War Diary Entries
July to September 1918

 

July 10th

Have been in action here, St. Venant(?), about 3 weeks. Have ? for a paid job Telephone duty at Brigade Wagon Lines. Jerry is very active in the air at night time.

Insert - Canon J Nunn

On July 17 1918 one of my Father’s uncles died. He was Rev Canon Jospeh Nunn who lived at Upton House, Ardwick, Manchester and until he retired about 8 years ago was the Rector of St Thomas’s Church, Ardwick. I never met him but I did meet his only son, the Rev Harry Preston Vaughan Nunn to whom I have already referred and shall be mentioning many times in this diary.

Enclosed the reader and find press cutting on the death of Rev Canon Jospeh Nunn and also on the occasion of a presentation made to him during his life time.

Typits note: these press cuttings are with the original and not included here.

End of Insert

We were not destined to stay long here for orders came through to shift when we had barely been here 3 weeks. Expected being sent back to Battery but hung on to Brigade in hopes of staying with them. Moved to Ypres again. Shall we ever see the last of this place. Front in reserve near Poperinghe.

Weeks Leave Back to England

Sometime in August 1918 (about the 16th) I got my weeks leave to go home to England.
On Friday August 23rd 1918 I said goodbye to my parents and set off for France again, and I again started to make entries in my War Diary.

Friday August 24th

It was no great wrench to leave ‘no. 91” (home) somehow. John Cartner saw me off. I knew I was going back to a land of horrors yet it did not seem to trouble me much.

10.30 train, changed at Crewe. Met Ernest Dyer (now in 6th Division) had been home to bury his father. Travelled with him. Slept most of the way arriving at 4.30am. Got across London in Hartley Jam Motor Wagon. Had something to eat at buffet. Pass stamped. Train left at 8am arriving Dover about 11am. Marched to No 1 Rest Camp near Castle(?) uphill. Had dinner (sent 4 P.P.C off) slept till 2.30, marched to boat 4pm. Sailed at 5.30pm. Calm. Arrived Calais 8pm. Marched to No.6 Camp East. Had tea. Moon out. Jerry was in full strength. Terrible night for a welcome back.

Harry Letter 9th Sept

Hill Top, Bank Crest, Baildon, Shipley
9th Sept 18

Dear John.
I intended writing to you long before now but as usual I have allowed the days to ship by, without paying proper attention to that important expression, Do It Now! Much of one’s success in life is due to one’s possession or acquirement of the habit of doing things when first the thought occurs to do them. When left undone, ground is lost, and the next time the same thought flashes across one’s mind, one feels that it does not again present itself as merely a reminder, but as a sinister warning that, if we are to but hustle and cast away such lazy inclinations, misfortune of some kind more or less extensive, will claim one as her victim. But as you may say “suppose you are busy with something else when the thought occurs? Well, strictly speaking, thoughts outside the job in hand should not occur, otherwise the job in hand suffers, or takes longer to do. One of the disadvantages of having an active brain is , to my mind, that its possessor does not get or entract from himself mentally his full capacity. For he allows it to work voluntarily so to speak and as much without set purpose, consuming energy all the time. The power of being able to work with one’s brain after the same fashion as one looks after one’s body, must be a priceless gift of nature, for to acquire it by training appears to be striving after the almost impossible. And yet in the light of cold reason the impossibility of it vanishes. Why should not anyone be able, just as they can sit still to bid their brain sit still, or if their body is physically employed, to bid their brain confine its efforts to the assistance of the body’s job, and not go meandering around all over the shop, picking up odds & ends from goodness knows where. For instance I can thoroughly picture your grooming of gee gee out there, and walking up Camp Street at the same time. Of course my imagination does not show me John Nunn by himself. He hath company of the sort young men of his age like. I can thoroughly appreciate the pleasant satisfaction and hopeful future that these reflections produce, and I would not step in and dispel this vision. No! not for a gold watch as big as a frying pan. But, think over the suggestion. It is quite new to me. That is, I have never given it serious thought before. I suppose you will be somewhere in the region which you had to leave so hastily some little while back. Give my love to Jerry. Don’t worry about prompt replies, so far as I am concerned and take my remarks as strictly impersonal.

Your loving brother, Harry.

Crossing the English Channel it was very comforting to see a destroyer circling the ship the whole way across. The first night back in France at Calais was a night I will always remember. Jerry planes were droning over Calais the whole night. It was a very sinister reminder of what I was going back to.

Sunday August 25th to Monday 26th

5am Reveille. Breakfast. Marched to Fontinelles Station No.2 train. Told to get off at Watten for 66th Division. Arrived Watten. Went to RTO (Railway Transport Office). Should have stayed on, had to wait for 11.30 train. Sat on grass platform, bought tin of peas and had dinner. Slept till 3pm. When 11.30 train arrived boarded it. Arrived Proven (Mendingham) 9pm. Pouring with rain. Saw RTO and stopped the night. Up at 7am. Breakfast. Jumped on ? and arrived at Wagon Line at midday. My leave is over. Battery in action very near Kemmel (Shellenberg).

Tuesday August 27th

Wagon Line routine – drudgery again.

