II Corps in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -

II Corps

21st August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas.

22nd August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas.

23rd August 1914 German attack crosses Canal

24th August 1914 Withdrawals

25th August 1914 Battle of Le Cateau - Phase 2

25th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement

26th August 1914 In Action

26th August 1914 Retirement

26th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement

27th August 1914 Continued withdrawals

28th August 1914 Initial Intelligence Report

29th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement

30th August 1914 Demolitions on withdrawals

31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals

1st September 1914 Continued withdrawals

2nd September 1914 Continued withdrawals

3rd September 1914 Continued withdrawals

4th September 1914 Enemy across the Marne

5th September 1914 Enemy advance continues

6th September 1914 Attack Made

7th September 1914 Attack progressing

8th September 1914 Ongoing Battles

9th September 1914 Ongoing Action

10th September 1914 Davance

11th September 1914 Continued progress

12th September 1914 Bad Weather

13th September 1914 Strong Opposition

14th September 1914 Further Advance

15th September 1914 Shelling

16th September 1914 Difficulties

19th September 1914 Attack Repulsed

20th September 1914 Reliefs

21st September 1914 Attacks

22nd September 1914 Reliefs

23rd September 1914 Patrols

24th September 1914 Artillery Exchange

25th September 1914 Pontoon Bridge damaged

26th September 1914 Aircraft Assists

27th September 1914 Continuing action around bridges

28th September 1914 Bridges

29th September 1914 Ongoing fighting on all fronts

30th September 1914 September Intelligence Summary

1st October 1914 Commencement of Move

2nd October 1914 Continued reorganisation of front

3rd October 1914 Continued reorganisation of front

4th October 1914 Move westwards

5th October 1914 Divisional entrainment westwards

6th October 1914 Divisional entrainment westwards continued

6th Oct 1914 Outflanking Manoeuver

7th October 1914 Divisional detrainment near Abbeywell

8th October 1914 Divisional relocation continuing

9th October 1914 Move

10th October 1914 Further Moves by motor Buses via Hesdin

11th October 1914 Cavalry cover for further Moves

12th October 1914 Cavalry cover for further Moves

13th October 1914 Slow progress in Attack renewal

14th October 1914 Continued slow progress in Attack

15th October 1914 Change in GOC due to casualty

16th October 1914 Advance in foggy conditions

17th October 1914 Advance continued

18th October 1914 Attack meet strong resistance

19th October 1914 Attack meets further setbacks.

20th October 1914 Major German attack

21st October 1914 Continued German attack

22nd October 1914 Divisional move

23rd October 1914 Divisional move

24th October 1914 Further German attacks repulsed

25th October 1914 Further German attacks repulsed

26th October 1914 German front quiet

27th October 1914 Battle for Neuve Chapelle

28th October 1914 Ongoing Battle for Neuve Chapelle

29th October 1914 Relief by other Brigade

30th October 1914 Relief by other Division

31st October 1914 Relief by Indian Corps completed

1st November 1914 Regroup all fighting troops

1st November 1914 On the Move

2nd November 1914 Notification of German Troop locations

3rd November 1914 Notification of German Troop locations

4th November 1914 Little change in situation

5th November 1914 Move to new line

6th November 1914 Attacks on new line positions east of Ypres

7th November 1914 Mixed results in ongoing attacks

8th November 1914 Line readjusted to defend against ongoing attacks

9th November 1914 Ongoing shelling and sniping

10th November 1914 Ongoing shelling and sniping

11th November 1914 Attack

12th November 1914 Ongoing shelling and sniping

13th November 1914 German Attack repelled by Artillery and machine guns

14th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

15th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

16th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

17th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

18th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

19th November 1914 Ongoing German Attacks repelled by Artillery and machine guns

20th November 1914 4th Hussar stables destroyed by enemy artillery

21st November 1914 Divisions relieved by French

22nd November 1914 Division to rest in billets in Westoutre

22nd November 1914 Inspection

23rd November 1914 Division to rest in billets in Westoutre

24th November 1914 Division to rest in billets in Westoutre

25th November 1914 Division to rest in billets in Westoutre

26th November 1914 Division orders back to trenches

27th November 1914 3rd Division ordered back to trenches

28th November 1914 Division had quiet day in trenches

29th November 1914 Division on night reconnaissance activity

30th November 1914 3 Div Brigades relief rota carried out

1st December 1914 Limited action poor weather

1st December 1914 Told the campaign would end next June.

2nd December 1914 Operations restricted by bad weather

3rd December 1914 Operations restricted by bad weather

4th December 1914 Operations restricted by bad weather

5th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

6th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

7th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

8th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

9th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

10th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

11th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

12th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

13th December 1914 Limited action due to bad weather

14th December 1914 Multiple attacks by 3 Div and French

15th December 1914 Further attacks suspended by 3 Div due to French failure

16th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

17th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

18th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

19th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

20th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

21st December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

22nd December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

23rd December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

24th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

25th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

26th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

27th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

28th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

29th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

30th December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

31st December 1914 Bad weather limiting action again

27th January 1915 Quiet

14th March 1915 Reliefs cancelled

13th April 1915 Inter Company relief - "D" [ Coy. proceeding ] to Fire trenches

10th May 1915 In Reserve

31st Aug 1915 Artillery

5th Aug 1915 On the Move

5th Aug 1915 Orders

5th Aug 1915 Training Instruction

5th Aug 1915 Billets

8th Aug 1915 Training

10th Aug 1915 Training

1st Sep 1915 Orders

27th Oct 1915 Royal Visit

5th Jun 1916 Reorganisation

16th Jun 1916 Command

30th. August 1916 Orders

2nd September 1916 Diary B.O.O.14

3rd September 1916 Diary B.O.O.14

26th September 1916 Diary

27th of September 1916 Orders

27th September 1916 Diary

7th October 1916 Corps Commander inspection

7th November 1916 Operational Order No.116

11th December 1916 Enemy were fairly quiet during the day

13th January 1917 Practically no Artillery or T.M. activity.

19th March 1917 Lectures

1st April 1917 Battalion in Canal Reserve Camp.

4th April 1917 Lewis Guns and Rifles of H.Q. inspected

9th April 1917 Washing and rubbing of men's feet prior to moving in to the line.

29th May 1917 Orders

31st May 1917 On the Move

3rd June 1917 Operational Order

16th July 1917 Attack

17th July 1917 Artillery activity normal.

27th July 1917 Parade under Company arrangements

28th of July 1917 Orders for an Attack

30th July 1917 Route march

6th August 1917 General day

13th August 1917 Enemy aeroplane taking advantage of low cloud came over

14th of August 1917 Practice Barrages

15th August 1917 Battalion left camp at 0030 hours and marched to Abeele Station

20th August 1917 1430 hours Sergeants parade.

28th August 1917 Long range hostile gun fires a few shells

29th August 1917 Operational Order 128

4th October 1917 Battalion bathed at Anzin St. Aubin bath's.

1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.col1ison Pt1.

1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.col1ison, D.S.O. Pt.2.

1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.col1ison, D.S.O. Pt.3.

2nd of April 1918 Warning Order Received

6th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Inspection of Brigade by II Corps Commander.
War Diaries

7th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Church Parade.
War Diaries

8th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Training parades.

Effective strength: 22 Officers, 728 Other Ranks, 37 horses, 22 mules.
Ration strength: 16 Officers, 547 Other Ranks, 41 horses, 22 mules.

War Diaries

9th April 1918 9th Irish Fusiliers to Siege Camp No.4  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers entrained at Herzeele 0900 for Poperinghe. On arrival marched to Siege Camp No.IV
War Diaries

9th of April 1918 A Busy Day

9th of April 1918 The Enemy Attacks

10th April 1918 Defense  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse), Royal Irish Fusiliers travel by motor lorries to Kemmel and set up to man Kemmel defenses at Lindenhoek Corner.
War Diaries

10th of April 1918 Under Attack

11th April 1918 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers endure shelling  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers defend Kemmel to Messines Ridge. Headquarters at Stinking Farm. Heavy enemy shelling.
War Diaries

11th of April 1918 A Quiet Day

12th April 1918 9th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers near Wulverghem  At 0200 9th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers moved to near Wulverghem with Headquarters at N Midland Farm. Enemy attacked, pressing back our line. Counter attack completely restored position. Casualties heavy, including Medical Officer, Lieutenants Hamilton, Hardy and Miller killed. Captain Dean, Lieutenants Turner and Orr wounded.
War Diaries

12th of April 1918 Heavy Fighting

13th April 1918 9th Irish Fusiilers relieved  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers are relieved by Sherwood Foresters at midnight.
War Diaries

14th April 1918 9th Irish Fusiliers on Kemmel defences  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers moved back to Kemmel defences.
War Diaries

14th of April 1918 A Withdrawal

15th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
0900. Moved to Regent Street dugouts. C Company manned outpost positions and was attacked. Captain Crosbie wounded and died same day.
War Diaries

16th April 1918 9th Irish Fusiliers move to Clydesdale Camp  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers moved back to Clydesdale Camp at midnight for rest and reorganisation.
War Diaries

18th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
0200. Moved to Kemmel as composite Battalion with 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly.
Heavy casualties, while moving into position, from enemy shelling. Captain Despard wounded and died soon after. 2000. Relieved by French troops and marched to Siege Camp.
War Diaries

18th of April 1918 Relief for Some

19th of April 1918 A Successful Raid

20th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Colonel Kelly evacuated to Hospital with shrapnel wound.
Reorganisation and training parades.
Ration strength: 11 Officers, 489 Other Ranks, 40 horses, 22 mules
War Diaries

