Historic battlefields.

17 April 1916 10th Essex

Our aircraft active during the morning, a fight taking place at 10am. Our machine came down near Maurepas.

Work on Defences continued. Sump boards out down in trench from Billon wood towards U works.

Lieut R A Chell proceeded on Course of Instruction at 18th Divisional School.

Lieut R T F Hedley and 2 Lieut A C Pochin and 4 NCO's returned from 53rd B. Grenade School.

2nd Lieut E de Q Mears & 4 NCO's returned from course of instruction at 18th Divisional School.

2nd Lieut A M Byerley and 2nd Lieut F B Wearne proceeded on course of instructions to 53rd B. Grenade School.

Wiring done infront of Done's Reduit at night.

16 April 1916 10th Essex

The dispositions of the Battalion in MARICOURT DEFENCES has been changed considerably.

The defences now consist of six strong points eventually to be capable of all round defence.

a. BREWERY KEEP- garrison One Coy of Bn in Maricourt Defences, one Lewis gun.

b. DONE'S REDOUBT-garrison One Coy of Bn in Maricourt Defences, one Lewis gun.

c. NAPIER'S REDOUBT garrison One Coy of Bn in Maricourt Defences, one Lewis gun.

d. "U" works- garrison One Coy of Bn in Maricourt Defences, Two Lewis guns.

e. CHATEAU Keep- garrison One Coy of Bn in Z2 Trenches one Lewis gun.

f. ROUND POINT- garrison One Coy of Bn in Z1 trenches one Lewis gun.

Principle work on Defences:-

Improving existing fire trenches round DONE'S Reduit.

Erecting wire entanglements on South side of Brewery

Erecting wire entanglements on North side of Chateau Keep.

Enemy's aeroplanes active during the morning and evening over our sector.

15 April 1916 10th Essex

All quiet during the morning on our front.

11.45am A large grey-green smoke cloud seen in Enemy's front line trench opposite A1 sub-sector. Our 18lbs opened fir on it with several salvos.

OC Coys and Coy Sergt Majors of 6th R Berks Regt came up from ETINHAM prior to our being relieved by them.

Battalion relieve during the evening in the trenches by 6th R Berks Regt. Relief completed at 10.30pm.

Battalion took over MARICOURT DEFENCES from 8th Bn NORFOLK Regt 53rd Inf Bde.

Nothing tactical to report.

Draft of 1 Sergt and 38 men arrived from 12th Res Bn Essex Regt.

2nd Lieut T A EVANS returned from Hospital.

14 April 1916 10th Essex

Everything very quiet during the day: Slight artillery fire on this sub-sector.

Enemy's snipes in this sub-sector have almost entirely stopped shooting, only two shots have been fired from opposite AP1 in the last 6 days.

Work in trenches as usual.

Enemy's MGs active at Evening "Stand to" and at intervals during the night.

Enemy fired at our transport with "wizz-bangs whiles it was coming along the SUZANNE-MARICOURT ROAD. No damage done.

12 Bn Middlesex Regt [54th Inf Bde] relieved by the 11th Royal Fusiliers [54 Inf Bde] in the subsector on our Left (A1) during the night

13 April 1916 10th Essex

Disposition of Battalion in the sub-sector were altered this morning. Two coys now hold front line.

Left

Trenches A 16/4 to A15/3

Right

Trenches A 16/1 to A 16/4

Counter Attack Coy in Support Trenches

Reserve Coy in CHATEAU KEEP

Work in trenches APs and arrow heads continued.

Trenches forming CHATEAU KEEP improved.

Intermittent shelling on both sides during the morning and afternoon, only slight damage done to trenches.

Enemy's snipers absolutely quiet.

No wiring done owing to lack of wire.

Patrols out at night watching Enemy's wire.

At Evening "Stand To" one green and one red rocket were seen fired from Enemy's trenches on our left.

8.30pm About 20 Enemy's 4.2" Hows fell in "U" works.

Enemy's MGs active throughout the night.

Wiring party out at night infront of A16/4, 60 yards out up (French & Barbed wire).

Several Hand Grenades were thrown during the night by the enemy at AP1 all fell short but damage was done to our wire.

Some Chevaux-de-Frise were pushed out by us infront of AP1 during the night.

Patrols out all night as usual, nothing of importance to report.

12 April 1916 10th Essex

Enemy very quiet all the morning.

Work in all trenches, advanced posts and arrow heads continued.

