Diary Entry - 25th July, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. Spent the day at the OP (Babe). There were two thunderstorms during the day, the one in the afternoon killing six men at Le Quesnoy. In the evening, I got Scott to register my Vermelles gun for the 6 Inf. Brigade raid near the Duck's Bill. The raid proved a failure, as the Hun seemed again to know about it, opening on his front line two minutes before we did. There were a few casualties in the King's Liverpool but nothing serious. In the afternoon, the Hun minnied our trenches at the brick stacks heavily and I retaliated with HE on Spotted Dog. This seems a weak point of his, as he always stops if you keep it up determinedly.

Diary Entry - 24th July, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. Go to Battalion HQ in the morning about our signallers, who sit up there all night and do nothing, but they would not let me take them away. Called in at several OP on the way, Toby French's OP being the best I could see, as it was the only one commanding a good view over the whole front. In the afternoon the machine gun officer and I call for Murdoch at Brigade and go to the wagon line, but find no officers in, so go on into Bethune, where we have tea at the club. We waited at the WL Mess for an hour, but no-one turned up, so we rode home.

Diary Entry - 23rd July, 1917

Walford: Relieved Fleming at nine a.m. at the Babe. Except for a few rounds fired by the Hun's Russian Howitzer on the keep at the barrier, all was quiet. I was rather surprised to find that in the walls of the Babe there was a bee hive and they were swarming as it was so warm. At nine fifteen, we put down a demonstrating box barrage on the Hun front line for fifteen minutes to worry him.

Diary Entry - 22nd July, 1917

Walford: Sunday. The Hun has a field day on the 41st Bde batteries, beginning at eight in the morning. He put shell into the 9th and 16th Bties till three thirty in the afternoon but don't think he did very much damage. It was a bright, sunny day and the Hun's balloons were up in great strength. At twelve p.m. the Padre held a service in our Mess, but the piano had gone back to Bethune, so it was not as bright as on the previous Sunday. I was going to Festubert brewery in the afternoon to register but, owing to some trifling matters, could not get away.

Diary Entry - 21st July, 1917

Walford: A machine gun officer rolled up at ten fifteen a.m. saying he was to be attached for four days. At ten thirty I went round to brigade to see about some business, returning for lunch. Fleming at ten thirty was lucky to escape alive from Greenwood House, as they obtained two direct hits on it, completely putting it out of action. He spent the rest of the day at The Babe, and I did not know anything about his being turned out by the Hun until Siggers rang me up in the evening about it. I had to relieve D36 at Kings Cleare in the evening at seven, stopping there until seven o'clock in the morning.

Diary Entry - 20th July, 1917

Walford: At the OP all day, relieving Fleming. I had not been there five minutes when the Hun started. He put one short one just over and Fleming and I thought discretion the better part of valour and ran to a flank. Four more rounds were fired. They all fell in a circle round it. I thought it was odds on getting some more during the morning as he had the range to a tee, but he had stopped for the day - probably that was his allowance. The 23rd Battalion of Fusiliers carried out an unsuccessful raid at ten p.m. The Hun probably was expecting it as the wire had been cut on his front so he evacuated the front line and supports, putting down his own barrage on them. The casualties were rather severe for us but don't know the actual numbers. All we succeeded in bringing back was a document which had probably been left there on purpose.

Diary Entry - 19th July, 1917

Walford: Thursday. OP until nine a.m. Go to the section in the afternoon and call in at 48th on the way about pay. After tea, go up to Fanshaw castle, north of the canal and just south of windy corner, to see about the brigade exchange, whether they would tap us through from Festubert brewery. We had to register a point on the Portuguese front so that we could support them in case of another raid. They assured me there would be no difficulty so I rode back along the canal bank, crossing over Vauxhall Bridge.

Diary Entry - 18th July, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. A dull day, nothing doing.

Diary Entry - 17th July, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. Go to OP at nine a.m. and relieve Fleming. It was quiet on the front all day but Bosche shelled the back areas a bit. In the afternoon he shelled the 15th Battery, concentrating on their Mess, which is in a tunnel that runs under a railway embankment. I had to come down at four forty-five p.m as I go to a BCs' meeting at the brigade to discuss the raid which is to come off. We fired about 250 rounds during the night on the trenches.

Diary Entry - 16th July, 1917

Walford: Monday. Go to OP in the early morning. Bosche start on some Heavy position behind the Fosse at eight a.m and carries on the whole day with his five nines. Little or no damage was done as the majority of rounds fell in a field. We had a night strafe about midnight.

Diary Entry - 15th July, 1917

Walford: Sunday. The Padre has a church service at ten a.m. in our Mess. Siggers came over from the four eights to play the piano. It was a jolly service and everyone sang lustily. Holy Communion was held afterwards, at which there was a large attendance, including Quiller Couch, who rode over from the nineth Bty.

Diary Entry - 14th July, 1917

Walford: Vosper goes on leave with Goschen. They run down to Boulogne in the General's car, so I have to take over the Battery.

Diary Entry - 13th July, 1917

Walford: OP all day. After lunch go down to the Mill just south of La Bassee road, intending to shoot on the brickstacks. Going down one goes through some very long tunnels, all lit by electricity and the second one takes you to the Mill. I tried two spots, one a very good one, which was approached by crawling up a tiny hole hanging onto a rope and the other one was a post. In both places, a periscope had to be used as one was very close to the Bosche front line. After trying all this, I find they use a fuller phone on the line, which is useless on a long line as it buzzes the whole time you are speaking. The only way to do any good would be to run a wire out and it would have to be a very long one.

