Diary Entry - 28th February 1917

Walford: In the morning I woke - or rather I was awake most of the night and waddled out about six a.m to find a thick mist hanging over the earth. Considering the circumstances, I was feeling very fit and, except for the smell of human excreta that seemed to follow me about, I was quite happy. About ten a.m. I was just going up to Grundy Trench (our support line) and met Durand on the same errand, so strolled over the crest with him. The infanteer officer who was to have guided us seemed to know very little about the track, so we hit out in the direction we thought it was. We arrived all right and found an infanteer OP and asked him what he had seen of interest. His information about the wire which could be seen in places through the haze was of little use. So we wandered round looking for a position to run a wire to. During the course of the morning, I wandered back to see our new position and found the men busily digging and building platforms, the position was in No Man's Land, in a valley which ran off the Dyke Valley, I think. The whole brigade were here and it looked bad for us if the Bosche shelled us, as there was no cover. Dean relieved me about five thirty p.m, being late, and, as it was almost dusk, I and my signallers set out across country to try to race the light. We soon lost our way and never knew where we were until I hit the wire on the north of Bapaume road and discovered we had gone some one and a half miles out of our way. I knew it was hard to find one's way over the waste of shell holes, but I thought I knew the country well enough to hit a track I knew but was deceived and realise now what a time the infantry had in finding their posts at night. We eventually got in about seven thirty p.m.

Bee: Still very misty. Woke up with a stiff neck and feeling rotten. We have all hands on deck building a new position about a mile further ahead. Everything has to be carried there on pack horses. Have a miniature wagon line here at the battery now. I got the fore carriage of an old GS wagon, which I think ought to come in very handy for transporting material. A 60 lb came in here last night and has made a nasty mess of our position. Hear the Huns are blowing up the crossroads, wells and mining dug outs, also building traps for the dug outs.

Diary Entry - 27th February, 1917

Walford: In the morning, Siggers went to the OP and registered zero and wire cutting lines on Grevillers. We were also engaged in salving ammunition from an Anzac position with pack horses. At three, I went out as liaison, proceeding along the East Miraumont Road across the old Bosch front line to Coulee trench, where I relieved Bee. I forgot to mention that lI posted two signallers in a shaft along the road to be responsible for the war to SN2. Coming over No Man's Land, there were a lot of our dead about from the last attack and I suppose the deserters (2) gave the whole show away and the Bosch were ready. I followed the wire up from here, having left an NCO and signaller where Bee had been. The wire ran along Coulee Trench to the south and thence across the shelled ground to the acqueduct road. On arriving at the dugout in the sunken road and descending to the depths, I found the place crammed with platoon commanders and orderlies. However, I saw a small hole under the cook's legs and dived into a filthy kind of mess of tins and old clothing but it was the only place for the gunner officer. The 2nd HLI were in when I arrived but were relieved by the 2nd Ox and Bucks that night, and I must say they were a much more pleasant crowd. The night was spent in trying to sleep amongst the rubbish with no coat to keep me warm and the result was that I almost froze.

Bee: This is a very small dug out - no room to lie down. I sat up all night. The more I see of the feet, the more respect I have for them, but they are an ignorant lot. The Hun was rather active all through the night and put some very close to us. But he has taken his guns some way back. It was much clearer in the morning than it has been but saw very few Hun. Our people were walking about the open in shawls[?]. Which of course annoyed the Hun no end and made him shoot more than usual. The Hun has made himself as objectionable as possible by relieving himself in dug outs and all over the place. I went up the E Miraumont road where you can see right down int Irels[?] and Miss. Irels has quite a number of houses which have roofs still left on them. I did not stay there long as there was a Hun machine gunner dropping bullets onto the road as neatly as you like. Was relieved at three p.m. by Walford and got back here about five p.m. feeling dead to the world. Thought I would have a lie down for two hours before dinner but knew no more until nine a.m. the next morning.

Diary Entry - 26th February 1917

Walford: Go up to the guns, arriving about twelve. Find us shooting on Grevillers trench, a trench some 300 yards the other side of the Pys valley and 5,000 yards range and everyone seemed very worried as to where we should move to. I found that Suttie was at RA taking Carrington's place, as he had gone on leave. In the evening, Kellagher came round and looked us up and I walked over to his position with him, some 400 yards behind our valley, and a very nice spot too, with a splendid mine shaft he had dug. Sloane, Major of 17th Battery, reported missing - he was running a wire out with the infantry and it was very foggy. He was never seen after a certain time and is supposed to have been captured by an enemy patrol.

Bee: The situation is most strange. The Hun has evacuated Serre and we have taken it without any casualties, which is wonderful. And rumour says the Hun is returning to a shorter line and stronger position. From facts one heard, it will take him back about 30 miles in places. That means he goes back from Arras. From information, he is retiring to what is known as his cement line, where he has three of these. The third one is supposed to be in construction by Russian prisoners. He ought to be due to give us a good time, as he knows exactly where we can put guns and where his machine guns are at their best advantage. If he goes back fast, our infantry will have an awful time constructing a new front line without any cover. Anyway, it remains to be seen. I had to go to battalion head quarters, 17th Fusiliers, on the East Maraumont road, in an old German dugout. The country between here and there is desperate, far worse than Trones. How any human lived through that cold weather in shell holes is beyond me. The sights one sees are awful. Every now and again you come across heaps of our men who have evidently all been hit by the same shell. There are very few Huns in comparison. But I think they must have taken great care to bury them. The Hun must be very short of footwear as he has stripped of boots all our dead who are near him.

Diary Entry - 25th February, 1917

Walford: Attended stables in the morning and rode to Senlis in the afternoon to draw from the Field Cashier. On the way in, I rode along with an RE Major, who informed that the Bosch has evacuated his front line before Pys and our infantry were following him up and trying to get in touch with him. There was also a rumour that he intended evacuating Bapaume and going back as far as Cambrie, to a cement line, which he has made very strong. The idea seemed to be for him to shorten his front so as he could draw more men, probably for a big offensive against us on some other front. Serre, Pys, Miraumont all reported evacuated. Barrett, a trench mortar officer was posted to the battery to assist as there were only three officers in the battery.

Bee: Things are fairly buzzing this morning, orders and counter orders. The battalion are moving up, Brigade HQ have come in here. Our line is now the other side of Miraumont and Pys. On the left they meet very little opposition but we were held up by machine gun fire. The 41st Brigade are moving up their guns today - took the piece out and put the carriage on a truck brought on the railway. The fog lifted about two pm and the sun came out. The plane were all up very eager for information. It has been very quiet all day as we were not allowed to shoot as no-one knew how far we had got forward. Oakley was up forward all day with Scott, trying to get information. Captain S[illegible] 17th Battery was also out and had a party of six signallers with him, who were all captured. He must have been awfully careless as he pushed up in front of the infantry and we know the Hun only had patrols out as connecting files. We hear that we have taken Serre without any opposition. It seems strange, as I always thought it would be a strong point and even worse than Beaumont Hamel.

Letter Home (Bertie) - 24 to 25 February 1917

15th Battery RFA

24^th February 1917

Dear Mother

Well, it is getting near mail time and I have a bit of time, as I am liaison officer with the infantry again. I did not get very far yesterday as a rather exciting incident happened, which I can't put down here.

It has started to thaw, which is a blessing in many ways, although it does mean more mud. It has dried up a good deal since we came in. I have spent most of my spare moments supervising the draining of the position and am glad to say our efforts have made quite a difference.

We have had quite a lot of shelling around the position this week. The softness of the ground has saved us quite a lot, most of the shells going into the ground without exploding. It is quite a cheerful noise, they just go dump. Our officer, who was wounded at the Thiepval show, came back to us this week, which is rather lucky as it is very hard to get back to your old unit these days. We have our major and second lieutenant on leave at the present moment. Walford got back yesterday, but I have not seen him yet.

I had a long letter from Jack yesterday. He seems to be in good form and likes his new unit job, which is a good thing.

Today is the first day our planes have been up for over a fortnight so you can imagine what the weather has been like.

Today I think will be remembered in the days to come as one of the most important days in the history of the war and appears to me to be the actual turning point. I can't say any more. One is never surprised at what happens these times. Last night and tonight are the quietest nights we have had for months. Don't be surprised if you only get a field post card from me, as we are sure to be very busy from now on and letter writing will become nearly impossible.

Good night and love

from your loving son

Bertie

25/2/17

Diary Entry - 24th February, 1917

Walford: Saturday. At lunch time Cruickshanks came down from the guns to draw some pay. After looking around the lines, I walked over to the 15th Battery Mess but found no-one at home.

