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23rd Division    The 23rd Division was established in September 1914 as part of Army Order 388 authorising Kitchener's Third New Army, K3. The units of the Division began to assemble at Bullswater (68th Brigade) and Frensham (69th and 70th Brigades and RE) in Hampshire in September 1914. The King, Queen and Princess Mary visited the fledgling Division on 29 September. The artillery formed at Mytchett Camp from November onwards. In early December, as the weather worsened, the Division moved into Aldershot, with CII and CIII Brigades of the artillery going to Ewshott. More moves were made to Shorncliffe in Kent at the end of February 1915 and to Bordon in Hampshire at the end of May. In April and May, some of the infantry was engaged on building defences to the south of London. Between 21 and 26 August 1915 the Division landed in Boulogne and proceeded to the concentrate near Tilques. The 23rd Division thereafter served on the Western Front until late 1917 when it moved to Italy. Actions: 1915 On 5 September the Division was attached to III Corps and moved to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area, where trench familiarisation began under the tutelage of the 20th (Light) and 27th Divisions. The Division took responsibility for a front line sector for the first time nine days later, taking over between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road. CIII and CV Brigades RFA were attached to 8th Division for operations in connection with the Battle of Loos. At this time, 23rd Division was holding the front at Bois Grenier. It remained in this area for a considerable time. 10th Northumberland Fusiliers carried out the Division's first trench raid in the night of 31st of December / 1st of January. 1916 The Division was relieved after a lengthy five month spell in the front line by 34th Division, between 26 January and 8 February 1916. After a certain amount of confusing movement, Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem and the units concentrated around Bruay. On 3 March 1916 orders were received to relieve the French 17th Division in the Carency sector. The front to be held was between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River, including the posts on the Notre Dame de Lorette hill behind. Artillery was positioned in the area Carency - Ablain St Nazaire - Bois de Bouvigny, an exposed position in which it was subject to severe shelling. In early March many former miners were withdrawn from the ranks to establish a Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers. Mid March saw 68th Brigade taking over the Calonne front and 69th the Angres front. Many parties attached to 176 Tunnelling Company RE especially for work in the Noulette sector. Relieved by 2nd Division between 12 and 19 April and withdrew to Bruay area. Moved back into the Souchez-Angres front 10-13 May. The German Attack on Vimy Ridge The enemy attack on 21 May fell most heavily on 47th (London) Division, which was to the 23rd Division's right in the area of Berthonval. Shellfire fell heavily around Aix Noulette from 1630. Divisional artillery was very active in support of the 47th Division until 24 May and again on 1 June when 2nd Division continued operations to recover lost ground. 23rd Division was relieved by 47th (London) Division on 11 June and moved to Bomy, with the artillery going to Chamblain Chatelain ("Charlie Chaplin") and Therouanne. Intensive training commenced. 23rd Division took part in the following major engagements: The Battle of Albert The Battle of Bazentin Ridge The Battle of Pozieres The Battle of Flers-Courcelette The Battle of Morval The Battle of Le Transloy 1917 The Battle of Messines Operations carried out during the Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of the Menin Road The Battle of Polygon Wood The First Battle of Passchendaele The Second Battle of Passchendaele In November 1917 the Division moved to Italy where it then remained. It completed concentration between Mantua and Marcaria on 16 November and took over the front line at the Montello on 4 December. 1918 The campaign in Italy The fighting on the Asiago Plateau The Battle of Vittorio Veneto, including the passage of the Piave and of the Monticano. On 2 November the Division came out onto XIV Corps Reserve and when the Armistice took effect in Italy at 3pm on 4 November, units were halted midway between the Rivers Livenza and Meduna, east of Sacile. The Divisional units moved to a billeting area west of Treviso on 11th of November. Demobilisation took place largely in January and February 1919. By March the Division had been reduced to cadre strength. During the war the Division lost 23574 men killed, wounded and missing. Order of Battle of the 23rd Division 68th Brigade 10th (Service) Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers 11th (Service) Btn, Northumberland Fusiliers 12th (Service) Btn, Durham Light Infantry 12th (Service) Btn, Durham Light Infantry left 14 September 1918 68th Machine Gun Company joined 4 March 1916, moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918 68th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 13 June 1916 69th Brigade 11th (Service) Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment 8th (Service) Btn, Yorkshire Regiment 9th (Service) Btn, Yorkshire Regiment left 13 September 1918 10th (Service) Btn, Duke of Wellington's 69th Machine Gun Company joined 4 March 1916, moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918 69th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 23 June 1916 70th Brigade 18 October 1915 transferred to 8th Division, returning 17 July 1916 11th (Service) Btn, Sherwood Foresters left 13 September 1918 8th (Service) Btn, King's Own Yorkshire LI 8th (Service) Btn, York & Lancaster Regiment 9th (Service) Btn, York & Lancaster Regiment 1/8th Btn, Middlesex Regiment joined October 1915, left February 1916 70th Machine Gun Company joined July 1916, moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918 70th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 18 June 1916 24th Brigade 18 October 1915 transferred from 8th Division, returning 15 July 1916 1st Btn, Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Btn, East Lancashire Regiment 1st Btn, Sherwood Foresters 2nd Btn, Northamptonshire Regiment 24th Machine Gun Company formed by 17 February 1916 24th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 13 June 1916 Divisional Troops 8th (Service) Btn, Leicestershire Regiment left 8 April 1915 9th (Service) Btn, Leicestershire Regiment left 8 April 1915 9th (Service) Btn South Staffordshire Regiment converted to Pioneer Battalion in April 1915 194th Machine Gun Company joined near Vlamertinghe 16 December 1916, moved into Divisional MG Battalion 1 April 1918 23rd Machine Gun Battalion created 1 April 1918 100 (Warwicks and South Notts Yeomanry) Machine Gun Battalion joined 2 October 1918, left 19 October 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops RHQ, MG Section and C Sqn, the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry joined 27 June 1915, left 20 April 1916 23rd Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps formed in January 1915, left 20 April 1916 Divisional Artillery CII Brigade, RFA CIII Brigade, RFA CIV Brigade, RFA left 18 January 1917 CV (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up by 3 September 1916 23rd Heavy Battery, RGA raised in August 1914 for the Division but left and moved independently to France on 15 September 1915, joining No. 1 Group in I Corps. In November 1915 moved to XXII HA Brigade 23rd Divisional Ammunition Column V.23 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA formed in the Division in March 1916, disbanded in late October 1917 X.23 Medium Trench Mortar Battery RFA raised as 12th TM batt in 1915, joined Division in January 1916 and redesignated as X Battery in March 1916 Y.23 Medium Trench Mortar Battery RFA raised as 21st TM batt in 1915, joined Division in January 1916 and redesignated as Y Battery on 15 March 1916 Z.23 Medium Trench Mortar Battery RFA, formed in the Division in March 1916 and initially armed with French 58mm mortars. Broken up in March 1918; X and Y Batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 89th Field Company left for 14th Division 22 January 1915 90th Field Company left for 9th Division in January 1915 101st Field Company joined from 32nd Division 1 February 1915 102nd Field Company joined from 32nd Division 1 February 1915 128th Field Company joined by 9 April 1915 23rd Divisional Signals Company 2 Sections of 180 Tunnelling Company RE attached briefly in October 1915 Royal Army Medical Corps 69th Field Ambulance 70th Field Ambulance 71st Field Ambulance 40th Sanitary Section joined 20 August 1915, left 10 April 1917 for X Corps Other Divisional Troops 23rd Divisional Train ASC 190, 191, 192 and 193 Companies, formed 16 January 1915 35th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC joined 20 June 1915 223rd Divisional Employment Company formed by 30 June 1917 23rd Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop merged into Divisional Supply Column April 1916 1st Feb 1915 Reorganisation 16th Aug 1915  Inspection 25th Aug 1915  On the Move 26th Aug 1915  On the Move 27th Aug 1915  On the Move 28th Aug 1915  On the Move 29th Aug 1915  On the Move 30th Aug 1915  Route March 31st Aug 1915  Inspections 21st September 1915 Orders 17th Oct 1915 Defences   18th Oct 1915 Defences   19th Oct 1915 Orders Received   20th Oct 1915 Reliefs   21st Oct 1915 Reliefs   22nd Oct 1915 Trenches Inspected   23rd