3rd Battalion

The Monmouthshire Regiment

1914

August

• 4.  Order to mobilise received at 6.10 p.m.
• 5.  Battalion assembled at Abergavenny and Proceeded in two trains to Pembroke Dock.
• 9.  Relieved by 3rd S.W.B. and proceeded to Oswestry
• 14.  Inspected by Major General J. Lindley, G.O.C. Welsh Division.
• 18.  Brigade notified that 817 had volunteered for service abroad.
• 30.  Proceeded to Northampton.

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September

• 1.  One officer and a draft of 84 men arrived from Abergavenny.
• 3.  Brigade Inspection by General Sir Bruce Hamilton, G.O.C. Central Force.
• 9.  Lt Col P. B. Ford, T.D. left for Abergavenny, to take command of Reserve Battalion.
• 16.  Lt Col H. W. Worsley-Gough, late Connaught Rangers, arrived and took over command. First inoculation of Battalion against typhoid.
• 21.  Major E. H. Fawckner proceeded to Depot.
• 23.  Major W. S. Bridge, Late D.L.I, reported as 2nd in command, vice Major E. H. Fawckner.

.October

• 13.  Captain K.F.D. Gattie appointed acting Adjutant, Vice Captain H.O. Smithers, Bedford Regiment, granted sick leave.
• 17. 93 Recruits proceeded to Tamworth for course of Musketry 
• 30. 3 officers and a draft of 78 men reported from the Reserve Battalion.
• 31. Battalion proceeded with Brigade to Ipswich.by rail and marched to Tuddenham.

November

• 1.  2nd Monmouthshire’s ordered overseas. Battalion marched to Grundisburgh.
• 2.  Work commenced on East Coast Defensive System.
• 9.  Orders to sharpen bayonets; work done by local smith at Grundisburgh
• 11. Orders received to proceed to India on the 23rd.
• 13.  Battalion returned toNorthampton
• 16.  Precautionary instructions for emergency move.
• 18.  Indian equipment received.
• 19.  Memorial service to the F.M. Earl Roberts.
• 21.  Orders for India cancelled.
• 30.  Proceeded by rail toWoodbridge and marched to Grundisburgh

December

• 1.  Resumed work on defences
• 13. Took over whole sector of defences from Woodbridge to Swilland
• 25. Christmas Day. Troops ordered to stand to arms.

1915

January

• 10.  Proceeded by rail to Cambridge
• 12.  Four Company organisation.
• 17.  Battalion selected with others for overseas service.
• 20.  Division inspected by G.O.C. Central Forces.
• 30.  Draft of 120 from Reserve Battalion.

February

• 10.  Definite orders for proceeding overseas.
• 11.  Inspection by H. M. The King on Parker’s Piece.
• 13.  Battalion proceeded by rail to Southampton, and embarked on transports.
• 14. Transports sailed at 8.15 p.m..Arrived Le Havre at 9 a.m. and camped for the night at Ste Adresse. Left Le Havre by rails at 8 p.m.Arrived at Bavinchove Station at 5 p.m., marched to Casseland billeted there.
• 18.  Marched to Steenwoorde.
• 23.  Inspection by Major General Sir Herbert Plumer.
• 24.  Inspection by General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien.
• 27.  First instruction by R.E. officer in the making and use of bombs.
• 28.  Marched to Caestre, thence by bus to Bailleul, and marched to billets at St Jans Cappel.

March

• 1.  Marched to Billets at Ravelsberg, The C.O. with 8 officers and 16 N.C.O’s proceeded to the trenches for 24 hours instruction.
• 3. Major Bridge and 7 other officers to the trenches for instruction
• 4.  A. and B. Companies to the trenches for twenty-four hours instruction
• 5.  C Company to trenches for twenty-four hours instruction
• 6.  D Company to trenches for twenty-four hours instruction Battalion posted to the 83rd Brigade, 28th Division
• 12.  Battalion took over trenches 10a and 10b front line and supports. B.H.Q. at St Quentin Cabaret, Wulverghem.
• 17.  Relieved by the K.O. Royal Lancasters and proceeded to huts near Dranoutre.
• 21.  Marched to old billets at Ravelsberg
• 23.  Relieved 5th King’s Own in trenches
• 27.  Relieved by 5th King’s Own
• 31.  Relieved 5th King’s Own

April

• 2.  Relieved by 5th South Staffords and proceeded to billets at Bailleul
• 5. Marched to billets, two and half miles north-west of Westoutre
• 6.  Adjutant, Company Commanders and Machine Gun Officer, reconnoitred trenches east of Ypres held by French troops
• 7.  Brigade inspected by General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien
• 8.  Battalion proceeded by bus to Ypres, and marched thence to relieve the French in the sector east of the Polygon Wood
• 12.  Relieved by the 5th King’s Own and marched to billets in Ypres
• 17.  Relieved 5th King’s Own and remained in front line 17 days without relief

May

• 3.  Polygon Wood sector evacuated. Battalion retired on G.H.Q. line at Potijze
• 4.  A and C Companies moved up in support of front line, and B Company relieve K.R.R.
• 5.  Heavy shelling. C Company reinforced East Yorks in daylight. That night East Yorks relieved by A and D Companies.
• 6.  Bombardment less severe
• 7.  Bombardment intensified, 1st K.O.Y.L.I. relieve B Company
• 8.  Heavy shelling and attack. Battalion withdrawn to Vlamatinghe, less B Company
• 9. B company rejoined Battalion
• 10.  Composite Battalion formed from remnants of 83rd Brigade, under Lt Col Gough, and proceeded to G.H.Q. line Potijze
• 11.  Lt Col Gough wounded – Major Bridge took command. Relieved by Cavalry Division and withdrawn to Vlamatinghe
• 12.  Moved to billets near Poperinghe
• 14.  Moved by bus to Winnezeele
• 15-20.  Resting and reorganising
• 21.  G.O.C.-in-C. inspected and addressed Brigade
• 22.  Orders received for the amalgamation of the three Battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment
• 23.  Battalion marched to Vlamertinghe Woods and were joined by 1st Monmouthshires
• 24.  Enemy attack and both Battalions move up with 84th Brigade to counter attack. Held trenches near Hell Fire Corner
• 25.  Relieved at night and returned to Vlamertinghe Woods
• 27.  Joined by 2nd Monmouthshires
• 28.  Marched to Herzeele. Three Battalions amalgamated under command of Major W.S.Bridge, and attached to 84th Brigade.
• 29.  Parade at Herzeele for the King’s Birthday

June

• 9.  Captain S.P.A. Rolls joined as Adjutant vice Captain V.B. Ramsden
• 11.  Brigade move to Rosenhilbeek by road. Commanding Officer and Company Commanders reconnoitre front line. Strength of Battalion, 30 officers, 999 other ranks
• 12.  Marched to Dickebusch and relieved 7th K.R.R. in trenches M2-O2
• 17.  Severe shelling of B Company’s trenches, 5 killed and 17 wounded
• 19. Relieved by 1st Welsh and Cheshires
• 26. Relieved 1st Welsh and Cheshires

July

• 3.  Relieved by Welsh
• 5.  Meeting of senior officers to re-form the three battalions
• 9.  Sports
• 10.  Relieved 1st Welsh. Captain Gattie appointed Adjutant
• 14.  Relieved by 4th Royal Fusiliers. 9th Brigade, and marched to Canada Huts
• 15.  Marched to Westoutre and billeted in farms
• 16.  Moved to Badajos Huts, Locre and that night reconnoitred the front line
• 19.  Marched to Kemmel and relieved the 1st Welsh in Trenches E2-F6 22 Relieved by 1st Welsh. Orders received for 2nd Monmouth’s to de-amalgamate
• 24.  2nd Monmouthshire’s under captain E Edwards left to join the 12th Infantry Brigade. Strength 1st Batt 7 officers 193 O.R 2nd Batt 12 officers 476 O.R 3rd Batt 8 officers 273 O.R
• 26.  Draft of 9 officers and 75 other ranks arrived for the 3rd Battalion
• 28.  Relieved 1st and 6th Welsh. Strength 26 officers, 405 other ranks
• 29.  Kemmel heavily shelled in retaliation for our shelling Wytschaete

August

• 1.  Successful counter-mining by the Monmouth’s
• 2.  Relieved by 6th Welsh and marched to Locre
• 4.  Moved to Kemmel Shelters 6 Draft of 3 officers and 157 other ranks arrived
• 7.  Moved to Locre
• 9-10.  Battalion re-organising as separate unit
• 11.  3rd Monmouthshire’s marched off to join 83rd Brigade 16 Draft of 30 reported
• 21.  Relieved 5th King’s Own in G4-H123
• 28. Relieved by King’s Own and returned to Locre

