War Diary - 8th Divisional Ammunition Column, R.F.A.
This is an excerpt from the War Diary of the 8th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery for the period September 1915 to July 1916, including entries for the days leading up to and during the Somme Offensive (during which it supplied over 3,000 tons of ammunition to the guns) until 8th D.A.C. was relieved by 12th D.A.C. on 4th July 1916.
In the days before William Baynham was posted to it on 29th September 1915, 8th Divisional Ammunition Column had been based near Sailly and gone through considerable re-organisation; the next day it moved back into its former billets in and around Doullieu. William served with 8 DAC until he was posted to 33rd Brigade RFA on 1st March 1916.
[ square brackets are mine and, as officers’ names are not in upper case in this diary and are often difficult to read, postings have been omitted from this transcription, except where they pertain to 32nd Battery or command of 33rd Brigade ]
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1915, September
Nr SAILLY
30th – The 8th D.A.C. moved into its former billets in and around DOULIEU. Lt. Eaton remains in charge of Park Dump. The 1/3 portion of No. 2 Section 18 Pdr Section rejoined the 2nd Section 8th D. A. C.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1915, October
DOULIEU
17th – The Park Dump of ammunition was abolished and all the ammunition was transferred back to the Railhead.
1st to 31st – In addition to supplying ammunition, the Column furnished numerous fatigues & working parties.
Signed [feint]
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1915, November
DOULIEU
27th – 2/Lt. K. N. W. Gilbert, Special Reserve, joined from Base.
25th to 29th – 8th Division moved back to rest in vicinity of BLARINGHEM. D.A.C. remained at DOULIEU. Bomb Depot to BOIS des HUIT RUES.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1915, December
DOULIEU
4th – 2/Lt. K. N. W. Gilbert attached to 33rd Brigade, effect from 5th inst.
20th – The 8th D.A.C. moved out to join the Division for manoeuvres, and spent the night 20th-21st in billets in MORBECQUE, where Bomb Depot rejoined.
MORBECQUE
21st – 8th D.A.C. moved to billets at WITTES, but owing to that place being full was afterwards ordered to move on to ROQUETOIRE, where they spent night of 21st-22nd. HQ at CHATEAU DE LA MORANDE.
ROQUETOIRE
22nd – Moved back to billets at MORBECQUE for night of 22nd-23rd.
MORBECQUE
23rd – 8th D.A.C moved back to DOULIEU, re-occupying same billets they had left on 20.12.15. Bomb Depot remained at BOIS des HUIT RUES.
DOULIEU
26th – Captain T. H. Davison joined 8th DAC and posted to 33rd Brigade R.F.A.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, January
DOULIEU
7th – No. 1 Section moved from their billet at BLEU to a new billet at F.22.c.9.4 on the road LE VERRIER – BLEU, old billet being required for infantry use during relief.
13th – 8th Division took over from the 20th Division, thus coming into the line again.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, February
DOULIEU
5th – No. 1 Section handed over tipcarts and H. D. horses at Therouanne receiving G. S. Waggons and mules instead. Dump of 75 rds per gun 18 pr & 40 rds per gun 4.5 Howitzer made at respective B.A.C.s
9th – No. 3 Section handed over tipcarts and H. D. horses at Therouanne receiving G. S. Waggons and mules instead
13th – No. 2 Section handed over tipcarts and H. D. horses at Therouanne receiving G. S. Waggons and mules in place.
21st – 2/Lt. R. N. Gilbert posted to 32nd Battery vice 2/Lt. S Simmons.
24th – Wire received “Dump Amtn for thaw”. Accordingly 100 rds per 18 pr and 75 rds per gun 4.5 Howitzer were dumped.
27th – Wire received “Adopt thaw precautions”. Action taken accordingly.
