War Diary Entry: 28th May 1916

The 87^th Bde relieved the 88^th Bde in the right sector. The 88^th took over the left sector from the 86^th and the 86^th went back into reserve. The KOSBs are still isolated in Mailly Wood and were not allowed to move up into Englebelmer. So the Border Regt took over from both reserve battns of the 88^th. The SWBs took over the left of the firing line, the Inniskillings the right. Briand went over to the 92^nd Bde for 10 days, changing over with their Bde Major  Fisher who came to us. Pringle went off to be attached to the 88^th Bde. Perse from one of the battns in the 86^th arrived to be attached to us. Practically the whole relief was carried out by daylight and went off without incident.

War Dairy Entry: 27th May 1916

Rode up to Englebelmer in the morning to see Cayley about taking over the trenches tomorrow. Went to see the KOSBs in Mailly Wood on the way back, then to the SWBs in Acheux Wood, then on to the breaking up show of the divn school at Acheux Chateau, and back here to lunch. Pierce and Brand got back off leave today. Pierce having just lost his wife & looking very old & cut up.

Letter to Mother: 27th May 1916

My dear mother

I don’t know why you missed a letter from me as I have written regularly, every Sunday as a rule lately. I have spent most of the week amusing myself. Last Monday we a very successful concert attended by 7-800 men in our grounds, with supper afterwards for about 30 of the elect. On Thursday I borrowed a car for the day and took two fellows into town (about 20 miles away) for the day. I suddenly ran across Black (the doctor at Kassala) with another old Egyptian friend there. On Thursday I went over in a car some distance to see a trench mortar demonstration, but just before the show started there was an unfortunate accident so the show as off. Yesterday I went about 35 miles to ses another trench mortar demonstration, through very pretty country, this time it was much more successful. Jack Brand returned today a married man.

I am badly in need of books. Tell Dorothy to get hold of some good novels and send them along; she need not confine herself to 7d. 

We have got a lot of most perfect pink, rode and red peonies in this garden of all shades that would make your mouth water; they are about the only flowers here, as the garden hasn’t been touched since the start of the war.

Your loving son,

Cuthbert

War Diary Entry: 26th May 1916

Went over with De Lisle and Grant to the GHQ Trench mortar school at Hesdin about 33 miles off. The last part of the road quite English and pretty. Hunter Weston & Maj Gen Fielden there, also Haywood and Anstey, the latter having just arrived from Egypt. They gave a very good tactical demonstration of the Stokes mortar, bombarding trenches cutting wire and then moving forward with the attack.

War Diary Entry: 25th May 1916

COs conference here at 11.30am. Welch and Ellis stopped to lunch. After lunch we all three motored over to the Army Trench Mortar school at Valereux as they were having a big demonstration with the Stokes mortar at 3pm. About 2.25pm when we were ¾ of a mile away we saw 2 very big explosions at about 2 second interval followed by a lot of stokes bombs going off in the air. We thought they were merely ranging with the heavy Stokes mortars for the show. On arrival we learned there had been an accident and the show was off. One Stokes bomb in a big pile had gone off by accident putting the whole lot up. One man was killed and there were between 10 & 15 officers and men lying about being bandaged up, and several others torn and scratched. Pitt-Taylor and another fellow on the Army staff were a good deal torn and bleeding but walking about quite cheerfully. Arnan (OC TM School) had a bit in his cheek. The show was cancelled and everyone returned home. It was lucky it did not happen an hour later when there would have been the best part of 1000 officers and men standing round including all the staffs in this area.

Headlam, Burnett-Steward, McMullen, Clarke Blandy and Lewis from our 4^th Bn; and several others were there. Hardness Lloyd, Morgan, Ellis & Heider dined.

War Diary Entry: 24th May 1916

Several heavy showers. Motored into Divn Hd Qrs just before lunch about a court martial on an officer for drunkenness. Dent and Lindsay left for home for an investiture.

War Diary Entry: 23rd May 1916

Borrowed a car from the Divn, and started off at 9am with Handress Lloyd and Cookson (who has just returned from being attached to the divn staff) for Amiens. We called in at Naouns on the way to see if Headlam would come with us, but he was too busy.

In Amiens we inspected the result of the bombs dropped there 3 nights ago, there were only about 3, no damage done except 1 woman killed and some broken glass. We then went and looked over the camouflage; there was very little to see there this time as most of their imitation trees, guns, etc had recently been sent up to the front. While we were there in walked Bobbie Black ( the doctor at Kassala)and also Gordon, both from the Sudan.

Lunched at the Café Godbert. Bought some cherries and potatoes( strawberries all sold out). Motored back in time for the Divn conference at Acheux at 4pm. Afterwards I rode round through Acheux Wood to see the SWB.

War Diary Entry: 22nd May 1916

Attended lecture and demonstration by RE on revetting and trench drainage at 9.40am to the Borders and Inniskillings. Afterwards rode over to Mailly Wood to see the KOSBs who are now isolated because of some cases of fever. After lunch we had another demonstration here with a banglaore torpedo and the consolidation of a captured trench. At 8pm we had a concert for the men, assisted by the divn band in our grounds, which was quite a good show. About 20 officers came into supper afterwards. There was thunder about all the afternoon and a few drops of rain. 

Pollard went home invalided yesterday morning and Ellis, who has just returned from command of divn school took over command of the Borders. Handress Lloyd returned from leave yesterday and took over command of the Inniskillings till Pierce returns; he is to be permanently appointed 2^nd in command. Welch turned up last Thursday, stayed the night with us and took over command of the KOSBs in Mailly Wood on Friday. Kelly then went home on 4 days  leave and on return is to command the 1^st Essex, this relieves Micklejohn (Borders) who has recently been commanding that battn; he rejoined the Borders on Sunday as 2^nd in command, and went off home on 8 days leave.