WAR DIARY OF C SQUADRON, NORTH IRISH HORSE[1]
1 JULY 1915 TO 30 JUNE 1916
The following Unit War Diary is that of C Squadron, from October 1915 until it became part of the 2nd Regiment North Irish Horse. The Diary of this Squadron from 22 August 1914 to 30 June 1915 has not been located. No Diary was kept for July, August or September 1915.
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division July, August & September 1915 |
|
|
|
To: Adjutant General’s Office, Base From: Officer Commanding C Squadron, [North] Irish Horse Reference attached Regret in error no diaries were kept for July, August and September. Divisional Mounted Troop III Division, 1.12.15 John Grant, Captain, Command Squadron. |
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division October 1915 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
2 |
Sanctuary Wood. 4.30pm. A party consisting of forty NCOs and men under the command of Lieutenant J Grant was furnished for the purpose of constructing defence works. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
6 |
Sanctuary Wood. 4.30pm. A party consisting of forty NCOs and men under the command of Captain R.D Ross was furnished for the purpose of relieving working party under Lieutenant J Grant. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
11 |
Sanctuary Wood. 4.15pm. A party consisting of forty NCOs and men under the command of Lieutenant J Grant was furnished for the purpose of relieving working party under Captain R.D Ross. |
|
12 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
16 |
Sanctuary Wood. 4.15pm. A party consisting of forty NCOs and men under the command of Captain R.D Ross was furnished for the purpose of relieving working party under Lieutenant J Grant. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
21 |
Centuary [sic] Wood. 8.45pm. In course of the period in which party was in Sanctuary Wood, wire was put in front of the following trenches: Nottingham Road, Robb Street, Dawson Street, End of B.3, Boden Street, Junction (Rdr?) Sap, B.4.R, B.3.S, B.2.S, A.12.R, Warington Avenue. Working party getting relieved paraded at 5.30pm and returned to billets at 8.45pm. Two casualties. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. 5.30pm. The Squadron paraded at 5.30 and proceeded to billets J.16.C.9.9 in the commune of Winnezeele Map 27. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. 2pm. The Squadron paraded and marched to new billets J.23.D.8.4, J.23.D.9.7, J.23.C.1.9 Map 27 in commune of Winnezeele. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
30 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
31 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division November 1915 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. 1pm. The Squadron paraded at 1pm and marched to new billets at Hartiford, I.30.B Map 27. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
12 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
16 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. 10.45am. The Squadron paraded at 10.45am to be inspected with 8th Brigade by the General Officer Commanding II Army. In the evening (?) Troop and Transport moved to new billets I.30.D.9.6 owing to outbreak of foot and mouth disease. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
21 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. 10am. The Squadron paraded at 10am and marched to new billets at Boeschepe R.10.A.3.7. One NCO and twelve men paraded at 8am and reported to Camp Commandant 5th Corps Abeele to act as frontier zone police. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. 8am. Three NCOs and nine men paraded at 8.45am to report to Assistant Provost Marshall 3 Division for road control. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. 12 noon. Three NCOs and nine men reported today at 12 noon, having finished their duties of road control. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. 7.30am. A party of one NCO [and] twenty men paraded 7.30 and proceeded to Godewaersvelde (Station?) to load timber for 3rd Division and returned same day. |
|
30 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division December 1915 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
12 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. 7.30am. One NCO and ten men proceeded to Hazebroucke to load brick for Division. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. 7.30am. One NCO and ten men proceeded to Hazebroucke to load brick for Division. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. 7.30am. One NCO and ten men proceeded to Hazebroucke to load brick for Division. Also Squadron horses were malleined on this date. |
|
16 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. 6.45am. The Squadron stood by ready to move on orders given by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division owing to gas attack on our front. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. 12 noon. A party of fifty NCOs and men under command of Major Waring[2] paraded at 12 noon and proceeded to 76 Brigade Headquarters. This party wired in front of fire trench B.29 at the crater north of the canal bank S.33.D.8.4 sheet 28. |
|
21 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
30 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
31 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
[2] Major Holt Waring (later Lieutenant Colonel in Royal Irish Rifles), arrived in France on 1 May 1915 with D Squadron North Irish Horse before taking command of C Squadron on the 19th of that month. He died of wounds on 15 April 1918, aged 41. Husband of Margaret Waring, of Waringstown, County Down, Ireland, he is buried at Wulvergehm-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery.
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division January 1916 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. 1.30pm. A party of two officers and sixty men paraded at 1.30pm for defence work on the Bluff I.34.C.7.7. One casualty, Private Rooney[3] severely wounded. (Map 28.) |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
12 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
16 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
21 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
30 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
31 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
[3] Private William Rooney, No.831 North Irish Horse.
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division February 1916 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Squadron paraded at 8am and marched to billets at Aneke, remaining there for the night. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Squadron paraded at 9.15am and proceeded to new billets at St Martin in Division rest area. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Squadron paraded at 8.30am for the purpose of flagging boundary line of Divisional training area, in Divisional rest area. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. Flagging of training area was completed by Squadron. |
|
12 |
3rd Division. Routine duties as usual. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
16 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
21 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. Squadron training. |
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops, 3rd Division March 1916 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. At St Martin R.33a 8.7 (Map 27A). Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. At St Martin. Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. At St Martin. Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. At St Martin. Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. At St Martin. Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. At St Martin. Routine duties and Squadron training. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. 1pm. At Bayenghem. The Squadron marched to new billets at Bayenghem – K31a (Map 27A). |
|
8 |
3rd Division. At Bayenghem. Routine duties. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. At Bayenghem. Routine duties. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. At Bayenghem. One NCO and twelve men proceeded to Assistant Provost Marshall V Corps for frontier control post duty. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. 8.30am. At Bayenghem. The Squadron marched from Bayinghem to new billets at Hartiford I.30b (Map 27). |
|
12 |
3rd Division. 9am. At Hartiford. The Squadron marched to new billets at Boeschepe. |
|
13 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. R.10a 2.5 (Map 27). Routine duties. |
|
14 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
15 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
16 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
17 |
3rd Division. 4.30pm. At Boeschepe. A party of 75 NCOs and men under the command of Major Holt Waring proceeded to Voormezeele (H.36.O Map 28) to dig cable trenches for 76 Brigade 3rd Division. The party returned at 3.30am. |
|
18 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
19 |
3rd Division. 3.45pm. At Boeschepe. A party of forty NCOs and men under the command of Captain J Grant proceeded to 76th Brigade Headquarters (I.20c 6.2 Map 28) as a working party, returning at 3am. |
|
20 |
3rd Division. 5.30pm. At Boeschepe. A party of forty NCOs and men under the command of Major Waring proceeded to Voormezeele as a working party, returning at 4am. |
|
21 |
3rd Division. 5.15pm. At Boeschepe. Forty NCOs and men proceeded to Voormezeele under the command of Captain R.A.B Henry[4], as a working party, returning at 4.30am. |
|
22 |
3rd Division. 5.30pm. Forty NCOs and men under the command of Captain J Grant proceeded to Voormezeele as a working party, returning at 3.45am. |
|
23 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
24 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
25 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Routine duties. |
|
26 |
3rd Division. 9pm. At Boeschepe. Nos 1, 2, 3 Troops under the command of Major Waring proceeded to Dickebusche[5] (H.33.B Map 28) for the purpose of escort to prisoners. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. At Boeschepe. Nos 1, 2, 3 Troops under the command of Major Waring proceeded to Dickebusche for the purpose of escort to prisoners. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. This party was retained to clear communication trenches and battlefield: - The Mound - O B.C.10.9 Map 28. |
|
29 |
3rd Division. The party still at Dickebusche for the purpose of clearing battlefield O.b.C 10.9 Map 28. |
|
30 |
3rd Division. The party still at Dickebusche for the purpose of clearing battlefield. |
|
31 |
3rd Division. The party still at Dickebusche for the purpose of clearing battlefield. |
[4] Captain Richard Alexander Baitlee Henry, North Irish Horse. The records also show a NIH Captain Richard Alexander Baillie Filgate (arrived France 16 July 1915).
[5] Dikkebus.
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops 3rd Division, and 2nd Cavalry Division April 1916 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. The Squadron marched to new billets at Hartiford, I.30b Sheet 27. |
|
11 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
12 |
2nd Cavalry Division. The Squadron marched to new billets at Alquines for the purpose of training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
13 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
14 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
15 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
16 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
17 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
18 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
19 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
20 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
21 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
22 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
23 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
24 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
25 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
26 |
2nd Cavalry Division. Training with 2nd Cavalry Division. |
|
27 |
3rd Division. The Squadron marched to billets at Hartiford. |
|
28 |
3rd Division. The Squadron marched to new billets at Westoutre (M 14 Central sheet 28). |
|
29 |
3rd Division. One sergeant and twelve men took over observation duties at Kemmel (N.21 Central) from Yorkshire Hussars. No.4 Troop (Captain Uprichard)[6] proceeded to 24 Division Headquarters at Bailleul S.14 (Sheet 28) to relieve Division mounted troops. |
|
30 |
Routine duties. |
[6] Captain Forster Green Uprichard, arrived France 3 October 1915 (as Lieutenant, North Irish Horse).
