Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Condolence Letter Tucked into Back of Diary

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3 comments:

Honours and Awards - 48th Battalion, RFA

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Casualties - 48th Battalion, RFA

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Monday, 9 September 2013

Diary Entry - 8th September, 1918

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An awful gale blowing and on going to Vrancourt to see our adjutant Vaisey buried - he had been killed on Saturday by almost a direct hit wh...
1 comment:

Diary Entry - 7th September, 1918

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The sugar refinery was our position and the RE were busy putting power pump in order at all speed and water was produced in gallons at eight...
Friday, 6 September 2013

Diary Entry - 6th September, 1918

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Enemy very active with long range guns all night, throwing them at random anywhere at all. Several periods were very unhealthy, but it was n...
2 comments:
Thursday, 5 September 2013

Diary Entry - 5th September, 1918

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 More battling for water, all kinds of promises made by the gilded staff but nothing forthcoming.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Diary Entry - 4th September, 1918

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Much anxiety for the horses as only watering is from a well head with bucket in the village and this usually entails standing for two hours ...
Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd September, 1918

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Limbers and wagons ordered up at eight a.m., remainder get under way at ten thirty a.m., and we are all to rendezvous in a previously arrang...
Monday, 2 September 2013

Diary Entry - 2nd September, 1918

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During night, orders received to stand harnessed ready to march at five a.m but at six a.m. orders were cancelled and, on riding forward to ...
Sunday, 1 September 2013

Diary Entry - 1st September, 1918

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Battery go still further forward to near the Beugnatre Vaux Vraucourt Road at three thirty a.m. and fire a barrage for the 62nd Div to attac...
Saturday, 31 August 2013

Diary Entry - 31st August, 1918

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Move off at five a.m. as ordered, intending to join guns and move forward but, on reaching brigade, are told we are not required so return v...

Diary Entry - 30th August, 1918

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Shells fall near by during night but never in our line. We move off at five a.m., or rather had orders to, which are cancelled during night.
Thursday, 29 August 2013

Diary Entry - 29th August, 1918

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Shelled by big velocity gun from two a.m. Shells only just dropping over but all the time wondering whether Hun whon't shorten range and...
Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Diary Entry - 28th August, 1918

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Rise at five a.m. to make sure of water from a pump in Commiecourt, but things are very congested, as a lot of transport has moved up in the...

Diary Entry - 27th August, 1918

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We move whole wagon line to a copse to East of Courcelle le Comte and about 8,000 yards behind what was German line. Water very scarce and p...
1 comment:
Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Diary Entry - 26th August, 1918

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Get quite a decent night's rest in a dugout but have an awful scrum for water in the morning as a whole cavalry brigade congest things b...
Sunday, 25 August 2013

Diary Entry - 25th August, 1918

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A peaceful day, haul up six wagons of ammunition, look for better watering, as demand had become greater than supply at Douchie, but fail to...
Saturday, 24 August 2013

Diary Entry - 24th August, 1918

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Move wagon lines to Douchie where RE had water and troughs in full swing and the whole world seemed to be concentrated round about Douchie e...
Friday, 23 August 2013

Diary Entry - 23rd August, 1918

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Rode to St Amand directly after lunch, the guns having pulled back to the wagon lines to await orders. When we arrive at the town mayor'...
Thursday, 22 August 2013

Diary Entry - 22nd August, 1918

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Guns are evidently moved up to within 300 yards of our trenches on Tuesday night. Attack commences at dawn. Cruikshank, poor chap, killed by...
Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Diary Entry - 21st August, 2013

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Go to guns and thence to brigade and see much evidence of an attack on our part, tanks everywhere, but of course no-one knows anything or da...
Tuesday, 20 August 2013

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Monday, 19 August 2013

Diary Entry - 19th August, 1918

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Cruikshank comes down to the WL and General Martin Powell, who was commanding 48th Bty a few days before I joined it, dropped into the Mess ...

