Diary Entry - 29th September to 10th October, 1917

The boat was to sail at eight a.m. But it did not actually sail until two p.m. And, while we whiled away the time on board, a Hun plane came over pretty high, but whether with evil intentions we did not know. As he drifted over us, the archies let him have it and I was more frightened of them than the bombs that might be dropped. He went straight on his course due west and we never saw him again. We eventually lobbed at Victoria at five thirty p.m. or thereabouts and, on going to the Carlyle Club, found Sanger there. We dined together after I had bathed and it seemed extraordinarily quiet in the streets as there was a raid on and all th people were packing into tubes or underground grill rooms. We tried to get into the Regent's Palace Grill, but people were lining the stairs there and it was packed, so we went to the Monaco - or the Anarchists' Retreat as I call it. I experienced three bombing raids my first three nights and was surprised how badly the people took it. The tube stations were disgracefully crammed with people and the majority of the people were men – Russians, Greeks, Italians, et cetera. I really think if the Hun had kept it up there would have been riots in London. They even went so far as to mob an RFC man on one of the tube stations. About the middle of the week I got the lend of Foster's car and drove Mim down to Farnham Common in it, where we stayed at Highlands with the John Manifold family. The car was a 10 hp Swift and gave a certain amount of trouble before I eventually handed it over to Foster at Huntingdon when he had returned from his Cook's tour in France. Anyway it was a novelty to have a car to drive about, especially in such times as these. At Huntingdon, on Tuesday, Foster took me to his Wing HQ and showed me over a squadron and, although I only got a glimpse of it, it was all very interesting. I tried to get back on the 10th, but there was no train from Victoria. It was rather annoying of them not to have let us know at the Grosvenor Hotel, as we got up at six a.m. I saw some good theatres while in town, amongst them, 'Maid of Mountains', 'The Boy', 'Arlette', 'Bubbly', 'Cheap'. On Thursday the train went all right and landed me back in the usual way, without any delay. While on leave, I saw Spud Ritchie and Uncle Bell and Beecher of our lot and Chettie, Johnnie Webster, Bob Giles, Clive Currie and his wife.  

Diary Entry - 28th September, 1917

Armytage relieves me early. The night had been a particularly quiet one and the weather still holds good. Am rather surprised to find some gunners making emplacements on the bank near the entrance to Maison Rouge Trench and prophesy a warm reception for them there if they do much firing. Claudet calls in on his way to the trenches and takes Hoyland with him. Then they go off to shoot at Vermelles in the afternoon. As I am to proceed on leave tomorrow, go to wagon line at five p.m. Hoyland and I have a very jolly ride to the horse lines across country all the way to Beuvey - and at a very smart canter too. Vosper and Nicholson join us at the wagon line and then we all, including Siggers, go into Bethune for dinner, having it at the Lion d'Or just off the Grand Place. Vosper did us very well with very good bubbly and I think we were all pretty merry on our walk home and made a deal of noise, it being a beautiful moonlight night. Hoyland, Vosper and Nicholson then rode on to their respective batteries, Siggers and I remaining at the Chateau.

Diary Entry - 27th September 1917

Go to the OP and relieve Dixon, the immaculate, at ten a.m. The same old routine, quite a quiet day, and Bellew gives me a short spell for dinner in the evening.

Diary Entry - 26th September, 1917

Go to Le Quesnoy chateau at ten a.m. as junior member and, although I have never been on one before, manage to pull through without any difficulty and all the junior member has to do it seems is to keep quiet until he is spoken to by the President. Go to WL afterwards and take Meade in for a referesher. Siggers had booked seats at the Dous[Dons?] for six fifteen p.m. and it turned out a fair show, the entertainment being on the Pierrot principle. The Padre met us there and came out to dinner. Then I rode a bike to the guns at ten p.m.

Diary Entry - 25th September, 1917

Spent the day at the guns. The Major went on leave by car, which goes down to meet Pelham. Vosper and Nicholson come over to lunch on their way to the left section which, incidentally, has moved up about 800 to just below the Mill dugouts near Railway Alley. At three p.m. we fire in a TM strafe for twenty minutes and begin with some smoke in front of the Bosche OPs. Hun never takes any notice of it and all is soon quiet again.

Diary Entry - 24th September, 1917

Am roused at dawn by the noise of bombing and hostile shelling coming from the direction of the brickstacks and canal. The brigade fires on Canal Rt as SOS goes up but everything quietens again after about fifteen minutes. I am relieved at ten twenty a.m. by Capt. Hewitson, but the fifteenth are always late with a relief.

Diary Entry - 23rd September, 1917

Go to the OP at ten a.m. and relieve Armytage. It is very quiet and Bellew gives me an acceptable rest at four fifteen, coming up for three and a half hours.

