Harris Frederick 1890

Frederick Harris
1890-1974

Father Nm: Alfred Harris  BIRTH JANUARY 1840 • North Newington, Oxfordshire.
DEATH JUN 1923 • Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Mother Nm:  Betsey Spencer 1848–1922 BIRTH JULY 1848 • Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England. DEATH DEC 1922 • Banbury, Oxfordshire,

Marriage Dt: 16 February 1918, Banbury

K comments: Wife Elizabeth was a Munitions Worker at the Banbury Shelling Filling Factory (marriage certificate source).
Spouse comments: Elizabeth Mary Blencowe [4482] born 22 November 1894 Banbury

Children.

Born 1890

12 January 1890 Neithrop, Banbury.

1911 CENSUS

5 Foundry st.

Alfred Harris 71 Carpenter
Betrey Harris 63
Fredrick Harris 21

WW1

Oxfordshire Queens Own Hussars Yeomanry

Oxford amd Bucks Light Infantry

Frederick Harris, Private, 1864, 32815, Oxfordshire Yeomanry, 6th Bn D Coy Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. North Lancashire Regiment.

Synopsis

Frederick Harris was a professional soldier joining up before the war he was to serve initially with the Oxfordshire Yeomanry in August 1914 the Regiment was formed into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas). I believe that like a comrade William Greenway 32808 featured later on the page he was with the 2nd/1st home-based unit. Before or by July 1916 he likely was to take a transfer to the 6th Service Battalion and join them at the front in France. We have no records for this but note July 1916 the 2nd/1st (now named 2/2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade) had been converted to a Cyclist Battalion. So from mid-1916 until wounded in February 1917 in the Somme Frederick was in front line action his unit taking casualties monthly. Invalided home in 1917 and given an honourable discharge he apparently then looked for Regiment seeking men less fit for battle and joined the North Lancashire Regiment for an unknown period but certainly until his marriage in 1918. Frederick married Elizabeth Blencowe who also lived on Foundry St Banbury, Elizabeth a Munitions worker at the hazardous Banbury Shell Filling Factory

1914
  • Frederick joins the Oxfordshire Yeomanry before the war.

    Posted by Rodger Gibbs at the Facebook group Banbury Bygones this photo of a group of Banbury soldiers Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars.
    Front left Walter Gibbs.
    Front second from right Harry Gibbs.
    Back row second left Bob Coles.
    Walter married Bob’s sister, Maud Coles.
1915
1916
  • July. On this date or earlier transferred to 6th Bn and sent France
1917
  • February. Action in the trenches in front of Guillemont.
  • 26-28 February. Wounded Guillemont. Admitted 28th Feb. wounded GSW Scalp and Chest likely mortar or shell wound. Record shows Frederick is with D Company of the Battalion.
  • Casualties. 18 men died in this month when Frederick was wounded including George  Greenway from Banbury a man who looking at his service number joined the 6th Bn OBLI about the same day as Frederick. George was like Frederick also with the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and the 2nd/1st QOHY.
    • 2 February. SUTHERLAND HJ –
    • 19 February. BALDWIN H 13593, PITTAM PF 12125 ,SMITH SC 25879
    • 20 February. CHANT F 33098, FRANKLIN WH 32789, GREENWAY WG 32808, HUBAND TE 21223,  MOXON AE 21791  20/02/1917, PRATT AG 11639, WEBB G 32894, WHEELER R 25877
    • 21 February. SKOULDING AC
    • 26 February. BYE SJ 33453, WOODWARD GW 33028
    • 27 February. EELES W 23180, GOMM AA 17245 .LAUNCHBURY CE 9984
  • 1 March. Transferred to Sick Convoy: No 5 Ambulance Train to be taken to Hospital at the coast of France initially.
    source RAMC in the Great War website

     

  • March
  • 14 July. Honourably discharged wounds. However, it seems Frederick joined up again with the North Lancashire Regt. probably in a Reserve capacity.
  • 16 February. Marriage Certificate and newspaperannouncement of Frederick and Elizabeth marriage, confirms Frederick despite 1917 discharge is still  a Soldier and Elizabeth a Munitions worker which is most likely at the Banbury Shell Filling Factory.
1919
Medals
Awarded the British War medal the Victory Medal and the Silver War Medal along with his honourable discharge
Sources
    1. Ancestry  and BFA database
    2. Force War Records Medical admittance records
    3. Light Bobs website
After the War
1921 Census
23 Foundry Square
Frederick Harris
Head
Male 1890 31 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England French Polisher Henery Stone & Son Furnishing Trade
Elizabeth Mary Harris
Wife
Female 1894 26 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England House Duty
1939 Census

