1916 - Another medal and promotion to Officer

New Years Day 1916 and the Argylls were back in trenches exchanging mortar and gunfire with the enemy,  in the midsts of an artillery battle. 
The Regiment were barracked in the College de Jeune Filles in Bethune.

1916 was a pivotal year for John.  During the first 6 months of that year the Argylls were NOT involved in any major offensives.  Life consisted of trench work, Patrol Works and training.  Casualties were encountered daily but mostly in single figures. Two major raids on German trenches, however, drew letters of commendation from Divisional and Brigade Commanders. 

On May 3rd 1916 the war diary recorded three decorations arising out of these raids. One of them was John Minnery.

On the 8th of July 1916 the Battalion was entrained near Bethune to be transported to the Somme to bolster efforts in the now one week old battle. 

Around about the same time John Minnery departed the regiment for Officer Cadet Battalion to become a commissioned officer. Exactly which OC Battalion I don’t know but he emerged four months later as 2nd Lieutenant John Minnery with his first commission back with his regiment, the Argylls.

John was fortunate to rejoin the regiment just as they were taken out of the lines for a three week break some 60 miles west of the Somme near the town of Abbeville.   For the next 21 days they would train, take part in football and boxing tournaments and generally recover

On December 4th the Argylls left their camp and returned to the Somme arriving in trenches almost one week later at Bouchavesnes.  Their last few miles were slowed due to mud in the communication trenches.  Most entries in the War Diary for the next week mention the heavy rain and the problems with mud.  Christmas day was spent in the Reserve Trenches being relieved on the 27th by the Royal Welch Fusiliers.  

As 1916 turned to 1917 the Argylls were taken out of the lines once more and headed north to Abbeville for two weeks training.