This is the transcribed War Diary for the 8th Rifle Brigade from 28th July to the start of October 1915 covering the time Reginald Thomas served in France / Belgium. It starts with the infamous Flamethrower attack at Hooge in which the 8th Rifle Brigade suffered heavy losses. Due to these heavy losses Reginald was sent to France to join the 8th Rifle Brigade. The entry is transcribe from the National Archives WO/95/1895. There may be mistakes in the spellings of some names which were difficult to read. Words which cannot be read are marked with ??.
31/7/15 Birouce 1 mile E of Poperinge
Arrived from Hooge (Zouavewood) in five parties at 6am.
1/8/15
Battalion resting & refuelling, some Riflemen who had been wounded rejoined
from Hositpal.
2/8/15
Inspected by Lt Gen John Keir K.C.B who especially thanked the Telephone
section for the work in recent action. Lieut Gladstone & 6 men rejoined
from a course of instruction in the trench mortar.
3/8/15 Ypres
Battalion marched to cellars in Ypres - Dug that night on G.H.Q 2nd line.
4/8/15
Digging at night on G.H.Q line. 2nd ?? sick (from wound) & evacuated.
5/8/15
Vicinity of Battalion Billets very heavily shelling 2.30am & again 3.30am.
Whole Battalion ?? 200 digging night 5/6 on Menin Road ?? ??.
Major Tod & 2Lt Forwell evacuated suffering from exhaustion result of recent
fighting - Draft of 50 arrived. H.Q (transport)
6/8/15 Ypres
Battalion digging on night 6/7th on Menin Road - Billets shelled that night -
Eight men wounded by shrapnel in billets 11am
7/8/15
Generally heavy shelling round billets about 3:30am.
Battalion put at disposal of 42nd Brigade. Digging by White Chateau, Menin Road
night 7/8. A draft of 150 arrived at HQ(transport).
8/8/15
Usual shelling - one man wounded.
9/8/15
Battalion took no part in attack made by 6th Division on lost trenches at Hooge.
A draft of 110 arrived - Battalion carried rations up the night for 42nd Brigade.
10/8/15
Quitted the Cellars/Ypres 7.45 pm. Marched to ?? 1 mile East of Poperinghe.
A guard of 1 NCO 30 Riflemen left to guard trenches at Vlamertinghe.
11/8/15 Rest Birvan G?
14 Officers arrived - Reorganisation of Battalion begun.
12/8/15
K.C.O. promoted, & drafts posted.
13/8/15 Canal Bank North Ypres
Heavy rain all day moved here after dark in relief of Royal Scot Fusiliers.
The Battalion on this day was split up as follows;
(a) Watou 1 off 25 O.R. (Telephone & Bombing ??)
(b) 1 KCO 4 Riflem to Ypres (Potijze)
(c) 105 left at transport HQ.
(d) 4 officers 326 O.R. to trenches with 7th Bn R.B.
(e) 3 Officers 94 O.R. to garrison Potijze defenses under Lt Squire
(f) 11 Officers 155 O.R. with H.Q. to Canal Bank.
14/8/15
All quiet a draft of 50 arrived at transport HQ one Rifleman wounded in trenches.
1 Rifleman wounded.
Lt Col R.C. Mac?? ??? to permanent rank d 15 June.
Lt L.R. McAfee?? (since killed in action) to Captain d 3 July.
Lt C ?? Blane Smith to be Lieutient d 3rd July.
15/8/15
A test of the new tube Smoke Helmet carried out at HQ of Div.
A count of ?? on ??of all telescopic rifles belonging to Brigade on 30/7.
16/8/15
1 Rifleman died of wounds in the Trenches - Heavy shelling along Menin Gate 9pm.
Draft of 11 wounded returned to duty Transport H.Q.
Heavy Rain all day - Following return of causalities among full rank ??submitted .
17/8/15
1 Sgt Major w 3 CSM wounded 1 sick - 10 ?? killed 20w. 3 wounded (duty) 2 missing
11 Cpts K 20 w. 1 w(duty) 3 missing 1 sergeant killed this day.
18/8/15 Canal Bank
Nothing of importance - German aeroplanes very active & the shelling on both sides
still heavier than usual.
19/8/15
2/Lt Grebbin Wounded at Potijze. 1 Rifleman killed 1 wounded in Trenches.
1 Rifleman wounded HQ.
20/8/15
1 Rifleman wounded in Trenches. Very quiet.
21/8/15
2/Lt Atkinson wounded & two Rifleman. 98 Riflemen sent back to me from 7th R.B.
They had been lent to strengthen the 7th Bn.
22/8/15
O.C. Adjutant visited trenches which were to be taken over.
Draft of 67 Riflemen arrived at Transport Camp & also 21 old hand returned
from been sick & wounded. Two Riflemen wounded. Heavy shelling on Menin Road
in rear & transport much delayed. Four machine guns to trenches.
23/8/15 I.4.a+c
To Trenches - Relieved 8th K.R.R. in A5 & took over a part of A4 from 7th K.R.R.
The left of 8th K.R.R. in A6 was taken over by Sherwood Foresters 6th Division -
Battalion reassembled from all points - 225 of ?? ?? from 7th R.B.
The company (D) from Potijze defences - a draft of 40 men, which had been
left at Transport Camp - Companies therefore made up ?? - Relief quick.
A & D Companies in front line - B & C in support.
23/8/15 I.4.a+c
A quiet part of line, very little snipping. A battery, 48th Bde support us.
I find great improvement in the condition of Infantry + Artillery + the
Engineers. A representation of each reported himself to me.
The Battalion Hd Qs in I.4.a.7.2. Trenches in I.5.a+c.
24/8/15
Three Machine Guns withdrawn from front line & put in G.H.Q. Line
with supports (trenches X2, X3) trenches shelled by crumps + Whizz bangs
during day. No damage. 2Lt Newton to hospital. Find wire in front very feeble -
wiring parties out all night.
25/8/15
2Lt Le Blane Smith, MG Officers (wounded) returned to duty. A party of 6 R.E.
attached for technical advice in wiring the front. Rations sent direct to
front line in handcarts, rubber wheeled. Front quiet. Enemy busy digging +
improving their parapets.
26/8/15 I.4.a+c
G.O.C. around trenches. Patrols this night report (1) that they were in touch
with German covering party on our right + ?? within listening distance of
their parapet on left. We had large working parties out in front improving parapets +
wiring. Capt Sheepshanks returned from leave. Trenches shelled during day but out
battery retaliated on enemy trenches at once. One enemy sniper killed.
A message received from His Majesty the King through Lord Stamfordham condoling
with the Brigade on its losses + 1 OR wounded.
Lt Wenham + 9 bombers rejoined from bombing course.
27/8/15
A new pattern tube helmet issued to certain specialists i.e. Machine Gunners
as a precaution against poison gas.
28/8/15
2Lt S.C. Garrand killed by a snipper. 3 O.R. wounded. Shrapnel shell burst
near ration dump about 9pm. No casualties.
29/9/15
A representation from the Munitions Board visited the trenches. A streaming
wet day & so heard few shells & saw much mud.
30/8/15
2 O.R. wounded ?? ?? sniperscope taken into use.
31/8/15 I.4.a+c
7th Rifle Brigade relieved 7th K.R.R. on our right on night of 30th/31sr.
Enemys aeroplanes dropped two bombs on our lines, which has never been done
before. 3rd Divn artillery heavily bombarded BELLEWARDE FARM, HOOGE position
at 4am on the morning of 1-9-15.
All available men working at full pressure preparing present trenches for
Winter Campaign. The strength of the officers in the trenches on the last day of
the month. One Lient Colonel, one captain + 12 subalterns.