March 1916

1 Wednesday

Our heavies had a short short at 6am.  Few shots heard until 6pm when our Arty started right on time and shelled the enemy lines on a front held by 7 Bdes.  Their SOS signal went up at once.  One group of enemy arty opened up at once, other two took 6 and 8 mins to get into way, then we got it hot.  The noise was deafening.  It lasted until 6.45 then everything quiet again.  Got to bed just after 11pm.

2 Thursday

4pm up again.  Our arty started the real thing at 4.32am and gave them it hot and thick.  The infantry attack got us the trenches we lost on Feb 14^th except a small portion near the BEAM.  Our Bdes had small losses.  8am 200 prisoners, wounded and otherwise passes near us.  The first this morning.  Our ammunitions come in full view of enemy therefore got heavily shelled, 3pm, 3 Red X motors came in for it hot on the same road.  Relieved by the 149 Bde, had a rough journey getting to our rest billets arriving 1.30pm, some got here at 8am.  The enemy shelling all roads during night.

3 Friday

Our heavies were banging away and kept Fritzy alive.  Fine until 3pm when it turned absolutely dark and rained in torrents.  Our Bde casualties in the fighting heavy and roughly 160.  I have just totalled our messages of yesterday’s work.  Sent received and transmitted by wire orderly and lamp totalled 505.  Then the officers were constantly using the phones.  Five operators were constantly busy.

4 Saturday

The troops who actually took the trenches were the 9^th W. Riding Regt.  The worst day we have had out here snowing, wind etc, turning to sleet.  Had jolly good sleep last night 8pm until 7.30am and still sleepy.  5^th Borders left in trenches when we came away.

5 Sunday

7.30am got a momentary glimpse of a German airship away beyond Ypres.  A nice day but it turned out very stormy again.  Very little firing to be heard.  Absolutely nothing doing.

6 Monday

9.15am left here and drove to Bailleul arriving about 11am.  Had a very jolly day with my friend Mr + Mrs. Bailleul-Delvalles.  We left again 5pm arriving Ouderdom 6.45.  The day was fine but cold and we thoroughly enjoyed the outing.  6^th DLI went into trenches and relieved 5^th Borders.

7 Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday and no pancakes.  Again stormy and snowing but not so very cold.  Enemy at 3pm were shelling road near our billets.  Paid a visit to cinema at Reninghelst.  It was not mush good but spent a decent two hours.  The show is in a large barn.

8 Ash Wednesday

Thick cover of snow during the night.  Nothing else all day.  6^th DLI relieved by 8^th DLI tonight

9 Thursday

Snow still laying and freezing hard.  2pm went to Dur. HQ with Maltese cart, from there walked to Poperinghe, went to the Follies had a pleasant night arriving Ouderdom about 9.30pm.  Our heavies had a busy night.

10 Friday

Raw, cold, snowy morning.  6am our Arty had another busy ½hr.  9^th DLI go into trenches at the Bluff tonight. There the trenches are the ones taken from the Hun last week.

11 Saturday

Much warmer this morning.  Nothing much doing about here.  Arty in the vicinity of St.  Eloi seemed busy this afternoon. 5^TH Borders relieved the 8^th DLI in trenches tonight.  German Arty active, the whole day busy.

12 Sunday           

Very fine day.  News that Sergt. Broadbelt’s commission has gone through.  Capt. also told me that he is leaving us within a few days.  He goes to 2^nd Army HQ.  I am very pleased to hear of his promotion but am sorry to lose him.  I have saved under him 8 years come August.

13 Monday

Splendid weather, nothing doing.  Linesmen sent up to take over lines in sector right of Sanctuary Wood.  Heavy firing went on all day.

14 Tuesday

Making preparations to move up tonight.  I went into hospital at 4pm at the 7^th Field Amb.  Left at 9.20pm arriving No.10 C.C.S. Poperinghe at 10.20.  Felt totally knocked up and glad to get into bed.

15 Wednesday

Washed and breakfasted by 7.30am.  Left No.10 C.C.S. at 2.20, had tea on train near Hazelbrouck.  Arrived St. Omer about 3.40.  It was a tedious journey although we had every comfort, plenty to eat, drink, read, cigs.  Arrived Boulogne at 8.20pm.  It was 9.50 before I got a car arriving Australian Hpl. at about 10.45.  My temp. was very high so I was chased into a very hot bath and into bed just on the point of midnight.

16 Thursday

Had no sleep all night, sweating too heavy.  I was compelled to have a complete change, bedclothes, everything soaking wet.

17 Friday to 27 Monday

No entries

28 Tuesday

Left Australian Hospital at 2.30pm by motor car for No.5 Convalescent Camp arriving at 3.30pm.  Our first night the wind blew a proper hurricane and we were compelled to turn out into the rain and spend an hour fixing it up.  This is a splendid camp, clean and healthy, very little to do.

29 Wednesday

Paraded before CO at 9am then the doctor at 9.30 then finished for the day.

30 Thursday and 31 Friday

No entries