April 26th 1915:

Louis was in 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. This battalion formed part of the 20th Brigade, which in turn rolled up into the 7th Division. He has just arrived at La Gorgue, close to Laventie. The 20th Brigade has just been involved in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Having only joined up in late 1914 he is part of a small party of reinforcements that joined the 2nd Battalion in April. He notes that he enters the  ( reserve) trenches straight away, relieving Indians. This would likely be the 7th Meerut division who had also been involved in Neuve Chapelle.

By coincidence , one of the Brigades within the 7th Meerut was the Bareilly Brigade which also contained the 4th Black Watch, within which Louis's brother Norman fought. A swe know already, Norman and the 4th Battalion Black Watch had already been heavily involved in the action at Neuve Chapelle.

The 2nd Battalion Scots Guards war diary is somewhat scathing about the state of the trenches they inherited-

'Battalion takes over trenches of the Bareilly Brigade. The Indian trenches my dear. Those of the 4th Brigade Black Watch indescribably filthy. Their sanitary arrangements NIL.'

Blog note:
If you have any connection with Louis Harley or any of the men listed in his diaries, or if you have found this useful please add a comment.