Bee: Very foggy today. Nothing much doing, just wandering round. This afternoon, I had to do Liaison with the infantry left batallion. The 17th Fusiliers were in. I had not been there long before news came in that the 15th Division had reported that their patrols had been out and had met no opposition as far out as Miraumont. It was rather a startling bit of information as nothing had been suspected. Of course, the thick mist we have had the last few days has obscured all observation. Anyway, this fairly stirred up the camp. The Colonel had gone up to the line before the news came in. It was not long before the Brigade Major was round and wanted to know what steps had been taken. But the Fusilier Major was frightened to take the responsibility - or seemed to be. The 18th Division were pushing ahead like wildfire and left our feet standing. The Colonel got back about seven p.m. He had got news of the situation before he got there and had walked overland to all his posts without being shot at. The enemy are evidently retiring to a stronger line on a rise where they can look down on us. There was very little news from the company commanders, who all had patrols out in the dark, which is an awful game. At midnight our brigade rang up to say I had to go over to right battalin=on, which is about half a mile away, and see if I could get any imformation. It took me three-quarters of an hour to get there, solid walking and falling into shell holes very often. And, as usual, they knew no more than we.

Diary Entry - 23rd February, 1917

Walford: Well, Bee and I had a good time and we made the most of our time and put every evening in at a theatre. I saw Sid again and had a Sunday morning in his car and we also dined with the Fairbarins on Sunday night. I forgot to mention the great event of our leave - Sam McCaughey's wedding to Una Mc Kellar. It took place on our first morning in London and, of course, we went and met everyone we ever knew. On the 12th, I went down with a bad throat and a temperature and Mildred came round to look after me and also got Dr Blake in to see me. It was nothing much but just enough to stop my going back with Bee on the 13th. Well, on the 19th , I was fit enough to wend my way to Victoria for the leave train but, on arriving, was told there was none running, so I had my warrant stamped and came back to Batt's. The same thing happened the following day, only I had my warrant stamped the night before. On Wednesday, we left but sat on the boat for five hours and were then bundled off and had a free fight to get our warrants stamped as they only had one stamp and there were some 2,000 officers needing warrants and fighting for one little doorway of a waiting room on the station. Stopped the night at the Metropole Hotel. The main event there was that I collected some 12 shillings at snooker in the evening. The boat went at eleven the next morning and had to stay the night in Boulogne as the train did not leave till ten a.m the next morning. Stayed at the Louvre and fell in with a man of the Welsh Fusiliers for a companion. The trian eventually left about twelve thirty p.m. and we reached Acheux at midnight. I found the major of 16th Battery (Messervey) at Candas [?] and we stuck together and stayed  the night in the rest camp at Acheux, the most comfortable one I've been in - it is run by the YMCA. The next morning we got breakfast in the village and walked towards Boozencourt until we picked up an RFC Tender which took us along the rest of the way. I arrived to find none of my battery down at the wagon line and Bailley away on the home course for BCs.

Bee: Very misty and a little colder today. It has got very muddy the last two days. Got quite a lot done to our drainage scheme today and got all the rails off the road. Two guns came up this morning and we had an awful time getting them through the mud. Thaw precautions [illegible] and only two horses are allowed to each vehicle, which is such rot, especially when they only get nine lbs of corn - they are so mean.

Diary Entry - 22nd February, 1917

Bee: A brute of a morning – thick mist and heavy fog. I left here at nine a.m. for the wagon line. I had not got far before that damn 6-inch gun started shooting into this valley and when I got back I found some of them had fallen fairly close to the battery, a matter of a few feet, and someone should have been killed. The wagonline is in a filthy mess, with mud. Had a gas helmet inspection and was kept fairly busy with other things. Left there at two thirty p.m. and got back after being frightened with the 6-inch gun again.

Diary Entry - 21st February, 1917

Bee: A very mild day and the mist cleared up for about two hours this afternoon. The 6-inch gun was dropping some very close here today. I had a go at trying to drain the water off the position but it is so thick – like pea soup – that it is hard to do much with it. Oakley went to the OP this afternoon.

Diary Entry - 20th February, 1917

Bertie: Very little more known about the front. It rained hard this morning. I got a lot of useful information for our brigade. Oakley returned today, which was a great surprise. Last night they got a direct hit on the B Subs billet, where six men were sleeping. A shell – four point two – came in one side, knocked one man – Corporal Fisher - to bits and went into the ground on the other side, without exploding. A wonderful escape that the whole lot were not killed. One man is very bad with shell shock – James Hunt.

Diary Entry - 19th February, 1917

Bee: The thaw has set in properly and mud is coming fast. Had a great tidy up as the Corps General was reported to be coming round. Eventually came round and, when he saw that most of our gun pits were more or less knocked about and a good many shells going over, he asked, 'Do they shell you much?' Bromley, the captain, said, 'Yes they do - we have had six guns knocked out and two billets hit direct.' With this, he went straight on, not troubling much about the battery. Had a great time this morning trying to drain the position. I had to go to the infantry battalion as liaison officer this afternoon. The Middlesex are in and are having a hell of a time tonight. At twelve o'clock they were not [illegible] where our point line ran. They have had an awful time. The battery padre and doctor came in tonight about eleven p.m. after being lost for 24 hours. The casualties have been pretty heavy. The Germans spotted them when they were relieving and knocked them to blazes. They told me that one of our people who is supposed to have been a spy deserted two hours before the attack and told the Huns. They, of course, were ready waiting and half a minute before zero opened on the South Stafford. The latter lost all except two officers and 40 men.

Letter home (Bertie) - 18th February, 1917

Dear Mother and Father

I am back again at the guns after a very good leave but was very sorry I had to leave Fatts behind with a very bad cold. It is a rotten trip these days, both going and coming on leave, but I suppose it is a privilege and I should not growl. The day I left, I bustled down to the station, only having four minutes to spare, but when I got there I found that the R S M (Regimental Station Master) had altered the time of starting to an hour later, so we of course cooled our heels on the station. Then, when we got across the channel, they kept us there a day. The next morning we were supposed to start at ten a.m. but did not start till twelve noon. The journey by car takes about three hours but in the leave train or troopship anything from seven hours. Meals of course you can never get but I am cunning now and always leave London with a parcel of food. I was glad to find the thaw had started, and it is turning to mud very rapidly.

I stayed at the wagon line one night and came up to the guns next day. The horses have improved - the overhead cover has made a wonderful difference. I could see a great difference in their appearance. It is wonderful how frightened you are after a few days of leave. I used to duck every time I saw a shell ,but one soon gets accustomed to it again. They had been strafed very badly while I had been away but very little damage done considering. I landed back in the thick of the show. It came off next day. Poor old feet, they don't get much peace, and don't suppose they will from now on. We did good work and captured 27 prisoners, a thing which very rarely happens. These fellows appeared over the crest right in front of the guns, and as they did so each of the other batteries let off a salvo of six guns each, which fairly put the wind up the Huns. They put up their hands and fairly ran into our positions, most of them crying with fright. The first thing I looked for was a revolver but, of course, my servant had left it at the wagon line. They could have scuppered us with bombs when they got behind the guns, but they were really much too frightened. It is not often the battery has a chance of taking prisoners. There was an officer with them but he was killed by one of their own guns just in front of us. You could see by their expressions that they quite expected to be killed or knocked about and were quite surprised when they were not.  

I have tried for some time to write to those people who have sent me socks but it is very hard to find time and as time goes on it will be worse. So, if you see any of them, I wish you would explain – Ethel Green, Estelle, Mrs Thornton and Mr Jim McKinnon. The latter is Mister McKinnon's Cook, to whom I owe letters, but really it is hard to write these days, even one letter a week.

Mum, I got another pair of socks yesterday, with a fly veil, and a note asking me to write.

With best love to all,

from your loving son,

Bertie

Diary Entry - 18th February 1917

Bee: It has been very quiet all day, owing to heavy fog principally. We had a gun pit hit direct last night and gun spring badly dished. Now have two guns in action. I had a long walk this afternoon, trying to find a dump where I could send empty cases to, which I finally found. I saw on my walk a motor engine which they can use on the light railway. It is wonderful the pace the thing goes. Has been thawing hard all day.

Diary Entry - 17th February, 1917

Bee: A very foggy day and thawing hard. The attack started at four forty-five a.m. There were a goodly number of guns firing too. A three-hour hard shoot and only had three out of six guns in action. Half an hour after the show started, a crowd of prisoners came rushing for the battery. As soon as they appeared on the crest, the 48th and 71st gave a salvo and these fellows with one accord put up their hands and shouted, "Camarade". We took 27 prisoners in all, which was a great effort. These men were terrified and ran into the battery crying and half-dazed. We heard that the attack was hardly a success although some of our men got in to Miramont. I understand our people did well but on our right they were repulsed.

Diary Entry - 16th February, 1917

It seems to have at last started thawing in earnest and a bright day and lots of planes about. I left the W.L about nine am and did not have to walk far before I caught a lorry as far as [illegible] Well, and was glad to walk the rest to get warm. The road was very slippery and the Huns had a balloon up very high which looked right into Pozieres, but the the slight ground mist stopped him from seeing over much. Claudet and Gough were the only two here when I arrived but Walrond and Bromley came back for lunch. I found when I got here that I was wanted to stay here as Walrond and Claudet are to go on leave on Sunday. Claudet went back to the wagon line and I stayed up. Heard great talk about an attack which is to take place tomorrow. They have been fairly badly strafed here while I was away. A Sub billet was hit direct and one man killed - and plenty of shell holes about.

