Confidential

WAR DIARY

 

Of

 

Headquarters 55^th Divisional Artillery

 

From 1^st March 1916 – To 31^st March 1916

 

 

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

 

March 1^st – 3^rd             Moves in accordance with Operation Order s 7 & 8 and relief of 2^nd N Midland F.A. Bde completed by 14^th Bde R.F.A. (68^th and 88^th Batteries) from 4^th Division.

4^th         4 pm               Bombardment of BLOCK HOUSE 2b.

5/6^th                             Moves in accordance with Operation Order No 9.  B/85^th Bty moving to cover Left Sector and 4^th N Midland How F.A. Bde marching to FREVENT to rejoin 46th Division.

6/7^th                             Section 12^th Lancs Bty to forward position at R.31.c.3.2. to enfilade.  Operation Order No 10

8/9^th                             Section 9^th Lancs Bty to forward position R.21.c.8.0.

8^th                                Moves to B.A.C.s at SOMBRIN.

11^th                              Bombardment of BLAIRVELLE Wood – considerable damage done and result reported most satisfactory by R.F.C.

15^th                              9^th and 8^th Lancs Batteries placed at disposal of 6^th H.A.G. for counter battery work and linked direct with O.C. 39^th Heavy Bde R.G.A. at BEAUMETZ.

15^th                              Arrangements made for use of code word “CUBE” to bring enfilade sections into action on adjoining fronts.

16^th     11.45 am         Bombardment of N.W. Corner of BLAIRVILLE – operation order no 13.

17^th       9 pm              Section 9^th Lancs Bty to forward position at WAILY R.22.d.17 to enfilade.

17^th     10 pm              R Battery/ 4^th Lancs F.A. Bde (Howitzers) *** B Battery 85^th F.A. Bde vacated position occupied by sections at R.9.a.9.3 and concentrated at R.9.b.5.5.

21^st                              Instructions for relief of 14^th Bde by batteries from 37^th Div received.

25^th                              Bombardment of LES TROIS MAISONS (X.2.b.7.3. – X2.b.9.1.1 ½).  In accordance with Operation Order No 14.  effect obtained was good.  The enemy parapet was breached at several points.  Possibly better effect would have been obtained by making the bombardment more deliberate and leaving batteries to carry out their task singly by time table instead of simultaneously.

27^th   11.45 am            Orders for relief of 14^th Bde issued.

28^th   10 am                 Orders for relief of 14^th Bde postponed owing to unfavourable weather.

30^th   7 am                  Bombardment of House X.3.d.8.9. in BLAIRVILLE.  Results most disappointing probably due to bad light in early morning which made observation very difficult.  8” probably obtained a direct hit.  Otherwise little damage visible.  G.O.C. 55^th Division decided to repeat at an early date under improved conditions.

29^th                              Visit of Commander-in-Chief and G.O.C. Third Army – G.R.A. attended at Div HQ 2 pm.

 

 

1. Benon

Major

Bde Major 55^th D.A.