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 23 CAMP 13
Reply
Category Archives: WW1
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.
Feb 15 TRENCHES
Fine morning, sharp frost. Fritz again busy with his Artillery & aircraft, we retaliate & in the afternoon 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm an organised bombardment and M. Gun [machine gun] on his front line and supports. Hun retaliation weak. Quiet night. French plane brought down by A.A. fire, pilot & observer killed.
Feb 14 TRENCHES
Fine morning, cold wind. Fritz very active with 5.9 round about H.Q. but no damage. I nearly get a souvenir in the trench. Hun plane brought down S of Bouchavesnes about 3.0 pm. B & D relieve A & C in front line. Relief complete about 11.0 pm. 1 OR slightly wounded. Quiet night. 2 letters from L.