3rd Grenadier Guards – War Diary
| 1 – 12 Sep 1916 | Training at MORLANCOURT. There were 3 days of Brigade training, in which the assault was practiced. The basis on which formations were formed was that it was necessary to move all necessary to move all supporting troops simultaneously with those detailed for the actual assault in order to avoid enemies barrage. Accordingly the Brigade was formed up in nine waves (a wave being a carrying party) at 50 yards distance and at zero time all waves advanced together under cover of (1) A standing barrage on the enemies front line (2) a creeping barrage starting 100 yards in front of the assault and moving forward at 50 yards per minute. When the creeping barrage reached the standing barrage, both lifted to 200 yards beyond the German frontline. The leading waves passed over the frontline and formed up behind the barrage. Standing barrage was then put down on the second line. The front trench was cleared by the rear waves.On the 9th the Battalion moved into camp at “Happy Valley”. Very little accommodation was obtainable but the weather was fine. training. | Trench sheet 57 C.S.W. 1/20,000 |
| 13 Sep 1916 | Marched to CARNOY and bivouacked there. Very little cover for the men. | |
| 14 Sep 1916 | A cold and windy day with showers. The necessary bombs, sandbags, tools (5 shovels to 3 spades), S.A.A and flares for use with contact patrol aeroplanes, were distributed. The mens packs, greatcoats and surplus kits, and the officers kits were sent to the Divisional Store near MEAULTE.The Battalion marched off by companies at 9.0 p.m. to take up position. This operation was favoured by a fine clear night with a moon. Companies moved up via TRONES WOOD, GUILLEMONT, and GINCHY. The assaulting place of the Brigade was clear of the village as the enemy had proved to be very quick in putting down a barrage on it. The right of the Brigade rested about 100 yards from GINCHY telegraph and the frontage occupied was about 500 yards. The Battalion was the right front battalion and was formed up in 4 waves, all men in single rank and companies in column of half companies ??? -No 4 Coy {14, 13 10, 9} No 3 Coy {16, 15 12, 11} No 2 Coy {9, 8 2, 1} No 1 Coy {11, 10 4, 3} H.Q. & Princes platoon This formation was in accordance with the training carried out and described elsewhere. There was 50 yards distance between platoons. The 1st Bn Coldstream Guards was on the left, the 1st Bn Scots Guards was immediately in rear of us. The Battalion reached the assaulting point without difficulty or interruption, only 1 man being slightly wounded. On the other hand there were no assaulting parallels dug and the Battalion had to dig some kind of assaulting trenches by linking up shell holes. Further owing to the necessity of being clear of GINCHY village the Brigade was not in immediate touch with the 1st Guards Brigade which was on the left and slightly in rear of us. The men had not seen the ground in front of them in daylight and lastly because of the terrain it was necessary that direction should ault changed during the actual progress of the assault. In short as a position of assaulting it laboured under every disadvantage except that it was not shelled by the enemy. |
1 O.R. W’d 14th |
| 15 Sep 1916 | Zero hour was timed for 6.20 a.m. and the Battalion was ready in position by about 3 a.m. The men slept therefore from 3 – 5.45 a.m. when they were given sandwiches and an issue of rum. During this time the “tanks”, which were attached to the Division could be heard making their way up in rear of us. We were in immediate touch with 6th Division on our right. At 6.0 a.m. our heavy artillery fired about 40 rounds in quick succession. This of course woke up the enemy, who put down his usual barrage on GINCHY village (particularly the NE corner) and started shelling LEUZE WOOD and troops of the 6th Division who were still moving about in that neighbourhood.At 6.19 ½ a.m. the whole Brigade rose to it’s feet and advanced. Our left front company was met by machine gun fire as soon as it got up and lost Capt MACKENZIE and Mr ASQUITH at once. 2/Lt H. Williams was wounded a few yards further on. The last remaining officer of that company also fell within 200 yards of our own trenches.Our rt front company however appeared to get off much more fortunately and did not seem to lose until a considerable way out.
Now owing to the causes which have been set down and owing to the fact that the 6th Division failed to advance and that the tanks were not forthcoming. (1) Our left flank was or rather appeared to be in the air as the 1st Brigade had started behind us. In addition to the above a german trench or rather a line of shell holes hastily organised and provided with M.G.s was encountered about 250 yards after leaving our own trenches. Every German in this trench was either shot or bayoneted but it helped to break up the regularity of the formation and impaired the cohesion of the assault. The men however were not to be denied and though the right flank was raked by heavy machine gun fire in enfilade and though the wire and trench on that part of the front owing to impossibility of observation wire untouched by the Brigade continued to advance, but as a Brigade rather than as 4 battalions. The parties who were drawn to the left by the appallingly exposed flank found themselves among the 1st Brigade but did not suffer severely as the wire and trench there had been completely destroyed. It was on the right flank that our chief casualties were incurred. They included the Commanding Officer Lt. Col. B.N.S. Brooke D.S.O. and most of the officers except Capts GORDON & HOPLEY. After reaching the first objective – the German line running through T.8.a.b.2.d it was found that there was a gap between the left parties and the right which was occupied by the enemy who began to enfilade the trench with M.G.s and shell fire. Composite bombing parties however dislodged them and the whole first objective was in our hands. Our right flank was however completely exposed as the troops on our right were only a short distance, if any, in front of GINCHY TELEGRAPH. On the right therefore it was impossible to push on but more in the centre in composite party of men of the 2nd Gds Brigade under MAJOR ROCKE went forward and established themselves just short of the second line in T.9.b but as that party was only 100 strong and had two open flanks it was impossible to assault the second line. It appeared that LES BOEUFS would have fallen into our hands without opposition or at any rate with only ill-organised resistance if more troops could have been packed on. This was not done doubtless owing to the threat to the right flank of the Division – a threat which would have become more acute with every additional yard forward. The position was therefore consolidated but the advanced party under Major ROCKE after withholding one counter attack had both flanks enveloped and being attacked frontally had to fall back on to the first objective. |
Casualties Officers K or D of W 4 Wounded 10 Missing 4O.R. K 31 Wd 155 Ms 209 |
| 16 Sep 1916 | Nothing occurred except some somewhat severe shelling on the 16th and on the evening of 16th/17th the Bn was relieved and marched into camp at the CITADEL. | |
| 17 – 19 Sep 1916 | Re-organising at the CITADEL. Owing to having left 20% of the officers, C.S.majors and a percentage of senior N.C.O.s this was not so difficult as might have been expected.The casualties among specialists, especially signallers and Lewis gunners, in particular, had however been severe.Weather very wet and camp and roads got into a very bad state. | Major A. THORNE D.S.O. took over command 18/9/16 Lt. Hon H.G. AGAR ROBARTES and 2/Lt. C.H. BEDFORD joined 19/9/16 |
| 20 Sep 1916 | The Battalion moved into bivouacs at CARNOY marching off at 9.30 p.m. | Lt F ANSON 2/Lt C.A. HALL joined 20/9/16 |
| 21 – 25 Sep 1916 | Training at CARNOY. Two drafts had joined the Battalion 198 on 20th 133 21st.Musketry, bombing, smoke helmets. 1 O.R. was killed and 10 wounded on 23rd whilst carrying ammunition to forward dump.On the 25th the 2nd Guards Brigade was in reserve less this battalion which was in Corps Reserve. Battalion moved to CRATER POST A.8.a.6.5. Owing to the complete success of the attack the Battalion was not used and at about 5.0 p.m. came over more under orders of 2nd Gds Bde. | 2/Lt N. THORNEHILL 21/9/162/Lt C.F. JOHNSON 26/9/16 |
| 26 Sep 1916 | On the evening of the 26th moved into bivouacs in TRONES WOOD being reserve battalion. 1st Bn Scots Gds and 2nd Bn Irish Guards holding the line. | |
| 28 Sep 1916 | Took over from 1st Bn Scots Guards just N of LES BOEUFS. A quiet relief.Patrols were pushed out 750 yards in front of the line and then dug themselves in. Our artillery however shelled them and they were obliged to withdraw. A new line was started about 150 yards in front of the existing line. Intermittent shelling. | Lt. E.R.M. FRYER Wd 3 O.R. Wd 28th |
| 29 Sep 1916 | Work continued and C.T. trench forward started. Work impeded by a small attack which 1st Bn COLDSTREAM GDS made on our right. Considerable shelling. | 5 O.R. Wd 29th |
| 30 Sep 1916 | Relieved by 7th Bn MIDDLESEX REGT and marched to camp at CARNOY. Men in tents and plenty of room. | 4 O.R. Wd |
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3rd Grenadier Guards - WW1 - War Diary 