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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 95/401/5

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Place Date Entry Scribe Appendices
ARRASFriday 01/Jun/1917 Company engaged in salvage.

Weather fine & warm: Wind S.S.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSaturday 02/Jun/1917 Company engaged in salvage:

Departures: Capt Barker R.A. MC to CCS with batman: 1 O.R. to hosp.

Weather fine & warm: Wind S.W. to W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSunday 03/Jun/1917 10 am: Carried out experiments with LIVENS PISTOL HEADS to determine at what range the shear wire breaks:

11 am: Received operation orders from 18th Divn regarding proposed scheme for operation on FONTAINE: Arrivals: 3 O.R. (1 from leave) 2 from hosp: Departures: 4 O.R. to cadet unit (England).

Weather fine: Wind S.W. to N.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.Appendix No 16

Appendix No 17

ARRASMonday 04/Jun/1917 10 am: Reported to 18th Divn to discuss operation: Received instructions to commence 1st night's work of scheme on 5th June: 10 am: Lt LAWFORD continued experiments on LIVENS PISTOL HEAD.

Weather fine: Wind S. to S.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.Appendix No 16

ARRASTuesday 05/Jun/1917 2 pm: Lt TAIT R.E. wounded whilst training guards on carrying routes for 18th Divn operation:

7 pm: Parties commence work on 18th Divn operation: Arrivals: 1 O.R. from workshops: Departures: 1 off wounded ( Lt TAIT R.E.) & 1 O.R. to workshops.

Weather fine & warm: Wind E.S.E. to E.N.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASWednesday 06/Jun/1917 10 am: Reported to G S 18th Divn on last night's work: 135 projectors were carried up & dug in: Work went very smoothly: 7 pm: Parties continuing work on 18th Divn operation: Departures: 1 O.R. to hosp.

Weather hot with thundery showers: Wind S. - S.S.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASThursday 07/Jun/1917 Reported to G S 18th Divn on last night's work: 175 projectors carried up & dug in:

7 pm: Parties continuing work on 18th Divn operation: Major S W BUSSAS accompanied by Lieut Paine inspected the position & parties at work: Departures: 1 O.R. to hosp.

Weather:- Hot, Wind S.W. - S.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASFriday 08/Jun/1917 Reported to G S 18th Divn on last night's work: 93 projectors carried up: 90 projectors dug in: 3 left in shell hole at the position to replace any which may be damaged subsequently:

Departures: Capt C Laycock & 1 O.R. on leave to UK: Arrivals: 1 O.R. rejoin from hospital: Lieut G I Paine assumed command of the Coy.

Weather hot with some thunder: Wind N.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSaturday 09/Jun/1917 Reported to G S 18th Division: Conditions unfavourable for operation: Reported to H.Q. 54th Bde & arranged scheme for withdrawal of outposts in front of the position on the night of the operation:

Arrivals: 2/Lt Pendlebury from G Special Coy R.E. posted to command 45 section.

Weather hot & fine: Wind N. - N.N.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSunday 10/Jun/1917 Lieut G I Paine R.E. & Lieut E Lawford R.E. visited G S 18th Division & H.Q. 55th Inf Bde & arranged a small alteration in scheme for carrying propellants on drums night: Weather conditions unsuitable for operation:

Arrivals: 2/Lt J B Bassford from 'P' Special Coy R.E. posted to command 42 section: 1 O.R. from G Special Coy R.E. & taken on strength of this company.

Weather hot & fine: Wind N. to N.E.

Lieut G I Paine R.E. rang up G.S. 18th Divn informed them that conditions were unsuitable for operation.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASMonday 11/Jun/1917 Telephone installed by VIth Corps signals: Sent calls sent through to H.Q. SCRE 2nd army & G S 18th Division:

Departures: 1 O.R. on leave to UK: Arrivals: 1 O.R. from leave to UK.

Weather: Heavy thunderstorms in early morning, cloudy: Wind N.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASTuesday 12/Jun/1917 Lieut G I Paine R.E. rang up G S 18th Divn & informed them that conditions were unsuitable for operation:

Strength: No change.

Weather: Thunder & some rain: Wind N.E. - E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASWednesday 13/Jun/1917 10 am: CSC R.E. informed us that conditions were suitable for operation: G S 18th Division wired through that operations were to proceed: Lieut G I Paine & Lieut E G Lawford reported to H.Q. 18th Divn & also H.Q. 54th & 55th Inf Bde completing final arrangements for carrying drums:

7 pm: Parties continue work on 28th Divn operation:

Departures: 1 O.R. to hospital: 1 O.R. To cadet school England.

Weather fine: Wind W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASThursday 14/Jun/1917 This morning at 2:52 am 372 drums were fired on the cross roads at U1.d.7.9.: 28 drums remained undischarged owing to leads severed by shell fire 2 minutes before zero: Operation successful: 200 of the enemy, many of whom were stretcher cases & the remainder helping one another along obviously in trouble were observed leaving the target during the morning : Our casualties were 4 O.R. wounded:

10:30: Lieut Lawford reported to G S 18th Divn & arranged for the removal of undischarged drums tonight: 1:20: 52 serviceable drums ? from VI Corps salvage dump: Departures: 2 O.R. (wounded) to hospital: 1 O.R. to cadet school.

