9.3.1917
12.50am: “B” Company holding KITE COPSE and trenches running SW from corner. BURG strongly held by enemy.
3.50am: MAJOR ASHWELL DSO wounded in KITE COPSE. Major CB JOHNSON assumed Command. LIEUT DS FOX slightly wounded (at duty).
5.40am: KITE COPSE evacuated by us without loss. Identification of 91st R.I.R [91st Reserve Infantry Regiment] obtained.
Cyril Benton Johnson
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
8.3.1917: Letter “B” and “C” Companies attacked KITE COPSE and the BURG.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Although the area has returned to farm land the position of Arrow Copse has not changed over the last 100 years and evidence of the fighting can still be seen with the recovery of a British water bottle from the area of the BURG (below).
7.3.1917: The frontline held by “B” and “C” Companies was E.23.D.7.9. – E.23.D.9.7. – E.23.D.70.45 – E.23.D.5.2. – BRAYELLE GRABEN to E.30.A.6.9. – E.30.B.2.8. – E.30.B.3.5. 
Trench map showing the location of the ‘frontline’ (small circles) and Battalion HQrs (large circle)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
6.3.1917 10pm: Battalion relieved 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in LEFT GOMMECOURT SECTOR. HQrs in old German 3rd line, E.29.A.8.3.. “B” and “C” Companies in front line, “A” in support (PIGEON TRENCH) and “D” Company in LANDSTURM GRABEN.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
5.3.1917 FONQUEVILLERS 8.30am: HQrs, “B” and “C” Companies moved into GOMMECOURT.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
4.3.1917 SOUASTRE: HQs, “A” and “D” Companies moved to FONQUEVILLERS with HQs at the BREWERY.
2/Lt AL PALMER wounded.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4th FONQUEVILLERS: Enemy retired to a line east of BEIZ WOOD and in front of ESSARTS. Some sharp fighting took place around PIGEON WOOD where two platoons of the 8th Sherwood Foresters were heavily counter attacked and were withdrawn after they had inflicted a number of casualties.
5th Sherwood Foresters held from SE corner of BEIZ WOOD – RETTEMOY FARM – LANDSTURM GRABEN.
8th Sherwood Foresters held LANDSTURM GRABEN – PIGEON WOOD – LA BRAYELLE FARM.
6th Sherwood Foresters HQs and 2 Companies in GOMMECOURT – 2 Companies in FONQUEVILLERS.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
“Pigeon Wood” was captured during the afternoon, after some fighting and an unpleasant sort of game of hide and seek, and we also occupied Rettemoy Farm, and “The Z”. Evidently thinking that we were too close on his heels, the enemy delivered a determined counter-attack about 6 p.m. against “C” Company, who were holding the trench line in front of La Brayelle Farm, forcing them to withdraw slightly.
During this attack Lieut. Duff [William Peter Duff] did magnificent work in holding off a bombing attack, and L.-Sergt. Sansom gallantly held on to a bombing post which was cut off, until he was rescued by a party ably led by Corpl. Street, who went forward under heavy fire, and opening fire on the attacking enemy, enabled the post to withdraw. Sergt. Henley also did splendid work in holding his post against a strong bombing attack, until he was eventually wounded in the head, dying the next day [306367 Joseph Henley won the Military Medal].
The Battalion suffered a great loss the same day by the death of Lieut. Abrams, who was killed during the afternoon whilst reconnoitering near La BrayeIle Farm. Thinking, apparently, that the coast was clear, he was walking across the open with his batman when a Boche machine gun suddenly opened fire on them at close range, killing them both instantaneously. “C Company” then came under the command of Lieut. A. Bedford.
The casualties that day in other ranks, were seven killed and 17 wounded.
1/8th Battalion Battalion History
Original burial report recording the names of the 12 Sherwood Foresters killed on the 4th and 5th March 1917 along with an unknown German solider
1.3.1917 FOSSEUX: Battalion marched to HALLOY (HQ at GRENAS).
2.3.1917 HALLOY: Battalion marched to SOUSTRE and billeted in huts.
3.3.1917 SOUSTRE: Moved into billets vacated by 4th Leicester’s.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
1st: Bde HQ Pommera
2nd: Bde HQs move from Pommera to Gaudiempre
3rd: 139th relieve 138th Infantry Brigade in the line
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
200520 Lance Corporal Ernest William Edwards of “C” Company 1/5th Battalion was killed in action aged 21 and buried in Fonquevillers. Son of Arthur Jesse and Emma Edwards of Butterley Park in Derby. At the time of his death “C” Company were attached to the 138th Brigade and were providing carrying parties for 1/5th Leicester’s.
203414 Pte Isaac Ernest Keeling of 1/5th Battalion died of multiple shrapnel wounds (Nottingham Post Notice) in the casualty clearing station at Warlincourt. The eldest son of Isaac and Charlotte Keeling of 21 Ayr St., Forest Rd., in Nottingham.
26.2.1917 BEAUDRICOURT: Battn marched to SIMENCOURT.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
26th: March to ACHICOURT area commenced.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
26.2.1917 BEAUDRICOURT: Battalion marched to SIMENCOURT.
27.2.1917 SIMENCOURT: Battalion marched to ACHICOURT.
28.2.1917 ACHICOURT: Battalion marched to FOSSEUX.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
22-25th: Trench digging and training continued.
26th: March to ACHICOURT area commenced.
27th: March continued, Brigade HQs established at SIMENCOURT.
28th: Relief of 43rd Infantry Brigade cancelled.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
22-25th: Trench digging and training continued
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
One of these med is very likely to be Robert Smith see here
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 