46 Bath Road Banbury

Household Members Age
Frederick Harris 49 French Polisher
Elizabeth M Harris 45

Death 1974

JUN 1974 • Banbury,

Gallery

There are service records in the National archives for this person they can be viewed and download from their website https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Unit Rank Service Number
Oxfordshire Yeomanry Private 1864
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Private 32815

Notes

Medical Admission record

First Name:
F
Surname:
Harris
Age:
21
Index Number of Admission:
38460
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
32815
Years Service:
3 years
Months With Field Force:
6 months
Ailment:
Gun Shot Wounds, Scalp and Chest (penetrating) (W)
Date of Admission for Original Ailment:
28/02/1917

Religion:
Church of England
Notes written by FWR when Transcribing:
Research indicates that information in Admission column on original source relates to Divisional information so it has been moved accordingly. Can be put forward as an eligible candidate to be awarded a wound stripe.
Regiment:
Oxfordshire And Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion:
6th (Service) Battalion (Why is this important?)
Other unit info:
D Company, 20 Division

Notes from the detailed transcriptions of the 6th Bn. war diary at the LightBobs website.

Belonging to the Second New Army, the 6th Battalion formed part of the 60th Infantry Brigade, 20th (Light) Division,

TO THE SOMME AREA. 1916
July 25th.—Marched at 6.30 a.m. to Hopoutre Station (near Poperinghe), entrained, and proceeded to Frevent Station (4.30 p.m.), thence marching to billets at Lucheux.

July 26th.—Marched to Vauchelles, and on the 28th to Courcelles.

July 29th.—Relieved the 10th South Wales Borderers in the trenches, opposite Serre, at K.29.C.7.7 to K.23.d,2 1/2.2 1/2 (Map Sheet 57d), the 10th K.R.R.C. on our left, and 6th K.S.L.I. on our right.

July 30th-3lst.—Quiet; 1 man wounded.

August lst-5th.—The Battalion remained in the same trenches, the days being generally quiet, but at night the enemy was active with trench-mortars, and our artillery was also active.
Casualties.–
On the 1st, 1 killed, 2 wounded;
on the 2nd, 1 wounded;
on the 3rd, 1 officer and 3 men were wounded, 2 men were killed;
on the 4th, Captain J. E. Bryant was killed, and 4 men were wounded.

August 6th-3lst.—On relief from the trenches on the night of the 6th-7th, the Battalion moved to Courcelles, where it remained for a week, training and finding working parties. A move was then made to Ville-sous-Corbie, which was reached on the 20th, and on the 22nd the Battalion took over old German dug-outs and trenches in the Reserve Brigade area.
The next ten days were spent supplying working parties, and carrying parties (for R.E. material) from dumps at Trones Wood to support and front-line trenches.
Eighteen men were wounded.

THE ATTACK ON GUILLEMONT.


The original orders, issued towards the end of August, were to the effect that the 20th Division would cap­ture Guillemont, and then establish itself on the Wedge Wood-Ginchy road from T.26.a.l.7 to T.22.a.l.5.” According to these orders, an important part was to be played by the 60th Brigade, but before the final arrangements were made it was found that this Brigade had become so depleted in numbers that it was neces­sary to take it out of the 20th Division temporarily, and substitute for it the 47th Brigade (16th, Irish, Division). Sir A. Conan Doyle, in his British Campaign, 1916, says: “The 60th Brigade had lost heavily in strength from cold, wet, and continual German gassing and bombardment.’

The attack on Guillemont on the 3rd Sep­tember was, therefore, entrusted to the 59th Brigade and 47th Brigade, with the 61st Brigade in Divisional Reserve, the 6th Oxford and Bucks (the only battalion of the 60th Brigade of any strength) being attached to the 59th Brigade.

The following is Lieut.-Colonel E. D. White’s official account of the Operations of the 3rd-6th September in which the 6th Battalion took part:–

The Battalion was attached to the 59th Brigade for the above operations, and, in accordance with 59th Brigade Operation Orders, left the craters at 11 p.m., 2nd September, and moved into the position of assembly in Arrow and Sherwood Trenches.

