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On this day 5th September

5/9/2016

On this day 5th September:-

1807 – Siege of Copenhagen

1858 - 43rd - engaged at Sahao (Indian Mutiny).

1899 –1st Bn Oxf LI – Left Mullingar and proceeded via Dublin Holyhead Chester Shrewsbury and Bristol to Devonport.

1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – COURSELLES AU BOIS.

1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BUS
Battn in Huts. –
At 12.30pm the Battn marched via BERTRANCOURT & BEAUSSART to MAILLY –MAILLET & took over the Line between WATLING STREET & the NEW BEAUMONT ROAD (Q.4) from 1/8 WORCESTERS.
Battn HQ were in WHITE CITY (Q.4.a.45.25)
The 1/4 OXF & BUCKS LI were on the Right & the 12th R FUSILIERS on the Left.
A & B took over the Right & Left of the Line respectively. C was in Support in the WHITE CITY & D in reserve in THE BOWERY.
(Trench Map FRANCE Sheet 57D SE Edition 2B 1/20,000)

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On this day 4th September

4/9/2016

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On this day 4th September:-

1809 - The Light Division, on the left bank of the Tagus, near Almaraz, engaged with the French and covered the march of the rest of the Army along the right bank.

1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – COURSELLES AU BOIS.
The Regiment relieved the 17th Royal Fusiliers for a second tour of duty in BEAUMONT LEFT SUB-SECTOR.
On the whole a quiet and uneventful period of 6 days during which there was nothing worthy of remark.
The weather improved.

1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BUS
Battn in Huts. –
Company Training & c carried on as above.

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On this day 3rd September

3/9/2016

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On this day 3rd September:-

1822 – 43rd – Left Ireland for Gibraltar.

1901 – 2nd Bn Oxf LI – 947 new rifles (Lee Enfield Mark 1*) received for re-armament of the Regiment to replace the Lee-Metford Mark 1* issued in 1893.

1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – COURSELLES AU BOIS.

1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BUS
Battn in Huts. –
Company Training & c carried on as above.

1916 - 6th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - heavily engaged Battle of Guillemont (Somme);
1916 – 6th (S) Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – BRIGADE RESERVE AREA (CRATERS) A.8.b.6.3.
12 NOON - In accordance with 59th Bde. Operation Orders the Battalion advanced from its trenches to attack GUILLEMONT.
“B” Coy. from ARROW trench was in the centre and from the position of the starting point somewhat in advance of “A” & “C” Coy’s. on Battns. Left and right respectively. “D” Coy. followed in rear of centre.
The Battn. was to follow the 10th & 11th R.B. to the first Sunken Road, pass through them and on to the 2nd Sunken Rd. (The first Divisional Objective). The three leading Coy’s. lost all their Officers and their Sgt. Majors before reaching the second Sunken Road. The fourth Coy. (“D” Coy.) also lost its Captain at the first Sunken Rd.
“B” Coy. in the centre found the Rifle Brigade Battn. clearing dug-outs and appeared to have stopped a short time to assist and then pushed on to the 2nd Sunken Road.
“A” & “C” Coy’s. passed right on beyond the 2nd Sunken Road to the edge of the Village, which was the 2nd Objective of the Battalion, Their Officers had gone and in some places the Sunken Road was not easy to locate being much knocked about.
At 7 p.m. the advance continued, as a matter of fact men were going forward about four minutes before the hour, but the barrage ruled the pace. .
Casualties were slight, if any from our barrage. By the time the Eastern side of the Village was reached, units were much mixed, my Battalion 10th & 11th R.B. some 10th K.R.R., Somerset Lt Infty and some Duke of Cornwalls Lt. Infty from 5th Divn, units were reorganised here as far as possible. The Somerset Lt. Infty. at my request kept back a portion of the Battn. in this position when the advance was continued up to GINCHY-WEDGEWOOD Rd. to look after the right flank as a number of Germans were visible on the open S.W. of LEUZE WOOD and on our contact with the 5th Divn. On our right did not seem complete
At 2 p.m. the whole line went forward up to the GINCHY-WEDGE WOOD ROAD and reached it with very little opposition, but a number of prisoners were taken from dug-out on the road.
The consolidation of the position at once began, but there was a shortage of tools. It was evident that the 5th Divn. Had not been able to advance up to the spur S.W. of LEUZE WOOD and that the spur and the wood were still in the hands of the Germans. I therefore decided not to move forward from the road to the final objective ordered, that is with the right flank of the 59th Bde. line just outside the S.W. corner of the wood.
The first Duke of Cornwalls Lt. Infty. Were now in touch with us on the road line, on our right, and the 8th Munster Fusiliers were on our left at the Cross Roads. There were then in the 59th Bde. area on the GINCHY-WEDGE-WOOD road the following troops: - 10th R.B. 11th R.B. about 100 men 10th K.R.R. and 1 Officer 6th Oxf. & Bucks Lt. Infty.
The Somerset Lt. Infty. Were digging themselves in, in support close behind. An Officers patrol went up by the Quarry to the S.W. EDGE of LEUZE WOOD, and found no one there.

NIGHT 3RD/4TH SEPTEMBER 1916 – 6th (S) Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – BRIGADE RESERVE AREA (CRATERS) A.8.b.6.3.
During the night, patrols were working in the valley below us, but could nor work up to the ridge and wood in front of us, owing to our artillery fire.
The enemy made no attacks, Nearly all the losses suffered by the Battalion were from shell and M.G. fire, before reaching the second Sunken Road, and more especially before reaching the first Sunken Road
During the clearing of dug-outs at the final position, one case occurred of a “P” bomb, being thrown in at one door of a dug-out and the smoke coming out the other without dislodging the Germans who however did come out when Mills bombs were thrown in.
8 Coy. Officers, 72 N.C.O’s and 200 men were casualties mostly early in the attack, and I think much credit is due to the men & few leaders left in getting on the right objective.

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On this day 2nd September

2/9/2016

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On this day 2nd September:-

1857 - 52nd - engaged besieging Delhi; over 200 men in hospital.

1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – COURSELLES AU BOIS.
T/2nd Lieutenant Ronald Arthur Cresswell Oxf & Bucks Light Infantry joined on being returned to duty from the Royal Flying Corps. He was posted to D company.
56th Reinforcement – 25 Other ranks joined.
11.30PM- About 5 shells were fired into the area of Headquarters and 1 company: 1 man and one horse of another unit sharing the ground being killed: splinters fell on the tents and huts; no damage.

1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BUS
Battn in Huts. –
At 9.30am the Battn was inspected by G.O.C. 48th Division.

1944 – 2nd (AB) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Normandy:-
Embarked from the Mulberry harbour for home with thoughts of leave in our minds.
During the advance to the River Seine the Regiment suffered the following casualties:
Killed: 1 officer and 5 soldiers. Wounded: 42 soldiers.

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On this day 1st September

1/9/2016

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On this day 1st September:-

1807 – 52nd - Danish Expedition, 2nd Bn. 52nd engaged in the siege of Copenhagen.

1883 – 2nd Bn Oxf LI – The New Equipment, consisting of a valise in which the great coat is packed, was issued to the Regiment.

1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – COURSELLES AU BOIS.
The Regiment was in Support Position of Support Battalion of 5th Infantry Brigade and was distributed as follows:-
Headquarters and 1 Company in Huts and Tents at COURCELLES-AU-BOIS:
1 Company in billets at COLINCAMPS:
1 Company in a Redoubt known as ELLIS SQUARE and 1 Company in the trenches at the disposal of the Left battalion holding the BAUMONT SECTOR (17th Royal Fusiliers).

1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BUS
Battn in Huts. –
Company Training & Lewis Gun & Bombing Training continued.

1944 – 2nd (AB) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Normandy:-
Move started to the beaches - marching to start with, as the troop-carrying transport failed to materialize. The night of the 1st September was spent at a transit camp at Ryes.

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On this day 5th September

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On this day 3rd September

On this day 2nd September

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