Diary Entry - 22nd September, 1917

Go to wagon lines. Hoyland away for a FGCM at one p.m. During stables, Barwick's best black mare takes colic after coming in from a fatigue and although we do all possible for it - and in fact when we think it will recover - it is seized with a spasm of pain and dies about five p.m. It is afterwards found to be caused by a number of stomach ruptures. At three thirty p.m. old Saunders and General Freddie Mercer wander into the lines but luckily they don't stay long or ask many questions and GAH got back just before the leave with a colonel whom he brought back for lunch. In the afternoon GAH and I watched the footer match between our chaps and a 46th Div battery across the road. We won 2 - 1. Major Claudet called in after tea and we rode back at six forty five p.m. but I go to dinner with the antis as John has just returned from leave. Sam and he are very fit and are all much amused with Tirpity (Sam's dog) and a kitten with whom he plays as if it were a pup. When I get home at eleven p.m. find everyone is in bed.

Diary Entry - 21st September, 1917

Go over to the four eights after breakfast to arrange about moving. Lunch with 15th and move back to the old firm after lunch where there are greetings from the officers and even Sgt. Higgins. Bellew does the 24 hours but Siggers gives him a few hours' relief during the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 20th September, 1917

At the OP from six a.m. until dawn. The Hun was very active with his Minnies on and about the Hohenzollern, looking for the gas we discharged from cylinders last night, I expect. I marked down one Minnie and left two guns on it all day. Whenever he fired, we went to gunfire with HE. He kept fairly quiet all day but other Minnies took on the work. We fired sixty rounds on him. Nothing of interest happened, except that we retired at eleven a.m. to the cellar for about twenty rounds of what I call the Russian Howitzer, fired at Braddle Keep and houses in vicinity. Hewitson and Sherman called in in the afternoon for a short time.

Diary Entry - 19th September, 1917

After breakfast rode to Cuinchy detached section and paid out. Call at Vosper battery on the way back and look at their large pit, which is finished and looks well. General Alexander was supposed to come round in the afternoon, but he never arrived.

Diary Entry - 18th September, 1917

Ride to horse lines with Sherman, then on to Les Lobes, north of Locon, for pay. It was about a five-mile slog, over hard roads, and I never got back until twelve thirty. Pay out after lunch and come up to guns at three thirty. Do Liaison with the 7th Sherwoods and do no get much sleep, as the Hun kept dropping rounds over every twenty minutes and, as there was only corrugated iron and a sand bag over my head, I did not feel too comfortable. Only one 77 mm landed near enough to throw earth on the roof and that was the last shell fired before daylight. The battery had the Colonel and second-in-command of the 5th Battalion in to dinner, as well as the Major and his orderly officer and Hoyland.

Diary Entry - 17th September, 1917

My day off. Wander up to Humanity Trench with Sherman to fire the guns on the support line. We completed some successful switches and fired a few rounds on Little Willie then came back for lunch and found Hewitson had come up.

Diary Entry - 16th September, 1917

Came down at seven a.m. from the infantry, having spent a quiet night. They had an American doctor there - quite a good chap - and, if the rest are like him, shan't mind them. Settle down for a quiet morning at the guns when the infantry major rolls up for instruction, so I gas to him on gunnery from nine thirty until one p.m. when I was pleased to see Sherman back from his trip round the trenches with Claudet, who is now acting Group Commander, Courage being on leave. As the Hun put a 10 cm shell in close proximity to our Mess in Annequin we decided to move to the place we had been preparing at the guns. Incidentally, the cook - one Gunner Dempsey - having been presented with 50 francs to buy Mess goods, thought it a good time to go on the bust, so left all the moving to be done by one man and cleared off for the day. Sherman is told by Armytage of Hewitson's return off the infantry course and he careers down to see him at five p.m., coming home in a more than pleased condition at twelve on his bicycle and hits a pile of cobble stones on his way, somewhat laming himself. The results of dining with Hoyland and Hewitson at the four eight's wagon line.

Diary Entry - 15th September, 1917

Set out for the wagon line at seven forty five as have to take a parade of three men down to Gore for a fatigue of unloading slag from a barge. Go back on Ginger across country and call in at the four eights where I find Hoyland and Colonel Beech not even down to breakfast. The Colonel and Cruickshanks who lobbed from the guns at ten thirty a.m. go on leave after lunch in a car and seem both highly elated all morning especially the latter. Hoyland and I ride back but I turn off the road to go and see Sam who is just behind Annequin north, he gives me tea and while there Nicholson and Vosper pass by on their way from Bethune. Sam tells me Gyp Currie is engaged to a Capt. Street and Sid and Jess were to be married on Friday - that is, yesterday. He has a shoot at some Albatross D3s while I am there and goes remarkably close to them. The Hun I find on arriving at the battery is crumping the 6' on the railway with five nines and eight inch - incidentally my track leads right up the railway. So the signaller and self cut across to the four eights, pick up Hoyland who came up specially to do Liaison and make a detour round behind the old factory onto the railway line.