22nd April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Major G.M Forde MC assumed command
War Diaries

23rd April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Four Officers and about thirty Other Ranks reinforce.
War Diaries

23rd of April 1918 Quiet Spell Broken

25th of April 1918 Heavy Attacks

26th of April 1918 Allied Counter-Attack

27th April 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
27th to 30th April 1918.
0400. Move to Yellow Line, Headquarters at Border Camp. Working on defences and training till end of month.
Effective strength: 29 Officers, 651 Other Ranks, 35 horses, 22 mules.
Ration strength: 24 Officers, 507 Other Ranks, 35 horses, 22 mules.
War Diaries

30th of April 1918 Comparative Quiet

1st May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Sheet 28 NW E.6.b, 1/20,000. Yellow Line.
Working on defences and training specialists during day. Line manned by skeleton forces by night.

Dispositions:
Two Corps in line, one support and one reserve.
Right boundary Dirty Bucket Corner,
left Alexandra Farm.
Flanking units:
right 12 Royal Irish Rifles.
left Belgian Cyclist Battalion.

War Diaries

3rd May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse), Royal Irish Fusiliers team beat Belgian team at football by four goals to nil.
War Diaries

4th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
1700. Moved to Green Line, in relief of 12 Royal Irish Rifles.
War Diaries

5th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers report "Defences worked on by day and manned by night. Brigade specialist classes commenced at transport lines, International Corner.

Effective strength: 32 Officers, 673 Other Ranks, 35 horses and 20 mules.
Ration strength: 27 Officers, 530 Other Ranks, 39 horses and 20 mules.
Dispositions: Four Companies in line, Middlesex Battalion on right Belgian Battalion on left."
War Diaries

10th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
1700. Battalion relieved by 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers and moved back to Yellow Line. Billets in (Steentje?) Camp. Headquarters at Fa(?). Work and training continued.
War Diaries

12th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Church Parades in evening.
Effective strength: 34 Officers, 678 Other Ranks, 33 horses and 21 mules.
Ration strength: 39 Officers, 609 Other Ranks, 37 horses and 21 mules.
Increase: Lieutenant E.A Godson (MC), Lieutenant K Morrow (TO).

War Diaries

12th May 1918 Relocation in extended Front

17th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Sheet 28NW E.6.b 1/20,000. Yellow Line.

2000. Relieved 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in Brigade Reserve in front
system Left Brigade Sector.
Dispositions:
right front, C Company;
left front, B Company;
support, A and D Companies with Headquarters in Canal bank.
Flanking units:
right, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers;
left, Belgian Battalion.

Relief completed about 12 midnight.
Working on defences by night only, to avoid observation. Enemy activity confined to shelling, probably meant for batteries west of canal. One fatal casualty in A Company. Brilliant sunshine and intense heat during six-day tour.
War Diaries

17th of May 1918 Harassing Fire

18th May 1918 Strength  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Effective strength: 34 Officers, 935 Other Ranks, 32 horses, 21 mules.
Ration strength: 27 Officers, 646 Other Ranks, 36 horses, 21 mules.
Increase: 235 Other Ranks.
Decrease: 1 horse.

War Diaries

23rd May 1918 Reliefs  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse), Royal Irish Fusiliers are in Brigade Reserve, at Canal Bank.
2100. Relieved 12th Royal Irish Rifles, in right sub-sector, front system. Dispositions: right front, A Company; left front, C Company and one Platoon D Company. D Company (three Platoons). Reserve: B Company. Headquarters: Hill Top Farm. Flanking units: Right, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; left, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Relief passed off satisfactorily. At 2330 the enemy put down a heavy barrage on the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers and raided one of their posts. Otherwise the night passed quietly.
War Diaries

23rd of May 1918 Quiet Day

24th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Ref Special Sheet, St Julien 6B 1/10,000.
Right sector front line. Owing to bad observation the day passed very quietly. During the night our patrols investigated the vicinity of Von Hugel Farm and Cheddar Villa. No signs of enemy were encountered. The night passed unusually quietly, probably owing to a suspected relief.
War Diaries

25th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
The day passed quietly. At 0330 and 1630 C.22.e was lightly shelled by 4.5 inch howitzers east sector of our lines at 1115 and were unsuccessfully engaged. Nothing of importance occurred during the day.
War Diaries

26th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Our own artillery showed increased activity throughout the day without drawing hostile retaliation. A fighting patrol of two Officers and twelve Other Ranks failed to discover any trace of the enemy between Jasper and Rat Farms.
Enemy machine-guns were lightly active during the night on roads and tracks.
War Diaries

27th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
At 0230 hostile bombardment commenced on left of Brigade front and spread north where the enemy attempted to raid the Belgians at 0300 on our left. With the exception of a few shells on Wietje at about 0300, hostile artillery inactive on this front. Our own artillery was active during the day and replied vigorously to enemy bombardment in the morning. A fighting patrol failed to discover traces of the enemy west of Jasper Farm. At 2310 the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers on our left raided an enemy post near C.17.c.45.45, but found the garrison had cleared. Our artillery continued the bombardment till 2340. 6" Stokes Mortar assisted. During the operation a fire was observed in Rat Farm.
Absence of hostile machine-gun fire, artillery retaliation and Verey Lights was marked.
War Diaries

28th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Right sub-sector front line Hill Top.
At 0530 hostile artillery shelled the Battalion on our left, apparently in retaliation for the raid. Owing to excellent visibility there was great aerial activity during the morning and many observation balloons were up. The day passed quietly.
War Diaries

29th May 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
The day passed quietly on this front. The Battalion was relieved in the right sub-sector by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, 107th Infantry Brigade, and on relief moved by light railway to Hospital Farm Camp. In spite of hostile shelling on the entraining point, no casualties were suffered during the relief.
Total casualties during this tour: 3 Other Ranks died of wounds, 2 wounded, 1 self-inflicted, 1 W-(?)-D.
Fighting strength: 34 Officers, 974 Other Ranks.
On relief the 108th Infantry Brigade moved into Divisional Reserve.
War Diaries

30th May 1918 9th Irish Fusiliers at Hospital Farm  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers are at Hospital Farm. The day was spent in cleaning up etc.
War Diaries

31st May 1918 Working Parties  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse), Royal Irish Fusiliers are at Hospital Farm in Divisional Reserve.
Provided working party of two Companies on Green Line. Two Companies training. The whole Battalion was bathed during the day. Major R.G Kerr MC reported his arrival and assumed duties of Second-in-Command.
War Diaries

1st June 1918 Recuperation and Training  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
For the first three days these tasks continued. On the 3rd June 36 Division was placed in II Corps Reserve and the 16th Pioneers moved to the west of Poperinghe. For the Division it was a month of recuperation and training of young replacement soldiers.
The Division had also to provide labour for defensive works consisting of 1/3rd infantry and 2/3rd pioneers. Defence in depth was formidable with 4 lines between Ypres and Poperinghe each six miles apart (Brielen, Green, Yellow and Blue Lines).
The Battalion work and training lists for June 1918.

Date Green Blue Training

5, 8 2 Coy. 1 Coy. 3 Coy.

9 Sunday, no work

10, 12 3 Coy. 3 Coy. 1 and 2 Coys.

13 1 Coy. 2 Coy. 3 Coy.

14, 15 1 and 2 Coys. 3 Coy.

16 Sunday, no work

17, 22 1 and 2 Coys. 3 Coy.

23 Sunday, no work

24, 25 1 and 2 Coys. 3 Coy.

26, 30 1 and 3 Coys. 2 Coy.

1, 2 July 1 and 3 Coys. 2 Coy.

Green line was already well advanced hence little work needed in June. A lot of this was breastwork (sandbags or earthworks) due to the high water table with the nearby waterways.
Blue line needed a lot more work with beehive shelters and clearing a 300 yard field of fire area in front together with wiring. Training carried out was infantry training of all types with emphasis on Lewis gun and musketry. Battalion Statistics 1 June Officers 32 ORs 1034 30 June Officers 32 ORs 1087 Casualties one unexplained OR casualty as no contact with enemy reported.
The Terrors by SN White

1st July 1918 St Jans Capel Sector  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
St Jans Capel Sector.
Having completed a lot of defensive preparation as usual an unexpected move took place for the Division with a move to take over French positions further to the South. The Division was moved into reserve behind the French XVI Corps before taking over from the French 41st Division on the outskirts of Bailleul and the 16th moved into billets in the vicinity of St Sylvestre Cappel.
From the 4th to 6t July was spent in billet inspections, infantry training and specialist training on Lewis gun, signalling and bombing.
On the 7th the Battalion moved to the St Jans Capel sector and half of Companies 2 and 3 were moved into billets south east of Mont des Cals. Work from 8th to 18th July was as follows:

No.1 Company, Infantry training which it had missed during June.
No.2 Company Forward Half, Communication tranches and wiring.
No.2 Company Rear Half, Infantry training.
No.3 Company Forward Half, also in support area on dugouts, deepening
and revetting trenches, completing Machine Gun Emplacement and Wiring.
No.3 Company Rear Half, Infantry training.
Work continued in other locations until the 29th July. On the night of 23/24th July posts at Mont Noir were shelled (gas) resulting in 1 officer and 28 other ranks being wounded. No.1 Company working in the forward area was also shelled.
Battalion strength:

1st July Officers 32 ORs 1087
31st July Officers 33 ORs 1054
Officers Killed nil wounded 2
Other ranks Killed nil Wounded 35

The Terrors by SN White

1st July 1918 Targetting enemy crossroads

2nd July 1918 gun relocation

26th July 1918 37th SB Fatal misfire

30th July 1918 Increase in size 37th Siege Battery

1st August 1918 Striking Back at the enemy  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
St Jans Capel. Work continued in the St Jans Capel sector into August. No.1 Company was detailed with maintenance and repairs of the following roads: Fontaine, Berthen, Berthen, Schaexken, Rossignol, Piebrouk, Piebrouk, Berthen and Staines House roads. No.3 Company was tasked with constructing mined dugouts near Rossignol, for the Medical Dressing Station and Brigade HQ. It was also responsible for deepening, duck-boarding and wiring trenches as part of Blue Line. These tasks continued with a number of variations until 21st August.
By now the German offensive seemed to have ground to a halt and indeed great Allied offensives had been launched further south. Employing tanks and with long sought after Artillery superiority Rawlinsons 4th British Army together with the First French Army commenced an offensive along the Amiens, Roye road with advances being made in the area of Chateau Thierry. The First and Third British Armies were driving across the old Somme battlegrounds and again approaching the Hindenburg Line.
The turning point for the Second Army at the St Jans Capel sector to go on the offensive had now been reached. The 9th Division had captured Meteren and then the Hoegenecker Ridge south east of Meteren which left the Germans facing the 36th Division in a precarious salient which the Division proposed to push in thus shortening their own defensive line. On the night of 21-22 August the 16th Pioneers were to support an action by the 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles to straighten the line by the capture of Mural and Wirral Farms. They were to erect a single wire fence in front of newly captured ground. During this they were involved in some fighting and captured an enemy machine gun. Only about 2/3rd of the work was completed and casualties were 8 other ranks wounded. The following night the companies were back on their tasks again.
On the 23-24th Nos. 1 and 3 Companies were employed to construct a new front line trench. Casualties were 2 other ranks killed and 3 wounded. Work continued on the night 24/25 August with about 1 mile of trenches completed. The left Brigade attacking with 1st and 9th battalions the Royal Irish Fusiliers advanced the line to the Haegedoorne, Dranontre Road on the 24th August, so on the night of 25, 26th another 500 yards of new trenches were dug and over the next two nights a further 1500 yards were completed.
On the morning of the 30th August the 36th Division were to be relieved by the 35th Division but this did not take place as the Germans withdrew from the salient overnight and lit up the night sky with the burning of their equipment as they withdrew. So the 36th had to stay in touch with the active and aggressive pursuit of the enemy. On the 31st of August the pioneers were unsurprisingly opening and repairing roads to keep up with the advance.
Battalion strength 1st August Officers 33 ORs 1048 31st August Officers 36 ORs 1022
Casualties Officers Killed 1 Wounded 10 Other Ranks Killed nil Wounded 10
The Terrors by SN White

1st August 1918 Recce. Orders for New positions

6th August 1918 Visit King George V.

9th August 1918 Bombardment of Voormezel

17th August 1918 Heavy enemy shelling

19th August 1918 Star shell test

20th August 1918 Combined Bombardment

27th August 1918 Assist Belgian Army

31st August 1918 Regaining Mount Kemmel

1st September 1918 The Final Advance  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
Although they did not know it at the time, road work was to be the principle task for the Pioneers from now until the end of the war. The great advances that took place released a flood of vehicles onto badly damaged roads and the heavy rain which followed taxed the effort of the men severely. Continuing the road works started on the 31st August the battalion was assigned the following additional tasks 4th September Bailleul, Ravelsburg road as far as Crucifix Corner 7th September Crucifix Corner to Nueve Eglise 12th September Keersebrom towards Bailleul passing Magilligan Camp. In order to get closer to its work the Battalion moved close to Crucifix Corner and dug itself in on banks and fields with heavy rain creating the need for drains and culverts. The weather improved on the 15th and work progress improved until the 19th when the division was finally relieved and on the night of 19, 20th September the 16th Battalion were moved to billet in empty houses at Godewaersvelde.
The Final Advance.
The plan was for a combined British, Belgian and French force, under the supreme command of the King of the Belgians to ensure coordination, was to launch a massive offensive in Flanders from Voormezeele northwards. The 36th Division was required so the 16th Pioneers found themselves back on familiar ground for the third time but in vastly different circumstances. Secretly and by night the 36th were moved into an area west of Ypres. The 16th having arrived at Godewaeresvelde on the 19/20th September, spent the next two days resting and cleaning equipment for the expected advance. On the 21/22nd they moved to huts and tents at Shrine Camp near Houtquerque about 6 miles northwest of Poperinghe. Once again resting and cleaning. On the 23rd the Battalion moved to nissen huts about a mile from Proven along the road to Poperinghe and Transport moved to a camp about 500 yards away. The day was spent putting up huts from salvaged materials. Next day work started on huts in Courthove and Middlesex Camps, followed by training and removal of screening. Work carried on during 25th and 26th but the men bathed and had clothing fumigated in rotation with the works.
The attack commenced on the 28th September. The 36th Division were in reserve, but the battle went so well that they received orders at about 1100 to move forward overnight to carry the attack to the enemy the next day. The Pioneers received orders to move as well and arrived at about midnight in Ypres where they slept in derelict buildings awakening in the morning covered in a layer of snow.
On the 29th September the Brigades battled forward in driving rain and the roads were in a terrible state so most of the 30th September for the pioneers was back to road repairs in the vicinity of Black Water Corner. September had no casualties but 20 men were transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Battalion strength: 1st September Officers 36 ORs 1022 30th September Officers 37 ORs 1002
Private Thomas Neill Martin 16/124 was transferred back to the UK and assigned to the Labour Corps (Service No. 648737) due to either illness or being wounded having served to this point from the first enlisted batch of recruits in November 1914 in Lurgan.
The Terrors by SN White