Diary Entry - 18th August, 1918

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The Colonel came for a trot round the battery wagon line, giving us a good chit on our appearance, and he sent Hoyland up to the guns to hel...
Saturday, 17 August 2013

Diary Entry - 17th August, 1918

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The same dumping of seventeen wagon loads of ammunition goes on in the forward area, all batteries taking part at dusk. While unloading, Cru...

Diary Entry - 16th August, 1918

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We really start on the ammunition racket in earnest and send out eleven wagons along with six wagons of the DAC. I deliver the wagons to 2nd...
Thursday, 15 August 2013

Diary Entry - 15th August, 1918

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Take a walk round in the morning, visiting the Colonel with Scottie. Coming back via D 36 we discovered there was to be a BCs' meeting t...
Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Diary Entry - 14th August, 1918

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I got rather a shock when, just turning out for breakfast at nine a.m., see the Colonel looking down into the trench, along with Vaisey and ...
Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Diary Entry - 13th August, 1918

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Came up to the guns to stop and relieve Major who goes for a rest to the wagon lines.
Monday, 12 August 2013

Diary Entry - 12th August, 1918

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Parade in a mist at forward wagon lines at seven forty-five a.m. The manoeuvres go on all the morning, finishing up with a pow wow at one p....
Sunday, 11 August 2013

Diary Entry - 11th August, 1918

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The usual routine at the wagon lines. I go to the show at night.
Saturday, 10 August 2013

Diary Entry - 10th August, 1918

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Go up to see the Major in the morning about the open warfare stunt to be carried out with the 99th Inf. Brigade on the Sabbath and meet the ...
Friday, 9 August 2013

Diary Entry - 9th August, 1918

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Go to the Barn Owls in the evening with Todd and DJ36 and Roche Kelly honoured us with his presence at tea. He is ADVS of the division, a pe...

Diary Entry - 8th August, 1918

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A beautiful day for the show, a lovely bright sun which made the wagons and horses look topping. Naturally, there was great competition for ...
Tuesday, 6 August 2013

Diary Entry - 6th to 7th August, 1918

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No entry for 6th August. 7th August: The Major came down again to put on the finishing touches.

Diary Entry - 5th August, 1918

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Inclined to be wet. I have somewhat of a tiff with Keith, all on his side, because I would not allow him over our jumps as they were not fin...
Sunday, 4 August 2013

Diary Entry - 4th August, 1918

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Have a good look round and the Major comes round about eleven a.m. and spends most of his time pulling the show horses' tails and trimmi...
Saturday, 3 August 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd August, 1918

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I go to the wagon line for lunch and Barrett comes up in the afternoon.
Friday, 2 August 2013

Diary Entry - 2nd August, 1918

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Find it raining heavily on getting out for breakfast. The Major makes for the wagon line early in the morning. Otherwise everything as usual...
Thursday, 1 August 2013

Diary Entry - 1st August, 1918

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Come down from the OP through the wood, as the Hun was five nining the usual track and round the corner of the wood. There is a peculiar hor...
Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Diary Entry - 31st July, 1918

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I spent the day at Apple OP for the twenty-four hours and, except for a few odd rounds of harassing fire, had a quiet time. Everything else ...
Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Diary Entry - 30th July, 1918

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Am somewhat surprised to see in orders that Siggers becomes acting Major of 15th Bty and I acting captain of the 45th and go round to 15th B...

Diary Entry - 29th July, 1918

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Funnily enough the Huns did fire at the gun as soon as it started the usual night harassing fire so we had to pull it out and put it in our ...

Diary Entry - 28th July, 1918

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Hearing the forward gun had been shot at most of the night we decided to move it and went up to select a position in the morning. We find on...
1 comment:
Saturday, 27 July 2013

Diary Entry - 27th July, 1918

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Major takes Saunders to the OP and they do a little shooting.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Diary Entry - 24th to 26th July, 1918

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On Wednesday, the Major and Cruikshank went to the WL and on Thursday I spent the day at Dorris OP (daylight only) but there was little or n...
Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Diary Entry - 23rd July, 1918

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Got in for breakfast at five a.m. then went to bed and got up at eleven a.m. It was a beautiful sunny summer's day and everything was as...

