Misty morning. Church Pde 10.0 am. Mist clears about midday. Fine afternoon & aeroplanes have a fine time. New Triplane out on view for first time, fine machine, good tricks. Col FORSTER goes to Brigade.
Category Archives: diary entry
Feb 24 CAMP 13
Sharp frost & nice morning early, but dull & miserable later on. Bttn goes to baths at CHIPPILY, very poor baths & men do not get a clean change. Quiet day but heavy shelling at night.
Feb 23 CAMP 13
Damp miserable morning, no parades only for inspection of kit etc. I have a nice bath après midi & change of clothing Tres Bien. Col FORSTER returns from leave, very glad. Heavy shelling at night, but I have a good sleep.
Feb 22 CAMP 13
Wet miserable morning, camp in an awful state. Bttn spends the day trying to clean up, rotten day. I move into a little hut in the afternoon, very cold at night, not much sleep.
Feb 21 TRENCHES – ASQUITH FLATS
Damp misty morning. We get orders for relief. Tres Bien. Very heavy bombardment all day with heavies. Battery of 9.2 fired 300 rds [rounds]. I try to show O’DELL the How [Howitzer] shells in the air but he couldn’t see them. Relieved by 2nd Middlesex 8th Div. about 5.30 pm. Easy relief & all completed by 6.30 pm except A Coy at ANDOVER who were relieved by 2nd W. Yorks. We travel by bus from Crucifix Corner MAUREPAS to camp 13 on CHIPILLY – MORLANCOURT Rd. Arrive camp about 10.0 pm. Very dirty & tired. Turn in about 12.0 pm.
Feb 20 TRENCHES – ASQUITH FLATS
Wet morning, very miserable, bad day all day. RIF [Royal Irish Fusiliers] move at 5.0 pm. S.M. ELLIS has tea with me. Quiet day. Saw Red Rocket. Pas BONNE.
Feb 19 TRENCHES – ASQUITH FLATS
Dull morning, damp & misty, very quiet day. Lt. Col. LACON returns from leave. No mail. Quiet night.
Feb 18 TRENCHES – ASQUITH FLATS
Drill morning, damp, very quiet. Church Pde at 2.0 and 2.30 pm. Misty all day, nothing doing. Lt. Col. LACON returns from leave. Working parties as usual.
Feb 17 TRENCHES – ASQUITH FLATS
Very raw misty morning, mist thickens later. Heavy bombardment about 1.0 pm. Bttn. finds 300 OR for working party at night. All return safe. Rain at night.
Feb 16 TRENCHES
Fine morning. White hoar frost, not so cold. Arty [artillery] active on both sides. Fritz shells on front line with heavies. Sgt CLEMENTS 4 OR killed, 2 OR wounded. Bttn relieved by HB [Household Battalion] in front line & support. We move back into reserve at Asquith Flats. Relief complete about 1.0 am. Enemy artillery active. Turn in about 3.30 am. Good dugout. AMMNTN [Ammunition] Dump at PLATEAU blown up by bomb.