In accordance with 59th Brigade Operation Orders the Battalion advanced from its trenches at noon on the 3rd of September to attack Guillemont.

B Company, from Arrow Trench, was in the centre, and, from the position of the starting point, somewhat in advance of A and C Companies on the Battalion’s left and right respectively;
D Company followed in the rear of the centre.

The Battalion was to follow the 10th and 11th R.B. to the first Sunken Road (the first Divisional Objective).

The three leading companies lost all their officers and all their Company-Sergeants-Major before reaching the second Sunken Road.
The fourth company (D) also lost its captain at the first Sunken Road.

B Company, in the centre; found the Rifle Brigade battalions clearing dug-outs, and appear to have stopped a short time to assist, and then pushed on to the second Sunken Road. A and C Companies passed right on. A got on beyond the second Sunken Road to the edge of the village, which was the 2nd Objective-of the Battalion.
Their officers had gone, and in some places the Sunken Road was not easy to locate, being much knocked about.

At 1 p.m. the advance continued.
As a matter of fact, men were going forward about 4 minutes before the hour, but the barrage ruled the pace. Casualties from our own barrage were slight if any at all.

By the time the eastern side of the village was reached units were much mixed.
There were, besides my own Battalion and the 10th and 11th R.B., some of the 10th K.R.R.C. and Somerset Light Infantry, as well as some of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (5th Division).
Units were reorganized here as far as possible.
The Somerset Light Infantry, at my request, kept back a portion of the battalion in this position, when the advance was continued up to Ginchy—Wedge Wood road, to look after the right flank, as a number of Germans were visible in the open, south-west of Leuze Wood, and our contact with the 5th Division on our right did not seem complete.

At 2 p.m. the whole line went forward up to the Ginchy—Wedge Wood road, and reached it with very little opposition, but a number of prisoners were taken from dug-outs on the road.

The consolidation of the position at once began, but there was a shortage of tools.

It was evident that the 5th Division had not been able to advance up the spur southwest of Leuze Wood, and that that spur and the wood were still in the hands of the Germans.
I, therefore, decided not to move forward from the road to the final objective ordered, that is, with the right flank of the 59th Brigade line just outside the southwest corner of the wood.

The 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry were now in touch with us on the road line, on our right; the 8th Munster Fusiliers were on our left, at the Cross-Roads.

There were then in the 59th Brigade area on the Ginchy—Wedge Wood road the following troops under Lieut.-Colonel E. D. White: 200 10th R.B., 200 11th R.B., 100 10th K.R.R.C., and 300 6th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
The Somerset Light Infantry were digging themselves in, in support, close behind.

An officer’s patrol went up by the Quarry to the southwest edge of Leuze Wood and found no one there.

During the night (3rd/4th September) patrols were working in the valley below us, but could not work up to the ridge and wood in front owing to our artillery fire.

The enemy made no attacks.

Nearly all the losses suffered by the Battalion were from shell and machine-gun fire before reaching the second Sunken Road, and more especially before reaching the first Sunken Road.

During the clearing of dug-outs at the final position one case occurred of a “P” bomb being thrown in at one door of a dug-out and the smoke coming out at the other door without dislodging the Germans, who, however, did come out when Mills bombs were thrown in.

Eight Company Officers, 72 N.C.O.s, and about 200 men were casualties, mostly early in the attack, and I think that much credit is due to the men and to the few leaders left in getting on the right objective.

During the 4th of September, the consolidation of the position was continued, and not interfered with except for a few shrapnel.
The 5th Division was, during the afternoon, working up the ridge opposite us, to Leuze Wood.

At about 7 p.m. battle patrols were established from our line by the 7th Somerset Light Infantry, i.e., from the southwest corner of Leuze Wood to the Guillemont-Combles road.

The night’ of the 4th/5th of September was very quiet.
About 5 a.m. on the 5th the Battalion and others in the line were relieved by the 49th Brigade, and the Battalion withdrew to Sherwood Trench, where it remained until the afternoon of the 6th September, when it was relieved by the 6th K.S.L.I., and moved back to the Craters (A.8.b.6.3).
Picture
Picture
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From the Battalion Diary.
September 7th-20th.—Changing camp several times and doing a certain amount of training, the Battalion reached Waterlot Farm on the 16th and went into the front-line trenches (The Triangle), from which it pushed forward three advanced posts on the 19th.
Casualties.—6 men were killed and 8 wounded.

September 21st.—At 3.20 a.m. the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Coldstream Guards.
Two of our Lewis-gun teams remained behind owing to the relieving battalion not bringing guns with them.
Three prisoners from the German 240th Regiment were captured just before the relief and brought back to Battalion H.Q.
At 9 a.m. the Battalion arrived at the Citadel.
The following appeared in Regimental Orders this day:–
The C.O. is glad to be able to publish to the Battalion the following messages which he knows all ranks have well earned during the last few days:–
“20th Division wire: ‘Please convey G.O.C.’s appreciation of the good work done by the 60th Brigade during their last tour in the line. They beat off every attack, captured prisoners on several occasions, patrolled actively, and kept going well in spite of casual­ties and the trying conditions of wet and cold.’
“The Brigadier-General is much gratified in having received the above wire from the Divisional Commander, and he wishes his congratulations and thanks conveyed to all ranks for the fine soldierly spirit shown by them.
“The Commanding Officer has much pleasure in informing the Battalion that the Corps Commander, under authority delegated by His Majesty the King, has awarded the Military Medal to 12748 Corporal Garratt and 9444 Sergeant Hannis for Gallantry in Action on 3rd September.”

September 22nd-30th.—The Battalion moved on the 22nd to Ville-sur-Ancre, on the 25th to the Citadel, and the next day to a position behind Morval, where it was relieved by French troops on the 28th, and went back to Carnoy Valley.
On the 29th the Battalion paraded in “battle-order,”(“Battle-order” consisted of : Jersey (on the man), smoke helmets, braces, pouches, bayonet and frog, entrenching-tool and carrier, canteen (on the back of the belt with supporting strap) containing day’s ration of bread or biscuit, tea and sugar, haversack (carried on the back) containing day’s meat ration, 1 pair socks, water­proof, and 230 rounds S.A.A.) and marched to the north of Trones Wood, where it went into the trenches until the 6th-October.
Intimation was received of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to 16258 Sergeant R. Betts and 11751 Private E. Parker.

Early in October Lieut.-Colonel E. D. White was invalided to England, and Major J. E. Osborne assumed command of the Bat­talion.

THE ATTACK OF THE 7th OCTOBER.
On the 2nd October Preliminary Orders, issued by the 20th Division, outlined coming operations.
The intention was that the Fourth Army should attack the line Le Transloy-Thilloy-Warlencourt-Faucourt on or about the 10th of October, the attack being made by the 4th and 6th Divisions on the XIVth Corps front.
To open the way for these operations, it was necessary to establish a forward line (known as the Brown Line), and the task of driving the Germans out of this line was allotted to the Reserve Divisions, with whom the French would be cooperating on the right.
This preliminary attack was to be made, about the 5th or 6th of October, by the 41st, 12th, 20th, and 56th Divisions (in that order from left to right) against the portion of the German Line known as the Meteorological Trenches, since they had received names such as Rainbow, Cloudy, Misty, Gusty, Rainy, etc.

The weather was so inclement that operations were postponed until the 7th of October, on which day at 1.45 p.m., despite the rain and consequent mud, the assault was launched.
The Orders issued by the 60th Brigade are given below in detail, and the action of the 6th Battalion is described in the Report which follows.
Suffice it to say here, therefore, that the attack as a whole was fairly successful.
The two Divisions on the left (41st and 12th) met with such heavy resistance that they were unable to make much progress.

The 20th Division, on the right of the 12th, was more fortunate, and, in spite of all obstacles, suc­ceeded in carrying their objectives and consolidating them.
The 56th Division, on the right of the 20th, also won ground, though later in the day they and the French were pushed back again by a German counter­attack.

60th Infantry Brigade Operation Orders were issued on the 5th October as follows :–
Secret. Ref. Map Sheet 57c. S.W.
1.The Fourth Army are renewing the attack on October 7th at a zero hour which will probably be in the early afternoon, and which will be communicated later; the 56th Division attacking on the right and the 20th Division on the left.
The 12th Division of the XVth Corps will also attack on the left of the 20th Division.

2.The task of the XlVth Corps is to establish a line from which the Transloy system of trenches can be observed and at­ tacked later.

3.The 60th Infantry Brigade will be the right attacking Brigade of the 20th Division.
On the right of the 60th Infantry Brigade will be the 56th Division; on the left will be the 61st Infantry Brigade.

4.(a).The attack will be carried out in two stages :
1st Objective (Green Line), Rainbow Trench from about N.28.a.1.4 (where touch will be maintained with the 61st Infantry Brigade) to about N.28.c.l ½ .l ½ (where touch will be maintained with the 56th Division).

2nd Objective (Brown Line). A line from about N.22.C.8.2 (where touch will be maintained with the 61st Infantry Brigade) to N.28.b.7.1 (where touch will be maintained with the 56th Divi­sion).
This line includes Cloudy Trench.

(b)If good observation of the Transloy system of trenches cannot be obtained from the 2nd Objective, patrols will be pushed forward to secure good observation points for the subsequent attack.

(c)The attack will be pushed with the utmost vigour all along the line until the Objectives have been reached.
The failure of a unit on a flank is not to prevent other units from pushing on to their objec­tives, as it is by such means that those units which have failed will be assisted to advance.
To meet the possibility of this happening units must keep parties of bombers near their flanks ready to bomb down and, if necessary, to establish blocks in captured trenches.

5. The right of the 61st Brigade will direct.
The 60th Infantry Brigade will, therefore, advance by its left.
All ranks will be im­pressed with the importance of maintaining correct direction.
Before each advance, and as far as possible during each advance, all officers should use their compasses; 60° (sixty degrees)(In the Battalion Operation Orders appeared the following: “All ranks should be warned to advance so that the sun, if shining, is just behind their right ear, thus casting their shadows a quarter left of the line of their advance.”— ED.) is ap­proximately the magnetic bearing for the advance of the 60th Infantry Brigade from 1st to 2nd Objective.
All ranks should also note that the general line of advance is approximately between Beaulencourt and Le Transloy.
The angle at which their shadows will be cast by the sun if it is shining during the advance should also be calculated and communicated to all ranks by Commanding Officers when the zero hours is published.
Any similar aids for keeping direction must be made use of.

6. The dividing line between battalions will be approximately N.28.c.4.6 in Green Line to N.28.b.4.6 ½ on Brown Line.

7. The attack will be preceded by a steady bombardment of the hostile positions by the Corps Heavy Artillery, commencing at 3 p.m. on 6th October, but there will be no intense fire previous to the hour of zero.

8. The infantry will advance to the attack on the 1st Objective at zero, and to the 2nd Objective at zero plus 20.
In both cases, the infantry will get close under the creeping barrage which will be established in front of them and which will commence creeping forward at zero plus 2 in the case of the 1st Objective, and zero plus 23 in the case of the 2nd Objective.
The barrage will creep forward at the rate of 50 yards per minute.
It is essential that the infantry should leave their trenches quickly.
Commanding officers will, therefore, ensure that good steps or other means of egress are provided beforehand for leaving their trenches.

9. (a) The two assaulting battalions will be formed up before dawn previous to the attack on the N.E. side of the road which runs from N.27.c.3.1 (Guedecourt) to road junction N.34.a.l.9, the 6th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry on the right and the 12th R.B. on the left.
Battalion Headquarters will be established in the forming-up areas.

(b) The 12th K.R.R.C. will be in support; two companies will be in the old front line (N.33.b.), two companies in Needle Trench and the trench running from about N 33.c.0.1 to N.33.c.9.4., with H.Q. in Needle Trench.

(c) The 6th K.S.L.I, will be in reserve; one company in each of Blighty, Mail, Times, and Punch Trenches, with H.Q. in Punch Trench.

10. (a) The 83rd Field Company R.E. is placed at the disposal of the 60th Infantry Brigade.
(b) The O.C. this Company will detail 1 N.C.O. and 4 men to assist the 12th R.B., and 1 N.C.O. and 3 men to assist the 6th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry in the construction of strong points as detailed – in para. 15 below.
These men will form up before dawn with their respective battalions rationed for the day.
(c) The remainder of the Company will be just south of Brigade H.Q. (T.8.a.3.5) by 4 p.m.
The O.C. of the company will report to Brigade H.Q. at 3 p.m.

11. One company, 11th D.L.I. (Pioneers), is placed at the dis­posal of the G.O.C. 60th Infantry Brigade.
It will be just south of Brigade H.Q. (T.8.a.3.5), or in Serpentine Trench at 4 p.m.
The O.C. company will report to Brigade H.Q. at 3 p.m.