Diary Entry - 15th February, 1917

Bee:  Had breakfast at eight am and then went to the casualties clearing station to see if I could get a lift in an ambulance but had no luck. So went and stood at the cross roads and waited my chance. I had not been there very long when a lorry for Albert came along, which was rather lucky as I never expected to get one right through. It was awfully cold but was more than pleased to get back for lunch. The driver told me he was bringing over huts for hospitals and said they were building accommodation for 1,000,000 Tommies and 50,000 officers just behind Albert. But of course expect he had exaggerated things a bit. Even so there must be comething doing. I found Kershaw at the wagonline just preparing to go to the 2 Army (?) School. Everything seemed in an awful whirl to me. (Illegible) Thorlburn came in, also Murdoch. The Sergeant Major is on leave. I stayed in all day and tried to write. Bill Litt (?) has suffered rather much while away. The snow has thawed out quite a lot since I have been away but the ground is still very hard. The overhead cover for the horses is nearly finished, and I thought the horses look splendid and are profiting from it.

Diary Entry - 14th February, 1917

Bee:  Had a beautiful sleep last night. The train was timed to start at ten a.m and I got to the station about nine forty five a.m. The place was packed with new troops coming out and quite a crowd of special trains moved out before we got going and they were a very merry crowd. But I am afraid it will wear off. They are the second line Territorials who have been in England two years. We finally started off at eleven thirty a.m. We plodded along until Abbeville at a fair pace, reaching there at two thirty p.m. It was fairly cold but managed to get into a carriage which had all its windows complete. From Abbeville on we simply crawled. I missed Candas [?] and finished up at Doullens at seven p.m. There must have been a lot of railway smashes along the line as there was no end of wreckage at different parts. I found a fairly decent hotel and picked up another fellow who I had never seen in my life before and we got a room together. I slept on the floor and was quite comfortable. The Hun had put four rounds of big stuff very close to Doullens that afternoon and made people talk a bit.

Diary Entry - 13th February, 1917

Bee: The train was supposed to leave at six fifty a.m. Got to Victoria four minutes before time and found that it had been put off until eight a.m. Too cold for the RTO at that hour; he did not turn up until seven fifty a.m. I got a seat in the Pullman, which I always think is very comfortable, and had a good breakfast. Boat left on time. There were very few leave people but hundreds of new people coming out. In fact, a new division. Had a good crossing, arriving Boulogne at twelve am. Went and saw RTO who said there would be no train until ten a.m. tomorrow. Had a look around for a car, but had no luck. So cooled my heels on the beach this afternoon. A beautiful bright day with cold wind. Everthing seems to be thawing well. I left poor old Walford feeling very sorry for himself. Am staying at the Officers' Club tonight.

Diary Entry - 12th February, 1917

Bertie: Have had a splendid leave. Poor old Wal got a horrible cold the last four days and spent today in bed, and I am going back on my own, as Dr Blakie says it is impossible for Walford to go for a few days. We have done a theatre every night and very often a matinee in the afternoon. The best leave I have ever had. Have seen quite a lot of people. Johnnie, Bill, who told us a lot about Egypt, (there is more going on there than we ever dreamt of), Ritchie, Bill Hunter, Bob Simpson. Went down and saw Barbara [Bertie's sister-in-law]. She has a very nice house at Farnham [?] Common and has Nan living with her. Jack [Bertie's oldest brother] has gone to anti-aircraft - same lot as Sam McCaughey. The first time I have seen the boy [John Manifold, Bertie's nephew, future poet] since left home. He is a jolly soul. Go back tomorrow and hope it is as warm out there as here.

Diary Entry - 3rd February, 1917

Bee: Rang up Boo and found the Kid was out of town, but she came up for lunch. Heard the startling news that Sam McCaughey and Una McKellar were being married at one p.m. today. Dashed off to the wedding and met hundreds of people there. Had lunch with the Kid, Barbara, Bill Hunter, Chettie and Nan. Then went to the Hupla in the evening, which was quite good. I went and saw Dr Blakie this evening about my boil and got overhauled. He did not remember me but looked up his records and then found he had had me before.

There are no further entries from either Walford or Bertie until 12th February, 1917

Diary Entry - 2nd February, 1917

Walford: We had a very cold trip over and had to stop a night at Kandas where we were bundled out of the train and had to walk about a mile through the village to another station. There we waited for a train that should have come in at one a.m. but which did not arrive until nine a.m. the next morning. There was no rest camp for the men, an apology for one for officers, and the only way to keep warm was to keep on the move. It was little wonder that one heard reports of men freezing to death here but it is not very difficult to believe when one experiences what we did. We got to Boulogne about three p.m., thence on the boat and straight across, reaching London about nine p.m., and oh what bliss to get a really hot bath and white sheets to sleep between.

Bee: Had qite a night, not a wink of sleep. The train got in about eight thirty a.m., more broken windows. The usual thing: the train just crawled along, stopping every few minutes, while we quitely froze by inches, finally arriving at Boulogne at three p.m. We went straight aboard the boat and sailed about four thirty p.m. Had a very calm crossing and managed to get a seat in the Pullman and had a very good meal, arriving in town at eight p.m. Came straight to the pub and had a bath and went to bed.

Diary Entry - 1st February, 1917

 Walford: Thursday. During the next morning it being a sunny morning and still freezing, we had lots of visitors to see the damage. At eleven thirty a.m. someone rang up and said I could go on leave the same evening, if I went down to RA picked up Bee's and my own warrant and caught the train from Acheux at ten p.m. It did not take me long to decide and at one p.m., having had lunch, I set off via the Rentre[?] way on a duck board track, thence along the road to Usna Hill, managing a lift on a lorry from La Boisselle. Having got the warrants from RA and walking back to the road, I met Buxton and Crozier, the former pretending to be very pleased to see me and shaking me by the hand. Thence on through Albert to the 15th Battery wagon lines. Buxton and Crozier again passed me in a car and waved to me, but did not think of giving me a lift. Well, Bee was fairly sore with a boil on his leg, and we arranged that he would come over to our Nissan Hut and dine there and then we would go on in the Mess cart. The drive in the Mess cart to Acheux proved to be very amusing - at least very tiring, as our old horse would not or could not trot and we beat him along with my walking stick. Eventually we got so tired of walking and rather thought we should miss the train so we walked the last quarter mile.

Bee: I have got a rotten boil on my thigh, which has been giving me a bad time. It is so hard to keep a bandage on. I went walking with the Sergeant Major, scouring the country for a new line. I personally want to stay where we are and risk the shells, as we have such a good standing – an old road and water very close by, which has been a great factor to our horses. We have also got most of our stables up and, if we moved, it would mean pulling down everything. This frost is killing an awful lot of horses. We have had two horses frozen to death, a thing I never heard of before -when a horse [illegible] at night his [illegible] gets frozen and that is the end of it. The canal which runs close by has frozen over and the water has to go somewhere and is running over the top of the bank. The lake close by has risen 10 feet and flooded out the 16th battery wagon line. At present, there are tents and huts sticking up out of the ice. Walford came down from the guns about three p.m. and said we were both going on leave tonight, which was a pleasant surprise. It was a case of bustling round to get ready. A damn cold night. We left the 48th wagon line at eight p.m. in their Mess cart for Acheux - about nine miles. The old horse did not believe in trotting and we had to work hard with a stick to get him to move at all in fact we broke a walking stick over him and finished up by walking the last mile. Got a seat in the train which moved out at ten thirty p.m. It was worse than awfully cold as the carriage was minus two windows. They told us that leave trains had stopped running lately as they could not [illegible] out the [illegible] on the engines. Even tonight they have braziers alight on top of them. We got out of this train at Canas and walked a mile to another station, which got the circulation going, but when we got there they told us that the train had not started from St Pool and it would be eight a.m. before it got here. So we went in search of a fire, it now being only midnight. Found an ASC book house and crowded round a small brazier -  even there we found it hard to keep warm. Found an estaminet which gave us coffee and an omelette at seven a.m. - better than nothing. It is hard to believe that last week three men were frozen to death while waiting for the trains. There being no place for the men to go, they have started building a rest camp, which is badly needed.

Diary Entry - 31st January, 1917

Walford: On being relieved, I walked straight down towards the Battery, but as we were being shelled I went into the 15th and had lunch. Bosch had been shelling the valley since eleven thirty and continued until three p.m., doing a lot of damage around the position. Two gun pits were blown in, the ammunition set on fire and the guns put out of action. The Mess also had a very narrow escape, one landing on the road just outside but, owing to the fact we were dug down fairly deep, no damage was done inside. It was rather amusing watching the ammunition go up from the 15th Mess door - it was as good a firework display as I've seen. The men were all down the mine dug out, playing the gramophone, and only one man was wounded, getting a piece through the calf of his leg while running to the cook house.

Bee: Find it very comfortable down here. Went looking for a new wagon line but find it very hard to find a spot. There is a little limestone in the ground, but very little. The ground, of course, at present is beautifully hard, but when the thaw does come we shall have more mud than ever.

Diary Entry - 30th January, 1917

Walford: At midday I went up to battalion HQ and relieved Wallace (50th). The Royal Berkshires were in and the Colonel was not a bad man, but the officers only just bearable. There was one little pisqueak called an intelligence officer there who had only been in the country about a month and he knew nothing but would keep giving his opinion on every subject. In the afternoon, I went out with the Major and a Colonel who was attached as thought I should gain some knowledge of the line. We met this damned little fool of an intelligence officer in Drouside[?] and he said, "You must come and see my observation post," and led us out over the top in full view for 400 yards, straight towards the front, and we eventually ended up in an old trench full of snow and ice where we stood waist high and he pointed out with a stick different points. The Major hinted that he could see the front quite well from Drouside where we observe from and I agreed with him and told him it was foolishness to come to a place like this in broad daylight as there was no cover if they turned on the guns. However, it did not subdue the young idiot and I could have kicked him when he started arguing with me as to which was Loupart Wood.


Bee: Left the guns after lunch. Damn cold wind and snowing. Came down with Hortayne, walked to Pozieres with a struggle. My boil was a bit of a nuisance and we then had the luck to get a lorry. Just as we left the Battery there was a Hun plane flying about, only about 500 feet up, having a great time on his own. They went for the wagon line yesterday morning and killed two horses and wounded a man very badly with the 6 in gun.

Letter Home (Bee) - 29th January, 1917

29th January 1917

Dear Mother and Father,

I am afraid my letter writing is going to the dogs, but really there seems to be less time every week and you never know when you will be whisked off to some duty or other. I hoped to get a lot of letters off yesterday, as I was at the Brigade OP, but I must have caught a cold in my stomach somehow and I had to get another man to relieve me when I had only done 12 hours.

The weather has been frightfully cold. Last night the thermometer went down to 16 below zero. It is rather nice to have the ground hard, but for ten days on end it gets rather monotonous. As long as you can handle a pick and shovel and keep warm it is all right but when you are in a place where you can't move about it gets rather tiresome.

I am going to the wagon line tomorrow where we have a house to live in which ought not to be so bad and in a few days Walford and I go on leave together, which will make it ever so much better.

I think I told you I had given up all hope of getting Jack into this division but, after probing round again, I think I have hit the right man to work it, the only trouble being that I can·t get any word of his whereabouts. May chance to meet him on leave. This leave is quite unexpected, though our present colonel is most awfully good to us and does all he can for us.

Please excuse this short scribble, but I hope to give you a better note when I get down to the wagon line and can keep warmer.

With best love to you all

from your loving son

Bertie

Diary Entry - 29th January, 1917

Walford: Sunday I can't place. Monday, Scott and I both returned to the guns, doing the journey by foot and lorry, arriving for lunch. It seemed as if all eyes in Bosch land were looking at us when we walked down the road to the four trees from Pozieres, as it was so clear. But no-one fired at us and we arrived safely., to find that Bailly had gone down to the WL and I had missed him.

Bee: Stayed in bed until late and loafed about but found it impossible to keep warm so went over to the 48th Mess where they had a fire. I have also got a boil on my left leg which is not much fun. Decided to go to the wagon line tomorrow. Thorburn was round today and said that Walford and I could go on leave and would be the next to go from this Brigade, which sounds very nice.

Diary Entry - 28th January, 1917

Bee: Had to go to the OP this morning. The relief is at a brute of a time - six am. It is a Divisional OP - thank goodness it only comes around to our turn every now and again. The OP is an old German dugout which we cleaned out and is right in the open. But it is a damn cold place as you have to stand in the open. The thermometer went down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit last night. I must have caught a chill in my stomach as about two pm I was doubled up with pain and finally had to get Claudet to come up and relieve me about six pm, as I started shivering. Came back and went to bed. Found the Mess very cold as they had knocked down the wall into the new part.

Photographs

These two pictures have been pasted in beside today's entries. One is my grandfather plus, I think, Siggers. The other, presumably, is a shot of their surroundings. The quality of both is pretty poor.

Diary Entry - 27th January, 1917

Wal: To give some idea of what the temperature had reached it will be a sufficient example to say that the petrol was freezing in the two gallon tins. Even hair oil, milk, anything like that, was frozen stiff, and we used to have a fire in the hut. in the morning, Scott and I went to Albert to catch a lorry ambulance or something on wheels for Amiens. We waited by the points man for half an hour when we got a lorry going halfway. Well we had to get out and I think we changed into four different machines before we eventually arrived about one p.m. After a good lunch at the Hotel de Rhin we coiffeured and Scott had his photo taken and it was tea time. But no tea was allowed to be sold until five thirty p.m. so we could not do much in that line. we had luckily met a man with an ambulance going to Senlis so we went with him and were dropped about six miles from Albert from whence we walked and rode in some empty GS wagons, walking the last mile to the W L from Albert.

Bee: Have been working hard all day on new Mess but it is a bigger contract than they first thought. There is still about four days work to be done and when Claudet and Bromley started they thought they could do it in a day. The 60 lb (?) Colonel was round and have now decided that his gun is to come in line with ours.There is no doubt that our valley will get it hot and strong when he starts shooting. 

Diary Entry - 26th January, 1917

Walford: Scott and I in the morning rode to P dump (RE's) Pozieres, to see about mine casings and material for the guns. We went via Albert, calling in at the canteen, but it was too crowded to be able to get immediate service so left via main Bapaume Road. On the way, we had a look at the large mine crater to the left of the road, which was blown up by us on 1st July and is supposed to be the largest ever exploded. It was some 70 feet deep by 150 feet in diameter. In the afternoon, I walked to Albert to try to get to work with the toothbrush, it being a good sunny day. Coming back, I saw two caterpillars which had come from Trones across country and were hooking onto two nine twos.

Bee: Still hard frost. Went in search of sand bags first thing this morning but had no luck. Spent the rest of the day on the Mess, which is a bigger contract than one would think. Sxity pounder battery has started to prepare a position 100 yards in rear of us, which has caused much heat. 

Diary Entry - 25th January, 1917

Walford: Thursday. In the morning I rode to Aveluy wood, passing the General on the way, to get timber for horses' overhead cover. After a long hunt from sawmills to forest control officer and back, I found what I wanted and came back for lunch. In the afternoon, we got two wagon loads of props or supports. Scott and I walked to Bouzincourt in the afternoon, as I had to see DADOS [?] about some new range dial which we had been indenting for and could not get. And still the frost and cold continued, harder than ever. 

Bee: Still frost. Hundreds of planes up today and our anti-aircraft displayed their usual skill at driving them off. They are a hopeless crowd. Spent most of the day helping on the enlargement of the Mess. Just to crowd us out a little more, they have attached an infantry officer to us and the room to move about in the mess is the limit.

Diary Entry -24th January, 1917

Walford: Scott and I walked to Albert in the morning to see Kershaw about our Nissan huts, which he was going to take from us. It was about lunchtime when we found him and, as he had nothing to eat, we went into an officers' chop house in the square in Albert. While lunching, Bosche dropped about eight bombs on the place and splinters were flying all roads but no-one seemed to mind or take any notice of them. In the afternoon, we walked up via RAHQ who were at Usna Hill just this side of La Boiselle and on to the saw mills to see about RE material, where I made a good deal. I thought it was cold at the guns but the cold was impossible in the Nissan huts, perched on the top of a hill and very badly put together with cracks all over the place - really the cold was frightful. And there were the poor old horses standing out on the top of the hill, with no rugs or cover and very short rations (8 or 9 lbs of corn daily, with bad hay sometimes thrown in.)

Bee: Another frost, it seems to be getting harder every night, but one does not feel it as much as we did at first. There are four of us up here at present, which is a bit of a strain in this Mess. I went into Courcelette looking for stoves but had no luck. Another Hun plane brought down today. One of our battery commanders rushed to get the machine gun off it but the Huns set it on fire before he got there. 

Diary Entry - 23rd January, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. I started for the WL about ten thirty a.m., walking, and had a perilous journey down the duckboards to Pozieres, as a lot of Bosche were crossing our lines and our antis were firing a lot of stuff into the blue.Well, I only had on a soft hat and fids[?] were rattling down all roads. On reaching the wagon line at one, I find Murdoch just off to hospital to have his leg seen to. Hoyland as usual had not censored any letters so I spent all the afternoon on a big pile that was there. The roads were as hard as bricks and I met Hoyland riding in Pozieres, but decided I should keep warmer if I walked and was about all out when I got down there, as gumboots are not the best things to walk in.

Bee: Harder frost than ever last night - about twelve degrees. We were woken early in the morning - about four forty-five - by that damn 5"[?] gun. They were falling fairly close. Two fell within ten yards of the house and two more practically amongst the horses, but no damage done. If they only shot all day, it would cause no end of trouble. Thank goodness they stopped at seven a.m. Walrond and I came back to the guns this morning. Kershaw came down. It was a bitterly cold day. We started riding but it was so cold we got off and walked. The roads are so awfully slippery you cannot stand up. Just before we got to the battery, I saw a Hun aeroplane, which was bright red. I had never seen one like it before but take it that the colour was to frighten our airmen. There was one of our old machines up, spotting for the heavies and an old bus. The Hun machine dived at him and fairly spat out machine-gun bullets but our fellow took it quite calmly and finally red wings rolled over three times in the air and came crashing to the ground with engines full on and in flames. I have never seen anything like it before. It was a splendid effort on our fellow's part as his opponent's was a far superior machine. We heard tonight that we brought down two of their machines. We found that a lot of work had been done in our position and everything is quite dry due to the frost.

Diary Entry - 22nd January, 1917

Walford: Still freezing, very little doing, put a little chalk on top of Mess for cover. The mine was going on with great vim and expected to join two shafts up any time. Siggers fooled away the afternoon trying to make a seat for the Mess but failed hopelessly.

Bee: Went off to Meault to Cashier and saw some of the Guards' feet had come in there [?]. Still another frost. Spent most of the afternoon writing out gas helmet roll.

Diary Entry - 21st January, 1917

Walford: Saturday I can't place. Sunday, Siggers returns from duty at Battalion HQ. He was chased down the valley by four twos, both he and Dickson arrive in a panting condition. I spent most of the time putting down trench boards in the Mess. Siggers going to Holy Communion at eight p.m. in D36 Mess just to our rear. Bailley and the infanteer, Cowan by name, were at the OP, shooting Bosche.

Bee: Still freezing. We had a man called Robertson Scott from the Cavalry to lunch. I wondered if he was any relative to the ones who were out with us. After lunch, I went out to try to find a Field Cashier. After a long hunt, found he had gone at midday. Nothing much doing.

Diary Entry - 20th January, 1917

Bee: Still freezing. I started to ride to the Field Cashier at Meault - about four miles - but it was so slippery that I got off and walked. Things are just as bad as they can be in the wagon line. We have only 30 men left out of a hundred. Claudet came down to lunch. Walrond came back about four and Mills and Hughes came to dinner.

Diary Entry - 19th January, 1917

Walford: In the morning, an infantry officer arrived. He was posted to us for five days, just to view life from our point of view.  Bailly goes to the OP and I just show him the guns and tell him anything he wants to know about their working. I had tea with the 71s in the afternoon and am rather amused at Murdoch, who is in bed with a boil on the leg. It still freezes.

Bee: Another cold night. It is cruel for the horses. We have an awful lot of men gone sick. There are always 16 on the parade and seven others have gone to hospital. The ADVS was to come round and see our horses with mange, but I got sick of waiting for him, he was so late. Armytage and I rode over to Marlincourt to try to see one of the Queensland Bells who is OC 9th Squadron Aeroplanes. Had a damn cold ride and when we got there found he had gone back to England two days before, to get a new squadron, which was rather bad luck. But they asked us in to dinner and were very decent to us. Then I went up for a short spin. We only got up to 500 feet and then came down as the machine was not running very well. I enjoyed what little I had immensely. It was a BE. They promised us that if we came over on a clear day they would take us up. Walrond and Mills went off to Amiens. We got back late and as I was coming up to the Mess met an Anzac officer who was going on leave. I brought him up and he had dinner with me and then set off. Train leaves at four a.m. His name was Levy and he hails from Bendigo.

Diary Entry - 18th January, 1917

Walford: Thursday. Bosche shelled the vicinity periodically during the night with four twos and pip squeaks. I must add that I remained at OP on duty for Bde all night. He seemed to be trying to find a machine gun of ours just behind us, but never succeeded in silencing it. I was relieved at seven thirty a.m. by Hortayne. It was snowing and I walked straight back across country. It snowed all day. Bailly went to W.L and Siggers and self worked hard at the Mess and succeeded in getting it almost covered in.

Bee: Still very cold, froze all night and a little more snow. In the afternoon, I went with Walrond to the sawmills to try to get some timber and Nissan Huts at Acily [?] After a lot of riding, we found some. In the evening, Mills and Hughes came round.

Diary Entry - 17th January, 1917

Walford: At six thirty a.m. Bailly and I set out for the Bde OP, being chased over the crest in front of the guns by prematures from the 71s who were unable to clear the crest. There was a small barrage on. It was snowing and very difficult to find one's way and footing over the shell holes. However, we eventually arrived and relieved Hortayne of D36. It snowed till eleven thirty and then lifted, showing up the front very well, especially the wire.

Bee: Had a heavy fall of snow last night and it went on up to midday - about a 6-inch fall. I went round to the Brigade which is in the far end of the town. After lunch, we went and had a bath and feel ripping after it. Kellagher came to lunch and has just arrived back after leave and a course. They are all very pleased with the course and say the 2nd Division will have a great reputation. Three of the head people come from this Brigade. And I believe they make sure that everybody knows it. We went to dinner with the Brigade last night.

Diary Entry - 16th January, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. Worked on Mess till eleven forty-five a.m. then went up to Left Battalion at midday. This is a huge dugout on the West Miraumont sunken road in a small valley just north of Courcelette. It was all built by our mining company and will hold about 2,000 men. I have never seen such huge galleries since I have been in France. About three p.m. an officer from the 41st Brigade arrived to do liaison so, after enquiring whether two of us were required and receiving an answer in the negative, I fled back to the battery, only too pleased to give over the business to someone else. It is still freezing hard.

Bee: A very hard frost last night and has been very cold all day. Waldron and I came down from the guns and Claudet has gone up. We walked as far as Posiere, expecting to meet our horses, but missed them somehow and had to walk most of the way back. We soon found the Mess and wagon line. The Mess is in quite a nice little house all by itself, quite close to the lines. The horse lines themselves are good as they are on a disused road made of cinders and quite dry, but off the road you get bogged. The men all live in bivies. But hope to get some huts very soon.

Diary Entry - 15th January, 1917

Walford: A frosty night and remains about freezing point all day. Siggers and I again worked at Mess all day after he had come back from doing liaison at midday. We took the smashed gun down to the trench railway, first of all dismantling the piece and taking it down, then running down the carriage. The gas shell had made a nasty mess of it, although they usually have just sufficent charge inside to burst the shell, and the buffer was almost carried away and half the shield blown off. We placed the whole gun on two trucks. During the night the 15th Battery had a 4.2 how on their Mess, which cracked one of their main supports. Otherwise no damage was done.

Bee: Another misty day. I took out a party and got some more mine cases. The ground up this end of Courcellette must have been a dump for ammunition as the ground is littered with shells and bombs of all descriptions. I also saw an old How which has had a direct hit. How it was hit I can't imagine as it is in a sunken road under a bank fifteen foot high. The Hun very nearly did for us last night, just as we had finished dinner there was a hell of a crash and plates and things went flying all ways. We were very lucky as it was a pipsqueak whith landed right on top of the Mess. If it had not been a dud, we would have felt more.

Diary Entry - 14th January, 1917

Walford: I arrived at the battery at one a.m., had a bite of supper, then turned in. Siggers went to battalion at midday to do liaison and I continued digging a hole for the Mess. Bailley as usual wandering about looking at the front. A few gas shells came over during the night.

Bee: I was relieved by Armytage and got back here about one p.m. I slept fairly well considering I camped on the floor and had people walking over the top of me all night. The line here is held by a series of outposts and you are in full view of the Hun if you go up in daylight. So, of course, everything has to be done at night. The Colonel went out with the General round his post at eleven p.m. It was a misty day so, of course, made the best of it and went out after timber and found a Hun dump of nine frames, an unlimited quantity.

Letter Home (Bee) - 14th January, 1917

15^th Battery, RFA

14^th January, 1917

Dear Mother and Father

We have had a mail this week and I was very sorry to hear about Rex Dabbs's death. We are not far from where he was wounded, a few hundred yards ahead of that spot. Dad sent me some pieces of wool. What a wonderful price it is fetching. We are gradually settling down. It is wonderful how soon you adapt yourself to the conditions. Our Mess at present is eight feet by six feet, with two bunks in it, so you can see it is not overly large. I always think of dad in the cottage when the house was being built, saying he liked a small place as you only had to stretch out your hand and you got what you wanted. In our case you hardly have room to even stretch out your hand. There are three of us there and it is a case of when one moves we all move, like a game of drafts. It is very safe, as we have a mineshaft we can pop down.

We have been very lucky as we have had three direct hits on our gun pits and not a soul hurt. Four men were in one pit but, beyond having their hair and faces burned with the burning ammunition, no one was hurt, which was very fortunate. On the other hand, of course, it was only a bit of luck the Huns hit it.

