Item O'CONNOR 2/2/3 - Diary relating to O'Connor's service as Brigade Major, 185 Brigade, 62 Division, Western Front, Mar-Dec 1917

Diary covering service as Bde Maj in 185 Bde, 62 Div in the Miraumont area on the Somme; plans for attack on Achiet le Petit, 7 Mar; contacts with 91 Div, especially Owen Morshead, Staff Captain; attack on Bucquoy, 14 Mar and criticism of the attack; attack by 91 Div at Croiselles on 28 Mar; advance on Hindenberg Line on 9 Apr; losses to 185 Bde and transfer of HQ to Ecoust on Apr 11; plans for attack on Bullecourt on 13 Apr, subsequent cancellation and return to Gommecourt; further attacks on Bullecourt, Apr-May; combined attack of 91 and 62 Div on Bullecourt, 11-12 May; replacement of Brig Gen R H Cumming of 91 Div on 12 May; leave taken in England, 19-30 May; awarded DSO, appointed temporary Lt Col and transferred as commander to 2 Infantry Bn, Honourable Artillery Company (part of 7 Div) in Jun; attendance at lectures and demonstrations during Jun; description of HQ at Ecoust and improvements achieved in 2 Infantry Bn, 1 Jul; wiring competition on 16 Jul; preparations for transfer to front on 18 Jul and reasons for abandonment of attack on 22 Jul; transfer to new camp at Hendrycourt-les-Ransarts and leave taken in Paris during Aug; reconnoitre of front line near Hooge and Polygon Wood in Ypres, 29 Sep in preparation for battles in Passchendaele area; attack begun on 4 Oct, with 2 Infantry Bn in reserve; preparations for attack on Reutel and account of battle on 9 Oct and relief on 10 Oct; march back to Meteren on 13 Oct; account of attack at Gheluvelt on 26 Oct (2 Infantry Bn initially in reserve); death of servant Pte Wyatt (referred to as the 'Faithful One') on 28 Oct; leave taken in England and recall for transfer to Italian front in Nov; arrival at Legnago on 25 Nov and march to Orgiano, 2 Nov; billet and training near Trevignano; arrival in Ramon, 11 Dec; reconnoitre of Possagno-Crespano area on 16 Dec. 1 vol