War Diary Entries
April to June1918

 

Monday April 1st 1918

Glizy. Told off as orderly for D.A (66) went mounted to Boves. Midnight sent to Gentilles (Forward D.A.)

 

Tuesday April 2nd

Midday sent to Brigade HQ Villers Brettoneaux. 3.5 hours to find it.
I did not stomach this mounted orderly duty; so after a few days I got transferred to Battery again (from 3rd to 7th April or thereabouts) at Wagon Lines at Boutillerie

April 7th

Came out of action

It was at this junction that the Australians took over from us and continued to defend Villers Brettoneaux. They were under extreme pressure from the Germans and lost a lot of men. The town now houses the Australian War Memorial for the defence of the town.

I was not sorry to leave this front although there was always the possible chance of being sent back to the Ypres sector. I had experienced for the first and only time what was involved in a retreat and certainly did not wish to partake any further retreats.

Tuesday April 8th

Left Amiens (Boutillerie) arrived Clairy

Thursday April 10th

Left Clairy through Creuse to Bascouil Wood

Friday April 11th

Ordinary Day.

It was on this day that the separate Royal Air Force was created in place of the Royal Flying Corps. The RFC was part of the Army.

Saturday April 12th

Left Bascouil Wood thro Amiens to Beaucourt

Sunday April 13th

Returned to Beaucourt thro Amiens to Pont de metz

Monday April 14th

Reveille 3am. Entrained Saleux about 12am

Tuesday April 15th

Arrived Arncke

Friday 18th April

C Battery picked out of Brigade for action, to stand to after 12 midnight

Saturday April 19th

Travelled all day to wagon line outside Poperinghe.

Sunday April 20th

Right Section went into action.

Monday April 21st

Left and centre section went into action (I went to forward position) on Control Post Duty

Tuesday April 22nd

On Control Post Duty

Wednesday April 23rd

O.P with Renee

Thursday April 24th

Battery duty

Friday April 25th

Came out of action

Saturday 26th April

Went to wagon line outside Watou

27th April

Went to wagon line outside Houlkerque. Period of rest during which re-equipped horses and men. I went to St Omer for horses (3 days trip)

From the time of leaving the Villers Brettoneaux front until well into May 1918 our destination appears to have been at sixes and sevens and we were in and out of action for short periods until April 27th when we had a period of rest during which time we were organised and re-equipped. Even my memory is very hazy about this period. I can remember isolated incidents which may have occurred about this time, but I cannot put a date to them.

 

My last entry from the War Diary indicated that on April 22nd 1918 we were enjoying a quiet period of rest. There is no further diary entries until May 14th

May 14th

During the stay here I have had a short note from Mabel. It has roused all the love in me. I have written her in the hope that she will continue to correspond. The future for me at present is not very encouraging. Tomorrow I am expecting to be along with others in action near Kemmel. If I could only live the time there in hopes of regular letters from her then time would not drag so. As things are I know only too well I am just on the edge of a month or two of constant mind torture. I am by no means the only individual with the latter mentioned feelings.

Section went into action

May 15th

Left rest for action

May 16th

Wagon Lines – sent to position midday

May 17th

Section duty from 6pm

Saturday May 18th

Have had no word from Mabel yet. I wonder will she write.

Thursday May 28th

Relieved.
Went to Winnezeele then onwards.
Eventually reached Hazoes(?) Wood near Houdain. Fortnights rest.

The next entry is 12th June. It is obvious that I was unable to keep up with my diary entries. Apart from the fact that since this great retreat on March 21st for relief, as the Germans heard, Villers Brettoneaux, our Brigade was being pushed around, probably being used to support artillery on various fronts. There was also my own disappointments in my love affair. Both of these reason I think reflected themselves in my sparse diary entries.

Summer 1918

Tuesday 12th June

Went to Lapugnoy near Bethune.

Wednesday June 13th

In action. I stayed at wagon line. I know now only too true that Mabel does not intend to write. Perhaps I am mistaken but yet instinct seems to tell me that there is no more than two of connected with this quarrel.

From now on there is another large gap in my War Diary and following the next entry on July 10th there is another large gap. I can only assume that the lack of interest in keeping the diary going during these periods was mainly due to a lack of interest in living at all. I have only a few memories of anything that happened during these two periods.

 

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