The following is an extract from the war diary for the 1st Battalion covering the period from 1st May to the 2nd July 1916. It will give the reader some idea of what the battalion was doing during its time on the Western Front. As you will note this is the build up to the battle that is synonymous in British Military history...The first day of the Battle of the Somme.
1st Monmouthshire Regt.
CO Lt Col Evill
2inC Maj. F J Trump
May 1st
2/Lt R K Wellsteed reported for duty from 3rd Line
May 2nd
A Coy and details of B, C and D Coys inspected by CO
May 3rd
Orders received that the regiment would be relieved on May 5th of all work now on hand by the 18th Cheshires and that the battalion would concentrate at Maizieres on the 5th. Orders issued to all except by the 3officers and 120 men employed on Light Railway Company to rendezvous at Agnieres the night of 4th. CO inspected C and D Coys at Acq.
All Coys arrived at Agnieres by 7 p.m. and were billeted for the night.
Lt J R Evans went on leave. A draft of 152 men arrived from Base, these men were sent out by the Reserve Battalion and are mainly old 2nd Line men who were sent to the 3rd Line when the 2nd Line was reorganised to train Derby reserves. 11 old BEF men arrived with the draft.
Battalion paraded 9.30 a.m. and marched to Maizieres. The day was exceedingly hot and oppressive and although the distance was only 8 miles a considerable number of men fell out. In every case they were recent draft men. Battalion marched into Maizieres about 1 p.m. and billeted there the night.
May 6th
Battalion paraded 7 a.m. and marched to Beaudricourt (6 ½ miles) arrived at 9.30 a.m. No men fell out and the day was much cooler than yesterday. Billeted the night at Beaudricourt.
May 7th
Battalion paraded 11 a.m. and marched to Pommier (11 miles). No men fell out and a halt was made at 1 p.m. for dinner. Battalion arrived at 4.30 p.m. and was billeted. This village is about 2 ½ miles behind the line but has not been shelled.
May 8th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys
May 9th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys
May 10th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys. A Dinner and concert was held in a large barn for the survivors of May 8th 1915 (2nd Battle of Ypres).
May 11th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys
May 12th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys. GOC, 46th Division visited billets.
2/Lts T O Jones, S Murray, C H Chapman reported for duty from the Reserve Battalion.
May 13th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys.
Rapid wiring training and bayonet fighting is being carried out.
2/Lts E P H Land, G Harley reported for duty from Reserve Battalion.
May 14th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys and as above
Draft of 8 men arrived from Base
May 15th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys and as above
100 men inoculated
May 16th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys and as above
100 men inoculated.
May 17th
100 men inoculated.
Lt Col Evill returned from leave and resumed command of the battalion.
May 18th
Coys at disposal of OC Coys
May 19th
A party of 2 officers and 100 ORs detached to work on Humbercamps-St Amand road. Remainder of regiment carried on with training in bayonet fighting, bombing, etc.
May 20th
Coys carried on as usual with training
May 21st
Church parade 12 noon. Coys at disposal of OC Coys for remainder of day. Personnel of transport inspected at 10 a.m. by CO.
May 22nd
A fatigue party of 320 ORs found for digging a trench to bury telephone wires from Souastre to Fonquevillers. Dimensions of trench 2 ft wide and 6 ft deep.
Fatigue also found of 1 officer and 25 men for work Advanced Divisional HQ at St Amand. Total number of men daily on fatigue work 425 men with NCOs, officers in proportion.
May 23rd
CO inspected A Coy at 3.30 p.m. Fatigue parties found as yesterday. One NCO or man per platoon is parading daily under Lt R K Wellsteed for a week for instruction in bayonet fighting, these 16 NCOs and men when trained will be used for instructing their platoons at the first opportunity.
May 24th
Fatigue parties found as usual. CO inspected the 2 platoons of C and D Coys that are on day fatigue.
May 25th
Fatigues found as usual. Lt N T C Llewellin went on leave.
May 26th
Fatigues found as usual. Draft of 36 ORs arrived from Base, 30 from Reserve Battalion and 6 from Base Hospitals.
Coys started to dig shelter trenches behind the village for use in case the village is shelled. This appears likely as heavy guns are being placed behind the Orderly Room: one 12” gun will probably be placed near the transport field.
May 27th
CO inspected the 2 platoons of C and D Coys that are working by night. Fatigues found as usual.
