32 DIVISION 96 Infantry Brigade, Brigade Machine Gun Company: 24 January 1916 - 21 February 1918 (First World War, War Diary, WO95/2398/2)

Full colour facsimile reprint of the original First World War, War Office war diary of the Brigade Machine Gun Company, 96 Infantry Brigade, 32nd Division, covering January 1916 to February 1918 across 191 pages. It names 107 places across 136 dated entries. Alongside the daily entries the volume carries seven reports, narratives and plans, nine Operation Orders, one appendix and one map. Among the papers are: Special Training Centre. orders by Brig-General H.C. De 1a M. Hill, C. E. Commanding; Copies of This order Are issued To: Operation orders; Operation orders O.C. a and B Sections; 96th M.G. Coy Relief orders. The diary opens at Bouzincourt on 24 January 1916. 1916 is spent at Montrelet, Contay, Grantham, Aveluy and Warloy. 1917 is the most travelled year, 71 places against 50 in the next busiest, and is spent at Coxyde, Athies, Bray Dunes, Line Beaumont Hamel-Serre and Rosieres. 1918 at Recques, Houthulst Forest, Signal Farm 1 21.G.2.0, Marguerite Camp and Hospital Farm. It closes at Houthulst Forest on 21 February 1918. Montrelet is where it spent longest, 42 days across three separate stays, including a single unbroken stay of 31 and it came back to Aveluy five separate times. Trench and battlefield features named in the diary include Dug-Out North of Albert, Savy Wood, Farm in M3Zd, Signal Farm 1 21.G.2.0 and Hospital Farm. In 1916 it is also recorded at S/S "Humbcraft" Southampton, Havre, Senlis, The Bluff, Leavillers, Hedauville, Dug-Out North of Albert, Coy. H. Qs. Preston Av, Halloy and Bouquemaison. In 1917 it is also recorded at Raincheval, Line. Hebuterne Sector, Courcelles. & Line, Harponville, Flesselles, Amines, Thennes, Beaucourt, Warvillers and Cremery. In 1918 it is also recorded at Dekort Camp.