A bit more
If this was so, then the Battalion arrived in Plymouth on the 3rd Dec and went straight to Witley camp, for six weeks training under British Instructors. (As to whether Ronald had Christmas leave and was able to get home to Lodden, I suppose we will never know, but only hope it was the case).
In January Battalion moves to Bramshott for two more weeks training, and then on the 20th February 1916, sails from Southampton to Le Havre, and spends the night at No.1 Rest camp during a snow storm, following day Battalion. takes train to Belgium.
On the 23rd Feb the 52nd joins the 9th Brigade, other Battalions are the 43rd, 58th, and 60th.;
In the beginning of March, they are in billets at Locre, having been attached to the 7th Brigade in the Ypres sector, in that first week all the Battalion members took turns in the trenches, for trench warfare instruction, experiencing light rifle and machine gun fire.
The first rotation at the front (as a unit) was on the 10th of March when they relieved 24th Batt. at M and N trenches in the Kemmal area.
Battalion completes it’s first rotation on the 16th March, having had their first combat fatality, on the 11th, when Pte Joe Sebastin, was killed while on patrol.
After a short break, when many were sent on further training courses, on the 1st April, they moved back to the front to relieve 60 Batt at ‘Shrapnal Corner’.
On the 5th April, in turn relieved by 60 Batt and returns to billets at Railway Dugouts and Maple Copse. With thanks to T. Fisher & D. Ratz, for this information on the 52nd Battalion.
And orf to the garden
Best
John
