March 1, 1917. 13 BIS. LOOS. Nothing special to report. Enemy quiet except for an occasional trench mortar. Trenches are very bad and, owing to thaw, very much work is entailed to keep communication trenches at all passable. No casualties.
March 2, 1917. Our artillery was active during the day but very little enemy retaliation. Minenwerfers are the chief annoyance. Casualties, one killed. 2nd Lieut. P H Steele joined Battalion on probation.
March 3, 1917. Battalion relieved by 2 battalions of the 6th division. 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry and 1st Battalion The Buffs. Relief completed by 3:30 PM. No casualties. Battalion billeted in MAZINGARBE.
March 4, 1917. MAZINGARBE. Battalion proceeded to march to BETHUNE via NOEUX LE MINES where billeted for one night in tobacco factory.
March 5, 1917. BETHUNE. Marched to BAS RIEUX via CHOCQUES. Arrived billets 1:30 PM. Battalion marched well, about 4 fell out.
March 6, 1917. BAS RIEUX. Marched via LILLERS and ST HILAIRE to LIGNY LES AIRE. Billets 2 P.M, close. 3 fell out online of march but rejoined.
March 7-8, 1917. LIGNY LES AIRE. Battalion resting and generally cleaning up for the 1st day. 2nd day Battalion run organized and carried out with good results. Whether cold.
March 9, 1917. Battalion paraded at 9:30 AM and marched to BETHONVAL and CONTEVILLE, being billeted in both places for one night.
March 10, 1917. BETHONVAL-CONTEVILLE. Battalion marched to via ST POL to HOUVIN – HOUVINAL. This is to be the training area for the forthcoming offensive. Billets for men are good. Offices close billeting.
March 11, 1917. HOUVIN-HOUVINAL inspection of arms equipment etc. Voluntary church service held, training area reconnoitered.
March 12, 1917. Training commenced with a route march for about 12 miles. First-line transport accompanied the Battalion. Lieut. Col. Bicknell, who has been in command of this Battalion for 18 months ordered and proceeded to the senior officer school, Aldershot, as an instructor. Major A G Dawson took over command of the Battalion. Brig. Gen. E R Hill, who has been in command of the 63rd Brigade, of which this Battalion is apart, ordered to proceed to England. His command is to be taken over by Brig. Gen. E L Challonder, DSO. Alterations in the lower commands of the Battalion also took effect from this morning. 2nd Lieut. D C Cutbush, MC, took over command of A company and 2nd Lieut. E G Grogan took over duties of Battalion Lewis Gun Officer.
March 13, 1917. Battalion bathed and work on site for Rifle Range was started in conjunction with the 10th York and Lanks.
March 14, 1917. Training continued. The ground allotted to the Battalion is very limited and therefore training is carried out by companies and for a while, until grounds become available, it will be not possible to practice the Battalion as a whole in our attack formation. Subjects are as follows: physical training, drill, musketry, bombing, bayonet fighting, gas helmet drill, lectures etc. are carried out. Working hours from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2 to 4 P.M. Two route matches per week (1 Battalion and 1 Brigade) and two afternoons of Divisional Training are to be carried out.
March 15, 1917. Brigade route marched about 10 miles.
March 16-17, 1917. Training as usual. Lieut. A C Terrell proceeded on a general course at the Divisional School. Lieut. Slade proceeded on the bombing course.
March 18, 1917. Divine Services were held on the Battalion football field. In the afternoon, the Battalion football team played the 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment at ZEL LES HAMEAU, securing a win by 5 to 1 goals. (This Battalion is commanded by Lieut. Col. T S Wollocombe, who relinquished the adjutancy of this 4th Battalion in September 1915). Lieut. Col. W I Webb-Bowen joined and assumed command of this Battalion.
March 19, 1917. Battalion route marched. Lieut. F W Schoefield rejoined Battalion from employment as divisional camouflage officer and resumed his previous duties as Battalion sniping and intelligence officer.
March 20, 1917. Orders received to be ready to move at 6 hours’ notice. The Commanding Officer visited the ARRAS sector today. 2nd Lieut. R G Williams left Battalion to report for duty as divisional dump officer.
March 21, 1917. Usual training.
March 22, 1917. Battalion marched to Corps training area near DENIER. The weather, sleet and wind, impeded training and the Battalion returned to billets by 2 PM.
March 23, 1917. Battalion training. The Army Commander, Sir Edmund Allenby, presented mental ribbons to the Division on the Battalion football grounds. Capt. H E Heffer was in command of the Guard of Honor of the 63rd Brigade. Regimental G M Sgt. A Andrews received the Meritorious Service Medal and Lance Corporal G Cass received the Military Medal.
March 24, 1917. Training as usual and Battalion bathed.
March 25, 1917. Divine services on football field. Football matches with the 10th York and Lanks and lost 3 – 2. Lieut. L C Thompson proceeded on course at the 3rd Army School.
March 26, 1917. Battalion route marched. Capt. E J Donaldson rejoined from hospital.
March 27, 1917. Usual training. One bombing officer from company attended a demonstration at Divisional School with a new percussion grenade called the Humphreys.
March 28, 1917. Usual training. Nothing special to report.
March 29, 1917. Brigade route marched. Distance 10 miles. Very wet day.
March 30, 1917. Training as usual.
March 31, 1917. Brigade Transport competition, events in classes. One cooker each Battalion, 1 water cart 1 limber, one mess cart and 2 pack mules. Battalion won 1st prizes in the 1st 3 items and 2 seconds in the last named. Most satisfactory turnout.
4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment 