War Diaries Extract
Notes from research by "Spanners" (Graham Taylor)
‘C’ Sqn 1/1 Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomary
At the start of the Great War ‘B’ Sqn struggled for numbers to keep it up to strength so was suspended and it’s members spread amongst the other Sqn’s.
In Sept 1914 ‘A’ Sqn sailed off to the Middle East to serve in Egypt and Palestine and were not to be seen again until 1919.
‘D’ Sqn proceeded to the Western Front in May 1915 as part of 14th Divisional Cavalry.
‘HQ’ Sqn & ‘C’ Sqn followed them over to France in Aug 1915 attached to 23rd Division. Because ‘HQ’ Sqn was present they classed themselves as a Regiment minus two Squadrons.
In Oct 1914 ‘C’ Sqn moved from Lancashire down to Buckhurst Park at Withyham, near Crowborough in Sussex where they were under canvas for the winter.
In March 1915 they moved to billets at Forest Row near East Grinstead.
The following month ‘HQ’ Sqn & ‘C’ Sqn, based at Aldershot found themselves destined for service in the Middle East with 13 Division. However in August they were transferred to 23 Division, also at Aldershot and under orders for France.
Although rather unusually there are plenty of other ranks service numbers and names in the war diary unfortunately there is no mention of Alfred Giddins.
A copy of ‘C’ Sqns War Diary is available for download from the National Archives...Ref WO95/2175/1….price £3.50
The following is a time line of ‘HQ’ Sqn and ‘C’ Sqns whereabouts from the time they left England until they joined up with ‘D’ Sqn at BEAUCOURT in May 1916. The mundane returns of men going on leave and returning and in and out of hospital etc are omitted.
C Sqn DLOY War Diary Aug 1915 – May 1916 23 Div attached to 3 Corps Cavalry
‘HQ & ‘C’ Sqn were based at STEENWERCK, just to the west of ARMIENTIERES close to the Belgian border for the majority of the time. The horses were quartered there and still needed looking after. As it was realised that mounted troops were of little use on the modern battlefield the troops were sent off in batches of fifty at a time to do a tour of the trenches with infantry units. It seems that ‘C’ Sqn were attached to 9 Bn Yorkshire Regt and 69 Infantry Brigade most of the time so a look at their war diaries might be beneficial.
27 Aug 15
Regiment minus two Sqns at BORDON Camp in Hampshire, moved to Southampton and embarked on HM Transports ‘S W MILLER and ‘VIPER’.
28 Aug 15
Disembarked at LE HAVRE.
Entrained for ST. OMER in northern France and upon arrival marched to billets in SERQUES.
6 Sept 15
Marched to LYNDE
7 Sept 15
Marched to MERRIS
15 Sept 15
C Sqn proceeded to billets at STEENWERCK (remained there until 18 Feb 1916)
16 Sept 15
Machine Gun section marched to CROIX DU BAC
18 Sept 15
Machine Gun section proceeded to RUE MARLE under orders of 70 Brigade
19 Sept 15
Machine Gun section relieved 9 Bn York & Lancaster Regt in trenches
4 Oct 15
Machine Gun section returned to STEENWERCK from CROIX DU BAC
17 Oct 15
Two officers to proceed to 68 Div at ERQUINGHAM-LYS for instruction in trench warfare with 11 Bn Northumberland Fusiliers
25 Oct 15
8 men transferred to Mechanical Transport Depot at ROUEN
9 Nov 1915
Draft of 15 men joined from base and were posted to C Sqn
16 Nov 15
Three officers and 64 men with 2 machine guns left to join 69 Infantry Brigade at CHAPPELLE D’ ARMIENTERES then move to billets at RUE MARLE
24 Nov 15
Party from Rue Marle returned to STEENWERCK, I man wounded
6 Dec 15
2 Officers and 50 other ranks attached to 9 Bn Yorkshire Regt of 69 Infantry Brigade at BOIS-GRENIER
10 Dec 15
Party attached to 9 Bn Yorks Regt, occupied trenches
19 Dec 15
Traces of gas reported, light wind from NNE, no serious results reported, cleared by 9.30 am
21 Dec 15
One man wounded by trench mortar shell
31 Dec 15
One oficer and 14 men of the machine gun section proceeded to BOIS - GRENIER to to occupy a post in the front line
17 Jan 16
Draft of 18 men arrived from England
30 Jan 16
I Officer and 9 men proceeded to BOIS-GRENIER to occupy a post in the line.
1 Feb 16
Enemy aeroplanes dropped two bombs on billets at STEENWERCKE
18 Feb 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn marched to billets in the reserve area at LA CUNEWELE
29 March 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn marched to billets at CAMBLAIN CHATELAIN
8 March 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn marched to BAIUS
10 March 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn marched to MAGNICOURT
15 March 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn marched to DIVION
19 March 16
One officer and 6 men moved to HERSIN to take over 3 observation posts in the trenches
24 March 16
One officer and 6 men take over the observation posts from the first part, reliefs to be made every fourth day.
19 April 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn march to VINCLY
20 April 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn march to HESDIGNEUL
22 April 16
Machine Gun section marched to billets at BERNIEULLE
12 May 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn moved to MARESQUEL
13 May 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn moved to BONNIERES
14 MAY 16
HQ, MG section and ‘C’ Sqn moved to BEAUCOURT to join up with ‘D’ Sqn
21 May 16
‘C’ Sqn Surrey Yeomanry arrived with 5 officers, 131 other ranks, 143 horses and 12 mules to complete 3rd Corps Cavalry Regt