Diary Entry - 14th September, 1917

My day at the four hundred. Do not start until six a.m. as it is doing no good getting there an hour before sunrise and, as the Major expressed his opinion that way, I fell in with his view and took the hint. The light was fairly good after ten thirty a.m. and there was a certain amount of activity during the afternoon on both sides. D36 were most amusing about four p.m: they got annoyed with a poor Minnie who fired two rounds on our front and went to gunfire on it, blazing off about sixty rounds and making the sand bags and parapets leap into space. Kemp, my servan,t brought me tea at five thirty, also a packet of Australian mail and a letter from Mum, telling me of Foster's promotion to Colonel, which is jolly good work. Sherman was up during the afternoon and informed me it was settled that I go back to the 48th Bty and the 15th have Dickson.

(I forgot to add that Major General Perrire (GOC Division) went round our wagonlines in the morning and expressed his pleasure at the satisfactory condition of all he had seen.)

Diary Entry - 13th September, 1917

Orderly officer at the guns all day after spending a quiet night doing liaison. Absolutely nothing doing.

Diary Entry - 12th September, 1917

Go down to the wagon line and arrive just in time to see the elephant being painted on the stable roof in white. I called in at the Field cashier's on the way down and ran across Bellew there. After stables, lunch with the four eights and hear all the latest records GAH has brought out from home with him. We all went into Bethune after lunch, to the club, where we ran across Captain Roberts of heavy Trench Mortar fame, with several of his subaltwerns. On the way riding home I meet him again and, as he turned off the Bethune Road, he disappeared in a cloud of dust, cantering hard down the metals but, as he is a Royal Fusilier, evidently knows no better. As my groom and I approached the battery, we noticed some shells falling about, so I walked from the shrine just near the corner of the La Bassee Road and arrived untouched, though passed two very recent shell holes in the field as you cross in front of Annequin church to the position, the old 6' hows had been going at gunfire and think they were after them. Go up to the infantry that night.

Diary Entry - 11th September, 1917

The GOC Division 46th came round the position at ten a.m. but all he seemed to do was measure out the SOS lines in the pits on the map and looked as if he distrusted us. The Colonel came round at eleven a.m. and I went up to the detached section to greet the general there, riding back on a bicycle as soon as he had gone. On the way back, I looked up Vosper and saw his new pit which was a huge erection of slag, well-supported by rails but six solid feet of slag takes some propping up. However, his props were very strong. The TM strafe at twelve thirty p.m. seemed pretty tame and the raid at eleven thirty p.m. was also a severe wash out I believe, though don't know any details as the battalion on our left were doing the job. Sherman and I put some heavy work in on the gun pit in the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 10th September, 1917

At ten a.m. Sherman met Goschen at the WL, as it was his day of inspection. Everything went well and there were no grouses, except that A and B subs horses were not very clean. In the afternoon Sherman registered for the TM straafe on Twenty Two Alley and also for raid. Before dinner, the Mayor/Major [?] of Admiral brought us over a photograph of the position, which showed up badly with tracks and blast marks but think it must have been taken very low. The 8' howitzer subaltern Parker stayed for dinner. We held rather an interesting discussion that night on traces of animals found in different countries but which are now extinct - the Dodo, pterodactyl, et cetera.

Diary Entry 9th September, 1917

Sherman and I go to the wagon line with a call at brigade on the way. We just caught the Colonel as he was crossing the canal on a bicycle. Sherman rode Wright's horse and looked for all the world like a monkey on a stick as he would stick his spurs into Ginger and of course Ginger, being human, wanted to get along and old Sherman could not manage him a bit. We bathed at the usual spot and came back after tea as I had to do liaison. However, I rode Ginger back and had no bother with him at all. The 7th Battalion Sherwood Forresters were in and a real decent crowd, very merry and bright. The Colonel, (Johnson) had just returned off leave.

Diary Entry - 8th September, 1917

Set out at four forty-five a.m. for the four hundred. It was very misty all day, except for two hours in the afternoon when Wingles could be seen with difficulty through the haze. It was very quiet - one could here a pin drop.