October 1915 Trench Mortars 23rd Oct 1915 Gun Positions   24th of October 1915 Quiet 24th Oct 1915 Gun Positions   25th Oct 1915 Gun Positions   26th Oct 1918 Bridge Erected 26th Oct 1915 Gun Positions   27th Oct 1915 Gun Positions   28th Oct 1915 Lines of Fire Changed   29th Oct 1915 Planning   30th Oct 1915 New Positions   31st Oct 1915 New Positions   15th November 1916 Daily Battery Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. formerly 6th County of London Brigade RFA. Territorial Force. All Batteries tested timing switches by actually firing and carried on registering of Division Zone. Day was generally quiet. Bombardment of Snout provoked a little retaliation. At 1430 hostile aeroplanes were unusually daring and nonplussed observers which let one machine fly almost unmolested 1500 feet over I.26, 27 and Valley Cottages. New enemy work at I.19.c.1.4 and I.30.b.8.0 has progressed. Activity round a camouflet near hilly place suggests offensive Sapping operations, ultimate intention probably being to jump our front line and command reverse slope of ridge. (Note: sapping is constructing trenches forward from the front line towards enemy positions,usually as listening posts or, as suggested here, jumping off points for attacking troops, getting them nearer to enemy lines under cover). (Further note: a camouflet is a chamber created by explosives underground without breaking the surface (which would be a crater)). War Diaries 25th Jan 1916 Instruction   25th Jan 1916 Instruction 1st Feb 1916  Construction Work   2nd Feb 1916  Construction Work   3rd Feb 1916  Construction Work   4th Feb 1916  Construction Work   5th Feb 1916  Construction Work   7th Feb 1916  Construction Work   8th Feb 1916  Construction Work   9th Feb 1916  Construction Work   10th Feb 1916  Construction Work   11th Feb 1916  Shelling   12th Feb 1916  Heavy Shelling   13th Feb 1916 Advance Party   14th Feb 1916 Construction Work   15th Feb 1916 Works   16th Feb 1916 Construction Work   17th Feb 1916 New Huts   18th Feb 1916 Reliefs 18th Feb 1916 New Huts   19th Feb 1916 Move   19th Feb 1916 Reliefs   20th Feb 1916 Construction Work   21st Feb 1916 Construction Work   22nd Feb 1916 Advance Party   23rd Feb 1916 Hand Over   23rd Feb 1916 Huts Completed   24th Feb 1916 Reliefs   24th Feb 1916 Orders Received   25th Feb 1916 Reliefs   25th Feb 1916 Move   19th Mar 1916 Aircraft Active 20th Mar 1916 Shelling 21st Mar 1916 Reliefs 10th April 1916 Bombardment and Retailiation  6th County of London Brigade RFA by Carency report The Pimple was bombarded with heavy & light guns. At first the affect did not seem good, but later on many good hits were obtained. This was in conjunction with a bombardment by the 23rd Division which seemed very effective. The enemy retaliated for the bombardment of the Pimple by shelling the Souchez valley with 4.2s. (4.2 inch guns). War Diaries 22nd Apr 1916 Shelling 12th June 1916 Re-routing of Units  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Barlin. Battery Commanders went to reconnoitre positions of batteries of the 23rd Division. Capt Lindell D236 Battery proceeded on 7 days leave of absence to England. Col Lowe DSO appointed OC. Right Group. Right Group consists of the following Batteries, A,B and C,237 Brigade and A,B,C and D,236th Brigade. War Diaries 12th August 1916 Movements 29th of August 1916 A Little Gas Show 2nd September 1916 A Gas Alarm 2nd of September 1916    3rd of September 1916 A Gas Alarm   8th of September 1916 New Battery Positions   9th of September 1916 Reliefs   10th of September 1916    12th of September 1916    13th of September 1916  17th of September 1916  18th of September 1916    18th of September 1916  19th Sep 1916 Reliefs   19th of September 1916    19th Sep 1916 Evacuations   20th of September 1916 Poor Conditions   21st of September 1916     24th of September 1916    24th of September 1916    24th of September 1916 Orders   25th of September 1916 Attacks   26th Sep 1916 In Action   26th of September 1916    27th of September 1916    27th of September 1916  29th of September 1916 Orders 29th of September 1916 Orders   29th of September 1916    29th of September 1916    29th of September 1916 Orders   29th of September 1916 Orders   30th of September 1916 Patrols   30th of September 1916 Barrage   30th of September 1916 Orders Amended   1st of October 1916 Attacks   2nd of October 1916 Orders 2nd of October 1916 Attacks   2nd of October 1916 Orders 3rd of October 1916 Reliefs   7th October 1916 Attack Resumed   8th October 1916 Marched from Bresle   9th of October 1916 Working Parties 19th of October 1916 Orders   22nd October 1916 Positions 23rd October 1916 Batteries Register  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Nothing of any importance. Batteries registered. Very little firing. War Diaries 24th October 1916 Battery Zones  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report a certain amount of movement in our zone which extends from just south of Clonmel Copse to just north of Zwarteleen. The Battery zones being in order from the north A236, B236, C236 and D238. War Diaries 25th October 1916 Minewerfen Activity   236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Very little activity. C180 Battery is added to Right Brigade. This Battery commanded Major Digby. Left Brigade of 23rd RA consists of remainder of 180 Brigade RFA under the command of Major Stebbing. Right Brigade HQ shifted to Lille Gate. Considerable minewerfen (mortar) activity by the enemy from about 1200 to 1500. Batteries fired in retaliation. Nothing else of much importance. War Diaries 26th October 1916 Retaliation Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Very quiet day. Batteries only fired in retaliation. War Diaries 27th October 1916 Interpreter Joins Brigade  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report a Belgian interpreter was attached to the Brigade. The French interpreter M Chapaur returned after being away for some weeks with a French Corps Headquarters. Very quiet day. War Diaries 28th October 1916 Minenwerfers Silenced  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Very quiet day until about 1400, when the hostile minenwerfers (mortars) showed some activity but were effectively silenced by our Howitzer Battery. War Diaries 29th October 1916 Some hostile Minewerfens  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery.: Nothing of very great importance. Some hostile minewerfens (mortars). War Diaries 30th October 1916 Considerable Minenwerfer Activity.   236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report General Gorringe called at HQ in the morning. Nothing of any importance occurred. Very little activity with artillery, but considerable minenwerfer (mortar) activity. War Diaries 31st October 1916 Quiet Day  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record a Quiet day. Very little firing by Batteries except for a little retaliation by C/180 Battery. GOCRA Corps went round Batteries in afternoon. War Diaries 1st November 1916 Registration  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery are at Ypres, Lille Gate. Quiet day on the whole. Considerable trench mortar activity on our left. Batteries fired in registration only. War Diaries 2nd November 1916 Light Bad  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Light bad in the morning for registration. Some trench mortar and artillery activity displayed on our front about 1300. D236 Battery fired in retaliation for this. War Diaries 3rd November 1916 Heavy Hostile Trench Mortar Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record a Quiet day until about 1530 when there was heavy hostile trench mortar activity on the right portion of our front (Davison Street, Winnipeg St, Crab Crawl and Sanctuary Wood). Batteries fired in retaliation and ultimately stopped the enemy's fire. War Diaries 4th November 1916 Trench Mortars Silenced  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report that at about 1620 the enemy fired some trench mortars on Crab Crawl but was stopped by the retaliation of C180 Battery. War Diaries 5th November 1916 Retaliation Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Fairly quiet day. Some minenwerfers (mortars) were fired and the Batteries only fired in retaliation. War Diaries 6th November 1916 Reorganisation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Nothing much in the morning. B236 spotted German's minenwerfer (mortars) in the afternoon. It was decided that 236th Brigade should be reorganised into two six gun batteries and two four gun Howitzer Batteries. War Diaries 7th November 1916 Quiet Day  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Practically nothing happened all day. War Diaries 8th November 1916 Slight Shelling  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report A little shelling took place on the German side but very little happened otherwise. War Diaries 9th November 1916 Battery Visit  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Major General Gorringe came round the Batteries in the afternoon. Very quiet day and only about five minenwerfers (mortars) were fired by the enemy, all of them coming from Clonmel Copse. War Diaries 10th November 1916 Reorganisation Scheme 11th November 1916 Firing at Intervals  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Morning quiet. At 1500 the enemy opened fire of Crab Crawl with Trench Mortars and rifle grenades. We retaliated but the enemy continued firing at intervals until 1730. War Diaries 12th November 1916 Engineers Advise  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report OC. 128 Field Company went round all positions in the morning to advise on drainage and points in construction. Current Observation Point was also visited re continuation of Observation Point on the roof. The situation was normal until 1500 when Trench Mortar activity spread from the right onto our lines, but as before enemy did not give up until 1725 in spite of sharp retaliation. War Diaries 13th November 1916 Visibility Good  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Visibility good resulting as usual in comparative inactivity of hostile Trench Mortars. A236 Battery fired on and dispersed several working parties. A236 Battery carried out a registration of the zone sub group. Our aeroplanes were active and one hostile machine came over at 1400 but soon veered off. Major P F Clifton went to B235 Battery on order of Commander RA. War Diaries 14th November 1916 Intermittent Shelling  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: During the morning intermittent shelling took place at Sanctuary Wood, Maple Copse, Lille Gate and Ypres with 77 mm and 4.2 inch guns. Batteries fired back at Clonmel and continued registration. At 1400 hostile Trench Mortars were active on the Right. Activity spread to our zone at 1605. We retaliated with fifty 4.5 inch and eighty 18 pounder guns in sharp bursts, until the enemy was silenced at 1700. Six men seen J.20.d.7.4 dressed in blue uniform dispersed. Six men in sap Jige 10.55 were Stokes Mortared and strafed with 18 pounders. They ran back along the sap. Considerable movement of men and vehicles on road J.21.a.1.7 to J.27.a.0.5. A squad of men were seen at Tower Hamlets, but disappeared quickly. War Diaries 16th November 1916 Visibility Excellent  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: Visibility excellent bringing unusual district shelling. Hostile aeroplanes were again active and more daring. During the afternoon level crossing I.21.d 4.5, Shrapnel Corner, Hell Fire Corner and Zillebeke were shelled with 77 mm and 4.2 inch guns. Enemy artillery generally unusually active. Proposed bombardment of I.30.b.8.0 fell through owing to a failure of communication. War Diaries 17th November 1916 A Very Satisfactory Shoot  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Several Trench Mortar emplacements were registered. At 1130 bombardment of I.30.b.8.0 trench was carried out by D236 Battery, our infantry being cleared. There were no duds and it was a very satisfactory shoot. Several hits were obtained with trench boards, pieces of wood and revetment being blown through the air. The enemy's work was wrecked. Fifty eight rounds were fired all being observed from the front line. (Note: Revetment is the general lining of trench floors and walls including fire stepping and duckboards). War Diaries 18th November 1916 Poor Visibility  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Visibility was poor generally. 4.2 inch guns were active in the morning on usual spots. Some activity with Trench Mortars on both sides near Hill 60 and The Dump. Bombardment of the Snout at 1630 by 18 pounders provoked no retaliation. 40% of Heavy Artillery shells were duds. War Diaries 19th November 1916 Battery Registration  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. report from Ypres. Registration for a special operation was carried out in the morning. Our Trench Mortars and artillery were active all day. At 2210 enemy Trench Mortars retaliated but stopped at once on our firing salvoes into Clonmel Copse. At 1550 Trench Mortars were active again. Our retaliation at first was ineffective because it was too dispersed. A second retaliation of well grouped Howitzers and 18 pounders effectively silenced the enemy. Enemy Trench Mortars fired from about J.19.c.2.4 and I.30.b.6.0. War Diaries 20th November 1916 New Works  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report B236 and D236 Batteries carried out a registration on new works. D236 reported new work at two points. Enemy shelled I.27.a.9.8 for first time for about three weeks but except for slight Trench Mortar activity at 1500, the enemy was quiet. D236 Battery report 3/29 blind. War Diaries 21st November 1916 Reorganisation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Visibility bad all day which was quiet. A raid attempted at 1130 from Cross Trench against J.19.c.45.55, failed owing to wire not being completely cut by the Bangalore Tube. Contradictory reports led Battalion Commander to stop Artillery Barrage and almost immediately to start it again. This was done very quickly in each case communications being excellent. A full programme was carried out by Artillery after abandonment of raid owing to call wire from Crab Crawl being broken. The semi circular barrage appeared to be very effective. Enemy retaliated with Trench Mortars only on trenches and 77 mm guns behind. Batteries engaged were A180, B236, D236, C188 and A236. Reorganisation of 18 pounder Batteries took place at noon 21st inst. Right Section C236 to B236. Left Section C236 to A236. BQMS continued to draw rations for C/236 men. GOC 47th Division made formal inspection of Wagon Lines. (Bangalore Torpedo-an explosive tube used to clear a path through a wire entanglement) War Diaries 22nd November 1916 Visibility Bad  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. report from Ypres. Visibility bad and day quiet. At 0530 a party of twelve Germans crawled over opposite Cross Trench and attempted to throw bombs. These all fell short and they retired hastily. War Diaries 23rd November 1916 Exchange of Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Enemy broke his custom and began Trench Mortar strafe in the morning. From 9am to 10.30am about thirty bombs were fired on our trenches I.21.d.5.3 and I.24.d.5.4. Group were informed and scheme two for bombardment of Trench Mortars was ordered at 1050. Left Brigade and Heavies did not fire but C180 Battery carried out the programme. Enemy became annoyed and at 1120 opened a heavy Trench Mortar fire on our trenches. Retaliation scheme two as ordered again at 1210. This time all batteries fired and at 1230 the enemy was silenced for the day. On Right of Group Zone the enemy's Trench Mortars were very active from 1345 to 1415 from Snout to Dump. This repeated from 1535 to 1615 with the addition of 4.2 inch and 77 mm guns. Reorganisation officially ordered but S.O. ASC still insists that C236 Battery should draw its own rations. War Diaries 24th November 1916 Daily Battery Activity 236th London Brigade  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Ypres. Hostile Trench Mortars became active at 1450. Scheme two was ordered and enemy silenced. He appeared to retaliate for scheme two further to the right. At 1550 scheme six was ordered and was effective, but almost immediately a heavy bombardment broke out from Knoll Road to the Dump with the enemy using Trench Mortars, 4.2 inch and 77 mm guns. The Division on our Right retaliated and all was quiet by 1645. War Diaries 25th November 1916 Infantry Officers Instructed  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Infantry officers attached to A236 and B236 Batteries for instruction. Batteries did not fire with observation being bad. War Diaries 26th November 1916 Fire on Sound Bearings  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record Morning very quiet until 1100 when five 5.9 inch shells fell near Blaupoort Farm. This was fired repeated at 1030. The Heavy Artillery were given Sound Bearings and fired on the suspected Battery and the Howitzer ceased fire. Visibility sketch was made from I.28.d.5.8, a proposed Observation Point on the back of Verbrandenmolen Hill to the corner of Armagh Wood site and Yeomanry Port and Observatory Ridge. From 1000 to 1300 the Dump was shelled with single 5.9 inch shell at one round per minute. War Diaries 29th November 1916 Low Cloud  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C180 Battery dispersed a working party at J.19.b.7.1. between 1126 and 1215. D236 Battery registered by aeroplane. Usual trench mortar, 5.9 and 4.2 inch shelling. A fine day, but low cloud interfered with aeroplane observation. War Diaries 1st December 1916 Covering 23rd Division  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Ypres record: All map references on Zillebeeke Bund.3.E 1/10,000 and sheet 28 1/40,000 236th Brigade RFA still covering the 23rd Division. A236 and B236 Batteries registered for special operations. Heavy mist made general observation impossible enemy artillery and trench mortars were very quiet. At 1230 a raid was attempted by the 11th Sherwood Foresters on sap at I.30.b.15.20, which was not successful. War Diaries 2nd December 1916 Daily Battery Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. formerly 6th County of London Brigade RFA. Territorial Force. No firing due to thick mist. War Diaries 3rd December 1916 Visibility Bad  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery Batteries did not fire as visibility was bad. Our Trench Mortars were active, both heavy and medium. The enemy did not retaliate. At 0300 in the morning the observing officer reported Trench Mortars were active. At 0230 a successful raid was carried out at J.19.c.15.55. Our barrage silenced the enemy's fire. War Diaries 4th December 1916 Visibility Good   236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Visibility was good and all batteries carefully checked map and gun ranges. Considerable enemy movement was seen behind their lines and working parties were dispersed by A236 Battery with two salvoes falling amongst them, after which no further movement was observed. Barrage Z to help 47th Division was ordered at 1501 which was successful. War Diaries 5th December 1916 Batteries in Action  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Visibility was good in the morning. D236 Battery registered a single gun at I.20.b.95.95. Working party in J.19.b fired on and dispersed. A direct hit was obtained on a wheelbarrow they were using. Trench Mortars were active against our trenches from 1315 to 1330 and 1500 to 1555. Scheme four was ordered and silenced the enemy fire at 1540. There was increased hostile artillery activity behind our lines. L’Ecole, Zillebeke Village and Station were shelled with 4.2 inch guns. Ypres Square, Station Crossing and Menem Road were shelled with 4.2 inch guns at 1700. Direct hits by 5.9 inch guns were obtained on Zillebeke Lake duck boards, Hellblast Corner and the Bund. War Diaries 6th December 1916 Hostile Trench Mortars  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Visibility was good and the morning was quiet. Hostile Trench Mortars opened moderate fire on Crab Crawl and Winnipeg Street at 1300. Scheme two fire successfully silenced them. War Diaries 7th December 1916 Hostile Trench Mortars  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report the morning was quiet. At 1400 Trench Mortars were active on I.30.a and a scheme four was effective in silencing them. Visibility bad owing to the mist. At 1530 a stationary engine was heard working near Stirling Castle. A bugle was heard at 1600 behind Bodmin Copse. War Diaries 8th December 1916 Visibility again Bad  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Visibility was again bad. At 1320 hostile medium Trench Mortarss opened fire on Winnifred Street and a scheme two was ordered. Enemy ceased fire before the scheme (with Heavy Artillery) was put into force, but the enemy did not retaliate. Enemy artillery remained inactive. War Diaries 9th December 1916 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 10th December 1916 Battery Registration  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery A236 Battery carried out careful registration of all guns. Flashes of a 5.9 inch Howitzer battery firing on Dickerbusch seen on bearing 140 degrees 5 minutes (true) from I.24.d.7.3. with time from flash to sound 13.5 seconds. 2/Lt Edds observed large Tower like edifice about forty feet high with construction of seven poles with three hooped bands round them. True bearing 39 degrees from I.24.d.70.35. It has no platform. War Diaries 11th December 1916 Enemy Working Parties  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Working parties at I.13.d.30.15, were dispersed three times by A236 Battery, with casualties. Hostile balloon up from dawn to 0800. At 0900 a hostile aeroplane came over Blauwe Poort farm. A236 Battery fired but this drew attention and battery was shelled. 12th December 1916 Army Commader Visits  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Visibility as very poor and none of the batteries fired. Enemy was also very quiet. During the morning the 2nd Army Commander visited all batteries and was pleased with what he saw. War Diaries 13th December 1916 Unusual Enemy Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report There was some unusual enemy activity. At 0900 the enemy's Trench Mortars opened fire and a Scheme two was commenced and continued intermittently until 1200. An enemy 77 mm Battery covered the fire. At 1340pm the enemy made a special bombardment of C Sap. At about 1400 hostile Trench Mortars were again active and spread down towards Hedge Street. A Scheme four was at once put into operation after which there was no further activity. War Diaries 14th December 1916 Heavy Trench Mortar Silenced  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report the morning was normal. At 1500 the Division on our right bombarded Hill 60 and the Snout. We cooperated on our front. The enemy retaliated at 1525. D236 Battery silenced a Heavy Trench Mortar. A Scheme five was ordered twice and the second time was effective. Much movement was seen on Tower Hamlets Road. War Diaries 15th December 1916 An eventful day  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record an eventful day. From 0700 to 0940 the enemy bombardment the whole of our trench system, paying especial attention to the part from Hedge Street to Canada Trench. We retaliated vigorously. Considerable damage was done to our trenches. At 1600 the enemy commenced another bombardment this time accompanied by an artillery barrage. All batteries stood to (action stations). About forty Germans advanced against Sap B. An SOS flare was fired and our barrage opened whilst the rocket was still in the air. This barrage come down on the enemy in No Mans Land and inflicted casualties. The enemy at once left our trenches and returned to his own. No more Germans attempted to penetrate the barrage. Several dead Germans were left in our trench and on the parapets. Our casualties were very slight. War Diaries 16th December 1916 Enemy Artillery Active  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report the enemy artillery was fairly active on our back area. Snipers were busy on both sides. D236 Battery fired one hundred and six rounds at 1530 in cooperation with Scheme of Division on our right (47th). Aeroplanes were active on both sides. War Diaries 17th December 1916 Poor visibility.  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record a very quiet day and poor visibility. War Diaries 18th December 1916 Batteries Calibrated  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: Again a very quiet day and the Batteries calibrated. War Diaries 19th December 1916 Much Work in Progress  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report at 0950 A236 Battery fired on and dispersed a working party. At 1515 A236 fired on a new machine gun emplacement near Observation Point at I.19.c.10.65, but without effect. A lot of work is being done here. War Diaries 20th December 1916 Considerable Damage  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report From 1000 to 1130 the enemy bombarded our trenches with Trench Mortars and 4.2 inch guns, we retaliated with D236 Battery firing one hundred and forty rounds. Heavy and counter artillery Groups cooperated. GOC. 23rd Division asked for a further bombardment at 1530. This was carried out on the enemy support line opposite Stewart Street and considerable damage was done to the enemy's works. War Diaries 21st December 1916 Slight Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: Day was normal. Slight artillery activity on usual places. B236 Battery dispersed a working party. War Diaries 22nd December 1916 Hostile Battery in Action  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report front was very quiet all day. Considerable activity took place on our right. At 1430 a hostile 77 mm battery was seen in action from St Peters Street, 176.5 (true) from I.24.d.6.1. The battery shelled Yeomanry Port and Observatory Ridge. War Diaries 23rd December 1916 Slight Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Day was quiet except for slight activity from enemy 77 mm battery on roads. Working parties were seen and dispersed by our fire. War Diaries 24th December 1916 Enemy Artillery Active  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. report Enemy artillery activity on Railway Dugouts and Duckboards. Counter batteries engaged the battery shelling these places and the enemy ceased fire at 1700. War Diaries 25th December 1916 Christmas in ypres  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery are at Ypres on Xmas Day. All very quiet during the morning. A236 Battery fired at intervals throughout the day on working parties at J.20.d.7.7 firing eighty six rounds. After firing on two occasions stretcher parties were seen and finally a large horse ambulance drove up. In the afternoon the lines at Zillebeke and Ypres Square were shelled by enemy 77 mm and 4.2 inch batteries respectively. War Diaries 26th December 1916 Misty  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Very quiet all day and observation was bad owing to mist. Battery Commanders of relieving Brigade - 103 Brigade RFA - came up early. At 1000 a German fighting aeroplane came over our lines and shot down one of our planes near Gordon House. The first sections of the 103 Brigade will relieve our sections as soon as it will be dark enough. War Diaries 27th December 1916 Relief  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Slight trench mortar activity in the morning. This was silenced by our Trench Mortars and 4.5 inch Howitzers. The remainder of the day was quiet. Completion of relief - the remaining two sections of each Battery moved in. Relief was completed by 2100 when command of Observatory Ridge Sector Artillery Group was handed over to OC. 103 Brigade RFA, 23rd Division Artillery. During the day the remaining section was moved to rest billets at Winnezeeze and Oudezeeze. Lt Col Lowe assumed command of the brigade. Lt G Lyon Smith returned to position of Adjutant after being Brigade Major of Lowe’s Group R.A. War Diaries 29th December 1916 Xmas Festivities   236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Friday 29th December to 31st December 1916 Refitting and Section Commander's inspections Xmas festivities are held late, owing to the fact that relief was taking place on the 25th and the day after. War Diaries 1st January 1917 Training and recreation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. formerly 6th County of London Brigade RFA. Territorial Force are at Winnezeele. Batteries, with exception of C236 Battery in action with Left Group 47th Divisional Artillery, continued training in Reserve Area. 2/Lt A Morton Cole posted to B236 Battery. War Diaries 2nd January 1917 Training  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery from Tuesday 2nd January 1917 to Sunday 21st January Training continued. War Diaries 11th January 1917 Movements 15th January 1917 Movements 21st January 1917 Reliefs 22nd January 1917 Registration & Reliefs  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres: The Brigade checked zero lines and registrations. A test SOS. was received by the Batteries of the Brigade and the times averaged two minutes. Lt G Lyon Smith left for England on Jan 21st 1917 to continue his medical studies. 