bombs. Parapets of trenches 113 and 115 were damaged. Our machine guns opened fire on enemy trenches.
28/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘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’
29/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… 12 noon OC returned from First Army area.
29/12/15 Essex S Bn History p149		[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 Essex came to the conc that it was not as bad as the Ilôt. The enemy was not so bear on the right but anxiety caused by a certain amount of ‘dead ground’. “The trenches near L Boisselle were chiefly in chalk, and so held but two or three inches of mud; those farther south were in a heavy dark soil and so were deep in mud. Only the tallest med were able to pass along this front line in high waders and get no liquid mud in their boots. The Colonel was a little man and he disappeared in the mud to a point quite half-way up his stomach. The front line was the worst. Company headquarters at one point were under a huge mine shaft-dump about 100 yards from the front line, a colossal mountain of white chalk burrowed from the bowels of the earth. This was the well-known Lochnagar Sap, which was successfully excavated at three different levels right under the enemy’s front and support lines…” .. Bn had first exp of lachry shells.
29/12/15 16 NF WD (96 Bde 32 Div)		Mine was exploded in the Ilôt at 3.31pm which was followed immediately by enemy’s T.M. … relieved by 10^th Essex…
29/12/15 8/Suffolk WD	[179 & 185 Coys att to 53 Bde from this date]
29/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘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.’
29/12/15 WD 185 Coy	[2Lt H O Routledge arr from England] Commenced to drive due N. from bottom of Z shaft.
30/12/15 10 Essex WD		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 185^th RE] Shaft in Lochnagar St. Work during day fatigues on Mines in 119 & 116 also fatigues on “dugouts” …
30/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘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.’
30/12/15 WD 185 Coy	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.
31/12/15 War Diary 179 Coy Nat. Archives WO95/244	… [2pm 2Lt W Hudson to 21 CCS] 5.30pm Enemy camouflet fired under S4 workings [Casualties Hornsey & Jones] 11am Trench Mortar wounded the following while entering the trenches for relief of men on shift [4 named, of which 2 still on duty]
31/12/15 WO153/904 La Boisselle Plan	DSCF0242 [Mangin S1?, blue tunnel] Destroyed by enemy Camouflet 31/12/15
31/12/15 18 Div GS WD		X.19.b.9.7, X.20.a.0.6. E3 We exploded two mines at la Boisselle, at 11.45am. Enemy’s retaliation was weak. Our artillery and Trench Mortars co-operated. Enemy heard working up to the time we left our galleries, and were probably caught in three places. X.13.d.13.15 E3 Enemy fired a Camouflet at 4.50pm. 30 feet of our galleries were destroyed. Artillery active on both sides.
31/12/15 3^rd Army CE WD	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?]
31/12 3^rd Army GS WD	[As above] Our artillery and trench mortars co-operated.
31/12/15 8/Suffolk WD		11.30am Mine exploded by us on right of our sector. Damage unknown. 4.55pm Enemy blew a mine in Ilot, very little damage done. 7.30pm Enemy exploded a mine on our right. 11.0[?] pm to 11.30pm Enemy opened fire with rifles, MGs and artillery, probably celebrating the close of the old year and opening of New Year. [German time ahead?]
31/12/15 Essex S Bn History p149		[10/Essex, mine exploded which blocked part of trench but was cleared during night.]
31/12/15 10 Essex WD		11.45am We exploded a mine (F) in front of trench 119. very slight crater formed, a part of our own trench Fairmaid is blocked, this will be cleared tonight. 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. … 4.50pm Enemy fired a mine on the left of our sub-sector in the neighbourhood of Ilôt no further action by enemy. all quiet during evening.
31/12/15 Lyall Diary	‘Had a busy night looking after things, the men stuck at it hard & the mine was finished at about 9am & tamping began at 9.30. I went to Battalion H.Q. & saw the Col. of the X Essex & informed him that we were about to fire the mines, also informed others concerned. All being ready & the reports that all was clear having been received, we blew both mines at 11.45 whilst the men in the German galleries were still busy at work. The mines did not make a crater. O.C. came up just before tea? I had some with us & at 5 we felt another mine go off . We went into Inch St sap & found all in order, then met the Col. of the X Essex & had a chat with him then went back to dugout & the enemy poured shells into G7 sap & broke top of the shaft in which caused alarm in the galleries. Curiously enough a man had been at work there & had come away about 3 minutes before suffering from gas, so his life was saved. Went back down into the galleries & found that all was right but a lot of debris laid at G7 shaft bottom - came back up & found that O.C had gone. At 7.30 felt another mine go off but did not affect us. Had dinner , arranged work & settled down to sleep at 10pm - felt another mine go off at 11.30. Heard a lark singing over the trenches today during a blink of sun & could see it soaring over in the sky.’
31/12/15 WD 185 Coy	The charge put in yesterday was fired at 11.45 am enemy working was continuing vigorously when the men were withdrawn to fire the charge. 6000 lbs of Ammonal & Guncotton (half of each) depth 70 ft no crater formed. 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 Richardson Capt RE OC 185^th Co RE

© Simon Jones 2006