Weather fine: Wind W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.REPORT ON ACTION

ARRASFriday 15/Jun/1917 The undischarged drums were carried from the gun position & brought back to Coy dump last night: Lieut G I Paine visited G S 18th Divn.

Weather fine & hot: E.N.E. - N.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSaturday 16/Jun/1917 Operations: Lt PAINE & Lt LAWFORD visited G S VII Corps & arranged with G.O.C. 50th Divn to begin the installation of 1000 projectors on 50th Divn front at once: Lt LAWFORD dug out & relaid 60 projectors at O.25.d.4.2.: 2/Lt ALLCHIN relaid 195 projectors at O.31.c.4.2.

Weather fine: Wind light easterly.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.SCHEME

ARRASSunday 17/Jun/1917 Operations: (1) 2/Lt BASSFORD relaid 60 projectors at O.25.d.4.2.: (2) 2/Lt PENDLEBURY dug out & relaid 130 projectors at O.31.c.4.2.

Meteorological: Fine: Wind S.S.E. light.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASMonday 18/Jun/1917 Operations: (1.) 120 charge blocks & 16 lengths of camouflage were carried up to the CHERISY position: (2) Clearing of projectors continued:

Personnel: 2/Lt G C ALLCHIN R.E. proceeded on leave to UK.

Meteorological: Mainly fine, thunderstorms: Wind S.S.W. to S. light.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASTuesday 19/Jun/1917 Operations: Lt LAWFORD installed 182 projectors at CHERISY position.

Meteorological: Weather variable, thunderstorms: Wind S.S.W. to S. light
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASWednesday 20/Jun/1917 Operations: 2/Lt BASSFORD dug in 200 projectors at CHERISY position:

Personnel: Capt C Laycock R.E. returned from leave from UK.

Meteorological: Weather variable, showery: Wind S.W. to E. light.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASThursday 21/Jun/1917 Operations: 2/Lt PENDLEBURY dug in 115 projectors at O.31.c.4.2.

Meteorological: Thunderstorms & heavy showers: Wind N.N.E. to S.S.W. mainly, later light.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASFriday 22/Jun/1917 3 am: Total projectors in position at FONTAINE is 380: Arrivals: 2 O.R. from hosp:

Departures: 2 O.R. (1 to UK on leave, 1 detachment)

Weather fine: Wind S.W. to W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSaturday 23/Jun/1917 7 pm: 400 drums carried up to new CHERISY position: 2 O.R. wounded:

Arrivals: 1 O.R. from leave: Departures: 2 O.R. (1 wounded, 1 on leave).

Weather showery: Wind W. to S.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSunday 24/Jun/1917 10 am: Reported progress to 50th Divn:

11 am: Called at VIth Corps H.Q. to ascertain future requirements:

6 pm: Carrying of drums for CHERISY & FONTAINE postponed on account of wind conditions:

Departures: 1 O.R. on detachment.

Weather showery: Wind W. to S.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASMonday 25/Jun/1917 3 pm: Reported to 55th Divn & arranged to discharge the 400 drums at CHERISY if favourable tonight:

10 pm: Lt LAWFORD & 2/Lt BASSFORD stand by with their sections at CHERISY:

Departures: 1 O.R. on leave to UK.

Weather showery: Wind W.N.W. to S.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASTuesday 26/Jun/1917 12:10 am: 384 gas drums fired into CHERISY:

3 pm: Reported to 50th Divn & arranged to carry up 350 drums to FONTAINE position tonight:

7 pm: 350 drums sent up to FONTAINE position.

Weather W.S.W. to S. by E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.Appendix No 20

ARRASWednesday 27/Jun/1917 Operation: (1) A number of gas drums left in trenches near to position were collected: 323 drums at the position were connected ready for firing: (2) Capt LAYCOCK was informed by G S VI Corps that no arrangements could be made for work on their front for some time:

Personnel: Casualties: 1 O.R. Killed (gassed in action): 2 O.R. wounded (gassed in action): 1 O.R. wounded in action (died): 1 O.R. wounded in action: 2 O.R. to hospital.

Weather: Wind N.N.W. to E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASThursday 28/Jun/1917 Operations: Conditions unsuitable:

Personnel: 1 O.R. on leave to UK.

Weather: S.E. to E.

Personnel: 1 O.R. to No 12 Gen Hospital (S.O.S.): 1 O.R. to hospital.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASFriday 29/Jun/1917 Operations: Conditions unsuitable:

Weather S.S.W. to N.N.E.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
ARRASSaturday 30/Jun/1917 Operations: A patrol collected 6 gas drums from the neighbourhood of the position & buried one damaged drum:

Personnel: 1 O.R. to cadet school (S.O.S.): 1 O.R. to hospital: 1 O.R. to LE HAVRE on leave: Arrivals: 1 O.R. from leave:1 O.R. from hospital.

Weather: N.E. to N.N.W.
Capt C. LAYCOCK M.C.
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