11.45am to 12.30pm Train seen, appeared to be travelling in direction of MONTAUBAN.

2.30pm Enemy again shelled AP1 with 19 rounds 4.2 " Hows. Our Artillery replied with 18lbs and Hows.

Enemy's snipers absolutely quiet, they haven't fired a round for the last three days.

Patrols out all night along whole front, examined and found German wire intact, more specimens brought in.

11pm A Green Rocket was sent up by the Enemy infront of our Centre Group, no action on the part of the enemy.

Two wiring parties out at night 1. Infront of A16/3 35 yards put up. 2. BEDFORD St Arrow Head 35 yards put up.

One man killed whilst wiring infront of A16/3 by stray shot.

The war diary casualty list gives one casualty for the day: 13602 Pte P WIFFEN killed in action.

He is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery alongside other Essex Regiment casualties.

11 April 1916 10th Essex

Enemy very quiet all the morning. No Artillery fire from either side during the morning.

Work in trenches throughout sub-sector continued.

No sniping on the part of the enemy.

2pm Enemy fired 19 shells, 4.2 Hows into AP1 some damage done to the trench. Two men killed and two wounded by this fire.

6.50pm to 8.15pm Heavy Bombardment away on our left affect of "Tear" shells felt in our front line trenches.

7pm Enemy's transport heard on HARDECOURT-MAUREPAS ROAD.

11.15pm 2nd Lieut WEARNE and 4 men went out on patrol from A15/3 to inspect Enemy's wire. One man killed, one wounded. Other patrols out along our whole front all night, all report German wire in good condition, no gaps.

Trains were heard several times during the night from the direction of MONTAUBAN.

War diary casualty list has the following casualties for this day:

15336 Pte C KNAPP- killed in action

14489 Pte D BROOKS- wounded in action

14482 LCpl FE WILSON- wounded in action

16423 Pte SC SEARLES- wounded in action

10605 Pte F NEWMAN- killed in action

13215 Pte F SELL- killed in action

KNAPP, NEWMAN and SELL are buried side by side in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery.

10 April 1916 10th Essex

Enemy unusally quiet all day. Enemy's MG active at evening Stand To.

Work in improving trenches throughout sub-sector continued.

Work on Arrow heads in Main Avenue and Maricourt Avenue. Both wired.

Two wiring parties out at night 1. Infront of square 25 yards, 2. Infront og AP3 30 yards and A16/4 80 yards French and Barbed wire put up.

2nd Lieut WEARNE with two men on patrol to inspect and watch German wire.

Other patrols out along our whole front all night; nothing unusual to report, samples of Enemy's wire cut and brought back.

2nd Lieut AF M CORKE and one man proceeded on Course of Instruction in Vickers MG.

Lieut R TF HEDLEY, 2nd Lieut A C POCHIN, and 4 NCO's proceeded on Course of Instruction at 53rd Inf Bde Grenade School.

A war diary casualty list records one casualty for this day: 14583 Pte WH Cross- killed in action.

30 March 1916 10th Essex

Our 18lbs fired 12 rounds HE on to large sniper's post in front line German Trench NW of AP1. Three direct hits which removed most of the sandbags and earth and disclosed a large cupola of steel.

The head of AP2 well wired by Right Groups Coy during the night.

Patrols out all night, nothing of importance to report.

Enemy quiet during the night, except for sniping. One man killed.

Considerable aerial activity during the day 15 of our machines flew over towards MONTAUBAN.

The war diary appendix lists no casualties for 30th March, it does however list one for the 31st who is listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commision as dying on 30th March 1916: 17828 Pte Frederick GUYOTT. Soldiers Died in the Great War also lists him as being killed on 31st March 1916.

 

29 March 1916 10th Essex

Everything quiet during the day. Enemy's MG opened fire from opposite AP2 into the Maricourt Wood. Our Lewis Guns retaliated successfully stopped those of the Enemy.

Enemy's snipers active from a point in his fire trench NW of AP1 from some form of  reinforced snipers post.

Enemy's rifle fire also active in the evening and night.

The Right Group had two parties of 8 men each wiring with knife rests infront of AP1 & AP2 from 9pm till midnight.

Centre Group Coy had one party of 12 men wiring infront of AP3 for 4 hours 10pm-2pm

Enemy threw 3 hand grenades from opposite AP1 all fell short.

Practically no artillery (Enemy's) fire all day.

Fighting Strength. Officers 34 Other ranks 930.