Diary Entry - 12th July, 1917

Walford: Day off so wander over to the section at Vermelles, then on to the anti-aircraft and see John. We come back in the Singer at five p.m. to tea at the 48th and stay for dinner. Just before dinner Bellew at the OP alarms us by sending down 'gas', but it was only a cloud of chalk dust caused by a minnie dropping in a chalk pit. I motored back to John's billet and was sent home from there in a Ford box car.

Diary Entry - 11th July, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. Went to the OP to relieve Jones at nine a.m. During the day spotted one machine gun emplacement and two minnies and finished off the registration of the Spotted Dog.

Diary Entry - 10th July, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. Liaison was knocked on the head, so I had to man the OP at five a.m. from the battery, being relieved at nine a.m. by Fleming. Spotted a machine gun emplacement which fired at aeroplanes and also two minnies. Fired forty rounds and registered the Spotted Dog, a ruined house on the La Bassee Road.

Diary Entry - 9th July, 1917

Walford: Hoyland came to lunch. Jones went to OP, relieving Fleming. Afgter lunch, Hoyland and I walked to the section to see how much wire would be needed to put up entanglements in front and then we came back for tea at the four eights. From there, we picked up our horses and went to the lines where I stopped for dinner. Beech and Bellew were there, the latter having returned from leave. I rode home at ten p.m.

Diary Entry - 8th July, 1917

Walford: Sunday. Relieved by Jones at nine a.m., soon after I got back to the Mess, Fleming from the DAC arrived with six men. Fleming I sent up to the OP to learn the front, while the men went to report to the ninth section. Soon after the DAC arrived, an infantry officer by the name of Grahame of the 15th HLI arrived too, being posted for four days. After lunch John arrived in a small Singer. He took me to the wagon lines where we had tea with Hoyland and then on to their Mess at Mazingarb. There were five of us for dinner, two men came from another anti section and they gave us a very good spread. It was rather funny to be motored home about ten thirty p.m., a luxury never experienced out here before by yours truly.

Diary Entry - 7th July, 1917

Walford: Saturday. OP all day. Rather windy. Tried to register, but the day was difficult. Nothing doing.

Diary Entry - 6th July, 1917

Walford: Friday. Rise at four thirty a.m. and observe two machine guns firing, one enfilading north and one south. We have a go at the one shooting south and, after a few rounds, it stops. Jones comes up at nine and, after lunch, I walk to the section, also calling at the antis, where I find Sam. Their Major came along. His name is Martin and he used to be a subaltern of the 9th Battery. He seemed a good chap.

Diary Entry - 5th July 1917

Walford: Relieved Morris Jones at nine a.m. and registered his gun on Les Briques, it getting onto the target in very few rounds. Also tried Vermelles on Spotted dog and Battleship targets, without much success. In the evening, go down to Batt. HQ, occupied by the Ox and Bucks, who have a nice colonel. Carrington was up in the afternoon and stayed in the OP for some time.

Diary Entry - 4th July, 1917

Walford: Raining. While at breakfast it was raining and at eight p.m., having said goodbye to Madame and Mademoiselle, I set out on the war horse for the posit. It rained steadily all the way up and on my arrival I was told that Vosper was at the OP but that he left orders for me to walk to my section. This I did, calling at the 15th and 48th on the way. Found everything OK and the men comfortable and happy. The anti-aircraft being quite close, I strolled over and saw them, finding John in charge, but there were no birds about and I did not see him in action. By the time I got back, five miles had been covered and I was quite ready for lunch. In the afternoon, I registered No. 6 on the brickstacks.

Diary Entry - 3rd July, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. On sloping into breakfast, I was rather alarmed to hear that we had four casualties in the brigade and that Hortayne was not expected to recover, being very badly wounded in the head. It appears the bombs had all dropped down near Brigade. They were small ones which burst the moment they hit the ground. The men who were wounded were Mills, (Major, D36), Hortayne, Buckmaster, McKinlay. There was only the one bad one, the rest were just slight leg and arm wounds. Siggers and I took a small ride in the morning, returning a few minutes before stables, so we filled in the time trying to get some strawberries and cream, without success. I spent most of the day trying to get some information from Vosper as to the detached section. This I eventually gained, about five in the evening. Somewhere about that time an order came round that all horses were to be removed from Bethune before dark, as the civilians said the horses drew fire.

Diary Entry - 2nd July, 1917

Walford: Rise at five thirty a.m. and have breakfast, getting under way at seven fifteen a.m. Sandford, Hoyland and Siggers go on in a motor lorry. Nicholson goes with the Brigade transport, so Cruikshank and I go with the battery. It was a good day to be on the road, sunny, with a nice cool north wind. As we approached Mt St Eloi, I met Major Buxton of 13th Corps on the road, and he shook me warmly by the hand. A little further on a General had a yarn to me and I don't know who he was but he wished us all kinds of luck, also shaking me by the hand. I was beginning to wonder whether Haig wouldn't turn out to see us go by. The 15th had a nasty accident at Grand Servin - a motor lorry ran over a horse's foot, pulling the whole hoof off. Needless to say the poor animal had to be destroyed by the road side. We watered at Hersin, good troughs, but a very awkward spot to water a brigade. Had to hunt many people before I could get any water as there was no key to the tap and the troughs were dry after the 15th had finished. The 71st and D36 made a big block bringing their horses down past us, causing great heat as a lot of motor traffic got blocked. We reached Bethune about three fifteen and John, who had met Sanger at the club, was down at the railway crossing to meet us. Our horses were put on a vacant block of ground opposite the EFC and we were all billeted in the town, I at 40 Rue Potern, an old haunt. We had a Mess nearby and the daughter of the house was very nice and kept us well amused. That night while in bed I heard an aeroplane and was just trying to make up my mind whether it was a Hun when it let go a stream of bombs which seemed to fall fairly close to us as the splinters rattled about.

