Location: French Flanders, France

Contents |
Document Info
This is a transcription of the official war diaries of the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry for June 1916. It forms part of a larger set of pages indexed here.
War Diary
1-3 June
[Image 195]
YSER CANAL
- June 1st - A quiet day. At night D Coy moved up from CANAL BANK and relieved A Coy on left. C Coy had an interplatoon relief. Everything very quiet up to midnight. Casualties nil. A Coy being left coy of the British Army took over Liaison post at junction of English French.
- 2nd - A quiet morning. In the afternoon the enemy sent some shells over to the road on the WEST BANK of CANAL. About 2pm a few shells burst near BUTT 23. Casualties nil.
- 3rd - During the morning the enemy shelled the CANAL BANKS especially round Hqrs. In the afternoon the Corps Heavies and Div artillery assisted by the French had a shoot on German trenches in front of the battn. At night 1/W YORKS retook the OLD BRITISH TRENCH. We supplied a large digging party to bridge a gap in the left of the captured position. 2/LT MEIKLE returned from hospital. Casualties 2/LT C.H. THOMPSON killed 2/LT HARTSHORN wounded One OR wounded. 2/LT MEIKLE returned from hospital.
4-6 June
[Image 196]
- 4th - A very quiet day. At night B coy continued digging new trench leading to captured trench. An enemy patrol was encountered and dispersed. Casualties one OR wounded.
- 5th - Enemy's machine guns active. Bombs were exchanged on the extreme left. In the afternoon the enemy dropped some shells near FARGATE. They also obtained a hit on Bridge 6D, making a gap of about 5 yds. New trench was continued. Casualties nil.
- 6th - A quiet morning. In the afternoon enemy whizz banged our extreme left post. From 9pm to 11pm enemy's machine guns and snipers were very active. Casualties 2 OR wounded.
7-10 June
[Image 197]
- 7th - About 10.30am enemy shelled round Battn Hqrs with shrapnel and howitzer shells. From 5pm to dusk there was great arial activity by the British. At night work was carried on in the new trench running EAST from S32. Casualties 5 OR wounded. From 9pm to midnight Enemy M.G. and snipers were very active. A draft of 19 OR arrived. LT COL A.E. IRVINE D.S.O. returned from leave.
- 8th - About noon enemy shelled round Battn Hqrs with howitzers, and also about 3.30pm. Gas alert received at 9.40pm. Casualties 2 OR killed.
- 9th - About 2.30am enemy M.G. and snipers were particularly active. Enemy shelled TALANA FARM and round Battn Hqrs about 11.30am. Casualties one OR wounded.
- 10th - About 2am enemy threw bombs at our extreme left. The remainder of the day passed quietly. Casualties one OR wounded. A draft of 21 OR arrived.
Pte George Alfred Pendleton #18672.[1] |
11-14 June
[Image 198]
- 11th - A quiet morning. A little shelling on WEST CANAL BANK in the vicinity of Bn Hqrs. At night the battn was relieved by 14/DLI. Relief completed at 11.55pm. Casualties one OR wounded.
- 12th - The Battn proceeded to Camps by train. Hqrs, A & D Coys at Camps G and B & C Coys to Camp P. Battn arrived in Camps at 2.35am. Casualties nil. C and D Coys bathed at new divisional baths.
- 13th - In the morning the C.O. inspected the latest draft. A Coy bathed at new div. baths. Casualties nil.
- 14th - At 9am Major General Ross C.B. D.S.O. commanding 6th Division inspected and addressed the battn. Casualties nil. B Coy bathed at new div baths. At 11pm new daylight saving system was adopted. LIEUT W.E. HARPER proceeded A.R.F.C. [Air Reserve Flying Centre] on probation.
15-18 June
[Image 199]
- 15th - Battn paraded at 1.30pm outside P Camp and route marched to HOUTKERQUE. Battn billeted in the village.
- 16th - The Battn marched to WORMHOUDT in the afternoon where it was billeted for the night.
- 17th - About 1am a German aeroplane dropped bombs on WORMHOUDT. The Battn paraded at 2.15pm and marched to VOLCKERINCKHOVE. A draft of 19 OR arrived. 2/LT W. FRITH promoted temporarily captain. The Battn rested the whole day. 2/LT J. CRAWFORD and 2/LT F.W.A. VICKERY reported their arrival.
- 18th - The Battn paraded strong as possible and proceeded to the entrenching field where they worked from 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm.
20-24 June
[Image 200]
- 20th - The digging was carried on as yesterday. Hours of work 9am to 12pm - 2pm to 5pm. In the evening the 6th Div band played in VOLKERINCKHOVE.
- 21st - The digging was carried on.
