tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985086472792062572024-03-13T14:19:26.816+11:00Diary of EW Manifold - WWIEdward Walford Manifold was born on 28th April 1892 and grew up in the Western District of Victoria. Together with his older brother William Herbert (Bee), he travelled to England to join the Royal Field Artillery when World War I broke out. Day by day, this blog publishes his letters home and the entries he made in his diaries, from 1915 when he was first sent to France until 1918 when his service ends.
(To follow on Twitter: manifold1418)zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comBlogger946125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-73896997635710209792013-09-10T19:23:00.001+10:002013-09-10T19:23:38.613+10:00Condolence Letter Tucked into Back of Diary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-83657559307583687162013-09-10T19:22:00.001+10:002013-09-10T19:22:08.143+10:00Honours and Awards - 48th Battalion, RFA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-5520279021455245232013-09-10T19:16:00.005+10:002013-09-10T19:16:31.894+10:00Casualties - 48th Battalion, RFA<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-85084299140571998442013-09-09T16:25:00.002+10:002013-09-09T16:25:40.452+10:00Diary Entry - 8th September, 1918An 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 while trying to get DAC horses clear of a Sunken Road outside his HQ - hear that my leave to Australia is granted from Capt Pelham and waste no time but start for rail head that night.<br />
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Lt Hoyland and 2nd JA Nicholson killed a few weeks later while souvenir hunting in a village west of Cambrai.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-7383262897052316172013-09-09T16:24:00.000+10:002013-09-09T16:24:22.517+10:00Diary Entry - 7th September, 1918The 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 p.m. and think we were first to get our horses there.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-89699086968169566822013-09-06T21:49:00.000+10:002013-09-06T21:49:29.469+10:00Diary Entry - 6th September, 1918Enemy very active with long range guns all night, throwing them at random anywhere at all. Several periods were very unhealthy, but it was no use moving as shells were falling everywhere. Several times crawled out of bed into a trench and one dudd landed very close. However, in morning very relieved to find no casualties. Horses moved toVrancourt in afternoon as shells still falling about, even back there, as Hun seemed to know that our engines with trains were hauling the necessaries for guns and men to a rail head here, even though it had only been in our hands about three days. The guns went forward near the canal yesterday, to position near Doignies.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-34348751349099316182013-09-05T07:26:00.002+10:002013-09-05T07:26:34.954+10:00Diary Entry - 5th September, 1918 More battling for water, all kinds of promises made by the gilded staff but nothing forthcoming.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-53631596644165476742013-09-04T08:43:00.000+10:002013-09-04T08:43:21.550+10:00Diary Entry - 4th September, 1918Much 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 in a queue to get near the precious liquid.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-17219399772145720462013-09-03T09:06:00.004+10:002013-09-03T09:06:44.655+10:00Diary Entry - 3rd September, 1918Limbers 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 arranged valley. However, on arriving at intended spot - and waiting for orderlies from guns and receiving none - go out in search and find everything streaming on over the sky line towards the enemy. After a long ride, find the brigade in a small valley just in rear of Morchies and eventually get everything along there, after losing water cart for hours, and several other vehicles. The Hun seems from reports to have footed it over the Canal du Nord which runs through Cambrai.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-40077062258532921402013-09-02T09:27:00.003+10:002013-09-02T09:27:44.592+10:00Diary Entry - 2nd September, 1918During 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 brigade to learn the situation, hear 62nd have again failed - also hear Canadians have broken through south of Scarpe at Arras and are well into the gap. Australians well through Peronne and on Mont St Quentin.<br />
<br />zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-37372058819651238522013-09-01T22:26:00.000+10:002013-09-01T22:26:11.316+10:00Diary Entry - 1st September, 1918Battery 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 attack at dawn, but they failed to clear the village of Vrancourt, although tanks assisted and got right through the village. Several tanks whom we saw said the village was ours if the infantry had followed.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-53822317913558643452013-08-31T08:47:00.001+10:002013-08-31T08:47:34.906+10:00Diary Entry - 31st August, 1918Move 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 very crestfallen and angry at someone having given a wrong order.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-26298049950540508322013-08-31T08:47:00.000+10:002013-08-31T08:47:09.883+10:00Diary Entry - 30th August, 1918Shells 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.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-40027053290115947912013-08-29T08:41:00.003+10:002013-08-29T08:41:41.212+10:00Diary Entry - 29th August, 1918Shelled 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 get our horse lines. The Column catch it, losing several horses, and by nine a.m. we were on the road to the gun and lock stock and barrel pitching our lines in front of guns as Hun was falling back through Vaux Vraucourt.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-84605575175306439092013-08-28T07:03:00.000+10:002013-08-28T07:03:50.832+10:00Diary Entry - 28th August, 1918Rise 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 night and an ammunition dump been established on road to Behangier.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-38997168540720139092013-08-28T07:02:00.001+10:002013-08-28T07:02:30.985+10:00Diary Entry - 27th August, 1918We 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 poor but get a little in Gommiecourt and Achiet le Grande.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-21454130884034793642013-08-27T08:21:00.000+10:002013-08-27T08:21:42.687+10:00Diary Entry - 26th August, 1918Get 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 badly and seem to think they have priority.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-90151825169045045512013-08-25T07:26:00.001+10:002013-08-25T07:26:43.675+10:00Diary Entry - 25th August, 1918A peaceful day, haul up six wagons of ammunition, look for better watering, as demand had become greater than supply at Douchie, but fail to find anything worth moving to. The Huns are retreating through St Leger and Mory, closely pursued by our infantry, supposed to be assisted by cavalry.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-642074191608073622013-08-24T10:06:00.000+10:002013-08-24T10:06:09.812+10:00Diary Entry - 24th August, 1918Move wagon lines to Douchie where RE had water and troughs in full swing and the whole world seemed to be concentrated round about Douchie even before we arrived there and thousands more horses came crowding up all day. We had a section and one howitzer standing in readiness to advance from guns all day and it was some job trying to supply all wants for guns and wagonlines, especially as I had to stand by at the guns with the teams for the section ready to go forward, but felt very pleased at having Hoyland with us again as of course he knew the ropes from A to Z, although only holding subaltern rank now. The forward or galloping section was withdrawn to wagonlines at dusk, and I got back to Douchie about nine p.m. feeling very dusty and tired.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-59833570466447682222013-08-23T08:04:00.002+10:002013-08-23T08:04:41.379+10:00Diary Entry - 23rd August, 1918Rode 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's, find him out, and he has arranged nothing, but this is the usual way that sort of person treats you. As we are wondering what's to be done, some infantry march up and bury two officers and, on approaching one of their officers and stating our difficulties, he gives us some men to dig a grave, and their Padre offers to take the service. When the grave was finished, we carried on, but before we could place poor Cruikers at rest had to lengthen it as he was a good six foot one and the grave was not quite long enough. On returning to the wagon lines, found guns had to be moved forward again to a position to north west of Courcelle-le-Comte, which the Major was reconnoitring, and we got guns and ammunition in at dusk.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-8781473508640940282013-08-22T08:26:00.003+10:002013-08-22T08:26:25.342+10:00Diary Entry - 22nd August, 1918Guns are evidently moved up to within 300 yards of our trenches on Tuesday night. Attack commences at dawn. Cruikshank, poor chap, killed by a premature during first phases of the barrage, from some battery in rear. He was seen to fall and when examined it was found a shrapnel bullet had penetrated back of his steel helmet far enough to push a piece of his skull onto his brain, thus killing him at once poor chap. He was a fine young chap who had joined a mounted rifle regiment at 16 and fought through the German East African campaign then sailed to England and joined the RFA, and we are all very sad to lose him. By nine a.m. the battle had progressed so well that wagon lines were ordered up to Monchy. That evening as I rode away from the lines towards St Amand to arrange about Cruikers' burial, an old BE crashed, killing both pilot and observer. Evidently they were just circling round Divisional HQ, while the observer finished his reconnaissance report preparatory to delivering it by parachute, when they crashed into a balloon wire, tearing off a wing, cutting the balloon loose and crashing on the main road not 20 yards from our horse lines. It was late when I returned from St Amand and really could not make any arrangements, as all troops were in the forward area, so left it in the hands of the town Major to have a grave dug and padre ready to officiate at the burial service on Friday afternoon.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-45366031548502124402013-08-21T07:11:00.000+10:002013-08-21T07:11:31.884+10:00Diary Entry - 21st August, 2013Go 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 dares to mention it as Corps have people on the alert to catch people talking about future events - a new and much needed measure in our army.
zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-27454531619176516912013-08-20T12:37:00.000+10:002013-08-20T12:39:55.082+10:00 zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-90246188908377168892013-08-19T09:36:00.000+10:002013-08-19T09:36:08.997+10:00Diary Entry - 19th August, 1918Cruikshank 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 after lunch for a few minutes, but I just missed him as had to attend a funeral (?) Cruikers and I spent the evening playing some sort of whist he introduced to us.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498508647279206257.post-17663298632208221302013-08-19T09:34:00.002+10:002013-08-19T09:34:44.632+10:00Diary Entry - 18th August, 1918The 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 help Major Scott.zmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.com0