I have been having a great time draining the water off the position and am lucky as nature is in our favour. We are gradually clearing the mud off the road I was talking about last time. I am at present in a huge dugout which holds about 300 men. There are no billets for them round in these quarters so they have to live in these places. It is hard on the men though, as they have very little room to lie down. When in the line, they stand up to their knees in water and really have no means of getting dry when out of the line. The Huns have left us quite a lot of dugouts which, of course, are blocked up with mud and water. I was in a party clearing one of these out the other night. Night is the only time you can work and in the dark is the time you flounder in the shell holes, which are full of water. I soon found that we had to put on our gas helmets, as we kept bringing parties to the surface which fairly talked. We got the main part of the dugout clear and found it very useful.

I must close now. Mother, thanks for "Ginger Mick". I think it is splendid and will write to those girls who sent me the socks as soon as I can. The socks and mittens are grand. I could not do without mittens now. We have had two light falls of snow. Hullo, there is a shell just come to earth about a yard off our Mess. No damage done. A few plates broken and a tin of coffee spilt.

Good night, from your loving son,

Bertie

Diary Entry - 13th January, 1917

Walford: The dugout was all right when I arrived but that night it rained heavily and the water simply trickled out of the trench down the stairs. There was only one stretcher to sit on and two of us so there was little or no sleep. This was without exception I think the worst 24 hours I have had at the front for discomfort. My relief, Hawtayne, was very late - his guides lost themselves and wandered round in circles and then arrived about twelve a.m. I forgot to add that before that at three a.m. on the 12th I had been sent to relieve Discon as his relief had left Bat. HQ and been lost. However, on arrival at Bat. HQ, was informed that the relief was all right.

Diary Entry - 12th January, 1917

Walford: A wet afternoon and my turn to go to Mase's post. As I left, I met Siggers and Suttie on the tram lines. The former was bringing up some ammunition on the railway, the latter had come over from Englesart to see our position and stop the night. Oh, no, he had just arrived back off leave,and was stopping a night before going as Bde Major to the 63 Division at Beaumont Hamel. I just got to the end of Courcelette when Bosche opened with 4.2" and I thought it was safe enough but, when going over the open, he put an airburst over and I ran for cover and waited till he stopped. It was an awful tramp to the post and the mud was beyond imagination and, of course, it was so dark you could not see your hand in front of your face. We eventually reached there and I relieved Wynne Williams. There was no infantry officer there and the platoon were relieved that night by the 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Bee: (12th and 13th January): Very cold, still trying to snow. Fooled about trying to drain the position and make a path and do odd things in the Mess. Had early lunch and then went on to Left Battalion HQ as liaison officer. The place is not far from here. It is up what is known as Dyke[?] Valley, a place which is always shelled. The dugout is a huge one and is still being enlarged. At present it holds 250 men, but will hold many more when it is finished. It is being built by the tunnelers as there is no mining in the front line. But they have not made much of a job. The strutting is very poor. The HWI [?] are in at present and only came in the night before last and have lost all their rations, poor things. Tonight they had seventeen officers to feed one way and another.

Diary Entry - 11th January, 1917

Walford: Siggers went to the Bde. O.P. at dawn as it was Z day and we had to switch all our guns onto Miraumont. Nothing very special took place. I worked hard at the Mess all day, moving a lot of stuff. The General came round with Scott (of TMs) and I think he took me for a labourer.

Bee: Got back from O.P. about eight a.m, after a rather cold night. There was a show on our left and he put a lot of stuff round about the O.P. It tried very hard to snow this afternoon. Had Australian mail.

Diary Entry - 10th January, 1917

Walford: As the rations come up in the morning, owing to the likelihood of gas shells at night  (or rations express, as they are called), Siggers accompanied them, coming up take Hoyland's place, the latter going to the WL for a rest. Siggers and I worked on the hole for the cupolas all morning. It was Y day and Bailey went up to cut more wire, firing about another 400 rounds into the blue, as it was impossible to see the wire.

Diary Entry - 9th January, 1917

Walford: It rained all night and, as is usual under such circumstances, we were almost submerged in the morning, as the water simply runs down the stairs - and down the mine shaft when our floor is covered to about one inch in depth. Thalborn made a hurried round in the morning. Bailey attempted to cut wire with 113 rounds. The 15th about midday had an armour piercing pipsqueak blow a hole in the side of their No. 1 gun pit and the detachment inside got off with only one man singed. Every day Bosch shells Courcelet with big and small stuff and occasionally he shortens up onto us.

Bee: Started off soon after breakfast to Zollern Trench where the right OP is. It is the most godforsaken OP I have ever set eyes on. You cannot even sit upright in it and it is miles behind the line. While the signaller was testing the line, I tried to improve it by digging out. The mud and wet up that way is unbearable. Anyway I dug a foot of mould out and unearthed all sorts of smells and came home fed up as have to sit in it all night. Got Walrond to ring up the Colonel and he asked if I could go to our own OP, which is much nearer the line and more comfortable. It is an old Bosch dugout which has been knocked in that we are gradually clearing out and it fairly talks. The ground round about outside is a mass of corpses just covered with earth and that's all. There must have been some heavy fighting to take it. The only trouble is it is in full view of the Hun and he shells you when going there and coming away. We worked on it until midnight and got it fairly presentable inside. But there is still a lot of dirt and stuff to get out. They have issued us with food container things which strap on your back, after the style of a thermos but much bigger. They hold enough for eight men – very good things.

Diary Entry - 8th January, 1917

Walford: Today is X day for another go at Munich Trench to the east of Beaumont Hamel. We are supposed to make a demonstration on our front and fire 1,000 rounds, trying to bluff the Bosch. We got off 400 rounds and very cold work it was too, standing about, shouting the orders, as it was too [word missing] at the OP. Hoyland spent the day at Mase's post, a nasty spot on the right of the right battalion, which was held by a platoon. The only way to get to the place is under cover of darkness.

Bee: It rained like fun last night and blew and rained all day. I spent most of the day tracing leaks and applying remedies in the mess and erecting a new stove. He got another direct hit on one of our gun pits while four men were inside. They had a wonderful escape – not one was hit, but all had their hair singed and faces scorched by the fire. He has been very active today. One very nearly got me today. It landed about 10 yards away but, thank goodness, I never got a scratch.

Diary Entry - 7th January, 1917

Walford: Our brigade were at rest in Albert and Colonel Parrie was commanding the group. At seven a.m., I was awakened to the now familiar sound of shells and found that one of our dugoust had been blown in and Corporal Bing was just emerging from under the ground when I arrived. However, no one was hurt, but the men seemed a little shaken, and one could not wonder at it. It was a rather hazy day but Bailey and Hoyland managed to shoot the battery in the afternoon.

Bee: A foggy morning. Kershaw and I started out at seven thirty a.m. to see what we could find in Courcelette in the way of stoves and coal. It was very peaceful and we spent two hours wandering into cellars and dugouts before we found what we wanted. There have been lots of others on the same game I should think, by the looks of things. There is very little left – just piles of broken bricks and hundreds of rounds of ammunition (German). They still shell it a lot. Just before starting out, they got a direct hit on one of our gun pits and set it on fire. It blew the ammunition all away, but none went off. Luckily, all the men were away from the gun. We spent the rest of the day [illegible] the floor of our Mess and I can now stand upright in it, which is much more comfortable.

Diary Entry - 6th January, 1917

Walford: They shelled us again in the early morning but no damage was done and the gas blew away down the valley. Getting up in the morning was rather a difficult proceeding and we had breakfast served on a small table which was hinged to the wall and then got up by numbers, the one nearest the door starting. I was not in the best of form when I got up and almost flopped when digging a place for a new Mess. The Bosch planes seemed as bad a pest as at Maillet Mailly. It rained towards evening.

Bee: A foul day, cold wind and rain. We set to work on the hidden road and found quite a respectable metal road underneath a foot of earth. The 48th had a bad time last night and had a gun crippled and two men badly gassed. We had a bad time getting the gun back into position as the pit was full of gas. Walrond registered them all this morning, which took a long time as the ground is so soft that they jump about all over the place. The mud here is enough to drive one crazy, and our Mess is pretty well the limit, but suppose we shall soon settle down.

Diary Entry - 5th January, 1917

Walford: A frightfully cold night and I was not sorry, when we were called at three a.m, to get up and try to get warm. We managed to get a little tea and grub then push off about four fifteen, with the 15th close on our heels. After passing the site of our position for Thiepval , it was all new country to me and looked very bleak and ploughed up. Someone said we were passing through Pozieres, but one could not see a stone or stick in the dull light of dawn to mark the place. The order was passed back to put out all cigarettes and that no matches were to be struck and we went on down the slope, with shell-ploughed country on either side, until we got to the end of the road, where there were four trees standing (this spot was named The Four Trees). Things were unloaded here and a guide led the men with their kit across what looked like a swamp to the battery position some 400 yards away.

Bee: They gave me the fright of my life last night as I was walking up to my dugout to bed. A pipsqueak came to earth within 50 yards of me. My dugout is actually only a shelter really and would not stop a stone thrown on the roof, which is not very encouraging, and you have to walk through six inches of liquid mud to get to it. Our people arrived here at seven a.m., which was a good effort as they did not get in until late last night. It was a perfect morning to relieve as it was misty and the Hun let us come in in peace. The other people did not wait long. I had a brand-new pair of top boots stolen, which was bad luck as this is just the place you want them. The men had the day to themselves to settle down. I had to go off at four p.m. to do liaison officer. My guide lost his way but after wandering about for an hour found the place. The OP we were intended to use was awful but thank goodness we could not get into communication. There was a huge German dugout about 50 yards away. A wonderful construction, about 40-foot underground. It would hold easily 100 men and was full of infantry working parties and the conversation one heard there was an education. I spent three hours trying to find our wire after ringing up corps and many other people came home and reported what had happened. The walk back was no easy job in the dark and the Hun was also on heat, shelling the whole countryside. We once had to take shelter in an old trench. We finally got back to the battery and found things rather disorganised. The Hun had evidently got wind that we were relieving tonight. Thank God we did it in the morning or else our casualties would have been very big. They fairly peppered the valley and tracks with gas shells. We had one infanteer in the Mess with a broken leg and wrist – a direct hit on a gun pit – and the sergeant slightly gassed. Then, to cap things, Bomb. York got jammed in between the trigger and buffer of the gun. The poor fellow would have been drowned, as he was thrown into a shell hole with five foot of water in it. All was quiet at eleven thirty p.m. and we went to bed

Diary Entry - 4th January, 1917

Walford: The column moved off with the 71s leading and ourselves following at nine a.m in a pelting rain. We had had to start getting ready about seven thirty as all the wagons had to be run out of the ditch and straightened up on the side of the road. When we had got underway, Hoyland and Bailey went on – no Bailey and Hoyland had gone on the day before, when we left Outrebois, but the former came back on Wednesday evening and Hoyland stayed up at the position with the people we were relieving. It was Siggers turn to go on this time and he went on as soon as we got underway, leaving Bailey and myself with the battery. Everything went 'swimmingly', in every sense of the word, till midday when the rain eased off and we steadily got nearer the firing line and onto bad roads. As we approached Louvincourt, someone sprinted up to me and said the mess cart shaft had gone, which completely defeated my reckonings, as I had expected the off wheel to go, it being very wobbly, with two spokes gone. There was nothing for it but to go forward and report to Bailey and then rush back and see what could be done. After doing some quick reckoning, I spied a stretcher in the cart. We got it out, took off one side, borrowed a drag rope, (very thick) from D 36 and lashed it to the butt of the shaft, with a thick rope. Well, this served as a makeshift and saved us from starving, as this vehicle had all the mess kit in it. So I left it at that and told them to get along as best they could. At three thirty p.m. tthe head of the column reached Bougincourt and went out along the road to Aveluy. The wagon line for the whole divisional RA was on a small hill halfway along the road to the above-mentioned village. I forgot to add before that Cruikshank, when he had returned from leave, had been packed right off to this bleak spot on 31st January to erect Nissan huts as billets. Well we were lucky being the first part of the column to step onto this virgin ground, which was thoroughly soaked with rain, and we got into our position very quickly. The 41st Brigade being the last to come in were not so lucky and many vehicles got bogged at the entrance coming off the road so that it was about ten p.m. before some of the batteries got in. In my opinion it was damned lucky some of us got in and the staff should have been choked off for sending us into such a place. However, we got there, and by ten p.m. the place was a mass of mud – like a swamp. We were in a hut, sharing it with the 15th, and turned in as soon as we had had something to eat, with clothes on, ready for an early start in the morning. Only one GS wagon had the misfortune to be bogged coming in, but that, unluckily, had all the stuff on it that was to go up to the guns the next morning, so off it all had to come and be dumped there, with a picquet on it.

Bee: There are only two lieutenants and a captain here. Their OC is on leave. They are a very contented lot and seem to never leave the Mess. A brute of a day – rained like fun this morning. The captain took me to the OP after having breakfast at ten a.m. The way to the OP is right in the open all the way and very terrifying as there are so many tanks and aeroplanes lying about, which are all zero lines. The OP consists of an open trench with a fairly decent dugout but no shelter, even from rain. We arrived there in a perfect sweat, more from fright than anything. Just as we started to shoot, it got very misty and we could only just see zero and barrage lines. The Mess is a very small affair. You have to get into the corner before creating the table. Once the latter is up you can't move. There is very little accommodation for men – only room for 30 and pretty cramped with that number. In the early morning seems the quietest time. The rations come up in the evening and the Hun seems to know. There are any amount of dead horses and bits of wagons on the side of the road. The last quarter mile is the worst, which is through virgin mud and ammunition and rations, brought over on pack horses and one or two generally get bogged. They sprinkle a good many shells about, which fall very close.

Diary Entry - 3rd January, 1917

Walford: At ten a.m. we marched thgrough Doullens to Amplai[?]s and I went on ahead with Thorburn to do the billeting. To our horror, on asking the town mayor for a plan of the lines, he said there are no lines, you simply picquet your horses in the main street and also park your guns there. We got the worst end of the town, as the head of the column approached from the wrong side for our point of view. It took us a good two hours to get our lines up as we had to run the wagons into the hedge with their poles sticking through it and simply crowd the horses like sardines. The men's billets were miles away from the horses and all the harness had to lie about anywhere on the side of the road. To put it mildly the whole business was as sanguine as it could be. We had a fair Mess but were all very tired and a long trek had to be made on the morrow with a very early start. Such is life fighting the Hun.

Bee: An early rising this morning, breakfast at six. At Battery, commanders and one subaltern from each battery were picked up by motor lorry and taken to Pozieres. It was a three-hour run and we had a very fast lorry. It was the roughest ride I have had for a long time. The roads are very bad. We passed some hundreds of Huns walking on the roads but they don't do over much. We arrived at Pozieres at eleven a.m. We waited here some time for the colonel as they were coming by RA car, but finally went on to the positions. Pozieres has been cleaned up a lot since we were there. The road from Albert to Pozieres was in wonderful condition, just like a main English road. Also the number of heavies there are there is enormous. Saw a new 8-iunch which is a very neat looking How compared to the old type. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the main Bapaume road metalled. When last we were here there was no trace even of where it went. From Pozieres down to within a quarter of a mile from our new position you can be seen by the enemy from some distance back. We are about 100 yards NW of Bourcellette[?], in a valley (of mud). The path running up to the battery is made of faggots; if you get off this, it is halfway up to our knees. All the brigade batteries are within a 100-yard radius. We are lucky as there was once a road running behind our position but at present it is feet deep in mud. These people are Territorials [?] of the 51st division and have been here six weeks. Came in here straight after the Beaumont-Hamel show, so have had a pretty thick time. After lunch and a look around, Walrond went back and left me here. It rained most of the day and was miserable.

Diary Entry - 2nd January 1917

Walford: At nine forty-five a.m. the battery marched for Outrebois and, as the Sergeant Major was away on leave and Sergeant Sherlock was running the show, it took us some hustling to get things moving. I stopped behind to see the billets cleaned up, and a filthy mess they were in, so it was an hour or more before I got away. Hoyland had ridden on with Thorburn to billet and, when I got in about twelve, we were just unhooking and going to water. On the way, I passed Carrington and Saunders.

Bee: We started on our way for the line this morning. We marched as a division. We were travelling last battery and started at eight forty-five a.m. The battery were at their worst today and are having to pay for it from now on. Nearly every man was late and in fact there was a general chaos. We came along very slowly as the gunners who were marching in front came the same way as we came out by. Our lines are at Outrebois, a small village. We are billeted at a big farm. I think it is about the same size as Moquet was before it was smashed. There is a huge courtyard about 100 yards by 50. The usual cesspool is like a miniature lake. The buildings are principally made up of pigsties and hay sheds. Pigs seem to be very popular around this part of the world. We have only got one room for Mess [illegible] in, but as we are only staying the night it does not matter much. The battery have to supply 30 men a night from now on for piquet, no advance in pay and no leave for NCO for a fortnight. It is the best thing that could happen.

Diary Entry - 1st January, 1917

Bee: A miserable New Year's Day, drizzling rain, a great bustle round, getting ready to move tomorrow. This afternoon we had great hopes of having the Battery photographed, but the French man did not turn up. Major Swanston came round the lines, as usual in the army for the first time, and found we had mange. We have fallen out with our old Madame in the Mess billet, over her stove, and have all to go out to dinner. The centre section are having their Christmas dinner tonight and have a splendid spread. They have been neglected rather, but I have not had a chance of helping them. Got Australian mail today.