Diary Entry - 7th September, 1917

Returned early in the morning, having liaised with the Fighting Sherwoods, as they call themselves (really 5th Battery). It was quiet enough on the front but the Hun put some 3,000 gas shell into the back areas around Vermelle. Gnr Gannon of Vosper's section was wounded and gassed and another man who picked up the base of a shell during the day was badly blistered wherever his hand had touched his skin and as he had answered nature's call he got wounded in an awkward place. This was a sample of the new mustard gas so much spoken of. A gas NCO came up and collected - with rubber gloves on - pieces for examination, putting them in a haversack on his back - the chemical ate right through haversack and clothes onto his skin, so there is no doubt it is to be treated with respect

Diary Entry - 6th September, 1917

Go to wagon lines during stables. Pelham came round with a Captain, man in charge of Divisional cooking. He messed about the kitchen asking silly sorts of questions about the diet sheet made out for the men. I lunched with Hoyland, then remained at the WL for the afternoon as it was rumoured that GOC Division might pay the lines a visit. However, he did not turn up.

Diary Entry - 5th September, 1917

Go over to Vermelles water tower with Sherman to register a communication trench south of Hohenzollern On the way home, we met John with his antis on the side of the road. They had just finished tea and had emptied the tea pot, which was bad luck for Sherman and I.

Diary Entry - 4th September, 1917

The seventh Battalion Sherwood Foresters were in the line and had a most objectionable and incompetent C O and HQ staff. They called themselves the fighting seventh the first night they were in but after the Hun raid on the first night they have been terribly windy. It was a quiet night but I was awakened by the Colonel at one a.m. He said in a frightened voice get up you are wanted on the telephone so I rushed along and was rather astonished to hear our guns were firing for S OS when not a sound could be heard from the Huns. The infantry said one of their sentries thought he saw the Huns forming up for another raid so he sent up the SOS. I remained at the guns all day - much air activity and three Huns were brought down in pieces towards the Bassée direction. Monty, the major's little petit chien, rather amused me before dinner. He had dug up a bumble bees' nest and was amusing himself by playing with them as they flew around his head, just like a cat toying with a mouse.

Diary Entry - 1st, 2nd and 3rd September, 1917

Saturday: remained at guns all day while Armytage goes down to W L. Sherman and McKinty wander up to the Fosse for a joyride but fail to see anything as it is rather misty. Sunday: at five a.m. I am awakened by heavy enemy fire coming from South, soon afterwards I hear S O S shouted down the battery and we commenced jumping it in as the S O S light had been sent up.  A hostile raiding party of 150 men, including five officers, got into our trenches and wandered about, apparently losing themselves between the posts and getting round up. Anyway, they went back without taking a man and we had nine casualties from hostile fire. The 46th division infantry had the wind up properly and H Q was receiving marked attention from the Hun guns and Armytage, who was up there, said they would not stir from their burrows. I reached the 400 (name of our OP) soon after six a.m. The sun was right in our eyes and I did not pay much attention to the front until eleven a.m., when I had a good squint over the country and found some Huns strolling about in the open to the rear of Lone Farm. From then until one p.m. I must have seen 20 Huns and kept sniping at them with one round of H E, the only one I got really close to was with the second round, which burst all over him and he turned and ran for his life. It was most amusing to watch. There was very little shooting on either side through the day, due to the gale blowing, I expect. Monday: Sherman and self ride to the W L on bikes but the former is recalled to see the general at the position almost before we had been there 10 minutes. I waited for stables and picked out with the Sergeant major 20 horses to be put on a thin line to see if we could not fatten them. After lunch called the 48th W L and found that Hoyland and Nicholson had just got back off leave. Bellew was also at the WL. Sharman came down again at two thirty p.m. and we rode into the Bank of France to see if they would cash a cheque for 225 francs but the largest sum they cash is five pounds so had to retire. On the way back I had a hot shower at the Ecole des Filles. About five thirty, when I arrived, Admiral, a 6 inch how battery, was pumping gunfire onto some target and the Hun must have sound ranged him as he put a lot of 10 centimetre gun over at them, soon closing them up. One cut a tree in half as I crossed the open field to the guns from the Mess. Battalion that night as liaison officer.

Note: the most amusing feature of the proceeding was that Armytage heard the adjutant tell the Colonel that one post had lost a Lewis gun and he said Ahem! That would be rather hard to explain. This rather tickles us as they call themselves the fighting Sherwoods

Diary Entry - 31st August, 1917

Have a meeting with the owner of a brick stack in our lines, a claims officer, and Cadonnier. After a heated opening by the Frenchman, who pointed out a number of holes in the stack made since 12th August, he maintained, we asked him if he knew where we had put them. So he got his man with a pick and commenced digging up the standings but we showed him where these bricks came from and they were only a small number out of 16,0000 he claimed as having lost. He then cooled down and threw in the sponge, saying he did not want any money but wanted to be treated fairly and not have his bricks stolen. After an hour and a half, he still insisted that we had stolen his bricks and called the Sergeant Major a liar, so I suggsted to the claims officers that we waited till Hewitson came back off his course as he had been warned to take precautions. Rode up to the guns in the afternoon. It was still inclined to be showery. At six forty-five p.m. I went down to battalion as liaison to the 46th Division infantry who at present cover our front. They were quite a decent crowd and did not make life unpleasant as some batallions do. The Hun put a fair quantity of 4.2 on Old Boots and vicinity of HQ during the night.