12. (a) The O.C. 60th Machine-gun Company will detail four guns and teams to each of the assaulting battalions. They will form up before dawn with the battalion to which they have been detailed.
They should accompany the last wave of the assault and should be used to hold and consolidate the position gained, paying parti­cular attention to firing to the flanks.
When the 2nd advance takes place each battalion will send forward two of its four guns to help to hold the 2nd Objective, the other two remaining in position for the defence of the 1st Objec­tive, and assisting the advance in every possible way.
(b) He will also arrange for four more guns about Needle Trench or farther forward to assist the advance with overhead fire.
The O.C. 60th T.M. Battery will place as many guns in posi­tion as he can in N.28.C. and 27.d., and will fire rapidly on the German front line from zero to zero plus 2, having carefully regis­tered each gun beforehand.

14. The Assault, (a) At zero hour both battalions will leave their trenches, and will assault the 1st Objective, each battalion having a frontage of two companies.
Each of these leading companies should advance in two waves, if possible.
They will assault, capture, and consolidate the 1st Objective.
They will be followed as closely as possible by the two remaining companies of each battalion, each company advancing similarly in two lines, forming 3rd and 4th waves.
These 3rd and 4th waves will pass right over the 1st Objec­tive, unless they are urgently required to assist in its capture, and they will lie down about 40 yards to 80 yards in front of the captured trench ready to lead the second advance.
(b) At the same time the two companies of the Supporting Bat­talion from N.33.b. will move forward, and will enter and hold our vacated front line as soon as the hostile barrage permits.
During the halt at the 1st Objective, all officers and N.C.O.s must pay particular attention to ascertaining the direction of their next advance
(c) At zero plus 20 the two companies of each battalion, who will then be in advance of the 1st Objective, will advance in two waves to capture the 2nd Objective.
The second wave will be followed as closely as possible by the original two companies of each battalion who captured the 1st Objective, who will then form the third wave.
(e) The two companies of the Supporting Battalion will move up into the 1st Objective and hold it.
(f) The captured line must be consolidated, and held as lightly as possible, full use being made of Lewis and machine guns. Posts should also be pushed forward and dug in.

15. Strong points will be established in Rainbow Trench by the 12th R.B. at N.28.a.2.3, by the 61st Infantry Brigade at about N.27.b.4 ½ .7 ½ , and in the 2nd Objective by the 6th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry at N.28.b.7.2, and by the 12th R.B. at N.28.b.0.7, and 61st Infantry Brigade at about N.21.d.6.7.

16. The assaulting troops will wear fighting order; others should carry greatcoats.
Every infantryman will carry 220 rounds S.A.A., 2 Mills grenades, one Yellow flare, and one Very pistol cartridge.
Water bottles will be filled.
Fifty percent, of the assaulting troops, will carry forward picks and shovels (1 pick to 4 shovels).

17. The 9th Squadron R.F.C. will have a contact aeroplane in the air from zero to 5.30 p.m.
Flares will be lit as follows:–
(a) On attaining each Objective.
(b) At 5 p.m.

18. Medical arrangements will be communicated later.”
Bat­talion Commanders will arrange for their own Regimental Aid Posts

19. Prisoners of war will be sent to Brigade H.Q., and thence to Corps Cage at the Craters (A.8.a.), where they will be taken over by the A.P.M.

20. Watches will be synchronized at 7 p.m. on the 6th instant and 9 a.m. on the 7th instant by wire from Brigade H.Q.
Units not on the telephone to Brigade H.Q. will send a representative to check the time at the above hours.

21. There will be a dump of S.A.A., Mills bombs, water, and a few S.O.S. rockets and flares at old German gun pits about N.33.b.6.3.

Battalion Operation Orders, issued on the 6th of Octo­ber by Major J. E. Osborne, commanding, contained extracts from the above Brigade Orders, and some additional instructions, the more important of which were:–

The general line of advance from the 1st to the 2nd Objective is on a magnetic bearing of 58°.
Officers must make every effort to work by compass, as the advance is very blind.

Battalion H.Q. will be situated in a dug-out about point N.27.d.9 ½ .5 (in the Sunken Road), to which reports will be sent by runner.

As soon as the 2nd Objective is gained, officers commanding companies will mark their dispositions as near as possible on the map issued for the purpose, and send it to Battalion H.Q.

A Battalion Aid Post will be established at N.33.b.9.4. Company stretcher-bearers are to be used chiefly for collecting wounded in shell holes and binding them up.
They should not be used for carrying back wounded in the earlier stages of the operations.

On gaining the objective men should keep in the shell holes and make them good without exposing themselves.
The Brigadier-General attaches great importance to this.

Zero hour tomorrow will be 1.45 p.m.

REPORT ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE 6TH OXFORD AND BUCKS LIGHT INFANTRY
By Major J. E. Osborne, Commanding the Battalion. [Ref. Map Sheet 57 c. S.W.]

On the 7th of October zero hour was 1.45 p.m., when, in accordance with 60th Brigade Operation Orders, the Battalion left its trenches and attacked Rainbow Trench (1st Objective), which runs from about N.28.a.l.4 to about N.28.c.l ½ .l ½ .
The leading waves moved out of the British line close up to our barrage, arrived at the German barbed wire (about 40 yards in front of our trench), and lay down.
The enemy had manned his parapet some 60 yards to our front and was delivering a very hot fire from 6 machine guns and from rifles, to which our troops replied.
Shortly afterward the advance began again; some men were able to crawl through the wire; others were able to move around through the gaps; others, by placing their feet on the top strand of the wire, were able to get through.
The wire obstacle was one single length of barbed concertina wire, extending along the whole of the frontage of the Battalion’s left company.
It was about 2 ½ feet high and appeared more of an alarming ob­stacle than it actually was.

During the period zero to zero + 4 minutes, the enemy’s machine-gun fire was very intense, but at the latter time, it was silenced.
The enemy then left their trenches unarmed and ran back toward their second line.
During their retreat our Lewis guns did con­siderable damage to them; large numbers were seen to fall, and few Germans got back, those remaining in their front line being bayoneted or captured.

The advance from the first German line to the second, a point about N.22.c.8.2. to N.28.b.7.1., was accomplished with com­paratively little loss, although some casualties occurred from snipers on our extreme right, who took advantage of that flank being temporarily in the air.
Shortly afterward a portion of the Division on our right pushed forward their attack and commenced digging in; thus, by joining up with our troops, they made our extreme right secure.

The consolidation of this position was at once commenced, our troops having reached their final objective.

This attack was launched in conjunction with the 56th Division on our right and the 12th Division attacking our left.

The Battalion lost most of its officers early in the attack; the Company Commanders of A, B, and C were killed, and the D Company Commander was severely wounded.

The casualties amounted to 13 officers and 230 other ranks.

Battalion Diary continued.
October 8th-3lst.—The 8th was spent in consolidating the captured position, and at night the Battalion moved to Bernafay Wood, thence marching the next day to a camp on the Bray-Albert road, and on the 15th to Daours.
Continuing the march, Vignacourt was reached on the 19th, and their training was carried out until the end of the month.

November was devoted to continuous training at various camps.

December.—On the 10th the Battalion moved from Mansell Camp to Guillemont, and went into the trenches until the 15th when it moved back to Carnoy.
It had one more tour of the same trenches and spent the remainder of the month at Meaulte training.

Five men were wounded in December, and about 140 were admitted to Field Ambulance suffering from “trench-foot.”

1917.
January.—Marching to dug-outs in the vicinity of Bouleaux Wood on the 1st, the Battalion moved up into the line the next day and remained in the trenches until the 4th, when it went back to Bronfay Camp.
Three further tours in the same trenches, alternating with rest periods at Bronfay, were carried out, and the Battalion then marched to Meaulte for training.
Casualties.—2 men were killed and 19 wounded.

February.—On the morning of the 3rd Captain H. J. Sutherland was found dead in his bed.
A post-mortem examination and court of inquiry found that death was due to poisoning from carbonic acid gas from a brazier that was in his room.
He was buried on the following day at Grove Town.

26 February. The Bn. moved into the line in front of Guillemont A, B and D coy into the front line. C Coy into Reserve.

27-28 February  GSW  in scalp and Chest indicating probably Shell or Mortar wound. On the 28th admitted for treatment ??

1 March. Taken onboard Ambulance train No 5

During this month the Battalion took several tours of duty in the trenches in front of Guillemont, losing 8 men killed and 2nd Lieuts. Higlett, Skoulding, J. W. Wright, and 26 men were wounded.
2nd Lieuts. Skoulding and Wright had been with the Battalion less than a week.