On this day 8th August
1804 – 52nd – 2nd Bn 52nd formed at Newbury, Berks.
1914 - 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - mobilized at Cowley Barracks and proceeded to Portsmouth.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – LE PREOL.
Lt C H B Slocock rejoined for duty from 3rd Reserve battalion and was attached to Headquarters Company with a view to temporarily relieving 2/Lt Grover in the duties of Signal Officer.
The regiment relieved the 2nd Bn Highland Light Infantry in the same trenches as previously.
Relief effected without incident.
1917–1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – IN THE LINE ST JULIEN & Line of STEENBEEK
IN THE LINE
During the day our artillery called out shoots according to programme.
HOSTILE artillery again active along our front line and back again.
At about 8.30am the ENEMY again sent up the S.O.S. and put a barrage on our front line this was replied to by ours.
During the bombardment the 1/5th R WARWICKS came up to relieve the Battalion. Prior to relief we established post on the E side of the STEENBEEK at the following points – post of 1NCO and 8 men at C.12.c.25.35.- 1 NCO and 8 men at C.12.c.15.50. and L.G post at C.12.c..10.75.
The relief which was carried out during heavy shelling was completed by about 2am on the 9th when the Battalion moved back to camp at DAMBRE.
CASUALTIES- 3 OR KILLED, 2 OR MISSING, 53 OR WOUNDED.*
Ration Strength 23 Officers 855 OR.
Weather during relief-very wet
*Cheddar Villa – Extract from PL Wright’s First Buckinghamshire Battalion 1914-1919.
On August 7 the Battalion relieved the 5th Gloucester Regiment in the front line, on the western outskirts of St. Julien (Map No. 3). A and B Companies held this outpost line, while C Company was in support round Canopus Trench, and D Company in reserve in California Drive and Falkenhayn Redoubt. Battalion Headquarters was at Vanheule Farm, which now consisted only of a flooded blockhouse. D Company Headquarters, with one platoon and the Regimental Aid Post, occupied Cheddar Villa, which was a superior blockhouse to Vanheule, except that the Germans, when they built it, had made a particularly large entrance which, now that it was in our hands, was completely exposed to enemy shells. The accommodation being very limited, the platoon were, on the first night, packed closely inside the opening trying to get a little sleep. The very first shell which landed near the blockhouse arrived straight through the opening and burst in the midst of the slumbering platoon. The effect was appalling—many were killed, and of those who were not killed, several lost limbs, many their legs. Happily the Medical Officer (Captain L. E. Hughes) was unhurt, and, as usual on such occasions, excelled himself in the relief he gave and the amount of work he accomplished in the next few hours.
1917 – 1/4th (TF) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – To DAMBRE CAMP
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – LE MESNIL.
This morning the Regt changed Bn areas with the 12 Devons. The enemy shelled and mortared both areas during the changeover and we suffered two casualties - two more casualties were incurred later in the evening. Our own mortars have also been very active.
1944 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – OUISTREHAM -Normandy
AM - Lt Dunkley returned to Bn transfer to CMP not being accepted in view of shortage of infantry officers also 6 men loaned from 'A' Coy originally to CMP at LION SUR MER returned to Bn at our request in view of operational commitments of all coys now.
PM - Normal routine. Mail arrived from England after lapse of 4 days.
1804 – 52nd – 2nd Bn 52nd formed at Newbury, Berks.
1914 - 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - mobilized at Cowley Barracks and proceeded to Portsmouth.
1917 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – LE PREOL.
Lt C H B Slocock rejoined for duty from 3rd Reserve battalion and was attached to Headquarters Company with a view to temporarily relieving 2/Lt Grover in the duties of Signal Officer.
The regiment relieved the 2nd Bn Highland Light Infantry in the same trenches as previously.
Relief effected without incident.
1917–1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – IN THE LINE ST JULIEN & Line of STEENBEEK
IN THE LINE
During the day our artillery called out shoots according to programme.
HOSTILE artillery again active along our front line and back again.
At about 8.30am the ENEMY again sent up the S.O.S. and put a barrage on our front line this was replied to by ours.
During the bombardment the 1/5th R WARWICKS came up to relieve the Battalion. Prior to relief we established post on the E side of the STEENBEEK at the following points – post of 1NCO and 8 men at C.12.c.25.35.- 1 NCO and 8 men at C.12.c.15.50. and L.G post at C.12.c..10.75.
The relief which was carried out during heavy shelling was completed by about 2am on the 9th when the Battalion moved back to camp at DAMBRE.
CASUALTIES- 3 OR KILLED, 2 OR MISSING, 53 OR WOUNDED.*
Ration Strength 23 Officers 855 OR.
Weather during relief-very wet
*Cheddar Villa – Extract from PL Wright’s First Buckinghamshire Battalion 1914-1919.
On August 7 the Battalion relieved the 5th Gloucester Regiment in the front line, on the western outskirts of St. Julien (Map No. 3). A and B Companies held this outpost line, while C Company was in support round Canopus Trench, and D Company in reserve in California Drive and Falkenhayn Redoubt. Battalion Headquarters was at Vanheule Farm, which now consisted only of a flooded blockhouse. D Company Headquarters, with one platoon and the Regimental Aid Post, occupied Cheddar Villa, which was a superior blockhouse to Vanheule, except that the Germans, when they built it, had made a particularly large entrance which, now that it was in our hands, was completely exposed to enemy shells. The accommodation being very limited, the platoon were, on the first night, packed closely inside the opening trying to get a little sleep. The very first shell which landed near the blockhouse arrived straight through the opening and burst in the midst of the slumbering platoon. The effect was appalling—many were killed, and of those who were not killed, several lost limbs, many their legs. Happily the Medical Officer (Captain L. E. Hughes) was unhurt, and, as usual on such occasions, excelled himself in the relief he gave and the amount of work he accomplished in the next few hours.
1917 – 1/4th (TF) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – To DAMBRE CAMP
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – LE MESNIL.
This morning the Regt changed Bn areas with the 12 Devons. The enemy shelled and mortared both areas during the changeover and we suffered two casualties - two more casualties were incurred later in the evening. Our own mortars have also been very active.
1944 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – OUISTREHAM -Normandy
AM - Lt Dunkley returned to Bn transfer to CMP not being accepted in view of shortage of infantry officers also 6 men loaned from 'A' Coy originally to CMP at LION SUR MER returned to Bn at our request in view of operational commitments of all coys now.
PM - Normal routine. Mail arrived from England after lapse of 4 days.
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