May 28th
Church parade 12 noon. Orders received to detail 6 officers and 180 men to construct Russian saps from the front line out towards the German trenches. These Russian saps are tunnels out from the front trench approximately 18” below the ground level. Fatigues found as usual.
After tonight the digging of the cable trench is to be handed over to the 138th Brigade. A complimentary word received from GOC.
May 29th
B Coy marched out at 9 a.m. to Fonquevillers. This Coy is to be billeted there and carry on the work of making the Russian saps. CO and Maj. Trump attended conference at 139th Brigade HQ and afterwards inspected points where saps are to be made. A Coy marched to Fonquevillers at 8.30 p.m. to billets there. This company is to work on dug outs and advanced battalion HQ for the 139th Brigade.
May 30th
Maj. Trump and Adjutant visited companies at Fonquevillers. Work on saps continued.
The following officers reported for duty:
Lt J Jordan-Lloyd
2/Lt D D Walrond Skinner
2/Lt L G W S Jones
2/Lt A H Lewis
2/Lt G Smart
2/Lt A E F Huggins
May 31st
CO and Maj. Trump visited work in line; 4 saps started. Each one has been driven about 8 yards
Strength of unit today: 37 officers and 736 ORs.
June 1st
CO and Maj. Trump inspected saps. Length to noon:
No. 1 33 ft total length
No. 2 Delayed by old trench
No. 3 36 ft total length
No. 4 30 ft total length
June 2nd
CO and Maj. Trump inspected saps. Length to noon:
No. 1 35 ft total length
No. 2 36 ft total length
No. 3 60 ft total length
No. 4 52 ft total length
One platoon D Coy sent to Fonquevillers and attached to B Coy and to act as carrying party for saps. 2 platoons C Coy sent to Fonquevillers for work in conjunction with A Coy.
June 3rd
No. 1 73 ft total length
No. 2 50 ft total length
No. 3 80 ft total length
No. 4 62 ft total length
Capt. (Temp Lt Col) C A Evill gazetted DSO.
June 4th
Maj. Trump and Adjutant visited work and saps at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 97 ft total length
No. 2 70 ft total length
No. 3 100 ft total length
No. 4 86 ft total length
June 5th
Maj. Trump and Adjutant visited work and saps at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 120 ft total length
No. 2 93 ft total length
No. 3 122 ft total length
No. 4 107 ft total length
June 6th
Maj. Trump and Adjutant visited work and saps at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 136 ft total length
No. 2 117 ft total length
No. 3 142 ft total length
No. 4 130 ft total length
Capt. and Adjutant R C L Thomas went on leave.
June 7th
CO and MGO inspected saps. Maj. Trump and 2/Lt Harby attended demonstration of hydraulic jacks and boring instruments.
No. 1 159 ft total length
No. 2 139 ft total length
No. 3 169 ft total length
No. 4 152 ft total length
June 8th
CO at Fonquevillers reconnoitring new work to be done by the battalion. Maj. Trump inspected saps
No. 1 176 ft total length
No. 2 149 ft total length
No. 3 191 ft total length
No. 4 171 ft total length
Progress on No. 1 and 2 delayed owing to shell holes being encountered.
June 9th
CO and Maj. Trump at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 195 ft total length
No. 2 168 ft total length
No. 3 214 ft total length
No. 4 191 ft total length
An old trench encountered in No. 1 with French cartridge cases. The following officers reported for duty from the Reserve Battalion: 2/Lt J Jenkyn, 2/Lt J Edwards, 2/Lt C Jeffs.
June 10th
CO at Fonquevillers. Maj. Trump attended demonstration of hydraulic pipe forcing jacks at Briquetterie.
No. 1 214 ft total length
No. 2 188 ft total length
No. 3 235 ft total length
No. 4 212 ft total length
Capt. A L Evans wounded in head by shell fire. Lt J Jordan Lloyd assumed command of B Coy as from today.
June 11th
CO and Maj. Trump inspected saps at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 231 ft total length
No. 2 205 ft total length
No. 3 256 ft total length
No. 4 230 ft total length
June 12th
CO and Maj. Trump inspected works at Fonquevillers with CRE, 46th Division.
No. 1 251 ft total length
No. 2 225 ft total length
No. 3 275 ft total length
No. 4 249 ft total length
A draft of 35 ORs arrived from the Base of which 2 Sgts and 5 Rfn had previously been with this unit in France. These men were sent out from the Reserve Battalion.
June 13th
CO and Maj. Trump to Fonquevillers.
