| Regiment | 1st Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Lozinghem |
| Entry | (13th - 30th) The Battn remained at LOZINGHEM throughout the month. The mornings were given up to training, the hours of work being 7a.m. to 7.30a.m. and 9a.m. to 12.30p.m. In the afternoons inter - platoon and inter - company football was played. The work in the mornings included a large amount of Musketry. Battn Ranges were made, and in addition two other ranges, one near BURBURE and one near ALLOUAGNE were allotted to the Battns in turn. A Div Musketry Comp was held on the 26th preceded by a Bde Comp. This Battn obtained 39 places in the best two shots of the Bde and this Battn team of 11 won both the Bde and Div "Falling Tiles" Competition. The mornings work included also Physical Training, Bayonet Fighting, Drilll and Handling of Arms, Ceremonial, Dummy Bomb Throwing, - (the Bombing officer held classes of rifle grenadiers and gave instruction in the firing of the No 23 Rifle Grenade, and the Newton Pippin No 22). Particular attention was paid to instruction in Bombing, more especially in firing Rifle Grenades owing to the importance assigned to this on the front held by the 1st Corps. In view of operations on that front Street Fighting was practised at two rows of ruined houses upon the LIERES - AUCHY AU BOIS Rd, three mornings were devoted to this training. Other attacks of a more open nature were continually practised upon the Bde Training Area N of LOZINGHEM and in particular the reduction of strong points by platoons with the special object of demonstrating to the men the co-operation of a platoons weapons and the importance of covering fire. The training of Signallers and Scouts was carried on independently and a Lewis Gun Class was held throughout this period. The afternoons and evenings were largely devoted to organized recreation, inter platoon and inter company football matches and practising for the 106th Field Coy, RE Sports and Div Sports which took place on the 22nd and 26th respectively. In the latter the Battn won the following places:- 1st Place Pillow Fighting 2nd Place Officers Relay Race Relay Obstacle Race Mess Cart turnout 3rd Place Driving Competition. In the Div Tug of War Comp the Battn after defeating the 8th S Lancs Regt, the Div R E and the 13th Cheshire Regt, was defeated in the semi-final by the RAMC Reinforcements joined the Battn on dates as follows:- 9th QM and Hon Lieut G Ellison, Rev Capt J S Barstow, and 3 other ranks. 15th 4 other ranks. 16th One man. 17th Three men. 19th Capt G B Russell DSO rejoined, was wounded on May 31st. 20th One man. 23rd Three men. 25th 11 men. 26th Three officers, 2nd Lieuts E T Burry, J G King and G T Morley 27th 4 men. The following promotion was approved on the 22nd:- 2nd Lieut J Reader to be Acting Capt. The strength of the Battn at the conclusion of the month was:- Total Strength, 42 officers, 911 other ranks. Actually with Battn, 29 officers, 714 other ranks. Detached from Battn, 13 officers, 197 other men. |
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