WAR DIARY 3 DIVISION 9 INFANTRY BRIGADE - CONTENTS

WO 95/1429

3 DIVISION, 9 INFANTRY BRIGADE: 10 Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment 1914 Nov. - 1915 Dec./ 13 Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment 1916 Apr. - 1919 Mar./ 1 Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment 1914 Aug.

this is a list of what's in the file, I will add transcripts when I get time or when they are requested - make requests in the comments box or email me thewarmemorial@gmail.com

3^rd division War Diaries 10^th Scottish Battn The King’s Liverpool regt November and December 1914

• November 1914 (Disembarked Havre 3^rd November 1914)  - 4 pages HW
• December 1914 -  3 pages HW

3^rd Division 9^th Infantry Brigade 10^th King’s Liverpool Regiment 1^st January to 31^st December 1915 (to 55 DIV 166 BDE)

• January 1915 -  3 pages HW
• February  1915- 3 pages HW
• March 1915– 2 pages HW
• April 1915– 4 pages HW
• May 1915– 5 pages HW
• June 1915– 6 pages HW
• Letter to Brigadier-General (Sir) J.E.Edmonds dated 1929 regarding casualty figures for a book about the Liverpool Scottish.
• July 1915 – 2 pages
• August 1915 – 2 pages
• September 1915 – 2 pages
• October 1915 – 2 pages
• November 1915 – 2 pages
• December 1915 -  3 pages

13^th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment Apl – Dec 1916 (from 8 BDE 3 DIV)

• (Battalion came from 8^th Brigade 4^th April 1916) APRIL 1916 – 1 page HW
• May 1916 – 1 page HW
• June 1916 -1 page HW
• July 1916 – 2 pages HW (note: for reports by O.C. 13/King’s (Liverpool Regiment) on operations of 13/14^th July and 23/24^th July, see War Diary of Headquarters, 9^th Infantry Brigade for July 1916)
• August 1916 – 2 pages HW
• Report on the operations between the 15^th + 20^th August 1916 in which the 13^th King’s (Liverpool) Rgt were engaged – 6 pages HW
• September 1916 - 1 page HW
• October 1916 - 1 page HW
• November 1916 -  4 pages HW
• December 1916 - 4 pages HW

3^rd Division War Diaries 13^th King’s Liverpool Regiment January to 31^st December 1917

• January 1917 -   3 pages typed
• February 1917 - 3 pages typed
• March 1917- 3 pages typed
• April 1917- 4  pages typed
• May 1917- 3 pages typed
• June 1917- 3 pages typed
• July 1917- 7 pages typed
• August 1917- 4  pages typed
• September 1917- 4  pages typed
• October 1917 - 3 pages typed (1^st-10^th illegible)
• November 1917- 3 pages typed
• December 1917- 4 pages typed

3^RD DIVISION 9^TH INFY BDE 13^TH (S) BATTALION KING’S (LIVERPOOL) REGIMENT 1918 JANUARY TO 1919 MAR (to 3 northern bde  div)

• January 1918 - 3 pages typed
• February 1918- 4 pages typed
• File No G12 Minor Operations 16/02/1918 Enemy raid 4 pages typed
• Map of trenches
• March 1918 - 7 pages typed
• April 1918- 5 pages typed
• Situation previous to the operations commencing 10^th April 1918 (1 page HW)
• Account of the part taken by 13thBn the King’s Regiment in the operations from 10^th to 20^th April. – 6 pages HW
• Report on minor operation undertaken by No 10 platoon of ‘C’Coy on afternoon of 11 April 1918 – 3 pages HW
• report of action taken by PEK in the operations from Apl 10^th to Apl 20^th – 2 pages HW
• May 1918 - 4 pages typed
• June 1918- 3 pages typed
• July 1918- 2 pages typed
• August 1918 - 5 pages typed

End of first file

Start of second file

• September 1918- 4 pages typed
• October 1918 – 2 pages typed
• Report on operations 13^th Bn The King’s  8^th Oct 1918 – 3 pages typed
• Report on operations 23^rd October 1918 – 4 pages typed
• November 1918 – 2 pages typed
• December 1918 – 2 pages typed
• February 1919 – 1 page typed
• March 1919 – 2 pages typed

3^rd division war diaries 1^st Battn Lincolnshire Regt August to December 1914

• (disembarked Havre 14/8/14) 1^st Battalion Lincolnshire Regt August 1914 -6 pages HW
• 1^st Lincs 9/3 notes referencing sketch map (?) 4 pages HW (dated 11/2/18?)
• September 1914 (continues until 2.10.14)  - 9 pages HW
• October 1914 – 10 pages HW
• November 1914 - 10 pages HW
• December 1914 – 12 pages HW

3^rd Division 9^th Infantry Brigade 1^st Lincolnshires From 1^st January to 30^th June 1915

• January 1915 – 5 pages HW
• February 1915 – 10 pages HW
• March 1915 – 9 pages HW
• April 1915 – 15 pages HW
• May 1915 – 14 pages HW
• June 1915 -  20 pages HW
• June 1915 summary -1 page HW
• 1^st Bn Lincolnshire Regt Operation Orders by Major H.E.R. Boxer, 3/6/15 – 1 page typed
• map Zillebeke

3^rd Division, 9^th Infantry Brigade, 1^st Lincolnshire from 1 July to October 1915. to 62^nd BDE 13^th November 1915. To 21 DIV 62 BDE

• July 1915 – 9 pages HW
• August 1915 – 16 pages HW
• September 1915 -  6 pages HW

END OF SECOND FILE

START OF THIRD FILE

1^st Battalion Lincolnshire Regt

• September 1915 CONTINUED  - 9 pages HW
• October 1915 – 10 pages HW

END OF THIRD FILE.