No. 1 271 ft total length
No. 2 246 ft total length
No. 3 299 ft total length
No. 4 266 ft total length
June 14th
CO and Maj. Trump up to Fonquevillers – CRE, 46th Division interviewed CO regarding alternations of direction of No. 4 Sap and placing of Trench mortar positions.
No. 1 290 ft total length
No. 2 263 ft total length
No. 3 321 ft total length
No. 4 284 ft total length
In accordance with Army Order and in conformity with French Daylight Saving Act all watches were advanced 60 minutes at 11 p.m. making new time midnight.
2/Lt Fisher went on short leave.
June 15th
CO and Maj. Trump to Fonquevillers to meet CRE. Work on saps Nos. 2, 3 and 4 to be discontinued during the night. A trench mortar position is to be constructed off No. 1 and off No. 4 saps.
No. 1 312 ft total length
No. 2 279 ft total length
No. 3 340 ft total length
No. 4 305 ft total length
In the afternoon, GOC Division called at Battalion HQ and congratulated the CO on the excellent work done by this unit especially in regard to the Russian saps. Maj. Thorpe (GSO 1) who was with him also expressed admiration for the way the battalion had worked. The GOC desired a complimentary message to appear on tonight’s orders.
Extract from battalion orders:
The GOC has expressed his admiration for the splendid work being done by this battalion at the present time and that this should be published in battalion orders.
The Commanding Officer feels sure that all ranks will be spurred to even greater efforts by this congratulatory message.
June 16th
CO and Maj. Trump all day at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 328 ft total length
No. 2 316 ft total length
No. 3 359 ft total length
No. 4 329 ft total length
Nos. 1 and 4 have been hurried in preparation for making trench mortar emplacements. This was the first fine day for the past fortnight. The continued rain has made the trenches in an appalling condition, the mud being knee high in many places.
1 OR wounded in head, not serious.
June 17th
CO and Maj. Trump inspected work at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 328 ft total length
No. 2 316 ft total length
No. 3 379 ft total length
No. 4 329 ft total length
Trench mortar emplacements have been made on Nos. 2 and 4 by driving an extra length of shaft to the right for about 6 yards at 320 ft on No. 2 and 317 ft on No. 4.
June 18th
Work inspected by CO and Maj. Trump
No. 1 339 ft total length
No. 2 329 ft total length
No. 3 400 ft total length
No. 4 348 ft total length
2 OR wounded by shell. The following officers of this unit were mentioned in a Dispatch from the CinC to the Sec of State for War dated April 30th
Capt. (Temp Lt Col) C A Evill
2/Lt (Temp Lt) C Kirby
June 19th
Usual inspections of work. Casualties: 1 killed, 5 wounded caused by shell bursting in a dugout by Fonquevillers Church.
No. 1 359 ft total length
No. 2 338 ft total length
No. 3 418 ft total length
No. 4 366 ft total length
90th Siege Bty RGA, 9.2” howitzers have been moved into Pommier.
June 20th
Usual inspections of work. The platoons of D Coy which have been working on Advanced Divisional HQ at St Amand has now completed the work and is being sent up to Fonquevillers to help with work there.
No. 1 378 ft total length
No. 2 354 ft total length
No. 3 436 ft total length
No. 4 386 ft total length
June 21st
Usual inspections of work. Conference of OC Coys with CO at Fonquevillers.
No. 1 393 ft total length
No. 2 375 ft total length
No. 3 459 ft total length
No. 4 408 ft total length
Divisional orders received that on the night of the 22nd and 23rd the front line of the Division will be advanced a distance of 150 yards.
June 22nd
Usual inspections of work.
No. 1 410 ft total length
No. 2 399 ft total length
No. 3 476 ft total length
No. 4 430 ft total length
Orders received to move tomorrow to huts at Pas.
Divisional front line advanced 150 yards as described yesterday.
Lt C T Vachell rejoined from Hospital and posted to command A Coy.
June 23rd
Orders issued to all details at Fonquevillers to proceed to Pas huts after dusk with the exception of 96 men of B Coy under Lt Jordan-Lloyd and 2/Lts Harley and Edwards who are being left to push on No. 2 sap to the advanced front line trench.
Remainder of battalion and transport moved to Pas huts starting at 12 noon. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. a very heavy thunderstorm passed over with intense rain and as Lt and Qtmaster R H Martin was riding on to the new transport field at Pas he was struck by lightning, thrown from his horse and badly injured.
