| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Billets AUCHEL |
| Entry | A fine warm day. The Battn took part in the 99th Brigade Tactical Exercise being assigned the 2nd and final objective of about 1000 yds width on the right - "leap-frogging" the 1/KRRC at the first objective. The exercise was instructive and fairly successful. A contact aeroplane cooperated. The Battn bathed at RAIMBERT FOSSE. Effective Strength of Battn: 39 Officers 930 Other Ranks Ration Strength of Battn: 29 Officers 804 Other Ranks. Battle Casualties during the month: NIL Except for the first 4 days the whole of the month was spent at AUCHEL - the first opportunity the Battn had been given for continuous training since the beginning of the year except for a few short periods. Billets were poor and scattered and it was impossible to have a Battn Officers Mess, and training was somewhat handicapped by these conditions and the bad weather but on the whole progress was good. Nearly 300 reinforcements joined, a large proportion coming from MT and Harbour units - the elementary training required by these men took up a lot of valuable time. Rumours that we were to "go up North" were very soon confirmed and the XVIII Corps was indicated as our future area. The conditions and tactical considerations experienced in the fighting round YPRES were made the basis of our system of training and necessitated changes in method. Some difficulty had to be overcome in making all ranks realize that the "continuous line of trenches" system had to be abandoned - in teaching the method of tackling strong points and inculcating the "spirit of the bayonet" and "fire and movement". Recreational training was carried out, though the weather was unfavourable and a number of successful Regimental concerts were held. A number of men went sick with influenza - otherwise the health of the Battalion was good. [signed] G P Hunt Lt Col. |
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