SECRET
Copy No …..
4th September 1916

20th DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 98.

1. H.Qrs and two Battalions of the 49th Inf. Bde will relieve the 59th Inf. Bde and attached units tonight.
2. Arrangements for this relief will be made between Brigade Commanders.
Officers of these two battalions will make themselves acquainted with the trenches beforehand.
The 59th Inf. Bde will collect and hand over all trench stores, maps and dumps to the incoming units.

3. On relief being effected the 59th Infantry Bde will concentrate at CARNOY.
The H.Qrs of 59th Bde will be in camp near CARNOY.
The H.Qrs of 49th Bde will be at BRIQUETERIE.
On relief units of the 61st Bde attached to the 59th Bde will move to CRATERS. On arrival there the latter units will come under the command of the Brigadier General 59th Bde.

4. The Field Company and Pioneers attached to the 59th Bde will not be relieved until the morning of the 5th September. They will then be relieved, under orders of the C.R.E. the Field Company returning to its Bde. Group, the Pioneer Coy returning to its Battalion.
5. Medical Units attached to the 59th Bde will not be relieved at present.

6. The 49th Bde. on taking over will detail a permanent garrison for GUILLEMONT South but inclusive of MOUNT STREET, which is a defensive locality and should be strongly held.
O.C. 96th Field Coy will advise and assist. Arrangements made and garrison detailed should be reported as soon as completed.

7. In view of the complexity of the situation G.O.C. 59th Bde will issue strict orders that no troops are to leave their posts until relieved by troops of 49th Bde.
8. Completion of relief will be notified by wiring the word “FLARES” and time to this H.Qrs.

9. Until relief is completed command of the Right Bde. Sector will be vested in G.O.C. 59th Brigade.

10. Acknowledge

(sd) C.A.MILWARD, Major for
Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division.
Issued at 4 p.m.

Distribution overleaf.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Divn.
12. C.R.A. 6th Divn.
13. C.R.E.
14. A.D.M.S.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
19. XIV Corps H.A.
20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
21/24. Retained.
25. Signal Coy.
26. 49th Brigade.

SECRET Copy No …….
4th September, 1916

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 97

Ref – Trench Map LONGUEVAL Sheet,
57 c S.W. – 1/10,000.
GINCHY – GUILLEMONT Map 1/5,000.

1. The 7th Division have consolidated parties in several houses in GINCHY and are fighting their way from house to house.

2. At 6.30 p.m. the barrage which will start 200 yards E. of the GINCHY – WEDGE WOOD ROAD, will again become intensive and creep forward at the rate of 50 yards a minute. Under cover of this the 5th, 20th and 7th Divisions will push strong patrols, with Lewis guns, forward to the line S.W. corner of LEUZE WOOD – T.20.a.6.5. The patrols from 20th Division will be found from 59th and 60th Inf. Brigades.

On reaching this line the patrols will establish themselves thereon and will at once be supported. The ground then seized will be consolidated. Special parties should be told off to bomb up the trench from T.20.c.2.6. to T.20.b.7.3. and to secure the QUARRIES at T.20.d.2.1.

The Heavy Artillery will arrange to bombard all these objectives.

3. The 9th Squadron R.F.C. will detail 2 contact aeroplanes to be in the air from 3.15 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. and one after that hour until dark.

4. Flares will be lit on reaching the objectives and at 6.45p.m.

5. The boundaries between Divisions and brigades will be as stated in paras. 5 and 6 of Operation Order No 90 (Revised copy).

6. Strong points will be constructed at the following points:-

Right Brigade – QUARRY T.20.d.2.1.
Road T.20.d.2.5.
Left Brigade – Trench junction T.20.a.6.5.

7. To assist in the construction of these points and the consolidation of the line, 2 sections 84th Field Coy R.E. will be placed at the disposal of 59th Inf. Bde. and remaining 2 sections of the same coy at the disposal of the 60th Inf. Bde. A working party of 100 infantry will be provided to assist the R.E. allotted to each brigade. these two parties will be provided under arrangements made by C.R.E.

8. O.C. 20th Signal Coy. will synchronise watches at 4.30 p.m.

9. ACKNOWLEDGE

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Col
for Lieut Colonel
General Staff 20th Division
Issued at 3 p.m.

Distribution overleaf.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.A. 6th Division.
13. C.R.E.
14. A.D.M.S.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
19. XIV Corps H.A.
20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
21/24. Retained.
25. 20th Signal Coy.

Copy No …24.
4th September 1916.

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 96.

1. In continuation of G.893, 4th September the 48th Inf Bde will relieve the 47th and 60th Brigades tonight, and will take over all trench stores, maps and dumps provided for these Brigades. Arrangements for this relief will be made between Brigadiers. Officers of the 48th Brigade should make them selves acquainted with the trenches beforehand.

On relief being effected the 47th Bde will concentrate at CARNOY, the 60th Brigade at TRONES and NEW GUARDS TRENCHES and units of 61st Brigade attached to 47th Brigade will move to CRATERS. On arrival there of the latter units will come under the command of Brigadier 61st Inf. Bde.

2. Headquarters of 61st Brigade will be at CARNOY, Red House.
Headquarters of 47th Brigade will be at CARNOY & BRICK ALLEY.
Headquarters of 60th Brigade will be at BERNAFAY WOOD.
Headquarters of 48th Brigade will be at DUMMY TRENCH.

3. The Field Coys. R.E. and Pioneers attached to the 47th Brigade will not be relieved until the morning of the 5th Sept. They will then return under orders of the C.R.E. to CARNOY, the Field Company rejoining its Brigade Group there.

4. Medical units attached to the 47th and 60th Brigades will be relieved under instructions which will be issued by the A.D.M.S.

5. The 48th Brigade on taking over will detail a permanent garrison for GUILLEMONT North of MOUNT STREET which is organised as a defensive locality and stronghold. O.C. 83rd Field Coy will advise and assist. Arrangements made and garrison detailed should be reported as soon as completed.

6. In view of the complexity of the situation G.Os. C. 47th and 60th Infantry Brigades will issue strict orders that no troops are to leave their posts until relieved by troops of 48th Brigade.

7. Completion of relief will be notified by wiring the word ”Flares” and time to this Headquarters.

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Col.,
for Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff 20th Division.
Issued at 1.30 p.m.
Copies to:-
Distribution overleaf.
Less 6th Bn. Oxf & Bucks L.I.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.E.
13. A.D.M.S.
14. C.R.A. 6th Division.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. XIV Corps H.A.
19. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
20. A.A. & Q.M.G.
21/24. Retained.
25. 20th Signals.

SECRET
Copy No ……
4th September 1916

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 95.

1. The XIV Corps will renew the attack today.

(a) At 3.10 p.m. the 5th Division will attack the line B.2.d.4.8. – WEDGE WOOD and the trench from T.26.c.4.5. to T.26.a.8.5½.

(b) The French Corps will simultaneously attack the trench from ACK HANGER WOOD to B.2.d.4.8.

(c) The 7th Division will simultaneously clear up the situation in GINCHY.

2. Subsequently, the exact hour being notified later, the 5th and 20th Divisions will capture the line LEUZE WOOD – T.20.a.6.5., the dividing line between Divisions being the N.W. corner of LEUZE WOOD (T.26.b.8.8 ½.)

3. The 48th Brigade will detail two Battalions for this attack and will assemble in GUILLEMONT and the SUNKEN ROAD T.25.a. before 4 p.m. Dividing line between battalions the road GUILLEMONT – COMBLES inclusive to the right battalion.

4. On gaining the position the troops will entrench themselves.

5. The C.R.A. 24th Division will arrange for a creeping barrage between the GINCHY – WEDGE WOOD ROAD (T.20.a.1.5. – T.26.a.1.5.) and the objective.

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division
Issued to Signals at 8.30 a.m.

Copies to
1. XIV Corps (G), 13. C.R.E.
2. XIV Corps (Q), 14. 11th Durham L.I.
3. 5th Division. 15. A.D.M.S.
4. 7th Division. 16. 20th Signals.
5. 16th Division. 17. A.P.M.
6. 47th Brigade. 18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
7. 48th Brigade. 19. Adv. “Q”.
8. 59th Brigade. 20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
9. 60th Brigade. 21/25. Retained.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.A. 6th Division.

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

1 September 1918 Moved to Somme – Merr***