- 22nd - The digging was carried on. 2/LT H.V. STOCKTON reported his arrival, and is posted to B Coy.
- 23rd - The Battn were allotted to the baths at ZEGGERS CAPPEL. A draft of 30 OR arrived and proceeded to their coys.
- 24th - The Battn practised platoons in the attack on the entrenching grounds. LT J. JONES having returned from 2nd Army School assumes command of A Coy. 2/LT (T Capt) W. Frith reverts to 2nd Lieut.
25-29 June
[Image 201]
- 25th - In the morning there were parades for Devine Service. In the afternoon the Battn had the use of the entrenching grounds for practising the attack.
- 26th - The Battn was allowed the entrenching ground in the morning for practising the attack.
- 27th - The Battn practised the attack in the afternoon on the entrenching grounds.
- 28th - Owing to the heaving rainfall the battn could not practise the attack during the morning. There were Brigade operations (attack) in the afternoon.
- 29th - Brigade operations (attack) in the morning on the entrenching grounds.
30 June
[Image 202]
- 30th - There were night operations. Battn was in position at 2.15am. Attack launched at 3.00am. Operations finished at 5.30am.
July 3rd 1916 - A.E. Irvine Lieut. Col Cmdg 2nd DLI
Casualties
3rd June
KILLED
- 2/LT Charles Henry Thompson.[2]
WOUNDED
- 2/LT HARTSHORN
- One OR
4th June
WOUNDED
- 1 OR
6th June
WOUNDED
- 2 OR
Additional Documents
Cover note and Letter to Division
[Image 203]
Small note on lined paper: O.C. 2nd DLI For information (Sd) T. Grenville Gavin Captain 6-6-16 Bde Major 18th Inf Bde
[Image 204]
Letter:
Appendix "A" 6th Div. No. G/44/33/1 XIV Corps No. S. 63
Headquarters. 6th Division.
Reference your G/44/33/1 of 4th June. The Corps Commander directs me to say that he considers that this enterprise was well organised and well carried out, and reflects great credit on the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regt. He considers the new line is valuable to us for many reasons. He further directs me to say that he fully realises how much the continued wet on your front has interfered with your consolidation and improvements, and the successful undertaking of an enterprise in the face of these difficulties deserves all the more credit.
(Sd) F. Gathorne Hardy Brigadier General - General Staff XIV Corps 5-6-16
18th Infantry Brigade I'm forwarding the above, the G.O.C. has directed me to say that he considers great credit is also due to the Brigade as a whole and to the officers and men of other Battalions who tool part in the work of consolidation.
(Sd) G.F. Boyd Lt Colonel - General Staff 6-6-16
Margin notes: Certified true copy [Signatures] 2/DLI
Casualty Return WE 9 Jun 6th Div
[Image 205]
RETURN OF THE SICK ADMITTED INTO, DISCHARGED TO DUTY & EVACUATED TO THE BASE, FROM FIELD MEDICAL UNITS, 6th DIV: WEEK ENDING 9/6/16
ADMITTED | DISCHARGED TO DUTY | EVACUATED TO BASE | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VARIOUS | VENEREAL | INFECTIOUS | |||
18th INFANTRY BRIGADE | |||||
1st West Yorks Regt | 18 | 1 | 6 | 9 | |
2nd DLI | 8 | 1 | 8 | 3 | |
14th DLI | 12 | 5 | 3 | ||
11th Essex Regt | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
18th I.B.M.G.Coy. | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Blank Form
[Image 206]
Blank Army Form for Messaged and Signals
Casualty List June DLI
[Image 207]
2nd Durham Light Infantry
Return showing number of Officers and Other ranks, Killed, Wounded and missing during the month of June.
Killed | Wounded | Missing | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Officers | O. Ranks | Officers | O. Ranks | Officers | O. Ranks |
1 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
A.E. Irvine Lieut-Colonel Comdg 2/Durham L. I.
Blank Form
[Image 208]
Blank Army Form for Messaged and Signals
Field Return 24 Jun
[Image 209]
FIELD RETURN: 2/Durham Light Infantry in the field - June 24th 1916
To be made up to and for Sunday in each week. (To be furnished by all arms, services, and departments (except A.S.C. units) to the A.G.'s Office at the Base in accordance with Field Service Regulations, Part II.)
RETURN showing numbers (a) Effective Strength of Unit (b) Rationed by Unit
Detail | Personnel | Horses | Guns | Bicycles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Officers | O. Ranks | Riding | Draught | Heavy Draught | Pack | Lewis guns | 4-wheeled | 2-wheeled | ||
Effective Strength of Unit | 31 | 1018 | 12 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 9 |
Attached to unit | ||||||||||
RAMC [medics] | 1 | 5 | ||||||||
AOC [artillery] | 1 | |||||||||
Total | 32 | 1024 | 12 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 9 |
War Establishment | 36 | 994 | 12 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 9 |
To complete | 4 | |||||||||
Surplus | 30 | |||||||||
Attached | 5 | |||||||||
Total Rationed | 26 | 813 | 12 | 26 | 13 | 9 |
Remarks
Officers | Ditcher 12th Coy R.E. | 1 | Grenade Sch 6th Div | 1 | |||
Command | 2 | Divisional Band | 3 | Snipers Sch 2/Army | 1 | ||
Sick | 2 | 6th Div Police | 4 | CTS Rouen | 1 | ||
Leave | 1 | Com. Coy 2/Army | 16 | Grenade School | 1 | ||
Courses of Inst[ruction] | 1 | XIV Corps Rd Guard | 1 | Hd Qrs Clerk 2/Army | 1 | ||
Chaplain att for rations | VI Corps Rd Guard | 1 | Woodcutters | 4 | |||
V Corps Road Guard | 10 | XVII Corps Rd Guard | 1 | 6th Div N.C.O. School | 1 | ||
18/1 Trench M. Battery | 4 | XII Corps Rd Guard | 1 | 6th Div Salvage Coy | 5 | ||
177th Tunnelling Coy R.E. | 14 | Orderly CF office 6th Div | 1 | M.S. Coy | 21 | ||
182 Coy R.E. | 2 | Road Police 6th Div | 2 | Sick | 10 | ||
Sanitary Section | 21 | 6th Div Transport | 2 | Courses of Instr | 15 | ||
6th Div Baths & Laundry | 3 | Armourers Cook | 1 | ||||
6th Div Cinema | 2 | 18th Bde Hd Qrs | 7 |
Notes:
Blank parts of the form not transcribed for clarity;
Remarks were an additional column but have been transcribed separately as they did not seem to relate to the content alongside them.
Men joined or transferred 24 Jun
[Images 210-1]
For information of the A.G.'s Office at the Base
Officers and men who have become casuals, been transferred or joined since last report. Place: In the Fields; Date: June 24th 1916
Regtl. Number | Rank | Name | Company | Nature see notes | Date see notes | Remarks* |
29129 | Pte | Catchisides J | A | To Amb | 15-6-16 | N.Y.D Pyrexia |
10234 | Pte | Crosson H | D | -"- | 15-6-16 | -"- |
24104 | Pte | Mason T | D | -"- | 15-6-16 | -"- |
11358 | Sgt | Ashman R | D | From Amb | 16-6-16 | |
12008 | Pte | Neilson A | D | -"- | 16-6-16 | |
11339 | Pte | Bestford R | D | -"- | 16-6-16 | |
23645 | Pte | Good J | C | -"- | 16-6-16 | |
9062 | Pte | Adams T | C | -"- | 16-6-16 | |
8588 | Brig | Harding J | A | -"- | 16-6-16 | |
8277 | Pte | Peacock J | C | To Amb | 17-6-16 | N.Y.D Pyrexia |
10098 | L/C | Broxon R | A | -"- | 17-6-16 | -"- |
25420 | Pte | Summer R | B | -"- | 18-6-16 | -"- |
27873 | Pte | Saul E | B | From Amb | 18-6-16 | |
6842 | L/Sgt | Harker C | C | To Amb | 19-6-16 | Piles |
9558 | Pte | Coates J | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | Scabies |
9487 | Pte | Dodds H | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | Exema |
6447 | Pte | Hamilton J | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | Scabies |
23/160 | Pte | Taylor R | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | Debility |
9678 | Pte | Gurrens J | D | From Amb | 19-6-16 | |
10318 | Sgt | Burgess G | C | To Amb | 17-6-16 | |
27699 | Pte | Currie W | D | From Amb | 20-6-16 | |
8075 | Pte | Pemberton J | A | -"- | 20 -6-16 | |
26044 | Pte | Stoyles T | D | To Amb | 21-6-16 | Scabies |
27873 | Pte | Saul E | B | -"- | 23-6-16 | Old wound |
10098 | L/C | Broxon R | From Amb | 23-6-16 | ||
9749 | Pte | Hall W | C | To Base | 19 -6-16 | |
27026 | Pte | Faulkner C | A | -"- | 15-6-16 | |
25406 | Pte | Gray E | A | -"- | 15-6-16 | |
11358 | Sgt | Ashman | D | Com Coy 2nd Army | 19-6-16 |
- State whether absence is of a permanent or temporary nature, adding, in the case of casuals from wounds or disease, any available information for communication to the relatives.
[Shown in full on form table header but small text so replicated here instead]
Nature of casualty, or name of unit from or to which transferred
Date of being struck off or coming on the ration return
NYD = Not yet diagnosed
Pyrexia is a general term for Fever. |
Continuation on second handwritten sheet
Regtl. Number | Rank | Name | Company | Nature see notes | Date see notes | Remarks* |
26117 | Pte | Sharples J | A | Com Coy 2nd Army | 19-6-16 | |
9062 | Pte | Adams T | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
24632 | Pte | Barker T | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
9969 | Pte | Bell W S | A | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
8535 | Pte | Campbell J | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
10421 | Pte | Clarke A E | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
9651 | Pte | Fletcher E | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
9742 | Pte | Hindmarsh J | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
22461 | Pte | Hornby J | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
9871 | Pte | Moore J | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
10111 | Pte | O. Neil J | C | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
8445 | Pte | Sharp R | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
11818 | Pte | Tomlin W | A | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
8324 | Pte | Walker R | A | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
8550 | Pte | Greenwood W | D | -"- | 19-6-16 | |
11363 | Pte | Sharpe W | A | 177th Tuni Coy RE | 8-5-16 | |
15005 | Pte | Farrar T | A | -"- | 8-5-16 | |
22318 | Pte | Herdman T | B | -"- | 8-5-16 | |
10139 | Pte | Wood J G | B | -"- | 8-5-16 | |
5892 | Pte | Rourke J | A | -"- | 8-5-16 | |
27423 | Pte | Ingram R | A | -"- | 8-5-16 | |
9866 | Pte | Madden J | B | -"- | 8-5-16 |
Signed but blank form of Personnel Wanting to Complete 24 Jun
[Images 212-3]
While the form is blank indicating that the battalion was not short of any specific trade for that return the form is interesting in that it shows the different trades required for running of the army. I have transcribed the headings as I think they would be of interest.
2/DLI would not have required all of these - for example it had not vehicles so would never require any drivers. |
Detail of Wanting to complete:
- Drivers: RA, RE, ASC, Car, Lorry, Steam
- Gunners
- Smith Gunners
- Range Takers
- Farriers: Serjeants, Corporals
- Shoeing, or Shoeing and Carriage Smiths
- Cold Shoers
- Wheelers (RA, HT, MT)
- Saddlers or Harness Makers
- Blacksmiths
- Bricklayers and Masons
- Carpenters and Joiners
- Fitters & Turners (RE): Wood, Iron
- Fitters: RA, Wireless
- Plumbers
- Electricians: Ordinary, WT
- Signalmen
- Engine Drivers: Loco, Field
- Air Line Men
- Permanent Line Men
- Operators, telegraph
- Cablemen
- Brigade Section Pioneers
- General Duty Pioneers
- Signallers
- Instrument Repairers
- Motor Cyclists
- Motor Cyclist Artificers
- Telephonists
- Clerks
- Machine Gunners
- Armament Artificers: Fitters, Range Finders
- Armourers
- Storemen
- Private
- WOs and NCOs (by ranks) not included in trade columns
- Horses: Riding, Draught, Heavy Draught, Pack
For each of the above there is room to specify whether this is for:
- Cavalry
- RA (Royal Artillery)
- RE (Royal Engineers)
- Infantry
- RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps)
- AOC (Army Ordnance Corps)
- AVC (Army Veterinary Corps)
Signature of Commander: A E Irvine Lt-Colonel Unit: 2/Durham Light Infantry Formation to which attached: 2/Army Date of Despatch: June 24th 1916
[Rear for additional comments is blank]
Trench Strength Return 30 June
[Image 214 - handwritten on squared paper]
2nd Durham Light Infantry Trench Strength Return
Available for duty in trenches | Regimental Employ | Total Strength | |||
Officers | O. Ranks | Officers | O. Ranks | Officers | O. Ranks |
23 | 723 | 2 | 98 | 31 | 1,026 |
30-6-16 A E Irvine Lieut-Colonel Comdg 2/Durham L I
Sources
- ↑
Military:
"UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919"
Original data: British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd
Ancestry uk Record 1543 #147218 (accessed 11 August 2023)
Name: George Alfred Pendleton; Birth Place: Annfield Plain, Co. Durham; Death Date: 8 Jun 1916; Death Place: France and Flanders; Enlistment Place: Stanley, Co. Durham; Rank: Private; Battalion: 2nd Battalion; Regimental Number: 18672; Type of Casualty: Killed in action; Theatre of War: Western European Theatre. - ↑
Military:
"UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919"
Original data: British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd
Ancestry uk Record 1543 #1025302 (accessed 11 August 2023)
Name: Charles Henry Thompson; Death Date: 3 Jun 1916; Rank: 2 Lieutenant (T); Battalion: 2nd Battalion; Type of Casualty: Killed in action.
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