Signed [undecipherable] 29-2-16
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1916, March
DOULIEU
1st – 29th – hand-written text too feint to decipher
30th – No. 3 Section entrained at MERVILLE at 1.20 am and arrived at BELLOY at 6pm 30.3.16. HQ 8 D.A.C. at Schoolhouse in BELLOY. H.Q. 8th Div & R.A. at FRESSELLES.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, April
BELLOY
7th – Billeting party (1 officer & 3 men) started at 9am for BAVELINCOURT. Column started at 12 midday, arriving BAVELINCOURT via VIGNACOURT, FRESSELLES, VILLERS, BOCAGE at 8pm. Billeted in BAVELINCOURT. H.Q. at CHATEAU. H.Q. R.A. at HENENCOURT. Also Bomb Section.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, May
BAVELINCOURT
10th – Orders received that B.A.C.s should be absorbed into D.A.C. & surplus transport & personnel evacuated.
17th – H.Q., No. 1 & No. 3 Sections moved to BAISIEUX taking over transport & personnel of 5th Brigade R.H.A. A.C. & 33rd B.A.C. B Echelon began to form, composed of surplus transport & personnel of B.A.C.s & sections of D.A.C. No. 2 Section remained at BAVELINCOURT, where they were joined by 45th B.A.C.
BAISIEUX
19th – Temporary section formed at BAVELINCOURT under Captain BALFOUR of those men selected for duty with Trench Mortar Batteries.
20th – Lt. H. BOTTOMLEY marched to ABBEVILLE in charge of transport & personnel for evacuation to Base. 18 G. S. wagons, 3 carts, 99 animals, 126 O.R.
23rd – 5 G. S. wagons handed over to 8th Div train
23rd to 24th – 12 G. S. wagons evacuated by train from MERICOURT. New Establishment: H.Q. – 9 vehicles, 29 O.R. 35 horses; No. 1, 2 & 3 Sections – 9 Officers, 108 vehicles, 513 OR, 484 horses, 155 mules; B Echelon – 4 Officers, 51 vehicles, 260 OR, 311 mules, 21 horses. Total Column (excluding attached) – 15 Officers, 168 vehicles, 802 OR, 1,005 horses.
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, June
BAISIEUX
6th – B Echelon moved to position behind HENENCOURT WOOD.
7th – Headquarters & No. 1, 2 & 3 Sections moved to fields south west of MILLENCOURT. Headquarters in the village.
MILLENCOURT
8th – Dump begun of 850 rounds per gun, which with the 150 rounds per gun already collected by emptying D.A.C. A Echelon & adding to existing dumps at the guns. Ammunition refilling point established just outside HENENCOURT on the HENENCOURT – LAVIEVILLE road. 2/Lt. EATON in charge. 35 G. S. wagons sent up the first night with boxed ammunition.
9th – 13th – D.A.C. helped to carry ammunition for Batteries of 45th Brigade & Z, who were at Practice Camp, & had only one section in action.
16th – D.A.C. vehicles were filled up, thus carrying 76 rounds per gun 18-pounders & 48 rounds per gun 4.5 Howitzers.
17th – Dump completed, and Batteries refilled all Echelons.
22nd – Half establishment of gun stores held by D.A.C. distributed to Brigades.