28th March 1918: the first battle of Arras

The King's Liverpool Regiment
The following is taken from the Regimental History by Everard Wyrall:-

THE FIRST BATTLE OF ARRAS, 1918: 28TH MARCH (This is the day that William Noll was killed whilst serving with this battalion)

On the 28th of March the enemy launched a great attack north of the Somme River from Puisieux to north-east of Arras.

This attack was a considerable extension of the original front of attack. But it had been foreseen and arrangements had been made to meet the assault. The enemy attached the greatest importance to this attack, in which he hoped to recapture the Vimy Ridge and carry the ground east of Lens.

"After a bombardment of great violence," state the official despatches, "three fresh German divisions advanced to the assault along the northern bank of the Scarpe River: they were supported by the two German divisions already in the line. The enemy's immediate objective was to gain the general line Vimy-Bailleul-St. Laurent-Blangy. On the following day three special assault divisions were to carry the Vimy Ridge.

"Immediately south of the Scarpe four German divisions were engaged, to two of which were assigned the tasks of capturing Arras and the heights overlooking the town. This assault, the weight of which fell on the 3rd and 15th British Divisions, was supported by powerful attacks in which eleven hostile divisions were engaged along our whole front southwards to beyond Bucquoy."

A second attack, north of the Scarpe, launched during the afternoon after another heavy bombardment, was also completely repulsed and, broken and disappointed, the enemy fell back to his original line.

The 13th King's were heavily engaged by the enemy's great attack on the 28th of March.

The battalion story relates that "at 4.30 a.m. the enemy put down an intense barrage on the whole of our sector. The trench-mortar barrage on the front line was more intense than anything previously experienced. The Reserve Line was barraged with light guns and heavies. Under cover of this barrage the enemy launched a terrific attack with masses of troops. In spite of the intensity of the bombardment, the front line stood firm and poured a devastating fire into the enemy, whose attack was beaten off with colossal casualties to the attackers. The value of this steadfastness against tremendous odds cannot be estimated; it gave

the enemy his first check at a point where he was subsequently checked throughout the day. The enemy came back again in a second attack with even greater numbers. The battalion on our right was forced back and the enemy poured in behind "C" and "D" Companies from the right flank. What happened on the left is not known. All that is known is that these two companies, attacked on all sides, mounted the parapet and fought to a finish on the ground on which they stood.

"Under cover of the barrage the enemy came on up the hill to the reserve lines. Owing to the nature of the ground he could not be observed along most. of the battalion front until nearly on our wire The barrage lifted and in dense waves the Germans swept on to our lines. It was the beginning of a fierce battle which lasted until 2 p.m.

"The coolness, courage and endurance of the garrison were beyond praise. Every rifle and Lewis gun brought a tremendous volume of fire to bear on the approaching masses. In spite of his losses the enemy continued to push on until the thin, line, wavering, could go no further and turned down the slope again. Our men mounted the parapet to keep him under fire so long as they could keep him in sight.

"The first attack on the front line had been beaten off and our line was everywhere intact."

"The enemy now resumed his barrage on our positions by firing green lights. An intense barrage came down for ten or fifteen minutes. As soon as it lifted the enemy immediately came on to another attack. This also was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. Our flanks were still intact, but it was known that, further to the left, the enemy was making progress, and our left flank was becoming exposed. Twice again the enemy fell back, each time bringing down the barrage on our positions with green lights and pushing on his attack as soon as it lifted. About midday the enemy's fourth attack penetrated on our right. A block was immediately made and maintained, about 150 yards from the road on the southern side. A defensive flank was put out and a few men lined the bank of the Neuville-Vitasse road to guard our rear as far as. possible.

"From midday onwards only about five or six hundred yards of the reserve line remained in our hands, the troops on both flanks having fallen back some hundreds of yards. It was evident that, with the next hostile attack, the position would immediately be surrounded and would hold out no longer. However, it was decided to hold on, though the brigade message informed us that no reinforcements were available. At 2 p.m. a message from brigade instructed us to rendezvous in N.24 central (about seven hundred yards east of Wancourt) if withdrawal became necessary. Withdrawal to support of the 4th Royal Fusiliers in the Green Line was then decided upon and orders were issued for an immediate withdrawal. It commenced at 3.30 p.m., the movement from the front line being covered by small posts and blocks, and the defensive flank on the right remaining in position until all the garrison of the reserve line had moved off to the south-west of Neuville Vitasse road by the Sugar Factory. The enemy, moving forward for another attack, severely harassed the withdrawal, and it was only by great gallantry and initiative of individuals that the enemy was warded off until the line was clear. By 5 p.m. all troops had passed through the Green Line with all wounded evacuated and without anyone being cut off. The battalion reorganised under cover of the ridge in N.24 central, and at dusk moved back into brigade reserve and occupied trenches in M.22.C" (about 1,200 yards north-west of Mercatel).

There is no casualty list in the diary of the battalion, but in the Brigade Diary there is a list which gives the losses of the King's men as one officer killed, two wounded and eight missing, and in other ranks twenty-one killed, ninety-two wounded and 254 missing.