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops 3rd & 49th Divisions May 1916 |
|
|
1 |
3rd Division. Westoutre. Captain R.A.B Henry and eighteen Other Ranks attached to V Corps Headquarters for duty. |
|
2 |
3rd Division. Westoutre. Lieutenant T.H.M Leader[7] and working party proceeded to Kemmel for the purpose of constructing defence works. |
|
3 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
4 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
5 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
6 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
7 |
3rd Division. Routine duties. |
|
8 |
3rd Division. The Squadron marched out from Westoutre at 6am and halted for the night at Busnes. |
|
9 |
3rd Division. Marched out from Busnes at 6am and rested for the night at Herlin-le-Sec. |
|
10 |
3rd Division. Left Herlin-le-Sec at 6am and marched to new billets at Val-de-Maison. Attached to 49th (West Riding) Division. |
|
11-17 |
49th Division. The Squadron to form part of X Corps Cavalry Regiment. Routine duties at Val-de-Maison. |
|
18 |
49th Division. Captain F.G Uprichard, Lieutenant T.H.M Leader and fifteen NCOs and men attached to 153rd and 143rd Brigades Royal Field Artillery for a tour of the observation posts of 36th Division artillery front. |
|
19 |
49th Division. Routine duties. |
|
20 |
49th Division. Captain J Grant and a working party proceeded to Martinsart for duty in connection with 36th (Ulster) Division. |
|
21 |
49th Division. Captain R.A.B Henry and party of NCOs and men relieved Captain F.G Uprichard and party at 36th Division observation posts. |
|
22-24 |
49th Division. Routine duty. Captain Henry and party returned to camp from observation (..?..). |
|
25-26 |
49th Division. Routine duties. |
|
27 |
49th Division. Captain F.S Uprichard and 25 NCOs and men relieved Captain J Grant and party at Martinsart. |
|
28-31 |
49th Division. Routine duties. |
[7] Lieutenant Thomas Henry Mowbrey Leader, arrived France 18 November 1915, later Captain, Tank Battalion.
|
C Squadron North Irish Horse Divisional Mounted Troops 36th Division, and 2nd Regiment North Irish Horse X Corps Cavalry June 1916 |
|
|
1 |
The Squadron marched out from Val-de-Maison (M 36a Sheet 57D) at 6am and proceeded to Hedauville (P 34d Sheet 57D) for duty with 36th (Ulster) Division. Billeted at Hedauville Wood. |
|
2 |
Routine duties. |
|
3 |
Routine duties. Captain F.G Uprichard and party of 25 NCOs and men returned from working duties at Martinsart (W 3a Sheet 57D). |
|
4 |
Routine duties at Hedauville. |
|
5 |
Routine duties at Hedauville. |
|
6 |
Routine duties at Hedauville. |
|
7 |
Routine duties at Hedauville. |
|
8 |
Routine duties at Hedauville. |
|
9 |
The Squadron took part in 36th Division manoeuvres. |
|
10 |
Routine duties. The Squadron found a number of working parties for 36th Division, in connection with defence works and burying cables. |
|
11 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
16 |
Marched to billets in Forceville (P 21 Central sheet 57D). |
|
17 |
Routine duties and working parties. |
|
18 |
Routine duties and working parties. |
|
19 |
Routine duties and working parties. |
|
20 |
Routine duties and working parties. |
|
21[8] |
Marched to Regimental Headquarters at Toutencourt and were there joined by 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (Service Squadron) and B Squadron North Irish Horse – units of X Corps Cavalry Regiment. |
|
22 |
Routine duties. |
|
23 |
Routine duties. |
|
24 |
Routine duties. |
|
25 |
Routine duties. |
|
26 |
Routine duties. |
|
27 |
Routine duties. |
|
28 |
Routine duties. |
|
29 |
Routine duties. |
|
30 |
Routine duties. |