Diary Entry - 22nd July, 1918

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Register after lunch as the Hun rather spoilt our plans in the morning. The men were working with the ammunition, carrying it out from the r...
Sunday, 21 July 2013

Diary Entry - 21st July, 1918

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In the evening we take the guns forward to what was our old position to register for a raid which is coming off during the following night. ...
Saturday, 20 July 2013

Diary Entry - 20th July, 1918

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Nothing doing all day. The Major rides his small pony up the line on his way to the OP, leaving it in a gun pit at TMs. Siggers comes in for...
Friday, 19 July 2013

Diary Entry - 19th July, 1918

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Remain at the guns, my only job being to hunt round for some timber for the gun pits. Am rather sorry to hear from the Major that Siggers is...

Diary Entry - 18th July, 1918

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Set out for Dorris OP at four fifteen a.m. and am somewhat fed up after walking the two miles to find I have come on the wrong day. A horse ...
Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Diary Entry - 17th July, 1918

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At ten a.m. I set out for the wagon lines on Julia. Lunched there, and Cruikshank, Siggers, McKenna, Thornburn, Crabtree, Graham and I all r...
Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Diary Entry - 16th July, 1918

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At the guns. A warm steamy day with thundery clouds hanging about in the morning. Our chaps downed a Hun plane and two camels downed a Germa...

Diary Entry - 15th July, 1918

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Go along the FOO wire in the morning and mend five breaks and then have it cut behind us before reaching No. 10 post. Major goes up to cover...
Sunday, 14 July 2013

Diary Entry - 14th July, 1918

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Brig General Ironside who commands the 6th inf bde comes round the guns with the Colonel, he and Jumbo were at the shop together and are gre...

Diary Entry - 13th July, 1918

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Do orderly at the guns. Barrett back from OP. Major goes up the line to meet Howard who commands the 60th KRRs to arrange about some dayligh...
Friday, 12 July 2013

Diary Entry - 12th July, 1918

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In the afternoon, stroll southwards, along what was the old German frontline in 1917, to the Essarts Hannaschamp road, in search of C124 bat...
1 comment:
Thursday, 11 July 2013

Diary Entry - 11th July, 1918

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Go down to the wagon lines at twelve, Siggers and I go off to Corgneaux in a Ford box car to see Russell. He sent it over for us. He had cal...
Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Diary Entry - 10th July, 1918

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Remain at the guns all day and have to wear my gas respirator from seven to eight, as an order came out they were to be worn an hour each da...
Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Diary Entry - 9th July, 1918

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Get back at twelve p.m. having had an uneventful night. Get a bath and shave and feel much refreshed. It is very thundery and close, and lat...
Monday, 8 July 2013

Diary Entry - 8th July, 1918

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I am informed at ten a.m. that someone is due at OP from us and, as it is my turn, off I have to push, with two signallers on a three-mile w...
1 comment:
Sunday, 7 July 2013

Diary Entry - 7th July, 1918

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Brigade move out in the afternoon. Barrett and Lambkin arrive down soon after lunch from the position. The Major stays up there for the nigh...
Saturday, 6 July 2013

Diary Entry - 6th July, 1918

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Commence on two more pits, getting some men from the advance wagon lines to help. Also go into Monchy to arrange about baths. Send up a GS w...
Friday, 5 July 2013

Diary Entry - 5th July, 1918

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Come down to brigade to stop till our guns come down. HQ, who move out in the direction of Bienvillers, intend handing over their accommodat...
Thursday, 4 July 2013

Diary Entry - 4th July, 1918

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After lunch walk down to the rear position to get the men working on it. The Major also goes down to see brigade and we eventually spend mos...
Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd July, 1918