1st September 1918 Start of Final Advance

8th September 1918 Further Belgian Advances

16th September 1918 Further unit moves

17th September 1918 Preparing new positions

21st of September 1918 Artillery Moves

22nd September 1918 Move to new forward positions

23rd September 1918 New positions targetted by enemy

25th September 1918 Corps Commander visit

27th September 1918 Forward move completed

28th Sep 1918 Advance

28th of September 1918 Moves by Rail and Road

30th September 1918 Batteries out of range

1st October 1918 Keeping forward momentum  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
From the initial advance of the Army the roads were jammed with traffic and on the night of 30th September a Captain Walker is quoted as follows regarding the Zonnebeke Road "I had never previously realised the number and variety of vehicles which move in support of three Divisions; indeed I think this road fed only the 9th and 36th Divisions (Note: This supposition is correct). There were limbers by the scores with rations; there were GS wagons with forage for the battalion transports forward; there were R.E. wagons, mess carts, guns and ammunition; there were lorries stuck in shell holes in the road and the cause of most of the trouble. On every bit of ground bordering the road were French cavalrymen. The surface and the language were equally bad and there was mud everywhere. I had to wind my way through these troubles for several miles. During my journey there was practically no movement of traffic"
Little wonder that from the 1st October the Pioneers were tasked with this very road from Zonnebeke to Becleare as the road had been bombed around midnight by a single Gotha aircraft. The Battalion also had to send 60 men to help as stretcher bearers for 108th Field Ambulance Brigade. On the 4th October No.2 Company worked on the road from Beclaere southwards and on the night 4/5th 1 and 3 Companies wired about 1200 yards of front line trenches. They were shelled as they left the work and Lt. Dunwoody was killed with 4 other ranks wounded.
This is an account by one of the participants in the above operation: "We were in bivouacs, a big tarpaulin, and a dozen of us were sleeping in this place. This night we went up to the front line, there were no trenches really, the Germans were retreating and I suppose were where our fellows had dug in, I think, in the dark --- I remember I drew iron stakes (screw pickets) and some fellow had got barbed wire: and we went along to some place in the dark, we didn’t know where we were. And they must have lined us up, and --- I must have screwed my stakes in. It seemed to be quiet and I was standing there and no one was coming near me, I was expecting fellows to come up with barbed wire you know --- and I was all alone there, nobody about, and I started to move sideways to get in touch with someone, quite dark of course, and I saw movement and I stooped down and here was Second Lieutenant Dunwoody down in a hole and I heard him say ‘Who shot Corporal Smith?’ and I discovered there was a lance corporal standing there and he told me that some fellow had got wounded, he’d been shot in the leg and they didn’t think he could carry on ---" "--- Now there was a wee wayside cottage there, facing onto the road, which seemed to be parallel to where we were putting our wire up and I remember finding another hole and getting down into it. I could see the gable end of this cottage and all our fellows standing there and moving about and while I was sitting there this old machine gun opened up and was hitting the side of the roof of this cottage and I could feel the tiles coming down on the top of my head. However I was alright and I was watching these fellows and they moved on to the road: so I got up and followed them and got on to the road, and they were moving away. I don’t remember speaking to anyone but I was moving too: and suddenly the Germans, who must have had the area nicely targeted, shelled it like anything, and, there was no cover, there were no ditches or anything, there was just the stony country road. I remember throwing myself down flat on the field trying to squeeze myself into the earth. Stuff was flying all over, bits of shrapnel whizzing around, and some fellow got hit and he was shouting out and crying like anything. It eventually stopped and we all got up. I remember that --- we decided he (the wounded man) had been wounded in the face, and I was peering in the dark trying to see what his face looked like and some fellow came along and snapped ‘Leave him alone’, must have been all nerves and excited. However we must have pulled ourselves together and moved off so we got back to our bivouac place and got in and settled down, twelve of us like sardines, and somebody stuck their head in under this tarp(aulin) and said ‘Boys, Dunwoody has been killed’. And the poor fellow, a piece of shrapnel had just hit him in the head and we didn’t know. He was a nice big, boy-scout type of fellow. Just two other fellows had been wounded, the one who had been shot in the leg and the other who had been hit in the face."
