AMENDMENT No 2 TO 29th D.A. ORDER No. 18. –
dated 21st September 1917.
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In para. 7 a., delete first two lines “By night 11th Brigade R.F.A. will keep a liaison officer with Headquarters Left Battalion in the line at U.22.c.07.14.” and substitute:-
“By night 11th Brigade R.F.A. will keep a liaison officer with Headquarters Right Battalion in the line at U.22.c.07.14. and 15th Brigade R.H.A. will keep a liaison officer with Headquarters Left Battalion in the line at WIJDENDRIFT.

Signature unreadable.
Captain R.A.
Brigade Major, 29th Divnl Artillery.
21st Sept. 1917.

Copies to all recipients of 29th D.A. Order No. 18.

SECRET. Copy No. 1

20TH (LIGHT) DIVISION ORDER NO. 209.

21st September 1917.
Reference Maps: BROEMBEEK 1/10,000 (Edition 2)
LANGEMARCK 1/10,000 (Edition 2).

1. The 60th Inf. Bde. last night advanced its line to U.24.d.30.50.-U.24.c.75.75. – U.24.a.55.05. – 35.15. – 25.25. EAGLE Trench, as far North as U.23.b.65.15., is also held by the 60th Inf. Bde. The situation in EAGLE Trench between U.23.b.60.30. and U.23.b.30.60. is still uncertain and aeroplane reports that a detachment of 40 of the enemy are still in EAGLE Trench between U.23.b.47.43. and U.23.b.30.60.
Northwards from the latter point advanced troops of the 59th Inf. Bde. are in the same position as yesterday.

2. Two Tanks will, tomorrow, advance against the enemy still in EAGLE Trench. The line of approach will be through LANGEMARCK Village, U.23. central.
At the road junction U.23.b.42.30. the Tanks will separate, and one will take the road towards GOED TER VESTEN FM. and the other the road towards RED HO.
The Tanks will endeavour to enfilade the trenches entered by the enemy and make them surrender.

3. Zero hour will be 5.30 a.m., and at this hour the Tanks will arrive at the points where EAGLE Trench crosses the SCHREIBOOM – GOED TER VESTEN Road and SCHREIBOOM – RED HOUSE Road.
If the Tanks do not arrive at Zero hour, the operation will be considered cancelled for the day.
The B.G.C. 59th Inf. Bde. will arrange for an infantry detachment consisting of not less than 50 to be formed up in such a position opposite EAGLE TRENCH, between U.23.b.60.25. and U.23.b.30.60. that they may be able to rush the trench and capture the garrison as soon as the Tank dealing with the above trench exhibits a blue and white signalling flag.
This signal will indicate that the enemy wish to surrender of are retiring.
The B.G.C. 60th Inf. Bde. will arrange for a similar detachment to be placed under the orders of B.G.C. 59th Inf. Bde., who will conduct the operations, to deal with any of the enemy who may be in that portion of EAGLE TRENCH between U.23.b.65.15. and U.23.b.50.40.

4. There will be no special Artillery programme.

5. The B.G.C. 59th Inf. Bde. will arrange for three guides, one of whom must be an Officer, to meet the Tanks at AU BON GITE Bridge, U.28.c.84.80. at 4.0 a.m. tomorrow to guide the Tanks through LANGEMARCK Village via U.28.b.85.60. – U.23.c.10.15. – U.23.c.80.77.
Should the Tanks not arrive at the above Bridge by 5.0 a.m., the guides will dismiss.
ACKNOWLEDGE

J. McD Haskard
Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division.
Issued to Signals at 5.20 p.m.
Distribution overleaf.
Copies to –
No 1. A.D.C. for G.O.C.
2. G.S.
3. A. A. & Q.M.G.
4. Div. R.A.
5. Div. R.E..
6. Div. Signals.
7. 59th Inf. Bde.
8. 60th Inf. Bde.
9. 61st Inf. Bde.
10. Div. Pioneers.
11. Div. M.G. Coy.
12. A.D.M.S.
13. A.P.M.
14. D.M.G.O.
15. XIV Corps
16. XIV Corps R.A.
17. XIV Corps. H.A.
18. Guards Div.
19. 4th Div.
20. 51st Div.
21. Right Bombardment Group.
22. No 9 Squadron R.F.C.
23. 1st Brigade “Tanks”.
24. War Diary
25/28. Retained.

PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING COMMUNICATIONS

29TH DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY.

1. D.A. TO GROUPS.
Two phone lines to each Group and one sounder circuit to each Group are working at present. No change will be made.

2. GROUPS TO BATTERIES. (Ref. Attached diagram.)
(a) Right Group with H.Q. at MARIE JEAN FARM, will establish a forward exchange at B.12.c.5.3. (present H.Q. 5th Army Field Bde.).
Three Trunk lines, of which two will be ringing and one buzzer call, will be connected from Group H.Q. to this forward Exchange. These lines will be in the buried system as far as B.12.d.80.85.
Lines to Batteries will be laid overground from the Forward Exchange. Most of these lines already exist, and the general scheme should be similar to that shown on the diagram.

(b) Left Group with H.Q. at MARGUERITE FARM will establish a forward exchange at B.6.c.3.3. (present H.Q. of 75th Bde R.F.A.).
Three trunk lines (two ringing and one buzzer call) will be connected from Group H.Q. to this forward exchange. These lines will be in the buried system as far as L.H. test point B.12.a.2.6.
Lines to Batteries will be laid overground on the principle shown on attached diagram. Some of these lines already exist.

(c) In each case, the buzzer line from Group to Forward Exchange will be used for transmission of messages by Fullerphone.
Any message containing information which might be useful to the enemy will be sent on from Forward Exchange to Batteries by runner.

Communication between Group H.Q. and any battery in the group may be established, but orders applying to several, or all the batteries in the group should be sent to the Officer i/c Forward Exchange for transmission. This applies to S.O.S. originating at Group H.Q.

3. PERSONNEL AND MAINTENANCE.
All connections in the buried system and maintenance between Group H.Q. and their Forward Exchanges will be taken charge of by D.A. Signals.
Each group must arrange to provide telephonists for the Group H.Q. Exchange and their Forward Exchange. A sufficient number of linesmen must be posted at the Forward Exchange to maintain lines to batteries.

4. SEALED PACKETS.
A regular system of cyclist orderlies working between Group H.Q. and Forward Exchanges must be arranged. Between the forward exchanges and batteries, sealed packets will be carried by runner. A sufficient number of orderlies for this purpose will be required at each Forward Exchange.
For Motor Cyclist Despatch Rider runs, see attached list, which is subject to revision.
5. COMMUNICATION WITH INFANTRY.
Each Group will have a direct line to the Infantry Exchange C.B. (B.12.d.80.85) through which direct communication with SAULES FARM Infantry Bde H.Q. can be obtained.

6. COMMUNICATION WITH FLANK ARTILLERY.
Right Group Artillery will have a direct ringing phone line to Left Group. Right Divnl Artillery Communication will be arranged between the Left Group and the French Artillery on their flank.

7. LIAISON WITH INFANTRY BRIGADE.
Liaison between Artillery and Infantry will be carried out by the Brigade Commander stationed at LAPIN FARM. The Infantry Brigade at SAULES FARM will lay a direct line to LAPIN FARM, but the artillery signallers will assist in the maintenance.

Hugh O. Holmes
Major R.A.
For Brigade Major, 29th Divisional Arty.
20th Sept. 1917.

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MOTOR CYCLIST DESPATCH RIDER RUNS

Leaves D.A. Arrives Group H.Q. Arrives Fwd. Exch. Arrives D.A.

9 a.m. 9-30 a.m. 10 a.m. 10-45 a.m.
1 p.m. 1-30 p.m. 2 p.m. 2-45 p.m.
6 p.m. 6-30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7-45 p.m.

For special runs at other times than those stated above, the Motor Cyclist will deliver to Group H.Q. only and Groups will be responsible for sending forward by Cyclist Orderly or Runner.

Groups must not detain the Motor Cyclist Despatch Rider and must have their packets for delivery to Forward Exchange ready upon his arrival.

SECRET. Copy No. 1
20th Sept 1917

20TH (LIGHT) DIVISION ORDER NO. 280.(208)

Reference Maps: BROEMBEEK 1/10,000 (Edition 2)
LANGEMARCK 1/10,000 (Edition 2).

1. Our line runs approximately as follows:- U.24.c.68.15 – 60.17. – U.23.d.85.70. – U.23.b.40.10. – 34.37. – 80.80. -65.97. – U.17.d.45.15. – 00.15.
51st Div. on our right have reached the line ROSE HOUSE – U.24.d.20.20.

2. The attack will recommence at an hour to be notified later, when the situation has been definitely cleared. The Artillery programme will include a barrage which will open 150 yards in front of the present position of the most advanced infantry, including EAGLE TRENCH between U.23.d.85.70.and U.23.b.59.34. The above barrage will keep 150 yards N.W. of the boundary between the 20th and 51st Divs.
The lifts and pauses will be 50yards in three minutes, except the 1st lift which will be 100x in 6mins and the barrage will remain on its first line for 15 minutes. Apart from these variations the artillery programme will be a repetition of the one carried out this morning.
Smoke shells will be fired into EAGLE TRENCH, just West of the Cemetery.
The 51st Div. have been asked to place a smoke barrage from U.24.d.47.70. to U.24.d.10.10. in the initial stages of the advance. The tail of this barrage will lift as the infantry go forward.

3. The attack will be carried out by the 60th and 59th Inf. Bdes., the final objective being the GREEN Line noted RED Line.

The Inter-brigade Boundary remains the same.

B.Gs.C. 60th and 59th Inf. Bdes. Have arranged to carry out the attack with their Support Bns., their place being taken by the Bns. In Bde. Reserve.
Every endeavour will be made by the 60th Inf. Bde. to obtain touch with the left flank of the 51st Div.

4. The B.G.C. 60th Inf. Bde. will arrange to push out a proportion of his machine-guns towards U.24.d.00.30. to fire towards RED HOUSE and KANGAROO TRENCH. These guns are covered by the presence of the 51st Div. at RED House and just West of it.

5. The machine-guns allotted for barrages will open fire at Zero under orders of the D.M.G.O. and fire for 1 hour 30 minutes on the same barrage lines as this morning.

ACKNOWLEDGE

J. McD Haskard
Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division.
Issued to Signals at 1.30 p.m.
Distribution overleaf.
Copies to –
No 1. A.D.C. for G.O.C.
2. G.S.
3. A. A. & Q.M.G.
4. Div. R.A.
5. Div.R.E..
6. Div. Signals.
7. 59th Inf. Bde.
8. 60th Inf. Bde.
9. 61st Inf. Bde.
10. Div. Pioneers.
11. Div. M.G. Coy.
12. A.D.M.S.
13. A.P.M.
14. D.M.G.O.
15. XIV Corps
16. XIV Corps R.A.
17. XIV Corps. H.A.
18. Guards Div.
19. 4th Div.
20. 51st Div.
21. Right Bombardment Group.
22. No 9 Squadron R.F.C.
23. “Z” Special Coy. R.E.
24. War Diary
25/28. Retained.

Field Service Post Card to Dick-Cunyngham’s wife dated 20 Sept 1914

I am quite well

I have been admitted to hospital sick wounded and am going on well.

I am being sent down to the base.

I have received your 10 letters dated telegram 2 parcels

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you lately for a long time.

Signature only: J.K. Dick Cunyngham

Date Sep 20th.

Addressed to Mrs Dick Cunyngham, Mount View, Crownhill S.O., S. Devon. England. Postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE 42 dated SP 20 14

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

19 September 1918 Arrived early at hospital HAVRE stayed night –here diary
ends.

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

18 September 1918 Left Peronne by ambulance train & travelled all afternoon
& night.

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

17 September 1915 At crack of dawn Col Dumbell came to me & cancelled
reserve order.
We were to attack & Col & I went to reconnoitre the ground. All well & area was clearly defined. On way back to my Coy H.Q. in Holnon Wood I was badly wounded by a shell which appeared to explode very near me. By stretcher to advanced dressing station & then to Casualty Clearing Hospital at Peronne. Cleaned up there.

George Ryan’s letter home dated 17 Sept 1915

On headed notepaper with regimental crest 9th Middlesex Regt.
Dum-dum.
India.
17 Sept 1915

Dear M & F,

Thanks for your letter of Aug 26 but I’ve had none from May.

I had a ¼ lb of Tobacco from Mr Harvey this week. (Manager of my old office.)

We are having a lot of sport here now as the Platoons are competing for a cup. Football, cricket, hockey & running. I expect you’ll think it funny playing such games as Football & Hockey out here but taking plenty of exercise is the only way of keeping fit. I played in our Platoon’s Hockey team last Sat against No 14 Platoon. (By the way our No is 13!). The result was a draw, we had hard luck in not winning.

Enclosed are 4 photos taken by one of our chaps. One is of the church, another of a native village near here, the 3rd is the Dhobie’s bungalow & pond & the other is the Dhobie “on the job”. No doubt you’ll think it a funny method of washing clothes. He swings the article round & catches it on a piece of wood or stone & as he does so he groans or shouts each time.

When the photos have “gone the round” please put them face to face & put them in one of my books upstairs.

Well we’ve heard nothing about moving & nothing about where we are going.

Hope you are all well.
Love to all from,
Yr loving son
George

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

16 September 1918 Glorious hot sunny day. Slept in hut in Holnon Wood until
about 9 am.
Saw Divl Commander in wood. Went to Bn H.Q. for tea & pow wow. ordered to be in reserve for attack tomorrow.