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At six p.m. relieve Pocock at the batallion and find the 1st KRRS in and soon after I arrived a new Colonel - Howard - stepped in to take co...
1 comment:
Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Diary Entry - 2nd July, 1918

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Major and self go out after breakfast and reconnoitre the Purple Line and OP, covering same and have about a five mile walk. We went past Du...
Monday, 1 July 2013

Diary Entry - 1st July, 1918

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Remain at the guns. Major and Lambkin go down to the WL to see how our section got on in the show. The latter had to act as section commande...
1 comment:
Sunday, 30 June 2013

Diary Entry - 30th June, 1918

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OP at eight a.m. Hun two-seaters are rather busy patrolling, so ask for some scouts and at ten thirty a.m. 5 come out and down a Hun in flam...
Saturday, 29 June 2013

Diary Entry - 29th June, 1918

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Walk with Major towards the forward wagon line, leaving him at the 15th to attend a BCs meeting. Find on reaching the forward wagon lines th...
Friday, 28 June 2013

Diary Entry - 28th June, 1918

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Go to the forward WL in the morning and on to rear position then back for lunch nothing doing in afternoon.
Thursday, 27 June 2013

Diary Entry - 27th June, 1918

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Lambkin goes down to rear wagonline to start men on rear position mine and in the afternoon the Major and I went down to brigade and we all ...

Diary Entry - 26th June, 1918

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On relieving old Lambkin at the OP in the morning became rather nervous as am told the barrage was all wrong and we bashed in our own frontl...
Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Diary Entry - 25th June, 1918

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Stay at the guns all day and in the evening take the forward gun to another position and eventually get it settled in about twelve a.m. just...
Monday, 24 June 2013

Diary Entry - 24th June, 1918

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Went up to the OP at eight a.m. and relieved Tucker who had just been ticked off by the Perrire for allowing his men to use the trench as a ...
Sunday, 23 June 2013

Diary Entry - 23rd June, 1918

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The captain man takes Scottie and I round the OPs and forward gun and we seem to walk all round France. The Hun seems to be pretty tame, as ...
Saturday, 22 June 2013

Diary Entry - 22nd June, 1918

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March at eight a.m. Siggers and I ride on to St Amand and find B189 is the battery we take over from 46th Div. They remain at the wagonlines...
Friday, 21 June 2013

Diary Entry - 21st June, 1918

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After breakfast Major goes to seven ones gun line to say goodbye to the men but comes round in stables and seems to have a wonderful eye for...
Thursday, 20 June 2013

Diary Entry - 20th June, 1918

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Make for Arras at seven thirty in order to catch a lorry which was to leave the Octoir at eight a.m. for St Amand and the new gun positions ...
Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Diary Entry - 19th June, 1918

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At eleven a.m. McKenna and I walked to the guns for lunch. It was a very muggy and thundery sort of day so we were pretty warm when we got t...

Diary Entry - 18th June, 1918

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Inclined to rain in the morning but fines up about ten a.m. although still thundery. Siggers comes down for lunch. Notice that Thorburn is b...
Monday, 17 June 2013

Diary Entry - 17th June, 1918

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Ride down to Lenz Arras Road in morning to engage a bath for the afternoon and thoroughly enjoy the large enamel bath at three p.m. At eveni...

Diary Entry - 16th June, 1918

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Siggers was down in the morning but went up before lunch to play the organ for the Padre's service in the Mess. McKenna, Lambkin and I w...
Saturday, 15 June 2013

Diary Entry - 15th June, 1918

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Take out four bombardiers in the morning map reading and we go for a good ride round, calling at RA about twelve p.m., they all seem good th...
Friday, 14 June 2013

Diary Entry - 14th June, 1918

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Cruikshank gets down about eleven a.m. and after lunch we ride out to see the thin horses grazing on the track to St Eloi. Barrett goes up i...
Thursday, 13 June 2013

Diary Entry - 13th June, 1918

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Colonel comes at ten a.m. and inspects A subsection in marching order and E sub in skeleton order harness, also goes round everything else a...
Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Diary Entry - 12th June, 1918

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Ride to the rear position in the morning. A very busy day at the wagonlines, as had to get all the harness ready for the Colonel's inspe...