2/Lt M O Haskell RFA(SR) becomes acting Adjutant. On the night of 22/23 January the 6th Battalion (City of London Rifles) relieved 7th Battalion and 15th Battalion (Civil Service Rifles) relieved 8th Battalion, (all units in 47th Division). War Diaries 23rd January 1917 Bomardment of Enemy Front Line  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery undertake Bombardment of enemy front line system and communication trenches by the division in conjunction with the Heavy Artillery was carried out. The enemy’s retaliation to this Bombardment was slight. The effect of the Bombardment was good as his front and communication trenches were considerably knocked about. Casualties: Lt Hellier, V47 Ttrench Mortar Battery, wounded and one other rank, Y47 Trench Mortar Battery, wounded. War Diaries 24th January 1917 Tests Show Improvement  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Two test SOS messages were received by the Brigade. The times achieved showed improvement over the previous test SOS. War Diaries 25th January 1917 Hostile Artillery  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Hostile artillery (77mm 4.2 inch and 5.9 inch) bombarded B236 Battery and D236 Battery at Woodcote House and vicinity with about three hundred rounds, causing four casualties (three in D236 and one in B236)- all slight. Three direct hits were obtained on pits but only one gun was put out of action. A four point two fuse( for 4.2 inch shell)was found after this bombardment set to explode at 4 or 75 metres. War Diaries 26th January 1917 Registration and Calibration  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report registration and calibration continued. Two test SOS messages were received and the average time was about one minute. Casualties one other rank. 2/Lt L B Tausley RFA assumed the Adjutancy and 2/Lt M D Haskell became orderly officer. War Diaries 27th January 1917 Bombardment of Enemy Trenches  The four Batteries of 236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery in conjunction with the Y and V Batteries of Trench mortar and the Batteries of Right Group and Corps Heavy Artillery carried out bombardment lasting from 1200 to 1330 onto hostile trenches on the Left Group front with special reference to enemy's Observation Points. 2/Lt Payne (Late --- ---- Battery) posted to D236 with effect from 26th Jan.1917. The Batteries of the Group took part in a Test SOS at 2009. War Diaries 28th January 1917 Battery Shelled  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C236 Battery at Langkhof Farm was shelled during the day. War Diaries 29th January 1917 Batteries Shelled  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report 2/Lt P S Ayers was transferred from 235 Brigade RFA to C236 Battery with effect from today’s date. C236 Battery and vicinity was shelled during the afternoon with three hundred to four hundred rounds - no casualties. War Diaries 30th January 1917 Test Calls  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Two test SOS calls were fired on by the Group one at 0010 and one at 0312. Y47 Medium Trench Mortar Battery fired and much damaged a machine gun emplacement and surrounds. Working party of thirty eight men are now with the Group working on reserve reinforcement positions. War Diaries 31st January 1917 All quiet  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report All quiet. Signed A.C. Lowe, Lt Col R.A Commander 236th Brigade RFA. War Diaries 1st February 1917 Enemy Artillery very Active  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Ypres. Enemy artillery very active indeed on Back areas and Batteries. A test SOS call was received by Group at 2111 and all Batteries had full response within two minutes. 2/Lt D S Culterall was transferred from C236 Battery to the 47th Divisional Ammunition Column with effect from 31st January 1917. War Diaries 2nd February 1917 GOC Visits  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report the GOC 47th Division visited B236, C236 and D236 Batteries at 1200. War Diaries 3rd February 1917 Enemy Front Line Bombarded  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Y47 Trench Mortar Battery bombarded the enemy's front line across the Railway Cutting with sixty rounds and no retaliation of any importance. War Diaries 4th February 1917 Bombardment  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery engaged in Bombardment of a small area of enemy's trenches East of the Snout from 1500 until 1600 by Corps Heavy Artillery and 4.5 Howitzers Batteries included D236 Battery which fired one hundred and eighty rounds. The Medium Trench Mortar Battery(Y47) with thirty six rounds and A236 Battery shelled enemy Observation Points during the bombardment. Much damage was done and the enemy retaliated with light guns only. Relief by X47 Trench Mortar Battery of Y47 Battery in the line took place. 2/Lt E A de B West (D236 Battery) evacuated sick. War Diaries 5th February 1917 Daily Battery Activity  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report 2/Lt H V Ramsey admitted to Field Hospital on 3rd February 1917 while on 47th Divisional Artillery Course War Diaries 6th February 1917 Batteries in Action  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery D236 Howitzer Battery from 1440 to 1540 fired one hundred rounds in combined bombardment with 23rd Divisional Artillery and Corps Heavy Artillery onto area of trenches immediately South of Stirling Castle on 23rd Division front. C236 Battery fired at intervals during the night onto area of bombardment the 4 lines, East of the Snout. War Diaries 7th February 1917 Registration  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report All quiet, registration by batteries. War Diaries 8th February 1917 Personnel changes  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery 2nd Lt H V Ramsey evacuated out of Divisional Area - sick. War Diaries 9th February 1917 Hostile Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Aeroplane registration carried out by D236 Battery for Counter Battery Work. Small crater with suspected enemy mine workings bombarded by X47 Medium Trench Mortar Battery with sixty rounds and many direct hits obtained. At 2030 the enemy opened heavy shrapnel fire on both Battalion fronts. Group Batteries replied as retaliation was asked for increasing to SOS fire at 2050 in answer to SOS call from Right Battalion. The hostile fire soon died down. War Diaries 10th February 1917 Battery Activity  236th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery report "The Field Marshall, Commander in Chief awarded the French decoration "Medale Militaire" to Corporal W. P Noel HQ Staff. At 1400 D236 4.5 Howitzer Battery took part in one hours bombardment by all 47th and 41st Division Field Howitzers of the area opposite trenches of left Battalion of Right Brigade 47th Division. A registration by aeroplane by D236 Battery was also attempted at 1530. 2/Lt T Ballantyne C236 Battery was evacuated to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station." War Diaries 12th February 1917 Conference  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record Conference of OC. Group and Battery Commanders. First section of C236 Battery went out of action. War Diaries 13th February 1917 Batteries in Action  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery D236 Battery fired two hundred rounds in a combined bombardment on 23rd Division front by all available Howitzers. X47 Trench Mortar Battery commenced wire cutting on the Left Battalion's front and fired fifty four rounds. Remainder of C236 Battery went out of action and handed over position to B1014 Battery which is therefore part of Group. C246 took over Wagon Lines of B235 in rest at Winnizeele. War Diaries 14th February 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery B236 Battery commenced wire cutting opposite Right Battalion's front. X47 Trench Mortar Battery continued on wire with fifty rounds. War Diaries 15th February 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report A236 and B236 Batteries continued on the enemy wire with the usual allotment of two hundred rounds a day. D236 fired on an area Bombardment scheme at 1545 in conjunction with Howitzers of 23rd and 41st Division and Heavy Artillery on Area Hill 60. 2/Lt V Overton and 2/Lt H S Metcalfe attached to A236 and D236 Batteries respectively for 14 days instruction (From the DAC). War Diaries 16th February 1917 Gaps made in Enemy Wire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: All Batteries of the Group (except D236) and including X47 Trench Mortar Battery, which fired fifty rounds, bombarded the enemy's wire today. Many gaps were made. War Diaries 17th February 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Wire cutting by A236 and B104 Batteries continued with an average of two hundred rounds a day being fired by each Battery. X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired one hundred rounds on cutting the wire. War Diaries 18th February 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Wire cutting continued successfully by all Batteries. D236 took part in an area bombardment with all other Howitzer Batteries at 1430 and one hundred and eighty rounds were fired. X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired sixty rounds at enemy's trenches which were much damaged as a result of last few days bombardment. War Diaries 19th February 1917 Batteries Cutting Wire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C236 Battery came into action in position immediately south of Left Infantry Brigade HQ as reserve Battery for raid operation. Wire cutting continued by A236, B236, B104 and D236 Battery with the other Howitzers firing again on right area National - one hundred and eighty rounds. X47 Trench Mortar Battery again fired sixty rounds at enemy wire. War Diaries 20th February 1917 Daylight Raid  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report 18 pounder Batteries continued rigorous wire cutting in the morning as did Trench Mortar Battery. Much damage has been done and many gaps made in the enemy's defences. At 1700, Zero Time, a large daylight raid was carried out on the Right Brigade front of 47th Division. A dummy raid was made by explosion of mines and bombardment on the Hill 60 sub sector at the same time. All Batteries of Left Group barraged southern boundary of said area and cease fire took place at approx 1925. Raid highly successful with one hundred and thirteen prisoners and four machine guns being gained by 6th Battalion (City of London Rifles). 2/Lt M O Haskell A235 Battery (attached HQ) acted as liaison officer with raiding party. 6600 rounds of 18 pounder ammunition, 1100 rounds of 4.5 inch Howitzer and 450 rounds of 2" Trench Mortar ammunition were used by Left Group in the raid operations from 13th inst. onwards. War Diaries 21st Feb 1917 No Retaliation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report (A J Roberts due back from leave). All quiet - no immediate retaliation by the enemy for the raid. 2/Lt H Davies rejoined the Brigade from Hospital (B236 Battery). War Diaries 22nd February 1917 Enemy Work Prevented  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Enemy was prevented from working on his lines by 18 pounder fire. War Diaries 23rd February 1917 Movements 24th February 1917 Battery Rests  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: After very successful raid by 41st Division, C236 Battery goes back to rest during night to Winnezeele. War Diaries 28th February 1917 Movements 1st March 1917 Batteries Shelled  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Heavy shelling of A236 and B236 Batteries in the afternoon with direct hits on gunpits etc. but no casualties. Toll Gate and vicinity of Group HQ. were also shelled and one wounded in HQ. Visual signalling operated this morning, while telephones closed down from 1000 to 1400. Batteries fired on SOS message at 2200 but no attack. War Diaries 2nd March 1917 Battery Shelled  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery, A236 Battery was again heavily shelled. Batteries are on small allotment. War Diaries 3rd March 1917 Enemy Movements  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Probable enemy relief discovered to be taking place tonight so Batteries fired from 2100 until midnight, about one hundred and twenty rounds each. No retaliation was received. War Diaries 4th March 1917 Enemy Shelling  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Enemy actively shelled our back areas during the evenings. War Diaries 5th March 1917 Positions Reinforced  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Working parties from 104 Brigade RFA and 47th Divisional Ammunition Column attached to Batteries of the Group to work on the reinforcement positions. 2/Lt T Ballantyne evacuated to England and struck off Brigade strength with effect from 3rd March 1917. War Diaries 9th March 1917 Camoflets Blown  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report D236 Battery fired on Counter Battery targets with aeroplane observation. B236 Battery fired one hundred and fifty rounds on enemy wire. Several camouflets blown by the enemy. (note: camouflet is an underground cavity caused by explosives but without breaking surface which would form a crater) War Diaries 11th March 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report A236 Battery fired about seventy rounds wire cutting. Great air activity with two British machines shot down over Ypres. Major Pollard OC. D236 Battery to Field Ambulance sick. War Diaries 12th March 1917 Enemy Working party  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report A236 Battery successfully dispersed a large working party behind enemy lines. Major Pollard evacuated out of Divisional Area, also 2/Lt Davies. War Diaries 13th March 1917 New Battery OC  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report T/Lt S Taylor appointed Captain whilst sent to Command D236 Battery. War Diaries 14th March 1917 Change of Command  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Major A C Gordon DSO OC B236 Battery assumes command of 235th Brigade RFA and is struck off the strength of this Brigade from today’s date. War Diaries 15th March 1917 Enemy Active  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report The enemy batteries were active today especially their eight inch guns and our Batteries retaliated at the request of infantry. War Diaries 16th March 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report B104 Battery fired one hundred and forty rounds in wire cutting and there was much intermittent retaliation by the other Batteries. War Diaries 17th March 1917 Change of Command  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Capt R A Corsan MC A236 Battery appointed to command B236 Battery with effect from 16th inst in place of Major Gordon DSO. War Diaries 18th March 1917 Batteries Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report D236 Battery fired on Counter Battery target. A236 and B236 Batteries fired at the request of infantry. D236 also fired all night on a German Battery suspected of moving. War Diaries 19th March 1917 Retaliation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery Batteries retaliated for enemy firings on Left Battalion during the morning. 2/Lt G Jacques posted to B236 Battery from 119th Brigade RFA. War Diaries 20th March 1917 Reliefs  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C236 Battery first section relieved one section of B104 Battery today from Corps Reserve and took over B235 Battery Wagon Line. War Diaries 21st March 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Remaining sections of C236 Battery relieved remaining sections of B104 Battery. A236 Battery fired one hundred and ten rounds wire cutting and Other Batteries fired one hundred and twenty rounds in retaliation for enemy shelling. War Diaries 22nd March 1917 New Craters Blown  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired thirty rounds on Hill 60 and into new craters blown by the enemy. Work was heard during the night and X47 Battery again fired into craters. War Diaries 23rd March 1917 Enemy Bombardment  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Enemy actively bombarded in retaliation for Trench Mortars early this morning. Our Batteries replied and X47 Trench Mortar Battery again fired on the crater. War Diaries 24th March 1917 Battery Shelled  From 0800 until 1130, C236 Battery 236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery was heavily shelled. One gunner was killed and two others wounded. The shelling was repeated at intervals during the day and an ammunition dump was blown up. At 1800 after heavy Trench Mortar activity the SOS signal went up to the right of Group zone and an attack was reported on Group Zone. Batteries opened fire on the SOS, but the situation almost immediately cleared and the cease fire was given. A small mine had been sprung on Left Battalion front. War Diaries 25th March 1917 Personnel Changes  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery reports Captain H Carey-Morgan C236 Battery posted to command B236 Battery with effect from this date and Captain R A Corsan MC B236 Battery posted to A236 Battery. War Diaries 25th of March 1917  26th March 1917 Enemy Work Stopped  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery's X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired on the enemy crater to stop work. War Diaries 27th March 1917 Special Shoot  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report 2/Lt H W Stevens and 2/Lt H J Glover attached from 47th Divisional Ammunition Column to A236 and B236 Batteries respectively for a fortnight's instruction. D236 Battery fired one hundred and eighty rounds in conjunction with Heavy Artillery and other 4.5 inch Howitzers Batteries on special area opposite the Right Front. War Diaries 27th of March 1917  28th March 1917 Battery Shelled  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery's C236 Battery was heavily shelled again during the morning with two direct hits on a gun pit, but no casualties. Major Wood OC. C236 goes on leave of absence (special). War Diaries 30th March 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery's B236 Battery fired one hundred and thirty rounds in wire cutting and also with A236 Battery fired on German officers inspecting the enemy front line. C236 Battery were again shelled this morning. Major Cooper OC. A236 Battery on special leave of