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 ??.
1/9/15 I.4.a+c
The usual German artillery retaliation for the bombardment by the 3rd Divn. We have now heavily wired our front + strengthened the parapet to an average of 10ft. Tactical employment of machine guns + bombers rather changed + few of either are kept in the front line. It is organised that given sufficient bombardment a front line becomes untenable as it is practically blown to pieces.
1 O.R. wounded.
2/9/15 I.4.a+c
Enemy still quiet on the front but reports indicate that he is busy engaged
wiring + entrenching himself. I think any small enterprise that he next
undertakes will probably be against ODER HOUSE or RAILWAY WOOD.
A pouring wet night and the trenches almost impossible.
At 5pm a very heavy artillery bombardment from either side commenced on the
front line of RAILWAY WOOD + HOOGE. A mine is reported to have been
exploded in that vicinity. Our Hd Qs carefully registered by German artillery
yesterday for the first time.
3/9/15
Heavy rain throughout the day. Trenches flooded. Work at a standstill. 1 O.R. killed.
4/9/15
Nothing to report. 2 O.R. wounded.
5/9/15
One of our aeroplanes brought down apparently behind the German lines.
The weather has cleared but the trenches are a sea of mud + water.
Enemy aeroplanes very active all day. Our artillery were bombarding the
BELLEWARDE FARM, HOOGE position during the morning.
A draft of 57 O.R. including 27 N.C.O´s arrived at transport camp.
6/9/15
Weather fine & trenches drying. A whiz bang shell caused 5 casualties.
The total casualties in the trenches for the 14 days were 1 officer killed
+ 25 O.R. killed + wounded. Battalion relieved this night by 8th Btn K.R.R.
Corps. Marched out to GINGERBREAD CHATEAU, picked up by busses & taken to
the rest area at WATOU.
7/9/15 WATOU
Resting. Three cases of accidental shooting a comrade had accured in the
trenches & one case of self inflicted wounding. A large number of men arrived
from England in drafts untrained in safely handling their arms.
Two officers and 7 O.R. leave for England (Leave). The days paper officially
announces a V.C. to 2Lt S.C. Woodroffe, killed in action, a D.S.O to
Capt A.C. Sheepshanks and a D.C.M to No S7625 Rfn Hamilton J.
Unofficially announced that G.O.C., Brigade appointed to command Ulster Division.
8/9/15
A party of 300 digging on defenses at P1 + P2 & L4 just W. of YPRES.
Remainder of Battalion to baths where a complete change of linen was obtained.
9/9/15 WATOU
Another hot day. 300 men digging at P1 & P2 going by bus. The baths at POPERINGHE available for
the rest of the Battalion. An excellent cinematograph show goes on here run by the
enterprise of the officers of the 14th Divis ammunition column.
A careful inspection of the Battalion results as follows -
35 obviously unfit on medical grounds, 10 others under 18 years of age.
15 found to be suffering from nervous breakdown & recommended for a months rest.
10/9/15
Still fine & warm. 300 men digging as usual.
11/9/15
Weather continues brilliant. Digging party as usual. Lt Fraser returned
from Hospital. The strength of the Btn is now 18 officers (including
transport Officers & ??).
12/9/15
Weather still fine. 1 O.R. died of natural causes. Buried at WATOU.
13/9/15
Lt Col R.C. Maclachlan proceeding on leave. Capt A.C. Sheepshanks assumed command.
The Battalion moved up into Brigade Reserve. Marched to POPERINGHE & entrained there.
Marched from H11. Central. Hd Qtr A & C Coys billeted in houses on BRIELEN ROAD.
¨B¨ + ¨D¨ Coys garrisoned - KAAIE defenses. Previous to leaving WATOU the B
attalion was inspected by the Army Commander. Some shelling on the line of march from
H.11 Central to YPRES. 2 O.R. slightly wounded. 2Lt ?? and K.S. Gladstone ?? ??
Captained to date from 1-9-15.
14/9/15 YPRES
Weather fair. Slight rain. Heavy shelling during afternoon.
Enemy apparently trying to locate battery behind us. 30 men working on
new Battalion dugouts all day. 10 men carrying timber at Brigade workshops
all day. 50 men working on PICADILLY and 50 men on PICCADILLY Switch.
Working from 6-45 P.M. to 1 A.M. 50 men working on trench from HAYMARKET
to Dressing Station. 50 men working on HAYMARKET. Returned at 2 AM.
Two officers sent on the one day bombing course.
15/9/15
Weather still fair. Working parties out continuing work of yesterday.
Two officers returned from one day bombing course.
