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WW1 War Diaries for 'J' Company Special Brigade Royal Engineers

From March 1917 to July 1919

(Not case sensitive)



National Archive Reference Number: WO 95/401/6

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Place Date Entry Scribe Appendices
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Sunday 01/Sep/1918 All German Projector material from position at NEUVILLE VITASSE was brought back to Coy H.Q.: VI Corps 'Q' have allotted ground at COURCELLES HALT for projector dump: Arrangements made for Coy to move to HAMELINCOURT: Coy employed in drill & fatigues.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Monday 02/Sep/1918 Sites selected for camp at HAMELINCOURT & for dump at COURCELLES HALT.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Tuesday 03/Sep/1918 One section proceeded to HAMELINCOURT & commenced work on new camp: Remainder of Coy employed in unloading Pierre-de-fosse at GEZAINCOURT.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Wednesday 04/Sep/1918 One section engaged on erecting new camp at HAMELINCOURT & digging and guns at MOYENNEVILLE Position: 940 being unloaded & dug out to-date: All stores dumped on position: 2/Lt J.L. YATES proceeded on Special Leave to UK: Wind South West to South, 10 to 15 mph.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Thursday 05/Sep/1918 Digging out at MOYENNEVILLE position continued: Remainder of Coy engaged on drill & fatigues: Wind light & variable changing thro East & North to West.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Friday 06/Sep/1918 Arrangements made with VI Corps to reconnoitre HAVRINCOURT area with a view to an operation against that village: Experiments carried out with German projectors.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Saturday 07/Sep/1918 Digging out at MOYENNEVILLE position continued: 2/Lt F. HODKINSON M.C. & Section 41 proceeded to FOREWAYS DEPOT, SAVY, for instruction in Leeming Ropeway.Lt R. BLACK
TERRAMESNIL Sheet 57D H.19.6.0.3.Sunday 08/Sep/1918 Company moved to VRAUCOURT under orders from VI Corps.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Monday 09/Sep/1918 Reconnaissance made for proposed operation against trenches North West of HAMELINCOURT.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Tuesday 10/Sep/1918 Final arrangements made for above operation: All stores loaded on 3 tanks but owing to tanks failing to reach the position in time operation had to be cancelled: MAJOR K.C. HORTON returned from leave in UK & took over Command of Company: Wind South West to South, 9 mph.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Wednesday 11/Sep/1918 Scheme submitted for operation against CANAL DU NORD east of MOEUVRES: Two tanks which failed to reach position on night of 10th & 11th collected & unloaded: All remaining guns at MOYENNEVILLE position dug out & dumped.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Thursday 12/Sep/1918 Above operation against CANAL DU NORD cancelled owing to patrols being already in neighbourhood of targets: 72 4ft guns dug out from BOYELLES position & dumped: All remaining guns & baseplates dug out from NEUVILLE VITASSE position & ready to be handed over to C.S.C.R.E. First Army: 2/Lt R. PENDLEBURY R.E. rejoined Coy from Base & Depot & T.O.S.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Friday 13/Sep/1918 All gas drums, cylinders, charges, cordite & c removed by lorry from dump at GOUY-EN-ARTOIS to NORTHERN DUMP: 155 4ft guns dug out from BOYELLES position & carried to dump.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Saturday 14/Sep/1918 Digging out continued at BOYELLES position: Reconnaissance of stores abandoned in March 1918 completed: Remaining stores on tanks which broke down on night of 10th & 11th unloaded & brought back to Coy H.Q. by lorry.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURT B.24.d.5.9. (Sheet 57C)Sunday 15/Sep/1918 All remaining guns and base plates on BOYELLES position dug out & dumped: Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE to Coy H.Q. dumps commenced.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTMonday 16/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE to Coy H.Q. dump continued: All charges repaired & tested & all other stores on position checked and classified: Preliminary arrangements made for operation on front South of MOEUVRES projector position Sheet 57.c.E.25.d.5.0: LT J.C.S. BRANSON joined from 'POOL OF OFFICERS' Depot Special Brigade & T.O.S.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTTuesday 17/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE to Coy H.Q. dump continued: All charges repaired & tested & all other stores on position checked and classified: Preliminary arrangements made for operation on front South of MOEUVRES projector position Sheet 57.c.E.25.d.5.0: LT J.C.S. BRANSON joined from 'POOL OF OFFICERS' Depot Special Brigade & T.O.S.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTWednesday 18/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE to Coy H.Q. dump continued: All charges repaired & tested & all other stores on position checked and classified: Preliminary arrangements made for operation on front South of MOEUVRES projector position Sheet 57.c.E.25.d.5.0: LT J.C.S. BRANSON joined from 'POOL OF OFFICERS' Depot Special Brigade & T.O.S.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTThursday 19/Sep/1918 240 4ft guns complete with drums & charges taken up to position by Supply Tanks for above operation: Emplacements dug for 240 guns & baseplates set.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTFriday 20/Sep/1918 Setting & loading of above guns completed: Supply tank carrying further guns & base plates broke down on way to position.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTSaturday 21/Sep/1918 240 drums C.G. discharged on targets South of MOEUVRES at 02:20 a.m: 2/Lt J.L. YATES returned from leave in UK.Lt R. BLACKAppendix 1

VRAUCOURTSunday 22/Sep/1918 220 drums C.G. discharged on above targets at 4 a.m. & a further 140 drums C.G. at 5 a.m: All remaining technical stores brought by lorry from TERRAMESNIL to Coy H.Q. dump at VROUCOURT.Lt R. BLACKAppendix 2

VRAUCOURTMonday 23/Sep/1918 20 2ft 9ins guns collected from old Coy H.Q. dump at ERVILLERS & brought to Coy H.Q. dump: Company has baths: O.C. Coy visited workshops to examine Tank Sledges.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTTuesday 24/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE position continued: Also work on H.Q. dump: Party engaged digging out guns & baseplates at HAMELINCOURT position: Capt G.I. PAINE proceeded on leave in FRANCE.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTWednesday 25/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from MOYENNEVILLE position continued: Also work on H.Q. dump: Party engaged digging out guns & baseplates at HAMELINCOURT position: Capt G.I. PAINE proceeded on leave in FRANCE.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTThursday 26/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from BOYELLES position to Coy H.Q. dump commenced: 2/Lt J.L. YATES & party proceeded to WORKSHOPS BEAUVAL & carried out experiment with Tank sledges.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTFriday 27/Sep/1918 Transfer of stores from BOYELLES position continued: Two tank sledges arrived from WORKSHOPS: O.C. Coy visited Foreway Depot, SAVY to inspect LEEMING ROPEWAY.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTSaturday 28/Sep/1918 Transfer of projector stores from BOYELLES position to Coy H.Q. completed: All remaining stores at GOUY (other than guns & c to be handed over to other Companies) brought to Coy H.Q. dump: Experiments carried out with tank sledges.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTSunday 29/Sep/1918 Company practiced loading & unloading & general handling of Tank sledges: Part of stores for standard mobile operation drawn from WORKSHOPS: Three further Tank sledges received.Lt R. BLACK
VRAUCOURTMonday 30/Sep/1918 Further practice carried out with Tank sledges: All guns & baseplates dug out from position at Sheet 57.c.E.25.d.5.0. & dumped ready for removal by lorry: 60 2ft 9ins guns collected from MOYENNEVILLE position & brought to Coy H.Q. dump: 200 drums complete drawn from NORTHERN DUMP to complete establishment of Stores for mobile operation.Lt R. BLACK
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