{"id":350,"date":"2024-04-23T13:27:54","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T13:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davidconnell.com\/?page_id=350"},"modified":"2024-04-30T05:38:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T05:38:16","slug":"13th-battalion-royal-scots-regiment-diary-loos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/?page_id=350","title":{"rendered":"+"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My attempt at transcribing the messy handwriting in the part of the diary related to the Battle of Loos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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24\/9\/15
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25\/9\/15
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10.30 AM
.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.15 AM


4.35 AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Total strength of the Regiment: Officers \u2013 27. Other Ranks 954
Total Strength going into action, exclusive of officers and
details left with transport etc. \u2013 Officers 21. Other Ranks 834.
The Battn. moved off from NEUX LES MINES. At its
assembly position E.S.E. of MAZINGARBE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battn at assembly position. 16 men seriously wounded
whilst marching through MAZINGARBE by some
careless individual dropping a box of Batty Bombs.
Orders received that Infantry assault takes place
at 5:50 am.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\n

25\/9\/15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5.35 AM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.30 AM
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\u201d
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11.30
AM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. PM
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\u201d
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\n

Battn. moved off after 7th R.Scots Fus <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battn disposed as follows: 2 cos (A+B) in touch with
7th Royal Scots Fus in British frontline trenches.
2 cos (C+D) and MG sections in GRENAY-VERMELLES
trenches. (G20 ???)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Artillery has practically stopped firing, guns
evidently being withdrawn. \u2013 our Field Artillery advancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battn ordered to move forward to captured German
trenches at G.20 c.b.o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orders received for the Battn and 11th Argylls to move
forward and take over the defence of LOOS, in order
to release two Battns of the 44th Bd required
on Hill 70.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up till noon the enemy\u2019s Artillery had been very
quiet; but now became very active again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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25\/9\/15
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 PM
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4 PM
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7 PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

The attack has been [??? ??? ? ???]; and no sign so
far of the 11th Corps. A whole Corps could have been
moved up [???] LOOS by now \u2013 whilst the enemy were
withdrawing their guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ??? Battns 44th Bd have already been sent forward
to Hill 70 and more reinforcements still[?] required there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Battn disposed as follows: two Cos (B+C) on Hill 70.
One Coy (A) on LOOS-HULLUCH Road. D Coy and
M.G. Sections in reserve in captured German trenches,
in case they should be required on the left flank,
 as the 1st Div has not got on as well as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation at present is as follows. \u2013 during the
day some of the 15th Divn have reached St. AUGUSTE,
but being unsupported have had to fall back to the
N.W. edge of Hill 70, losing heavily. _ Most of the
Division units all mixed up together are holding a <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n












<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 PM
to
7 AM
26\/9\/15<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

line from the crassier on the S.E. edge of LOOS. \u2013 from
point \u2013 G. 36, D. 13, through H. 31. A. 84 to H. 31 ? ???,
C. Coy (13th R. Scots) on the right of the line ?? ???
with the 47th Divn. \u2013 B Coy (13th R. Scots) on the
extreme left with its flank in the air. \u2013 A. Coy on
the LOOS-HULLUCH RD. \u2013 the 7th R. Scots Fusl and ???
of the Argyle in the centre of the line. \u2013 Some of the
46th Bde beyond Puits 14 Bis. \u2013 The position of the
right of the 1st Divn some distance back, thus making
the left of the 15th Divn very insecure. \u2013the men on
Hill 70 \u2013 exposed to shell fire from both flanks. \u2013
and in need of entrenching tools. \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the night, 1 co. 7th R.S.F. and motor machine
guns ordered to move out and support the left
flank. \u2013 44th Brigade and some of the some of 46th Brigade
returned by 2 Battn ?2nd Bd. (Part of the long<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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26\/9\/15
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\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n





6 AM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 AM
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\n


expected 11th Corps. \u2013 D coy (13th R Scots) and M.G.
section moved into LOOS. \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enemy\u2019s artillery shelled LOOS at intervals during
the night and Hill 70. There was also bomb
encounters between B. Coy and some Germans from the
top of Hill 70. \u2013 B. Coy also came in for some nasty
enfilade fire. \u2013 Capt. Bruce [?] being killed about 6 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orders received for 45th Bde support by 2 Battns 42nd
Bd to assault the Redoubt on Hill 70 at 9:00 am to
consolidate the position when captured, so as to cover
the advance of 21st and 24th Divs on St. Auguste etc.
The assault to be preceded by 30 minutes Artillery
Bombardment. \u2013 note<\/span>: The Redoubt in question had
been captured by the 15th Divn the previous day but
through non-arrival of the 11th Corps ??? had to
be abandoned. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\n