Lt Gen J Keir K.C.B ?? 6th Corps inspected the transport.
16/9/15
Work of yesterday continued. Fine day. Informed that the artillery would
fire 1000 rounds 18 pounds. practice ammunition.
?? Lts G.E.H.Keesey and A Carey promoted. ?? Captains &
2Lt C.R. Gorell ?? promoted ??
17/9/15
Working parties continuing work of yesterday. In addition 1 N.C.O. and 10
men on a small work behind Brigade Hd Qs during the day. One O.R. wounded.
Informed that Port of BOULOGNE closed.
18/9/15
Artillery bombarded enemy trenches at 5AM. Enemy aeroplane dropped two bombs
in this vicinity but no damage reported. One O.R. wounded. Usual working
parties out digging. In addition 100 men were burying cable. 50 rendezous at
POTIJZE X Roads for 48th F.A.Bde and 50 at road junction I.9.A.2.9 for
46th F.A.
19/9/15 YPRES
Lt Col R.C. Maclachlan in command of Battalion on return from leave.
Our guns again heavily bombarded enemy trenches at 3-30AM. Rather heavier
shelling by enemy on guns in out vicinity at 5 PM. Transport camp again
moved to A.28.d.4.8. Aeroplanes very active.
20/9/15
Still fine and warm. Situation normal. Our guns shelled heavily from
3-45 AM to 4-15 AM. Germans replied in the evening at 6 PM.
21/9/15
Vicinity of billets shelled during the morning & Battalion put into dugouts.
Total casualties - 5 O.R. wounded. 300 men detailed as working party to the
front line. Battalion moved back to A.28.d.9.9. where it bivouacked.
22/9/15 A.28.d.9.9.
Battalion bivouacked. Refitting and reorganising. Anthy received to send
back to England men under 17 years of age.
23/9/15
Continued reorganising. Fine day.
24/9/15
A.D.M.S inspected Battalion & weeded out 10 O.R. First information given
to the troop of a general advance to take place all along the line.
Capt Keesey, 2/Lt Hughes & 2/Lt Adair joined from the 14th Battalion
Rifle Bde.
25/9/15
Suddenly ordered at 10 A.M. to move forward to H.11.d.9.9.
Packed & off within the hour. Btn accommodated in dugouts at H.11.d.9.9.
The attack by the 42nd Btn ??? unsucessful had been driven back to original line
by enemy counter attack.
26/9/15 H.11.d.9.9
One of our aeroplanes brought down by enemys planes near PILKEN.
Heavy bombardment started about 10 P.M. Battalion ordered to stand too as
enemy reported to be attacking at HOOGE & BELLEWARDE turned out to be a
false alarm. 2/Lts Fa??loe, Matthews, Meredith & Seward from A?? Rifles
joined the Battalion.
27/9/15
C.O. Adgt and Company Officers reconnoitred trenches of D.L.I
[Durham Light Infantry]. Found them battered & flattened & many dead lying
on the front. Lt Bachus rejoined the Btn from 14th Btn Rifle Bde.
Heavy rain in evening.
28/9/15
Dry but much colder. Enemys aeroplanes active about 10AM. Machine Gun,
Bombers & Signallers moved at 9AM. To relief of D.L.I. in trenches opposite
BELLEWARDE FARM. Battalion moved from MENIN GATE at 7PM to take over from
same Battalion. Strength in trenches:- 25 officers and 726 O.R.
A heavy shell burst in 43rd Bde Hd Qtr which was to be taken over by our
Brigade this evening. Genl Jeudwine in command of 41st Inf Bde.
?? Lt Col Maitland in Temp Command.
29/9/15 Trenches
Pouring wet day. Trenches waterlogged. Remnants of the recent fighting seen everywhere.
Our own dead lying in ?? in front of the parapet. The parapets & communications themselves much blown about. Btn Hd Qtr right up on the front line & far too forward for control.
Heavy fighting heard on our right at HOOGE.
30/9/15
Heavy rain. A heavy bombardment going on at HOOGE where we had
apparently lost & gained some trenches. Our own front very weak from lack
of wire which had all been cleared preparatory to the attack.
1/10/15
Trenches drying up. About 20 cases of feet due to the wet weather,
an intenesely painful ailment. Gumboots issued to the men and a ration of rum santioned.
2/10/15
Quiet day.
3/10/15
Battalion Hd Qtr heavily crumped and the artillery officer attached severely wounded.
4/10/15
Heavy rain again.
5/10/15
A heavy enemy bombardment on the ODER house sector on our left.
Our own line bombarded in the afternnon. 20 O.R. arrived in a draft.