November 1, 1916. BEAUVAL. Battalions in billets. Training. Battalion remained there until 8/11/16.
November 8, 1916. DOULLENS. 1:30 PM. Battalion marched to DOULLENS. A, B and C companies billeted in the Citadel in galleries. D company in the town, Headquarters at Hotel De Ville. Battalion remained there until 10/11/16.
November 10, 1916. LUCHEUK. 1:30 PM. Battalion marched to LUCHEUK. Remained there until 12/11/16.
November 11, 1916. LEALVILLERS. 8 AM. Marched to LEALVILLERS. Blankets, packs and great codes collected preparatory to active operation: ordered to be ready to move at short notice: Remained until 14/11/16.
November 14 to 18, 1916. 11 AM. Marched to HEADAUVILLE, arriving about 3 PM. Had dinner and marched again at 6 PM to position of assembly, 1 mile southeast of ENGLEBELMER, arriving about 8 PM. Marched again at 10 PM to take up positions in brigade reserve at STATION ROAD, east of HAMEL. Arrived there about 2 AM. Brigade disposed as follows: 10th York and Lanks holding right of frontline Brigade sector. 8th Lincolns holding left of frontline. 8th Somerset Light Infantry in support just east of Station Road. On arrival in the position, half of each company was in Station Trench and half in the Valley. Battalion remained here until the morning of the 18th furnishing carrying and working parties. Station Trench and the Valley were heavily shelled at intervals and the Battalion had 40 casualties. The weather was bitterly cold, thus bringing hard frost at night and some snow.
November 18, 1916. 8:30 AM. At 8:30 AM a message received from Brigade stating that the II Corps, south of the ANCRE would attack GRANDCOURT at 8:10 AM and that the 37th Division was to be prepared to capture PUSIEUX and RIVER TRENCHES north of ANCRE. The 8th Somerset Light Infantry, supported by the 4th Middlesex, would be prepared to attack these trenches up to the junction with MIRAUMONT ALLEY at 11 AM.
10:20 AM. At 10:20 AM a message was received that the attack would commence at 11 AM. The Battalion immediately left for BEAUCOURT to be in position to support the attack. The going was very bad and the mud in places being knee-deep and the road was being heavily shelled. The Battalion reached the headquarters of the 8th Somerset Light Infantry, about 600 yards east of BEAUCOURT, without casualties at 11:50 AM. Upon arrival there the OC of the 8th Somerset Light Infantry stated that, owing to nonreceipt of the order, his battalion was not yet assembled and he was not in a position to continue the attack. It was decided therefore to inform the Brigade that the 2 battalions would be ready to attack by 1:30 PM and asked for a new barrage: this was done. At the same time 8th Somerset Light Infantry were to send patrols towards the southern end of PUSIEUX TRENCH. These patrols managed to get into the trench followed by one company of the 8th Somerset Light Infantry. C company was sent forward to support them: in doing so Lieut. Underhill was killed and 2nd Lieut. Birch and MacLeod wounded and the company suffered severely. C company was therefore sent to reinforce them: this company also suffered severely and 2nd Lieut. lofts was wounded.
3 PM. About 3 PM orders were received for the 4th Middlesex to relieve the 8th Somerset Light Infantry: the latter therefore withdrew leaving C and D Companies holding PUSIEUX TRENCH between the ANCRE and the MIRAUMONT ROAD. The enemy holding the remainder.
November 19, 1916. This situation continued till the evening of 19 November when the attack on GRANDCOURT, having failed to make progress, it was decided to withdraw from PUSIEUX TRENCH as soon as it was dark, A Company commenced to dig a trench from BOIS D’ HOLLANDE to the ANCRE and when this was nearly completed C and D companies withdrew: they demolished the trench and bought back all the stores and got back without casualty.
November 20 to 25, 1916. 9 PM. On this date the Battalion was relieved by the 8th S. Staffords and withdrew to position in the old 3rd German lines passing through heavy bombardment with only 3 casualties. The Battalion remained there until November 22 providing working parties and caring parties and then moved to the old German frontline. The Battalion remained in this position, still providing working parties, until November 25.
November 26, 1916. 6:30 AM. On 26 November the relief of the division was completed and the Battalion moved to billets at MAILLY MALLET. During these operations the casualties amounted to 2 offices killed and 3 wounded and about 140 other ranks killed and wounded. The weather conditions were however exceptionally trying and the losses due to cold, wet and exposure were heavy.
November 29, 1916. The Battalion moved to huts in MAILLY WOOD.
November 30, 1916. Moved to huts in ACHEUX WOOD.
4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment 