14.3.1917 3pm: Battalion relieved 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in LEFT GOMMECOURT SECTOR. HQrs in PIGEON WOOD. “A” “C” & “D” Companies in font line. “B” in support.
Front line:-
LANDSTURM GRABEN – F.19.C.0.0. – KITE COPSE – E.24.D.5.2. – BRAYELLE GRABEN – E.30.A.6.9. – E.24.C.4.5. – E.24.C.2.9. – E.23.B.9.2.
Advanced posts were located at E.24.A.0.4. E24.C.80.98. & E.24.A.15.50.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
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).
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 