Diary Entry - 1st to 3rd May, 1916

On Monday, I spent an uneventful day at the guns. On Tuesday, I went to a detached section and relieved Hoyland, who went to the OP. This is a new scheme, just begun, by which an officer does guns, detached section, OP on three consecutive days. It was a nice, quiet, lazy day in the woods of Noulette but I must say I got very bored with it before night came on. On Wednesday, I had a quiet morning but in the afternoon we had a mortar strafe on the trenches from Calonne southward for about a quarter of a mile. At four forty-five, the 47th division blew up a mine to the south of us, which caused rather a disturbance for about 40 minutes. The Colonel was up at the OP all day and gave us 30 rounds to blaze away on crossroads, which we duly carried out. During the strafe, the Bosch brought down a British aeroplane, which planed down just north of the wood but, as it landed, turned over and caught fire, the two pilots escaping into the wood.

Diary Entry - 28th, 29th and 30th April, 1916

I was at the guns on the 28th. That night, the wind being in the east, the gas alert was on. I rose at four thirty and, on going to the Mess at five for breakfast, tried to stop a man on a horse galloping down the road. He simply shouted, 'Gas', waved a helmet in my face and tore on. Well, I could not smell gas, so went on with breakfast, but saw two more men on horses pass. They had their helmets on. At about five twenty, the OP party, consisting of two grooms, two signallers and myself, set out. It was a beautiful, still, warm morning, with a haze hanging about. Just as we got to the centre of Noulette and were coming up to the wood, we smelled a peculiar sweet sort of smell but never took much notice of it, as thought it was the usual French village odour. On reaching the OP, I had a slight pain and also noticed all the buttons of my signaller's tunic and my own, which were polished when I left, were now black and realised that we had had a whiff of gas. The 15th got a fair amount of it and it made a number of them ill. No rounds were fired all day. On Sunday, I went to Béthune to have a haircut but, as most of the shops were shut, returned early in the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 27th April, 1916

Another good summer's day at OP. Ther was no shelling on our front all day but there was a reported gas attack by the enemy at Hulluch at about 4 a.m. and the shelling continued until nine thirty. In the afternoon, we shot by aeroplane and the whole show was an absolute farce, a pure waste of ammunition. We laid on the target by map and were pretty well on it and each target the aeroplane chap made us drop back to about 500 yards short, but whether he thought he had the target I don't know.

Diary Entry - 25th and 26th April, 1916

Summer weather. We have at last given up the forward slope of Lorette and come back to an OP which can be approached by day. It is on the Lorette ridge, but about level with Bois Six. On going up in the morning, Gunner Hand and I went too far forward and got into some bad trenches, which we had to creep along to keep under cover and there were plenty of deads laying about too. However, after an hour and a half's hunt, we found our right trench and a comfortable little OP - more so than the other place, and quite a good view of the front. Nothing much happened all day - the Bosch pip squeaked the whole of our front line and supports very systematically, covering all our zone but, of course, we could not retaliate. In the afternon, Kellagher came up and we did some lamp work with the battery. Then I had 10 rounds to register a trench with and just got in on the last round. The 26th I spent at the guns and, except for a strafe up north, all was quiet and we never fired a round.

'A Very Good Horseman'

Letter Home - 24th April, 1916

24th April, 1916

Dear Mother,

Many thanks for both your letters this mail. It was good of you to send us a mail each, as we never knew when we would see one another to pass letters on. As it is now, Bee is with the BAC, about four miles back and I don't suppose I shall see him for perhaps a fortnight.

Dad, we have both plenty of money. I have not drawn anything out of our joint account since we left England, and I don't expect Bee has. The only things to use your money on out here are clothes, (necessaries), and eatables, and there is not much variety to be obtained of either. We will let you know, Dad, when it is getting low, but, unless the rest of the family draw on it, we ought to be all right for some little time yet.

Yes, Mum, I suppose we have settled down to life out here, but there is no other way about it. You have to take what comes. I often wish some of our shearers could see what has to be put up with here. It would do them the world of good, and they would not be able to go out on strike for shorter hours, better food and higher wages. I think of a dose of Field Punishment No. 1 would get them up.

I must go back to where we were on rest, as wrote last from there, I think. Sunday was a splendid day, and we had a section football match between the men, and, as Suttie had returned from England the night before and brought a lot of colours with him, it looked quite like the proper game. The men were very keen and put up a very good game, the colours gave them more of a chance than their military dress, as they could distinguish their teams and play together.

It rained on Sunday night and Monday morning, but fortunately stopped for the afternoon so that we could hold the sports. The ground was on the crest of a hill and, as it was blowing fairly hard, we got the full benefit of it. It was not a nice day, but it was a popular meeting and things went off very well. Captain Palmer of the 15th was running the show and, of course, had all his men as keen as razors. They had had a good deal of practice and I think expected to wipe the floor. The first event was 100 yards, in which my servant came second and the BAC won.

Then there was section jumping, won by the 15th; wrestling on horseback; led horses jumping, 48th; subalterns jumping, first 15th, 48th second and third; led horses trotting, 48th; boot and jacket race, 48th; relay race, BC column; VC race, 15th; open jumping, Staff Captain. That should give you an idea of the show. We got our share of the winnings, although we only had one practice when picking the teams. I jumped my wee Ginger in both Subalterns' and the open jumping. The jumps were well up to the wee chap's chin, but he flew them very well and brought us in second to a very good horse in the Subalterns' and in the first 4 of the open, which satisfied me

I had only had him over three jumps before and did not know him, so I think he went jolly well. Bee, I believe, had a good horse to jump, but unfortunately the BAC went away on Sunday – at least part of it did, and he went in charge. Some of the events were most amusing, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely, especially gunners and drivers. Charlie Armytage was there, trying to jump a horse, but I think he went through most of them. The horse could not get much spring with about 14 stone up. I have a most amusing report from Major Crozier on the course and must tell dad that he wrote in it the phrase “a very good horseman" – it ought to tickle him. The others were so bad, I expect, that he put down me as the best of a bad lot. On Tuesday morning it rained, and Wednesday morning, but it fined by midday, when we had to march up to action.

On the Tuesday, Hoyland and I rode up to see the people we're taking over from. They are a 4-gun battery, and we also had to see another lot as we were taking over two guns from them too – to make up our six. It was a very wet trip there and we had to wait about four hours for the Major. On arrival, he was away and the fool of a subaltern in the Mess would not help us out of the difficulty by telling us when he would be back. So we had to sit there in the Mess and await lunch, which this man had brought in at two. We were glad to get away at four thirty, as soon as we had gained all the information we wanted, as we had about 12 miles to cover.

We left our lines at two on Wednesday and were inspected by the Colonel as we marched out of the town but, as there was no room to square up in wagon line and gun wagons were dotted all through the column in any order, I don't think we made a very pretty picture. We had one or two minor accidents on the road, such as broken pole bars, but there was nothing serious. Before we had gone two miles, the rain started and carried on until about Saturday night - and some of it was rain that would drench you in about five minutes. We have not done a march since I have been out when it has not rained or snowed. Well, we got into our wagon lines about seven, and I went straight up to the guns and took over.

Since coming in there has not been a moment to spare, and I will tell you why. On coming up to a place where 6-gun batteries are taking over from 4-gun – or, in fact, whenever you take over - you leave your guns at a certain place and take over the guns left in the pits, so as to save pulling the bits down. Well, as I say they are all 4-gun batteries we took over from and so two of our guns were with another battery which, with two of somebody else's, are forming what is called a composite battery. The section officer had to go with these guns, so it left two of us – Siggers and I – to do the work until the detached man, Meade, arrives. He is at present on a course. So it has worked out to our doing OP alternately.

Up to now, we have been using Dead Man's Hill. I told you about it before but, as one can't get there or leave there except in darkness, it means a long day. It works out that we arrive at two thirty a.m. and leave the OP at seven thirty p.m. and the days get longer as they draw out. The guns is also an all-day job but not so strenuous, so you can see there is not much time to look about just now.

I met two more Jesus men on Wednesday – at least, I got a glimpse of them as we came along: Straker, A C and a man named Williams. The former asked me to dinner but there is no time for dining, even with the 15th Hussars. There is not much more to tell you, I think.

Yes, Mum, I think I thanked you for all the socks, belly bands etc, but the latter are not in my line, Mum – once wear them, always wear them – so I gave them to my servant to distribute. I hope you won't be offended! I think Gilliard sent you out some prizes in a box, but whether they will arrive is another matter. However, let me know, if they do. They might interest people out there. It is my turn for leave soon, so, if they start again, I ought to get away in about a month and I will send you a photo in my war paint but would rather be able to send you one as we do it out here – I mean a snapshot – but, unfortunately, cameras are not allowed out here. You were asking how medals are given: well, French medals are allotted so many to a divisional Army and they distribute them from there to Brigades. Our Colonel might have one to give out and he allots who is to get it.

