Full colour facsimile reprint of the original First World War, War Office war diary of the 7th Battalion, Border Regiment, 51 Infantry Brigade, 17th Division, covering September 1915 to March 1919 across 467 pages. It names 113 places across 143 dated entries.
Alongside the daily entries the volume carries twenty-eight casualty and personnel returns, twenty-two reports, narratives and plans, 52 Operation Orders, one defence scheme, two appendices, three maps and two diagrams. Among the papers are: Appendix 1. nominal roll of officers and Strength of Battalion on Landing in France; Officers, N.C.Os and Men killed during the month of September; Wounded during the month of September; Report on Patrol carried out and 15 O.R. (7th. Border Regt.); 7th. (Service). Bn. the Border Regiment; 7th Bn. the Border Regiment; Borders. Reference attached. the his congratulations; 7th. Batt. the Border Regiment; 7th. Batt. the Border Regiment War Diary March 1917; Addendum to 51st Infy. Bde. operation order No.155; 7th. (Service) Battn. the Border Regiment; 7th Ser. Batt. the Border Regt.
The diary opens at Sanctuary Wood K Hooge on 1 September 1915. 1915 is spent at Roulers Rly Trenches, Sanctuary Wood K Hooge, Eecke and Ypres. 1916 at Ganspette, Eperlecques, H Camp, Bailleul and Corbie. 1917 is the most travelled year, 55 places against 35 in the next busiest, and is spent at Le Souich, Ville, Rubempre, Belgium 28. N.W and Carnoy. 1918 at France, Hermies, Leal Villers, Auchonviller Officer and Camp 1. 34. d. 1919 at Liercourt. It closes at Liercourt on 31 March 1919. France is where it spent longest, 91 days across three separate stays, including a single unbroken stay of 31 and it came back to Roulers Rly Trenches five separate times.
Trench and battlefield features named in the diary include Roulers Rly Trenches, Sanctuary Wood K Hooge, Trenches, Sanctuary Wood, Pommiers Redoubt, Delville Wood, Bouleaux Wood and Trenches East of Les Boeufs.
In 1915 it is also recorded at Billets Nr. La Clytte, Nr. La Clytte, Sanctuary Wood, Nr Verbrandenmolen, La Clytte, Nr. Ouderdom, Ramparts Ypres and Ouderdon Huts. In 1916 it is also recorded at Roulers Rly Trenches, Reninghelst, Dickebusch, Houplines, Armentieres, In Billets Armentieres, In Trenches, Line March, Bivouac and 1 Mile NW of Buire. In 1917 it is also recorded at Guillemont Camp, In Line, Bouleaux Wood, Trenches U-8-b-1-0 to U-8-a-31/2-9, Bronfay Farm, Beauleax Wood, Maltz Horn & Bois Dore Camps, Bronfay Camp, Combles and Maltz Horn And Bois Dore Camps. In 1918 it is also recorded at "A" & "C" bays J.3.5. d, "B" & "D" bays London Support, In Support, Warloy, Pierregot, Domart, Englebelmer, Forceville, Boiscreftel and Talmas.