24th & 25th – Ammunition sent up to Brigades as follows:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 240;
45th Brigade: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 240;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,368; AX – 456; BX – 240;
[ ‘A’ round is an 18-pounder shrapnel shell; ‘AX’ round is an 18-pounder high explosive shell; ‘BX’ round is a 4.5-inch Howitzer high explosive shell. ]
26th – Ammunition sent up to Brigades as follows:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 320;
45th Brigade: A – 1,995; AX – 665; BX – 320;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,311; AX – 437; BX – 320;
27th – Ammunition sent up to Brigades as follows:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 160;
45th Brigade: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 160;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,368; AX – 456; BX – 160;
28th – Ammunition supplied to Brigades, by A Echelon:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,840; AX – 796; BX – 384;
45th Brigade: A – 2,840; AX – 796; BX – 384;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,893; AX – 531; BX – 384;
Ammunition supplied to Brigades, by B Echelon:
33rd Brigade: A – 1,684; AX – 564; BX – 256;
45th Brigade: A – 1,684; AX – 564; BX – 256;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,124; AX – 376; BX – 256;
29th – Ammunition supplied to Brigades, by A Echelon:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,700; AX – 900; BX – 720;
45th Brigade: A – 2,700; AX – 900; BX – 720;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,800; AX – 600; BX – 720;
30th – Ammunition supplied to Brigades, by A Echelon:
33rd Brigade: A – 3,078; AX – 1,026; BX – 576;
45th Brigade: A – 3,078; AX – 1,026; BX – 576;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 2,052; AX – 684; BX – 576;
Ammunition supplied to Brigades, by B Echelon:
33rd Brigade: A – 1,647; AX – 549; BX – 424;
45th Brigade: A – 1,647; AX – 549; BX – 424;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,098; AX – 366; BX – 424;
Signed [undecipherable]
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1916, July
MILLENCOURT
1st – Ammunition supplied to Brigades during the offensive:
33rd Brigade: A – 1,026; AX – 342; BX – 0;
45th Brigade: A – 780; AX – 274; BX – 0;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 684; AX – 1,236; BX – 0;
2nd – Ammunition supplied to Brigades during the offensive:
33rd Brigade: A – 5,331; AX – 1,777; BX – 384;
45th Brigade: A – 2,960; AX – 990; BX – 0;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 2,284; AX – 984; BX – 384;
3rd – Ammunition supplied to Brigades during the offensive:
33rd Brigade: A – 2,264; AX – 717; BX – 432;
45th Brigade: A – 2,048; AX – 526; BX – 288;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 412; AX – 500; BX – 1,228;
Infantry of 8th Division marched back to rest being relieved by infantry of 12th & 19th Divisions.
During all these operations we handled over 3,000 tons of 18-pounder & 4.5 Howitzer ammunition, this does not include a vast quantity of trench mortar ammunition and grenades.
[ I reckon that 8 DAC supplied a grand total of 100,919 rounds! By unit, that’s 40,125 to 33 Brigade; 38,286 to 45 Brigade; 22,505 to 5 Brigade. By round type, that’s 63,466 ‘A’ rounds; 21,581 ‘AX’ rounds; 15,872 ‘BX’ rounds ]
4th – 8th D.A.C. moved at 10am to BAVELINCOURT, being relieved by 12th D.A.C.
BAVELINCOURT
5th – 8th D.A.C. moved at 12 midday to CROUY arriving about 9pm.
CROUY
6th to 7th – 8th D.A.C. moved at 12 midnight to SALEUX where they entrenched arriving BRYAS at 2pm, & AUCHEL at 5pm.
7th to 8th – No. 1 Section left LONGUEAU by train at 2.35pm, & arrived at AUCHEL via PERNES at 1am; No. 2 Section left at 8.30pm and arrived via PERNES at 7.30am. No. 3 Section left at 9.30pm & arrived via DEVAL at 11am; half of No. 4 Section left at 10.30pm, & arrived via BRYAS at 10am; the other half of No. 4 Section left at 11.30pm and arrived via PERNES at 10.30am; details of 1, 2 & 3 left at 12.30am and arrived via DEVAL at 10.30am.
AUCHEL
13th – GOC 8th Division inspected the Column, making a very complimentary speech on the work done by the Column in the recent operation, and for the way the two re0rganisations were carried out.
14th – D.A.C. marched at 7.30am to CROIX MARMEUSE, leaving behind at AUCHEL the small guns & grenade sections. This was due to [the] fact that infantry did not march with Division & Artillery but remained in rest.
NOUVEAU MONDE
15th – D.A.C. moved into position at G 27 D on Nouveau Monde – Sailly road, while the Batteries moved up into wire cutting positions in front of LAVENTIE. We were instructed to be ready to receive ammunition by 2pm, but the first supply did not arrive till 2.30am
16th – Dump of 600 rounds per gun 18-pounder & 166 per gun 4.5 Howitzer was authorised. During the day supply of ammunition from Parks was very slow indeed.
