3rd Grenadier Guards – War diary
| ***Note by transcriber: The writing 1-10 Jan is very feint and difficult to read.*** | ||
| 1 -4 Jan 1918 | Bn continued at “B” dump ARRAS ?????? ?EMMPOUX?. Railway ??????? delayed relief, no casualties.???? ???? ??? Right ?????? of Right sector. Dispositions No 2 Coy Right No 4 Coy Centre S of ?River? SCARPE No 3 Coy on left N of ?River? SCARPE (under OB left ?????) No 1 Coy in reserve. HQ JOHNSON AVENUE H30d.
Front line was held by posts. Trenches were in very good state & sector was very quiet. Work consisted of improving parapets and cleaning of posts. A ??? ????? ??? otherwise hardly any shelling. Casualties 3 OR wounded. Weather very cold & snow on ground. |
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| 5 – 6 Jan 1918 | Relieved by 1st Bn Scots Guards. Bn went onto right reserve No 2 & 4 Coys in ?LANCER? AVENUE (H29.b.9 & H29.d.). Bn HQ H23 central No 1 & 3 Coys CRUMP & CORDITE RESERVE (N of river) I.19.A. A good deal of work required in improvement of trenches. Baths at ????? LOCK available for No 2 & 4 Coys. | |
| 9 – 10 Jan 1918 | Relieved by 1st Bn Irish Guards. bn less No 1 & 3 Coys entrained at B ??? ????? about ????? W of B. HQ N ???? ARRAS at ? ???. Right Coys did not reach ARRAS till 1.0 am owing to the train with relieving troops breaking down. Bn was billeted in LEVIS BARRACKS. Very good accomodation. | |
| 10 Jan 1918 | Cleaning up. Following awards were paraded. Bar to D.S.O. Lt Col H.F.H.N. THORNE D.S.O. D.S.O. 2/Lt (at Capt) C.W. CARRINGTON, M.C. Capt J.S. HUGHES (wounded), Lt. C.C. CARSTAIRS, 2/Lt H.C. KNOLLYS.During the eight days Bn was in reserve in ARRAS. Training was conducted on the following lines: – Steady Drill (Only 1 Coy allowed to drill at a time). Wiring, bombing & Gas helmet drill. Ranges allotted to Bn on alternate days & a good training area available daily. | |
| 11 Jan 1918 | Officers and section commanders on Field Firing Range under Commanding Officer. Draft of 200 men arrived. | |
| 12 Jan 1918 | Inspection of new draft & training under Coy arrangements. Draft was trained separately for first few days. | |
| 13 Jan 1918 | Baths allotted to 1 & 3 Coys & new draft. Parade service 11.15 am at the St Georges Club Hall. New draft firing on range under Asst/Adjutant. | |
| 14 Jan 1918 | New squad of young corporals parade under Sgt Major. Stretcher bearers lectured by Medical Officer. Lt Col. A.F.A.N. THORNE D.S.O. to command Brigade. | |
| 15 Jan 1918 | Training under Coy arrangements. Bn concert in evening. | |
| 16 Jan 1918 | Officers and Platoon sergeants inspected the line. Major R.H.V. CAVENDISH M.V.O. returned from leave & took command of Bn. | |
| 17 Jan 1918 | Bn went into R subsector of left sector. Entraining “O” dump 5.30 pm – Relieved 4th Bn Grenadier Guards. Relief complete 11.30 pm.Disposition of Coys took place as follows, No 1 Coy became centre Coy for Support Coy. each of 3 front Coys then had 4 posts in front line with Coy HQ in CURLY SUPPORT.
Remainder of Coys in line of strong points “C” & “D”. reserve Coy in C4D12 (By Bn HQ). Frost has thawed & trenches were in appaling state. Work concentrated on clearing & revetting. Sector very quiet. |
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| 21 – 22 Jan 1918 | Relieved by 1st Bn Scots Guards. Bn relieved to reserve. (HUDSON, LEMON & PUDDING Trenches) HQ at H.16.b. Fatigues were done under Bde arrangements. 1 Coy working on CAMEL AVENUE daily. Work, revetment of trenches which had fallen in in many places. | |
| 25 – 26 Jan 1918 | Relieved 1st Bn Scots Guards in front line. No 3 Coy was right ???, No 2 Coy came into reserve. weather had much improved but trenches still in very bad condition. Hostile artillery lively. Gas shelling of back area & Trench mortaring of front line & junctions of C.Ts. casualties 1 OR killed 2 OR wounded. | |
| 29 – 30 Jan 1918 | Relieved by 1st Bn Scots Guards and returned to Reserve Trenches ?? ?????. Remained there till end of month. | |
3rd Grenadier Guards - WW1 - War Diary 