Diary Entry - 1st July, 1917

Walford: Being Sunday, there was a church parade at the Ecurie Cinema at ten forty-five, which Siggers and I attended, including twelve of the battery. I forgot to add that last night Nicholson and Sandford came down with the remaining two guns. The wind is blowing very strongly this afternoon and has just torn away an observation balloon from its camp at Ecurie and someone said that two men were tipped out of the basket. Anyway, it now reclines in ribbons, caught in a tree on the Leny Arras road. It is inclined to rain again this afternoon.

Diary Entry - 30th June, 1917

Walford: Saturday. It rained during stables and continued until three thirty p.m., when Hoyland, Siggers and I walked in to the officers' club and had a splendid hot bath, then walked out after tea - or rather had a lift in an ambulance halfway.

Diary Entry - 29th June, 1917

Walford: Todd came in to lunch and Siggers arrived soon afterwards, having been relieved of his duties by Murdoch, who had returned from Paris leave. We went in to Arras at five p.m. to try to see the Dudds, but could not get a seat, so went to the theatre and saw the cinema and Charlie Chaplin. Again we dined at the club, where I met Chas Hawker, and walked out at ten p.m. That evening four guns pulled out and Cruikshank came down.

Diary Entry - 28th June, 1917

Walford: At four p.m. as the Oppy business was on, Hoyland and I rode up to the guns to take part. As we went over the ridge in the trench, on looking over the parapet to locate some crumping going on, we were more than displeased to see it was in the vicinity of our destination. We waited till it stopped, then walked on. As soon as we got into the sunken road, we saw that the majority of the rounds fell in the road and about the Mess dug outs. My luck seemed to be out as, whenever I have been near this position, the shells have greeted me. Both the men's cook house and our own had been knocked out but, by a miracle, a barrel of beer between the two places was untouched. Beyond this, little damage had been done. The shelling had been brought on us by two 6-inch howitzers, which had come into the sunken road a few yards beyond the Mess. Their flash is enough to give any show away. The barrage commenced at nine ten and strangely it met with little or no opposition from the Bosche and we never had a round near us for the whole 40' firing; very different to our previous battles, when we were shot at the whole time. The business was a success and our line pushed well into Oppy Wood. The line straightened and the Hun lost 200 prisoners. That night we rode down. It was very heavy going as two very heavy showers came on during the attack. During the firing No. 1 gun pit had a little excitement as it caught fire, but the detachment soon had it under control. After the shooting, the Hun fired on the 6' howitzer, without success.

Diary Entry - 27th June, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. At nine fifteen a.m., Hoyland and a supply officer of the ASC named Robinson (Capt.) set out for the battery, the latter really on a joy ride. He had never seen the trenches before. It was a warm day with thunder hanging about. After lunch, I went into Arras to draw the pay and then on to Roclincourt RE dump, to see about some paint for the transport wagons. It rained heavily while coming out of Arras but was steaming hot again before going a mile. About five thirty, Hoyland and Robinson returned, having spent their time up in Arleux Loup, shooting the new 106fuze. This is a direct acting fuze[?] used this summer with tremendous effect by heavy hows up to 9.2 inch on back line wire. Their opinion was that they could note no difference to percussion shrapnel at 2000 yards but at 3500 yards it detonated with tremendous effect, especially on brick houses, one of which they hit in Neuvirieul.

Diary Entry - 26th June, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. Siggers came down to tea and we went in to see the rest of Beau Belles, as we had only seen half of it, arriving late the night before. Having Hoyland in the party, we were again late, only arriving some few minutes earlier than on the previous evening, and this time the man gave us a box free, for some reason of his own, but we enjoyed it again. Siggers as acting adjutant had to return to the brigade, so Hoyland and I had dinner in the club.

Diary Entry - 25th June, 1917

Walford: In the morning, I took Ginger out for exercise and rode over towards St Eloi and had a look at the RNAS Aerodrome, where the Triplane Squadron hail from. It was really wonderful to see the way these machines rise off the ground and climb. They are up 1000 feet before they turn after leaving the ground. They also landed very nicely. Arrived back at the battery at eleven a.m., had lunch at eleven forty-five, went off on the one-eyed horse at twelve forty-five for the Army show at Chateau de la Haye, along with Hoyland and Hortage, the latter we picked up at St Eloi, near the ruin. The show was beyond all imagination and the turn outs would take a lot of beating, even at Olympia. We were there until four thirty and saw the grand parade, judging of officers' chargers, officers and section jumping, as well as other odd events. There were some beautiful chargers shown and a very nice little chestnut took the prize, after a lengthy contest. The judges even rode each horse round the ring several times. We hurried back at four thirty, just missed seeing the Prince of Wales and Sir Douglas Haig arrive and, after tea at the WL, we went into the theatre Bowe Belles. This was also a most excellent performance, the best I have yet seen in France, and the men who did girls' parts were extraordinarily good. The theatre ran from six p.m. to eight p.m and when it came out we three met Siggers and the Padre (Holden) at the officers' club, where we finished up the day with a good dinner. It was raining at ten thirty p.m. when we commenced for home and, having no coats, we thought we were in for it, but were lucky in getting a car at the five crossroads or the Octroi, which took us to our doorstep.

Diary Entry - 24th June, 1917

Walford: Sunday. We sent 24 men to Church at Ecurie to the Cinema hall. Hoyland and I also went and met Siggers on the way. I forgot to add that he had gone the previous day as adjutant while Murdoch went on leave to Paris - he was looking for the church. We were all late but stepped into the service bravely. It has been a good day and we rode up to Roclincourt in the afternoon to collect RE material. After coming back, as Ginger was a little fresh, I took him over the jumps and he cleared them splendidly. My new horse is a remount who only has one eye, but he is a nice little bay with white stockings and better than old Tommie who was very badly gone in the legs.

Diary Entry - 23rd June, 1917

Walford: Saturday. Bellew went on leave soon after breakfast. The day looked promsing and managed to hold out for the sports at four p.m. It wasn't a very thrilling show, though the Officers' mule jumping, bun and treacle race and hundred yards were quite amusing. The battery kept up its reputation and took its fair whack of prizes. Dr Jackson and Dr Barwick of my section took second prizes to the seven ones, who had been preparing harness for the Corps sports for weeks, and I must say their harness looked well. Anyway, if no-one else enjoyed themselves, Thorburn and Gough did, as they seemed to run or try to do most of the running of the events. My mule was a failure in the jumping and the gray Cruikshank was riding never ran up to expectations, though I think if it had had the right man up on it, it would have won.

Diary Entry - 22nd June, 1917

Walford: After lunch, it rained until four p.m. and the brigade sports, which were to have been, were put off. Murdoch came down and stayed with us most of the afternoon, returning after tea. Cruikshank had come down the previous night to ride a grey mule in the sports, so we all went into Arras at five to try to see the cinema show, but it was over full so had to try for a seat in something else. We eventually found a show run by a hospital, which was quite good. We stayed there too long and lost our table, which we had reserved at the club, but we got seats all right. It was a clear evening and we walked home.

Diary Entry - 21st June, 1917

Walford:  Thursday, Hoyland spent the day at the guns on business with the Major. I was doing Orderly Officer so rose at five thirty a.m. The day turned out showery.

Diary Entry - 20th June, 1917

Walford: After lunch, Hoyland and I rode over to Mt St Eloi to see some Corps Sports taking place that day. On entering the ground, I ran across Kirby, a man I had trained with at Ipswich. He was with the 31st Div and had been to Egypt with them. We stayed until five and saw some quite good jumping, the VC race and pig sticking. It seemed quite a well-run performance and there were some very good turnouts there. The 9th Battery took the best gun or wagon turnout. On our way home, we hunted for RE material at Marveuill, without success. The four of us dined at the officers' club in Arras that night - quite a good spot, but it was a rotten night, pouring with rain, and Bellew and I, who walked, got very wet, but Siggers and Hoyland, who had been to Roclincourt about some business on horseback, arrived drenched. However, we had a good dinner and we walked out through the mud and slush and felt very hot on our arrival, as it was a warm night, in spite of the rain.

Diary Entry - 19th June, 1917

Walford: We had a good peaceful night and awoke to find ourselves very near our destination. At six thirty a.m., we detrained and got onto a motor bus waiting by the way. This took us to Roclincourt. By the time we got out, it was raining, a thunderstorm having blown up, so I walked to Brigade where I could be sure of a breakfast, as was not sure whether the battery was back or not. Todd and I walked for the wagon lines at ten a.m. and nearly got drowned in a heavy thunder shower and large lumps of ice and hail. I found all the battery in, on quite a decent bit of ground not far west of Madagascar corner. That night three guns went up into action, Cruikshank taking on an advance party to knock the old position into shape. Sandford, Nicholson and Cruikshank were the three officers, the rest of us remaining here.

Diary Entry - 8th to 18th June, 1917

Walford: Friday. Being at Aire at the 1st Army School to catch the leave train I had to ride about 7 kilometres to Berguette and catch the train from Bethune. It was very warm and on arrival of the train I was pleased to find Armytage and Connover on board - and they had a carriage too. The trip over was as usual and on arrival at Victoria I picked up Mim at 54 Victoria Street, where she was doing war work, and, after called at Coxes, went straight to Craven Hill Garden, where I found Mim had moved everything to from Batts, which was a pleasant surprise. Saturday morning, we rushed in a lot of shopping, and at five p.m. set out for Slough to stay with Mrs John Manifold at Farnham Common. The rest of my days were spent here, except one, when I went up to London to the dentist and had two teeth done. The stay at Highlands was very peaceful and pleasant and one afternoon we made a jaunt to Maidenhead and took a launch up the river, which was beautiful. Then there was only one other day when we had the car out, to Penge, to call on some people. All good things have an ending and on Sunday evening Mim and I wended our way back to London, much refreshed by the country air. The following morning Mim escorted me to the station and pushed me reluctantly off by the eight fifteen. Boarding the boat, I was again glad to meet Connover and, after circling once in mid channel while destroyers covered our retreat, we eventually got over without trouble. We passed a muggy afternoon in Boulogne, then caught the seven forty-five p.m train for Ecoivre. Connover having much luggage - mostly for the Colonel - he distributed it well and we had the carriage to ourselves, being able to stretch out on the seats. Armytage did not put in an appearance, but one never expected him to, as he never turns up to time.