Transport moved to Potijze that same night to be nearer advancing work areas. No. 2 Company continued on the 5th October while 1 and 2 Companies rested after the overnight work. The next night both companies had to send 50 men to help bringing ammunition forward to the Front. 1 NCO was killed and 2 men wounded. All companies were back on road works from 6th to 12th October with the road from Beclaere to Dadizele becoming very important to maintaining the now rapid advances. The paved road was made good as far as Terhand. On the night of 12/13th parties from each company staked out lines for the next infantry attack and the following night the whole Battalion along with 122 field company R.E. were employed in digging a 3 foot deep by 2 ½ foot wide jumping off trench. Enemy machine gun fire caused two men wounded, one of which died later from his wounds. These trenches were occupied at 0200 on the 14th by 107 Brigade on the right and 109 Brigade on the left ready for the attack which commenced at 0535.
The Division attack was directed towards the town of Heule and the Pioneers were involved in several moves to keep up with them and clear/repair roads. On the 16th and 17th the Battalion had to undertake the gruesome task of burials. It had to work its way from the Ledeghem, Menin railway line through the area which had been fought over, burying British and German dead in temporary graves for later internment in official war cemeteries. On the 17th October two members of the band were wounded at the billets by an aircraft bomb.
On the 19/20th October the 9th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers crossed the river Lys and a bridgehead was formed served by a pontoon bridge, a trellis bridge and a good permanent footbridge. No. 2 company remained on road works while 1and 3 companies moved up to help the Royal Engineers with bridge building operations. This work was so important that they were occupied in this role for the next 4 days. The programme was: 22nd Oct. 1 and 3 Companies Bridging, HQ and 2 Company. Bathed and changed clothes also preparing clothes for the other companies.
23rd Oct. 1 and 2 Companies Bridging, 3 Company on roadworks, HQ transport and QM stores relocated.
24th Oct. 1 Company Assist RE bridging, 2 and 3 Companies Roads repairs.
25th Oct. 1 and 3 Companies Repairing roads, 3 Company Approaches to bridges.
26th Oct. work as on 25th continued.
The 27th October was spent in cleaning gear and equipment with no work being done that day as the 36th Division were to be relieved after dusk that evening. Although they did not know it at the time they had fought their last battle in the war. At 1130 on the 28th October the 16th Battalion moved to Landelede outside the operational area and next day to Mouscron, close to Tourcoing but still in Belgium. The following day was devoted to a general clean up.
Although the 36th Division had unknowingly finished its war, the Pioneers were still in great demand for their engineering expertise and were allocated for a third and final time to Railways. On the 31st October No.1 Company was cleaning and repairing damaged track and the other two companies were on similar work in nearby locations. October finished a month of great achievement for all in road maintenance, bridging and forward movement.
Battalion strength: 1st October Officers 37 ORs 1020 31st October Officers 35 ORs 961
October 1918 Casualties: Officers Killed or died from wounds 1 Wounded 3 Other Ranks Killed nil Wounded 12
The Terrors by SN White

1st October 1918 Taking up new forward positions

1st of October 1918 Allies Attack

2nd of October 1918 Co-operating with 29th Div

3rd of October 1918 A Quiet Night

4th October 1918 Reports

6th October 1918 Quiet spell for Batteries.

12th Oct 1918 Further forward moves  59th Heavy Artillery Brigade report on the 12th of October, 37th SB moved one section to a forward position in front of Waterdamhoek. The following day, 350th SB moved one section to a forward position in front of Waterdamhoek
War Diaries

14th Oct 1918 Next phase of Advance

14th of October 1918 A Busy Day

14th October 1918 2nd Army attacked at 0535 hours.

15th Oct 1918 Continuing Advance

15th of October 1918 Attack Continues

16th of October 1918 Across the Lys

17th Oct 1918 Recce for new positions

17th of October 1918 Line Along the Lys

18th Oct 1918 Further Advances

18th of October 1918 Belgian Advance Planned

19th Oct 1918 HQ Relocation

19th of October 1918 Four Pontoons

20th Oct 1918 Crossing the River Lys.

