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WORLD WAR I

Bingham War Memorial

War Diary 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
SEPTEMBER 1916. - Sergeant William Henry Barratt and Private William Singleton

1st Routine. Company Training before noon. The move to VITERMONT mentioned in DIARY on the 31st August 1916 was cancelled.
2nd . Battalion now ready to take part in the 2nd Offensive on the SOMME. OPERATION ORDER No. 19 attached and marked as Appendix. F. 1. A very detailed timetable chart was attached to the War Diary
Battalion moves into trenches as mentioned in the aforementioned Operation Order which are situated 1500 yards due South of the Village of BEAUMONT-HAMEL and about 3,000 yards North-West of THIEPVAL.
The assembly was complete about 10.10 p.m.
Before going into Action, Messages from the following Generals were read to the Battalion, Copies are attached as appendices and marked - V.2. F.3.
LIEUT. GENERAL E.A. FANSHAWE, C.B. Comdg. V. Army Corps. BRIG. GENERAL R.D.F. OLDMAN Comdg. 117th Infantry Brigade. Battalion Strength going into action 19 Officers. 1 Medical Officer. 650 other ranks.
All details were left at BERTRANCOURT with Transport.
The Division were situated as follows in the attack:-
17th SHEREWOOD FORESTERS on the left;
16th RIFLE BRIGADE on the right;
17th K.R.R.C. in Support;
16th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in Reserve.
For further particulars as to formations see Appendix. F. 1.
Draft of 1 Officer and 16 men arrive from 10th SHERWOOD FORESTERS.
TRENCHES.

3rd

5.10 a.m. Battalion move to attack under Artillery Barrage at 6.0 a.m. Message received from MAJOR. G. STOLLARD Comdg. A Coy. that we have occupied FIRST LINE of GERMAN TRENCHES.
At 6.10 a.m. Message received from CAPTAIN H.V. WALTERS that the enemy's 2nd LINE is strongly held with Machine guns and that our Casualties are very heavy and reinforcements are urgently needed.

At 7.15 a.m. 2 Companies of K.R.R. Corps. move up to reinforce. The Action is against us, the enemy being very Strong in Artillery and Machine guns, and at 2.0.p.m. orders are dispatched for all to-withdraw to our trenches.
At 7.30 p.m. the Battalion remaining, withdrew to a Hill-side at MAILLEY-MAILLET WOOD for the night.
Our casualties are very heavy.

BERTRANCOURT
4th

At 5 p.m. the Battalion moves into Hutments at BERTRANCOURT.
Casualties in yesterday’s action as follows:-
KILLED.
Major. G. Stollard, Captains R.G. Hopewell, S.F. Brookfield, F.C. Singleton, G.P. Little Wood.
WOUNDED.
Captain's F.R. Turner and R.S. Wight. Lieut. B.J. Ross. 2nd Lieut. W.N. Birkin, E.P. Acrill-Jones, T.C.Nugent, J.W. Salsbury.
MISSING.
Lieut. B.F. Buck.
WOUNDED AND MISSING.
Captain H.V. Walters, 2nd Lieut. M.A. Ellissen.
Total 15.
OTHER RANKS.
KILLED. 59
WOUNDED. 155
MISSING. 221
WOUNDED at DUTY.
TOTAL 436

LIEUT. L.D. WOODHOUSE attached L.T.M. BATTERY KILLED.
Other Ranks - 1 wounded.
Attached 117th MACHINE GUN Coy. 1 Other Rank wounded.
Total casualties as far as known:
Officers 16.
Other ranks 438.
A good proportion of other ranks reported missing in the foregoing are known to be WOUNDED but no other details are at hand.
Draft of 70 men arrive from 11th Bn. SHERWOOD FORESTERS.
5th Organisation of Battalion.
11.0 a.m. Brig. Gen. R.D.F. OLDMAN inspects remainder of Battalion and sympathises with them in the loss of their Comrades and Compliments them on their fighting spirit shown on the 3rd Sept. and their devotion to duty. He remarks that their Sacrifice was not in vain. Message received from Army Commander Reserve Army H.P. GOUGH Gen. Sir. K.C.B. attached as Appendix and Marked F.4.
A Copy of Officer Commanding's Report on action 3rd Sept. 1916 is attached as an Appendix and marked F.5.
6th Parades under Coy Officers before noon. Reorganisation of Battalion List of Events forwarded to 117th Infantry Brigade on Operations the 3rd September 1916 Marked and attached as an Appendix F.6. (Link to AppendixF6)
Battalion move to MAILLEY MAILLET WOOD (Map Reference Sheet 57d.P.18.b.) Battalion becomes Brigade Support.

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