15.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: C & D Coys were relieved by 2 Coys 5th N. STAFFS Regt. Left C Coy relieving a Coy of 8th Battn SF on left, & D Coy going into Battn reserve in BELLACOURT.
Preliminary patrol of the TALUS by 2/Lt E KERSHAW.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
July 15: Moved into other trenches further. Very busy time as we have to lay wires into a new HQ & cut out all the old wires. It is still fairly peaceful here but not absolutely.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
14th: A very quite day. We have never been in such quit trenches before. The 137th Brigade on our right attempted to carry out a raid tonight, but it did not meet with success.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
1487 Pte George Edward Pratt, a railway servant from Brimington and a Pre-War Territorial who served with F Company was killed in action. He was the first man to be buried in Bellacourt Military Cemetery at Riviere.
“Private G. E. Pratt of Brimington attached to the Sherwood Foresters, has been killed, the sad information having been conveyed to his wife by Lieut. Col. Goodman, who stated that Pratt was killed on the 14th instant. Private Pratt was a member of the Territorials, and has gone through a lot of heavy fighting. He was 27 years of age, and leaves a widow and one child.”
[THE DERBYSHIRE TIMES, SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1916]
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
13th: The 55th Divisional Guns commenced to bombard the enemies trenches opposite their front about 4pm. These Guns were stationed all round Brigade Headquarters. The result was that the Bosch began to retaliate & ultimately put a shell into the General’s bedroom. As a result of this and the intense noise from our guns, Brigade Headquarters moved back to BASSEUX about 12 midnight.
Considering the intensity of the bombardment, the enemy threw comparatively little back. A Gas & Smoke attack, which was to have taken place from the front of the 137th Infantry Brigade during the night did not take place owing to contrary winds.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
12.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Draft of 8 other ranks arrived from Base under 2/Lt E Jones
Ernest Jones
12th: Trenches 162-166 inclusive were taken over today by the 8th Sherwood Foresters from the 6th Battn Liverpool Regiment, 165th Infantry Brigade on our left. The relief was carried out by day. The new line taken over is very good.
It consists of a very strong firing line with a good support line in rear. Both are well wired.
There is a good supply of deep dugouts for the garrisons of the front line trenches, but more are required for the support line. There are a few posts in rear of the support line, namely:-
These are well formed and in very good condition.
In conjunction with these posts there is what is known as the Village Line, which runs at intervals along the LISIERE of the Village. This line is fairly well wired but the trenches require improving.
The length of the line now held by the Brigade is over 5000 yards. The enemy trenches are some 400 yards distant on an average.
It appears to be a very quite part of the line. We have the 165th Infantry Brigade of the 55th Division on our left and the 137th Infantry Brigade on our right. We have never taken over such clean trenches before. They are mainly floor boarded throughout and are well supplied with grenade stores. The ammunition kept in the trenches would not appear to be sufficient and require to be augmented.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
11/12.7.1916: Bn marched to trenches and relieved 5th Bn South Lancashire Regt in RIGHT SECTOR. Transport & QM STORES to BAILLEULVAL.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
We carried on in our new sector raiding and probing into the enemy lines to find out if the Germans were planning a counter attack on our front. We captured prisoners to identify regiments. We were kept on our toes during the next period of weeks.
[2305 Pte Frank Longson]
Moved into trenches at ———– which we took over from ———————. All very nice.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
11th: The remainder of the relief of the 166th Infantry Brigade was carried out as under.
The Machine Gun Company relieved the Machine Guns during the day & the 8th Battn Sherwood Foresters also relieved in daylight. The 6th Battn completed their relief by 12 midnight.
The Brigade is now disposed as under:-
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
10.7.1916 BAILLEUMONT: Lieuts TL DARBYSHIRE and GS RIVINGTON attd to 7th Battn Sherwood Foresters.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
July 10: Last lot of trenches a wash-out. Went to see another lot. The finest trenches I have seen. Everything including wires nearly perfect. Life nearly as safe as in peace time. Huns below us & friendly. No gas cylinders or other about. How long shall we allow it to remain like this.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
10th: New GOC Division inspected 5th & 7th Battalions, Machine Gun Company and Trench Mortar Battery at SAULTY.
Relief of 166th Infanty Brigade commenced in accordance with Operation Order 69.
5th Sherwoods moved to BELLACOURT and took over duties of Battalion in Brigade Reserve from 5th Kings Own Royal Lancs. The relief was completed by 8.50 pm.
The 8th Sherwoods moved from BIENVILLERS to billets in BELLACOURT.
The Machine Gun Company and Trench Mortar Battery moved from SAULTY to BILLETS in BELLACOURT.
William was a Nursary Man from Two Dales and a Pre-War Territorial who had served with the Matlock Company. He suffered GSW in the head and died of his wounds at 1.50pm at No. 1 General Hospital at ETRETAT.
9/10.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Battn carried Gas accessories to trenches of 137th Inf Bde.
9.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Capts R Saxby (left) & CJ Wheatcroft (right) to Third Army School.
Capt EB Johnson (above) to Command “C” Company vice Capt Saxby.
Capt W Seaton (above) attached to 7th Battn Sherwood Foresters.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
9th: Large parties from the 6th & 8th Battns again carrying tonight gas cylinders from BERLES Dump to the trenches.
Bde Major visited trenches of 166th Infantry Brigade at BELLACOURT.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
8/9.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Battn carried Gas accessories to trenches of 137th Inf Bde.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
July 7: Officers went to look at next lot of trenches as usual we were not very pleased with them & I expect we shall leave them in a much better state. I also sat as a member of a Field General Court Martial today. This is first time I have been a member. Before I have only watched for instruction or prosecuted.
Spent all night carting gas cylinders about.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 