1st September 1918 On this day: 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 Daily Activity   9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Reference Sheet 28 SW 3 Bailleul 1/10000, 28 SW 1/20000. Magilligan Camp, Bailleul. Keersebrom. The day was spent in making shelters. At dusk the Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers at Cpyrian Farm (S.11.c.7.3). Battalion Headquarters was formed at S.11.c.75.75 on railway. War Diaries  Start of Final Advance  Final Advance  Move to Front Line  Rest, bathing and clothing issue 106th Field Coy expecting to be withdrawn.   Good news coming from all along the line at Comblin Le Abbie, 106th Field Coy RE were expecting to be pulled out after a month at the front.  Peronne's Fall  Assault Made  Reliefs  Orders  Advance Made  Reorganisation  Ready  In Billets    Improvements  On the Move  Transfers  Into Position  In the Trenches  Orders  Operations Begin  Orders Received  Air supremacy established  Very Quiet    Church Parade  Orders  Orders  On the March  On the Move  Attack Sucessful  Divine Service  Six Hours' Notice  Holding the Line  Training  Attacks Made  New Position  Relieved 13th Royal Scots.  156th Brigade in Support to 15th Brigade.  Crews resting. 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? If your information relates only to an individual, eg. enlistment, award of a medal or death, please use this form: Add a story.

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Want to know more about 1st of September 1918? There are:40 items tagged 1st of September 1918 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 1918. Pte William Thomas Arthur. 15th Btn Welsh Regiment Read their Story. Pte. George Aven. 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment Read their Story. 2/Lt. James Hamilton Barr. 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles Read their Story. Pte. Harold Bateman. 1st/13th Btn. (Kensington) London Regiment Read their Story. Cpl. Alexander Henry Buckley. VC 54th Btn. Read their Story. Sgt. Ernest Cryer. 1/8th (Leeds Rifles) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Read their Story. Rflmn. Stamford Percy Day. 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade Pte. Harry Thomas Dean. 1st Btn. Wiltshire Regiment Pte. Emanuel Feder. 7th Btn. London Regiment Rfmn. Jacob Franks. 2/2nd Btn. London Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Frederick Garner. 17th Btn. London Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Charles Gell. 13th Btn. The King's Regiment (Liverpool) Read their Story. L/Cpl. William Gibbons. 1st Btn. Somerset Light Infantry Ch.Off. William Stanmore Glover. SS Mesaba Read their Story. Pte. Aubrey Edward "Grif" Griffiths. 33rd Batt. D Company Read their Story. Pte. Henry George Rueben Hart. Att. 1/20th Bn. London Regiment Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Read their Story. Pte. William Allan Irwin. DCM. C Company 33rd Btn. Read their Story. Pte. A. Kay. 1st Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment Read their Story. Pte. Robert Mactier. VC 23rd Btn. Read their Story. Cpt. George Leonard Parker. 2nd Btn. Essex Regiment Read their Story. Gnr. Thomas Edward Paxton. 878th Bty. 351st Brigade Royal Field Artillery Pte. Hugh Deane Smith. 6th Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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