1st February 1915 On this day:  On the March 8th Yorks & Lancs to Hythe   The 8th Yorks and Lancs leave Aldershot for Hythe in February 1915 Field exercises    In early February 1915 the Durham Division undertook a field exercise in County Durham, with Khaki Force, which included 122nd Brigade, taking a home base at Bishop Auckland pitted against White Force based in Sunderland. Both forces advanced on Durham City, with White Force's advance being blocked at the railway bridge over the road at Belmont Hall. All the bridges over the Wear at Durham were deemed to have been blown, except the bridge at Finchale Abbey, to which the 18th DLI were deployed. By the time the 18th Durhams reached the bridge, two companies of White Force supported by a section of Field Artillery had already crossed the River Wear and were busy entrenching at East Moor Leazes to provide cover for White Force to make a crossing. A mock battle ensued and the advance party of White Force were drive back by the 18th DLI. Recruitment and Training    16 RIR parade in Lurgan, County Armagh. 16th Btn Royal Irish Rifles - Pioneers Recruitment tour of County Down. In order to try and boost intake a recruitment tour of County Down was organised, starting on the 15th February and ending on the 27th February, with 150 Officers and men under the command of Major Gardiner and including the newly formed pipe band. It was followed by 2 horse drawn wagons and a horse drawn field ambulance unit. The schedule was as follows: February 15 Dromore 16 Ballynahinch 17 Dromara 18 Saintfield and Crossgar 19 Downpatrick 20 Clough, Seaforde and back to Downpatrick 21 Downpatrick 22 Comber via Killyleagh and Killinchy 23 Donaghadee via Newtownards 25 Comber via Bangor 26 Hillsborough 27 Lurgan via the Maze, Moira and Maralin. In each location a marching display would be followed by meetings and speeches after which the troops would be fed, entertained and accommodation provided by locals. The success of this recruiting march is difficult to assess as the strength figures were reported less frequently. Training. Interspersed with infantry training, the emphasis now switched to pioneering skills in trench, road and railroad construction Trench works. Trenches were constructed in readily available countryside locations and used to replicate known offensive and defensive methods. It was hard manual work as there were no mechanical machines. So, as practice, 5 foot deep by 1 ½ foot wide trenches were literally dug out by pickaxe, shovel and hands, hard labour by any standards in a peaceful country environment. How much more difficult it must have been in hard ground or muddy conditions, good and bad weather, with hostile fire from sniper, machine gun or artillery and with much deeper and wider dimensions. Wiring techniques were also taught in conjunction with the trench layouts. It is doubtful that full fitting out of trenches took place as materials were in short supply. (Revetment or revetting). Road works. On the 8th February 2 officers and 50 other ranks left for Keady where they assisted County Council men in constructing a new roadway at Drumderg nearby. They returned on the 17th and Armagh County Council donated £10 towards comforts for the men in appreciation of their work. Work was also carried out at the rear entrance to Brownlow House, widening the Avenue Road and constructing a new walkway in the park. Railway Training Again 4 officers and 50 other ranks left on the 3rd February for Skerries, Co Dublin for instruction in pioneer railway work. Doran Family 9th Heavy Battery leave Charlton Park   9th Heavy Battery left Charlton Park and moved to Odihamon February 1st, 1915 Continued trench clearing at Houplines   This Field Ambulance continues to work from Houplines section of trenches clearing the sick and wounded of the 18th Infantry Brigade. Lt Haydon taken off sick list and returned to duty. War Diary 19th Field Ambulance RAMC  Reliefs  Counter Attack Reserve position   E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA With 5th Cavalry Brigade in reserve near Merville 1st to 4th February 1915 in bllets near Merville. On the 2nd February Lieutenant Lund sent to 27th Division to help train young subalterns. On the 4th February Second Lieutenant DCM Carberry joined for training from battery to which Lt Lund had been sent. war diaries 18th Manchesters move to Heaton Park   18th (3rd City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment moved from White City, Old Trafford where they had been engaged in initial training to Heaton Park Camp to join the 1st, 2nd and 4th City Battalions.  brigade move  Further moves  All Quiet  Good works at Support Farm  Found Brother Killed  Sandbagging  In Billets  Inspection  Reliefs  Musketry  Reliefs  Shelling  Preparations  Orders  Inspection  Training  On the Move  In Reserve  No 7 Trench Hit  Message  On the Move  New Billets  The day spent bathing and general cleaning up  In trenches  Relieved  In the Trenches  Exercise  Reorganisation  Attack Made General Cappers football cup.   2nd Battalion Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment) played a Football match versus Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Rue du Bataille. Result Welsh Fusiliers won 6-0. 2nd Battalion Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment) are in in billets at La Toulette, transport inspected and a concert was held for the men at Fleurbaix. Officers 28 and men 874, 3 from hospital. 2nd Lieutenants AN Heller and WJ Dew both from the Queens joined the Battalion. war diaries  Reinforcements On the Move   No 17 Squadron proceeded to Egypt in November. 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 1st of February 1915? There are:41 items tagged 1st of February 1915 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, 1st of February 1915. R. St. John Blacker-Douglass. MC. 1st Battalion Irish Guards Read their Story. Pte. Christopher Brennan. 1st Btn. Irish Guards Read their Story. Sgt. Evelyn Frankland. 2/2nd East Lancs Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps Read their Story. Sgt. Evelyn Frankland. 2/2nd East Lancashire Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps Read their Story. Pte. Alfred Lorrimer. Royal Army Medical Corps Read their Story. Pte. Alfred Lorrimer. Royal Army Medical Corps Read their Story. Pte. Thomas Chidley Osborne. 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment Read their Story. Rfm. Joseph James Randall. 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade Read their Story. Pte. Thomas Thompson. 2nd Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers Pte. Thomas Thompson. 2nd Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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