Ref Map SOISSONS 22
COULOGNES
9 May Battalion left at 3am, march route to WAYENBERG, to entrain. Transport proceeded in advance. Battalion arrived at 7:30am. Battalion entrained in record time, viz Transport Complete – 1 1/2hsr. Train left at 11:15am
10 May Battalion on railway journey. Made halts at NOYELLES and PONTOISE. Arrived at FERE en-TARDENOIS at 7:00am. Arrived In camp at 10pm.
11 May Battalion cleaning up, etc. Inspection by Maj-Genl. Bainbridge KCB at 6pm who complemented 25th Division on good work done and conveyed same from Corps Commander and C in C.
12 May Church parades in camp. Inspection of men by CO.
13 May Battalion in training as per orders. Battalion provided working party under French Camp Commandant.
14 May Battalion training. Military Medal awarded to 7 men of the Battalion. Lieut. AE Bulling appointed assistant adjutant.
Major (Lt Col) EL Nares, MC proceeded to join 66th Division.
Lt. Col. AM Tringham DSO took over command of the Battalion.
15 May Battalion training
16 May Route march with halt for Tactical Scheme, Lewis Gun Detachment formed. Military Medal awarded to 4 Other Ranks.
17 May Range allotted to Battalion. Transport inspected by BPC.
18 May Route march.
19 May Church parade. CO’s inspection
20 May Range allotted to Battalion.
21 May Tactical Schemes on Training Area. Major OS Derby-Griffiths, MC takes over command of the Battalion. Lt Col. AM Tringham DSO to 75th Brigade.
22 May Entrenching scheme carried out on Training Area.
23 May Range allotted. Moved to VANDEUIL in the evening
VANDEUIL
24 May Arrived at VANDEUIL, early hours of morning.
25 May CO’s inspection of Battalion
26 May Church Parades. Orders for move.
7:15pm Received orders to prepare to move at once.
11pm Marched to MUSCOURT. During latter part of journey Box Respirators were worn owing to gas shelling by enemy.
MUSCOURT
27 May Arrived at camp at MUSCOURT at about 4am.
9am 1 Platoon per Coy ordered to proceed to a line along Canal bank, NE of MAIZY, to form a nucleus of defence for that place.
12noon Remainder of Battalion ordered to reinforce at once line already taken up.
Total going into action 12 Officers, 496 other ranks.
Capt. WF Loudon MC – Wounded. Lieut. A Sumner – Wounded.
Capt. PR Shields MC – Wounded and missing. 2nd Lieut. AE Downing – Wounded and missing.
Major OS Darby-Griffiths MC – Killed. 2dn Lieut. JBM Lightbody – Wounded.
Capt. RJP Hewetson – MIssing.
Major Lloyd 105th RE assumed command of Battalion.
War Diary Total Casualties During the Month:
Killed Wounded Wounded & Missing Missing
2 6 1 1 Officers
6 123 4 232 Other Ranks