Well, I don't think there is any more news,

Ever your loving son,

Walford

PS Fritz has shelled a French battery behind my billet all morning with 4.2 howitzers, but I don't think he bothers the Froggies much. They have good deep dugouts and between times dash out, and let him have a few back. They wounded three though, but they have been sent to hospital in the ambulance cars.

Diary Entry - 23rd and 24th April, 1916

On Lorette - arrived comfortably at 4 am. A very nice day, but rather a sharp wind blowing, which died down towards evening. It was so light that we could not leave until after a quarter to eight. At the guns on Monday nothing much doing, except the French 105 mms being shelled heavily during the morning but, except for three children being wounded in the Corrons by shrapnel, I don't think much damage was done. A nasty accident occurred with the composite battery where a section of ours and the 50th make up the four guns. Two men were playing catchies with an old bomb, which they thought was unloaded, when someone dropped it on a steel girder and it exploded, wounding two of the 50th. Hoyland has the section at the composite battery, Wallace of the 50th is there and Bailey of the 50th is in charge.

Diary Entry - 22nd April, 1916

Another very wet day at the guns. It poured the whole day and, with a driving north wind, made life very unpleasant.

Diary Entry - 21st April, 1916

At Lorette, my signallers kept me waiting half an hour, for which I cursed them heartily, but it was not much good as it was daylight before we got to Noulette. Consequently, we had to walk up in daylight. The trenches were very wet. They had been spoiled by the 23rd, as were made deeper, but the fools never made allowances for a drain, which the French had at the side before, so I was wet before I got to Lorette. The trenches at Lorette were very bad, and we had to walk up them in full view but, as no bullets or shells chased us, presume they did not see us. It started raining again at four and set in properly.

Diary Entry - 20th April, 1916

It rained hard all day. The dugout leaked and you could not move about the position for five minutes without being soaked round the legs.

Diary Entry - 19th April, 1916

At two we moved off and were inspected by the Colonel at the Divion corner, as we turned down the hill towards Bruay. Well, as our wagon line was very cramped and we could not get our wagons in any sort of order, I don't think the show was a great success. Coming into Bruay, F's firing battery wagon bust a pole bar and we had to slip in a new one. On leaving Bruay, the rain began, and it got heavier as the journey continued, until it was simply coming down in sheets at Hersin. There was another little episode on the way - a nut came off  A sub's staple, which keeps the pole bar from sliding down the pole, but luckily the fitter picked it up complete. We got in to Hersin about five and marched the detachments on from there, the battery making a small detour around the slag heap. On getting into Sins Goelle, the wagon line, we found Kellagher, who ordered all the riding horses up, mounted the detachments and sent them on to the guns. We rode on to Bully, leaving Kellagher to cope with the wagons. At the Mess, we found everybody ready to move off and were told that Suttie was at the guns, so we commenced to wade up there and met him halfway up. He informed us one was to stay with the guns till dinner so, on Hoyland winning the toss, I stopped. Everything was quiet and at eight fifteen I retired for dinner. At ten forty-five, having put on gumboots and prepared for the swim, (it was simply pouring), I and Bates set out for the battery, but I had to stop at detached section to have a wire run out to the main battery and, by the time it was connected up, it was eleven thirty and I was glad to tumble into bed and remain undisturbed till four a.m.

Diary Entry - 18th April, 1916

Another wet day. After looking at a field near Houdain on which horses had been grazing, Hoyland and self left Suttie and rode on up to Bully to see about taking over from Brigade 104. All we had to do was to see that there were no changes from when we moved out and the wagon line was the only place where we had lost any covering or billets. We also had to look up another battery whose position was lower down the slope from ours. We are to take a section of theirs over. The OC of this battery was an old sergeant major and was most amusing, but we did not get much information from him, as he had too much to say. We could not get a word in edgeways

Diary Entry - 17th April, 1916

Another very wet night - and there was a misty rain until about twelve. However, it stopped for the afternoon and, at one forty-five there was quite a big collection on the hill, with the band playing, (2nd Division). The first race was run at about two. The section jumping was the first interesting event, won by the 15th, who put up a very good performance. One of our sections was going well when Sergeant Nott's horse came down and ruined our chance. The leading horse jumping was very good, but I can't think who won it – Wrate, one of my men, was well up. The subalterns' jumping was good fun, and I was in with the last three and took second, Thorborn of the 15th winning with a nice horse. In the wrestling on horseback, we had no opposition. The open jumping was good fun too and my Ginger ran into the first five there and jumped very well. The whole show was excellent and went off very well, thanks to the way Captain Palmer ran it. The 48th had more than their share of the spoils, which I think surprised the 15th, who had practised hard.

Diary Entry - 16th April, 1916

One of the few nice summer days we have had at the present time. In the morning, as orderly officer, I take the grazing party out, while Siggers takes church parade. In the afternoon, there is a subsection football match, which proves to be a very keen contest. Suttie, coming back from the investiture, (a four-day leave), brought back footer clothes for two teams. The Reds - A sub-section - won from B subsection)3 – 0, but there was some good football played and it was well worth watching.

Diary Entry - 15th April, 1916

Tthe sports were to have been held in the morning but it rained very hard through the night and was very showery in the morning so they were postponed till Monday. In the afternoon, it cleared and Bee, Siggers and I went to the baths down at the mine. The coal mine is a huge concern, and they have some good baths there for government inspectors or directors, as do most other mines.

Letter Home - 14th April, 1916

14th April, 1916

Dear Father,

I am glad to hear that there are some of my letters worth reading but it always seems to me a fairly hopeless business trying to write letters when you cannot say where you are or state facts about your part of the line. I hope none of my letters excited Mum too much. She made me laugh when she said, 'How calm he seems about it all' – I must say one is not what you would call comfortable under shellfire, but you have to make out that you are.

We are still resting but go into action again on Thursday 20th and I think we shall be covering the same front as we were when we came out last month.

Since I got back to the troop, we have put in a fair amount of work going out on drill orders and skeleton order every day. Of course, the work done was all with a view to our future – the great advance - taking up positions in the open, varied with open sight work. Everybody got well strafed by Suttie, the CEO, but we took it as part of the day's work. Yesterday was rather a long day, as we had to set out at six thirty on a four-mile walk, to be ready for the Colonel's Drill Order Parade at eight thirty a.m. However, we were there first on the parade ground and had a 15-minute wait. The Colonel had a scheme practising open warfare. Also, of course, we, (the batteries) were all under his control, just as we would be on the advance, and were all connected to his headquarters by telephone. This toy warfare went on till after twelve. Then we marched home, not getting back till two.

Last Sunday, the Dragoon Troop played the 15th soccer on the football ground just below our stables. We were beaten three goals to nil, but it was rather an amusing contest. Our CO did not turn up, so we were a man short and Palmer, the 15th CO, was very good – almost the best on the ground, I think.

Bee and I were minding each other and, as neither of us knew anything about the game, we wandered about like lost sheep. The Sergeant Fitter of the 15th was a great card and amused the Tommies looking on greatly. Bee and I see quite a lot of each other at this place. Our Messes are only a few yards apart. He is with the Ammunition Column now for a time and I am sorry to say the people in his Mess are not what could be desired. However, I suppose he will only be there for a month or so.

The weather has turned dog on us again this week. It has been cold and windy and very showery. We were to have had some brigade sports this afternoon, in which I was jumping my chestnut horse, but the weather is so bad that it has been put off until Monday. There is no more news.

Ever your loving son,

Walford.

PS I sent Estelle some postcards, one with an X on it is where we go to on Thursday, one of the towns is the place we train to from the base, and there are two hills we observe from.

Diary Entry - 14th April, 1916

Friday, we breakfasted at five forty-five, paraded at six fifteen and moved off at six thirty for Marest, where the Colonel was to have the brigade parade at eight thirty. We got there in good time – about 15 minutes before his arrival – and formed up at close interval. The 15th and 71's were only a few minutes behind us. Before moving off, the Colonel told us what he wanted us to do, and we started off on his scheme at about ten to nine. The whole business was the brigade going into action as it would on the advance, with the Colonel directing affairs from his HQ by telephone communication. We only took up one position, but the left section, under Siggers, went on as a detached section to take up a position in advance. At twelve thirty, after the Colonel commented on what had been done, we set out for home and got in about two.

Diary Entry - 9th June 1916

I was at the guns all day - went to the OP in the evening, relieving Claudie.

Diary Entry - 10th to 13th April, 1916

These days were all spent on drill orders and skeleton drill orders alternately, on which there was plenty of strafing for me and in fact for most of the battery. The afternoons were also filled in with either lectures, gun drill or inspections. The parades usually took place on the hills round about Bruay and some days we got as far as Bois des Dames and the Sand Pit. On the Monday, Hoyland and I rode into Béthune when parade ended at the Sand Pit and we had a very rushed afternoon as never got in until one thirty. The mess cart was also late so we never got back to five forty-five. Things were rather heated, as we were to be back for a small stores parade at five. The weather was wet and windy from Tuesday onwards.