Diary Entry - 30th August, 1917

Still showery. Go to guns in the afternoon. Come back by Sailly La Bourse so as to call in at RE dump to see about material required at the guns. No difficulty about drawing the material and am told the Hun put several 5.9 gun shells very close to the dump during the afternoon. While away from the lines the Colonel and General wandered round the lines and seemed to be well satisfied as left no grouses. At seven thirty I push off to brigade on a bicycle for dinner and get a puncture just a few yards from the door, a hobnail in the front tyre. Vaisey gets someone to mend it and I spend rather an amusing evening, listening to an argument on the church and bible which the Padre defends well, though some difficult points are brought forward.

Diary Entry - 29th August, 1917

Go to Le Touquet in the morning to get a chit from the REs for material to go on with the wagon lines. My one-eyed horse plays up on the way and steps gently into the gutter on the side of the road, which is usually very boggy. However, we were lucky in coming out all right. He made me bust my cane on him though. The RESM would not give me anything, on calling at the dump, as he had no timber and said iron could only be obtained with a chit signed by CRE. On returning to Mess, find Sherman there and we go into Bethune EFC to get a list of material for the canteen priced. When we get back to the Mess, Vosper is there drying himself, having been caught in a shower. He entices me into the club but at four my conscience pricks me as the Major probably will call in in the afternoon. But, on my way out, I meet John and Young on their way to Gone in a Ford box, so I jump up with them and go out to tea. Am landed back at the Mess, to find the Major and Vosper having tea. However, I smooth things over all right. Find two horses bad with colic, one in great agony and, though the vet tries to relieve it with medicine, it still suffers severe pain so at ten p.m he shoots it. The horse, as is usually the case, is a good black, the best of that team, belonging to F Sub. The other we pull round all right.

Diary Entry - 28th August, 1917

Armytage comes down to the wagon lines at twelve p.m. and takes a tub in the afternoon in town. It still blows a gale. In the afternoon I ride into Bethune with Siggers for exercise and dine at the four eights' Mess in the evening.

Diary Entry - 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th August, 1917

There is one day I can't place. Saturday: Come away from guns at ten thirty a.m. on Ginger and arrive in time for stables. Claudet comes down at one p.m and we lunch at the Officers' Club and afterwards we purchase from Vienne of the glass shop - a huge lady with alluring brown orbs, a perfect saleswoman's smile at the right time - some odd things for the Mess. We vist the EFC for tobacco and, after standing at one counter for twenty minutes to be served, are informed that it is the wrong counter - the speaker escaped with his life barely - and we obtained our purchases at a counter on the other side of the shop. Sunday: Church parade at eleven in Bouverie at the Cinema Hall, the Padre had secured the divisional band and the service went with a good swing, about 120 men being there. Charles Armytage, Siggers and I stayed for Communion and about eight other men of the ranks. McKinty came down to stables and an RE officer rolled up to see what material we required to put on the standings and stables in general. We bled him for a lot of stuff but still require a great deal more. Monday. It rained during the night and continued showery throughout the day. Wright comes down from the guns and, after lunch, we go into the baths on bicycles, I having first ridden down to the RE dump about a box drain. It blew a hurricane all day from the south and quite a number of trees were knocked down on the road to the town. We had a good bath. Wright stayed to dinner

Diary Entry - 23rd August, 1917

The major of the four eights relieved me as Hoyland and Nicholson have gone on leave and the Major has to do his turn of work. As I left met the General of 6th RA and Claudet, the former was up to look at the front. I find Sherman has come up to the guns to stay and that I am to go down to the WL. Wright returns from leave in the evening. There has been good news of the Italian and French attacks, the former having taken 20,000 prisoners, the latter 10,000, at Verdun. At seven thirty p.m. we fired some smoke shells from a trench mortar, supposed to be purole in colour, but they looked like HE, so, as the demonstration was to try it as an SOS, it was a failure.

Diary Entry - 22nd August, 1917

I go to the OP at eleven a.m., as Sherman and the Major go up at ten, the latter to point out the front to the former. The front was quiet all day but the Hun shelled Harley Street in the morning and afternoon with five nines, searching back down the Cambrin Road too and along to Cuinchy. At eleven p.m. we project gas from Northampton Trench. The gas frightened me at first, as it seemed to be drifting towards us instead of the Bosche. In return we only received a few minnies along the line.