26\/9\/15
(cont’d)
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\u201d
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\n









<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8.30
AM

9 AM
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n


The plan of attack for Brigade was \u2013 13th R. Scots: on the left,
with right on the sunken road leading to LOOS. \u2013 11th ATS High
in the centre and 7th R.S.F. on the right. \u2013 as the lines
formed for the assault [???] they [???] advance in lines of 2 platoons
order of Cos. A,B,C,D, [???] D Coy to bring up entrenching tools
and consolidate the position. \u2013 The time at our disposal for
issuing orders and forming any [???] detailed schemes
of attack was much too short. \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enemy\u2019s artillery started shelling LOOS and part of Hill
70 at 8 a.m. \u2013 at 8:30 a.m. our own guns so effectually
shelled B. Coy that they were unable to get into position, and
any attack by this Coy was out or the question. \u2013 A. Coy
were unable to advance owing to the guns not having
[??? ???] to the German wire in front, which at this
[???] was particularly strong. \u2013 Majr Macpherson and
Captain Robertson were killed immediately they <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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26\/9\/15
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\u201d
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\n


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10.30
AM
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\n


got out onto the parapet in front of C. Coy, and this whole assault
fizzled out. It was not likely that guns, which had not
registered, would accomplish in 1\/2 hour, what 4 days
bombardment and 40 minutes gas were considered necessary
for on the 25th [???]. \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While above events were taking place on the left 2 of our
machine guns were sent to support some troops of another
Division on the right area G 31, [??], who were rather
shaken, but rallied again. \u2013and eventually D. Coy
was also sent over to the right. \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after 10:30 AM some troops to the East of Puits 14,
near Bois Hugo broke; this enabled the enemy to
enfilade the left of our line. \u2013 Captain ??? at
once lead platoon forward to make good the part
vacated but was shot dead, a large number of men
falling at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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26\/9\/15
(cont’d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n



11 AM








<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 PM

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n



About 11 am [???] became [???] further complicated by the
21st Div advancing to the attack. They crossed the LOOS-HULLUCH
RD and established a firing line from which they proceeded to [???]
from a heavy fire into the left of the 45th Bde on Hill 70,
causing many casualties. However, by establishing some machine
guns near Puits 14, the enemy came to the assistance of the 45th
Bde by enfilading the 21 Divn, causing the latter to [???]. As
this same time an advance by the enemy against the SE of
LOOS along the Eastern edge of the crassier of Puits 15 was stopped
by the 2 machine guns of the 13th R. Scots and a Regt of the 62nd Bde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the left flank had been driven back and the Brigade was
enfiladed from both sides, it was moved to ???, the 3rd Cavalry
Division coming up to hold LOOS and relieving the 45th Bde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D. Coy remained in LOOS in support of the cavalry until about
11 PM and some of A Coy under 2Lt Linton returned to this
abandoned position on Hill 70, remaining there until midnight.\u2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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26\/9\/15
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\u201d
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27\/9\/15
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28\/9\/15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29\/9\/15<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n



<\/p>\n\n\n\n








<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n


where they joined the Battn which with the rest of the
4th Brigade has been ordered to assemble and bivouac in the
GRENAY-VERMELLES trench line [???] G.20. [???]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our casualties during the operation of the 25th + 26th were
Killed Wounded Missing Wounded+Missing Total
Officers 6 9 0 1 16
Other Ranks 40 223 *46 0 309
325
*Mostly killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battn marched to another bivouac at the S.W. corner
of MAZINGARBE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battn marched to and bivouacked at HALLICOURT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Same bivouac. Draft of 68 arrived.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My attempt at transcribing the messy handwriting in the part of the diary related to the Battle of Loos. 24\/9\/15\u201d\u201d\u201d. 25\/9\/15\u201d\u201d\u201d\u201d 10.30 AM. 1.15 AM 4.35 AM Total strength of the Regiment: Officers \u2013 27. Other Ranks 954Total Strength going into action, exclusive of officers anddetails left with transport etc. \u2013 Officers 21. Other Ranks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3j2K1-5E","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=350"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":417,"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/350\/revisions\/417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidconnell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}