World War 1 time lines

Signed by R.S. Hunt Lt.Col. 8th K.O.R.L.

• 2nd May
  Day spent resting and cleaning
  In the evening moved to trenches near the Bois des Boeufs
• 3rd & 4th May
  Cleaning and resting
• 4th May evening
  Moved to Brown Line, west of Monchy
• 5th to 10th May
  Digging communication trench west of Monchy
• Night of the 5th/6th May
  Letter to his sister and my grandmother, Helen Violet Hunt
  Describes meeting his brother Donald (Major Donald Hunt, C.O. 4th SAI)

  …
  The General has again put me in for a D.S.O. & I’m big enough not to be even grateful…. I don’t want a D.S.O. I do long for a Legion of Honour.
  …
  Donald goes up tonight, just on our left, to a badly straffed place like this salubrious village.

• 10th May
  Relieved the 1st N.F’s in trenches east of Monchy
• 11th May
  Monchy heavily shelled
  Difficult working conditions due to enemy activity
• 12th May
  6pm barrage on Devil’s trench
  Attacked enemy under cover of the barrage
  Met with heavy M.G. fire at junction of Bit Lane and Devil’s trench which stopped the advance
  Heavy casualties
  C.O. (Lt.Col. Hunt) went up to the front to complete reorganization
  Casualties: 5 officers, 93 ORs
• 13th May
  Enemy guns active all day
  Stretcher bearers active removing wounded from previous day’s attack
• 14th May
  4 pm bombardment of Devil’s Trench followed by enemy bombardment of Monchy
  Night time relief by 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers
• 15th May
  Collected by the cookers on the Cambrai Rd near Tilloy. Hot tea & rum & hot breakfast
  Moved off in lorries to huts in Duisans

Casualties during occupation of Monchy trenches of 11th to 14th May

• 6 officers wounded
  • Capt. A.H. Pollock
  • J.E.D. Manlove
  • 2/Lt H.G. Stark
  • 2/Lt H Young
  • 2/Lt C.V. Ford
  • 2/Lt. A.W. Holgate
• ORs
  • 26 killed
  • 52 wounded
  • 12 missing

• • 16th May
    Fitting out with new clothes
  • 17th May
    Moved to Habarcq
    Poor Billets
    Letter from Brigadier-General C.L.Porter, C.O. 76th Brigade

    Please make known to all ranks under your command how very highly I appreciate their gallant conduct in front of MONCHY during the recent operations. Their steadfastness and gallantry in taking up their line on the 24/25 April and beating off the heavy attack of the enemy on the night of the 27/28 April, are yet another example of the splendid fighting qualities of all ranks of the Battalion. Their gallant attempt to take DEVIL’S TRENCH on the 12th May after the heavy losses they had already suffered during the long tour of trench duty round MONCHY was a splendid performance.
    This was added to by the steadiness & grit displayed in holding after the failure of this attempt, a failure from no fault of their own, but due to the enfilade Machine Gun fire from their flanks. I most deeply sympathize with all ranks in the loss of so many gallant comrades sustained by them.

    C.L.Porter
    Brigadier General
    Commanding 76th Infantry Brigade

  • 18th May
    Moved to Ambrines
  • 19th May
    Cleaning and reorganizing
  • 21st May
    Training at Bois-de-Faye
    Baths
    Award of ribbons by Major Gen. Deverill, C.O. 3rd Division
    Awards to :-
    • Military Cross
      • Capt. H.N. Morgan
      • 2/Lt. H. Young
    • Bar to Military Medal
      • Sgt. Moylan
    • Military Medal
      • Cpl. Lindsay
      • Cpl. Bailey
      • L/Cpl. Dickens
    • Military Cross
      • Capt. A.G.S. Wallace R.A.M.C. (attached to Battalion)
  • 22nd May to 1st June
    Training
    • Bombing
    • Lewis Guns
    • Musketry
    • Sniping

    Football vs. Gordon Highlanders

Signed by R.S. Hunt, Lt.Col. 8th Bn. King’s Own (R.L.) Regt