| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, LE TOURET and C2 Subsector |
| Entry | As the battalion was going into the trenches the same night Coys did not do much training during the morning. After 1 hours Physical Training the men were allowed to rest. The first Coy (B) paraded at x24.a.8.b (Bethune combined sheet] at 4.15 where gum boots were issued, they then proceeded to relieve the Reserve Coy of the 6th Queens in OLD BRITISH LINE. The remaining Coys paraded at the Gum Boots Store at the following hours. D 4.30pm, A 5pm, C 5.30pm and proceeded independently to the relief of the Coys of the Queens. C Coy occupied RICHMOND TRENCH in support line. D took over the right front company line, A the left. The front line trenches in this sector (C2 subsection) differed considerably from any we had occupied before. The actual front line was an old trench flooded, and dotted about at regular intervals were posts built in this trench each garrisoned by 6 men with an NCO in charge. These posts were known officially as "islands". The left company had twelve of these in their line, the right Coy seven. Immediately in rear (about 50 yards) there was a cover trench, where the surplus men of the Coys in the front line took up their positions, and where two men from each island came back to rest during the day. The wire in front of the islands and cover trench lines was continuous but not nearly thick enough. RICHMOND TRENCH was flooded completely, and a track of trench boards had been laid down in rear of the parados, and a few dug outs constructed, or rather shelves, as it was not possible to dig down on account of the water. The support Coy lent a platoon to A Coy (left front) for the night, as A Coy was weak and had a longer line than usual to hold. This platoon returned each morning to RICHMOND TRENCH. The OLD BRITISH LINE held by the Reserve Coy (B) had been worked on a lot both by other units and the R.E. It was really a continuous breastwork with traverses built of sandbags and other revetments. The whole country in this sector was very wet. The original trench was used in most cases as a drain, and on the whole successfully. Trench boards had been laid down everywhere, so that walking was easy so long as one kept to the track. Communication to the front line was good but very exposed. PIONEER ROAD was used by Front Line and Support Coys for carrying stores, etc., this was an old communication trench running from the BREWERY on the RUE DE CAILLOUX through the OLD BRITISH LINE to the right of RICHMOND TRENCH, a good wooden floor raised three feet off the original bottom of the trench had been constructed, the sides were also boarded. It was not possible to use this during the day as a man was exposed from the shoulders upwards. We were supported by the artillery of the 12th Division for the night. Reliefs were carried out quickly and completed by 7pm. The battalion on our left was the 4th Kings Liverpools (Extra Special Reserve). On our right we had the 22nd Royal Fusiliers. Weather dry and fine. Bright moon, nearly full. |
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