On the 30th, Second Lieutenant Archibald and two Other Ranks again entered the post and reconnoitred the trench, finding quantities of bombs. Later in the day they returned to the enemy’s trench, collected all explosives in a dugout, and blew it up. We were relieved that night by the 1/4th King’s Own, and went back into support. The casualties during the tour were eight Other Ranks wounded.
On the 1st August we found ourselves in the GIVENCHY VILLAGE Lines.
On the 3rd we tried to select a shooting team for the Army competition, but had to give it up owing to hostile shelling. That night we moved back to rest billets at VAUDRICOURT. Boxing, cricket, dances, and Divisional Horse Shows were the chief events of the next few days.
The Battalion relieved the 1/6th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the left GIVENCHY sector on the 9th. All ranks of the Battalion, with the exception of those actually on sentry posts, were employed during the day on wire carrying and making “concertinas” with a view to strengthening the defences, and during this tour the Battalion accomplished a great improvement in the wire defences.
Things were quiet, except for wire-cutting by our artillery, up till the 15th, when we had two hours’ shelling by yellow cross gas shells, projected from trench mortars. We moved back to support in the evening, being relieved by the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. During the tour, Second Lieutenants Archibald, Cowan, and Shell were wounded, and four Other Ranks were wounded and 14 Other Ranks were gassed. The next few days in support were occupied by bathing, working and carrying parties, the casualties being:—Three Other Ranks killed, 18 wounded, and Second Lieutenants Dixon, Dawson, and 61 Other Ranks gassed.
On the 23rd, we moved in to hold the right and left sub-sectors during the capture of the craters by the 1/4th King’s Own and the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, which operation was successfully accomplished.
There was a good deal of shelling during these days, Second Lieutenant Fazackerley, M.C., and one Other Rank being killed, one Other Rank gassed, and Second Lieutenant Pride and 10 Other Ranks wounded. The loss of Second Lieutenant Fazackerley, M.C., was keenly felt by all ranks of the Battalion.
On the 27th we went back to rest billets at VAUDRICOURT.
On the 3rd September we relieved the 1/6th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the GIVENCHY left sub-sector. The craters were heavily shelled between 4 and 6 p.m. with 5.9’s and blue and yellow cross gas. Reconnoitring patrols pushed out at daylight and established posts on the west edge of CHAPPELLE ST. ROCHE. Second Lieutenants Tennant, Kershaw, and Scott, and 21 Other Ranks were gassed, 1 killed, and 1 wounded.