Casualties and Awards

The second volume of my grandfather's diaries has just come to an end and at the back of it he listed those he knew up until today's date in 1917 who had been casualties or had received awards for gallantry. Here are the pages containing his lists - sorry for the doubling up in the photographs, due to not being able to fit things neatly into the camera frame:

Diary Entry - 4th June, 1917

Walford: Hoyland arrived at ten a.m., having done a tour of France on the railways. Bellew on duty. Sandford goes off on leave at one p.m. A vet Colonel comes round after stables and looks at the horses, evacuating five myths for skin disease - I suppose he has to keep his job by always finding cases.

Diary Entry - 3rd June, 1917

Walford: Nicholson O.O. A harness inspection at two thirty and we have to pick out harness from gun team first line and firing battery to compete in open prize given by Major. I also offered a prize 10 francs 1st, 5 francs, 2nd, for each subsection and for anyone coming in a place in the Major's prize. Besides prizes for the harness, there were some for horses and the left section did so well that I had to pay out 75 francs when it was over. There was one prize for horses. F Sub ought to have had it, but the Major gave the decision to another pair.

Diary Entry - 2nd June, 1917

Walford: Saturday. Orderly officer. Still off colour - almost flop while shaving. Determine to see the doctor as eyes go wrong, everything is a blur. Eventually find him in at six. He is a good old chap and fixes me up splendidly.

Diary Entry - 1st June, 1917

Walford: Cold rather better but still off the oats. During stables at eleven a.m the army vet came round the horses and ticked off Sergeant Lundie, our veterinary sergeant. A small stores inspection at two in the gun park, and we were all surprised to see we had not lost more stuff after what we had been through. Sandford, Bellew and self had tea in the town. After dinner, Nicholson and the others went to see a family, the daughter of which said she would teach them French.

Diary Entry - 31st May, 1917

Walford: I am orderly officer: reveille at six a.m., inspection parade at eight thirty, taken by the Major. Horses for the riding school parade at eight forty-five. As the horses were watering at midday, John turned up in a Ford box car. He seemed fit and looked well enough. We did not have much entertrainment for him. However, he stayed till tea and then went off to the line, as the section was moving up from a near position. As neuralgia worried me during the afternoon, I went to bed without dinner. A cold in the chest was giving me beans, as every time I coughed the neuralgia gave me fits,. However, the medical orderly gives me some good pills.

Diary Entry - 30th May, 1917

Wednesday at seven a.m. we march for Aire. I remain behind to fix up any claims and have to wait till the town mayor gets up about eight thirty a.m. An old Frenchman makes a lot of noise over a small amount of wood the cooks used, for which he wanted five francs. The town mayor sided with him, which was rot, as, if he had got five francs, he would have been doing well. When I find the school at ten thirty a.m. I am surprised to find no battery, as came the direct route. However, they turn up in about ten minutes, having gone off the main road to avoid the cobbles. The school is a great place for eye wash - everything whitewashed and in spick and span condition, with Colonel Lea Warner, DSO and MC, in command, Darcey, his adjutant. The stables and harness rooms are very large and the men sleep in barracks. In fact, it is very like a peace show. The horse of mine which was very lame broke its hind leg during the night, right at the hock, and had to be destroyed. I am wrong - the horse broke its leg the first night we spent at the school.

Diary Entry - 29th May, 1917

Walford: It was inclined to rain when we set out at six a.m and there was thunder in the air. When we reached Divion the rain stopped, having laid the dust nicely. Between Houdain and Divion we passed a large chateau belonging to some army. It was very well kept as was an HQ. Nicholson and the 2MS went on to Ames to do the billeting and they had everything nicely fixed, water nice and close to the lines. One horse of mine went dead lame just as we reached the lines.

Diary Entry - 28th May, 1917

Walford: Monday, being orderly officer, rise at four a.m. and see horses watered and fed. Battery move off soon after six a.m. I and Sergeant Higgins go on ahead to Hermin, just beyond Gauchin le Gal, to arrange billets. It was another warm day and it took us two hours fifteen to get there. There was no town mayor in the town, but was informed the one at Gauchin le Gal did the two villages, so went back to see if he could give me any help, but found that he did not control Hernin. As there was some doubt as to who did, we billeted on our own hook and got all we required within 50 yards of the lines. As it was such good weather, we did not expect any of the men to sleep undercover and, as it happened, they preferred to sleep in the open. The battery marched in at eleven fifteen a.m. and we were all comfortably settled down in very short time. We had our Mess in the field by a small stream, a very pleasant spot. Major Sandford and Bellew slept in the open, while Nicholson and I slept in the tent. I forgot to mention that, as we came by Chamblain l'Abbe, we saw dozens of Bosche minnen wurfers by the side of the road, evidently captured by the Canadians. They ranged from huge ones on wheels to small bomb throwers, standing about 6' off the ground.

Diary Entry - 27th May, 1917

Walford: Sunday. The battery had come out of action late the previous night and all arrived at the WL without mishap. We awoke in the morning to the very familiar sound of the 5.9' gun dropping somewhat close. I investigated after the second round and found they were falling not 100 yards away in the 41st Brigade lines. The rest of our Bde were busy packing up for a move to Madagascar corner as the Corps had kicked us out on account of the dump. The shells increased their energy and it was astonishing the way they got packed up. Luckily no-one was touched, two bivouacs were blown up but fortunately no men were in them. Church parade wsa held at 41st Bde at ten thirty a.m. I had to go supplies and see Captain Gard about our rations as 2nd Div were to ration us till the 31st inst. However, as far as we could gather no arrangements had been made by staff so we thought it best to do it for ourselves. It was a very warm morning with a strong wind blowing and plenty of dust. As soon as we had supplies fixed up through Gard, Pellam rang up to say two motor lorries would travel with us from Hermin. Bellew in the evening took our ammunition up to Roclincourt by pack as we were told at the eleventh hour we had to travel empty, he had to make two trips and did not get in till about eleven.

Diary Entry - 26th May, 1917

Walford: Go for an early morning ride, leaving lines at five thirty. This was for the purpose of using the Tooth Brush so as no-one would be about. The light was fairly good and I think everything was successful. I went and awoke the Padre at Brigade and chatted to him until about seven. Towards midday, I had again to ride up to Bde. to arrange about our rations for the march to Aire of 28th inst. After waiting there for an hour, Sandford arrived, as there was a BCs meeting with the Colonel, so I gleaned some information from him on several points.

Diary Entry - 25th May, 1917

Walford: Friday. Start at eight thirty a.m. with the Sgt. Major to show him the grazing field and send him on to choose some horses from the grazing camp to come in to the WL. Meanwhile, I go on to Marveuil, to the RE dump, to see if any material can be obtained. During stables, inspected the harness, and the Gun Park, the former was a great improvement to the week before and the Gun Park was very good too. In the afternoon, while writing the diary, in strolls Pelham, (Staff Capt), with a Colonel, who, he informed me, said the 15th and 48th Batteries had to move that afternoon to a spot 500 yards from the Ammunition Dump. There was only one place for us to go and that was in the hollow, so I suggested it, and down we had to go that evening. It did not take us long and it was wonderful how the men got their bivouacs and tents up and the lines all ready. The most amusing site was to see the Sgts' Mess Chalet (like our own) going down on a truck and meeting a light engine halfway down. The house had to be removed in very quick time and the truck thrown off the line, but they managed without an accident. We also heard from Pelham that the battery was proceeding to Aire on the 28th to the 1st Army School for a fortnight. The Bosche disturbed the peaceful hours with bombs, both at night and in the morning.

Diary Entry - 24th May, 1917

Walford: At nine fifteen a.m. go to rest (horse) with Farrier Sgt, to get eight horses that are reported ready to remove from the camp. Find it is run by a Major this time, in a much more simple manner, and there was no trouble in getting them away whatever. Furthermore, the horses showed improvement this time, as they received more attention, there not being so many horses in the camp. From there I went on and had a look at the horses 'far grazing camp and came back with Hewitson, who showed me a new field on the way home. Take it easy in the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 23rd May, 1917

The night on the floor with the Scottie was more comfortable than I expected. It was a misty morning and there was no visibility till ten a.m. when I was relieved by McKinty of the One Fives (15th). On the way back I called in at Bde where Connover had the place to himself. We stayed talking and looking at air photos, which he eventually gave me, for about an hour. It was twelve thirty p.m. when I got back and found a large crowd at the Mess as the Colonel had Battery Commanders down to have a look round the lines. We sat down 14 to lunch in the new Mess Chalet, which had just been completed. I have neuralgia which has grown no better, so retire to my tent in the afternoon. Siggers and Cruickshank both very thrilled as they go on leave tomorrow with Todd and Hortayne.

Diary Entry - 22nd May, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. It was raining when I got up at seven a.m. and had been for some time before. I had to do a turn of duty at the Bde OP and left the WL at eight forty-five a.m. with two signallers as look out men. It was very heavy going up the mule track and worse still when the police at the crest made us get in a trench. However, as it was very misty, we left the trench very quickly and made for the old gun pits, which had lately been taken over by the infantry. After a hunt through the slush for the OP, we dropped in at Inf. Bde. HQ, where I was very grateful for a drink offered to me. From here we got through to Bde HQ and asked them to direct us to the spot and found it only about 150 yards to our left rear. The mist never cleared till midday nor did the rain, but Bosche was very quiet so there was nothing to worry about. The Colonel and Sandford come up in the afternoon and fire a few rounds with the sniping gun, without much success, as the aiming posts seem to have been planted by someone after they were knocked over by shellfire. The Hun put some very close to the gun after a while, but think he was only dusting up the road between the Sucrerie and Arleux-en-Gohelle. In this same dug out as our Bde were two infantry officers, Divisional intelligence people. They belonged to the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and were big talkers. One called all his men by their Christian names and they returned the compliment. It was a most weird party - they talked about each other's 'lassies'. Before dusk a wild rumour came round from Corps that the Bosche was retreating, but as their reasons for retreat seemed very weak to me, I did not get very feverish about it.

Diary Entry - 21st May, 1917

Walford: The previous evening Hoyland and Scott heard they could collect their warrants and proceed on leave. Hoyland stirred things up as usual, throwing his kit and everyone else's everywhere and leaving two backed cheques on the floor of the Mess. They started to get off at seven, but Hoyland in his more casual way than usual had not got out of bed so Scottie was left running round like a cat on hot bricks. Eventually about nine they set out, Scottie carrying a bag, Hoyland, (not yet 21), having sent his servant ahead with his bag. They were making for St. Pol Road to catch a lorry. Gnr. Gordon also goes on leave, a great nut full of excitement as he is to be married. I went to the salvage dump in the morning about GS fore carriage and wheels, managing to get what is wanted. On coming back to the lines, I find the BSM had gone one better than me, having made a brand new wagon in the night. Siggers appears from his duty about eleven thirty a.m, just in time after his usual 'coiffeur' and 'face massage', to help me pay out, and we form a very fast combination, he signing the books and I paying. It was inclined to be showery in the afternoon. Nicholson, a young fellow from the Shop posted to us.