absence. War Diaries 31st March 1917 Retaliation  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. report 2/Lt E A West rejoined from hospital to D236 Battery. Batteries retaliated during the day and X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired on crater. War Diaries 31st of March 1917  1st April 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Wire cutting in preparation for raiding operation started by this Group; A236 Battery fired one hundred and fifty rounds, B236 Battery one hundred and ten rounds, C236 Battery one hundred also twenty on the wire and D236 Battery fired one hundred and eighty rounds on area opposite Division on the left in collaboration with other Howitzers and Heavy Batteries. X47 Trench Mortar Battery fired in retaliation and moved guns south to cover more front. New Battery positions for offensive action started upon by Batteries of this Group with twelve positions to be completed. War Diaries 2nd April 1917 High Wind  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Wire cutting was carried out in spite of high wind by 18 pounders and trench mortars. D236 Battery fired on an area bombardment, one hundred and sixty rounds and A236 Battery fired at intervals during the night on this area. War Diaries 3rd April 1917 Batteries Fire  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C236 Battery fired forty four rounds in wire cutting and X47 Trench Mortar Battery sixty rounds. A236 Battery fired during the night on the same area of bombardment as yesterday. War Diaries 4th April 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report On wire cutting A236 Battery fired one hundred and seventy rounds, B236 Battery one hundred and four, C236 Battery one hundred and thirty three and X47 Battery twenty five with good results being obtained. D236 Battery fired on area bombardment. War Diaries 5th April 1917 Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report wire cutting was continued today. A236 Battery firing one hundred and nineteen rounds, B236 Battery two hundred and twenty one, X47 Trench Mortar Battery one hundred and seven and C236 Battery one hundred and thirty six. A236 Battery after being registered in the morning was shelled at about 1830 and two gun pits were blown in by 5.9 inch guns. Two other ranks and one Sergeant were wounded. War Diaries 6th April 1917 Wire Cutting and support  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery, C189 Battery (Army Field Brigade) came into action in position East of B236 Battery as reinforcement Battery for the Group. Wire cutting again today with A236 Battery firing one hundred rounds, B236 Battery seventy six rounds and C236 Battery one hundred and fifty two rounds. D236 Battery took part in an area bombardment on Group Zone. X47 Trench Mortar Battery also fired fifty four rounds. C189 Battery registered. War Diaries 7th April 1917 Intense Wire Cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Batteries carried out intense wire cutting this morning, A236 Battery firing one hundred and thirty rounds, B236 Battery one hundred and fifty five rounds and C236 Battery two hundred and ten rounds. Zero time for Daylight Raid 2000. 18th Battalion (London Irish Rifles) carried out this raid, in the same place on the right Brigade Front as the raid in February, under a heavy barrage by two and half Divisional Artilleries, accompanied by dummy raid at German line on Hill 60 and St Eloi. Enemy fire was fairly heavy and caused a number of casualties. Nineteen prisoners were taken. OC. Left Group acted as liaison officer with GOC 141st Infantry Brigade, also Major Pollard OC. D236 Battery acted as liaison with OC. Raid. 2/Lt A M Cole B236 Battery posted to 66th Division. War Diaries 8th April 1917 Relief Imminent   236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report OC. 101 Brigade RFA arrived to take over Group but relief of Batteries not yet begun. War Diaries 9th April 1917 Heavy Barrage  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report Left Group now under tactical command of 23rd Divisional Artillery and covering 23rd Division Infantry, but still covering Hill 60 front. After trench mortaring of our lines all day the enemy at 1835 opened a heavy barrage along the Divisional Front particularly on the Centre Battalion. SOS went up at 1844 and the Batteries of 236 Brigade commenced barrage immediately. There was some Shelling of Group on right and Division on left, but both turned a Battery into mutual barrages on this Brigade front after ten minutes. Enemy found to have been completely held up by our barrage fire and dead found in 'no mans land'. Firing continued until about 2000 at a rapid rate with 3960 rounds being fired by the Group despite some Batteries being all shelled with 5.9 inch guns and gas shells. One 4.5 Howitzer was badly damaged, but no other damage or casualties except slight gas poisoning and shock. War Diaries 10th April 1917 Quiet day for 6th London Batteries  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery record in their war diary: Lt A F Yencken (B236 Battery) struck off the Brigade strength on evacuation to England. All quiet today and all front trenches including Battery Observation Points have been demolished along with one trench mortar pit probably bombed by the enemy. First sections went out of action tonight and withdrew to the wagon lines. War Diaries 11th April 1917 On the March 2nd of May 1917 Football Matches 10th of May 1917 Enemy Barrage 13th July 1917 0130 hours 23rd Division on our Left raided Enemy positions 30th of September 1917  Reliefs 2nd of October 1917   Heavy Shelling   3rd of October 1917 More Heavy Shelling    22nd Nov 1917 On the Move 26th Nov 1917 Artillery Transfer 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 2nd Jan 1918 Fatigues and Football 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 6th Feb 1918 Rifle Meeting 7th Feb 1918 Rifle Meeting 9th Feb 1918 On the Range 10th Feb 1918 Football Match 13th Feb 1918 On the Range 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 14th Feb 1918 Training & Football 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 10th Mar 1918 Sports & Working Parties 13th Mar 1918 Reliefs Completed If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 23rd Division? There are:275 items tagged 23rd Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 23rd Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Adams Frederick. L/Cpl. 8th Btn. (d.30th Sep 1917) Baron Brian Percival. 2nd Lt. 1st Btn. (d.5th Jul 1916) Cook Edwin. Bmbdr. D Bty. 103rd Brigade (d.15th Jun 1918) Cooling Albert Ernest. 2nd Lt. 14th Btn. Daglish Robert. Pte 12th Btn Hamer John. Tpr. 1st Mobile Veterinary Section Melvin Robert. Spr. 102nd Field Coy. (d.31st Oct 1918) Platts James. Pte 10th Btn. (d.20th September 1917) Smith Herbert. Pte. 10th Battalion Sparham William Albert Ward. Pte. 11th Btn. 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If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 22nd April 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263973 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 1206299 Pte. William Albert Ward Sparham 11th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.6th Oct 1916) William Albert Ward Sparham served with the 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers during WW1 and died, age 27, reportedly on the 25th August 1915. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium. However the date of death on the Commonwealth War Graves site is the 6th October 1916. He was the husband of Emeline Louise Gray (formerly Sparham), of 3 Britannia Bank, North Shields. Stephen Barnett Add to this record. 1205860 2nd Lt. Albert Ernest Cooling 14th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment Albert Ernest Cooling was one of 11 children born 20th June 1891 at Cuckney in Nottinghamshire. He enlisted at Chesterfield in 1915 as a 24 year old. He first entered France with the 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment on the 27th August 1915. By the November he was promoted to 2nd Lt and transferred to the 14th Battalion. Hesaw action on the Western Front for almost a year before being severely wounded in the neck by machine gun fire during the Battle of the Somme autumn of 1916 and was subsequently repatriated to a Military Hospital in South East England for treatment and to convalesce. He relinquished his commission in January 1918 on account of ill-health caused by his wounds. He went on to serve in WW2 as a Captain. He died in 1959 in Suffolk aged 68. Adrian Procter Add to this record. 263091 Tpr. John Hamer 1st Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps John Hamer joined up in August 1914, posted to France, arriving at St Quentin on 27th of August 1914. He served with 1st Mobile Veterinary Section, operating from base veterinary hospital at La Chapelle-aux-Pots until transfer to Italy in 1917. He was posted to the 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment and saw action on Asiago plateau, captured June 1918 he remained a POW until end of war. It is believed he escaped POW captivity and remained free for a period during October-November 1918. He was repatriated via Southampton on the 30th of November 1918. Malcolm Hamer Add to this record. 