Wednesday August 28th

Warned to go up line with Forward Section near Asylum. Arrived about 12 midnight.

Thursday 29th August to Friday 6th September

In action during which time on Sept 1st KO – 13 OKs (Shells) on happy home. I thought my time had come.

Friday September 6th

Drew out at night. Went to Bunesboom Wagon Lines arriving about 10pm. Had written to letters to Mabel and Mother but not posted them.

Saturday September 7th

Reveille 5am. Packed wagon. Moved off at 12 noon. Rained heavy all day. Put up at night at Caestre.

Sunday September 8th

Moved early morning again. Still raining. Thro Caestre Strazele (just recaptured from Jerry). Vieux Berquin. Arrived 2km outside Stunweroke(?). Afternoon went with Major Unsworth ? for reconnaissance work. Returned 8pm wet through.

Monday September 9th

Went up line to make position. At night guns pulled in between A____S and St ___erok. On duty at night. Read book, The Golden Precipice(?)

Tuesday September 10th

T. Duty all day

Wed September 11th

T Duty all day, afternoon and night 13 Battery KO

Thursday September 12th

T Duty. Jerry stunt expected this morning, cheerful to look forward to. Read book, The Count’s Chauffeur (by William Le Queux). Wrote to Mabel and Mr & Mrs Finlow.

Friday 13 September

T Duty daytime. Afternoon in Battery Line. Night KO rain like mud, returned. Rum ration. 6 letters, 2 from Mabs enclosing photographs, great surprise and were indeed jolly good ones. I could just hug her for them.

Saturday September 14th

Wish ? Mabe. Pat Pounder and Lieut Pitchie(?) on left O.P line down. Pat and I went night to A Battery, returned 3pm. At night wrote to Mabes. Got very weary, had a sleep

Sunday 15th September

Up at 6.30. Relieved after 10am. On way down welcomed by Shrapnel. Breakfast. British plane down by Jerry. Afternoon area shelling. Very hot day. 4 letters this morning including one from Mabs (regarding photograph). Tonight Ball line down. Duty. Newspaper and photos from home. 11pm gas shelling in area. Wrote to Mabs

Monday September 16th

Warm day. Not much activity. Balloon down I flames 6pm. Jerry plane down 7am. Duty in pit 1am to 4am. Wrote to Mabel.

Tuesday September 17th

Duty. Wrote to Mabel. Night off tonight. Letter from Mabs. Sent to section with message. Too hot. Returned quickly only to be K.O. Gave myself up to God for protection. Early morning stint.

Wednesday September 18th

Wrote to Mabs. Am very depressed and very weary of this war. It must be cowardice, but times are very trying and the last 10 days have been torment. I am living right and yet I am being tormented to death. I must still be paying the penalty for other wrongs.

This entry clearly demonstrates my hopeless state of mind.

Thursday September 19th

48 hours liaison. Fairly quiet last 24hours. Wrote to Mabs.

Friday September 20th

Liaison. Sniped at when going for grub at dinner hour. K.O (pipsqueaks). Many OK hits. No matter where I go at present I can not get away from the scream of shells. One killed and one wounded and dog hit. Moved at night.

Saturday September 21st

Liaison line down. Went down before relief came and repaired same. Night off. Wrote to Mabs.

Sunday September 22nd

Jerry active day and night. 11pm half choked by fumes from close shell. Letter from E. Milne, R.C Bell and papers from Jack. Pit duty 1 to 4. Wrote letters to Mabs. Edith ? (Mother ? in registered envelope containing 3 pounds 11 and 4. Pit Duty.

Monday 23rd September

Wrote to R. Cartner(?) (photo). Wrote to Mabs a few lines. Letters from Mabs enclosing Almanac. I could hug her for it. She’s a dear for giving me that. Wrote again to Mabs and Carrice (Carrice Murphy, sister Beth’s friend). Pit duty. Gas stint. Cross roads strayed(?).

Tuesday September 24th

Wrote to R Cartner and a line or two to Mabs. Shell storm at night. Letter from J. Roberts.

Wednesday September 25th

R. OP. Battery Ellery, Pat, Ritchie. Wrote to Father, J Barr, J Roberts. Raining. Went to KO with message at night with Bdr Ellery. Letter from Mabs, Mother, J Carlisle. News, Edith gave birth to a daughter on 22nd.

Thursday September 26th

5am knocked hole in wall opposite. Relieved at 9am. Wrote F.C. (Field Corporal). To Mabes. Stint in stables. Pit duty 1 to 4. Rats on roof of bivouac.

Friday September 27th

3am stint in stables. Wrote to Mabs. Yesterday a letter from Chas (my brother in the RFC) enclosing 4 green envelopes.

Saturday September 28th

Moved to Armentiers(?) road position. Very nearly gassed on roads. Walked with mask on.

Sunday September 29th

44 hours O.P with MacFarlane and C Eyre. 6pm came to Battery with message (C Eyre) got soaked. Very cold at night.

Monday September 30th

O.P. Webb, relieved MacFarlane. Mabe and Eyre went with manager. Wrote to Mabs.

 

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