3rd Grenadier Guards – War Diary
| 1 – 4 Oct 1917 | The Battn practiced for the attack in conjunction with 1st Battn Coldstream Gds and under Bde arrangements. The Battn had the use of the Baths. | |
| 5 Oct 1917 | After training on the 5th, the Battn moved by march route to PENTON CAMP (PROVEN AREA) where it had previously been. The details to be left out of the attack (36 men per Coy approx) proceeded to the Reinforcement Battn HERZEEZE. | |
| 6 Oct 1917 | Drill and individual training was done. | 28 N.W. |
| 7 Oct 1917 | The Battn moved to H Camp Forest Area (A10a.1.1) by train. Entrained at PROVEN and detrained at ODANK thence by march route to H Camp. H camp was one of the best camps the Battn had been in, hutted and plenty of accommodation. Winter time came into use. | |
| 8 Oct 1917 | Move to assembly area. Time table of operations and operation orders attached. | |
| ***Note by transcriber: No timetable or operation orders are included in the war diary. Neither is any mention of the actions of the 9th Oct. (Battle of Poelcapelle). It was in this action that Lance Serjeant J.H. Rhodes won the Victoria Cross*** | ||
| 10 Oct 1917 | Relieved by portions of 1 G.G. 4 G.G. & 1 W Guard marched back to H Camp. Entrained at LUNAVILLE & detrained at INTERNATIONAL CORNER | |
| 12 Oct 1917 H CAMP |
Drill, Lewis Gun instruction and reorganisation were carried out. Major R.H.V. Cavendish M.V.O. joined the Battn and took over duties of 2nd in Command. | |
| 14 Oct 1917 | Parade service. | |
| 15 Oct 1917 | Battn Parade and practice Drill. Individual Training. Officer Revolver Shooting. | |
| 16 Oct 1917 | Move to PENTON CAMP via train leaving ONDANK for PROVEN. PENTON CAMP found in a dirty state and very muddy. | |
| 17 Oct 1917 | Adjutants Parade and Practice Drill. | |
| 18 Oct 1917 | Move to MOULLE (QUC) entrained at PROVEN detrained at ?WAPTEN?. Very good billets. Battn was in billets by 2.30pm. The Commanding officer went on leave. Lt G.W. ?Gardner? & 2Lt H. Hoare joined the Battn and were posted to No 3 & 4 Coys respectively.Training consisted of Drill, Musketry (several good ranges in vicinity) Lewis Gun firing, Bayonet Fighting etc. | |
| 21 Oct 1917 MOULLE |
H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught inspected the Battn. The Battn lined each side of the CALAIS-ST OMER road outside their billets and each platoon cheered H.R.H. as he went by. 2Lt G.C. Long joined the Battn and was posted to No 3 Coy. | |
| 24 Oct 1917 | The Battn practiced for the review by the Commander-in-Chief to take place on the following day. R???? allotted in the afternoon. | |
| 25 Oct 1917 | The Infantry, Machine Gun Corps and Trench Mortar batteries of the Division were reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief at P246.1.9. The Division was in line. Battns in close column of half Coys. After inspection Battns marched past in above formation. | |
| 26 Oct 1917 | ‘B’ range (P126) allotted to Battn. | |
| 27 Oct 1917 | Battn Pde, individual training. | |
| 28 Oct 1917 | Parade service. | |
| 29 Oct 1917 | Adjutants Parade and range. Commanding officer returned. | |
| 30 Oct 1917 | Individual training and Practice Drill. 19 Military Medals awarded to the Battn for distinguished services on the 9th ???. |
3rd Grenadier Guards - WW1 - War Diary 
My name is Roger. I have been trying to establish In which action my great uncle received the wounds that resulted in him being taken by64 Fd Amb to 37 CCS, in Godwaesvelde. My great uncle was Pte Stuart John Webb who was serving with 2/7 Manchester Regiment on 8 October 1917 when he was wounded in action, From 37 CCS he was taken by train to 26 Fd Hospital Etaples, where he succumbed to his injuries. I have been very lucky to obtain copies of his partly burned army records. Whilst these contain lots of information there are no clues where he was in action on 8 October 1917. Any assistance in finding this information would be welcome. Roger Atterton
Hi Roger
The 2/7th Manchesters were part of the 199th Brigade, 66th (East lancs) Division that took part in the battle of Poelcappelle (a phase of the 3rd Ypres) on 8 Oct 1917 so it seems likely that your great uncle was wounded in this action. You may be able to find more specific details in the war diary which should be available for a small fee from the National Archives website. The diary is very unlikely to name him, however. The NA or Imperial War Museum might have a trech map, give them a search. Here is a barrage map of the battle on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Poelcappelle_-_barrage_map.jpg
Good luck with your search.
Jason
See GRENADIER GUARDS IN THE GREAT WAR, Vol II, 1920, LtCol Fred Ponsonby GG, pp 255/256 re LSgt Rhodes actions against the block house and posthumous VC. Generally, the three volumes are more detailed than the Diaries, naming officers coming and going, alive & dead, to the four Bns and sometimes notable ORs.
W T