Diary Entry - 20th May, 1917

Walford: Sunday. Hewitson and I rode out to the horses, more for a ride and exercise than anything else. Lunched at one thirty p.m and church parade formed up soon after two fifteen p.m. The Padre and Colonel turned up about two thirty p.m., the former was very nervous at the beginning and set off at a tremendous speed with the first hymn but he soon got into his stride. F. S. Siggers had left early to do liaison with the infantry, a 24-hour job. The Colonel sees the horses water and seems to think they show improvement. Towards evening Hewitson and I take our horses grazing by the river, it has been a beautiful day and a contrast to the awful weather we had in April.

Diary Entry - 19th May, 1917

Walford: Saturday, Siggers and I went to the rest camp to see the horses and, on arrival there, took our saddles and bridles off, letting our horses go. I had Tommie, my second mount, as Ginger had a bad back, and the brute charged all over the place, breaking through the picquet and getting onto the crops. These two caused much trouble between them, and we thought they would make the other tired old skins stampede. In the afternoon, we started work on a new Mess on the chalet system and had our wheeler at work.

Diary Entry - 18th May, 1917

Siggers was to go off to 13th Corps on a three-week course as intelligence officer to a counter battery group, so I rode over to Roclincourt in the morning with him and saw him into his car, then proceeded back to the lines again. During the stable hour, there was a harness inspection, the usual weekly affair, which was a fair show. In the afternoon, I walked into Arras to draw the pay, calling at the DAC on the way out, to see about Gnr. Campbell, who had been wounded at Courcelles and who had been sent up from the Base to the DAC. About tea time, Hoyland, the casual and Tucker roll up from Paris, having overstayed their leave a day - the last 12 hours we had been pursued by messages of enquiry from the Brigade who in turn were being troubled with messages from RA. Towards seven p.m. a Captain Vosper rolled up, saying he was posted to the 15th Bty. so we put him up for the night. In the evening, Siggers returned, as he said when he reached Corps they tried to make out the job was permanent and would not let him go until he got hold of Carrington. He said he was much disturbed when he arrived as they quite expected to keep him, agreement or no agreement.

Diary Entry - 17th May, 1917

As my Corporal shoeing smith could get no satisfaction from the Rest camp as to getting back our horses on the previous evening, I went myself at nine a.m. I was rather heated, as this man had waited four hours on the previous evening with a note from me asking to return 15 horses and had received no reply. On hunting round the camp, I found the OC, in an old dug out, along with three others, picking out our horses - Colonel Seymour, a dark Major and Captain Robinson Scott. The rest camp, as it was termed, was more like an overrun duck yard than anything else, or, as Colonel Beech said, like Rotten Row, the small paddocks wired off with barbed wire were as bare as your hand and beginning to puddle after the rain we had. Well, to get my horses, I had to ride on to Corps HQ and see the Commandant of the rest camp. Then, after telling some lies about having to move our WL, he eventually gave me leave to draw ten of our horses. When the horses went in, they were put there with the understanding that we could get them when we liked. The Colonel was down for lunch and seemed pleased with the Cook House and Harness Rooms, which we had put up. After lunch, he looked at four of our specimens from the rest camp and went on to Bray. Siggers came down that afternoon and Bellew goes up to the guns again.

Diary Entry - 16th May, 1917

Early in the morning we countered at Roeux and regained the chemical works. At nine a.m Colonel Beech, Armytage and self took about 14 horses out from each battery to a field some 5 kilometres away, as Beech had requisitioned a field there for grazing. The field was about 50 acres with a fair amount of good grass in it. Armytage and I came back through Marveuil to see about RE material and then on to DADOS at Bray, where we saw a gun with a new air recuperator on it. It was fitted into the old outer case and, except for the ends, looked much the same as the old buffer. About four p.m. it commenced raining and, as Bellew and I sat down to tea, we were asked to go to the dump and see a Corps General. His grouse was that we were too near to the dump and that we were out of our area, we being 13th Corps and the dump 17th Corps's. He eventually went away saying he would talk to our corps about it, but seemed to speak as if he expected the dump to go up any day. Several large ammunition dumps had already gone up in Arras, causing much damage, and one had a lot of gas shell in it, which caused great alarm and despondency. So we moved the top lines down the hill below the left section and also moved the gun park to the bottom of the hill.

Diary Entry - 15th May, 1917

Walford: Tuesday. I went up to Brigade at nine a.m. to see about an indent for harness as there was some heat about it from the base depot, Murdoch said he remembered the case clearly and said he would fix it for me through Division. Ginger seemed full of beans and gave a couple of pig roots when I mounted him. The troughs were finished today and seem to be a great success. Towards evening, it was a little showery. The Bosche attacked at Roeux in the evening and retook the Chemical works, which we had taken from him on Saturday morning - we had taken it with comparative ease hardly losing a man and taking about 700 prisoners.

Diary Entry - 14th May, 1917

Walford: Monday. Our turn to supply Bde orderly officer, so I have to stump out at six a.m. and see everyone water. At four a.m. we had a thunder storm and some lightning. Gunner Bates, my old servant, told me he saw it set a balloon on fire. The Wheeler with a fatigue from each battery was very busy putting up troughs or rather connecting them all so as three pumps would supply them with water and a battery could water with ease. After breakfast, Hoyland went to RA and obtained a leave warrant for two days in Paris. I forgot to mention we all went down to the river for a swim before breakfast but the water was too cold for me and I wasted no time in getting out.

