X Corps in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -

X Corps

12th of September 1915 First Casualty

18th of September 1915 Relieving the French

23rd of October 1915 French Take Over Front

25th October 1915 Inspection

25th Oct 1915 Inspection

5th of December 1915 Leaving and Joining

25th February 1916 Battalion marched to Candas.

1st of March 1916 Reorganisation

2nd of March 1916 Very Strong Enemy Wire

29th of April 1916 TM Bombs Hit Thiepval

16th of June 1916 A Drying Day and a Plan

23rd of June 1916 Sniper Claims Seven Casualties

2nd of July 1916 A Gallant Plan

7th Sep 1916 On the Move

30th of September 1916 Moves

1st January 1917 Railway Activity  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles are engaged as pioneers in preparation for the Battle of Messines
The British High Command had been wishing to launch an offensive towards the key German railhead at Roulers and so force a very significant withdrawal in the northern sector and from much of the Belgian Coast, but was restricted by lack of support from the French who maintained they were overstretched in their adjoining sector. Permission was finally given and planning for the necessary build up began.
Once again the 36th Division was to lose the services of its Pioneer Battalion as, in similar circumstances to the Somme, an improvement in the movement of supplies was paramount. So it was back to the Railways for the 16th Battalion.
Having established a reputation for railway construction, they were transferred to the X Corps area for just such work under the ADL RR, Second Army. (Assistant Director of Labour, Roads and Railways) While they were away the pioneering work in the trenches was to be taken on by a labour battalion made up with a company from each Brigade together with 3 officers and 110 men of the 16th Battalion to help oversee the work. They were still exposed to the poor weather and enemy activity. It did not really work well and fell short of the usual standard of the Pioneer’s work.
The remainder of the Pioneers were assigned work on the 60cm railway lines from Ouderdom to Kemmel and south-east from Busseboom as well as works on the broadgauge railway lines at Ouderdom involving excavating, levelling and ditching, laying steel, packing and ballasting and making crossings and sidings. On the 19th January 1917 a survey was commenced for a new 60cm line from Busseboom to Dickebusch. Downshire Camp near Ouderdom was a tented area and the accommodation was much inferior to their last billets.
January 1917 Casualties: Other ranks 2 killed and 1 wounded.
The Terrors by SN White

1st February 1917 Railway Activity  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
Work continued with the temporary labour battalion in the front line and support trenches throughout February with the rest of the Pioneers still fully occupied on the following Railway lines: Broadgauge Railway - work continued at Ouderdom. 60cm railway line - from point L1 to a point on the Wijverhock/Vierstraat line. 60cm railway line - from Busseboom to Ouderdom. 60cm railway line - Busseboom, Brandhoek, Kemmel branch lines included.
Substantial replacements were received in manpower. In total they had an influx of 220 men from 1/5 and 2/15 London Regiments, the Bedfordshire Regiment and 20 from the Reserve Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Infantry training continued to be carried out, presumably on Sundays as a break from the heavy railway work.
February 1917 casualties, none recorded.
The Terrors by SN White

1st March 1917 Railway Activity  16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers.
Work continues as in February with the temporary labour battalion fully stretched in the forward and support areas. The Pioneers continuing Railway work took place on the following lines. Broadgauge railway continued at Ouderdom. 60cm railway line from point L1 to a point on the Wijverhock/Vierstraat line. 60cm railway line from Busseboom to Ouderdom. 60cm railway line Busseboom, Brandhoek, Kemmel including branch lines. A total length of 16 miles was worked on, but details are not recorded as clearly as the earlier Candas to Acheux operations. However it seems fairly safe to assume that the works were completed around mid-March.
The 16th returned to its Parent Division on the 19th March and was now back up to strength having received substantial reinforcements in February 1917, with a further 64 men arriving in March. The March intake included 40 men from the Central Training School via 7 Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur.
Casualties in the period January to March had been fairly light. March 1917 Officers 1 wounded. Other ranks 1 wounded.
So the unit was fit and ready for its next great endeavour, the Battle of Messines.
The Terrors by SN White

20th March 1917 Battalion in Camp.

1st of June 1917 Instructions for the Offensive

6th June 1917 Battalion Orders

18th June 1917 Wail Manouvre area.

1st July 1917 Work Inspected

2nd July 1917 Inspection

3rd July 1917 Work Inspected

4th July 1917 Visit

5th July 1917 Bridges

6th July 1917 Roads and Bridges

2nd August 1917 General day

16th August 1917 Training under Company arrangements

17th of October 1915 Reliefs

31st October 1917 Arrivals and Departures for October 1917.

25th of October 1918 Heavy Fighting All Day

27th of October 1918 Enemy Still Resisting

28th of October 1918 At Belleghem

14th of November 1918 Reorganisation

21st of November 1918 Transfer

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The Wartime Memories Project
- X Corps during the Great War -

X Corps

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The Wartime Memories Project - X Corps during the Great War -

X Corps

Want to know more about X Corps ?

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The Wartime Memories Project
- X Corps during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
X Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.