Casualties

Diary Entry and Letter Home - 31st July, 1916

(On this day in 1914, Labor leader Andrew Fisher declared Australians will defend Britain 'to our last man and our last shilling'.)

Diary Entry

Nothing very striking happened all day, except SOS in the evening, which seems a daily occurrence. As usual, Boschie threw a few scattered shell over and our 8-inch seemed to give him a fair bit in return. One man of the 48s was wounded in the leg with a piece of shrapnel during the afternoon (Fitter Wing).

Letter Home

Dear Mother

I am taking the opportunity of writing when circumstances permit, as we are living rather a strenuous time just now. Before I forget, many thanks for your letters received yesterday, in which Uncle Chester had just arrived, and please thank Aunt Bet for her nice letter. As far as I can gather, our letters seem to be young newspapers and I hope they are not looked upon too seriously as, in the heat of the moment, one may appear to exaggerate things, especially to anyone who has not been out here.

Well, here we are in action in the old German support line, having moved into action on Tuesday. I am now attached to the 71s, as there was not room in our position for six guns, so we are (or we were) an 8-gun battery. The sight one looks upon here is, I should think, one of the most remarkable that one could see, but I am afraid I can't explain things to you by letter as censors are extra strict down here. To begin with, we have come in for the music without the entertaining part of the show so to speak, as Bosche has now had time to get his heavy guns together. We have hundreds of guns piled on each other, from 18-pounders to 12-inch howitzers, and the amount of heavy stuff we send over is extraordinary. Boschie also gives us plenty of hits and very seldom do you see anything lighter than a 4.2 howitzer - it is usually 8-inch stuff. Whenever I see the big 'uns bursting, I always think of the last words of old Mr Gray. Well I wish he could see the 17-inch, which fires on a village to the rear of us. When it bursts, a cloud of smoke ascends about 300 feet and it looks like a bush fire you see at the end of the lake in the forest. It got a direct hit on a 9.2 howitzer on Friday, putting it out of action and wounding two of the detachment. We have two splendid German dugouts to go to ground in when the air becomes a bit stuffy with Bosche shells and, although it faces the wrong way, one feels very comfortable inside on occasions. On our second day in we had a few over and went to ground for two and a half hours. When it was finished, we found two of the 71 guns were knocked out and a shell had landed in one of their pits, also in one of mine. We each lost about 35 rounds and mine was smouldering when I was looking round, but none of it blew up. There is a lot to be done here in the way of shooting and a field battery averages about 1,000 a day. A battery of 9.2 howitzers behind must average about 300 a day or even 400 and, as there are simply crowds of others doing the same, one can imagine what things are like here. Well, I don't think there is anything else I can put on paper and I will write whenever the opportunity comes but I am afraid you will have to put up with some service postcards as circumstances do not often permit letter writing at present.

Bee is well and we are both sitting up and taking nourishment. I am glad to hear you are all keeping well.

Ever your loving son,

Walford.

Diary Entry - 30th July, 1916

The night was very uncomfortable as at one we were woken to cries of 'Gas', and, sure enough, it was quite strong too. On went helmets, and we wandered about feeling very miserable until about two thirty, when the wretched stuff lifted and we could take off gas helmets and breathe again. From one thirty to three thirty, we were to fire salvoes on certain lines, getting off 12 an hour, but, when the gas came, I think there was a big gap in the firing. At four forty-five the ball opened and we began a barrage of HE on the enemy's support trenches, firing three rounds per gun per minute. This continued for half an hour, then we lifted the barrage, adding to 4075 and firing at the same rate until six thirty, with shrapnel when the rate gradually slackened. The usual routine of fire continued throughout the day, only slightly heavier than usual. At ten thirty pm Armytage returned from his duties of Liaison Officer, spending the whole 24 hours in Trones Wood (Bois de Troncs), a very hot corner. It seems he scratched his way into the side of a bank, where he remained, with bullets and shells spitting round him the whole time. The news of the battle that has come back is not too good. Our infantry have got their objective all right, but the 35th Division infantry have been held up outside Guillemont and have dug in outside the town. The French, it is reported, are held up by machine-gun fire - it is reported the corps have taken 1,000 prisoners. And so the battle goes on.

Diary Entry - 29th July, 1916

Saturday light firing was carried on through the day. The Bosch was fairly busy with shells, especially on Maricourt, putting over about 15 rounds of 17-inch. I have never seen such bursts – just like the photo of a Whitehead torpedo going up. The net results, I hear, were one 9.2-inch howitzer had a direct hit, two of the detachment being wounded. During the afternoon 8-inch howitzers (6 cannon) were doing gun fire five minutes and were fairly whistling them over our heads. Towards evening, some most peculiar shell were observed bursting in air to the right of Montauban. They burst like an umbrella, a shower of sparks falling to the ground and a tremendous cloud of white smoke left in the shape of a mushroom and making small clouds in the air. At six, we were informed that we were to attack in the morning, which we had already guessed, as the infantry were thick as fleas working their way towards the front trenches.

Diary Entry - 28th July, 1916

My section were short of ammunition and as there was a continual banging through the day, I had to get the men onto a cart and move it from the left end battery (8 guns). At about 11 a.m., Bosche got a very nice line on our battery, dropping one short, one over. Everyone thought it looked like business so went to ground, into the good German dugouts we possess – being in the Bosche old support line, the dugouts are pretty good. Well, we gradually filled the officers' dugout with odd men found outside and awaited our fate. Of course, the mouths of the dugout were facing the wrong way, but that was a minor detail, and we were glad of any cover, as lots of other batteries had none. The show was finished by twelve thirty p.m. and we came out to see the damage. Two of 71s's guns were out of action, splinters having penetrated the buffers from bursts just in front of the muzzle. The damage to my section was a shell in F sub's ammunition, resulting in a fire and 40 rounds going west and also Sergeant Head's field glasses, which were on top of the ammunition. Another of the 71s's ammunition pits had been on fire and lost 40 rounds, but the No.1 had gone out in the middle of the conflict and calmly put out the flames and burning sandbags amongst the ammunition. I'm glad to say that there were no casualties. The rest of the day was spent in clearing away the debris and sandbagging the pits as much as possible.

Diary Entry - 27th July, 1916

We had had no definite news as to our move on the previous evening and were told to be ready to move off at a moment's notice after ten a.m. Well, Suttie sent down for six wagons of ammunition while we were at breakfast and Cruikshank was dispatched in charge, being told that Siggers would meet him at the sappers' dump and direct him to the guns. It seems funny bringing ammunition up in daylight but there is too much firing at night. Going back, one of my best drivers was lifted out of the saddle by the splinter of an 8-inch, poor chap, and I think he has gone. Two of my horses were also grazed. About ten, another orderly arrived, asking for another six wagons, which I was to take up. My guide was a certain Br. Golding. He took me a long way round to begin with, going through Maricourt, on a narrow track, with guns firing over our heads and almost under the horses' bellies. He told us to reverse, and we got round, and then he lost himself again. By this time I was speechless and sent him off to find the battery, while we sat there, expecting to get shelled any moment. He returned in ten minutes and told us to reverse again – that he had found the battery – and I warned him, if he took us wrong again, I would shoot him with my revolver. Well, we found them and proceeded to unload, just finishing in time, as they started throwing over 8-inch, indiscriminately. They were dropping everywhere and it was no good trying to dodge them, so we went along hoping for the best and got through all right. It was three p.m. when I got halfway back to Duray and met the rest of the battery by the roadside waiting for Bailey to reconnoitre the position. I sent my wagons off to our new wagon line, which was quite close, to water and feed also my own mounts. Well it was only a few minutes till Bailey returned and we set out, with my section leading, intervals between wagons 20 yards - and 50 yards between sections. My section was to be attached to the 71s as there was no room for me in our own position, and that made the 71s an eight gun battery. We dropped into our new position without being molested by the Bosch. The sight coming up was wonderful – the road winds through a valley simply crammed with big howitzers (8-inch to 12-inch) and intermingled with these were crowds of infanteers' ammunition wagons and about the valley were a few dead horses. In this place, you had a chance of getting any shell from a 12 inch to a pipsqueak in the neck as they pitch shells over at any time. As soon as we got our guns in, we commenced firing and continued till late in the evening.

I forgot to add that from the place where we were bivouacked right up to within 400 yards of the guns there is a valley called Happy Valley, packed with horses with guns, howitzers and beacons dotted in amongst them. The valley just below the guns has been named by the drivers Valley of Death as there are so many casualties there, bringing up ammunition. The infantry I believe even have their horses in another valley in front of the guns. It is called Caterpillar Valley.

Diary Entry and Letter Home - 26th July, 1916

Diary Entry

The BC took up a section to the guns, starting at eight, and Siggers took his section up. We remained in camp all day, expecting to move up next morning. Nothing thrilling happened except that the DAC lost two mules during the day by shellfire, which will give one an idea of what things are like when wagon lines often have shells dropped into them.

Letter Home

Dear Family

It is very nearly a year since we sailed from Melbourne. It will be on the twenty eighth, and we are just about to enter one of the most interesting parts of the line - and I suppose more lively than most parts at the time of writing. We got short notice to move last week and on Tuesday evening we moved out to the wagon line. I was at the OP the last day, being relieved at seven fifteen, and Hoyland and I dined with the incoming people, then rode to the wagon line, getting there about twelve am. The next day my old staff captain of the billeting episode told me I was to be the OC divisional convoy, which was to move by road, the rest of the division entraining. Well, there was a certain amount of work entailed in getting things like supplies and other little details. It was arranged that we should move off at twelve from the village on Thursday. Well, when I looked over the show that awaited me, I found a wonderful collection both of vehicles and horses, from a big French wagon and draft horses to a light jinker and a mule.

A staff colonel belonging to headquarters came along just before moving off and told me that I had to load three wagon loads of boxes onto my already overloaded wagons and deliver them at a railway about 14 miles distant. So there was nothing for it but to load the stuff on in the village and heave it off when the trouble came. To cut a long story short, with lots of amusing incidents, I got to the railway minus two wagons and half the goods.

If you could only see the German prisoners just returning from work to their wire enclosures below the hill.

Well, I got with the convoy all right, picking up the division on Saturday evening at seven thirty pm. We covered about 60 miles in two and a half days, but it meant early rising, reveille at four each day. The whole trek was quite amusing, and it was an experience well worth having. Of course we used to bivouac in any old field by night. As we were cut fine both in horses' and men's rations, we lifted a fair amount of hay along the road, but I used to always look the other way, as we had to feed the blooming horses.

The division was right in the valley on a river when we reached them and it was nice to be able to get a good wash in the morning - and bathing was pretty popular with the men too. I have never seen such a sight as the whole division bivoacked close together like that but it is getting quite common now as wherever you go there is transport, motor cars, troops and every engine of war you could think of. In fact I am on a hill now with a road just beneath, on which you see everything pass, from an infantry man to a 15-inch howitzer. The traffic continues all day and night. We moved up here yesterday as a division, and a section has gone into action today. The rest of us go up tomorrow. It will be quite an interesting spot, as we are in the open and lots of heavy stuff falls about. In fact, Siggers, who went up today, had to put his gun into an 8-inch crater where a gun was last night, before the shell arrived. Oh, if I only had a camera with me, what a chance! Well, I think you will guess where we are.

No more time to write. Hope you are all well,

Your affectionate son,

 Walford,

PS: It was rather amusing - one of our men discovered a Bosch amongst the prisoners, who used to be a baker in the same village he lived in. I have just been speaking to a Queenslander by the name of Young - sugar growing people, I think.

Diary Entry - 25th July, 1916

At seven forty, we left camp and marched as a division for Bray, both the 41st and 34th Brigades proceeded ahead of us. We had a very dusty trek as the roads were packed with every kind of traffic, both French and English going each way. At Corbie, I bought some Mess supplies, such as bread, tinned milk etc, putting them in the Mess cart as the battery marched through the square. The brigade eventually got into the field this side of Bray at about one fifteen p.m. and it was two thirty by the time the lines were fixed and the horses watered and fed – the latter operation was very difficult as water was very scarce. The officers' Mess was well situated on the top of a hill and looked down on one of the most impressive sights I have seen. In the valley on the left were masses of horse lines, on right front the road crammed with French and British traffic, from infantry to big guns and wagons, beyond the road, the French had their wagon lines, with horses and vehicles, packed like ours, and, on the left breast of the slope, French motor lorries were parked (up to 200).

Diary Entry - 23rd and 24th July, 1916

This was a delightful spot, and we could just hear the rumble of the battle in the east. It usually grew very loud at night. There were the ordinary duties of the day to be done. First thing, I bathed in the river, which was a matter of a few yards away. Suttie, Siggers and Hoyland went into Amiens before lunch.

In the afternoon, the officers left in brigade had a game of cricket, finishing the evening with a bathe. I must mention that we slept in the open with no cover, as I had done since leaving the battery. On Monday, I went to Amiens with Cruikshank. Bailey also went with Todd, the OCs all having gone up to look at the positions we were to take over. Amiens I found very dull and returned soon after four. The OCs returned about seven thirty, with stirring tales as to our positions and also with the sad news that Mowbray, Major of 16th Bat. and formerly Staff Major, had been killed – a direct hit with an 8 inch. Orders were that we moved off for Bray at seven forty p.m. on Tuesday.

Diary Entry - 22nd July, 1916

Reveille at three forty. I got them going at stables, grooming well, but, while I was at the top of the lines, someone started for water and, before I could get to the stream, they were rushing in and out like a jostling crowd at a railway station, the result being that no horses got any water. I saw that ours of the 48th got some all right, and let the others look after themselves. It was again a very warm summer day and, after getting through Beauval, about five kilometres from bivouac, and halting, we had to march across an undulating plain, with no sign of water on it. The cavalry were in a small village by the wayside and had a good watering place, so I halted and watered there. The horses were so thirsty that they almost knocked over the trough. Before getting to Villers for lunch, we halted after a steep hill, to rest the horses, and an APM came along and moved us, as he said two divisions were to march along that route. So we moved on, getting onto a smaller road through Villers, halting just outside, watering in the town and lunching for more than an hour. We were now only 20 kilometres from Amiens and, after lunch, it was in view to the south, until we reached Longueau. Longueau was reached at five and there I had to get orders from the RTO. Buxton had left orders there and we were to go on to Vecquemont, to join our units (reporting to the town major first). We found the whole division bivouacked in the valley of the Somme, just outside the town, and I was very glad to arrive there at seven thirty. I must add that, before starting, it was reported that Driver Morgan had not reported back. He belonged to our battery too. He had borrowed a bike the night before from Bates for five minutes and had never returned. Well, as we were just moving off, it being six, I made a search of the village, eventually reporting the matter to the RTO.

Diary Entry - 21st July, 1916

Reveille at four am. I meant to have some stables before water and feed, but the men thought they were on a picnic and their NCOs seem to have no control over them, so I had to let them carry on and wait till the evening. It soon became very warm and, as the wind was on our backs, the dust made travelling rather unpleasant. Saint Pol was passed at seven forty-five, we having moved off at six thirty-five and a halt was made just above the town. The next town of note was Frevent, some four kilometres march, but we plugged along, eventually getting there about eleven a.m. On arrival I went in search of water and eventually found a very good place in a wide street, so we gave them a good fill, then moved out of the town for water. A good hour gave the convoy a much needed rest and, after addressing the NCOs on stables in the evening, we moved off with a very warm sun overhead and plenty of dust caused by the heavy transport moving each way on the road. Boquemaison was passed at two p.m. and Doullens reached without incident at three thirty. A wretched French sentry would not let me cross a level crossing so I had to go about four miles out of my way but was recompensed by getting a good watering place on a stream. I sent on Sergeant Munday with a map from here to look for a camp at Gayencourt. In getting to that village, I could see no sign of him and was feeling rather anxious, as I thought he was lost. I did a little reconnaissance and found a good field with a splendid place to water. Soon after finding it, Munday turned up and we proceeded to pack them in the field. Well, I managed to get the horses watered properly, groomed and fed and all finished by seven fifteen p.m., so I gave leave for people to go down the village and to report back by nine thirty p.m. I forgot to add that, as we only had rations for 73 men and 78 horses and these rations would perhaps have to last us three days, although they were only two-day rations, the horses were badly in need of hay, so I murmured to some odd NCO to help themselves by the wayside when I was not looking, and this they did, keeping the horses well hayed up most of the night.

Diary Entry - 20th July, 1916

I gave the IMS the list of supplies I wanted drawn – rations for 92 men and 100 horses. Two ASC wagons were to be at supplies to draw the material and then come on to join the troop at the church. In the morning, I was rather worried about some coffee bar material left in the village, and it was not very long before Colonel Robinson turned up and informed me it had to be loaded on my already loaded transport and put on the train at Bryas, a station some eight miles away. At eleven thirty, I, assisted by Hoyland, started loading up - or overloading the wagons - with this surplus coffee bar material. By twelve thirty, we were all ready and got under way but, before a mile was covered, the float (Vets[?]) had to be abandoned, being hopelessly out of action, with the spokes breaking off at the rim. Having sent a man back to Hannie and left a man there to look after it, we moved off again. One of the numerous old French wagons was giving a lot of trouble on hills, as its brake shoe had snapped and, at lunchtime, two p.m., when we stopped to water, I found an ASC cart with supplies on it, with a dished front wheel, and the above-mentioned wagon with a cracked perch. Well, the only remedy was to heave off all coffee bar material on these vehicles, leave two men with it, send the ASC wagon to the village, and tell it to look after itself. The other wagon, all heavy stuff off it and supplies loaded, looked strong enough for the voyage. Well I did not like the hopes of seeing Bryas by seven, but we covered the five miles left in good style, only having one accident – the wheel coming off a small DAC wagon, so I left the fitter with it and told him to do his best. He proved a handy man and brought it along to Bryas before I had finished unloading. Bryas reached by about five forty, I sent Sergeant Munday, my only reliable NCO, on to bivouac the vehicles, which hadn't any coffee bar boxes on them. The remainder were unloaded onto trains standing by and, on picking up five more wagons, one of our own, I trekked after Sergeant Munday. We got into a field about six forty-five, had horses watered at bad pond and fed them and then looked after the inner man. I must mention that there was no time to arrange any bundubus [?] en route as had not a chance to collect the NCO, such as they were.

Diary Entry - 19th July, 1916

Usual routine of stables in the morning. In afternoon, Buxton informed me that I was to collect all details from the Brigades concerning the convoy, as I was to be OC divisional convoy, which was to march by road. Well, there was a lot of ferreting to be done, and I was very worried by the time I saw Buxton at nine p.m. in the evening, as I knew what to expect at his hands, having done a dirty job for him at Marles-les-Mines. However, I had a list of wagons, which amounted to 36, consisting of 84 men and 93 horses – they were to line up at Gauchin Legal church at eleven thirty a.m. on Thursday.

The Bosch

This link will take the reader to a gallery of studio portraits of German World War One soldiers, just to provide a slightly different perspective to my grandfather's.

Diary Entry - 17th and 18th July, 1916

On Monday, Siggers and I go to Béthune. We start at eight fifteen, but the horses turn up late and we have to sit and wait for them. We get in by lorry and car from Noeux-les-Mines. We had quite an amusing day and got back at four thirty p.m., as I had to go to the OP and also collect more Mess material. Wednesday, having gone up to the OP on Monday night, I remained there, having an uneventful day, till the relieving subaltern came up at seven fifteen p.m. Suttie stayed with battery 123B all night, but, when Hoyland and I had had dinner, we set out for Gauchin Legal, arriving there about twelve.

Diary Entry - 16th July, 1916

Got all the Mess baskets squared off for the move, which is to take place on Tuesday. Siggers is orderly officer.

Diary Entry and Letter Home - 15th July, 1916

Diary Entry

Suttie, Powell, Kellagher and Waldren, having obtained passes from the APM and got a car from an anti-aircraft CO, proceed to Béthune in the morning. The Naval Div. People have orders to proceed to the 47th Division, which evidently means they will take over from the 47th, the latter taking over from us.

Letter Home

15th July 1916

Dear Father,

Received your mail several days ago with a cutting about the boat race, which was very interesting. We are still in the same place but will be moving in about 10 days, down to the scene of activity, where there ought to be plenty doing. We heard last night that two divisions of cavalry had gone through the gap and, if they have, feel very doubtful about their ever getting back again.

We have had a very peaceful time this week. On Monday evening, we had an artillery subaltern and 12 men belonging to the Naval Division attached to us. And on Wednesday a South African officer was posted to us, so we are well off for subalterns again. Yet another Naval Division subaltern arrived yesterday, but they both leave us today as they are being attached to the division on our right. There is absolutely nothing to write about. I hope you have had more rain and that there are prospects of a good season by the time this reaches you.

Best love to all. Thank Mother for the socks. They have not arrived yet, but will probably arrive during the week.

Walford.

Mess Plan

'If I could only describe the new Mess', he says, on 2nd July, 'which is recognised as the best in France.' Little does he know that, after all their work to make it, they will be leaving it in a few days, making their way to a very different part of the front.

Diary Entry - 12th and 13th July, 1916

An exceedingly quiet day. Absolutely nothing doing. I whiled away the time reading. Bee came up in the evening to relieve me. Thursday, I went to Gauchin Legal with Bailey. We inspected harness in the morning, F sub being a very good show, lunching with the 50th battery, and at two attended stables till four p.m., when I returned to the battery. During lunch we heard great tales about the cavalry breaking through two divisions of them. I don't think any will return, although hope they do some good work while they get the chance. News also comes from the fountain head that we are to move southwards in due course – about 10 days. On returning, we found another Naval Div. officer attached.

Diary Entry and Letter Home - 11th July, 1916

Diary Entry

Tuesday, a quiet morning. Went to OP in the evening and did the usual bit of mining before starting.

Letter home

Dear Mother,

Just a short note, as there is nothing to write about and I think this will miss the mail too. We are still in the same place but think we might move shortly. Of course, we know nothing definite yet. The only excitements worthy of note this week have been two dinners which we have given, one for the Battery Commanders to meet the General and the other for Kellagher, our senior subaltern, who has got the 56th battery. The General did not turn up as he had a bad cold, but he sent the Staff Major along and we sat down 12 and had a very successful evening. Last night was quite good too but only had 10 people to dine. We have an officer attached to us. He is just out from England and, as last night was his first evening at the front, he must have got rather a shock - I would like to read his letter home.

We seem to be doing nicely down in the South, just going along steadily, but I think if we keep it up for two months or so Bosch will become rather worried. Well there is no more news.

Best love to all.

In haste,

Walford.

Diary Entry - 10th July, 1916

Monday, as there was another small dinner, Siggers went to Béthune to collect the necessities while I remained at guns and Hoyland was at OP. Kellagher was in to dinner and it was really a farewell to him. That same afternoon we got our new acting captain, Lieutenant Bailey, a Cambridge don of some standing. An officer of the Royal Naval division also lobbed, with about 12 men, attached to us for a fortnight. The latter is only a small man, but the amount of kit he brought is appalling.

Diary Entry - 9th July 1916

I put in a lot of work during the afternoon. Siggers was also in the shaft but had to have half an hour at church with the men about four p.m.

Diary Entry - 8th July, 1916

Hoyland went very early to Béthune to buy articles for the dinner in the evening. It was a dinner for BCs to meet the General, and no pains were spared for it to be a good one, as you can judge given that 475 francs were spent over it. The General was unable to attend but he sent his staff Major, Carrington, a real good sort, along. The dinner seemed to be going successfully when I had to depart as I did not feel too bright with neuralgia. A great deal of the day was spent in preparing the Mess for the feast. It was three thirty when the party broke – Bee was amongst them and I hear he was yawning his head off. I forgot to add Crozier got his chit to go to England and Kellagher was made OC 58th battery.

Diary Entry - 7th July, 1916

It was a beastly day, showery the whole time, up to your ankles in mud wherever you moved. Siggers and I retired to the mine in the afternoon and put in some good work getting one set up. There was a strafe and combined raid at night at one a.m. but have not heard how it went.

Diary Entry - 6th July, 1916

At ten, Major Jones and Captain Dale came up to look for a sap they had to shoot on from Cabaret Rouge. Soon after they arrived, Captain Dyson OC (trench mortars) and Robinson turned up to shoot on wire in front of a German sap. They continued till twelve thirty, when Major Crozier arrived and told them to go down and get some lunch at his Mess. The latter stayed on until two and he no sooner retired than the mortar people returned to shoot again, so I did not have much peace. They fired 150 rounds and cleared the wire well. Waldren came up in the evening and did some shooting, registering for a strafe. Bee relieved me in the pouring rain.

Diary Entry - 5th July, 1916

Siggers and I painted the skylights in the Mess roof during the morning and worked in the mine most of the afternoon. In the evening, I relieved Claudie at Lorette.

Diary Entry - 4th July, 1916

Tuesday, and I started for Ablain at ten thirty for the pay at the field cashier's. When we got there we met Bee on the same stunt so, as our wagon lines are close to one another, we rode down together. We just got there at the end of stables so Siggers and I paid out straightaway. At one we lunched with Bee at an estaminet and at one thirty Siggers and I set out for Bethune to get new carpets et cetera for the Mess. At Noeux les Mines we stepped into a passing ambulance and were hurled into town in about eight minutes, getting there soon after three. Having had tea - oh I forgot to add that the rain started at one and continued heavily until five pm; one gets so used to it that one does not notice it - and completed all purchases we caught another ambulance reaching Noeux at six forty and so on to the battery, arriving about eight thirty.

Diary Entry - 3rd July, 1916

At ten, I rode down to Gauchin Legal for stables then went on, after lunching at an estaminet on omelette and a glass of beer, to Barlin to get some Mess stores. On the way home after leaving Bouvigny I rode up the side of Lorette to the control post. Halfway up there was a wonderful view of Bully and surrounding district and as they were shelling a battery just near our old position with 4.2s I watched for a few minutes. The horse flies on Lorette are frightful and give the horses a terrible time. The extraordinary part about them is they suck your blood and you don't seem to feel them.

Letter Home - 2nd July, 1916

2nd July, 1916

Dear Father,

Many thanks for your letters and the paper re the boat race. It must have been a splendid race and it was a pity we could not quite get there. We are still having wretched weather, at least yesterday the sun came out but today it looks as if it might rain again at any time. This part of the line has been fairly quiet in spite of the papers' talk of the heavy British shelling. Of course, we are doing a certain amount of shelling and, when we do let them have it, all the batteries of the Division concentrate on the one target. The point fired on must be a perfect inferno as that means about eighteen batteries including several 4.5 howitzer batteries all firing at gun fire for some thirty minutes. These strafes come off once daily and usually at night. Of course, there is usually some other shoot as well during the day. Last night at twelve thirty am a regular tornado of shells hurtled over to Boschie for half an hour and we hit off with eight rounds per gun per minute for the first one hundred and sixty rounds. That gives you some idea of what it is like with the other batteries round doing the same. Down south a lot of heavy firing has been heard and we hear we have done well, the attack being launched yesterday morning at 11.30 am and we were advancing on a ten-mile front. I think I forgot to mention before that we lost our Colonel Kerwin about a fortnight ago as he has been promoted to General. We were all very sorry to lose him as he was a spelndid man. We have had another sick-looking individual for a few days but he went off in an ambulance about four days ago and I don't think he will be much loss. It's a pity you cant get the rain we have been having here. It simply pours. No more news.

Ever your loving son,

Walford

Diary Entry - 2nd July, 1916

Nothing much done except more slaving on the mine in the afternoon, putting up sets to keep the roof from falling in. If could only describe the new Mess, which is recognised as the best in France. To begin with, a tremendous amount of earth was excavated from the side of the bank, this took some considerable time as the men used to get in behind the bank where they were not seen and sit down by the hour. After a lot of agitating the first three sections of cupola were put in and finally about a fortnight later, when the banks had several times slipped in, the eight sections were finally put in - the dimensions are 16 feet x 33, there is a partition in the middle of the compartment and we use one room for messing and the other as a general smoking room. The entrance is by a long passage which also connects up with the cookhouse and there is a mine shaft dug in off the passage. The cupola walls are painted black but each end, which is lined with corrugated iron, is painted white. The floor which consists of 9 x 1 1/2 has canvas over it while in the general room there are two carpets. A beautifully padded liver scorcher reclines in front of the fire, made of 9 x 3, there are four fan lights in the roof to let the light in. The whole Mess is to be covered with a concrete roof to be a foot or so above so as to burst anything that might happen this way. There are a most wonderful set of photos already adorning the walls, which add brightness to the place.

Diary Entry - 1st July, 1916

Saturday at the guns. In the afternoon, Siggers and I worked hard on a mine at the entrance of the new Mess and, although we worked for three solid hours, we did not seem to make much of a hole. At twelve thirty pm the Division did a very heavy strafe on some craters to the right of the 15th and a regular whirlwind of shells went over for half an hour and gradually died away. This night fire is usually connected with raids done by the infantry but we very seldom hear with what results.

Diary Entry - 30th June, 1916

Guns all day and went to the OP in the evening. Friday very quiet. Suttie came up in the afternoon and did a little shooting on some wire, but as the whole artillery was stopped in 2nd Division about three pm did not get much done. Suttie was rather annoyed as the message said that they were trying to find someone who was shooting short.

Diary Entry - 29th June, 1916

Siggers returned from leave, arriving when we were in the middle of lunch, looking very fit and pleased with life. At two thirty pm, we three subalterns started out across Lorette Heights for Bully to see if we could collect any furniture we left in our old Mess. The walk - about four miles - took us an hour and on arrival found a General in possession of the place. We tackled a staff captain without success. He said four brigades had been in since we left and the frniture had been handed over to them intact with the house. Coming back as we walked over Lorette a man (sub) talked of putting us under arrest for walking across in front of his OP but, as we were miles back and inconspicuous to the Bosche, I don't know how he could see the line at all. However, he belonged to that wonderful division, the 47th, who have had so many medals thrown at them.

Diary Entry - 28th June, 1916

Wednesday it was raining when I got in for breakfast and it continued steadily until twelve thirty am. After lunch, I rode over to Noeux les Mines, where I caught a bus or lorry and went into Bethune. Siggers was returning from leave and, when I enquired at the station what time the train arrived, found the timetable had been altered and the train did not get in until one thirty am. I thought there was a mistake and so waited until six pm, filling in time with a cup of tea and visiting my old billet at Rue de Poterne. At six pm I went back to the station and enquired of the RTO when the train got in and he confirmed the other report I had received, So there was nothing for it but to leave horses for Siggers in Bethune and send the Mess cart in as well, while I returned to Lorette.

Diary Entry - 27th June, 1916

Tuesday, I stayed with the guns all day. Hoyland made an early start for Bethune with Claudie and purchased a lot of stuff for the Mess. As I write this, No. 4 gun of the 56th Battery (a howitzer) keeps banging off and brings down showers of dirt and filth, as well as nearly deafening you - it is only 15 yards away.

Diary Entry - 26th June, 1916

At Lorette all day. It was very quiet except for a certain amount of activity shown on both sides by trench mortars. Left batallion HQ got two very large rum jars, which must have nearly blotted them out.

Letter Home - 25th June, 1916

Dear Mother,
Many thanks for the photographs. They are splendid - and the books will be nice to have out here, to look up home now and again. We have had it very quiet as far as Boschie's shelling is concerned since we came in here and there is nothing much to write about. We had about five good warm days since I last wrote but there was a heavy thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon and the rain simply rattled down for about twelve or fourteen hours. The soil is clay here and you can imagine what it is like with even one point of rain. The 15th Battery suddenly had Palmer taken away from them and the captain of the 71st Battery made OC. That is the other battery. They gave him a send-off dinner on Thursday night and he went to take over K Battery RHA on Friday morning. I was not at the dinner but think it must have been a merry show as our OC and Kellagher were suffering from the effects in the morning.

Yesterday and today (Sunday) during each afternoon, we boosted off 800 rounds, cutting Bosch wire. It seems rather a waste as we are not going to do anything here.

The last two days and nights there has been heavy firing down south, but I don't know whether it has been the real thing. It looks as if we shall be here another winter - that is, unless something unforeseen happens and Bosche gives in, which is, in my opinion, highly improbable. There can't be many able-bodied men left in Australia now, the number of recruiting meetings they have - I see in today's paper (really two days old) that four conscientious objectors were sentenced to death for refusing to obey orders but that the sentence was remitted to 10 months' hard labour - that ought to knock all objections out of them.

Siggers, one of our subalterns, is on leave at present. I don't know when Bee will get his.

Your affectionate son

Walford,

PS I hope you have had plenty of rain by this.

Diary Entry - 25th June, 1916

There was the same programme in the morning. The front of No. 2 gunpit had to be strengthened as the blast of the gun on the previous day had pushed the front forward, some of the girders supporting the roof had also broken away from their supports. Suttie and Kellagher did the shooting, observing ech day from the 71's OP, as the wire we cut was on the left of our sector. I went up to the OP in the evening and just saw the last of the rounds. There was a lot of shooting the second day. Everyone seemed to be loosing off, especially in the evening. Just as it was getting dusk, I took a signaler out and we looted a water pump on wheels from beside an old observing station, which did not seem to be inhabited by anyone. We eventually hauled it to our trench and then two signallers hauled it down to the battery in the evening. All day long and in fact for the last four days a continual rumble has been coming from the south and today has grown into a roar but could not get any news as to what it was all about. I think it must be our offensive on the Somme.

Diary Entry - 24th June, 1916

The men went on with their pits in the morning, just finishing off and making everything secure. At 5 pm, Hoyland and I were on the control top (the cupola containing telephone, tubes and bells to all the gun pits) and the ball opened soon after that hour. As soon as Suttie had the guns warm and the corrector, there were not many alterations, and we got off the first 400 rounds by four forty-five. We had a half an hour interval to enable the men to have tea, then began on the second 400, finishing off about six forty-five. Bosche was quite tame and hardly put a shell over and never even tried to find us.

Diary Entry - 23rd June, 1916

At the guns, getting gun pits finished off, especially Nos 2 and 3, in case the German should retaliate for our shooting on the Saturday and Sunday to come. The guns were also tested. That is, all their sights were examined by the fitter.

Diary Entry - 22nd June, 1916

In the morning, I went down to the East Anglian dump to get some paint and staples, the latter were obtained all right, but not the paint. It was extremely hot and muggy when I got back and was not surprised in the afternoon when at four thirty we had a very heavy thunderstorm with sheets of rain. Titler of D36 battery was in for tea, he and Suttie going on to the infantry after the storm was over. Suttie was looking very green all morning and was disturbed at ten thirty by the Colonel when he was trying to sleep the night's effects off.

Diary Entry - 21st June, 1916

At Lorrette all day and was relieved by Houland, as Palmer had been called away hurriedly to take over K Battery RHA and the Mess were giving him a farewell dinner. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and Bosche about midday sent over 15 aeroplanes on a raiding exhibition and it was quite good fun to see them coming back with our old buses following them up with machine guns, but they seemed to all reach home. In the evening, it was so warm that we dined outside on the slope just above the Mess. The 15th had their piano out as were giving the men a concert and when our supplies came up they had a barrel of beer from our canteen, which made them sing lustily far into the night. Suttie and Kellagher went down after dinner and I believe they got home much the worse for wear, about two am

Diary Entry - 19th to 20th June, 1916

Tuesday with the battery all day. A very quiet sunny day. Wednesday I went to Chamblain Abbe to get the pay, then rode on to the wagon line, calling at the engineers on the way down. Paud out at the wagon line after stables, then changed my horses and came back to the battery. Ginger was out of action as had galled his near hind with a rope just above the hoof. In the evening, I went to the OP.

Letter Home - 19th June, 1916

Dear Mother
I got two nice long mails from you all this week, with lots of news. Thank Estelle for the scarf and letter she sent about the boat race. It was jolly hard lines being beaten, but I am glad MGS won and not Wesley. Beyond work going on at our position, there has been little or nothing doing in the way of shells lately. As Mess secretary, I am very interested in a new steel cupola Mess we are building but it is taking ages to put up as there was such an amount of earth to move out of the side of the hill. If one could only use a camera out here, I would be able to show you photographs of the position at different periods, showing you how different it looks from when we first took it over. I was at the OP yesterday and Bee relieved me. We take it turn about with the 15th, as our fronts are next to each othere and there is so little to be seen that there is only one man needed. Bee showed me those cuttings. Mr Allan Currie's was rather far fetched, I thought. Machine gun positions are what we are often called on to knock out by infantry and, although we fire on them and please the infantry, we never claim to knock them out.

Mr Currie may have struck one in construction, but any we have tackled you could fire on all day and would have no effect. It takes a 6-inch or  9.2 howitzer to silence them properly. I don't want to crab his letter but he seemed to make out a gunner leads a dog's life but can assure you that though we get a doing now and again we have a comfortable time compared with the poor infanteers who are bombed, mortared, rifle-grenaded and shelled throughout nearly ever day and night of their lives. Of course, we will have our share when we get on the move. No mum, we are nowhere near Verdun - a long way north - but we originally took over from the French to let them go down and assist their comrades to hold the line.

The Russians are doing good work, but I believe their real offensive only begins today against the Germans and that their other attack was just what they call a holiday attack.

No more now.

Your loving son

Walford.

Diary Entry - 17th and 18th June, 1916

At guns during the day and went to the OP in the evening, relieving Claudie. All was quiet as usual. In the afternoon, Hoyland, after getting correct map reference from the Brigade, set out for the pipes at Chamblain Abbe and this time found them, but there were people joining them up and they would have been awkward things to rip up without being seen. We only wanted a few for the gun position as speaking tubes. In the evening we went to Lorrette and relieved the usual man at 15th. Sunday was a quiet day at Lorette and we never fired a round. It was a summer day, but a wind from the west was very sharp for anyone standing about.

Diary Entry - 14th, 15th and 16th June

A quiet day at the OP. We fired a fair number of rounds as sent over three for Boschie's every pipsqueak. I think Boschie was rather amazed as had been doing what he liked before. On Thursday, Siggers went off in the morning as was to go on leave that evening. It was a quiet day and I spent it at the battery. On Friday, there was nothing doing, but, thank goodness, the rain had stopped and it was finer. At six pm, I started out for Chablain Abbe, to look for some piping which was reported to be lying along the side of the road there. As the place mentioned in the chit was not on my map, I asked the Signals about it and they said that the place I was after was in front of Souchey, so was pretty sure there was a mistake in the map reference and, after searching about, returned home, getting back about eight.

Bertie, diary entries

Wednesday, 14th June, 1916

 Still showery. Oaklet and I went out this morning to have a look at our alternativr position. We walked miles - about 10, I should think - through Boveney Wood, mud up to our ankles.  Our other two guns came in last night. They and the 48th battery section form a unit detached. We heard today our Colonel has been made a Lieutenant General. I'm afraid we shall miss him very much in this brigade. Thorburn  is going with him as adjutant to the 25th division, which are expected to take part in a show very shortly. There are a great rumours of peace being declared, which are growing stronger every day, but somehow cannot believe them.

 Thursday, 15th June, 1916

 Nothing much doing. In fact it has been very quiet. The work on the  gun pits is going on steadily. They have painted the cupolas white inside, which makes a wonderful difference to the light. At last it looks as if it would fine up. I went up to the 48th and had a look around the positions. They have also done wonders.  Their position reminds me of being on the bridge of a ship.  The guns are all dug into the side of the hill. The trench connecting them is on a higher level, with trap doors to each gun it. Then there is one splinter-proof room at one end with a speaking tube and electric bell to each pit, besides having electric light at each gun. Then the Captain's dugout  is a specialty. It is a complete cupola, painted white, with a wooden floor and a trap door in the floor, which you can get into – an absolutely safe dugout.

Friday, 16th June, 1916

The first time we have seen the sun four weeks. There was guns, but still very below normal in the way of noise. We worked on the pits, played cricket and hit a golf ball about.

Letter Home - 13th June, 1916

Dear Family,
I am sorry that this letter has missed the mail, but really, beyond letting you know I am still kicking, there will be no news. The weather has been very unseasonable these last seven days or so. It has rained every day - not much, you know, but just enough to keep this clay soil like pea soup.

Since I last wrote it has been extraordinarily quiet on the front and we have barely fired any rounds at all. Our position is beginning to look as if the 2nd Division were here now and we have planted all the top of the gunpits with gooseberry and currant bushes which we got from the remains of a village near by. The pits are all painted white, with different coloured linings and with bells, electrc light and speaking tubes - we might be in a private house. Besides all this, a steel cupola has been put up for the Captain and one is now being erected for the Mess.

We were also hard at work building two pits, for my section is going into another position with a section of the 15th. We have stopped work on them. A wretched howitzer battery 4.5 inch has planted itself just outside our Mess and, as No. 4 pit is barely 10 yards to a flank and to the rear of the Mess, they nearly shake the place down every time they fire. I was in the old town yesterday collecting Mess material and had a long day of it, as it is about a 14-mile ride from here. The wagon line is a beastly long way from here too - six miles - and, as we can't keep our horses up here, it is rather a long way for them to do four trips instead of two. It is time for the Australian mail to come and I hope it arrives today.

Bee has been up with what is called the suicide brigade, but I saw him yesterday. He spends three days in the trenches with the trench mortars and three days out.

The fleet did well. I think the Ruskies are doing better, if they can keep it up, but it was very sad losing Kitchener of Khartoum.

Ever your loving son

Walford.

Diary Entry - 13th June, 1916

At the guns all day and relieved Claudie in the evening. Nothing exciting happened.

Diary Entry - 12th June, 1916

At ten, I rode to the wagon line and gave a few messages to BSM, then set out for Bethune at twelve pm. The ground was very heavy as it was still raining and it took me two hours and thirty minutes to reach town. On landing there, I went straight to the barber's and had a clip and met several 33rd division men there - Wadman. The shopping kept me at it until three forty five and I had to get several interpreters to help me through. After tea at a nice shop near the Hotel de France, I walked towards Noeux les Mines as had sent my horses on there. It was not long befor a lorry/bus hove in sight and I found a RAMC man up beside the driver but managed to squeeze in beside him. The lorry stopped half way so we walked it as no other lorries or ambulances came our way. Found the horses waiting for me and rode on through Hersin and Bouvigny. On going along a disused road on Lorette, I noticed two dead Frenchmen, evidently left there since the great battle. They seem to be fairly casual about burying their dead.

Diary Entry - 11th June, 1916

I went to the wagon line and paid out Siggers, having collected the money the day before. There was one of two subs horses very bad with colic. He had got at a bag of oats during the night and was found very bad at four. He was a good as dead when I saw him and they had done all possible for him, but the poor wretch was suffering terrible agony. All the other horses seemed to have fallen away a little on account of the cold wet weather, it having rained for four days.

Diary Entry - 10th June, 1916

Having gone up to the OP the previous night, I remained up there until seven fifteen. Sergeant Hedge came up with the signallers in the morning and was shown all the front. He did the observing all day but, as there were numerous thunder showers with occasional lightning and thunder, there was not much to be seen. Hoyland had returned from leave on Friday night, reaching the battery at eleven thirty. Siggers was also away all Friday in Bethune getting material for the gun pits.

Diary Entry - 8th June 1916

At nine, I set out for my horses, which were to be waiting for me in the wood near the brigade at nine fifteen. There was no sign of them when I got there at nine thirty am and, on searching the surroundings, I could not find them. On calling up on Murdoch, he gave me a chit to th Brigade Sergeant Major - commonly known as the 'pork butcher'. He was very obliging and gave me his own horse, which, he informed me, was a good mount. It was then ten fifteen and I had to be at the wagon line some six miles away by ten thirty, as the DVS was to be there to see the horses. Luckily I picked up my horse before going far and got down there in under the half hour, finding that the old boy had not arrived. He rolled up in his car at eleven and, after having all the horses filed past, evacuated nine for suspected skin disease, five of which were perfectly all right. Beyond promulgating a court martial, there was nothing else to do down there, so I returned, getting back by twelve pm.

Diary Entry - 7th June

I was at the guns all day - nothing doing.

Diary Entry - 5th to 6th June, 1916

At the guns throughout the day and, as Siggers was liaison officer to the infantry, I had to go to the OP again. I relieved Bee from the 15th and saw a nice new hole (10-cm gun) about ten yards short, which Bee told me nearly blinded him soon after I left on the previous night. All was quiet throughout the day, but Bosche seemed to be moving a lot of stuff per rail. His rail head seemed to be Bois St Bernard, right across the big plain. On coming back, I was pleased to see Kellagher, with a Military Cross - it had just been awarded him.

Letter Home - 4th June 1916

Dear Mother,
It was nice to get your letters this week, giving us all the news, and I am glad that there has been some rain. We are rather cut off from the world in this position as never get a paper. Bosche has his trenches nicely placed on the top of a high crest and he looks down on all our country from a very high knoll called 'The Pimple', which commands a splendid view of our valley. This, of course, makes movement difficult and all supplies have to come at night. Great excitement! News of the North Sea battle has just been telephoned through to us at the OP. Personally, I think when the Bosche fleet comes out it is the beginning of the end - anyway, I hope it is. There seem to have been big losses on both sides, but, although it is called a draw, I think we had the best of it as we only lost one modern boat and no dreadnoughts but Boche lost two of the latter.

Well, so much for that. I don't suppose we shall get another chance like that for some time. We have had a small shoot since last I wrote. On Thursday at four the bombardment started and evey gun in our sector started to loose off. We kept it up until  one am, firing about 120 rounds an hour in bursts of fire about every four minutes. Bosche seemed to be ready for us and put over just as heavy fire and for some reason or other our infantry did not go over the parapet and the whole show gradually fizzled out to peace and quietness again. I am up at the OB now and, although it must have been tons of explosives that were hurled at the hill, its appearance does not seem to be altered in the slightest. Well, Ma, this is the only news I have this week. Many thanks for the stockings. I shall write a joint letter of thanks.

Ever your loving son

Walford

PS I forgot to add, Mum, that there are two younger subalterns in the battery who are my seniors, so they ought to have more responsibilities than I have. It has turned beastly cold and wet today - heavy thunder showers pouring down every few hours

Diary Entry - 2nd to 4th June, 1916

On Friday, I was on duty at the guns and spent a quiet day. On Saturday, Siggers and I went to Gauchin-Legal to see the old skins. We were down there until two and lunched at a small estaminet on fried eggs. The only excitement there was that one man had helped himself to about 27 litres of wine out of a barrel where he kept his harness and we had to settle it up. The engineers had put up some new troughs with a small engine to fill two 400-gallon tanks as a supply. The whole thing has been put in very neatly. That night, on returning, I went to the OP and remained there all Sunday, being relieved by Bee in the evening. The Bosche twice put over some six 10-cm shells but they were on the crest below us some 30 yards. Some infantry men surprised me in the afternoon by walking straight up the hill in front of the OP. They were new people and had lost their way.

Diary Entry - 1st June, 1916

The morning was very quiet. It was a beautiful day and quite warm as French summer days go. At two thirty, the Captain told us there was to be a strafe on the German front line which was to begin at four five pm and the order was that we were to fire 120 rounds per hour. Everyone started at zero time and we all carried on until about one am. We fired bursts of gun fire about every four minutes. A few pip squeaks came over into our valley during the first hour but nowhere near the battery and they had enough to do with their own trenches. The whole show was a wash out and the infantry never left the trenches. All they seemed to do was grouse at their own guns for dropping short on our front. But, as our Captain observed all the shooting and also Captain Palmer (that of the 15th), it was absoulute rot. They declare there was German 77-mm battery enfilading our front line from Lievin or in that direction. I got to bed at one thirty am and most of the guns had stopped by then.

Diary Entry - 29th to 31st May, 1916

There was nothing doing these days. Bosche sent over some 8-inch armour piercing stuff near the 15th one day, but only about 15 rounds, doing no damage. The 15th had bad luck shooting one night - they had a premature which penetrated a dug out and killed Oakleigh's servant, who was preparing his dug out for the night. I must add that the dug out had tin sides to it and only one layer of sand bags halfway up the walls. My turn came for the OP on Wednesday, but it is a dull, uninteresting front and I got very tired of it.

Diary Entry - 28th May, 1916

Suttie, Kellagher and I rode down to the wagon line which had just moved from Gt Servin to Ganchin-Legal. It is about a 6-mile ride from the red house in the wood where we always met our horses and quite a good situation, but I think the watering is not too good. From the wagon line, after having a snack with Dale, the Captain of the 15th, I went off to Barlin with the Mess cart to collect some Mess stores as we were very short. Considering the capabilities of the shops in Barlin. I got most of the stuff that was wanted, getting back to the guns at about six pm. On the 27th we spent most of the day looking round the new position as were rather uncomfortable all in one small tin shed which was very draughty and would not keep out a shot gun. Siggers and I were going to an old dug out but theCaptai and Kellagher moved, saving us the trouble. They went to the cupola at the guns.

Letter Home - 27th May, 1916

Dear Father,
I got your letter in London before leaving. I hope there is not going to be another drought - it seems to be a very dry autumn. I had a very nice six days at home, but it always seems like a weekend, though I suppose I am lucky to get anything at all. There seem to be crowds of people in London, lots of whom I know. I saw a good deal of both the John Manifolds and the Rutledges and as you know Forster is a Major now and has command of the Australian squadron. What a splendid chance he had! I hope he won't lose his head. John seems to be working very hard and does not look very stout, but he will worry over the work, which is only natural as it always seems an impossible task at the beginning. Barbara is fairly well and young John in excellent form, but I think Nan looks very thin. Mildred seems very happy with her darling husband, as she calls him, and they are an amusing pair - so much for the family. I also saw Freyda in town. She does not look very bright - very thin, I thought. Aunt May is very well and has got much stouter since I last saw her. Aunt Lil seemed well but had just come out of hospital after getting rid of measles. I met Alec Russell in town and had a good chat with him about his part of the world in the south. I lunched with them and saw poor Joan. She looks very thin and ill, poor thing. She must have had a rotten time of it. Mrs Russell seemed in good form but I did not see Mr. I went to a theatre nearly every night in London but could not get to the very popular ones as they were booked up and I believe you have to get your seats a week or so beforehand. So that explains London in war time.The night before leaving London I met Reggie Brown, who does not look too well but the climate does not seem to suit him. On coming out on Wednesday I met the CO at Folkestone, he had his leave extended as he was not feeling very strong. We travelled out together and spent the day in Folkestone as the boat did not sail until five. I was very unlucky as I was grabbed by the RTO on both sides to look after men and take them to rest camps. At Boulogne we had to take them miles up a very steep hill about an hour's march and one of my poor troop fainted on the hill and died. The whole business was rather a nuisance as had to take them up to the rest camp, come back for the night and be there in the morning about eleven thirty. Well, we left Boulogne at midday and reached our destination where we expected horses to be awaiting us at seven thirty but, alas, there was no one to meet us. We tramped halfway and got a bus and found on arrival at the Mess that the battery had departed, having left on Sunday. Friday, we walked miles, hunting for them, and eventually found them in action on a nasty spot. The poor old second division had been called up with about two hours' notice, when they were supposed to be on four weeks' rest.

Bee will have told you all about it. Our experiences, I believe, were much the same. We had two minor casualties and had one ammunition wagon blown up. However, all was peace and quietness when we eventually found them at about four.

Tell Mum I am on duty at the guns tonight and there is a great wind up about an attack, which is all rot.

With best love

Walford

Diary Entry - 26th May, 1916

We breakfasted at eight and soon afterwards walked to Callons Ricourt over the two miles of steep hills to get our baggage as there seemed to be no other means of getting it. When we had collected it and got onto the main road, we awaited a vehicle to put our baggage in. At last a wagon loaded with metal ventured our way so we put our bags on and walked ahead. It eventually reached Devion at about ten forty-five. After some lunch, we set out for Houdain to see if we could catch some of the supply lorries. I humped my bag and, as it was a mile and a half's tramp, had had quite enough when we got there. We enqired of an ASC captain what chances we had and he being an adjutant arranged a car for us which we very quickly accepted. By two we had landed at Chateau Delahaye - divisional headquarters and also RAHQ. We were directed to walk to the brigade from there and after tramping through woods and across fields which seemed to be in full view of Boschie we found some batteries. We were sent backwards and forwards through the wood, eventually finding the brigade in dug outs. After a chat there, we were escorted by Todd to the position, arriving there about four thirty pm. On arriving there it was not long before we heard hair-raising tales about what we had missed earlier in the week.

Letter Home - 22nd May, 1916

211 Piccadilly
London

22nd May, 1916

Dear Mother,

As you see I am once more on leave, having arrived on Thursday afternoon last at three thirty pm. It was quite a good journey, except for the crowds in the train. The sea was simply glassy and we did not even have an escort - well, not above water anyway. I thought I was going to spring a surprise on everybody but had not been in the club a minute before I ran across Bobbie Russell of Carnygham who said that his mother and Mrs Chirnside were upstairs having tea and that I must join them. Well, when I got there, I found Mrs Russell, Mrs Percy Chirnside and 'my boy Poss', Bill Austin and RS Gilliard. Poss was quite the nut and had come across from Ireland full of the rebellion and of having bayonetted several rebels, which I should think should be taken with a grain of salt. Well, after tea I saw Aunt May, who seemed to be in good form, so you can imagine the news of my arrival circulated like wireless. On Friday I went out to St John's Wood with Gilliard, to see John and meet his OC, Colonely Bailey, who seems a nice sort of man, but, by the way things are run, I should think he was very strict. John eventually appeared at the double and gave us all a very average GS salute and the CO eventually gave him the afternoon off. Well we went back to their hotel in Kensington but Barbara was out so we two and Nan tried to catch her at Hatchet's restaurant without success. I expect someone hill have told you all about it. In the meantime, Foster and Mim had arrived and were hunting me up and I found them on Saturday at the York Hotel in Albermarle Street. Foster had just received his promotion to Major and sailed to take over an Australian squadron in Egypt today. Mildred looks well but is still rather thin.

I don't think John or Barbara lok very fit but no doubt they will pick up. Young John looks well and is full of spirits. Well Mum, there is not time for any more. I go back to France the day after tomorrow - that is the 24th.

Ever your loving son

Walford

From Accounts - 21st May, 1916

Battery had marching orders when having dinner at nine pm and the whole brigade was to be under way by ten thirty. They got away in the hour and a half, moving up to Gt Servin, where they bivouacked. On Monday night, they went into action on the southern slopes of Lorette, on the fringe of a wood. When they were coming in to the position, the Bosche started shelling and he kept it up for about 24 hours, with all sizes of guns, including lacramatory shells, which rather startled people at first. During the night, one gun was put out of action - an ammunition wagon blown up amongst the trees. I hear there were showers of 18-pounder ammunition coming down all over the place. Two men were slightly wounded and for the amount of stuff put over and the lack of cover we were more than lucky. On Friday - or Thursday night rather - we moved into a position two valleys further up, where we now are.

Diary Entry - 18th to 25th May, 1916

These days were spent in Blighty. The boat left at eleven and it was a beautifully calm run over, without even a destroyer to shadow us. We landed in London at three fifty pm and I went straight to  the club but as RSG was not there I went straight round to Batts, bathed, changed and returned to the club at five. As I ran into Bob Russell, his mother, Poss Chirnside and Mrs Chirnside, Bill Austin and RSG - having tea in the club, of course I had to join them and then the news spread all over town. Sid Russell was chasing me the next day on the phone but I thought it was Bob until I finally met the latter at midday and found out the real state of affairs. RSG took  me out to St John's Wood to see John and we got him off the afternoon. London seemed packed with people and one would never know there was any trouble such as war. There seemed to be more interest taken in the Irish rebellion than France. I had a day or rather saw quite a lot of Foster, Midler, Barbra, Nan and John, doing theatre with each family. Foster was very busy packing up for Egypt as he is promoted to Major and is taking over the Australian Flying Corps. On Monday, I ran across Knox, an ADC of the 47th Division. They were in just North of Vimy and got a very bad time in the attack which was reported in the paper on Monday. He had to return and he had only been home two days. I left London at seven fifty am on Wednesday and was grabbed by the RTO when enetering the station at Victoria. When coming off the station at Folkestone, I met Suttie who was just returning from leave, having been home for about three weeks as he was not well. When the troops were in the rest camp, we went off to the Metropole for the day, as the ship did not sail until five. There were three ships sailing and each one was packed. There was a large quantity of new kit and men on board. By extraordinary bad luck, I was caught by the RTO again at Boulogne and had to take about 500 men up to a rest camp a good hour's march onto some heights just above the town. One of my men fainted on the big hill and afterwards died, poor chap. Suttie and I stayed at the Louvre and travelled on by the midday train on Thursday, reaching Callons Ricourt about eight pm. To our surprise, there were no horses or Mess cart to convey us to Devion and we were rather taken aback as we had phoned from Boulogne. However, there was nothing for it but to leave our bags and set out for the Mess on foot. When we had breasted a large hill, we got on a passing bus which seemed to be the only vehicle on the road. Devion seemed very deserted on arriving there and, after scaling the iron gates to our Mess, I managed to rouse Madame and the rest of the family and they told us all the news. The Brigade had evidently moved in a great hurry and gone up into action near Souchez and they had left half their kit and mess material behind as they expected to be back in a few days. The people gave us some food and a bed each for the night so we weren't badly off.

Bertie, Diary Entry, Saturday, 20th May
The infantry Brigade here at rest had a demonstration of an attack for the Corps' [illegible] benefit this morning, which the artillery officers were asked to attend for guidance and information. About a mile out of the town they have some demonstrating trenches. This was supposed to be a successful attack on the enemy's front line, with us finally pushing on and holding their third line. You realise what a murderous thing an attack can be when you see this. There are continuous lines upon lines of men at a pace interval, marching up until within about 15 yards of their objective, and then they double. I was surprised at the number of people you had to have to carry ammunition, bombs, machine guns and dozens of other things - and all very awkward to carry. Once you are in the enemy's front line, you are more or less cut off from your own trenches until you get communications trenches cut through. There were dozens of staff people there and four or five Generals. I did not hear their opinion on the subject, but I don't think a quarter of the troops taking part would have been left alive, if there had been any opposition.

Bertie, Diary Entry, Sunday, 21st May and Monday, 22nd May

Took a church party to service at the Divisional cinema which is about 200 yards up the road.  It has been quite hot today. Had a harness inspection at evening stables. When we were halfway through the inspection, Captain Palmer turned up, just back from leave.  He is a wonder at getting a car to go and come on this side of the Channel. He left London at 7.45 a.m and arrived at Devion [Douvrin?]at 4 p.m. If he had come by the normal way, he would not have got here until midday the next day. There has been great preparations for a Divisional horse show, which the Divisional staff asked Palmer to give them a hand with the morning of, before he went on leave. After we had finished dinner, he was discussing their programme of events with us.  Well this was about 9:30pm and an orderly from Brigade came in and said the Colonel wanted to see him at once. Then went home and came back, he announced in his quiet way, "Well, gentlemen, I have some good news. Division is moving tonight. We have to be on the Houdain Road by 11 and at the railway crossing a mile away at 11.15 p.m. Away we went to tell the men, who were scattered all over the place, in bivouacs, some asleep and all quiet. In 10 minutes, the whole place was alive with moving forms in the dark. It was dark too, as the moon did not get up until 12 p.m.. It was wonderful how these fellows all went about their work so cheerfully, and we were on the road at the stroke. We had to leave a lot of our Mess stuff behind - piano and those sorts of things - but we got everything else away bar two lame horses. The people in Devion [Douvrin?] couldn't make out was happening, everybody was rushing about. The Brigade consisted of two batteries - B.A.C the 71st were left at Bully-Grenay to do counter battery when the 23rd Divs relieved us. Anyway, we three units covered about a mile or more of the road, travelling in column of route. It was a beautiful warm night and quite pleasant when the moon got up. We halted once for about an hour. I happened to be on a hill that overlooked the surrounding country, and wherever you looked you could see nothing but head lamps going and coming and the whir of motor lorries, bringing up troops' ammunition.  It rather made me think the great advance was on. It was daylight at two a.m and we marched on, finally arriving at Gouy-Servins at five a.m. It is only a small village and found it very hard to find water for the horses. We watered and fed the horses and ran the horse lines in a field where there were some trees. Our Mess cart had wasted no time in getting ahead and lighting a fire. Dickson, the cook, gave us eggs and bacon at 5.45 a.m., which I think was a pretty good effort. We could not find a house to get into so sat down in an open field. This was Monday 22nd May.

 While at breakfast a message came to say all our wagons had to go out with ammunition to Batteries of the 47th division. It was a bit hard on the men, but after they had breakfast they did not feel so tired. Oakley went in charge. Those who were left just dropped down in the grass and slept. It turned out a scorching day and about 10 a.m. found people waking up and moving to the shade. Palmer went and saw the Colonel about 11, who had come on by car and established Brigade HQ. It seems that the Hun started an attack on Sunday with an intense bombardment against our 47th Division who are on the N[illegible] front which is a ridge in front of Souchey [?].  The Hun evidently took them by surprise and our people could not get enough ammunition. Of course, our people say the Hun put up the heaviest bombardment run in modern times. By barraging our front line which he eventually levelled, he barraged the supports. And also had enough artillery to hold up principal roads behind and take on individual batteries. A pretty big order but, whatever his programme was, he defeated us all right. The infantry must have had tremendous losses, although the papers only say they are small attacks. The Hun drove us out of our positions and got our front line, which is rather important as it is on top of the rise and overlooks our support trenches. Anyway, we seem to have been brought up to do the dirty work. Captain Palmer went up to  see our new position. We are to go in the open. Four guns and eight wagons moved up this evening about dusk. Our position is in the open on the South Hill, a long way back. We are to shoot with a range of 5700 yards and we have a wood on each side of the guns. When it got dark we moved the guns in and made some small holes each side for the mess.

Letter Home - 15th May, 1916

Dear Mother,

This must be just a note, as there is really very little to write about and I have missed the mail - but as long as it gets there it is all right.

We have come out on rest to the same place as we were at when out last month. One section came out on Saturday; the centre section remained in action.They are the detached section I spoke about being in the wood, and I marched my section out yesterday evening at six pm, reaching our destination at nine pm. The division that were in action when we took over took over from us and, of course, they knew all the front et cetera and there was no trouble.

It is rather funny: I got your letters last mail which said I had written from London - well, I am off on leave again tomorrow night and am looking forward to it. Suttie is still on leave and not very well so don't suppose he will return for a week or so. Well Mum, this is a very poor letter but can find nothing else to write about.

Ever your loving son

Walford

Diary Entry - 15th to 17th May, 1916

All these days were spent in settling down and getting things squared up in the way of harness and the hundred and one other small things that have to be seen to. Siggers and I visited the mine baths on 16th and were very much appreciated. On 17th in the evening, I left for leave, riding into Béthune, starting at nine thirty pm. On the way in we passed several aerodromes, which were very busy experimenting with night flying and one machine nearly took our heads off as it rose by the side of the road. The train left at the usual time - two am - and it was very full. We had six in our carriage so there was not much sleep to be got.

Diary Entry - 14th May, 1916

A busy day as we - I mean the left section - were to move out in the evening, as Maitland Dougal's battery was relieving us. I went to the OB in the morning, scarcely knowing when I would be relieved. To my surprise, Dougal, a subaltern, and Captain Richardson - another BC - along with Kellagher, arrived at twelve forty-five for a look round and then we all left, leaving the subaltern in charge. We all went back to lunch in our Mess and then at three, when everything in the way of kits and mess material was on the GS wagons, I set out for the wagon line with the relieving battery's senior subaltern. As we were not quite ready, I had tea with him and we eventually got under way about five or soon afterwards. In the meantime, the gunners who had marched over from Bully had been getting some grog in the estaminets and, when we moved off with the gunners and dismounted men marching in front, they made themselves rather objectionable.

Soon after we got through Herchin, an empty motor lorry passed and after pursuing it some little way I caught it on a hill. It was empty and going as far as Bruay, so I bundled the whole 35 in, with Corporal Keegan in charge. After they were gone, we went along quietly, having two stops on the way, finally arriving at about nine pm, when it was just too dark to see. At about ten thirty, all the horses were settled down for the night and, on going to the Mess, I found a very merry party consisting of Bee, Claudet, Todd, Murdoch, Kellagher and Siggers, and the two brigade people made an awful noise, keeping it up until quite late.

Diary Entry - 13th May, 1916

This day was spent with the detached section and, as it rained hard and blew most of the time, I was in the dugout the greater part of it. However, I faced the tree about three times and tried to observe some rounds, but I was too taken up with holding on to do much observing. Major Carrington of the Staff came round in the evening (Major Mowbray's successor), with the DC, Greig, and they had a look at the position.

Diary Entry - 11th and 12th May, 1916

As we had asked for Mead to be spared from the BAC until we go out on rest, he made a fourth man and so we at last get a day off. I spent Thursday resting, going to the wagon line in the morning, where I found the horses all looking very well with their summer coats. In the afternoon, I visited Hoyland at the guns and shortly after getting there the Colonel arrived and we stood talking on the tram way. He asked if there had been any shelling of the Corrons this time and we remarked that there had been little or no shelling since we came in around the battery. Well, no sooner had we said that than bang whiz smack, just short of the road, two very nice bursts and we saw two horsemen emerge unscathed (we did not at the time know it was Kellagher and his groom). They had gone about 20 yards when two more came over, with 75 yards increase. These both burst a few yards short of the road and so covered both riders from view, but they both emerged again. I have never seen anything so close. When they rode through the Corrons the infantry came out and cheered them. Some heavy shelling went on on the northern fringes of Grenay and I hear a battery of 60-pounders was put out of action. Friday is spent at the guns, a quiet day, with nothing to shoot with - I mean no ammunition. I forgot to add that we were supposed to shoot by aeroplane yesterday afternoon, but it was put off as light was too bad.

Letter Home - 6th May 1916

Dear Mother,

We were glad to get two mails this week and hear you are all well. There is absolutely nothing to write about. I wish you could see me in my tent now in a wood. One can almost believe one is camping out in the bush with the cuckoos and other birds chanting among the trees, but when the guns start firing it brings you to the realities of life again.

We have a detached section of two guns in a wood about a mile distant from the main battery. The wood has been part of the grounds of a huge white chateau which must have been a beautiful place before the Hun got to work on it with his guns. Unfortunately, the chateau, which was well fitted up with heaters, baths and 'every modern convenience', is on the side of the wood nearest the trenches and consequently in full view of the Hun artillery observing officers, who seem to love seeing the brick dust flying. Our position is on the drive, and we fire down this narrow strip through the timber and over the ruins of the chateau and enfilade Boschie's front line about 2000 yards away. Observation is carried on from a very tall tree - 80 foot - which one climbs by ladders put up by the French, who use it also when the spirit moves them. I was never any good at heights and, when I get up there, spend most of my time trying to hang on. I find there is not much time for glasses so use the naked eye. When perched up there the other day, and trying to get another officer up, our General came along underneath and, though he is usually keen on inspecting your front, he never attempted to come up and look at ours. The tree was too much for him, I expect. We are going to have a rope put up for hurried retirement, in case a sharp-eyed Bosch spies us. The trees are all in leaf now and the wood is full of blue bells, so you can picture what a nice spot it is.

It was rather amusing the last time I was at the main battery OP - there were four Australians observing for four different batteries: Bee 15th; Sanger 56th; Armytage (Charlie) 71st. On Wednesday when at the OP, Bosch brought down one of our aeroplanes near this wood I am in now. The pilot planed down and must have caught a wire on landing as the machine turned over, threw both men out and caught fire. The men were all right and dashed for the wood and got under cover before Fritz turned on his artillery. Of course, the machine quickly burned to ashes.

Bee is back with his battery now and I think is pleased to be back. His OC Palmer is a very nice man and very different from our man Suttie who, though considered bearable by his subalterns, is very unpopular amongst other batteries.

Ever your loving son

Walford

PS Suttie is on leave now. He went on Friday night. He has been ill with malarial fever, which seems to stick to all Indian soldiers.

I was afraid the foal would play up when it lost its old master but I am glad it is going well now. It must have been a good season, Dad, with such good oat crops and I don't suppose North Station are feeding the sheep this year.

Mum was talking about the end of the war. I must tell her about theTommie who wrote home and said, 'Never mind, Mother, the first five years of the war are always the worst.'

Walford.

Diary Entry - 8th May, 1916

Monday was another nasty cold day, spent at the detached section. It rained the greater part of the day and, as I could not get a fire going without being asphyxiated, I had rather a miserable day. The chief event of the day was that the battery had a premature behind us and the side of the shell missed a detachment of ours working on a dugout by inches – needless to remark, it is a K pipsqueak battery. The new officers' dugout behind the shrine is very comfortable after the old tent, and the wire netting bed looks inviting.

Diary Entry - 7th May, 1916

Back again at the guns on Sunday night and spent a cold windy day with no fire in the dugout. General Sanders came round the position in the morning and I think that is the only event worthy of note that happened all day. Oh yes, Kellagher tried to knock down the white house in Lievin with No. 4, firing 33 rounds. The house still remains standing.

Diary Entry - 6th May, 1916

At the detached section, in among the bluebells. If I had a billy can and a chop or two, I might really think I was in the bush for a change. It is fairly windy today and the temperature has fallen about 1 points or more. I have tried the observation tree but, as I am not very keen on an 80-foot drop on a calm day, I could not faced it today, with the bough swinging about in mid-air.

Diary Entry - 4th and 5th May, 1916

On Thursday, I went to wagon line and just caught Kellagher off to RA HQ to try to get a car for Suttie, who was going on leave in the evening. After seeing Buxton, Kellagher and I went down to the hospital to try Major Samson for a car, but without success. The latter man showed us all over his hospital, from the engines of the Red Cross cars to the kitchens. It took us nearly two hours to get round. From there, I went into Béthune and got some things, including a haircut, and returned without lunch. It was a very warm day and did not feel much like lunch. When I got back, Suttie had gone to tea at RA HQ and from there they were running him into Béthune in the car. Friday, I was at the guns. We fired about 50 rounds through the day, an increase on usual allowance of ammunition. We have a trolley on the infantry railway now, which comes in very useful. It makes a great pace from the guns down to the Mess.

Letter Home - 1st May, 1916

Dear Father,

Before I forget, I must tell you how splendid your glasses are. They knock spots off anything I have ever seen out here and anybody who uses them remarks on their fine quality.

Things have been what you might call rather restless just north and south of us this week and, as most of the attacks have been made at dawn or in the early morning, there has not been much rest. I think it was on Tuesday night the division on our left started cutting wire to make some raids and, after heavy firing through the day, they kept the ball rolling through the greater part of the night to stop the Bosch from rewiring his front line. Well, Fritz, feeling rather annoyed about it, sent over some gas and I believe got out of his trenches to follow it up, but our fire was too much for him and he thought discretion the better part of valour. More shooting went on on Wednesday night, but I don't think they sent over any gas. On Thursday they did some heavy firing to our south but never heard what it was all about. On Friday night there was a north-east wind blowing but a very slight one and, although the Bosch let off the gas well north of us, it drifted down behind our lines and I think frightened a lot of people. It was my day for observing and on going down the street from my billet to the Mess at five am I tried to pull a man up on a horse who was galloping down on me but he waved a gas helmet in my face and said, 'Gas'. Well, I could not nose any so went to breakfast and while there saw two other Tommies riding along with gas helmets on. Well, I never thought much about it till passing through a valley on the way to the observation station there was a peculiar haze hanging about and a funny sort of sweet smell, which was I thought an ordinary French village odour. Later, when I and my signaller got to the OP, I noticed my buttons were very black, like gun metal, likewise my signaller's and it dawned on me we had had a faint whiff of it in the valley. Some of the batteries in our brigade got a good quantity of it and it made them very ill for the rest of the day. They felt like vomiting and felt pains in their stomachs. The only effect it had on me was to give me a slight pain.

Meade our attached subaltern returned on Friday. He has been on an infantry course, the same show as Bee and I were on, only it is a three-week business now. It is good to have another man as when one is off duty if there is any shooting during the night it worries you and you think you ought to be up having a nose around and the consequence is one does not sleep much. On Thursday we fired sixty rounds with aeroplane obsrvation but the whole to my mind was a farce and a waste of ammunition, as although we started with may[sic] range and line and were fairly close to the target the chap dropped and dropped until he was about 500 yards short.

It was rather amusing last night when going to the Mess for dinner - the streets were full of Tommies and civilians when there was a terrific crump over the town, one of our 8-inch hows had had a premature. It cleared the streets pretty quickly.

I was in the town yesterday and rode about eight miles, mainly to get a haircut and some money to replenish the Mess funds but, as it was Sunday, there was nothing doing.

No more news. I hope to get your mail tonight.

Your affectionate son

Walford.

PS I hope my next birthday will be spent far away from gas and in quieter times at home once more.

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.