Diary Entry - 11th June, 1918

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McKenna and self go to Chamblain l'Abbe, have lunch at the club and draw money from the field cashier. In the afternoon we watched a gam...

Diary Entry - 10th June, 1918

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In the afternoon ride a bike up to the guns to see about the 2MS who is inclined to crib about having to go up to the guns, but Siggers, as ...
Sunday, 9 June 2013

Diary Entry - 9th June, 1918

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At eleven a.m. the Colonel, Major Mills, Flemming, Crabtree and Pocock, two new subalterns, went round the rear defence lines and looked at ...

Diary Entry - 8th June, 1918

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At eleven a.m. the ADVS 15th division came round to see the forage and looked at some of the horses' feet as had to send in some sort of...
1 comment:
Friday, 7 June 2013

Diary Entry - 7th June, 1918

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There was the usual inspection of harness which was not at all good. A subsection as usual walked away with the half holiday. A certain Driv...

Diary Entry - 6th June, 1918

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I took the horses out to a new grazing field after breakfast and went on to see Pelham as we badly needed some lime. Barrett went to Camblai...
Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Diary Entry - 5th June, 1918

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Barrett and I take a flutter to the rear position in the afternoon. The CRA Corps was round the horses during stables and congratulated ever...
Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Diary Entry - 4th June, 1918

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Send up a working party under Sergeant Head and go up myself at nine to get them started on clearing the entrance to the old hole so the whe...
Monday, 3 June 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd June, 1918

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Siggers comes down in the morning to have a look round and in the afternoon we both ride up to rear position to arrange about building 4.2 p...

Diary Entry - 2nd June, 1918

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Cruikshank goes up to the guns in the afternoon and I accompany him to see the Captain. Barrett comes back with me and as we cross Roclincou...
Saturday, 1 June 2013

Diary Entry - 1st June, 1918

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Had a smoke helmet inspection on parade and also withdrew all blankets but one from the men. All are supposed to be handed in but as the bat...
Friday, 31 May 2013

Diary Entry - 31st May, 1918

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Go to the farm with Cruikshank in the morning and as we go note that the Hun HV guns are after the 12' gun on the railway, but after a f...
Thursday, 30 May 2013

Diary Entry - 30th May, 1918

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Siggers comes down and we all ride over to see Vosper and are pleased to find him well and hearty, expecting to be sent down the line in a c...

Diary Entry - 29th May, 1918

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Come down to wagon line for lunch. Walk over with Mike afterwards to see one of our FEs which has come down after being over to drop its bom...
Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Diary Entry - 28th May, 1918

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We were somewhat surprised to hear from Cruikshank that the Major (Vosper) had been hit while in bed by a bullet from an enemy's plane. ...
Monday, 27 May 2013

Diary Entry - 27th May, 1918

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Spend a lively night of it at the OP keeping a keen look out for a raid or any signs of enemy action. The Hun at two p.m. shelled the back a...
Sunday, 26 May 2013

Diary Entry - 26th May, 1918

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Go to the OP to do a 24-hours duty and notice as we pass the section that No.1 gun has jammmed and not run up - probably some springs smashe...
Saturday, 25 May 2013

Diary Entry - 25th May, 1918

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Warm and steamy. Siggers and I walked to battalion but found the Colonel and General just in the act of going round the trenches and, as the...
Friday, 24 May 2013

Diary Entry - 24th May, 1918

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Rained heavily all morning, clearing again towards evening. Barrett did roving OP and came back soaked to the skin, only wearing a British W...

Diary Entry - 23rd May, 1918

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A high wind blows (50 f.s) and signs of a change approaching. Siggers and I go up to the OP in the afternoon to register No 1 as it has been...
Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Diary Entry - 22nd May, 1918

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Siggers comes up for lunch and is shown around by the Major. A beautiful warm day and we bathe again in the afternoon, meeting the Padre on ...
Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Diary Entry - 21st May, 1918

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Do roving OP but spend most of the time in the brigade OP with Tucker as don't fancy wandering around the front line, the Hun making it ...
Monday, 20 May 2013

Diary Entry - 20th May, 1918

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Cruikshank goes down at ten a.m. I remain in at the guns to keep shop. Major and I bathe in the afternoon off the island and meet Majors Cla...
Sunday, 19 May 2013

Diary Entry - 19th May, 1918

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Come up to the guns after going to church at Madagascar Corner in the theatre, held by our Padre - the colonel and adjutant were there. On a...
Saturday, 18 May 2013

Diary Entry - 18th May, 1918

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Go for another semi staff ride with signallers BC's limber and no Nos1, we go out towards St Eloi as Siggers and I intended lunching at ...
Friday, 17 May 2013

Diary Entry - 17th May, 1918

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Another beautiful warm day. The Major and Nick come down for tea, I have another knock at cricket with the men in the afternoon.
Thursday, 16 May 2013

Diary Entry - 16th May, 1918

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The weather seems to have suddenly turned into summer and has become very warm. I go looking for men's baths in afternoon and find none ...
2 comments:
Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Diary Entry - 15th May, 1918

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Go to the rear position and out on a staff ride in the afternoon, taking the BC's limber. We take up several positions and get back abou...
Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Diary Entry - 14th May, 1918

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Go to the rear position in the morning. Lambkin takes the map reading. In afternoon, Siggers, McKenna (veterinary officer) and self walk to ...
Monday, 13 May 2013

Diary Entry - 13th May, 1918

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Start work on our rear position. Siggers and self ride over to it in the morning and find that the infantry brigade out of the line use the ...
Sunday, 12 May 2013

Diary Entry - 12th May, 1918

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Major Quiller Couch (son of the author Q) of the 9th Battery relieved me so I came along to the battery, which is only a short walk, and am ...
Saturday, 11 May 2013

Diary Entry - 11th May, 1918

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Very misty. Pay a visit to the 36th Brigade in the morning and find that Jumbo is away distributing remounts at the wagon lines. However, am...
Friday, 10 May 2013

Diary Entry - 10th May, 1918

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There is absolutely nothing to do on this job but try to humour the infantry if they are being spelled and see that any particular point the...
Thursday, 9 May 2013

Diary Entry - 9th May, 1918

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Ride to guns at nine a.m. to do senior liaison officer as Siggers had to be on a court martial. Took over from Major Bromley of 17th Battery...
Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Diary Entry - 8th May, 1918

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A bright sunny morning, rode round to Marveuil to get something from the EFC but found they had moved so went on to Etrun and RAHQ and got m...
1 comment:
Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Diary Entry - 7th May, 1918

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It was inclined to rain in the morning though it eventually fined up about ten thirty. I took the horses out grazing in the afternoon while ...
Monday, 6 May 2013

Diary Entry - 6th May, 1918

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At an order from brigade, a captain or major and subaltern from each battery had to ride the back areas of defence with the colonel, startin...
Sunday, 5 May 2013

Diary Entry - 5th May, 1918

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It rained until ten thirty a.m. and when Siggers came back from church we rode to Duissant to get some money but found no cashier there so p...
Saturday, 4 May 2013

Diary Entry - 4th May, 1918

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Major comes down at ten a.m. and we walk out to look at the horses grazing. He goes back to the guns for lunch. In the aftenoon, Siggers and...
Friday, 3 May 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd May, 1918

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A harness inspection (skeleton order) by Siggers at stables. Go for a ride to see the skins grazing in the afternoon and on the way see thre...
Thursday, 2 May 2013

Diary Entry - 2nd May, 1918

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Cruikshank arrives up from the wagonlines. He has not been feeling fit just lately. The Major goes to the OP and shoots all the guns on some...
Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Diary Entry - 1st May, 1918

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Nicholson goes to the wagonlines in the morning to stop for a few days. All quiet through the day and Siggers pays us a visit in the morning...
Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Diary Entry - 30th April, 1918

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Rains all day. Nicholson comes down from the OP in the morning. Barrett comes up from the wagon lines.
Monday, 29 April 2013

Diary Entry - 29th April, 1918

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A bright sunny day. The Major rides up in the evening about five p.m. having been round the rear trenches reconnoitring in vicinity of Aubig...
Sunday, 28 April 2013

Diary - 28th April, 1918

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On the night of 27th-28th, the battalion on our left had a large raid, sending over 240 men who remained in the enemy's lines for three ...
Saturday, 27 April 2013

Diary Entry - 27th April, 1918

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Gorry of the seven ones relieved me half an hour late, much to my displeasure. On arrival at the Mess find the Major and Cruikshank up on a ...
1 comment:
Friday, 26 April 2013

Diary Entry - 26th April, 1918

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Go to OP. Quite a party of us set out from the guns, including Lambkin who was going to battalion for three days liaison and Siggers who was...
Thursday, 25 April 2013

Diary Entry - 25th April

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Siggers and self call in at the 15th Battery to pick up Major Claudet on our way to start a working party on the reserve (rear) position. At...
Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Diary Entry - 24th April, 1918

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The Colonel came round about ten a.m. and took Siggers off to be shown the OP he'd chosen. The Major is relieved at infantry brigade and...
Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Diary Entry - 23rd April, 1918

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Soon after breakfast Siggers went out to recommoitre an OP to cover the Thilloy reserve line on instructions from the Colonel. The enemy pla...
Monday, 22 April 2013

Diary Entry - 22nd April, 1918

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Orderly dog. The Colonel comes round in the morning and fires off one or two odd remarks about the position. Siggers and Lambkin spend the d...
Sunday, 21 April 2013

Diary Entry - 21st April, 1918

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Arrive down at eleven a.m. to find Siggers in command as the Major had gone to do senior liaison. Young Scott relieved me. Enemy scouts very...
Saturday, 20 April 2013

Diary Entry - 20th April, 1918

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Go to the OP at eight forty-five and eventually reach it at ten fifteen, after walking all over France, and relieve Fleming. A fair amount o...
Friday, 19 April 2013

Diary Entry - 19th April, 1918

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Still cold and inclined to sleet. Except for an odd shell dropping on the road just to our rear, all is quiet. Lt DV Lambkin rejoined his un...
Thursday, 18 April 2013

Diary Entry - 18th April, 1918

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Major and Cruikshank go to the wagonlines, the latter eventually having his kit sent down to stay. Siggers comes up with the Major for tea. ...
Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Diary Entry - 17th April, 1918

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A sunny morning so there was considerable activity in the air on both sides. Clouded over towards midday and the Major could scarcely see th...
Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Diary Entry - 16th April, 1918

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The rest of the battery move in towards evening and everyone finds themselves in very comfortable billets, much more so than the position we...
Monday, 15 April 2013

Diary Entry - 15th April, 1918

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Colonel comes round early and says we are to change position with D36 so there is no use grousing but to get on with it, this being about th...
Sunday, 14 April 2013

Diary Entry - 14th April, 1918

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A very cold north wind blowing with a thin fine mist mixed with it. I have to go to guns, and find the position perched up on a high ridge, ...
Saturday, 13 April 2013

Diary Entry - 13th April, 1918

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Still cold but there is nothing doing all day. We send up a party to dig new position but, on arriving, they find they are not wanted as we ...
Friday, 12 April 2013

Diary Entry - 12th April, 1918

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Ride to Canadian veterinary section to see about some linseed and bran for the horses, but meet with no success. Spend rest of the day near ...
Thursday, 11 April 2013

Diary Entry - 11th April, 1918

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Siggers and self called up to the guns during stables to meet Major on track where we are to have four guns of the battery, the other two re...