Details from Fonquevillers arrived at 2.30 a.m. wet to the skin, rain had fallen very heavily from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. 24th. The front line trenches at Fonquevillers were thigh high in water and the communication trenches were also about 3 ft deep.
June 24th
Whole of day spent in clearing up men and their clothing and equipment. After being a month at Fonquevillers the clothes had got into an extremely bad condition. 46th Divisional baths at Grincourt allotted to this unit from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Heavy rain fell at intervals during the morning but cleared off about midday.
In the operation orders, today is known as U Day and is the first of the bombardment which will last 5 days being designated U, V, W, X, Y, Z Days. Zero being the hour of attack on Z Day.
A letter M cut in black cloth 2 inches square has been adopted as a distinguishing mark to be worn by the NCOs and men, with the sanction of the GOC, 46th Division. The M is sewn on the back of the jacket in the centre and 1 inch below the collar.
June 25th
Battalion inspected at 9.15 a.m. by GOC, 46th Division who first addressed and then inspected it.
Stuart Wortley:
“I wish to thank the officers, warrant officers, NCOs and men of this battalion for the splendid manner in which they have carried out the work allotted to them recently, more especially with regard to the Russian saps.
Ever since this battalion has been in my division it has done its work to the greatest satisfaction of all concerned and I look forward with the utmost confidence to the work to be done by this regiment in the future.”
At 10.30 a.m. 15 German aeroplanes flew over Pas and surrounding villages and bombed all camps as they passed overhead. A number of bombs were dropped near the huts occupied by this unit but no damage was done.
The 3 officers and 96 men left behind at Fonquevillers to finish No. 2 sap marched into camp at 8 p.m. having completed the work.
The trenches are still very wet, the water being knee deep and over in most places.
V Day of bombardment.
June 26th
Companies at disposal of OC Coys. B Coy bathed.
W Day of bombardment.
June 27th
B Coys paraded 2 p.m. and marched to Fonquevillers. This company is to open up the Russian saps under the direction of Maj. Trump. Work is to commence about 8 p.m.
Officers marching out with this Coy:
2/Lt T Edwards, i/c clearing no. 1 sap
2/Lt C M Chapman, i/c clearing No. 2 sap
2/Lt N C D Harris, i/c clearing No. 4 sap
2/Lt G Harley, i/c clearing No. 3 sap
2/Lt L G W S Jones, runner to Maj. Trump
Lt J Jordan-Lloyd, OC B Coy, i/c clearing Nos. 1 and 2 saps
Lt R Rutherford, i/c clearing Nos. 3 and 4 saps
X Day of bombardment.
June 28th
Orders received at 2.30 p.m. that all moves are postponed for the present. This necessitated recalling the Transport and details which had marched a short distance from camp to La Bazeque Farm near Humbercamps where battalion HQ is to be established and Transport parked.
Y Day of bombardment.
June 29th
Battalion remained in camp at Pas and was inspected by CO at 2.30 p.m. Maj. Trump returned from Fonquevillers during the night and reported the work satisfactory and that the saps were ready to be opened the following night.
Y1 Day of bombardment
During the night orders were received from the 46th Division that the battalion would continue the saps by an open trench to within 100 yards of the German line to within 100 yards of the German line on the following night previous to the assault.
June 30th
Battalion less B Coy paraded at 10.30 a.m. and marched to Souastre where dinners were given to the men by the side of the road. The CO saw the GOC 139th Brigade in order to arrange details of assembly trenches in consequence of the new scheme. It was decided by the Brigadier that the men working on the two saps in his area should remain in the saps for the night and proceed with the work as soon as the attack was launched.
The Battalion then proceeded through Souastre along the Souastre-Bienvillers road by companies and debouched across the open country to the right. Nos. 1 and 2 sap parties proceeding by D track and Nos. 3 and 4 sap parties by C track to the western edge of Fonquevillers. This country was under observation and open but no artillery fire was drawn on the parties.
The CO then proceeded to the 137th Brigade for instruction as to places of assembly for Nos. 1 and 2 sap parties and, after a lengthy discussion owing to the difficulties arising from the withdrawal of the sap parties possibly blocking the assembly of the attacking battalions, it was decided to withdraw these parties to assembly trenches in rear at 2 a.m. During the discussion a message was received to the effect that ZERO would be 7.30 a.m. the next morning (Zero being the code word used for the time of attack). As the saps had been ordered to be opened it was apparent that the men if assembled in them would be visible to the enemy for about 3 hours of daylight, the saps being straight and the ground sloping away towards the enemy positions, this necessitated an alteration of the arrangements made early in the day with the 139th Brigade who had decided to assemble the troops in the saps themselves. The CO then interviewed the Brigadier 139th Brigade and arranged for them to be withdrawn. This was at 7 p.m. and the parties had to be moved.
