Entry #53 May 10th 1916
Laid out the line to the different companies and Orderly room. The weather improves and "The Caravan" looks finer than ever.
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Monday, 9 May 2016
Keep Smiling
Entry #52 May 9th 1916
Out on our ordinary parades, visual, etc. the scenery around her bivouac was fine. We were on top of the hill, and had a fine view of the surrounding country, which would be hard to beat. Nature was in all its glory, and the birds served as an ideal alarm clock, as they had us weakened every morning at 5 AM. The rustling of the trees in the fresh country smile was like medicine to us after the sickening roar of the guns. We have improved our bivouac by making steps up to it, and laying in some foodstuffs. The weather still continues drizzly.
Just received news that the Battalion that relieved us got a desperate cutting up, having over 200 casualties. Truly Gordon Castle is a hotshot, and still one sees in the press "all calm on the Western front". Yes all calm to the general public, but to those behind-the-scenes, how calm? But `twas ever so, and this is why Tommy is such a happy-go-lucky character. Taking things as he finds them, and making the best of them. The sarcasm of the average British Tommy is amusing, and it is a mistake to ask them any questions. At least that's my idea, as I was "had" to often. On one occasion I saw two chaps carrying a Dixie, the soldiers kettle. Of course I asked them "was that the tea up?" One of them replied "no it's a new latrine bucket". On another occasion, during short rations, I saw chap with a very small piece of bacon. I asked him "was that for his breakfast?" And he replied "not at all it's to clean my boots with". Such is the spirit of the British Army.
In the afternoon we paraded to Acheux, a fairly decent sized town, for our usual lightning bath on coming out of the trenches still raining very hard, but "The Caravan" is still sticking it A1.
Out on our ordinary parades, visual, etc. the scenery around her bivouac was fine. We were on top of the hill, and had a fine view of the surrounding country, which would be hard to beat. Nature was in all its glory, and the birds served as an ideal alarm clock, as they had us weakened every morning at 5 AM. The rustling of the trees in the fresh country smile was like medicine to us after the sickening roar of the guns. We have improved our bivouac by making steps up to it, and laying in some foodstuffs. The weather still continues drizzly.
Just received news that the Battalion that relieved us got a desperate cutting up, having over 200 casualties. Truly Gordon Castle is a hotshot, and still one sees in the press "all calm on the Western front". Yes all calm to the general public, but to those behind-the-scenes, how calm? But `twas ever so, and this is why Tommy is such a happy-go-lucky character. Taking things as he finds them, and making the best of them. The sarcasm of the average British Tommy is amusing, and it is a mistake to ask them any questions. At least that's my idea, as I was "had" to often. On one occasion I saw two chaps carrying a Dixie, the soldiers kettle. Of course I asked them "was that the tea up?" One of them replied "no it's a new latrine bucket". On another occasion, during short rations, I saw chap with a very small piece of bacon. I asked him "was that for his breakfast?" And he replied "not at all it's to clean my boots with". Such is the spirit of the British Army.
In the afternoon we paraded to Acheux, a fairly decent sized town, for our usual lightning bath on coming out of the trenches still raining very hard, but "The Caravan" is still sticking it A1.
Keep Smiling
Entry #51 May 8th 1916
Left Martinsart, as our three months for holding the line was up, for Lealvillers. Passing through Headauville and Varennes. It was our first March for over three months, however we enjoyed it A1, especially when passing one of our old billets- Varennes. Finally arriving in Lealvillers, as are billets were not too good for four of us hunted around and finally found an old French wagon, about 30 feet long, 6 foot broad and and sides 2 foot high. This we covered at both ends with waterproof sheets and our capes, to sleeping at each end. We had then a "bonne" bivouac, and our only hope was that we wouldn't hear another gun fired for at least a month, as we have had enough. Our bivouac proved a huge success as it rained all night, we never got a drop. In fact we rather enjoyed the novelty of caravan life, and for a few more days I address is "The Caravan", Lealvillers.
Left Martinsart, as our three months for holding the line was up, for Lealvillers. Passing through Headauville and Varennes. It was our first March for over three months, however we enjoyed it A1, especially when passing one of our old billets- Varennes. Finally arriving in Lealvillers, as are billets were not too good for four of us hunted around and finally found an old French wagon, about 30 feet long, 6 foot broad and and sides 2 foot high. This we covered at both ends with waterproof sheets and our capes, to sleeping at each end. We had then a "bonne" bivouac, and our only hope was that we wouldn't hear another gun fired for at least a month, as we have had enough. Our bivouac proved a huge success as it rained all night, we never got a drop. In fact we rather enjoyed the novelty of caravan life, and for a few more days I address is "The Caravan", Lealvillers.
Keep Smiling
Entry #49 May 5th 1916
H.E. exploded just behind our dugout, whilst I was on duty, breaking a few wires and nearly deafening us. Shrapnel fell like rain and I was relieved at 2:30 PM I examined the damage. A large tree was blown clean out of its roots, and another one was cut almost into with travel. Whilst you could have buried a section in the hole made by the shell slight stuff at intervals all day. I reported for all night duty at 8:30 PM, and was warned that our own artillery intended to pay for its back by heavy bombardment, and that more than likely Fritz would reply. So I was told to look out for squalls.
12 midnight- Sharp to the minute and all her guns opened fire and kept up a fearful bombardment. It was like daytime, and the concussion was terrific. The Huns did retaliate with some very heavy stuff, and D boys wire was broken, also our right battalions wire. Our right company got a fearful battering, and one platoon was buried alive. Besides a frightful number of dead, wounded and missing. One officer having his head clean blown off, and also a chum of my own Albert Beattie. Our chaps were remarkably cool, and some fine work was done this night under vary trying circumstances. When Don appeared our front line was completely leveled to the ground and it was practically impossible to move along the trenches is huge trees were lying across the. But when one looked across at the other side they were even worse than our own, as it was impossible to distinguish between their trenches and are shell holes. This stuff lasted from 12 midnight until 1:30 AM. Needless to say we were all glad when it was all over, as our right company suffered heavily. And when Don did appear with the fresh smell of the woods, and the birds chirping cheerily oh the irony of it. Other mornings I enjoyed it immensely, but this particular morning I felt very sad I thought of Albert Beattie and only other fallen comrades. To think that yesterday morning they also enjoyed the scenery and the birds and today the birds sing on quite unconscious of what has taken place. Oh the irony of war on a lovely spring morning. Some way or other the birds seem to like discord to me, and the air is poisonous, but enough. "God's will be done." After the storm comes the calm, and hardly a shot was fired during the early part of the following morning, both sides apparently having on understood truce to collect the dead and dying. Every man was turned out to dig some of our poor chaps and they were fairly successful. One poor chap was buried up to the neck the first five minutes of the stuff and was forced to remain like this during the whole stuff. But he was dugout as soon as things got a bit quieter. Our casualties where one officer, 11 men killed and 29 wounded. We were again mentioned in dispatches for this night's work. And as our six days were at an end thank goodness! We left our formal abode "Ravine Villa", The woods, Martinsart. And as the signals are always relieved early to move us went into Bouzincourt to see what it was like.
H.E. exploded just behind our dugout, whilst I was on duty, breaking a few wires and nearly deafening us. Shrapnel fell like rain and I was relieved at 2:30 PM I examined the damage. A large tree was blown clean out of its roots, and another one was cut almost into with travel. Whilst you could have buried a section in the hole made by the shell slight stuff at intervals all day. I reported for all night duty at 8:30 PM, and was warned that our own artillery intended to pay for its back by heavy bombardment, and that more than likely Fritz would reply. So I was told to look out for squalls.
12 midnight- Sharp to the minute and all her guns opened fire and kept up a fearful bombardment. It was like daytime, and the concussion was terrific. The Huns did retaliate with some very heavy stuff, and D boys wire was broken, also our right battalions wire. Our right company got a fearful battering, and one platoon was buried alive. Besides a frightful number of dead, wounded and missing. One officer having his head clean blown off, and also a chum of my own Albert Beattie. Our chaps were remarkably cool, and some fine work was done this night under vary trying circumstances. When Don appeared our front line was completely leveled to the ground and it was practically impossible to move along the trenches is huge trees were lying across the. But when one looked across at the other side they were even worse than our own, as it was impossible to distinguish between their trenches and are shell holes. This stuff lasted from 12 midnight until 1:30 AM. Needless to say we were all glad when it was all over, as our right company suffered heavily. And when Don did appear with the fresh smell of the woods, and the birds chirping cheerily oh the irony of it. Other mornings I enjoyed it immensely, but this particular morning I felt very sad I thought of Albert Beattie and only other fallen comrades. To think that yesterday morning they also enjoyed the scenery and the birds and today the birds sing on quite unconscious of what has taken place. Oh the irony of war on a lovely spring morning. Some way or other the birds seem to like discord to me, and the air is poisonous, but enough. "God's will be done." After the storm comes the calm, and hardly a shot was fired during the early part of the following morning, both sides apparently having on understood truce to collect the dead and dying. Every man was turned out to dig some of our poor chaps and they were fairly successful. One poor chap was buried up to the neck the first five minutes of the stuff and was forced to remain like this during the whole stuff. But he was dugout as soon as things got a bit quieter. Our casualties where one officer, 11 men killed and 29 wounded. We were again mentioned in dispatches for this night's work. And as our six days were at an end thank goodness! We left our formal abode "Ravine Villa", The woods, Martinsart. And as the signals are always relieved early to move us went into Bouzincourt to see what it was like.
Keep Smiling
Entry #48 May 4th 1916
Fritz still very lively wounding four more. He shelled at intervals Gordon Castle, and I got a few pieces of shrapnel which came too near to be comfortable, whilst riding on top of my dugout. I reported for duty at 2:30 PM
Fritz still very lively wounding four more. He shelled at intervals Gordon Castle, and I got a few pieces of shrapnel which came too near to be comfortable, whilst riding on top of my dugout. I reported for duty at 2:30 PM
Keep Smiling
Entry #47 May 3rd 1916
Very heavy bombardment lasting nearly all morning. Killing one, wounding 10 and two shell-shocked. Our artillery very slack.
Very heavy bombardment lasting nearly all morning. Killing one, wounding 10 and two shell-shocked. Our artillery very slack.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)