December 1916 On this day: Considerable Enemy Movement    236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report during the morning considerable enemy movement was seen near Stirling Castle at J.13.d.4.5 and at Tower Hamlets. These parties were fired on and dispersed. Engine noise again heard on bearing 134 degrees from I.24.d.7.4. War Diaries 33rd Bn AIF supply working parties   Billets. Working party supplied to AE. 33rd Btn Australian Imperial Force War Diary, La Chapelle-d'Armentières 33rd Bn AIF OPERATION ORDER No. 3    Timetable re O.O No.3 33rd Battalion A.I.F. OPERATION ORDER No. 3 by Lt.-Col. LJ Morshead Commanding Armentières 9th December 1916 ​RELIEF 1. 33rd Battalion, A.I.F. will relieve 35th Battalion, AIF in RIGHT (1) Sub-Sector on 11th inst., starting at 7 am from Railway Crossing I.?.c.4.7. in accordance with relief table attached. (a) Battalion H.Q. and Co. Lewis Gun sections and Battalion Snipers will proceed to the trenches on 10th inst. starting at 12 noon from Railway Crossing and will take over from their opposite numbers during daylight. (b) Transport Officer will arrange to take Lewis Gun magazines to Square Farm as early as possible on 10th. instant. Lewis Gun Officer will arrange to to take the magazines into the front line as early as possible after their arrival.​ Magazines belonging to 35th Battalion will not be removed until the 33rd Battalion have arrived at the gun position. Lewis Gun section will carry gun and spare parts to the trenches. (c) NCO in charge of snipers will arrange to take over from Sniping Officer 35th Battalion. (d) Signalling Officer will arrange to take over from 35th Battalion signallers on 11th inst. at​ 8 am and Co. Signallers will march in with leading platoons and take over at once. BLANKETS 3. 1 blanket per man will be taken into tho line.​ The remainder will be rolled in bundles of 10 and stacked ready for removal by Transport.​ Transport Officer will arrange to collect these rolls from billets at 10 a.m. and return them to the​ QM store. GUM BOOTS 4. Gum boots will be drawn from the Asylum as fotllows:- Each Co: 170 pairs Scout Officer: 24 pairs Snipers Officer: ​12 pairs Bombing Platoon: 24 pairs Lewis Gun Sector: 20 pairs Total: 600 pairs O.C. Cos. and sections will arrange to.draw these boots at such a time as to enable them to be at the starting point at the time ordered. Snipers for this will be attached to the HQ Lewis Gun Section. FORMATION 5. Cos. will move along communication trench by half platoons at 5 minutes intervals according to table attached. MARCHING OUT 6. Firing and Support line units will not commence to march out until all reliefs are in the line ready to take over. BILLETS 7. O.C. Cos. marching out of billets will forward the following to Battalion H.Q. on marching out: (1) Certificate as to cleanliness, etc. of billets. (2) Statement of breakages or damages, if any, occurring since occupation. Nil return if there are none. (3) State showing the number of men who have occupied the billet stating unit to which they belong. TAKING OVER 8. O.C. Cos. will detail an officer to report to their opposite numbers in 35th Battalion at 8 a.m. in order to take over trench stores as per 3rd. Div Trench orders, receipts therein mentioned to be handed over. RATIONS 9. QM will arrange with Transport Officer to deliver Tuesdays rations at Square Farm on Monday night. MESS GEAR 10. All officers mess gear will be at Battalion HQ ??? p.m. 11th inst. to be placed on the Officers Mess Cart. Any not at Battalion HQ at this time will not be taken in the cart. 33rd Btn Australian Imperial Force War Diary 33rd Battalion AIF Routine Order No.130   33rd BATTALION, A.I.F. ROUTINE ORDER NO.130 By Lieutenant-Colonel LJ Morshead Commanding. Armentières, 9th December 1916 TRENCH ROUTINE 1263 The following points must be carefully watched on return to trenches and steps should be taken to see that they are complied with:- 1. Loose ammunition must not be left lying about. 2. Saluting must be insisted on. 3. Men must be kept fully informed as to where their officers are to be found at all times. 4. Men must wear equipment and carry rifle when on detailed work. 5. Steps must be taken to prevent smoke from fires in front area as much as possible. RATION PARTIES 1264 Arrangements have been made for rations to arrive at Fockaber Dump at 5 pm daily when the Battalion goes to trenches. Companies and Headquarters units will make arrangements to have ration parties at the dump punctually at that hour. ACCIDENTS WITH BOMBS 1265 The Divisional Commander has noticed that there are a large number of cases of accidental wounds, and the following orders have been drafted to prevent these in the future. The Officer Commanding the company, or similar unit in which a case of accidental wounding takes place, will be held personally responsible, and his name will be submitted to Divisional Headquarters for such action as the Divisional Commander may deem necessary. There appears to be a lack of precaution and neglect of Divisional Standing Orders for War, Page 9. All cases of accidental wounding will, in future, be remanded for trial by Courrt-Martial and the onus will rest with the individual concerned to prove that the wound was accidental, and not wilfully self-inflicted; for the latter, heavy sentences are invariably imposed. Owing to the thorough training that the Division has had, it should be impossible for any rifle bullet wounds to be caused by accident, hence a conviction for an self-maiming will almost always follow. All ranks will be specially warned not to meddle with rifle grenades, bombs, etc. These are to be handled by the personnel specially trained. MEN GOING TO BATHS 1266 Men going to baths must be properly dressed and wear gas helmets. DAILY DUTIES 1267 Subaltern of the day: 2/Lt. CF Kirby Next for duty: Lt. OR Cormack Regimental Orderly Sgt: Sgt. TGE Rush Next for duty: Sgt. FJ Burke Regimental Orderly Cpl: Cpl. ETA Turnbull Next for duty: Cpl. SJ Barrow DUTY CO 1268 10-12-16 C Co. 11-12-16 D Co. CHURCH PARADES 1269 The following VOLUNTARY Church Parade will be held on 10th inst. CHURCH OF ENGLAND 8 am Holy Communion, Soldier's Club, 44 Rue Nationale. 9 am Parade at the Ecole Professionale cinema. 9:30 am Holy Communion   6 pm Evening Service in École Professionale     ROMAN CATHOLIC:  R.C. service will be held at 9 am at Convent at rear of Bombarded Church in Place de la Republique.   GAS RESPIRATORS 1270   Men evacuated to Dressing Stations must be in possession of their respirators.   SCHOOL OF SIGNALLING ZUYTPEENE 1271   The undermentioned Officer, N.C.O. and men have been detailed to attend Signalling School at Zuytpeene commencing on 12th inst.   Course A.  Linesmen - Cpl. CR Eaton   Course B.  Visual - Pte. R O'Hara   Course C.  Officers- Lt. CAK Cohen   Signalling Officer and O.C. C. Co. will release note and warn candidates to hold themselves in readiness.   LEWIS GUN SCHOOL. LE TOUQUET 1272   The undermentioned have been selected to attend Lewis Gun classes at Le Touquet Assembling on 11th inst.   Cpl. R White   L/Cpl. M Clifton   C.Cs. A and B Cos to note and warn candidates.   BAGS TO BE RETURNED 1273   All available bags will be returned to Quartermaster on 16th inst. and regularly thereafter, as they are required for the issue of chaff.   PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS 1274   The following promotions and appointments have been approved and to date from 2?-12-16.   No. 559 Cpl. EA Turnbull to be Sgt vice Sgt. ES Earle   No. 532 L/Cpl. RC Roach to be Cpl to complete establishment   No. 1299 L/Cpl. WJ Tufrey to be Cpl to complete establishment   No. 547 Pte. HT Spencer to be L/Cpl to complete establishment   No. 426 Pte. G Goudern to be L/Cpl to complete establishment   No. 2112 Pte. J " H" McIlveen to be L/Cpl to complete establishment     Companies should prepare acquittance rolls for fortnightly pay up to and inclusive of Wednesday, 15th inst.  Requisitions must reach Battalion Headquarters not later than 6 pm on Sunday 10th inst. or they will not be dealt with. Separate acquittance rolls must be used for men temporarily attached but belonging to Headquarters or other Companies (See paragraph 3 page 5 notes re  Pay Duties). The amount of local currency and the English equivalent must be shown on Acquittance Roll and English equivalent only is to appear in Men's Pay Books. Conversion tables have already been issued to simplify this matter.   Pay for men detached for duty will be arranged for by Battalion Headquarters.   (Signed) RC Jones  2/Lt.   Adjutant. 33rd Battalion A.I.F 33rd Btn Australian Imperial Force War Diary  Ongoing winter training and inspections  On the Move    18th DLI are relieved by 18th W.Y.R. relief complete 4.0pm. Proceeded into billets in Sailly & Keep, A & B Coys in Sailly. B & C Coys in garrison of Hebuterne Keep. Men in good condition, no casualties. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1  On Leave  Muddy Tracks  Reinforcements  Church Parade  A Quiet Day  To Red Lodge  Training  Training  Bathing  Training  Quiet  Church Parade    Mortar Farm Bombarded  Inspection  Shelling  Training  Training  Artillery Fairly Active  Transfer  Enemy seen repairing his wire.  Return  A patrol of 2 men sent out  Drills  Holding the Line  C.O's inspection of Snipers, Observers and Rifle Grenade Batteries.  Battalion night exercise. 7th R.S.  Demonstation of sealing barbed wire   Working Parties 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.

Killed, Wounded, Missing, Prisoner and Patient Reports published this day. This section is under construction.

Want to know more about of December 1916? There are:35 items tagged of December 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, of December 1916. Pioneer. E. Beeby. 212th Company Royal Engineers Read their Story. Pte. Alfred John Chidwick. 2nd Btn. Royal Munster Fusiliers Rfmn. Harry Poole. 7th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment Read their Story. L/Cpl. Thomas John Roberts. 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Read their Story. Pte. Arthur Lewis Rush. 10th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment Add a name to this list.

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