1st September 1916 On this day:  Transfer  Working in Shifts HMEF Avonmouth opens.   H.M. Explosive Factory Avonmouth, Gloucestershire started in September 1916 for the production of mustard gas. First output was in July 1918. It was under the direct control of the Ministry of Munitions. Continuous Barrage    236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Bottom Wood. Continuous barrage kept up by Brigade all day except by B236 and A236 Batteries who dropped out about midday after being violently shelled by 8 inch guns. They had to abandon position. The barrage was taken on by C236 Battery until relieved by the 238th Brigade. One man was wounded and one or two others were rather badly shaken. Enemy artillery very active. It was decided to change position of one section of A236 Battery. War Diaries Messines Sector - Flanders   16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers. Towards the end of August the 36th Division moved a little further north to take over from the 50th Division with its left boundary south of the Kemmel, Wytschaete Road and its right flank being the River Douve. As a result the 16th moved its HQ and numbers 2 and 4 Companies to Dranoutres. The heat of August turned to the arrival of September and torrential rain. The new trench positions also needed extensive repairs, which were too much for a single Pioneer Battalion, so each Brigade was tasked to form labour squads and carry out repairs to their own sections. To assist in management of the work some experienced members from the 16th were attached to each work group. The Battalion’s own workload still included the full range of Wiring, Trenches, Saps, Dugouts and Screening. When it rained (as it often did for days and weeks on end) water would still gather within the defensive lines so it was necessary to use inverted timber A-frames in upright positions at regular intervals and insert timber planks(duck-boarding)to provide reasonably dry underfoot movement throughout the trenches. Beneath the decking was a void one or two feet in depth through which the excess water could flow to outlet drains. A small stream running through the area caused deep flooding in rainy periods all of which added to the Pioneer’s tasks which were carried out, often in full view of the German Artillery observers. The Divisions positions were also on low lying ground with little or no cover and the enemy had a commanding view from his positions on the Messines Ridge. Another necessary defensive measure was the need for extensive screening along roads and communication routes to protect personnel and traffic from being in full view of enemy artillery and snipers. This also helped to protect work parties after the screens were in place. Improvements to Billets and Quarters together with the construction of Horse standings continued until the end of September. Major Gardiner, Second in Command, was posted to 20th Bn Royal Irish Rifles in Newtownards and his place taken by Captain Allen, promoted to Major with Lt Maxwell appointed as Adjutant. September Casualties - Other Ranks several wounded, numbers not given. The Terrors by SN White  Leaky Gas Cylinders  Brigade Day  Listening Posts Hotchkiss training   9th Queens Royal Lancers are in Billets at Incheville - Regimental Parade at 1300. Hotchkiss field firing was carried out on the Belgian Field Firing Range at Hautebut from 1600 to 1730. war diaries  Difficult to Convey  In Action Reliefs   18th DLI hold trenches in the Festubert Sector "Fair. 92nd Brigade on our left bombarded hostile trenches. Very weak reply. Exceptionally quiet day. 20.30. 18th Battalion DLI, less D Coy. which remained in Left O.B.L relieved by 15th West Yorks without casualties & proceeded into billets at Le Touret." 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1  Transfer  Trench Work  Reliefs Completed  Reliefs  Reinforcements  Gas Attack  In the Trenches  Reliefs Complete      Training  Working Parties  Gas Shells  Locations  At Rest Howitzers    9.2 inch howitzers of the 148th Siege Battery, RGA at Maricourt, September 1916. © IWM (Q 7819) IWM  A Gas Own Goal  A Gas Own Goal  Gas Shells  Artillery in Action  Reliefs  Training  Orders Received  Trench Raid  On the Move  Training  Trench Work  HQ Established  Diary  Diary Instructions for the Offensive. App. 1.  Diary Table March and Billetting  Orders Received  Transport  Messages & Signals.  Enemy SOS  Transfer  Reliefs  Wiring required in front of our line.  Aircraft damaged Training   8.50am 7th Buffs marched out to wood in U 10 a to witness a Flame projector demonstration by Capt. Hartley 3rd Army Expert. The whole brigade was present. After the demonstration the Battalion marched to the Bois de la Carnoye where they had dinners. After dinners there was a scheme for an attack on the wood. A and D Coys 7th Royal West Kent Regiment. defended the section edge and B and C Coys 7th Royal West Kent Regiment. and 7th Buffs attacked. The Commanding Officers of both regiments umpired and Maj. Monier-Williams was in command of the attack. After the attack the Battalion marched back reaching billets about 6.15 p.m. 8.45pm The Commanding Officer had a conference of all officers to discuss the afternoon’s attack and the scheme for the next day. 7th Buffs war diary WO95/2049  In Reserve  Remained in Silesia Trench.  Training  Orders  In Billets  In the Line  Attack and night schemes.  Garrison Duty  Address  On the Move  A Relief  Flies  On the Move  Preparations  Posting  Ground Regained  Orders received  In the trenches  On the Move  Attacks Made  Training  Training  Hostile Aircraft bombed Port Said  In Front Line  Reliefs  Training  G.O.C. Brigade inspected. Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? Do you have a copy of an official war diary entry? Details of an an incident? The loss of a ship? A letter, postcard, photo or any other interesting snipts? 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Want to know more about 1st of September 1916? There are:79 items tagged 1st of September 1916 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 1st of September 1916. Rflmn. J. Aicken. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Cpl. John Bennett. 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers Read their Story. Rfn. Thomas Bowater. 9th (Service) Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps. 2/Lt. John Henry Connolly. 6th Btn. Attchd. 11th Btn Royal Irish Rifles Royal Munster Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. James Conway. 1st Res. M.T. Depot Army Service Corps Read their Story. Rflmn. R. Douglas. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Rflmn. David Drennan. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Pte. Patrick Keenan. 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers Read their Story. Rfmn. James Bede Linskey. 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade Read their Story. Rflmn. T. James McClure. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Pte. Matthew Nightingale. 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Patrick O'Keeffe. 6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Patrick O'Keeffe. 6th Btn. Royal Irish Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Alexander Henry Parkes. 2nd Bn. Royal Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte Alexander Henry Parkes. 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers Rflmn. D. Pyper. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Rflmn. J. A. Robinson. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Pte. Edwin Sagar. 1st Btn. East Lancashire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. William Stephenson. 21st Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps Read their Story. Rflmn. Samuel Ward. 11th Btn., A Coy. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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