September

• 2.  Battalion ordered to join 49th (West Riding) Division as Pioneer Battalion. Inspection and address by Major General Bulfin
• 3.  Marched to bivouacs in Coponolle Woods
• 4.  Adjutant and officers reconnoitre Yser Canal Line
• 5.  Moved to Elverdinghe Chateau
• 6-17.  Construction of Rotherham Road (Communication Trench)
• 8-9.  Heavy shelling
• 18.  Attached to 49th Division as Pioneer Battalion
• 21.  B and D Companies moved into Dumbarton dug-outs, Yser canal
• 27.  A and C Companies relieve. This relief carried out at 6 days interval
• 29.  Dumbarton dug-outs heavily shelled 30 Draft of 34 men arrived

October

• 4.  3 officers reported
• 6.  1 officer reported
• 11.  Moved to dug-outs by Bridge 6B
• 24.  Elverdinghe Chateau grounds heavily shelled
• 27.  Commanding Officer and 20 other ranks proceed to Abeele for Corps inspection by H.M. The King
• 31.  Draft of 74 men arrived

November

• 7.  Elverdinghe heavily shelled
• 21.  Visit of Welsh Miners Leaders

 December

• 13.  Heavy shelling of canal bank
• 19.  Heavy shelling of whole area accompanied by a gas attack, which failed
• 20.  Heavy bombardment throughout the day
• 27.  Canal detachments relieved by 7th R.B. of the 14th Division
• 29.  Four 17 inch shells fired into the Battalion before it moved off, causing 69 casualties. Moved to Camp 4, Poperinghe

1916

January

• 1.  Marched to billets near Reitveld
• 2 to Feb 2.  49th Division resting 12 Draft of 15 other ranks arrived 15 4 officers reported for duty

February

• 3.  Battalion Marched to Esquilbecq station and entrained
• 4. Detrained at Amiens and marched to Ailly, Thence by bus to Saisseval
• 12.  Battalion moved to Ailly-sur-Somme
• 13.  Marched to Molliens au Bois
• 14.  To Bouzincourt
• 17.  Battalion commenced work in preparation for the Somme Offensive

March

• 5.  49th Division Relieved
• 8.  Battalion HQ with B and D Companies moved to Forceville. A Company to Senlis and C company to Bus-les-Artois
• 10.  B Company returned to Martinsart
• 14.  Captain Gattie relinquished appointment as Adjutant
• 20.  One officer reported for duty
• 31.  C Company moved to Forceville

April

• 5.  Q.M. and Hon Lt A.A. Fry took over duties of Adjutant
• 11.  Draft of 40 other ranks arrived
• 26.  Fire and serious explosion at Munition Dump Acheux
• 27.  Fire at Munition Dump at Forceville

May

• 8.  Memorial Service in memory of those who fell in 2nd Battle of Ypres
• 12.  3 officers reported for duty
• 13.  Draft of 143 other ranks arrived
• 21.  R.Q.M.S. W.M. Porter Gazetted Quarter Master and Hon Lt.

June

• 3.  One officer reported for duty
• 15.  One officer reported for duty
• 24. Battalion reassembled at Forceville
• 25.  Battalion marched to Rubempre and rejoined 49th Division
• 27.  Battalion moved to Contay
• 28.  To Harponville
• 29. Valedictory message from Divisional Commander on work done during Detachment from Division
• 30. Moved to Bouzincourt

July

• 1.  Opening of the Somme Offensive
• 2.  Consolidation work with 49th Division
• 3.  Dug communication trenches, Schwaben Redoubt
• 4.  Completing this work
• 6.  Battalion suffered severely on consolidation work
• 9.  A and C Companies assisted in repulsing counter-attack
• 10.  Battalion move to bivouacs in Martinsart Wood with B.H.Q at Hedauville
• 11.  Draft of 14 other ranks arrived
• 13.  Draft of 33 other ranks arrived
• 16.  Serious casualties in B Company at Lancashire Dump
• 24.  49th Division relieved

August

• 5.  Orders received that the Battalion is to be disbanded. Relieved by 19th Lancashire Fusiliers
• 8.  Battalion inspected by Major General Perceval G.O.C. 49th Division, who delivered farewell speech
• 9. Marched to Acheux, by train to Hesdin, and marched to billets at Capelle
• 13.  Commanding Officer made farewell speech
• 14.  Draft of 200 other ranks entrained for Poperinghe to join 2nd Monmouth’s
• 18.  Five officers reported for duty
• 24.  252 other ranks left to join 9th Entrenching Battalion at Steenwerck
• 26-27. Officers on posting proceeded to various units. Nucleus of Battalion-One officer and 50 other ranks proceeded to No 4 Base Camp, Rouen. 37 other ranks proceeded to Steenwerck to join the 9th Entrenching Battalion.