January 1916

11

Longbridge Deverill. 11 am. Left camp to entrain at Codford for France. Horses & waggons loaded in 18 min. Arrived S'hampton Docks 6 pm. On Board S.S. Rosseti of Lamport and Holt Line by 7.20. Sailed 8 pm.

12

Havre. Arrived off the harbour early in morning. Entered docks midday. Disembarked by 1.30 pm. Sqdn then watered & fed & SQMS drew mobilisation stores which could not be issued before leaving England. Entrained at 5 pm at No.4 Pt. Entraining arrangements compared most unfavourably with those at Codford. Various fatigue parties were demanded by the RTO which was impracticable. Method for entraining in France suggested as follows: (1) Each Troop to load at same time. (2) Allot each troop 5 trucks, 4 of which for horses & the remaining one for the men. This method exactly disposes of the 32 horses per troop & permits each troop to load at the same time. (3) All saddlery to be in with the horses & 2 men as guard. Horses were fed again at 7 pm and watered & fed at 6.30 am at Abbeyville.
Blendecques. 3 pm. Arrived. Detrained most satisfactorily considering the more or less confusion that the method of entrainment had put the Sqdn in at Havre. Received orders to proceed to Ebblinghem (6½ miles distant) and billet in the vicinity. 2 Lt. J.H. Grigg & the interpreter were sent on in advance. Arrived in billets at Ebblinghem at 6.30 pm.

13-19

–

20

Ebblinghem. G.O.C. 34th Div inspected the Sqdn in billets.

21

–

22

Ebblinghem. 10 pm. Received instructions to proceed to Estaires (21 miles distant).

23

Ebblinghem. 7.55 am. Marched. Halted for 15 min about 12.30 pm to water & give horses a small feed, besides halting occasionally for 10 min or so. Walked with horses in hand about 4½ miles. Arrived Estaires 3.15 & quickly got into billets.

24

Estaires. General clean up of horse lines & billets just vacated by Cumberland Yeo.

25-31

Nothing of particular interest.

[Signed] I A Finlay
Maj
Comd
34th Divl Cav.

February 1916

1

Estaires. On January 29th 12 NCO's & men and on the 10th Feby 20 NCO's & men went for a course of Road Control under A.P.M. 34th Div at Blaringhem. The first party rejoined at Estaires on Feby 3rd. The second party rejoined at Steenwerck on Feby 18th.

2-9

–

10

Estaires. 2nd Lt Darling & 12 NCO's & men left for course of "sniping".

11-16

–

17

Estaires. 1 Sergt & 10 men sent to guard Bridge at Bac St Maur. They were relieved on 20th.

18

Estaires. The Squadron left Estaires 8.15 am arrived Steenwerck 9.45 am. Good turn out & nothing left behind either in billets or stables.

19

Steenwerck. 8.7 pm. Received orders to "turn out" from 23rd Div. Squadron including 1st line Transport was on Road ready to move anywhere at 8.37 pm. At 9.30 pm received orders to "Dismiss". All 2nd Line Transport was ready to hook in if required. 1 Sergt & 4 men were detailed as Guard until further orders were received and to load baggage waggon & supply waggons if required.

20

Steenwerck. Supplied 2 Sergts & 22 men for duty under A.P.M. 34th Div. 1 Sergt and 11 men took over guard at Bac St Maur Br.
Sent 1 officer & 20 men to take over "salvage" of 23rd Div at Erquinghem permanently.

21

Steenwerck. Supplied 45 men for fatigue at brickworks Sailly. This left the Squadron with 2 available men to water & feed 143 Horses at midday.

22

Steenwerck. Supplied 25 men for fatigue at Sailly.

23

Steenwerck. Supplied 25 men for fatigue at Sailly. The Squadron from a military point of view as an "effective unit" now practically ceases to exist. 23 NCO's & men & 3 officers could be put into the firing line! in a sudden emergency.

24

Steenwerck. Fatigue 25 men.

25

Steenwerck. Fatigue 25 men.

26

Fatigue 25 men.

27

No fatigue!

28

1 Cpl & 6 men detailed for guard over RE Dump at Armentieres.

29

Have 19 men I could put into action only - in all including horseholders.

[Signed] I A Finlay Capt
Comdg
34th Divl Cav.

March 1916

1-2

–

3

Steenwerck. 1 officer & 28 men detailed for permanent duty under APM.

4-8

–

9

Steenwerck. 2 N.C.Os & 6 men detailed for road control at L’Epinette.

10

Steenwerck. 2 Lt. G.H. Grigg & 2 OR left for III Corps school of Sniping.

11-16

–

17

Croix Du Bac. Changed billets.

18

Croix Du Bac. 1 Cpl & 1 man left for school of instruction in Hotchkiss Gun.

19

–

20

Croix Du Bac. The following letter was received on this date. “GOC directs me to express his satisfaction on the state and efficiency of your sqdn” – (signed) AA & QMG 34th Div".

21

–

22

Advance guard to a divn was practised with all available men. Managed with difficulty to have 65 men on parade.

23

Croix Du Bac. 2 men left for III Corps Sniping school.

24-26

–

27

2 Lt. G.H. Grigg went to trenches with 8 OR for "sniping".

28

2 men & 3 horses sent to 7th Sqdn R.F.C. for use of officers.

29-30

–

31

2 Lt. N. ff. Darling left to join 2 Lt. G.H. Grigg "sniping".
2 Lt. R B Kellock & 1 man left for La Boudrelle school of instruction.
State of Sqdn as at 31st –
Bridge Guards 18 OR (dismounted)
APM & Salvage 1 O & 28 OR.
School of Instruction, 1 O. 3 OR.
"Divl Snipers" 2 O 10 O.R.
1 Man hospital
1 on special leave
2 Men & 3 horse - R F Corps
Total with Sqdn 2 O. 75 OR. 106 horses.

Practically no "training" carried out during month owing to shortage of men earlier in the month & "no" of horses in hand.

[Signed] I A Finlay Capt
Comdg
34th Divl Cav.

April 1916

1-6

Croix Du Bac. Detailed for duty under APM. 1 officer 28 OR.
Detailed for duty "Sniping" 2 officers, 8 OR.
Detailed for duty Bridge Guards 16 OR.
Sqdn Drill, minor schemes, etc.

7

Croix Du Bac. "Snipers" withdrawn from trenches.

8-9

–

10

Croix Du Bac. Bridge Guards withdrawn.

11

APM troop withdrawn & Sqdn paraded 2 pm & proceeded to Sec Bois arriving 5 pm.

12

Sec Bois. 8 am. Proceeded to Billets at Scaderbourg (St. Martin) arriving 4 pm.

13-14

–

15-18

Scaderbourg. Provisional training programme of 34th Div commenced which included sword & rifle drill, musketry, & range practice. Physical & bayonet exercises. Saluting & setting up drill. Riding Drill. Despatch relay system. Study of ground & map reading. Scouting & protection at halt.

19

Paraded 8 am & proceeded to Journy to be attached to 2nd Cav Divn. Arrived in billets 12 noon.

20-29

Journy. Training in duties of Dl. Mounted Troops under Capt Nicolson 15th Hussars in conjunction with 34th Divl Cyclist Coy.

30

–

[Signed] I A Finlay Capt
Comd
34th Divl Cav.