I forgot to add that we were on the hill on Thursday morning, running off heats for the sports and got most things run off and some of the events were most amusing. Although it rained hard, we got all the horses over the jumps, with only one fall – my groom coming down with my black horse

Diary Entry - 9th April, 1916

Sunday, there was stables in the morning and in the afternoon the 48th Battery officers and sergeants played the 15th officers and sergeants and the latter won. It was a good game, though, and we were playing a man short as Suttie did not turn up. The sergeant fitter of the 16th was very amusing and kept the Tommies very amused.

Letter Home - 8th April, 1916

8th April, 1916

Dear Mother,

I came back from the gunnery course today. We came back by bus some 12 or 15 miles. On arrival at the Mess, I found a big pile of letters waiting for me and was glad to get all the home news. I see, Mum, you are asking who some of the people I mention in my letters are. Well, Captain Grant Suttie is in command of our battery. Kellagher, who was a lieutenant, has been promoted to acting Captain. Hoyland and Siggers are the same as myself – 2nd Lieutenants. The Colonel who commands the brigade is Colonel Keriviin: he has only been with us for about seven weeks. Pat Sanger I thought you would know – he travelled over in the boat with us and was at GGS [Geelong Grammar School] with us.

The course of 17 days is over and I was sorry it did not last a little longer as, although I learnt a lot, there was a lot of work I did not take in. We are supposed to be on rest now but, from what I can see of it, it is going to be harder work than one does in action, as we are to be at something each day. We are about 12 miles - or 14 - back from the front line, in a coal-mining town, but we are lucky in having a good Mess, although the billet is not quite so good.

I tried to get a postcard of the old French chateau we messed in at the school, but they had run out of them. It was a huge place, like a fort, with a moat and two huge towers connected by a two-storey building. It was dated 1704 and, as it had not been inhabited for some 15 years, you can imagine what it was like. I lived in the chateau all the time, in a small room, which was quite comfortable, except for the draught, which used almost to blow you through the door.

We had some good mornings in the riding school, going over the jumps, and, of course, we did a lot of tactical work and lectures. It was quite a sunny morning when we left at nine thirty a.m. and the ride on the top of the bus was quite interesting.

Well, Mum, I'm afraid there is no more news and there is not much in this letter.

Your affectionate son,

Walford

PS how nice it would be to be a boundary rider again!

Diary Entry - 10th May, 1916

The morning was chilly, with a brisk wind blowing from the south-west and, as I had only three blankets and had tried newspaper to keep the cold out without success, I did not feel very much inclined to get out of bed. However, I emerged soon after five and, having had a hurried and scratchy brekka, made tracks for Lorette. We have built a new OP in a trench running down along the crest, away from the madding crowd, and it commands a splendid view of the trenches. The large telescope was sent up during the morning, and it made life very interesting, as you could distinguish movement a long way back with it. I could have sworn the Bosch were playing tennis behind the veiled crossroads in Lievin. In the evening, I spotted a battery behind the Bois d'Hirondelle.

Letter Home - 2nd April, 1916

2nd April, 1916

Dear Mother,

I am still at the gunnery school, but we break up on Saturday and go back to our batteries. I am just beginning to like this place and, although we get plenty of hard work, one learns a lot here and Major Crozier is the man to teach you.

I am glad to say the weather has taken up again and yesterday and again today have been perfect sunny days. It snowed on Sunday night and we also had some on Monday but I really think we have seen the last of winter now.

Everything is just beginning to shoot, and it won't be long before all the trees are in leaf.

I am feeling rather nervous tonight, as I see I am up for B.C tomorrow and will have to drill a battery in front of the Major, which will be rather an ordeal. Yesterday was rather a good morning as the Major took us in the riding school and we had a few rounds over the jumps. Some of the people are really awful. I don't profess to be much of a rider, but most of the men here consider thy can ride and I never saw such exhibitions as they give jumping - and some of them say they hunt too.

I and about four other men walked for miles today, Sunday, for lunch and tea, just returning at about six fifteen. There are quite a lot of our men about the district, and they do look jolly fit, and strong, but not nearly as smart as the average British Tommy.

I thought I might see someone I knew but never ran across anyone. There is no more news. I hope to see a bunch of letters waiting for me when I get back to the 'Dragoon Troop'.

Your affectionate son

Walford.

Diary Entry - 22nd March to 8th April, 1916

These 17 days or so were spent on a course run by the 1st Army at Liettre, the instructor being Major B B Crozier, with Captain Turner of '1' Battery RHA to help him. Liettre is a small village just south of Aire, which is distant 4 miles. The day's work started at eight thirty and continued with several breaks till six. It was divided up with battery drill, lectures, buzzing gun drill, marching drill and several other little items. On Sunday, the school had leisure to do as they pleased and, on the second Sunday, I walked into Aire with four other men. It was a warm, sunny day and we had raised quite a thirst by the time Aire was reached. During our time there, I saw a number of Australians who looked very healthy and strong and their physique seemed to catch the eye of my companions – and in fact they surprised me. We remained in the town for lunch and tea, returning slowly in the evening. The chateau and its grounds at Liettre were very pretty and the building was dated 1704 but, as it had not been inhabited by the Baron for 15 years, things were going to pieces inside. The building consisted of two big towers connected by a two-storey building. The rooms were very large and had large French doors and windows, which made the place very draughty, mainly from the fact that half the windows had been broken by one course having a snowball fight. In the front there was a moat with a bridge which had been one of the draw type, I think. There were large grounds to the place, with huge trees in them. I was luckily billeted in the chateau, in a small room adjoining another bedroom. It was quite comfortable, though at times very draughty, owing to the fact that a door without a latch on it persisted in blowing open. The weather was kind to us there, although for the first week it was inclined to snow and the wind was very strong and cold. On the 8th the IV corps people got into the bus and were taken to their respective headquarters. On coming through division, I enquired of my battery and found that our mess was only a few yards from the bus, so unloaded all kit.

Diary Entry - 21st March, 1916

A very uninteresting day spent at Lorette. It was very misty all day and inclined to rain. I fired about nine rounds at the Bureau de l'Octroi, with little success, and then gave it up. It is a long day as, to get to Lorette by five, you have to get up soon after three thirty am and you can't get away until nearly six thirty pm.

Diary Entry - 20th March, 1916

I hear Bee goes on leave in the evening so go across to the 15th Mess to see him but have to make two trips and finally catch him in the afternoon. After having tea at the 15th, we walk north to look up Sam McCaughey in the 1st Division next on our left. We find his battery, but he is away with a detached section and we had to go about another mile and were just giving him up when we saw him waving on the horizon. He looks very fit, and we yarn with him for about half an hour then hit out for home, as it is getting dark. I have had quite enough when I get back about seven.

Diary Entry - 19th March, 1916

Been at the guns all day and worked hard at the Morse code most of the time as I'm going on Crozier's gunnery course next week.

Diary Entry - 18th March, 1916

Up at Lorette all day. It was a fair day and I managed to spot the heavy battery, which I proved to be the one shelling our battery. You could see the gun pits plainly (of the left section). The right were behind the buildings of the electric works. It had been reported that the battery was receiving a few shells and so I sent down two or four times, each time the guns fired, and they reported the shells having arrived a few seconds later. We only fired about eight shells all day. Mead was with me and we shot them for his benefit.

Diary Entry - 17th March, 1916

In the morning, Siggers and I went up to the battery and, on returning via the Corrons behind 18th London battery, ran across some very well insulated wire, with three strands in it, lying in the open, with one end buried in a trench. We reported our find to Kellagher and captain. After lunch, the former said, 'That is just the stuff we want – we will get it tonight.' At two thirty, Siggers and I went to the wagon line and then on to Noens-les-Mines for a ride, picking up Hoyland at the WL. That evening, after dinner, Siggers went to the wagon line and changed places with Hoyland. Kellagher, Hoyland and self at seven captured 200 yards of wire and returned unmolested with it over our shoulders to the Mess. It will be excellent for the bells and light at the next position.

Diary Entry - 16th March, 1916

At eight a.m. I was aroused by a large crump which seemed to have burst just outside my billet. Three or four more came over before I discovered that they were bursting right up at the battery. They looked about 20 or 30 yards over and I did not worry much more about them. Splinters about five pounds in weight were falling very heavily around the billet. At breakfast, I mentioned the fact that shells had been bursting in the vicinity of the battery and so, after breakfast, the Major strolled up, as he usually does. After breakfast, I saw Bates, who told me that the battery had had a warm time, but I thought it was exaggeration when he said they all fell within a 30 yard radius of the battery. About ten thirty, I strolled up and, on approaching the position, one could see nothing but chalk smothered over everything. Suttie and Kellagher had all hands on, filling in shell holes. Some of the hits scored were one plumb on the officers' dugout, which bulged the passage in a bit, one on an ammunition dugout to the right of 4 and about seven other hits on the position from No. 2 onwards. The wires were blown to pieces, especially the new electric ones, which had just been put up, and the place was a mass of big 5.9 shell holes. No one was hurt, luckily, but I think a few were shaken. It was simply providence that they never hit a dugout full of men or a gun pit with ammunition in it.

Diary Entry - 13th, 14th and 15th March, 1916

Monday there was nothing to report. Tuesday, I was at the guns and the Bosch expended about 350 rounds of 4.2 and 5.9 hows on the field behind us, a lot of rounds were used on trying to find the 60-pounders. They eventually found them and gave them a lot of pills but, beyond shattering a house in their vicinity, they did no damage. In the afternoon, they were at the 18th London, directly behind us, and gave them a very bad time but only knocked out one man and had many close shaves to pits but did not actually get a direct hit. Wednesday was spent at the O.B. It was a splendid day and I could see for about 20 miles but, as we had gone over our ammunition allowance on Tuesday, I could not fire. I must add that for some reason of GHQ's we are cut down to 5 rounds per gun per day .

Diary Entry - 11th and 12th March, 1916

Nothing of interest happened on the 11th. On Sunday, we gave a large dinner party. The guests were Colonel Kerwin, Major Powell, Waldren, Barham, Luiller. All day it was expected that Kellagher had to go to the 9th as captain – in fact, he had reported — but at dinner Luiller announced that he was to be captain of the 48th, which cheered him up immensely. The evening ended about one am.

Diary Entry - 9th and 10th March, 1916

Siggers and I went to Béthune at three-thirty pm to get a haircut and do a little shopping. We left for the guns again at six thirty, having got everything we wanted, but got lost in the dark and, although we weren't far out of our way, we had some trouble to get on the right track again and finally got home at about nine. I sleep at the guns that night, and it snows again in the night. Nothing unusual happens during the day.

Diary Entry - 8th March, 1916

In the afternoon, Suttie, Cottew and I went up to the trenches to follow the infantry wire, mark it and staple it into the walls of the trench. We went right up to the front line and out into the saps and had a look over the top but, to my mind, you could not see much. In one we went to, we were only 25 yards from Boschie, and it was supposed to be a listening post, but Suttie made a devil of a noise out there, not knowing at the time. On our return, we had two rifle grenades fall unpleasantly close to us, and I was covered with mud from the burst each time. We were going along once and there was a noise like a shell coming and I ducked, but someone said, 'There she goes,' and, on looking up into the air, I saw one of our trench mortar shells floating on in the blue. It made a splendid bang on coming down.

Diary Entries - 6th March and 7th March, 1916

6th March, 1916

My day at the guns, and am very comfortable in the dugout, with a nice warm charcoal fire. The only thing doing  is lighting up the pits in the afternoon with electricity supplied from a 12-volt accumulator, which proves a great success.

7th March, 1916

A cold day on Lorette, with a bad light all day. During the fog, I go out on the Notre Dame de Lorette battlefield, to see what is to be seen. The power of shellfire opened my eyes. The top of the hill is ploughed up completely in a series of large holes. There were also lots of relics of the fight in evidence, such as dead Bosch and Frenchmen lying about.

Diary Entry - 5th March, 1916

Another cold, bleak day, it having snowed during the night. I stay at the Mess, while Hoyland and Siggers wander off nine miles to Béthune to buy food and supplies for the Mess.

Diary Entry - 4th March, 1916

Rise again at five to five, this time an hour late. Dress hurriedly and rush off with Hoyland, without breakfast. It is snowing and beginning to get light, so we trot the three miles without a stop and ride right up to the trench. On hurriedly climbing the hill through the snow, Hoyland loses his way and we wander about the hillside in the open for about 15 minutes, and finally see some people laying a wire on our right and make for them. It is Lee Warner and his telephonists, and Hoyland at last finds the OB, and we spent a very cold day in the damp dugout, as it snows most of the day. When it finally clears at four, there is a splendid view, but it is too cold to admire it for long.

Diary Entry - 3rd March, 1916

I rise at three to meet the centre section. I asked to be called at four but have no watch. It is very dark and have wretched walk up to the guns, stumbling into shell holes and over wires, and find the French getting everything ready to move. Having no idea of the time, I rush back to the crossroads and meet the guns as they are coming down the road and take them straight up to the position. After an hour's chaos, the ammunition is unloaded and everything gets away and we run the guns in, as soon as the French get away, which is just before daylight.

Diary Entry - 2nd March, 1916

Kellagher rises at four to meet Maasdorp at the crossroads, with the right and left sections and, as the French are late in getting out, it is daybreak before the two guns are in the pits - but luckily very misty. In registering the left section, I got a taste of the Bosch's shelling, as he drops 5.9s and pipsqueaks very close to number six gun pit.

Diary Entry - 1st March, 1916

Maasdorp returns from leave and we meet him on the way down to the wagon line. Suttie and Siggers leave their bed at four thirty in the morning to go to the OB, which is exactly five kilometres in a southerly direction. After breakfast, Kellagher, Hoyland, Cottew and self wander up to see our position which is today occupied with the French 75. The gun is a ramshackle looking affair to the casual observer, but when you see the gun firing you can understand why it is called the wonderful 75 mm gun. These guns all looked dirty looking weapons but all working parts seemed to be kept well oiled and their breech blocks look neat bits of mechanism and are very easily opened. I think what strikes one most is the lack of hand wheels et cetera, which we have on our gun, and also the way the gun traverses, sliding on a hollow shaft across the axle, the whole piece moving across in a parallel line. The position is simply outlined with shell holes, and one gunner showed us the shield of his gun, which had a direct pip squeak hit on it. The one redeeming feature of the position is that there are some good deep dugouts, but the pits are very flimsy. There are hundreds of fuses lying about and, coming back, we picked up one or two. One only has to live here a day to see that the Bosche must have a lot of artillery on this bit of front, as he shells all day.

Diary Entry - 29th February, 1916

The night was rather uncomfortable as, at about four, the Bosch put over simply coveys of pip squeaks in the vicinity of our billet, but never came dangerously close. However, when one has been on rest, it takes some time to get used to it again. Everything was packed ready to move in the morning, but at twelve Suttie came back from the wagon line, having seen General Sanders, and told us we were going into action here, in a position further up the crest. In the afternoon, I had to take charge of the funeral party, as Bombardier Balmer, was one of my section, and at two thirty we met a padre from the Eighth Infantry Brigade and put the man under the turf. We expected to be shelled during the proceedings, as the cemetery is surrounded with shell holes — as are all the fields in this vicinity.

Diary Entry - 28th February, 1916

On going to stables in the morning, Siggers and Hoyland find that someone has pinched all their small stores from their guns, having cut the straps with a knife. The suspected ones are the 15th Battery, who probably made a raid during the night but, of course, nothing could be done about it. At two, we get underway, for Bully Gannay, the whole battery being on the march. All the detachments march ahead of the battery, except one man, left for the break of each vehicle. The marching party, owing to 2 weeks pay being drawn two days previously, are for the most part very jubilant - in fact, so much so that three of them are put under arrest. The route we go is Bruay-Hallicourt-Ruit-Barlin-Hersin-Sains en Gobelle-Aix Moulette. At Sains en Gobelle, we were stopped by Kellagher who informed us we were not going into action that night but that we would put horses, guns etc, into a big farm there, which was to be our wagon line. At about seven thirty, we got all the horses watered, fed and groomed, and we then made speed to the billet at Aix Moulette, some 2 miles away. On arriving at the village near the guns, we were greeted with the news that we had lost a bombardier - a French pit had collapsed under shellfire and a piece of timber had pinned him down, catching him on the side of the head. Two other men were in the dugout, but they were suffering from shock and could not speak when they were dug out. We walked up to our mess, rather subdued, wondering what sort of place we had come into. We finally got to bed in a rather dirty room, wondering where we would be sent to the following day.

Diary Entry - 27th February, 1916

Suttie and Kellagher go on to our position, leaving the battery to come up on Monday, 28th. Luckily a big thaw set in during the night and the roads are passable but, of course, the wagon line is a quagmire. Bee comes into the mess in the evening.

Diary Entry - 26th February, 1916

A big day — one continual rush all through. Captain Buxton comes into the mess at nine thirty, looking for the OC, so I take him down to his billet and come back to finish breakfast. Suttie arrives at about 10, telling us that we are to move at twelve and that I am to go to Marles les Mines, there to meet Buxton and take over. At ten thirty, I, Potter and Sergeant Lamb set out over very slippery roads, and the other two are very nervous and will not give the horses their heads. We cut up through Bois des Dames (a wood) expecting it to be easier going but, before going a mile, are stopped by a sentry because of machine-gun practice, so down we go to the level again and work up into the wood again. There was not much choice either way, as the main roads are very slippery and the wood heavy with snow. We finally arrived at the appointed spot at twelve thirty — the last 2 miles being over very slippery hills coated with ice. Buxton was a few minutes in arriving and very brief with orders on arrival. He drew me a sketch of the town, pointing out a small portion of it, and said, 'You have to find billets for the 36th brigade and get the whole brigade into a slimy field, ' which he showed me, 'and the transports into another small field.' Well, to me it looked a hopeless task, but I was lucky in having Sergeant Lamb, who could speak French quite well, and by five we had billets for over 400 men, two officers' Messes and rooms for all officers. Our battery got in first, then two sections of the 15th and one of the 71st. I was very pleased when everyone was settled down.

