War Diary - 19th Divisional Ammunition Column, R.F.A.

This is an excerpt from the War Diary of the 19th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery for the period September 1916 to January 1917.

19th Divisional Ammunition Column was in billets at HEM when William Baynham was posted to it on 16th December 1916; prior to that it had been on the move for several months. He stayed with 19 DAC for just a couple of weeks before joining 86th Brigade RFA on 29th December 1916.

[ square brackets are mine ]

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1916, September

WESTOUTRE [now WESTOUTER]

7th – The Column moved from billets [at Westoutre, now Westouter] to the District of Lestuhort [ ? ] to billets near Nieppe – B 3 d 6 9; B 3 d 1/2 9; B 8 a 8 8 & B 14 d 3.3 – taking over from the 23rd Division.

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1916, October

NIEPPE

2nd – Column moved to Billets at Schaexken [now Le Schaex].

SCHAIXKEN [now LE SCHAEX]

6th – Column entrained at Bailleul and Godewaersvelde. Proceeded to Somme area, detraining at Doullens & Candas.

7th – Marched to billets at Coigneux.

17th – Column marched to Aveluy.

18th to 31st – Ammunition drawn from various parks to establish dumps of 650 rounds per [18-pounder] gun & 450 per Howitzer, entailing heavy work. Total amount of ammunition handled between these dates 77,000 rounds.

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1916, November

ALBERT

19th – Capt. Stone & party attempted to recover small Belgain field gun from German trench which our infantry had taken. Gun was embedded in cement & after four hours work it was pulled out of the trench and down on to the road, a matter of 150 yds.

20th – Same party went up in the evening and dragged the gun another 100 yds with a train of horses. The Germans however shelled the road today & we lost 10 men, 2 killed & 8 wounded. The gun was left for two nights.

23rd – The adjutant again went up with a party from Capt. Stones Section but nothing could be done. Capt Stones was in hospital from his wound.

24th Capt. Escott & a party from his own Section (No. 2) [went] & drew the gun out & delivered it to RAHQ at 9.30 am the morning of the 25th.

R C Barrington Foote 2/Lt

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1916, December

ALBERT

6th – Column moved back to Hem via Authuile [now Athuille]. Stopped at Authuile [now Athuille] overnight.

AUTHUILE [now ATHUILLE]

7th – Moved at 10am to Hem to rest billets. Column rested for 7 days.

[HEM]

17th – Commenced to make brick horse standings.

R C Barrington Foote Lt,  Adjutant 19th DAC

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1917, January

HEM

1st to 15th – Physical training and construction of permanent horse standings.

15th – Column marched to the Forward Area. Arriving in billets at Authu[ile, now Authuille] & Fameschon [now Famechon].

AUTHU[ILE, now AUTHUILLE]

17th – Commenced construction of Ammunition Dumps at Coigneux & Authu[ile, now Authuille]

21st – Construction and improvement of horse standings.

23rd – Reorganisation of Column. No 1 section reduced in personnel, horses, etc becomes part of Army B.A.C.

R C Barrington Foote Lt Adjt 19 DAC