Part 8 (1/2)

APPENDIX III

DIARY

1914.

Sept. 8. Division embarked Southampton.

9. Commenced disembarking St. Nazaire.

10. Commenced entraining.

12. Into billets Coulommiers--Mortcerf--Marles--Chaume.

13-19. Marching to the Aisne--into General Reserve, D.H.Q. at Bazoches.

19. 18th Infantry Brigade to I Corps to relieve 2nd Infantry Brigade.

20. Attack on I Corps--18th Infantry Brigade heavily engaged.

21. 16th Infantry Brigade to II Corps to relieve 7th and 9th Infantry Brigades, and 17th Infantry Brigade to I Corps to relieve 6th Infantry Brigade and 4th Guards Brigade.

Sept. 20 to Oct. 6. In trenches on the Aisne.

Oct. 2. Division (less 16th and 17th Infantry Brigades) concentrated in area Serches--Jury, under III Corps--D.H.Q. at Serches.

6. 17th Infantry Brigade rejoined Division, which marched west.

9. Division (less 16th Infantry Brigade) entrained at St. Sauveur near Compiegne.

10-11. Division arrived St. Omer and went into billets--19th Infantry Brigade joined Division (one battalion to Renescure)--one battalion 18th Infantry Brigade to Racquinghem.

12. March to Hazebrouck to cover detrainment of 4th Division. 16th Infantry Brigade relieved by French troops.

13. 16th Infantry Brigade entrained for Ca.s.sel. Division marched east--fighting from 1 p.m. on line La Couronne--Merris--Fontaine Houck, which was reached at nightfall--considerable casualties.

14. Line reached R. du Leet--Blanche Maison--east of Bailleul.

Oct. 15-16. 18th Infantry Brigade crossed River Lys at Sailly, and 17th Infantry Brigade at Bac St. Maur during the night--Steenwerck occupied.

16. Line advanced to Rouge du Bout--Rue Dormoire. 16th Infantry Brigade rejoined Division and went into Divisional Reserve.

17. Line Rouge du Bout--Bois Grenier--Chapelle d'Armentieres reached without opposition.

18. Reconnaissance in force on enemy's reported positions. Line at night after considerable fighting Radinghem--Ennetieres-- Premesques--Halte to west of Perenchies--l'Epinette (east of Armentieres).

19. Entrenching above line.

20. Ma.s.sed German attack all along line--Division driven back to Touquet--Bois Blancs--Le Quesne--La Houssoie--Rue du Bois--l'Epinette.