Letter Home (Bee) - 31st December, 1916

15th Battery, RFA

31st December, 1916

Dear Mother and Father,

This is New Year's Eve and tomorrow our rest ends. We start on the Wallaby again and have about a three-day trek.

Christmas Day passed off rather quietly, but the men did themselves very well, a little too well in some cases, but the officers want to be a little more blind on these occasions. It is not much of a day, from the officers' point of view, as, after you have visited the whole of the subsection dinner and drunk all the usual healths, you begin to find a little goes a long way. The Sergeants' Mess was most amusing. The Wheeler, whose trade is a wheelwright - commonly known to the Tommies as Spoky - was really on his best form. It was rather a sad day in our billet. The old lady who owned it died - of heart failure, I think. She was about 60 odd and used to work night and day and had asthma. We had a communion service here on Sunday and I thought of you all at home. On the same morning, we took a lot of battery horses and NCOs out for a run over the point-to-point course, to try them, but found the going so heavy it was practically impossible. On Tuesday, we ran a lot of our brigade events off. We drew the same battery in everything - Walford's lot - and they beat us at everything that morning. In the afternoon, we played them at football. Soccer is the game they play. The feeling between the two batteries was very high. These two teams had played each other before and tied, after playing another hour. Well, this day we won, and the excitement was intense. There is still another match to play. Our time is pretty well taken up. In the evening, we had a lecture on horse management by a veterinary major. He was very careful and did not commit himself. Wednesday, we had our brigade sports. It was simply a perfect day. Walford had bad luck as he was sent off on a course beforehand. The officers' jumping was our chief excitement, which I am glad to say I managed to win. In fact our battery did rather well, as at the time there were only three officers here and we all got a place. Our men's team won the section jumping hands down . The star turn was the best turned out gun team and drivers. It was a wonderful show of what can be done. I never thought they could make such a splendid show under the conditions. After a very severe test the 48th turnout won. It was a very good show and we came an easy second and don't think we did so badly as a battery.

Thursday, the RA sports were on. There was such a heavy frost last night that most of the events had to be postponed. The most amusing turn was the mules race, bareback. They all started away like racehorses, but 30 yards was all most of the mules intended going. Six of them stopped dead and turned round, which, naturally, stopped all argument. The first two did the course without a hitch and galloped like horses all the way. There were lots of events like tug-of-war, wrestling on horseback, boat race, consisting of eight men walking a bar straddle leg and walking backwards, VC race, relay and foot races. The divisional ammunition however came off best in most of these events. Tonight I heard from our brigade major that it was impossible to get Jack into this division.

Friday, the Corps and divisional general came round and inspected us. Saturday, we were beaten in the final football match by the 48th. They beat us rather badly. Today, Sunday, we had the rest of the events of the RA sports. The ground was very heavy. There were 12 starters, with very good horses, and there were 13 fences. My horse got away from himself after the first three fences and knocked himself out. Anyway, at the sixth fence, horse and I came to grief. Up till then we were running fourth. When I got mounted again, they were all three fences ahead of me. At the finish, I came in fourth so, on the whole, I had a good ride. There was an ex-jockey riding who came in second.

Had no mail this week. With very much love,

from your loving son,

Bertie.

Diary Entry - 31st December, 1916

Bee:  I have been going hard all day with the new box respirator. It takes a long time as you first of all have to explain how to put it on, then fit each one and finally finish up by putting them through a lacrimatory room of tear shell. Got through over half the Battery, which was not bad, as also had to take [illegible] of each one. This morning the rest of the events of the Brigade sports were run off. I was very late and nearly missed the bus. The scurry was first event and, instead of being 4 furlongs, it was nearer a mile and the going was very heavy. I rode a pony and he was outclassed, but we finished up fifth. The Point to Point was next. There were twelve of us who started a 2-mile run of 12 jumps and very heavy going over stubble. I had a good mount but he wanted more training. The pace was very hot to start with and my mount got away at the first and was running fourth when he hit and fell at the seventh fence. When we picked ourselves up, they had got well away. But in the end we finished up fourth - but must add only jumped two fences on the home run. Scott, the Trench Mortar Captain, won; a DAC man, Wystan, ex-jockey, came second. I would have had a good chance, if I had not had a fall.

Diary Entry - 30th December, 1916

Bee: Sat up until twelve last night, to fix canteen accounts, and delivered them by hand this morning. But, even with all my care, got very few receipts back. This afternoon, we played the final football match, Brigade against the 45th. There was a very strong wind blowing. They had a great tussle but the 45th won, outran our fellows - their back line was very strong. The feeling ran very high, but we had no fights. [Illegible] lectured this evening on Scientific Gunnery and gave us a very interesting hour. I forgot - the Colonel presented me with a very nice silver cigarette case for winning the Brigade jumping, which was very decent of him.

Diary Entry - 29th December, 1916

Bee: A wet day, everybody on heat as the Corps General, Jacobs, and our new Division General, Brara, came round to inspect us. As it was wet, he did not take us out but just went into our billets and horse lines. He asked all of us Subts a few prepared questions as to length of service and where we came from. Colonel Goschen came back tonight. I immediately pounced on him about settling up canteen accounts.

Diary Entry - 28th December, 1916

Bee: Had a very heavy frost last night, the ground was white. Today was the day for the RA sports, the Point to Point was to be held but had to be put off owing to the state of the ground - also the scurry. The mules' race was most amusing - all bareback. The nine starters all went well for the first 20 yards, then three got rid of their riders - just stopped dead and turned sharply. There were only three who completed the course. The winner never swerved and galloped well. The DAC ran away with most events. [Illegible] this the whistling on horseback, VC and tug of war. We won the relay race and foot race. I rode along the Point to Point course and it is very stiff - have two roads to cross and 12 jumps, with going very heavy. This afternoon, I borrowed a despatch rider's motorcycle and went to Aix-le-Chateau for a bath. I heard from Major Carrington tonight that it was impossible to get Jack transferred to this division.

Diary Entry - 27th December, 1916

Bee: It has been a most wonderful day - perfect, in fact, although it rained hard last night. We had our Brigade sports, which were a great success. The officers' jumping was the first event. There were seven of us in for it. The jumps were four bush jumps, a 5-foot and a timber jump to finish up with. I managed to win. D36 had two good horses in, but they weren't too cunning. Walrond and Claudie fought for second and in the run off Claudie won, so the 15th did not do badly. In the secion jumping, we won hands down. There were also: a boat race; VC; hundred yards; tug of war; and wrestling on horseback. The star turn was the best turned out gun and team. Really this was a wonderful exhibition, the harness was wonderfully got up. Major Carrington judged and did it most thoroughly. The 48th came first and we second. The winner really had a wonderful show with the gun - they even varnished their paintwork and burnished up every bit of metalwork. I must say, I never expected to see such a show on active service. The feeling in the different batteries is running very high, but I must say we as a battery have done wonderfully well today.

Diary Entry - 26th December, 1916

Bee: It was quite a decent morning - fine nearly - and rained in the afternoon. I went to Aix-le-Chateau, to try to get a bath, but had no luck - the same old cry, no fuel. This morning we competed against the 48th at 100 yards, wrestling on horseback and tug of war - and were beaten in everything. This afternoon, we played off with them in football. They tied last time, after playing an hour overtime, but today we had the upper hand and won 6 to nothing. The score makes it look very uneven, but it was not. This evening we had a lecture on horse management by Major Swanston, Veterinary Officer. But he did not commit himself and did not tell us very much.

Diary Entry - 26th December, 1916 to 1st January, 1917

Walford: On the Tuesday, as Suttie was going down to Boulogne in place of the Colonel, who had not returned from leave, to see some camouflage factory, I went with him, my course being on his way. We ran down to the port in an open Sunbeam, and on along the coast towards Calais, to a small village where, after following several other staff cars, we eventually found the place. I waited outside until the Corps commander had finished his tour of inspection then, as Suttie was supposed to lunch with the Corps commander, I retired gracefully to the Louvre hotel, where I was joined a few minutes later by Suttie, who had lost the General. Boulogne was very empty as leave had stopped, owing to a boat having sunk in the mouth of the harbour - the port was closed. After lunch, we visited the fish market, but there was nothing left, so set out for Cressey. It was soon raining and we had to raise the hood. I was dropped at Cressey at about five p.m. I found several other men hunting for billets in the pouring rain. The show was damned badly run – no billets were arranged for and we had to fight for our own. I got a filthy place on top of the Army Post Office. The course was a farce from beginning to end. The lecturers were bad and and we learned little or nothing at all. There were only lectures in the morning so, when we could, in the afternoon we used to try to get into Abbeville by lorry. On Monday at midday my horses arrived and I rode back in the rain, arriving at the battery to find Suttie on leave, Bailey back again and the battery moving on the following morning. There were also awaiting me many letters of congratulations from home.

Bee's Christmas Card

In his last letter home, Bee mentioned his Christmas card. Here it is:

 I wonder if the printers are still there in Manchester: