Walford: Friday. Instead of going up to the guns the previous evening, I relieved Siggers at ten a.m. He in turn had relieved Cruikshank. Siggers had spent a night as liaison officer in D36 OP. The night had been very frosty and there was a bitter east wind blowing. We fired 800 rounds on the wire in the course of the afternoon. The Bosche had been busy with his pipsqueaks at midday and caught three men of the 15th, one seriously and the others - two sergeants - only slight wounds. If the 15th had not tried to get the man away when they were still shelling, as any sensible people should have done, only one man would have suffered.
Bee: Very cold day, east wind, up at the guns all day, did a lot of shooting. The Hun got some lucky ones in on us with [illegible] Sergeant Parrish and a gunner. The former was rather badly wounded - went into his back and must have touched his lungs. As they were carrying him away, Sergeant Villa was hit, but only slightly. It all happened inside five minutes. He put a good many pipsqueaks over and had a good line [illegible], but it was only chance.
the 15th Bty casualties would appear to include Sgt William Dennis Villa, and either George, or John W Parrish (2 possibilities).
ReplyDeleteThank you v much, I'll alter the names accordingly.
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