Diary Entry - 10th April, 1918

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On going round my horses in the morning find there are two wounded ones and poor Mary, who is mates with Dolly in the centre of the firing b...
Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Diary Entry - 9th April, 1918

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Set out in the rain or Scotch mist at eight a.m., marching second to D 36 lead. We feed about three miles from Aubigny, the misty rain havi...
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Monday, 8 April 2013

Diary Entry - 8th April, 1918

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It rains in the morning and carries on till the evening. Stables absolutely a washout and lines very mucky. Take a walk in the evening and ...
Sunday, 7 April 2013

Diary Entry - 7th April, 1918

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It was a fine morning and there was a church parade in the orchard just near our lines at eleven a.m, at the same time as stables was going ...
Saturday, 6 April 2013

Diary Entry - 6th April, 1918

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Again all our plans are altered at the eleventh hour and we find that instead of marching for Arras and action we are to join our infantry a...
Friday, 5 April 2013

Diary Entry - 5th April, 1918

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Friday - I missed one day. Being orderly dog, I rise at five a.m., get the horses watered and fed. We are supposed to march at eight forty-f...
Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Diary Entry - 3rd April, 1918

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Go to the OP at six a.m. but take the precaution of moving the wire 200 yards to the left and further forward and gaze through a hedge. The ...
Tuesday, 2 April 2013

Diary Entry - 2nd April, 1918

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Take stand to at five a.m. while Cruikshanks strikes off for Martinsart at eight a.m. to do liaison with the infantry. Major and I wander up...
Monday, 1 April 2013

Diary Entry - 1st April, 1918

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Major, Cruikers and Nick go up with battery to relieve the 16 th [18 th ?) battery, who seem in a very guggah state and seem neither to ca...
Sunday, 31 March 2013

Diary Entry - 31st March, 1918

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Siggers and self go to Holy Communion in town major's office. The room was overcrowded, being filled with staff officers and officers an...
Saturday, 30 March 2013

Diary Entry - 30th March, 1918

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Go for a staff ride in the morning and take up several positions, fairly successfully, everyone seeming to be fairly free of rust. Nothing ...
Friday, 29 March 2013

Diary Entry - 29th March, 1918

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Good Friday. It fines up soon after breakfast. At stables at eleven a.m. Loll about in the afternoon, expecting orders at any time as we we...
Thursday, 28 March 2013

Diary Entry - 28th March, 1918

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Go to guns at eight a.m. and arrive just in time to hear we are going to pull out. Ride back and warn the wagon lines, also send up section...
Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Diary Entry - 27th March, 1918

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Go to advance wagon lines near Mailly Cemetery where the limbers and six wagons are all kept harnessed up in case of emergency. Was there a...
Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Diary Entry - 26th March, 1918

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The Colonel visits us at one p.m. and gives us a message for the major which is that we have to supply a liaison officer in the morning to ...
Monday, 25 March 2013

Diary Entry - 25th March, 1918

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None of us needed any rocking to sleep that night. We all just got down to it in the open and needed kicking up when we were called at thre...

Diary Entry - 24th March, 1918

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The situation again critical and there seemed to be some doubt as to whether our right flank was in the air or not. The morning was misty th...
Saturday, 23 March 2013

Diary Entry - 23rd March, 1918

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We were informed before dawn that we had to be ready to cover Beaumetz which had been taken during the night and that the enemy were to be c...
Friday, 22 March 2013

Diary Entry - 22nd March, 1918

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At four a.m. receive orders from guns to fetch up limbers and necessary transport but, as we had moved out our horses from the standings to ...