Diary Entry - 13th May, 1917

Walford: Sunday. Hoyland and self attend stables. The colonel had brought in a new scheme the previous day that Hoyland was to run an orderly officer daily to remain at the troughs during the hours of watering and see that the brigade watered properly. We started the routine in the usual way, senior battery taking the duty first. There was a large church parade at two thirty p.m. just outside the Mess and a good gathering of officers, including all the wagon line officers of the brigade.

Diary Entry - 11th May, 1917

Walford: Friday. Sandford went to the guns again, to let Hoyland come back to his wagon lines. One gun was put out during the night - a 5.9' hitting the trail about the spade, cutting the latter to piece,s so it meant a new gun. I rode up to the brigade to see about some guns, also intending to call in at the graveyard on the way and try to get a snap, but there were too many men about. The doctor had again attacked the ears that morning. On our arrival back at the lines, we found the colonel there, Bellew had gone up to take Evans's place as he had been wounded by shrapnel in the back. The Colonel stayed for tea, then walked back to the Brigade with Connover.

Diary Entry - 10th May, 1917

Walford: We did not have a very pleasant night as had to sit up until two thirty, when the ration cart returned from the gun. We tried to sleep. I slept in a chair in the Mess, but it was really too cold to be comfortable. However, I slept in until eleven thirty a.m and felt much refreshed. Sandford and I walked into Arras in the afternoon to get some things at the canteen and see the doctor on the way about my ears. I was surprised to find that Arras was such a large place and Cadonnier told me that in days gone by it had a population of 40,000 but it had dwindled to about 29,000. Parts of the town had been severely treated but there were still a great number of houses intact, except for the windows. We had a drink of wine at an hotel which had been running all through the war. Of course, it was rather crude, but it served the purpose of a cafe all right and we had some very cooling wine for 10 francs. It was a very warm evening. On returning, the doctor came to dinner and had a go at my ears with a syringe, without much success. In fact, he made my left ear rather tender and it ached in the night.

Diary Entry - 9th May, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. We had an awful night of it and during the whole of it not one wink of sleep did I get. As soon as we had turned in at ten forty-five and when Bellew had just returned from taking ammunition mules forward with fodder for the sniping gun, the shelling commenced. Four twos and five nines began bursting down the sunken road and they were lachrimatory shells. As I was at the bottom of the stairs in a tank and they were putting right along the road, I thought it wise to move inside. We were dozing away when there was an appalling crash about four thirty. There were shouts for the major. All the candles were out and the place full of dust. As soon as I had rolled out of bed, I followed the major along the passage to our men's two entrances. A heap of wreckage was all I could see at the bottom to our first shaft but I was informed that both Gunnar Saunders (Sandford's servant) and Br.Ddd had been killed. I enquired for Sandford but no one seemed to have seen him and on hearing someone groaning up the shaft saw that he had fainted. Harrison got him down and we pulled him along to the fresh air but it was 30 minutes before we got him round. As soon as he was coming along, I went back and found another man had flopped. We got him away and another man went. This continued till we had seven men down and others slightly affected. I was very puzzled as to what was the cause of it as I knew it was no ordinary gas that was known but anyway I used the ammonia tablets which the medical orderly had freely and this seemed to give them all great relief. As the medical orderly had worked until he dropped, we were left with no one who knew much about the game at all. I tried to get through to brigad, Gannon, the only signal left out of six,trying his hardest on the wires without success. Some of the corps who were between where we slept and our men however managed to get my message through. The next thing to think of was the stand to at three thirty as we had already been warned of an expected attack so as No. 1 gun was out of action, its sights being amongst the debris, we were able to make up the vacancies from them. It was fairly quiet when we went to the guns, though they were still dropping a good many to the rear of us. At five fifty-five we heard some rifle and machine gun fire and, as there was no chance of seeing rockets, owing to thick mist and rain, we opened at intense rate, slowing a bit as the rifle and machine guns eased off. We fired I expect till four forty-five, when all had quietened, and then returned to the dugout. The ground was very greasy and the rain continued to pour down. About nine a.m., Todd arrived and saw everyone and got Hands, who was slightly wounded in the groin, away to a dressing station. We got Gannon onto the brigade line and, after a lot of work on it, got through and arranged for a complete relief of officers and men. At one p.m. Hoyland arrived with Evans. whom he brought from the detached section at the seven ones, and the men arrived shortly afterwards. So Sandford, Bellew and I, with the men, soon made tracks, being hunted up the sunken road from Kellagher's with five nines. We lunched with the seven ones, then picked up our horses at the brigade and rode down to the wagon line, where we found Siggers holding an evening stables. It was a great relief to feel you could walk about in the fresh air without any risk of disturbance or getting a shell on your head. We heard on the following day that the Hun had attacked and taken Fresnoy it without any opposition at all – in fact, think we must have been the only guns to open, as could not hear any others until we had almost finished.

Photographs of Battlefields Mentioned in Diaries

On the weekend, my mother-in-law, Jean Higgie, very kindly showed me a series of publications produced during the First World War for Australians. As they contain lots of pictures of the places mentioned by my grandfather and his brother in their diaries, I thought I would put them in a post. I've also included some of the advertisements in the magazines, as I think they give a good flavour of the time somehow: