Delville Wood

• 15th July 
  Left Montauban, 2.30 a.m., and advanced rapidly towards Delville. MacLeod with A and B Companies into Delville. B and C Companies under me to small orchard south of Longueval to 5th Camerons. Midday to Waterlot Farm. Kirby wounded. Sent Brown’s and Thorburn’s platoons to flanks north and south of farm. Thorburn killed. Head on during day. In afternoon Ross and I were able to stand out and watch our barrage on Germans coming from Guillemont. Built strong-point E of junction of trench coming from Trônes, but in doing so Germans nearly got us all with 5.9’s. Many casualties to-day.
• 16th July
  At daybreak Camerons relieved us and we moved to Sunken Road just behind Longueval. Heavily shelled. B and C Companies ordered into Wood by Dawson. Moved in past church and lay in front of Prince’s Street. Heavily shelled all day, especially into Cameron
  mound to our left rear. Lieut. A. H . Brown killed by machine gun fire at shallow trench to west. Big chunks of trees coming down with shell fire. Young Murdoch-Keith, the youngest of my company laughed at these and seemed to think it great fun. Sent for by Dawson in
  Longueval and on my way met Lukin and showed him back where Thackeray and Tanner were. Dawson ordered us to get back at nightfall to Sunken Road, which we did and carried some wounded to Power at dressing station.
• 17th July
  C Company in Sunken Road and B in trench nearby. Heavy casualties. Marshall shell-shocked, he got the shock of a shell that dropped just above Smith and me. Getting weak in men— Lance-Corpl. Horn killed in trench as I was giving him order. Standing with Dawson and Stuckey in Quarry when shell landed and knocked out 26 men of 1st Regiment.
• 18th July
  Sent 50 of B and C Company into wood. Lieut. Smith wounded in leg, a blighty, Boustead wounded, Fitz Bell killed just as 50 were starting off, so sent Maclean of B instead of Smith of C. Brought up remains of B and C Company in afternoon and advanced in line across open without casualties though shelling heavy, with some of 1st Regiment and first occupied Clarges Street with some Argyles and Black Watch, then moved to Longueval ruins and to S.W. corner of wood.
  A Black Watch corporal went to a dead man and got his iron ration t in of bully, opened it with his bayonet and gave it to me, then went and got another one for himself. I ate all mine.
• 19th July
  At 7 a.m. received order timed 3.40 a.m. from Dawson to retire to Talus Boisé. Some Norfolks came up. Sent B and C Companies to Talus Boisé. Found Dalgety and walked down road with him to Talus Boisé and then went to look for Brigade H.Q. at Montauban. On getting to entrance of Brigade H.Q. dugout was nearly blotted by shell which landed me in my kilt upside down at the foot of the dugout steps. Found another Brigade had taken over. Returned to Talus Boise and found General Lukin sitting on a stump.
  He told me Thackeray was still in Wood and asked if we were ready to go in again to get Thackeray out.
  Said “ Yes, sir!” though in my heart knew all my lot were done in.
  Lukin then asked what was my strength?
  Told him 19 B Company, 21 C Company, 6 A Company here, lying down.
  He said “No! That would be no use, stop where you are!”
  Company cookers are up here, thank goodness.

• 6.00pm: Lt.Col. Frank Thackeray, 2/Lt. Edward Phillips, 2/Lt. Garnet Green and 140 men are the last of the South African Brigade to leave the wood. They are led by Pipe Major Sandy Grieve and the pipes of the Black Watch (3rd Royal Regiment of Scotland).

• 20th July
  Talus Boisé. All had a good sleep. Captain Mitchell came to see us. He cried when he saw what was left.
• 21st July
  Moved to Happy Valley. Draft of 88 joined. Harris acting adjutant.
• 22nd July
  Happy Valley. Draft of 59 joined. Mitchell rejoined from Highland Brigade staff.
• 23rd July
  Moved via Meaulté to Mariecourt. Set upon by a plague of war correspondents, but found myself somewhat at a loss as they wanted “incidents” and at the moment I could think of none to tell them. Entrained at night for Hengest.
• 24th July
  Marched to Moufflers and lay down in afternoon and rested in long grass.

Seven days before the battle the brigade mustered 121 officers and 3034 men.

When the brigade was relieved on the 20th July 3 officers and 140 men walked out of the wood

When the remnant of his brigade paraded before Gen. Lukin on 22nd July he stood with bared head and tears running down his cheeks. 748 men remained including 5 officers and 743 men. There had been 2407 casualties by 20th July, of whom 770 were killed or later died of wounds.

Further reading

• Hold at all costs! The epic battle of Delville Wood 1916. Book by Ian Uys
• Battle of Delville Wood. Wikipedia page