World War 1 time lines

These timelines were distilled from war diaries and books relating to the regiments and the personal memoirs of Reginald & Donald Hunt.

Reggie (Left) and Donald (Right)

1917
November 28
In reserve at Mory
  • 28th Nov
    Battalion in reserve at Mory
    P.T. training
    Lewis gunners and bombers training
  • 29th Nov
    Evening concert by Welsh and King’s Own
  • 30th Nov
    Company drill
    Wiring and sandbagging
    Relieved the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the line
    Artillery active
    Enemy sent numerous gas shells
November 30
War diary of the 8th King’s Own (Royal Lancaster)

Signed by H.N. Morgan Capt. Adjt for 8th Bn. King’s Own (R.L.) Regt

November 30
War diary of the 4th SAI

Signed by D.R.Hunt Major for Lieut Colonel Commanding 4th South African Infantry

December 1
Move back to the Somme (cont.)
  • 1st Dec
    Long march to Eps
    Had to leave blankets because no lorries available
  • 2nd Dec
    March to Anvin then train to Péronne arriving after midday the next day. Blankets turned up
  • 3rd Dec
    Left Péronne for Don Camp at Moislains
  • 4th Dec
    Left Don Camp for Fins
December 1
Trenches at Bullecourt (cont.)
  • 1st to 4th Dec
    Artillery active
    Relieved by 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 4th
December 5
Front line at Gouzeaucourt and hutments
  • 5th Dec
    Left Fins for the firing line in the Gouzeaucourt area
    Enemy artillery active
  • 6th Dec
    Enemy artillery active
  • 7th Dec
    Both artilleries active
    Men beginning to report sick
  • 8th Dec
    Firing lively from both sides
  • 9th Dec
    Relieved and moved to position in support in Sunken Rd with H.Q. near Quentin crossroads
  • 10th Dec
    Moved to hutments S.W. of Gouzeaucourt
  • 11th Dec
    Resting
    Great attention to men’s feet
  • 12th Dec
    Relieved 3rd SAI in the line
  • 13th Dec
    Comparatively quiet compared to last time
  • 14th Dec
    Good progress on trenches
    Men’s feet getting sore
  • 15th Dec
    Occasional sniping
    Relieved by 3rd SAI
  • 16th Dec
    Two companies in support, two in reserve
  • 17th Dec
    Feet treatment
  • 19th Dec
    Preparing to move forward
    Men not feeling very fit
    Relieved 3rd SAI in the front
  • 20th Dec
    Hope to have all men under shelter before next time
    Becoming a quiet sector
  • 21st Dec
    Battalion Intelligence officer killed in No Man’s Land
    Sniping active
  • 22nd Dec
    Sniping and machine guns active on both sides
  • 23rd Dec
    Relieved by 3rd SAI
    Moved to hutments
    Bitterly cold
  • 24th Dec
    Men allowed to rest
    Preparations for a good Xmas dinner
  • 25th Dec
    Old-fashioned Xmas day
    Snow lying deep
    Baths
    Clean clothing
    Fairly good dinner under circumstances
  • 26th Dec
    All men had feet treated
  • 27th Dec
    Relieved 3rd SAI 
  • 28th Dec
    Started work on shelters, wiring etc.
  • 29th Dec
    Very cold
    Enemy artillery active
    Good deal of work done
  • 30th Dec
    Heavy barrage by enemy followed by raid
    Suffered severely
    Gouzeaucourt heavily shelled with heavies & gas
    Order to move to support
  • 31st Dec
    Trenches cleared in prep for relief

Losses for the month

  Officers O. Ranks
Killed 1 18
Wounded 1 84
Missing   1

 

December 5
Camp at Mory
  • 5th Dec
    Resting
    Battalion standing ready to move at one hour’s notice
    Revd. Hopson arrived as C of E chaplain
  • 6th Dec
    Battalion in brigade reserve
    Moved up to take over Ecoust defences
December 7
Ecoust and Bullecourt
  • 7th to 10th Dec
    Quiet
    Repairing and constructing shelters
    Carrying parties
  • 10th Dec
    Relieved 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the front line at Bullecourt
    Ration dump heavily shelled
  • 11th Dec
    Hostile artillery particularly active on support at Batt. H.Q.
  • 12th Dec
    6.30am Enemy barrage with Trench mortars, whizzbangs and heavies on all lines
    Enemy raiding parties repulsed
    Heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy
    Enemy secured lodgement from Ripon Lane to Bunny Hug Lane
    West Yorks took 15 OR prisoners
    Major Lawrence of 1st Gordons joined at took over duties of second in command
  • 13th Dec
    Allied guns active due to information received from previous day’s prisoners
  • 14th Dec
    Hostile shells on front, support and reserve lines
    Allied barrage on captured trenches
    Enemy retaliation
  • 15th Dec
    Little enemy shelling
    Allied shelling
    Enemy retaliation
    Relieved by 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
December 17
Camp at Mory and Reggie goes on leave
  • 17th to 21st Dec
    Stand to 6.30am to 8am
    Inspection, instruction and baths
    Physical training
    Wiring
    Lewis Gun instruction
    Concert by brigade concert party
    Lt.Col. R.S. Hunt left for England on leave on the 19th
December 22
Trenches at Bullecourt
  • 22nd Dec
    Relieved 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
  • 24th Dec
    Spasmodic shelling by by own and enemy artillery
    Xmas Eve and anticipation of the morrow
  • 25th Dec
    Enemy artillery active throughout the day
    Eight officers sat down to Xmas dinner at 8pm
    Major Lawrence said it was the best dinner he had eaten in France
  • 26th Dec
    Intermittent enemy shelling
    Visit from officers of 12th Suffolks
  • 27th Dec
    Relieved by 12th Suffolks
    Marched back to Mory