1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment – November 1914

1st Ypres

(In memory of E Frost, Killed in Action, 14th November 1914, Ypres)

1^st November – Drahoutre (Dranoutre)

Battalion in billets in reserve, One and a half miles south of Drahoutre.

2^nd November –

Battalion in billets in reserve, one and a half miles south of Drahoutre.

3^rd November –

Battalion in billets about one and a half miles south of Drahoutre.

4^th November –

 Battalion in billets in reserve, one and a half miles south of Drahoutre.  Captain J. A. Busfield, Cheshire Regt, took over command of Battalion. Lt T.L. Frost took over duties of Adjutant.  Capt. G.P. Pollock Hodsoll, 3/Suffolk Rgt, attached for duty.

5^th November –

7.15 am, Battalion marched to Ypres and took up position about 4 miles east south east, holding 350 yards of trenches (relieving the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regt.)  These trenches were just south of the 6 th Kilometre stone on the Menin Road

6^th November –

Ypres – Battalion in trenches, heavy artillery fire and some rifle fire.

7^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Very heavy shell fire in the morning, enemy’s infantry attacked at 2.30 pm.  “C” Company sent to reinforce regiment on our left. Enemy repulsed, 25 captured.  Captain Pollock Hodsall & 2^nd Lieut G.R.L Anderson killed.  N.C.O.s & men – 4 killed, 22 wounded, 8 missing.

8^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Shelling commenced later owing to morning mist. No infantry attack. 2 men wounded by our shells falling short.  2/Lieut Hands joined on promotion from Sergeant 1/East Surrey Rgt.

9^th November –

Battalion in trenches – Shelling light.  Night attack expected so a good deal of rifle fire at night.

10^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Enemy shelled heavily in the morning. A certain amount of night firing.

11^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire in morning & evening.  Enemy appeared to be massing in a wood south of our position but our shells scattered them & they were easily repulsed by our rifle fire, with heavy casualties to them.

12^th November –

Battalion in trenches.  Enemy kept up shell fire most of the day, otherwise quiet.

2/Lieut Skeates) transferred to 2/Lieut Dampier) 1/Bedfordshire Regt.

13^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire on our trenches & also supports in dugouts.  Small infantry attack easily repulsed.

14^th November –

Battalion in trenches.  To conform with the division on our right, an order was given to retire from the advance line about 150 yards in rear, this was commenced at midday & completed by 4 pm, when the final line was held.  The enemy were pressing on all the time & consequently our casualties were rather heavy –  2/Lieut H. R. Stables 5/Royal Fusiliers killed, 2/Lieut E.G. Carr wounded & 30 N.C.O.s & men killed, wounded & missing (2/Lieut Stables has no known grave and is commemorated on The Menin Gate.  Here also E Frost lost his life being one of the missing.)  Two German patrols of 15 & 7 men were shot down just outside our trenches.

15th  November –

Battalion in trenches. A quiet day. Some shelling & sniping. Enemy digging into new position. 2/Lieut Downs wounded.

16^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Our guns kept up a heavy shell fire, some sniping.

17^th November –

Battalion in trenches, started with an exceptionally heavy shell fire followed by an infantry attack, which however was easily repulsed.

18^th November –

Battalion in trenches. Heavy shell fire, no infantry attack. Heavy rain.

19^th November-

Battalion in trenches.  A little shell fire and sniping. Started to snow & freeze.  Relieved by the Worcester regiment at 8 pm.