Diary Entry - 21st August, 1917

Go to the WL at ten thirty a.m. Look round the horses with Sherman. Am not very impressed with my two men in charge. After lunch an RE officer comes round to take a list of improvements to the standings so as we can indent for material. We spent over an hour going round the lines and Sherman, with some smooth-tongued talk, got quite a lot of stuff out of the man. At three p.m. we went into Bethune, had tea there, also saw Grannie Stafford at the officers' club, then, at five p.m,. having walked back to the WL, I set out on horses for Mazingarp and met John on the road in a Ford box just this side of Noyelle so dismounted and went on in the car with him. Stayed to dinner with him and Sam - the latter was just off on leave on the morrow and they ran me back to the battery at ten p.m. At six p.m. there was a straafe on the Hun line and we fired smoke shell in front of his OPs so that he could not see what was going on. He got quite angry and put over a certain amount of stuff in return.

Diary Entry - 20th August, 1917

At the guns all day. Armytage goes to the WL and McGuinty the OP. A beautiful day and do a lot of work  on the cupola in the afternoon.

Diary Entry - 17th, 18th and 19th August, 1917

Go to OP and relieve Cruikshank. The Hun was very inactive on the front till we straafed Auchie with a hurricane bombardment at two thirty p.m. and then again at six thirty p.m., for five minutes intense gun fire. This was retaliation for the Hun shelling Bethune with his five nine gun. I was hoping some of the sixty pounders or six inch would hit one of the OPs in the town but they all escaped unscathed. The late shoot stirred the Hun to anger and he pipsqueaked [illegible - town ending in nchy] and the Cambrin Road, worrying me at the Babe, so I asked Vosper to turn onto his end of the La Bassee Road and that stopped him. He has a tender spot in the Spotted Dog. On Saturday, when I come down from OP, remain at guns. McGinty [? does he mean McKinley?] comes back from D36 in the afternoon. A heavy shower blew up in the evening. Sunday: Claudet, Hoyland and I go down to the HQs, and then on to Old Boots trench, and fire one of our guns on SOS lines, to see that it is all right. We get back to lunch at two p.m. The Major was madder than usual and turned the four eights' Mess upside down, besides behaving like a lunatic in the trenches. In the afternoon, I rode up to [illegible place name ending in nchy] Station via Harley Street, to pay the section out. This is a good section position and the men seem very comfortable. They have even got electric light, having tapped into a cable on the canal bank. Came back via the Canal and call in at the Vosper Mess and have a chat with them, then on to tea at the Mess, as the Major wanted the bicycle to go to the OP on.

Diary Entry - 14th, 15th and 16th August, 1917

Siggers relieved me and I remained at the guns all day. The Hun shelled Admiral and the other 6' how battery with 4.2s and 5.9s for the greater part of the day and searched over the position as far as the Mess, just dropping four up against the wall but doing no damage. Wednesday: at the guns all day. Armytage went to OP, I spent most of the afternoon working on my dug out, moving a lot of earth. The Canadians attacked north of Leny[?], capturing Hill 70, which commands all approaches to the town. They killed a huge number of Germans and captured about 1,000 prisoners. There was a lot of gunning throughout the day in Leny direction and believe our guns caught a huge quantity of Huns massing in a wood for a counter and simply waited till the wood was full then obliterated them, turning on every gun that could reach the spot. Thursday: the Berkshire infanteer was replaced by a man from the KRRs - the former was killed some four days later, being sniped while trying to locate the man who got him. I went to Vermelles anti section in the afternoon after having enquired at the Annequin section as to where John was. Sam was at the guns and saw him shoot on a Hun at 14,000 feet but the Hun rose to 22,000 and was out of range. On returning for tea, I did some work on the dug out, putting a lot more stuff on it. Sherman came in for tea. The major dined at Brigade.

Diary Entry - 12th and 13th August, 1917

Sunday: stayed at the guns. Hewitson had gone off on a five-month course on the previous evening to Boulogne. At midday, we heard on the telephone that Claudet had arrived at Brigade and was not sorry to hear his voice in the Mess at tea as did not like taking command of a battery which I knew very little about. The Royal Berks man left without saying goodbye to a soul and another man of the KRRs arrived in the afternoon. The Padre had a service at the 48th at two p.m. McKinley came off liaison and went to D36, attached for work. Monday: relieve Cruikshank at ten a.m. Claudet, Thorburn and attached Colonel arrive about eleven fifteen a.m., the latter shoot on Les Briques, making a great noise in the OP. After lunch, I register the battery on Railway Cottage. Communication is bad to everyone all day and D36 Tucker tried to shoot 70 rounds on a minnie but it took him over an hour to fire two rounds, on the brigade buried cable. The Hun put 12 dudd[?] 4.2 hows very close to the Babe at four p.m. but think he was firing on the trench junction in front.

Diary Entry - 11th August, 1917

Wright went on leave at one p.m. from Bethune. Hewitson and self went up the trenches, on the way looking at some old gun positions, in order that, if it is necessary, we can move into them. We almost got lost after leaving Railway Alley and, as is usual, you meet the man who 'thinks he knows his way and doesn't' and probably get desperate. Having found Battalion HQ they told us there was nothing doing and that the line was quiet so we came home to lunch at one thirty p.m.

Diary Entry - 10th August, 1917

Hun starts on us at six forty-five, dropping the first half dozen on the crest to get his line, then the next two bracketed the position. When the first near one came, we got all men into the tunnel, the officers in pyjamas. I took care to hurry along with my clothes, so as I could dress. The infanteer looked a picture in a tin hat, British warm and brown silk pyjamas waving in the wind. When coming back from the Mess to the tunnel a 5.9 had a direct hit on a tree and it came crashing to the ground in good style. After breakfast, we moved all the men to the left flank near the 6-inch howitzers and about one p.m. they fired on the battery that was causing the trouble, stopping it. On inspecting the damage after lunch, we found No. 2 gun had received a round right on its wooden platform and what was left of the carriage was buried under cupolas and earth. We set to work and soon had it hauled out, removing the piece first and sending to the WL for wheels to remove the carriage or what was left of it. A shell had pitched on Armytage's dug out and one just in rear of mine, but they both held out. We were working hard filling in the holes when the Colonel and an attached Colonel arrived. He must have thought us very industrious. That night we got a carriage from ordinance, put the piece in and had the gun in action by nine p.m.

Diary Entry - 9th August, 1917

Do duty at the guns. All day the Hun shelled what I thought was an open field on the right of our position and most of his rounds fell in a crop. In the evening I discovered he was shooting at some 60 pdrs but don't think he could have done much damage. Hun aeroplanes were very active all morning and the archies were kept busy. One of our machines flew over very low and brought down a Hun balloon in flames, getting back quite safely. An infanteer officer of the Royal Berks was attached to us in the afternoon. He is an absolute dud and am sure is mad.

Diary Entry - 8th August, 1917

Relieved at ten by Cruikshank, having had a pitched battle with the mosquitoes at the Babe OP in the evening. One could barely see out of the loophole for them, so I gassed them by turning on a smoke barrage produced from a smouldering damp sand bag. In the evening I went over to the AA section and saw Young in charge. He informed me that John was still at Verquin. There were two very heavy thunderstorms after six p.m. and Sherman arrived in the midst of very heavy rain at seven p.m., having come up to see a ugnpit and give his opinion on reconstruction - his job in peacetime in Canada.

Diary Entry - 7th August, 1917

At ten a.m. go up to 400 (an OP) and relieve Siggers who has done the previous 24 hours. The light is bad and only clears up towards evening when the sun gets through the low hanging clouds. Hewitson and Vosper look in at the same time during the afternoon, the latter having been for a stroll round the trenches. About six p.m. the Vosper Bty straafed a sentry with shrapnel and must have either hit him or given him a good fright as they got some good low bursts right on top of him. I fired on zero then registered Lone Farm with No. 4 gun, one of the guns with an air recuperator.

Diary Entry - 6th August, 1917

Having arranged to have my things packed and moved, Vosper and I set off after breakfast for Annequin where we just found Claudet and Hewitson walking towards the guns. The former was just going off to Vimereux to a camouflage course for a week and Hewitson was taking over. I spent the day gaining as much knowledge as possible about zones targets et cetera.

Diary Entry - 5th August, 1917

Did early morning at Braddle Castle, but it was very misty and may as well not have been there. It was a bright sunny day and the KRR had a church service under the trees behind the 9th section and hit up with a good old march for the platoons as they marched onto parade, much to Jones's annoyance. It was rather a rash thing to do as am sure the Hun could hear, the range to his country being 2,500 and it was a very still day and one never knows what he can do with his sound ranging apparatus. Anyway, it was all right and very jolly to hear the band playing the hymns. Our service was at eleven a.m. but was not so jolly as we had no orchestra. The Padre read part of the address issued throughout the world in commemoration of 4th August 1914. The maxim preached not to grow tired of the war sounds all right but is not an easy one to put into practice, especially for anyone who has been out over eighteen months and experienced such slaughter as the Somme, Ancre and Arras Vimy Ridge battles.

Diary Entry - 4th August, 1917

As it was my day off I arranged to go into Bethune for lunch, along with Vosper. We went to the rear of Beuvray and reconnoitred a position in case of retirement - not that we think we shall ever have to use it. From there, we rode into the officers' club and passed the four eights, where we saw a contingent of officers strolling round. It was the Colonel's day for inspecting the lines. The lunch at the club was a change to the Bully that we have been issued with lately, and it was well served, no long waits like there usually are in a crowded officers' club. We bathed in the Ecole des Jeunes Filles after lunch, a place being set apart for soliders. Then we started home, calling for our horses, which we had sent back to the 48th WL. Hoyland made us stay to tea and we had a nice ride home in the evening. On arrival at the Mess, I mounted a bike and went to Annequin to see Claudet and arranged to transfer there on the morrow.

Diary Entry - 1st, 2nd and 3rd August, 1917

Wednesday: got very wet going up to Braddle Castle in the morning as it rained heavily and continued throughout the day. Vosper came up in the afternoon and we shot a few rounds for amusement and had to get Jones out from his tea to check his section's shooting. Thursday: the Hun showed his hate on the seven ones all day with five nines but put most of his rounds either short or over in the marsh. It was again raining but not so heavily as before. The Major, having sprung a surprise on me the previous evening about my being posted to the 15th, I went round to Bde to protest to the Colonel and found him in after three visits but could not get much change out of him. He said that Claudet had no officers with any experience, as he had taken Vaisey away to be Adjutant in Jock Murdoch's place, the latter having gone on a course of I Tock. So there is nothing for it but to put up with it. I had lunch with the seven ones,  where Scott Armytage and Thorburn were in. The conversation seemed to veer round to Small Scott at the guns, who was very frightened, and some rude remarks were made about him. In the afternoon, having called at Bde after lunch, brought Padre back to tea and we ran the gauntlet through the splinter area. But caught the Colonel after tea walking back to Brigade with the Padre. Friday: Braddle Castle at nine a.m., relieved Fleming, who had been at Kings Cleare all night. It rained heavily all day and the light was impossible. Saw a minnie firing from the railway south of Les Briques, put D36 onto it but they plastered away at quite the wrong spot and did not seem to trouble much when I asked what they were firing at.

Diary Entry - 30th and 31st July

Still inclined to rain. At eleven a.m. Vosper and I set out via 15th Battery for the Vermelles section. They seemed to be patching up the damage done by the shells there and we came home via the 48th. The four eights, I forgot to add, had received about five hours' attention from five nines during the afternoon and evening and the Hun made the -lace untenable, so they evacuated for the night. It was surprising to see what little damage had been done and most of the hate had come on the right half battery. Cruikshanks who was accused of causing the trouble - having spent 25 HE on Auchie Church and thus being sound ranged - had his dug out knocked in and beyond this little or no damage was done. We came back by the Tour Burre loop, inspecting a 6' howitzer on the way. I went to Kings Cleare that evening to do night observing, it being our turn. On Tuesday, I went to Braddle Castle when relieved at seven a.m. by Tucker of D36 Battery. In afternoon, rode over to the Vermelles section to give them their new SOS. The Hun was doing some spectacular shooting on Fosse 9 as the Froggies had actually let the chimney smoke at midday whereas they are usually very careful not to stoke up till dark. He fired many five nines into the mill, eventually knocking the chimney down from halfway up. I dined with the AA section in our rear in the evening, meeting John and Sam McCaughey there, the former now being in charge of two 3' guns at Verquin.

Diary Entry - 29th July, 1917

Sunday. It rained during the night and was showery all day. I rode to the wagon lines, getting almost there when Wrate and I had to take cover in a Frenchman's back yard as it simply poured down in buckets. Found Hoyland, Bellew and Nicholson in for lunch, not forgetting Colonel Beech. After lunch Bellew and Nicholson went into town, Hoyland and self following, mainly to get a hair cut and do some odd jobs. But it was Sunday and every shop we wanted was closed so, after a drink at the club, we returned.

Diary Entry - 26th, 27th and 28th July, 1917

At eleven thirty met Thorburn and Claudet at Maison Rouge and went round some OPs with them. That B-fool Thorburn - who is acting Colonel in the Colonel's absence - strolled about in full view and, although I told him about it three times, since we could see Auchie Church plainly, he simply said, 'They can't see us.' Eventually he decided we should take over Braddle Castle, opposite the 400 on the barrier, a good place but impossible for the north of our zone. There are a great crowd registering there in the afternoon, and I get my guns on the brickstacks after a lot of bad shooting by No. 6 gun, who would persist in using the 80 fuze bar for 85 fuzes. In the evening, at twelve thirty, there is another raid by the 15th HLI, just north of the La Bassee Road. This proved another failure. All they found in the Hun front line was wire, but they managed to find and kill one Hun. The casualties were three killed and four wounded. On Friday I was at the OP in the early morning. It was a quiet day. On Saturday, I spent the day at Braddle Castle and nothing of note happened.

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.