War Diary of the 2^nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers

March 1915

(Details supplied by RDFA, from copies of originals held by the British PRO)

Note:

Bn = Battalion

Bde = Brigade

Hd Qr = Head Quarters

R War R = 1^st Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Hour, Date	Place	Summary of Events and Information
1^st March 1915	Pt. 63	Relieved R War.R. in trenches at night.
2^nd “	St. Yves	Quiet day, Hd Qrs shelled at 3 pm.
3^rd “	“	No shelling, rather more sniping than usual.
4^th “	“	Six shells at Hd Qrs at 12.20 pm. Usual snping.
5^th “	“	Usual sniping; St. Yves shelled in the afternoon; Relieved by 1/RWarR. In evening & marched to La Creche
6^th, 7^th, 8^th “	La Creche	Bn bathed [?] on 7^th
9^th “	“	Relieved R War R in trenches at night.
10^th “	St. Yves	Our guns shelled enemies trenches at 4.30 pm. Bn co-operated with rifle fire. About six shells were fired near breastwork & reserve trench. About 7 pm heavy firing on our left – enemy put about 6 shells round St. Yves & Hd Qrs in return. No damage. [Reports were called for today for every two hours from 6.30 am to 8.30 pm as well as the morning & evening ones.]
11^th “	“	Usual sniping; Our guns fired from 12 noon; enemy shelled St. Yves from 12.30 to 1.30 pm.
12^th “	“	Less sniping than usual. Reserve trenches heavily shelled.
13^th “	“	Usual sniping; St. Yves shelling; Our own guns shelled “factory” (sheet 28.V.16.C, 0.3) with good affect. [At 7 pm we were informed that the Bde would be relieved on the 14^th by 84^th Bde & that we would march to an unknown destination on the 15^th]. Relived by 1/RWarR & moved to Pt. 63.
14^th “	Pt. 63	At 7 am Bn was ordered to march to Pont. Nieppe at 12 noon. We are to take over the lines held by 18^th Bde at Houplines. 10.30 pm relief cancelled, the Bn might have to move back to pt. 63 during night.
15^th “	Pont. Nieppe	No orders were received during the night to move; 12 noon relief ordered to proceed.
16^th “	“	Relief was permanently cancelled. Bn is to go back to old section.
17^th “	“	[St. Patrick’s Day] Bn moved back to St. Yves & took trenches over from 84^th Bde.
18^th “	St. Yves	Lt. Oulton’s trench heavily shelled at 1 pm, fortunately with little damage. Only 1 man killed, 6 wounded.
19^th “	“	Very quiet day; little sniping; no shelling
20^th “	“	Quiet day, left trenches were lightly shelled during afternoon. Received orders at night that we were to be relieved on the 21^st by Rifle Bde & are to take up a line north of River Douave in conjunction with R War Regt.
21^st “	“	Very quiet day, relieved in evening by Rifle Bde. Moved to La Creche.
22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th “	La Creche	On evening of 24^th CO & Coy Commanders visited the new trenches. The line runs from the River Douave to the Wulverghen – Messines Rd. inclusive. It is dry at present but all the line is constructed on the breastwork principal & the parapets are rather low. The enemies line is above ours. Any movement by day is immediately detected.
25^th “	Steenbeque	Relieved R War R. in evening.
26^th “	“	Very quiet day; little sniping
27^th “	“	Very quiet day; practically no sniping except at dusk & before dawn.
28^th “	“	Four shells near Reserve Company at 6.15 pm.
29^th “	“	Little sniping; 57 shells were fired at Centre Company at 4 pm. Parapets was blown down in several places; Relived by RWR. in evening & moved to pt. 63.
30^th & 31^st “	Pt. 63	-

Diary is signed by “A Loveband, Lt. Colonel, commanding 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1/4/15”

Appendix No. 1 List of Casualties for Month of March 1915 (excerpt)

Date	Officers wounded	Other ranks killed in action	Other ranks wounded in action
21^st	Lieut. H.S J.C Hazledine	8615 Pte. Ormsby	7177 ^oCpl Bell 4852 Pte. Moore

Appendix No. 2 Reinforcements of Officers & Other Ranks During March 1915 (excerpt)

Date on which joined	Officers	Number of Other Ranks
10^th March 20^th Reinforcement	-	50 other ranks
16^th March 21^st Reinforcement	Capt. S. F. T Mannsell	25 other ranks