After consultation with the officers of B Coy parties were moved up at once to proceed with the opening of the saps as soon as it was dark and the remaining parties composed as follows:
No. 1 sap 1,2 and 3 platoons )
2/Lts T G Fry & E P H Lang ) Under Lt W L Roberts. These two saps were
No. 2 sap 4, 11 and 12 platoons ) in the 137th Brigade front and the platoons as
2/Lts G Smart & A W Goldsworthy ) detailed were attached to this Brigade
No. 3 sap 9, 10 and 15 platoons )
2/Lts N J Seline & C Jeffs ) Under Capt. K C Raikes. These two saps were
No. 4 sap 13, 14, 16 saps ) in the 139th Brigade front and the platoons as
2/Lts S Murray & J Jenkyn ) detailed were attached to this Brigade
were moved to their assembly trenches.
Instructions were now received that there would be an artillery bombardment up to 11 p.m. and that no work would be possible before that time, also that the Lewis Guns would be firing on the gaps in the German wire during the work and covering parties would have to keep close to the alignment of the trench.
B Coy completed the whole of their work in the allotted time and withdrew to Fonquevillers whence they marched to Pommier at 3.30 a.m. 1st July.
The whole of the work on the Russian saps including the opening up was done by B Coy under the direction of Maj. F J Trump and earned frequent praise from the GOC and CEs of the Third Army and VII Corps.
No. 1 sap party proceeded with their work on the termination of the bombardment and succeeded I n digging a trench in continuation of the sap for about a distance of 60 yards.
No. 2 sap party did likewise.
No. 3 sap party succeeded in marking out their trench and getting out their covering parties when a very severe fire was opened by the enemy all down the line causing a great number of casualties at all three points. 2/Lt N J Seline was badly wounded and lay for some time close to the German wire and refused to be moved until the work was in progress. He was brought in by 2/Lt Jeffs and an officer of the 5th Sherwoods who had been sent by Lt Col Wilson, the CO of the 5th Sherwoods for this purpose.
It is thought that the parties sent out to cut the German wire were discovered and drew the fire which effectively stopped further digging.
No. 4 sap party did not succeed in reaching their sap owing to the congested state of the trenches and the deep slush.
Lt Murray however reconnoitred the ground ready for work during the assault.
Y2 Day
Strength of battalion (less B Coy) marching up to Fonquevillers on June 30th 1916: 13 officers and 346 other ranks.
Battalion HQ marching up included in above but not previously detailed:
Lt Col C A Evill
Capt. & Adj. R C L Thomas
Lt Shanks, RAMC
Strength of battalion on June 30th: 36 officers and 714 ORs.
July 1st
Z Day
The period up to 3 a.m. has been dealt with in the account already given. The bombardment was kept up during the early hours and at 6.25 a.m. a very intense bombardment was started which lasted for 65 minutes.
The assault was launched at 7.30 a.m. The right Brigade did not succeed in reaching the German line. In the left Brigade the first waves of the 5th and 7th Sherwoods succeeded in taking the German first line and possibly the 2nd line.
The enemy’s artillery was found to be very much stronger than was anticipated and a very heavy raking fire swept away the succeeding waves.
The digging parties of the battalion although they had been moved up to their appointed places were unable to go forward and the necessity for their doing so never arose. They were withdrawn to their places of assembly and remained there during the bombardment by the enemy suffering considerable casualties.
About 3.30 p.m. the GOC, 139th Brigade ordered Nos. 3 and 4 parties to withdraw to Fonquevillers and Nos. 1 and 2 parties were ordered by the GOC 137th Brigade to assemble west of Fonquevillers about 5.30 p.m.
Subsequently orders were received from the division for the battalion to assemble at Pommier and they were withdrawn without casualty arriving there about 9 p.m.
The casualties sustained during the whole operation were:
Officers:
Wounded 2/Lt N J Seline
2/Lt J Jenkyn
Other ranks
Killed 15
Wounded 76
Wounded/missing 2
Missing 4
TOTAL 97
July 2nd
Companies at disposal OC Coys. Companies for kit inspection.
Draft of 44 ORs arrived from the Base composed of 40 Reserve men (old front line men) and 4 men from Base Hospitals.