Tag Archives: Royal Engineers

On this day 5th April 1915

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Locre 5.4.15: The Battalion with the 5th Battalion marched to billets.

War Diary [WO/95/2694].

On APRIL 5th we marched off again to a place called Locre in Belgium, a distance of 5½ miles, we are within range of the Germans big guns.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

 5th April 1915. We left Bailleul at 9-30 a.m. for Locre which is just behind the firing line. On our march we saw a New Mills man who is in the Royal Engineers. While in Bailleul we saw two or three that we knew who were in the Cheshires. On our way we passed an aerodrome. We got to our billets on the top of a hill near a windmill. We could see for miles around. We could see Ypres in the distance.

Mount Kemmel 2

It was a pretty sight to see the country round and it seemed a pity that it should be devastated by war. At night as you stood on the hilltop you could see our artillery firing and you could see the shells bursting over the German trenches. You could also see the Germans firing from just beneath their observation tower. It was a pretty sight to see the German star shells bursting over our trenches.

**Royal Garrison Artillery was quite near us. Just behind there is a 15 inch naval gun which has done a great deal of damage.

C and D Company went out on fatigues to our trenches, not a very pleasant experience. The 8th Battalion went in Saturday night and have lost so far – one killed and four wounded. Rained very hard all night. Our billet was a loft on the top of a pigsty, not a very pleasant smell. You could see the sky through the roof and there were holes in the floor.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 5th. Moved on again to Locre (Belgium). On fatigue at trenches at night, & got back about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Risky job.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

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15how375

**It’s most likely that George Bagshaw meant a battery of the Royal Marine Artillery, which were equipped with 15-inch howitzers.

On this day 6th March 1915

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MARCH 6th. We went for the first time up to the trenches, these are only 150 yards from the enemies trenches and we were under shell fire, we went on fatigue with the Royal Engineers repairing the firing trenches.

[1415 L/Cpl. Alfred Afford; D Company]

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6th March 1915. Knocking about all day until 4 o’clock when we went into the trenches at Ploegsteert Wood. This is in Belgium. It was about three miles from where we were billeted. The wood is a wonderful place, all pathways made through by the Engineers, just like a town. In the trenches, which are made of sand bags there are dug outs which the men have their meals in and sleep in. Each dug out has a seperate name such as ‘Hotel de Rochart’, ‘Castle Dase’ etc.

Company MessCompany Mess in Ploegsteert Wood. a view of a dug-out constructed from earth, wood, sandbags and corrugated iron. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum © IWM [Art.IWM ART 4815].

I was put in charge of a trench where there were about seven regulars and five terriers. I felt rather nervous, but that soon went off. During the night I went with the Sergeant to the listening patrol which is about 60 yards from the German trenches. We could see the Germans working on their wire entanglements. The Germans kept sending up rockets lighting everything up everywhere, making us keep our heads down because of the snipers who are always on the lookout. As you go between the trenches you come across dead Germans, both having laid there for a week or two.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]