Sept 9th
A big move coming off we hear. Lewis Gunners leave today by road on the way back to the line, rest of Battalion are coming along on Monday by motor. Got as far as Ailly-sur-Somme today where we stayed the night.
Sept 4th – 13th
Nothing very much happened during this period but the usual digging and ration fatigues. We witnessed a rather exciting air fight here over the German lines; four Bosche planes were up when a Frenchman appeared on the scene and gave fight; they tried to get away but were chased and one of them brought down; the Germans were firing at the Frenchman the whole time with their anti aircraft guns but he didn’t seem to mind them in the least; we counted over three hundred shells burs
September 2nd
Nothing exciting happened during the day. Ration carrying to ‘B’ Company at night raining hard the whole time and had been raining all day. What a state the ground was in! The fellow that wrote the following little verse had evidently some such experience in mind:
“How all authorities intrigue
To make my life one long fatigue
Strafe all the powers that be
From the Sergeant Major to the GOC”
To get about six bags of rations slung around your neck, or a can of water in ea
September 1st
German areoplane dropped two bombs just behind our dugout between firing line and support line; no damage done. Digging fatigue with engineers at night.
August 30th 1915
Working party at 7.30am for engineers dugout building. Large shell rocketed up the street and came to rest just in front of our houses by the corner of the tramway sheds which we were using as a cookhouse; but luckily for some of our fellows it failed to explode. During this period each Company in turn has been acting as inlying picquet. (A,B & C) Left again for trenches about 8pm; 'A' Company in support just to the right of our last position.
August 30th 1916
Actually
August 29th
Church parade at noon followed by communion service in the tramway sheds during which a number of heavy shells were dropped quite close by. Digging party warned again for tonight but cancelled owing to heavy rain.
August 27th 1915
Working party out again at 7.30am with engineers building dugouts on the canal bank; second party including myself from noon to 5pm. Promoted Corporal.
August 27th 1916
Expecting relief up tonight. Relief arrived (R.W.F’s) at about 2am on the 28th and we went back to Dernancourt.
August 25th 1915
Bombardment by our heavy batteries. Digging party of fifty for trenches tonight.
August 25th
The 8th Battalion were to attack today. They went over but met Fritz halfway. He was making an attack at the same time. The 8th got pretty well cut up and we had to go and take over their trenches, arrived at about 4am on the 26th. Trenches had been pretty well bashed about and there are no dug-outs. Fritz gave us a pretty lively time, but our heavy guns were keeping him busy.
August 18th
Attack came off at 2.45pm but was only partially successful. D Company didn’t get into Boche trench. Fritz gave us a pretty good pasting and the Battalion was rather badly knocked about.
August 15th 1915
Nothing much doing but a few Whizz bangs and sniping. Stayed here until 23rd nothing much exciting happening. Had to go out repairing barbwire one night and next night was warned for listening Patrol with Capt. Maxwell, but he didn’t like the look of a lot of signal lights which the Boches were sending up and expected something to happen so didn’t go out for which I wasn’t sorry. R.I.R’s captured the Boche listening patrols.
August 14th 1915
We are at St Jean now where the Canadians were gassed. Quite quiet here after Hooge trenches.
August 14th 1916
Relieved by 8th R.B and went back into reserve.
August 13th
Drill in the morning. Parade at 5.30pm for trenches made up by draft from the 8th Battn. Proceeded by Motorbus to Ypres; arrived in trenches about 11pm.
August 12th 1915
Drill in the morning. Cricket match in the afternoon.
August 12th 1916
Took over line from W.Yorks between High Wood and Delville Wood. Not exactly a health resort.
***** I like the under-statement here! ******
August 11th 1915
Rest in the morning. Rounders match in the afternoon.
August 11th 1916
Reviewed by Army Corp Commander and left same night for the trenches. Stayed in reserve for the night by Mantauban.
August 10th 1915
Battn parade at 6am checking equipment, rifles that got mixed up somewhat in the scrap at Hooge. Parade at 6pm to march to fresh camp through Poperinghe. I walked to St Jean to Watou arriving about 9pm.
August 10th 1916
The King passed through today in a car with the Prince of Wales on the way up to the line.
August 9th
A number of heavy shells dropped into a field close by coming apparently from a very short range. Couldn’t understand how Germans could get big guns so close. Digging party warmed for trenches but order cancelled later. 6th Division made an attack early this morning at Hooge recapturing trenches lost on July 29th and taking several hundred prisoners; a party of these were marched past our camp later in the day; a pretty rough lot they looked too.
