The First World War
War Diary of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Transcription by Captain Michael O'Leary, The RCR.

JULY 1917

APPENDIX 14
7TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
SECRET
Copy No. 5

OPERATION ORDER No. 103.

July 23rd 1917.

Ref maps:-

1.     The Brigade will move to the ALLOUAGNE-LAPUGNOY-LOZINGHEM training Area.

2.     Moves will take place in accordance with the attached appendices.

3.     On the march, intervals of at least 200 yards will be maintained between companies and 500 yards between Battalions.

The following halts will be observed:-

From 50 to 60 minutes after each clock hour.

Other halts are given in appendices.

No halts will be made in villages.

4.     A "D.R." will give Units Brigade time at 9.45 a.m. on the 25th July.

5.     Separate instructions will be issued by the Staff-Captain "A" and "Q" with regard to the allotment of Billets, etc.

6.     Brigade Headquarters will close at 12 noon, 25th July at S.19.b.5.2. and open on same day at ALLOUAGNE on arrival.

The Brigade Major and Staff-Captain "A" and "Q" will be at VERDREL on the night 25/26th July.

7.     ACKNOWLEDGE.

23-7-17.

(signed)
A.C. Meredith
Brigade Major,
7TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

Copies to:-

1, 2 &3 - 3RD Canadian Division "G".
4 - 3RD Canadian Division "Q".
5 - R.C.R.
6 - P.P.C.L.I.
7 - 42ND Battalion.
8 - 49TH Battalion.
9 - 7TH Cdn. M.G. Coy.
10 - 7TH Cdn. T.M. Coy.
11 - 8TH Cdn. Inf. Bde.
12 - 9TH Cdn. Inf. Bde.
13 - A.D.M.S. - 3RD Cdn. Divn.
14 - A.D.P.S. Canadian Corps.
15 - 8TH Field Co. C.E.
16 - 10TH Cdn. Field Ambulance.
17 - Camp Cmdt. SOUCHEZ AREA.
18 - Camp Cmdt. CARENCY AREA.
19 - Bde Signal Officer.
20 - Bde Bomb Officer.
21 - Bde Transport Officer.
22 - Bde Veterinary Officer.
23 - D.M.G.O., 3rd Cdn. Divn.
24 - No. 2 Coy. 3rd Cdn. Divl. Train.
25 - Hqrs. 3rd Cdn. Divl. Train.
26 - 28 - War Diary.

APPENDIX (1) TO 7TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE OPERATION ORDER NO. 103

    • Date. Unit. From. To. Bde. Starting Point. Pass Starting Point at. Bn. Start Point. Route. Remarks.
    July 25th.
    R.C.R. VICTORIA Area and Dugouts in S.10 and S.16. COUPIGNY. Cross roads VILLERS AU BOIS - X.19.b.0.9. 12 noon. Via tracks to VILLER AU BOIS - GRAND SERVINS. Halt 11.50 a.m. - 12.20 p.m.
    P.P.C.L.I. HALIFAX Area. VERDREL. do. 1.10 p.m. do.
    42ND Battn. COMOX Camp. GAUCHIN-LEGAL. do. 11.00 a.m. do.
    49TH Battn. QUEBEC Camp. OLHAIN and PRESNICOURT. do. 12.20 p.m. do.
    7TH Cdn. T.M. Bty. X.23.A.6.4. VERDREL. do. 10.45 a.m. do.

    23-7-17.

    (signed)
    A.C. Meredith.
    Brigade Major,
    7TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

    APPENDIX (II) TO 7TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE OPERATION ORDER NO. 103

    Date. Unit. From. To. Bde. Starting Point. Pass Starting Point at. Bn. Start Point. Route. Remarks.
    July 26th.
    R.C.R. COUPIGNY. LAPUGNOY. Q.5.d.1.2. (Railroad Crossing) 6.30 a.m. HERSIN - BARLIN - BRUAY. HALT - 8.30 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.
    P.P.C.L.I. VERDREL. do. Q.14.b.2.6. (Cross-roads) 7.15 a.m. BOIS D'OLHAIN - BARLIN - BRUAY. do.
    42ND Battn. GAUCHIN-LEGAL. LOZINGHEM. P.17.b.5.1. (Cross-roads) 8.35 a.m. P.10.b. - HOUDAIN - BRUAY. HALT - 9.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m.
    49TH Battn. OLHAIN and PRESNICOURT. ALLOUAGNE. do. 8.15 a.m. do. do.
    7TH Cdn. T.M. Bty. VERDREL. do. P.14.b.2.6. (Cross-roads) 7.15 a.m. BOIS D'OLHAIN - BARLIN - BRUAY. HALT - 8.30 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.
    To follow R.C.R.

    23-7-17.

    (signed)
    A.C. Meredith.
    Brigade Major,
    7TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

    7TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
    ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ISSUED TO ACCOMPANY
    OPERATION ORDER NO. 103.

    SECRET.

    JULY 22ND 1917.

    I.     In accordance with operation order No. 103 units will move from QUARRIES AREA to STAGING AREA on July 25th and be accommodated as follows:-

    II.     From STAGING AREA to REST AREA move on July 26th and to be accommodated as follows:-

    III.    TRANSPORT.

    Transports will accompany units on line of march. O.C. No. 2 Coy. Divisional Train will detail baggage wagons to report to Battalion Transport Lines at time w\to be arranged between Transport Officer and O.C. No. 2 Coy.

    IV.    RATION.

    Rations for 26th instant will accompany units on line of march, units will draw rations on the 26th instant from dumps at LOZINGHEM (near Church) for consumption on 27th.

    Ration wagons will return to Divisional train on morning of 26th instant and units will arrange to use their own to draw rations on that date.

    It is expected that one motor lorry per Battalion and one for Brigade headquarters will be available. Lorries will report to Brigade Transport Lines at a tome to be arranged later. Lorries will load and proceed direct to billets in REST AREA on 25th instant. Guards should be detailed to accompany lorries and act as loaders, etc.

    VI.    AMMUNITION.

    Mobile reserve of ammunition will be carried.

    VII.    BILLETTING PARTIES.

    Billeting parties will proceed 24 hours in advance of Units to Staging and Rest Areas and report to Town Majors concerned and will arrange billets.

    Billeting parties will carry 48 hours rations.

    Staff captain "A" & "Q" will accompany billeting parties.

    VIII.    CAMP EQUIPMENT.

    All camp equipment will be handed over to Camp Commandant concerned. Under no circumstances will any unit leave camp equipment on the field.

    IX.    SANITATION.

    Every effort must be made to leave the area in a thoroughly clean and sanitary condition.

    All occupied dugouts, trenches, camp areas, billets, horse lines, villages, streets and roads, latrines and cooking places, must be left thoroughly clean.

    Particular attention is to be paid to the disposal of manure, orders regarding which have been issued from time to time.

    A certificate to the effect that the camps, etc., have been left in a clean and satisfactory condition, must, in every instance, be obtained from the Camp Commandant or Town Major concerned.

    X.    STRAGGLERS.

    Units will take the necessary precautions to prevent straggling. A report will be rendered at the close of each days march, concerning the numbers that have become casualties in this respect. A horse drawn ambulance will follow in rear of the line of march to pick up casualties.

    XI.    POSTAL.

    Field Post Office will move with Brigade Headquarters.

    XII.    7TH Canadian Machine Gun Company will move under instructions of 3RD Canadian Division.

    XIII.     ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

    (signed)
    ???
    Captain,
    Staff captain.
    7TH Canadian Infantry Brigade.

    COPIES TO:-

    1 & 2 - 3RD Canadian Divn "Q".
    3 - R.C.R.
    4 - P.P.C.L.I.
    5 - 42ND Battalion.
    6 - 49TH Battalion.
    7 - 7TH Cdn. M.G. Coy.
    8 - 7TH Cdn. T.M. Coy.
    9 - Bde. Q.M. Sergeant.
    10 - A.D.M.S. - 3RD Cdn. Divn.
    11 - A.D.P.S. Canadian Corps.
    12 - Major H.C. WALKEM.
    13 - Major E.E. SNIDER.
    14 - Bde Transport Officer.
    15 - Bde Veterinary Officer.
    16 - Bde Signal Officer.
    17 - Bde Bombing Officer.
    18 - Brigade Major.
    19 - D.M.G.O.
    20 - No. 2 Coy. Divnl. Train.
    21 - Hqrs. 3rd Divnl. Train.
    22 - 24 - War Diary.
    25 - File