August 1914
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Hour, Date, Place |
Summary of Events and Information |
Remarks |
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18th Aug. '14 |
Brigade moved from COLCHESTER to HARROW ON THE HILL, where the 4th Div. concentrated by 19th Aug. |
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21st |
Brigade entrain at HARROW & proceed to SOUTHAMPTON. Hd Qrs, 1/Som. L.I. 1/E. Lancs, ½ Batt'n 1/Hants embark on BRAEMAR CASTLE & sail to HAVRE. Disembarkation completed by 9 a.m. 23rd. |
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23rd |
Hd Qrs entrain at 10 p.m. for Rest Camp at HAVRE. Rest of Brigade entrained during night and early hours of Aug 24th. |
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24th |
Brigade commenced to detrain at LE CATEAU about 4 pm. Finished about 4 am 25.9.14. Brigade H.Q.rs at BRIASTRE. Somerset L.I. and E. LANCS billeted at BRIASTRE. |
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25th 4 am |
Somerset L.I. and E LANCS advanced to positions respectively S.W. and S.E. of SOLESMES. |
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25th 11 am |
At ll am the Hants & Rifle Brigade arrived at BELLE VUE. The Hants were sent to strengthen the E. Lancs SE of SOLESMES and the Rifle Brigade were sent to the S.W. of SOLESMES, ½ Bn to prolong the line of the S.L.I. to the E., ½ Bn in reserve. Thus covering the retirement of the 7th Brigade which formed the rearguard of the 3rd Division moving S.W through ROMERIES on SOLESMES, and the 19th Brigade retiring through SOLESMES from the N.N.W. |
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25th 11 pm |
At 11 pm the Brigade retired to VIESLY, greatly impeded by transport which was hopelessly blocked in the village of VIESLY, forming a rearguard with the 10th Brigade to the N. After passing VIESLY the 10th Brigade took over rearguard to the 4th Division. The Brigade retired via BETHENCOURT - BEAUVOIS - FONTAINE-AU-PIRE where it arrived at 2.45 am on August 26th & billeted. |
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August 26th 1914. |
Battle of LIGNY After the retirement from LIGNY, the Brigade was split into two portions, the Brigade H.Qrs and a portion of each battalion of the Brigade retired via CAULLERY - ELINCOURT to SERAIN arriving about 8 pm and billeting there. The rest of the Brigade retired through SELVIGNY - MALINCOURT to VILLERS-OUTRÉAUX where they billeted. |
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August 27th 1914 SERAIN 2.30 am NAUROY 8.30 am NAUROY 8.30 pm |
Hq Qrs Wing of Brigade retired at 2.30 am cross country under local guidance skirting the N of BEAUREVOIR in order to escape the congested roads - just N of ESTREES to NAUROY, where the G.O.C. decided to make a 3 hours halt, till 11.30 am, but at 10.45 am it was reported that the Uhlans had been seen in the next village and shell fire was almost immediately observed on the village. The troops retired somewhat disorganised. H Qrs, the E. Lancs and fragments of other battalions to the S.W. across the canal under cover of a long strip of wood to PONTRU - VERMAND - ATTILLY - ETREILLERS - FLUGIÈRES - AUBIGNY to HAM where they arrived about 8.30 pm and took up outposts about ST. SULPICE after a march of about 35 miles. |
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Aug 27th (cont'd) NAUROY |
The other portion of this Wing chiefly the Rifle Brigade, E Lancs and Hants retired W through VILLERET turning S and eventually joining the 4th Division during their night march to VOYENNE: at TERTRY. |
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VILLERS-OUTRÉAUX 3.30 am |
The other Wing of the Brigade left VILLERS-OUTRÉAUX at 3.30 am and marched to LE CATELET where Hd Qrs 4th Division were found. The march was immediately resumed to ROISEL where the Division rested till the evening. Colonel Biddulph with a portion of the Rifle Brigade was at LE CATELET and he assumed command of this portion of the Brigade. From ROISEL a night march was made by the Division to VOYENNE via VRAIGNES - MONCHY, arriving about 5 am 28th Aug. |
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Aug 28th VOYENNE 8am |
The B.G.C. rode over from HAM and assumed command about 8 am, leaving the other wing under the command of Col LE Marchant. The retirement was resumed about 10 am via LIBREMONT where a halt of 2 hours was made, the march being resumed at 8 pm to FRENCICHES where the troops bivouaced along the road till dawn. The wing of Brigade under Lt. Col Le Marchant marched to PONT L'ÉVÈQUE via main road through GUISCARD, and bivouaced there. |
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Aug 29th FRENICHES 3.45 am |
Retirement resumed via MUIRANCOURT, where the 12th Brig was passed, to SERMAIZE where this Wing of the Brigade halted till 6 pm, at this hour the march was resumed to the PONT L'ÉVÉQUE via the western suburbs of NOYON wherein orders were received to continue the march to the village of LES CLOYÉS which was reached about 11 pm. |
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Aug 29th (cont'd) PONT L'ÉVÈQUE |
The Wing under Col LE Marchant moved from PONT L'ÉVÈQUE at 4 pm through a large wood along an indifferent track which caused some delay to the transport, to LES CLOYES where the whole Division was bivouaced, and here the two wings of the Brigade at length became united. |
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Aug 30th LES CLOYES |
Soon after daybreak on Aug 30th this Brigade moved as part of the division via CARLEPONT - BAILLY - TRACY-LE-MONT - TROSLY-BREUIL to PIERREFONDS, this was a particularly trying march. PIERREFONDS was not reached till after dark, bivouacs were difficult of access, and billetting was impossible owing to a reported outbreak of smallpox: consequently the troops spent a wretched night in the streets. |
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Aug 31st PIERREFONDS 6 am |
On this day the march turned westward through the forest of COMPIÈGNE via ST. JEAN-AU-BOIS to ST. SAUVEUR. The Brigade was to have billeted in SAINTIMES and arrangements had been made - but development in the situation caused a change of plans and the Rifle Brigade were ordered to COURCELLES and SOMERSET L.I. to the high ground S of ST SAUVEUR. The HANTS and the E. Lancs found the outpost line to the E of the village. The 1st line transport was ordered to VERBERIE. |