Posted to 33rd Brigade R.F.A. on 16th – Lt. J SMITH, 2/Lt. T. A. NICKALLS, 2Lt. H. N. KING, 2/Lt. I. G. BRASSEY
17th – By 6am we managed to complete the dump & refill D.A.C., but only by means of keeping all men & teams hard at work all night. By 6am we had sent up the following ammunition –
45th Brigade RFA: A – 8,100; AX – 2,700; BX – 664;
33rd Brigade RFA: A – 8,100; AX – 2,700; BX – 664;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 5,400; AX – 1,800; BX – 664;
18th – Sent up the following ammunition as to bring Dump at guns up to original strength:
45th Brigade RFA: A – 3,871; AX – 648; BX – 90;
33rd Brigade RFA: A – 2,551; AX – 365; BX – 175;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 1,026; AX – 84; BX – 98;
19th – Attack having been postponed on evening of 18th we sent up to replace expenditure:
45th Brigade RFA: A – 414; AX – 0; BX – 460;
33rd Brigade RFA: A – 748; AX – 12; BX – 257;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 121; AX – 0; BX – 342;
Attack took place at 7pm in the evening, & before that time the Germans had been shelling our batteries heavily, so that during these days we had to send up draughts of 209th to 32nd Battery & 8 to 45th Brigade.
20th – Ammunition sent up:
45th Brigade RFA: A – 792; AX – 264; BX – 0;
33rd Brigade RFA: A – 2,429; AX – 490; BX – 440;
5th Brigade RHA: A – 2,996; AX – 852; BX – 336;
Throughout these 5 days supply of ammunition to D.A.C. was extraordinarily slow. Contradictory orders resulted in a great deficiency in supply, so that we had all our work cut out to keep pace with indents, & could never get up to strength. Ammunition was delivered to us mostly from 61st Division Dump, but also by 8th A.S.P. & 39th A.S.P., who collected it from their own D.A.C. to try and supply us. It came from every source, a few lorry loads at a time & made the supply a very difficult affair. It was remarkable how supply on this occasion differed from that of 3rd Corps 4th Army, which was very well arranged, though a very much more heavy amount.
During this period we had to supply a working party of 75 men to Brigades, of whom 4 were wounded. This made us very short of men for unboxing & loading ammunition.
21st – The batteries returned to us and we recorded [?] during night of 20th & following day 13,756 ‘A’ rounds, 4,407 ‘AX’ rounds & 1,559 ‘BX’ rounds. Most of this ammunition was unboxed, & so we had to work all day very hard to get it re-boxed, as we moved at 7.30pm. On moving we handed over to 61st D.A.C.
The Column moved at 7.30pm arriving at FOSSE ? No.2 D’ANNEZIN at 12.30am.
ANNEZIN
22nd to 23rd – Column moved to VERQUIGNEUL, last section arriving at 7pm. Sections billeted as follows: Nos. 1 & 2 Sections & H.Q. in VERQUIGNEUL, No. 3 Section at BEUVAY, B Echelon at FOUQUIERES [now Fouquières-lès-Béthune]. Horse lines bricked in all places & billets good. Handed over 2,844 ‘A’ rounds, 596 ‘AX’ rounds & 1,163 ‘BX’ rounds to 18th D.A.C., which we relieved. H.Q.R.A. at SAILLY LABOURSE.
24th – Lt. J. S. SMITH RFA posted to 33rd Brigade.
VERQUIGNEUL
26th – Under arrangements made by I Corps establishment of ammunition now as follows:
At guns: A & AX – 252; BX – 174;
Wagon line: A & AX – 102; BX – 88;
D.A.C & A.S.P: A & AX – 0; BX – 0;
Total: A & AX – 354; BX – 262
29th – At 10.30pm S.O.S message received. D.A.C. did not turn out but stood by with wagons full ready to deliver ammunition. It was all over at 1am, very little ammunition being demanded.
Signed [undecipherable]