Diary Entry - 25th February, 1916

Hoyland and Mead come back from the firing line with the centre section about nine p.m. They had to be very careful, as it is still freezing and snowing. After dinner, there were great fights with snowballs outside the mess. That night we also had Cox, a K man, with us. He had brought a section up to relieve Hoyland's.

Diary Entry - 24th February, 1916

Another hard frost, and I take an exercise out, glissading on the roads, and walk most of the time. The men are terrified, and it is all one can do to get them to mount their horses on a good road in the Bois de Dames. The wheeler has been busy lengthening the framework for my section, so as to get another tarpaulin on and Nos 1 have been hard at the roof trying to get ice off the sagged canvas. A big break up in the mess in the evening — all servants thrown out because they do not know a good job when they have one and sit down and do darn all.

Diary Entry - 23rd February, 1916

A hard frost during the night and cloudy during the morning. At twelve thirty, we start trekking to new position at Fouquière, a few miles out of Béthune. Just before leaving, the snow starts to come down and a north-easterly wind rises. The Major goes on as soon as we get underway, leaving me to carry on. It was the coldest day I have experienced in France but it fined up after we pulled through Chocques and we arrived at four. Between Lillers and Chocques we passed a battalion of Irish Fusiliers and a lot of motor traffic.

Letter Home - 23rd February, 1916

Dear Mother,

I am afraid I missed the last mail, owing to things being fairly busy when I got back to the battery. The leave was very nice, but of course one could do with another week. However, we must be thankful for what we get.

I saw a good deal of the Talindert party and spent nearly all Sunday with them. The recruits had just joined the OTC as Tommies and had had one day at St John's Wood. Chettie was very amused with the church parade, as Nevitt was in charge of the party. They all look very well in their uniforms and I think by the time they have done six weeks as a Tommy they will be as hard as iron, as it is no light work. I think I would sooner have gone through it from the beginning like that, but still, one learns something every day out here. Tell John he will have to go through it from the beginning now, as they are making everybody do it who joins.

I met a lot of Australians at the Carlysle club, amongst them Johnny Bell, Reg Brown, Phil Maplestone of Green Vale. They all look well, although some of them were invalided back from Gallipoli with enteric. Reggie and I had a great time at Bric Brac, a review at the Palace Theatre. He does not seem to have altered much. He is out at St John's Wood,  a 2nd  Lieutenant in the RFA, but is trying to get a transfer into the ASC, as his gout gives him a lot of trouble. Johnnie Bell has a transfer into the Royal Flying Corps, and I also hear that Harry Shaw has his wings, and I think he should be a good aviator.

Well, all good things must come to an end and, on 17th  February at nine fifteen, I left Victoria for France. The weather had been very rough that week, blowing guns, and I expected a bad crossing, but luckily it caught us on the starboard and we only rolled. I don't mind that much, but pitching soon knocks me out, until I am used to it. Some of the faces on that boat were yellow, others orangey-green, and others ashen grey. I have never seen such a collection. We got across well, but had to wait outside Boulogne for 40 minutes. I think a lot of hopes of getting over without being seasick were blighted. When we got alongside they kept us for another 40 minutes, because some responsible person was too lazy to put a gangway on board, I think – at least that was my conclusion. We had to stay there the night as the train did not leave for the front until the following day. I should have got the journey over if there had been a train, but there are none for our army the day the boat gets in.

I spent most of the time at Boulogne in the movies and also had a look round the town, at least our part of it. Well, we set sail in the express the next day. It usually makes a 10 mile an hour average but many times less. At seven, when we were somewhere near our journey's end, at stopping at a station, I heard my name being loudly called, or rather shouted, on the platform, and so had to bundle out into the wet night. I forgot to add that it had been raining all day.

My groom was there with the horses, and he told me we had to go about 7 kilometres, which is about five and three-quarter miles. The rain kindly stopped when we started, but there was a jolly cold wind blowing. We found the battery about eight p.m. and it was nice to get dinner, after lunching on chocolate, having had rolls and tea for breakfast. I was greeted with the news that there was a general inspection of the 36th brigade at ten thirty a.m. the following morning and that I had to take a section. Well, I did not think much more about it that night, as after dinner I found I had a very comfortable billet, in a chateau some few yards along the road from the Mess.

At ten thirty on Saturday morning we marched onto the parade ground and formed up like a square cornered C. The general was late, as usual, and we were jolly cold, as there was a very strong west wind blowing. While waiting, Bertie's major doubled his men around the field, with a subaltern leading them.. They caused quite a lot of amusement. Well, General Walker stepped into the arena, shook all the officers by the hand, looked at the men and then made a speech, which was wafted away by the wind — at least as far as the majority were concerned. Only the people close to him heard anything.

Suttie that same day made over the senior subaltern section to me. It will give me something to keep me going and it will also be very interesting for me. I suppose you will not know what a section consists of — well, it means this: I have two guns each, with their two wagon horses, and men attached to look after. There are roughly 60 horses and 35 men. I was lucky to get two of the four new guns we have now. They have neither of them fired 1000 rounds. My section is the left, the centre belongs to Hoyland — they are two old guns — and Siggers has the right section.

It has been very cold since I came back, freezing every night, and today it has snowed on and off the whole time, but it is thawing and everything is an awful mess.

We are on what is called rest now, but, as there are only Suttie, an attached subaltern, and myself here at present, it is harder work than being in action. Hoyland went off into action yesterday with his section. They are attached to the 71st battery for some time.

There is one thing about this life — there is always the glorious uncertainty of not knowing when you move or where you will move to. Today, between the snowstorms, I have been testing site range drums et cetera. We move again tomorrow, back towards the old town, in whose vicinity we have been ever since we came out. We are not going into action — only moving about 14 miles nearer the front.

I hope it does not freeze tonight, for, if it does, the roads will be impossible. I tried to see Bee, but he evidently is away from his battery, helping some other people to take over their old position. I tried the tabloid[?] one day — it is not half bad — but have not tried the beef cubes yet.

I wonder if you would mind, (I mean the family), one: writing to Bee; and one: to me as well; as all the letters go to Bee, and it is usually some time till I get them, and now and again they are lost in the post, as they have to go right to the base, even though we might be a mile away.

Your loving son,

Walford

Diary Entry - 20th, 21st and 22nd February, 1916

Ordinary stables and routine carried on. It began to snow on the latter day in the morning and continued off and on throughout the day.

Diary Entry - 19th February, 1916

There was a general inspection at ten thirty and we marched off to a field about 100 yards from the Mess and the whole brigade formed up in a square and awaited the General's arrival. There was a cold wind blowing and Palmer of the 15th, to keep his men warm, doubled them round the field with a subaltern leading the field, much to the amusement of the rest of the brigade. The General (Walker) arrived about an hour late, walked around us, then made a speech, which very few heard, and departed. I was greatly surprised when at lunch Suttie said that I was to take over Kellagher's section.

Letter Home - 17th February 1916

Batts Hotel,
Dover Street

Dear Mother,

Here we are back in the civilised world again, where everything seems cheery and bright. I think I forgot to mention and to thank you for those nice socks you sent me. They are splendid, but, if you are making more, would you make them a little longer, so that they come just below the knee. You know how the best wool will shrink, and the idea is just to get the end of the stocking on to the riding breeches. (I must add some of the conversation going on in the room: 'We had a lively time on Tuesday night: there were 49 bombs dropped within a 4-mile radius of us.') Well, perhaps it will wake old England up - as far as I can see, Australia seems to be sending every possible man they can, which is as it ought to be, but that is not being done in England up to the present time!

Well, to go on with my news, I left the front at Béthune by train at two thirty am, for Boulogne, and it took us six hours to do the 60 miles. The boat was to leave at twelve fifteen, and so another man and I got a bath and brush up and two meals in. The boat was crowded - in fact two of them were. We went on board at twelve and sat there shivering until three thirty am, when they at last let go the painter and made for the sea. A destroyer picked us up outside and escorted us across, but we had to go to Calais across to Dover and down to Folkestone, as the Bosch have a nasty habit of placing mines indiscriminately in the Channel at night, sneaking about in their U boats.

Well, I got to London after having a great fight to get a seat at once and I went straight up to the Carlisle Club, to meet RS Gilliard, who seemed very pleased to see me, and so was I to see him. Although we talked there until 12 pm, there is still plenty of news I have to learn from him.

It is a rotten day here, raining hard, but I have plenty to do, with dentists, seeing relations and shopping.

Ever your loving son
Walford.

Diary Entry - 10th to 18th February, 1916

I leave Béthune at two thirty am and get to Boulogne at nine thirty am. As the boat is posted for twelve fifteen, there is some time allowed us to get clean, so Dixon of the 71s and self hunt the town for a coiffeur and finally find one, with only one chair in it. After a shave, we rush the Folkestone Hotel and have a bath and then a good lunch and take the ferry for the boat. It was three forty-five before we let go the painter, but we ran across well and were not delayed on the English side. On arriving at Victoria at eight forty-five pm, I made through the crowd for a taxi and then on to the Carlisle Club, where I found RSG. We talked till twelve, and then I went to Batts, but it was some time till I got used to white sheets. I spent all my time n London, as I had a lot of things to buy, some for the Battery. The JCs were at Rubens Hotel and I saw a good lot of them. Mrs F.J. (the Fyfe-Jamiesons were relatives) was also there. My, it was grand to be back in London once more, and I made the most of it. There was always a crowd of Anzacs to be found at the Carlisle Room, and I met Reg Brown there and we had a good night together at a Bric Brac. All good times must end and on 17th at nine fifteen am I had to return, catching the train at Victoria, and was glad there was no-one to see me off, as there is to see most men. We had a good journey to France, being lucky to have a moderate sea on our stern, a little to the starboard. It was a good hour before we got off, after tieing up at Boulogne, and we were glad to get our lunch at three pm in the Folkestone. The train left for the front at one, but my journey was cut very short, as at Lillers at six thirty pm I was roused by shouts of 'Mr Manifold' and found Bates and Potter both there tryng to find me so that I would not go on to Béthune. It was a wet cold night and I did not relish the ride of seven kilometres to the camp much. However, the rain luckily kept off.

(Next entry - letter home on 17th February)

Diary Entry - 6th to 9th February, 1916

Spent with the battery. Had one day observing at Artillery House, one of the very few remaining houses in Givenchy. It would be a splendid place, if one could use one's opera glasses, but the port holes are just too small and it is a hopeless place to use a telescope. However, as it is only 300 yards to the Bosch trench, one would not need glasses there. Windy House is the place the OO [Observing Officer?] sleeps in before going to the OB and it has been well named as one wall has been knocked out of it and the bed consists of wire netting stretched across a framework. Boschie gives the OO quite a nasty fright at times, as he drops a shell on it now and again, just to show he has the range, but the brick tower is very strong and it would have to be a good shot to score a direct hit on the top of it, where it is only two bricks thick.

Diary Entry - 5th February, 1916

I ride up to the battery for breakfast. Kellagher goes to the wagon line. In the evening, I go up to the OB with Siggers. It is called Artillery House.

Another Map

Dne1 has kindly alerted me to this WWI trench map of the area my grandfather's writing about at the moment.

Diary Entry - 4th February 1916

A very cold, wet morning. The class went out to choose positions near Verghin and we met the Colonel at eleven thirty outside a chateau gate. He heard our schemes, then said that, as he had to go into action and take Colonel Ward's place, as regards the class, as the French say, 'il va plus'. Colonel Ward has been promoted to Brigadier. After tea, the Colonel, Sims [or Dims?], Reeves and self went to the 2nd divisional show, which was excellent. There was quite a party in to dine - all Infantry people. General, Twiss [?], Knox-Gore, Bombs and Sims [or Dims?].

Diary Entry - 3rd February, 1916

Main feature of the day seems to be news in the papers of a raid on England by  four Zeps. The morning is spent choosing battery positions and shooting spires with the compass. In the afternoon, Wilson, orderly officer of 41st, and self, go to battery, calling in at wagon line on the way. Nothing doing there, but the OB reported two direct hits during the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 2nd February, 1916

An infernally cold day for reading a map on tops of hills and we leave our horses outside Béthune and walk along the roads. The main feature of the morning is picking battery positions. After class is over, I walk in two miles with the Colonel.

Diary Entry - 1st February, 1916

The battery goes back to the guns, but I remain in Béthune on a course of map reading under Colonel Martin Powell. My billet is changed to that of Marsdorf's, near the wagon line, and I stay on Messing with the 41st Brigade. Our first lecture is held in RA headquarters and finishes about twelve. The whole afternoon is free.

Diary Entry - 30th and 31st January, 1916

Hoyland departs on leave on the Saturday night and life goes on as usual on these two days, except that Siggers is rather off-colour with dysentery. A new officer from the Terriers is attached to us on the 30th. His name is Cottew– a full lieutenant.

Diary Entry - 29th January, 1916

Hoyland and I take a good ride round the canal and back via Hinges in the morning. Another afternoon is spent in the shops. I forgot to add that all this time we are in rest we dine with the 41st Brigade. They have a lovely big house near the brewery with all the natural comforts, such as baths, gas et cetera The rooms are huge and the house is a mass of glass doors and windows. The dining room bears the Bosch trademark – a pipsqueak hole in one corner of it, near the ceiling.

Diary Entry - 28th January, 1916

Today was spent in much the same way as Wednesday except that in the morning I went out on exercise with Siggers and we went round by Hinges. Sergeant Samphier was thrown off his horse in front of the ride, which rather tickled me. At night we go to the R A band in the theatre. It is very good.

Diary Entry - 27th January, 1916

I was orderly officer but missed the exercise in the morning, owing to my horses not getting in in time from La Motte farm. The afternoon was spent in shopping or rather entering numerous shops and having a look around – such as going into a boot shop, looking at lots of boots and buying a boot lace.

Diary Entry - 26th January, 1916

I left for Béthune early in the morning, to look for billets. I met Kellagher at the wagon line at eleven thirty and set off round the town, both looking for billets and doing other odd jobs. In the course of the morning, we called on the town mayor and were lucky in getting three billets pink forms, to be filled in before one can get a room in a house. The rest of the party straggled in during the day and by six we had found billets for all.

Diary Entry - 25th January

I spent a very cold night in a canvas house, as there was a heavy frost. I never got my feet warm all night. I had a look round in the morning and found we are nearly 4000 yards behind the Bosch - or ,rather, in front of - front-line trench. The gun pits seem very weak and I think a pipsqueak would blow most of them over but, as we are so far back, I suppose it was never considered necessary to build stronger ones. The Mess is in a farm about 20 yards to the rear of the guns and seems quite comfortable, although its surroundings are filthier than the last Mess, if possible. In one of the outhouses there is a treadmill on which an unfortunate dog has to keep walking. He is tied there on a chain and it is really funny to see him endlessly walking on this wheel. Whenever he stops they turn the wheel inside. I think he churns the butter or does something like that. The aeroplanes were very active after breakfast this morning and some of our machines attacked but did not seem to affect the Bosch though it was quite interesting to see the machines manoeuvring for position. Of course, Boschey, as usual, seemed to run rings round our machines.

Diary Entry - 24th January

We had the usual drill in the morning and, as I was in a section of four men, I was completely lost the whole time, as did not know whether we were in a column of sections or fours. Whichever way you turned, you were in the same formation. Our lefthand man was also very bad. He would never halt to let us form on him. General Golfe gave us a pamphlet lecture at ten and that ended the business. We all stayed in

Béthune for lunch and I rode out to the battery in the afternoon, which is right alongside the La Bassée canal (south side), only about a mile north of our Cambrin position. On arrival, I found Siggers at the guns with the new captain, who takes Griffith's place, and an attached subaltern, who is on tour. Griffith apparently left on the day the battery moved. He has gone to take over a Canadian battery. In the middle of tea, Quiller comes in and tells us we are to take a week's rest at the wagon line, which at present is practically in Béthune, while some 33rd Division people take over our position, to have a week's target practice. We are to leave on Wednesday and Kellagher, who is at the wagon line, is to come up and take care of the Mess and see that they carry on with our gun pits, which are in a state of being remodelled.

Letter Home - 17th January, 1916

Dear Father,

There is very little to write about this week, as I am behind the firing line in a fair sized town, on an Infantry course, which I am sorry to say I have not been able to raise much interest in. I left the battery last Monday morning, reaching here about nine forty-five a.m. and proceeded to the school to report. There are 18 officers and NCOs on the course, making 36 in all.

The first day was very soft, as we simply had to be shown our Mess and billets by an interpreter. I was lucky to get both a good billet and Mess and, bar one wash out, we are all comfortable, but I must say I do not think much of the type of Infantry officer one meets on this show. There are some good chaps, but the majority of them are pretty average rotters. There is one other R.F.A. man on the course besides myself. He is a very good chap. We are usually out all day and leave the school at ten a.m., after an hour and a half Infantry drill, which is not hard to me and I can do it as well as some of them. They give us two lorries to pack into, and we usually have some wonderful scheme to work out. It is usually an attack and you are told off as Company Commander and have half an hour with the Sergeant to think out your best line of attack. At the beginning of the week, I could generally raise enough enthusiasm to have a crack at the business but now it is getting monotonous and I leave it to the Sergeant, who is an Infantry man. After lunching on sandwiches, we have to do practical engineering, which consists of digging trenches, machine gun emplacement or erecting barbed wire entanglements, at which most of the Infantry officers are pretty good at directing the job and doing nothing themselves. We are jolted back to town again at three thirty and the day ends with a lecture at five p.m.. The man who Bee had trouble with is ill and there is a harmless sort of chap taking us. There is another week of this and then I go back to the battery, which will be in a position further north in a wood.

I'm afraid this will miss the mail but as long as it gets gets there, that is what matters.

Walford

Diary Entry - 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd January, 1916

All these days have been much the same, with drill, either physical (Swedish) or infantry, at eight thirty, then a trip into the country by motor lorry. When we go out in the lorries, we usually get out about two miles and have some great infantry attack on a fosse, which needs a lot of imagination, for the Infantry men, and a hell of a lot for me, as I know nothing about it. We usually lunch at an estaminet and lay wire entanglements or build parapets in the afternoon, returning home about three thirty. Another lecture at five thirty ends the day. I went to several divisional shows, after the music hall type, and they were really quite good and the band they have there is very good. The division run two of these shows, one at the theatre, and one on the Choque road. The former place is a very fine building. But I believe it had a shell through it a couple of months back, probably a lucky one. The school finished up practically on Sunday, with a harebrained defence of a village to the north-west of Béthune, where the S I H are billeted.

(Next post: a letter home on 17th January.)

Diary Entry - 12th January, 1916

We were all put into a lorry and jolted over bad roads to a town called La Beuvierre, where we had to bundle out and pair off with sergeants. We were given a scheme which we had to report on. It was something about moving a battalion and was pretty average bilgewater to write a report on, as everyone had a different idea. The reports were discussed at twelve, and at one we proceeded to an estaminet to eat sandwiches. The estaminet being crowded, Jamison and I went into a small miners cottage and sat by the fire. We issued forth at two and found everyone paraded, waiting for us. They paraded before time. In the afternoon, a sapper took us and showed us how trenches should be dug and talked a lot more bilge. Then we came home. There was the usual lecture at five thirty.

Diary Entry - 11th January, 1916

A very boring day, packed full of lectures, beginning at eight forty-five and continuing till twelve forty-five. Well, by eleven, everybody was in a comatose state and sat there like statues. There were two more lectures at two and five thirty respectively in the afternoon. I chummed up with a South Irish Horse man named Jameson and we had a look around in the evening.

Diary Entry - 10th January, 1916

I had notice that I was to report at the 6th Field Ambulance, Béthune at ten am. As this meant an early start, I rose at seven, had breakfast at eight and left per horse and groom at eight forty-five. I called in at the wagon line to see the Sergeant Major about a wagon for servant and kit and then hurried on to town. It took some time to find the school, but I finally arrived with twenty minutes to spare. We had one short lecture in the morning and then went to find our billets and Mess with interpreters. I got into a Mess which is very comfortable, with the pick of the people in it, and I also got a very nice billet in the Rue de Poterne. The only lecture in the afternoon was at five thirty.

Diary Entry and letter Home - 9th January, 1916

Diary Entry

A very quiet day was spent at the guns, with quite a nice sunny day and no shells, not even a whizbang. No. 6 gun pit is finished. It looks really fine and would take a lot of penetrating.

Letter Home 

Dear Mother,

It has come round to mail day once more. It is jolly hard to remember what day it is out here, as one is the same as another.

Boschey has been treating us rather badly lately with shells. I think I told you last week that he knocked out our two brigade headquarters. On Tuesday he started with a very good line for our battery with 5.9s and crept right over the crest, until he pulled one right against No. 48 aiming post, which is about 50 yards in front of the gun pit, and then for some unknown reason he stopped. One of our aeroplanes appeared on the scene and I think it must have frightened Boschey, as a plane can always see the flashes of the guns and, if they once do that and we get a bearing on their battery, we get our heavies onto them and try to lay them out. That same afternoon, Boschey got a 10 cm gun to work on a hows battery behind us and gave it to them hot. Again, they made wonderful shooting. There were a few casualties – two killed and seven wounded.

It was very interesting to watch it all from our telephone dugout. They got two direct hits on a house there, and you could see the poor men hurrying out like rabbits.

On Friday, the 10 cm gun came a little closer to us and was playing over our No. 1 gun and the new Horse Artillery battery, who only took up positions the night before. One shell luckily just shaved the roof of No. 1 gun pit. It went through a wall three yards in the rear and exploded, wounding two men. One poor chap was very badly hit and looked pathetic going past. We were lucky, as we had a lot of men working on No. 1 pit when they burst a shell over them but the bullets all went over their heads. Three more men were in the garden at the time, and the shrapnel fell all round them but did not touch one of them. On Saturday - that is, yesterday - Bee and I were up in the O.B. and spent two and a half hours in the cellar, as Boschey was combing our hair with 5.9 inch hows – and he even got one into the sandbags at the base of the building, but it did not explode. The 5.9 is a dear old thing. You hear it wobbling through the air for about 10 seconds before it arrives. It bursts on percussion, making a regular noise like K-r-r-r-upp (the maker) and a tremendous lot of black smoke is made when the shell explodes. That is why they were named coal boxes, I think. The splinters from these shells fly in a radius of about 350 yards, so that if you are 100 yards away and lie flat you are safe enough. Today, I have had a quiet day at the guns for a change. Tomorrow, I go to Béthune on an Infantry course, the same kind of show as Bee was on, so I'm not expecting to enjoy my fortnight much, although it will be a change from the firing line. One soon realises how the men's nerves go under shellfire, although my experience is only slight.

Well, there is nothing but shelling in this - but there is nothing else to write about much.

Walford

Diary Entry - 8th January, 1916

A rather thrilling day on the whole, as we were shelled by 5.9 inches and 4.2 hows for over three hours. (300 shells about). They began at eight fifteen and stopped shortly after eleven thirty. Needless to say, we spent our time in the cellar, but there was one man from the 47th Battalion (4.5 how) who had lost communication, so I told him to have a try for his battery through our wire. Well, he got through and began shooting, going up to our room. He stayed there and was getting his hair well combed until they dropped a short one and he got a splinter of tile on the head. He came down the stairs pretty quick, but not half as quickly as the time we did when they dropped one short. They got one dudd into the sandbags, but otherwise they scored no direct hits. In the evening, I called in at the 56th and had tea with Pat, but I did not see Shipley. Their gun position, as far as I could see in the dark, is a revelation and battery is very well-placed, being only 1500 yards from our front line trench, placed in an orchard.

Diary Entry - 7th January, 1916

A day at the guns, with very little firing done on our part, but a wee bit done by the Bosch. At eleven, Boschey dropped a 4 cm HE rather close to an infantry working party digging trenches in front of my billet. They then lengthened and frightened some of our men, who were working on No. 6 gun pit, with shrapnel. He afterwards switched to Annekin for about twenty minutes, after wounding two men, one badly, behind No. 1 gun pit. For the rest of an hour, he shelled round about No. 1 but, luckily, none of our men were hit. At eight thirty pm, Kellagher walked into the Mess, having returned from leave.

Diary Entry - 6th January, 1916

On going to the O.B. in the morning, I met Bee at Cambrin Church, and we spent the day up there. Everything was quiet and, on returning, I called in at the 56th battery to see Pat or Shipley, but they were both out, so I walked round the Tourieres loop, on the chance of meeting them returning from the O.B., but without success. One of our important landmarks has had a nasty knock: the left-hand chimney at Wingles has been hit and has broken off a third of the way up.

Diary Entry - 5th January, 1916

Very little doing. In the morning, two generals and the usual amount of followers came round to see the new gun pit. They seemed quite pleased with it, and it certainly does look a pretty strong pit, but, if a 5.9 hit it square, I would not like to be inside. The aeroplanes were very active during the morning, and our anti-aircraft people seem to be asleep half the time - they did not fire on them. Bee came round in the afternoon for tea. He had been to Béthune with Pat.

Diary Entry - 4 January, 1916

I only fired nine shots the whole day and they were in retaliation. The Bosch was very quiet too, but there seemed to be some bombing going on. On coming down from the O.B., I kept wide of the road from the Infantry headquarters and kept to the open country, but I don't think they shelled the road all day.

Diary Entry - 3rd January 1916

The sergeant on duty called me at six twenty, and I had to rise and see that all the men were standing by, in case of an attack at dawn. After a look round, having reported to Suttie, I climbed back to bed, awaiting results, but I think Boschey is too wise to advance in the open these days, without gas to help him. There was rather a chaos in the Mess all day, as the brigade used it as their headquarters for the time being and people were rushing in and out all day. About eleven, when all the men we could spare were working on No. 6 pit, building an experimental 4.2 proof one, Boschey started on his old racket, well over the crest. It would have been all right, if he had not added, but he kept adding, until he finally put one about three yards from No. 4's aiming post. I was in the telephone dugout at the time and I knew he was close, but, if I had known it was only 40 yards short, I would have moved, as it meant the next one would have been about on top of us – but, for some reason, Boschey had finished. Shortly after this an aeroplane flew over and our 9 inch gun got to work, in cooperation with the hows and 60 pounders, but what damage they did I don't know. Except for a few 10 cm shells, all went smoothly till about three, when Boschey put a direct 10 cm shell plumb into the farm behind the 60s. It looked like a lucky shot, but soon afterwards he popped in another, then he started on the Howitzer batters (59th siege) and, with aeroplanes observing, did some excellent shooting. Our heavies seemed to get their blood up and started plugging away, regardless of aeroplanes, especially the unfortunate How. They were firing as quickly as they loaded, but the 10 cm made it very hot for them and knocked out two men, wounding seven by the time it finished. One cannot but admire the German fuzes - their shrapnel bursts beautifully regularly and they gave me quite an interesting afternoon. That evening I had to camp at the O.B. and started out for the brigade dugout with Rodd at nine. This is a nice cosy spot about 600 yards down Wood Lane from Harley Street. We found Colonel Martin Powell having dinner with some of the Infantry, and I stayed there till eleven. The snipers were very busy around the barrier and near the O.B., and one sentry warned me to keep behind the hedge and, needless to say, I followed his instructions and took every precaution, especially when a 'verries light' went up. I slept on the forestry under the 15th ladder. As I did not have much clothing, I did not sleep too well on the tile floor. The rats too were very troublesome, but there was no trouble during the night – everything was quiet.

Letter Home - 2nd January, 1916

2^nd January, 1916

Dear Father,

I must try and write to you in the hurry and excitement of things. To begin with, the Bosch has been treating us very badly this week. They have been shelling our wee village with 5.9 inch hows, which are commonly called “Jack Johnsons” and, after his shooting today, I have great respect for the gun – and the men behind it, as their shooting was worthy of praise.

On Tuesday, when Hoyland and I were at the wagonline, they shelled Cambrin. They just began as we left at eleven thirty, beginning at Harley Street, and working their way solemnly down the road. We missed it all and just returned at eleven thirty when the shelling stopped. We could see there was something doing, as we came across a poor wounded horse and, when we got into the straight among the houses, found everyone gazing towards the brigade. Well! When we got to the town, we turned down to our Mess and saw two beautiful holes, one 10 yards and the other 15 yards short of the Mess and all the tiles were broken (by the splinters). On the house next door, but for a few bricks being dented, there was no damage done. In the afternoon, another one dropped about 50 yards or so over, in the vicinity of the men's cookhouse and, landing in the soft ground, made a hole about 4 foot 6 inches by 15 foot in diameter. I set to work in front of the Mess and dug the fuze out. It was about 3 foot down in the clay and very hard digging, but a good specimen when I did get it.

On Thursday, when I was at the O.B., they again put over a few more in proximity to the battery, but no damage was done. I forgot to mention that they wounded two or three of our brigade staff and one of our subs was taken, to take the orderly officer's place. He will be away for a few weeks. Our adjutant was also slightly wounded and the 41st narrowly escaped being demolished.

Nothing very exciting happened on Friday, except a few pipsqueaks (77 inch) coming down the road, but they are becoming a habit now.

Today I was again away at Béthune, at the field cashier's, drawing money for the Major and, on returning, just got into the straight again when I saw a column of black smoke go up in front of the 41st brigade – the 3.9s were at it again. My stables were only a short distance from the crossroads, so I took my first turn to the left and was going along, not knowing quite what to do with my horse, when I met the doctor, who was also in the same predicament. We finally tied our horses up in front of the 70th Battery Mess and went to the doctor's billet, to survey the shelling. We both decided it was useless to try and go up to the brigade, as we could see they were going to finish them off, so we watched the performance from 400 to 500 yards distance.

We stood next to a brick wall at the back of the doctor's billet and watched events, which came to a close about two. They began at twelve pm. At about one thirty pm, the 70th battery Major spotted us and gave us some lunch. It is extraordinary the way the splinters travel. Every time they burst, we had to get behind the wall, as fragments would come buzzing through the air. By two pm, the Bosch stopped, having executed his work very well. The Infantry headquarters were on fire. Otherwise, he only slightly damaged the 41st. The chemist's, the 30th and all the houses in between were in ruins. The former was also in flames. A number of casualties occurred, mainly at Infantry HQ, but only one shell frightened us – it made a very good refuse pit in our backyard, 10 yards too far. The devils were also putting shrapnel over our battery during the proceedings. One of our men was touched on the foot.

Our Mess is chock-a-block full of refugees from both the brigades. At present we have both colonels in the mess, discussing their whereabouts for tonight and the future. We are taking all we can under cover. Some of them have lost all their kit and have only the things they stand up in.

Everyone will be looking for new houses now, and I think they will be hard to find. There is nothing else and no time to write if I am to catch the mail.

Walford

Diary Entry - 2nd January, 1916

This has been a disastrous day for the brigade headquarters and the infantry chateaux, as the Bosch started shooting on them at about eleven forty-five, and by two there was little left of either the 36th or 41st. The latter was ablaze and the former merely a ruin. When I was on my way back from Béthune, having been to town to get some money for the men going on leave, I just got into the straight where houses begin, when I saw a black obuse burst plumb on the pavé in front of the 41st. Well, I took the first road to the left, as I could see that both I and my horse were better out of the way, as there seemed to be no doubt that they were at it in earnest. On going along towards the Sappers, I met Todd, who had also just come back from Beuvry. He was making for his billet. We hunted about for a safe place for the horses, as splinters were very thick, so we finally retired to the 70th battery Mess and tied our horses to the railings. We then stood behind Todd's billet and watched the deliberate shelling of the brigades. The shooting was wonderfully accurate and it made us respect the gun (5.9) and the men behind it. One direct hit demolished the 36th absolutely, and the same applies to the other houses opposite the 36th. The 41st were not so badly hit, but there was only one room left undamaged, and part of it was on fire. The Infantry got off lightly, but a number of men were killed in front of the chateaux. Needless to say, there were some miraculous escapes and, at the 41st Brigade dugout, one shell landed at the top step but, luckily, it was a dud or else the occupants – about 14 officers and civilians – would have all gone west. At about three, I went up with an attached officer and Siggers to find the former's kit in the ruins of one of the dugouts. Well, we were searching about when whizbangs came (the 77 mm), so we bolted for it across the open country. I think I did 100 yards in about 10 seconds flat, with whizbangs bursting in the rear about every five seconds. There was much more damage done than I expected to see, and there is no doubt they completed the job well. The road was littered with shell holes and, on one side, there was a motorbike completely put out of action and, on the opposite side, a dead horse and cart, and I believe the sights in front of the chateaux were too bad to put on paper. On going to my billet at seven thirty, for a wash, I heard a Frenchman shouting and heard Tommies talking excitedly to one another. When I got to the estaminet, I enquired the cause of the row and was told the man was a suspected spy. Well, you can imagine my feelings when, on entering the Mess, the Colonel said, "Take this man, who is guarded by two bombardiers, round to the Infantry headquarters. He is a suspected spy, and he is to be questioned by an interpreter." Well, off I went, in a dazed sort of way, to find the 5th Infantry brigade headquarters, which had been heavily shelled. The Frenchman did not seem to want to go that way, as I think he was frightened of being shelled, but I don't think he was any more so than myself. However, we were going along well, when a pipsqueak burst about 100 yards up the road, and the prisoner hugged me, in fear, I think. It was the devil of a job, wandering over the shell-holed road, which was covered with wreckage, trees and telephone wires. However, we at last reached the chateau, where we found everyone in the cellars - and a nice comfortable feeling it was to be in there. No one seemed to know where the 5th were, but at last I found our Colonel Warde in the artillery telephone department, so I told him my trouble, and he went upstairs and sent down a Major with an interpreter to investigate matters. To cut a long story short, after being there for over an hour, they decided to let the man go and keep a watch over him. I was greatly relieved to get away to dinner, as it was after nine and I could not give any evidence, as I knew nothing about the man. They let him go back to his estaminet and said they would keep an eye on him. That night there was rather a panic in our lines as there were a new crowd in the trenches who were brand-new soldiers and Boschey unkindly hammered down all the frontline parapet for about 200 yards. Everyone thought he might attack, so one man, Hoyland, had to sleep at the O.B., and I had to go to the guns, where I spent a restless night, as my nerves, I think, were a bit jumpy.

Diary Entry - 1st January 1916

The day started badly, as there was some bungle made over waking my servant, and it was five to seven when Bates came in to call me. On enquiring from Corporal Rosco the cause of the trouble, I found it was rather complicated, so left for the O.B. post-haste. Bee was up there from the 15th, and he said he saw a large party of Bosch working in the open, to the left and rear of Lone Farm. He said he let fly at them but, if I could have only got there, our guns are registered on those trenches, and we could have both let them have it. I was glad to see that some new crosses had been put up on our rabbit run – one right where my two birds fell, which speaks for itself. We kept very quiet all day, and the Bosch also did very little shooting. It rained in the afternoon, but, after it was over, the air was very clear, although there was a high wind blowing from the south-west, which made accurate shooting very difficult. Suttie and I noticed that the dugout on the fringe of Auchy was still burning, but we could not distinguish what it was that was burning. We saw the flames, but could not see what the material was. It just looked as if the earth was smouldering. The Bosch shelled the battery again in the morning.