WAR DIARY
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INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY
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Army Form C.2118

NB!! [insertion by transcriber]

December 1916
Diary Pages:
Dec_16_P1
Dec_16_P2
Dec_16_P3
Dec_16_P4
Dec_16_P(5)

VAUCHELLES- LES- QUESNOY
Dec 1 - 9
Battalion training in VAUCHELLES LES QUESNOY

Camp 12 (BOIS CELESTINS)
[Dec] 10
Battalion marched from VAUCHELLES LES QUESNOY to PONT REMY and then entrained to EDGE HILL (near BUIRE SUR L'ANCRE) where it detrained and marched to Camp 12 (BOIS CELESTINS) near CHIPILLY arriving in Camp at about 7 p.m..

Camp  12 (BOIS CELESTINS)
[Dec] 11 - 25
Battalion in Camp 12. Training carried on and the camp which is in a bad state improved by making paths, drains and horse shelters etc.,

On Dec 13th a draft of 160 O.R reported and were distributed to Companies as shown :-

47 O.R to 'A' Coy ; 53 to 'B' ; 30 to 'C' ; 30 to 'D'.

On Dec 18th Major E.H.St.G.GILBERT was appointed an Area Commandant to the XV Corps (CHIPILLY area).

Christmas day passed very quietly and the men were given cigarettes etc.

Camp 21  [Dec] 26
Battalion marched from Camp 12 to Camp 21 which is between SUZANNE and MARICOURT

Route taken - BRAY - SUZANNE - Camp 21

Camp 21 is also in a bad state and roads in the camp are non-existent.

TRENCHES S. of RANCOURT  [Dec] 27
Left Camp 21 to proceed to the trenches. Personnel carried as far as MAUREPAS in motor lorries and then marched via COMBLES to front line system of trenches S. E. of RANCOURT and opposite the German Line on outskirts of BOIS ST PIERRE VAAST. At 4:30 p.m. guides from the 1st MIDDLESEX whom we relieved were met at LE PRIEZ FARM.

Distribution of Companies

Right front sector - A Coy. Left front - C Coy; Support - D Coy. Reserve B Coy.

Owing to the lack of trenches and appalling condition of the ground the left Coy have