20th of October 1918 Pushing On

21st of October 1918 Orders to Advance

22nd of October 1918 A Combined Attack

23rd of October 1918 Germans Withdraw

24th October 1918 Batteries across the Lys

25th October 1918 Further attacks by II Corps

25th of October 1918 Heavy Fighting All Day

26th of October 1918 Enemy Retiring Slowly

27th of October 1918 Enemy Still Resisting

28th October 1918 30th SB rejoins Brigade  59th Heavy Artillery Brigade
30th SB moved up from Ypres, where they had remained parked since the beginning of the Flanders battles owing to their lorries not being available. The battery crossed the (river) Lys today and parked in Harlebeke.
War Diaries

30th October 1918 Further Advances

31st October 1918 II Corps reaches River Escault.

1st November 1918 Final Days to Armistice  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
In Mouscron the Battalion was billeted in the town and work continued on the Railway. No.1 Company - Lifting damaged track No.2 Company - Filling craters No.3 Company - Demolishing a bridge. These tasks continued from 1st to 9th November 1918 with a break for bathing and disinfesting blankets on the 5th November. On the 10th November 16th Battalion moved off at 0530 to Outryve for work under the Chief Engineer, X Corps building pontoon bridges across the Scheldt/Escaut.
Armistice Day came and went without a single remark in the war diaries. This was strange to say the least as the Commanding Officer Lt. Col William Allen had started out in 1914 as Adjutant and had experienced all the Battalions worst trials and best accomplishments. This seems to follow a general feeling of disbelief that it was all over.
Working on Pontoons in the Scheldt crossing, Rifleman Thomas Shaw (reflecting in a post war interview in 1992), stated that " they saw a lot of Verey lights in the sky up at the front and assumed it was an SOS call for artillery support. Later some returning troops shouted to them ‘The wars over boys!!’ to which the disbelieving pioneers replied ‘Aye, we know, it’s over there!’"
The work in the Scheldt approaches continued until the 17th November involving filling craters, repairing roads and installing ramps. It must have been a great relief to carry out this work without fear of enemy attack and provided transport kept rolling no longer the need for much haste in their work. As the work here neared its end more time was devoted to inspections and drills with a view to re-establishing discipline in the Battalion.
On Sunday 19th November 1918 the Battalion moved back to its Billets at Mouscron thus ending the last Operational Task of the 16th (Service) Battalion the Royal Irish Rifles (Pioneers).
Closing Days and Demobilisation.
On its return to Mouscron cleaning became the order of the day with bathing and fumigation of blankets and service dress followed by a kit inspection in the afternoon. A return to peacetime soldiering standards was necessary but needed to be handled with patience and tolerance by the Officers and senior NCOs as the men simply wanted release and return home as soon as possible after some 4 years of stress and strain. However a peace treaty had not yet been signed (eventually signed in June 1919) merely an Armistice which would have to be observed or enforced.
Control of the Armistice also required extensive restoration of large areas of France and Belgium together with adequate garrison provision. A lot of men would also be returning to civilian life soon therefor it was important to help them prepare for the sudden changes in their lives. A conference was called on the 20th November and a committee set up to organise education, sport and other suggestions for the men’s welfare.
Battalion strength: 1st November Officers 35 ORs 959 30th November Officers 35 ORs 947
The Terrors by SN White

1st November 1918 Continued forward moves

2nd November 1918 Seeking new Battery positions

3rd November 1918 II Corps relief

4th November 1918 Preparing Forward Positions

4th of October 1918 Reports and Reliefs

8th November 1918 Final forward movement of Batteries

10th November 1918 Armistice news and rumours

11th November 1918 End of the Great War

12th November 1918 Working on roads, clearing and filling Mine Craters.

13th November 1918 Settling into Billets

15th November 1918 Change of Command and End of War Diary Extract.

1st December 1918 Peace at Work  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
Educational and recreational activities commenced in November continued into December. There were several teachers amongst the Battalions personnel whose services were utilised to assist in providing English, Mathematics and Arithmetic classes. Captain Pearson took over as Education Officer. By the 9th December two elementary and one advanced class in French were introduced. Attendance grew from about 40 initially to 80.
There were two significant ceremonial parades at Divisional level which the Pioneers attended. On the 6th December at Halluin Aerodrome a Divisional ceremonial parade was held and at 1100 on the 16th December a further parade with inspection by the General Officer Commanding XV Corps which was the last recorded divisional event in the war diaries. Unfortunately the weather was at its worst but the men could retire to reasonable comfortable surroundings after the parade.
Sanitary arrangements were improved and an issue of individual German beds was implemented although it took about two weeks to assemble and distribute to all ranks. This was completed on 17th December with all ranks being described as comfortably accommodated.
Christmas was exceptionally well planned, with aid from Divisional sources providing turkeys and all the trimmings which were excellently prepared, while most other units had little but bully beef to celebrate the festive season. Some of the men missed this treat but they were even happier as they had been sent home on demobilization in time for Christmas.
After Christmas the educational classes were moved to a vacant local school where much better teaching aids were available.
Battalion strength 1st December Officers 35 ORs 948 31st December Officers 35 ORs 906
The Terrors by SN White

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