261291 Bmbdr. Edwin Cook D Bty. 103rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.15th Jun 1918) Edwin Cook was raised within sight of the River Tamar, in the rolling farmland of southeast Cornwall. One of five children, he sang in the local Methodist chapel choir at Burraton, a small village close to Saltash. He was married to Linda (known as Lin), and the couple had one son. Having served on the Western Front, Edwin and his comrades endured an exhausting march south, across the Alps, and onto the Asiago Plateau in northern Italy. He was killed at the second Battle of the Piave River, part of a small British contingent supporting Italian forces in their decisive defeat of the Austro-Hungarians. Edwin lies buried amidst the pine forests in the tiny British military cemetery at Granezza. Anthony Golding-Cook Add to this record. 256414 2nd Lt. Brian Percival Baron 1st Btn. Sherwood Foresters (d.5th Jul 1916) Sydney Baron was my great uncle. He was born in 1889. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme during the attack on La Boisselle on the 5th of July 1916. His name is found on the Thiepval Memorial. Brian Hume Add to this record. 233896 Pte Robert Daglish MM 12th Btn Durham Light Infantry My Great Great Grandfather, Private Robert Daglish 18240 served with the 12th battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the great war. Born in 1895, he worked as a coal miner at South Moor. After the outbreak of the war he answered the call and joined Kitchener's new army at Newcastle in September 1914. The 12th Battalion along with the 13th joined the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division and my ancestor waa assigned to A company, 12 Battalion, Durham Light Infantry moving to Aldershot, Hampshire in November, then to Willesborough, Kent in February 1915 and went on in May to Bramshott. He then proceeded to France landing at Boulogne on the 26th of August and concentrating near Tilques. On the 5th of September 23rd Division became attached to III Corps, moving to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area, for trench familiarisation under the guidance of the 20th (Light) and 27th Divisions. They took over front line sector between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right on the 14th. During the Battle of Loos CIII and CV Brigades RFA were in action attached to 8th Division. With 23rd Division holding the front at Bois Grenier, they were relieved from that sector at the end of January 1916 and Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem with the units concentrated around Bruay for a period of rest. On the 3rd of March they returned to the front line, taking over a sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, with the Artillery taking over an exposed position between Carency and Bois de Bouvigny where it was subjected to heavy shelling. In early March a Tunnelling Company was established and men with a background in mining were transferred from the ranks to the Royal Engineers, whether my ancestor was part of this, sadly I will never know. In Mid April they returned to Bruay area for rest until mid May when they again took over the Souchez-Angres front, just before the German Attack on Vimy Ridge on the 21st. The brunt of the attack fell on 47th (London) Division, to the right of 23rd Division and the 23rd Divisional Artillery went into action in support of the 47th. On the 1st of June the Artillery supported 2nd Division as they undertook operations to recover lost ground. On the 11th of June the 23rd Division Infantry moved to Bomy and the artillery to Chamblain Chatelain and Therouanne to begin intensive training for the Battle of the Somme. They were in action in The Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, The Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Messines, The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the The First and Second Battles of Passchendaele. It was here that my ancestor worked as a company runner, running between the lines carrying vital messages from HQ to the front. During the third battle of Ypres he received the Military Medal for actions unknown and was mentioned in the London Gazette in January 1918. My grandfather always told me that it was during the third battle of Ypres that my great great grandfather received a shrapnel wound and was brought back to England and his medal card supports this as it shows that he received the 1915 star, British war medal, Victory medal and the Military Medal and his only theatre of war was France. After the war, he moved to Burnhope and worked as a miner until his death in 1954. Sadly I never met him and have been unable to find any photos or records of him other than his medal card. However I have inherited his identity bracelet which he wore through out the great war and this shows his name, service number, company, battalion and regiment. It is also engraved with the intials MM supporting that he was awarded the military medal. I would however be grateful if anyone can share any more information about him or show me a photograph as i have never seen what he looks like. It would be dream come true if by any chance anyone knew of the where abouts of his medals. Ryan Daglish Add to this record. 233509 Pte. Herbert Smith MM. 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington (West Riding) Regiment The original recommendation for the Military Medal reads: "No 11837 Private Herbert Smith Has done invaluable work in charge of the Brigade Pigeon section. On 7th June during the attack on Hill 60 he was detailed to carry pigeons forward in rear of the assaulting lines to the Brigade Forward Post. Though the rest of the party were scattered or became casualties he reached his objective and waited there alone with his pigeons for over an hour under heavy fire. Finding no-one he ultimately returned through the barrage to report to Headquarters. He has, on previous occasions, shown remarkable coolness under fire. At Contalmaison on 10th July 1916 by his Le Sars on 7th October 1916 he did very valuable work. Military Medal H.C. Owen, Capt for Lieut Colonel, A.A. and Q.M.G., 23rd Division" G Whiteley-Savage Add to this record. 222957 Pte James Platts 10th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.20th September 1917) James Platts was born in Bagthorpe, Nottinghamshire in 1890 and lived on Church Lane. At the time of the war he lived with his parents James and Kate Platts of Great Northern Road, Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire. James Senior is listed as a Grocer who later moved to a shop on Franklin Road, Jacksdale. James was sent to France on 25th August 1915. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium. Family members have said he was shot in the head by a German sniper. James' mother Kate died in 1918 and his father died in 1923. They are both buried at St Mary's Church, Westwood, behind Jacksdale Miners' Welfare. Their son James is commemorated on their headstone. James' name appears on the memorial in Jacksdale and also in St Helen's Church, Selston. Kelly Martin Add to this record. 216427 Spr. Robert Melvin 102nd Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.31st Oct 1918) Robert Melvin served in 102nd Field Company, Royal Engineers and died on the 31st October 1918. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and is buried in Giavera British Cemetery Arcade. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star,War and Victory Medals. He was also awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry. Robert was born in Jarrow 1892, son of Robert and Annie Melville nee Dunleavy of 11 Dunn Street, Jarrow. In the 1911 census the family is living at that address with Robert(63) a dock labourer - shipbuilding and his wife of 23 years Annie(43). They had 10 children, 9 survived and all are single and living at home. James(22)a fruit merchants clerk, Robert(18) ships painter and Thomas(16) a rivetter heater. The remaining children are at or below school age, Mary Ann(11), Annie(8), Catherine(5), Julia(3) and Marie is 10 months old. His younger brother Thomas was also one of the fallen. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 213727 L/Cpl. Frederick Adams MM. 8th Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment (d.30th Sep 1917) Frederick Adams is one of the thousands remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 125 to 128)in Belgium. Sadly, online history for the regiment is pretty skinny - I can't even link to the museum and its records. You just get sent round in circles via the Rotherham Council and National Army Museum sites. I should say that the issue is made more complex because I live in Australia so all my research is conducted online. I've tried the National Archives site, but Frederick's name doesn't appear. He was only 21 when he was killed. I'm hoping that by posting my ancestor's name, I will be able to uncover more about his life and service. I have been unable to find out what he received his Military Medal for, but I presume it was awarded for the events that led to his death. Hopefully, I will be able to track down the war diaries one day to find out what his battalion was up to when he was killed. My passion is driven, of course, by the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WWI. To date, I have managed to track down partial histories on six direct descendants - three who were killed during the war and two (including my own grandfather) who died earlier than expected as a consequence of being gassed. My grandad, James Henry Cropper, lost two brothers-in-law in the space of eight days when the Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916. Editor's Note: From the date of Frederick's death, 30th September 1917, it is likely he was killed in action in the early stages of the Third Battle of Ypres possibly at Menin Road or Polygon Wood. Ian Cropper Add to this record.

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