War Diary Entries
October to December 1917

 

Wednesday October 3rd 1917

Wrote last letter home before moving. Don’t know where we are going.

Thursday October 4th

6am fell in with DAC (Divisional Ammo Column). 9am sent to our respective batteries, reached Battery 2pm. 2 sick horses to take on the road. Raining 5pm, moved off 6pm, poured all the way, arrived somewhere cant yet sat at 12pm. I shall not be able to send letters at present. Rumours is Ypres. We have left behind a good place. Left La Panne 7pm reached Heffenkourke(?) midnight, rained all the way, absolutely drenched, caught cold, slept in big barn.

Friday October 5th

Stables, 9am exercise walking, caught in rain, wet through again, afternoon harness.

Saturday October 6th

8am moved off, raining again. Travelled till 3pm reaching Wormhoudt wet through again. Cold much worse. Tonight the Major told us we have to be in action at Ypres within 48 hours and drivers have to bring ammunition on packhorses. Work would be very hard for everyone but he insisted that we would put our very last bit of energy into it. Bought 2 eggs and boiled ham at the cookhouse, slept in the barn.

Passchendaele

This was the period of the dreadful warfare that took place at Passchendaele. I remember the Major parading the Battery in a field (it could have been the whole Brigade that was paraded). We were told that there was to be a vital attack on the German position and that each gun had to be supplied with so many rounds ( I think about 1000 rounds per gun) before the action started. He told us that we were not to consider ourselves in anyway, that our own life was not our own and that it was to be a concerted action by everyone. Whilst the guns would be taken to their respective positions along a corduroy track as far as possible and afterwards they would be man handled to their exact position. The ammunition here would be taken by packhorse or mule to each gun. Each horse or mule would carry 10 rounds of 18 pound shells; so each driver would take 20 rounds a time and 4 to 5 journeys made each early morning starting from about 1 or 2am.

The future was not a very bright prospect.

Sunday October 7th

3am Stables. 4am moved off. J. Barr has rheumatism.

I had to drive lead of firing Battery wagon. I am overflowing with a cold, raining again all day, passed through Wormhoudt, Poperinghe reached Toronto and St Lawrence camps 3pm absolutely soaked. Camp all under water. Tin huts where centre section have to sleep is thick with mud. My cold is much worse now. I have a tired feeling all over, all my bones ache, I am in an awful state. Have had no bath for over 3 months now. Full of lice. Powder does not seem to shift them. Every one else in a similar state. I would give all I possess to get out of it all.

Monday October 8th

4am. Guns should have gone into action – cancelled. Parade and inspection 9am. 2am guns and 8 horse teams and 30 packhorses up the line (the 8 horse teams were required because of the excessive mud). 2nd party of packs (I was on this one) at 6pm – it was put back to 9.30pm and eventually at 11.30pm we started 11 kilos to position passing through Vlamertinghe and Ypres.

Ypres is in a most horrible state. One mass of bricks. The artillery area on the other side of Ypres is land we have recently captured off the Germans, absolutely crammed full of shell holes and mine craters. Fritz doesn’t bump the trenches more than the artillery here. But, for all that, there are dead men and horses all over the place. It is horrible to see some of them. Near the position there is a rubber wader with a mans leg in it. Tanks are all over the place, all smashed up. Ammunition all sizes, logs of wood, boxes, wine, all kinds of equipment for army work scattered all over. Prisoners coming in galore and the wounded sights I have seen have nigh made me sick. No one could possibly realize what it is like up here until they have see it. Our packhorse had to turn back, we could not get through and we had already had to wait 3 hours in the rain. Went up again the following day at 2.30.

Tuesday October 9th

Reached ammunition dump at midnight. While loading Boche plane came over dropping bombs, set camp on fire. Came very close to us with his bombs – thought it was my turn to go. Got first load up for day break. Stint(?) on. Path to position very treacherous – sometimes up to the thighs in soft mud – am afraid of horses pulling and knocking me in a shell hole full of mud. Two fellows of the Brigade have been drowned in those already smothered in mud. Horse did fall and ammunition slipped. Horse couldn’t get up. Had to take ammo off, get horse up, and put ammo back again. This path is an easy way to suicide. Reached position, had no strength to lift ammo out. On the road going back to dump Boche plane fired machine gun on line of men, myself included, I simply flew like the wind. Got to wagon line at 10am.

Wednesday October 10th

Started out again at 6pm. Took ammo up in dark, got straight through and back again for midnight.

Thursday October 11th

Went up 2pm to advanced wagon line and from there took ammo. Every time I have been up the line, when I stand for any time I go very dizzy. Every morning I say I’ll go sick but have not yet, but oh my bones do ache.
Tonight up line I got separated and coming back had to go right round the Menin Ridge. Got to advanced wagon line at 2am, got down, raining hard at 3am, called out again, saddled up, went very dizzy, had to go back to bed again the following day.

Friday October 12th

Came down to wagon line to report sick. Cold has broken out on my lip and under my nose. I am absolutely done up.

Saturday October 13th

Went sick. Light duty. Got in bed, wrote home and to my little sweetheart, enclosing originals. Rained all day, did not feel much better.

Sunday October 14th

2 years in the army today. Went sick. Night duty. Got in bed. Today I feel much better but my lips are worse. Our billet made into harness(?) room, had to make another home.

Monday October 15th

Went sick. Light duty. Feel a lot better today but lips are still bad. I went across with Gaskell to J. Maguire and sat in officers cookhouse. Boche planes came over, one dropped bombs 30 yards from cookhouse, thought my last minute had come, went down on my knees and prayed.

Tuesday October 16th

Lips slightly better, went sick. Put on duty. I do wish the division would leave this front. I am sick of it. I do want to live in civilized times again. The sights up here are too gruesome for words.

Wednesday October 17th

Did not report sick but did not go on parade, got a mouthful of toothache. Had fried eggs and bacon for breakfast. Slopped off parade all day. At night went very sick and dizzy. This place has made me feel very queer ever since I came to it. I shall be more than thankful to leave. Rumour is we come out of action on Saturday. I do sincerely hope so.

Thursday October 18th

Went on 9am parade. Wallwork(?) had his arm broken by horse this morning – right for Blighty.

Friday October 19th

Ordinary day

Saturday October 21

Ordinary day. Have no money and have been very hungry today.

Sunday October 21st

Stoneybroke, am famished as army rations are insufficient. No issue of fags today and I have none. These are times when one gets so very miserable. Boche planes over at night.

Monday October 22nd

Boche over early morning. Ordinary routine. Still broke and still hungry. Borrowed one franc off J. Barr tonight.

Tuesday October 23rd

Raining. 8.30 sent to advance wagon line, on pack ammunition, was not needed first day, but was on picquet at night. I hope to come safely through these next few days. Have had nasty touches of toothache today. Borrowed 10 francs off Dick Hughes. He is acting as cook up here. My turn on picquet at 1am Wednesday.

Wednesday October 24th

4.30 reveille. Turned out 2 packhorses each. Took ? lot – on taking 2nd lot could not pass ridge as it was being shelled. Tried a second time, hard times for a blighty. Turned back to advance wagon line and had breakfast. Turned out again two packs, got through and back again for dinner. Finish for day.

Special entry in diary dated October 24th 1917.

To my dear sweetheart (31 Crop Street, Broughton, Manchester)
Should anything happen darling this would of course stand on my last message to you. I would wish most of all to tell you dear heart of mine, that my love for you was ever true, I have never wavered in it once. I am as everyone else is here having hard times. I pass many dangerous points in my work and perhaps were it not for the thoughts of you I would find it much harder to do my duty. However I must make this short now and to close may you know that I have always done as you would have wished me and shall forever remain your most devoted and ever loving sweetheart.
xxxxxxxxx John (Ypres Oct 24th 1917)

Also a special entry with no date attached but presumably Oct 24th 1917

One never knows what will happen to one up here so should it be my misfortune to meet with anything serious it would be my wish that all my personal belongings be sent to 91 Camp Street, Broughton, Manchester to my dear mother and father with my fondest love.

Thursday October 25th

Reveille 4.30am. Turned out to carry ammo to A Battery to their position. 6.45am loaded up at their old position, advance position just this side of Zonnebeke. Fritz was shelling in places but not dangerous. Most of our men were half unloaded at the position when I got there. When I was within 5 yards Fritz spotted us and sent his shells over without ceasing in region ‘S’. I turned my horses and took to my heels though I thought at the time there was no chance of getting away without being hit or perhaps killed.

I ran only a few yards when one dropped so close it deafened me. I couldn't hear anything. Every time I saw a burst I got between my horses so that should I get hit it would be in my legs only. I do not know how I escaped injury as the horses were tripping me up every step. I ran till I absolutely gasped and when I stopped there was not a soul in sight. Transport, working party’s, everyone had made a very hast retreat. When on the main road a good many passed me riding furiously and on reaching A Battery loading dump I found all my mates. In fact most of us I think would have refused a second lot. Returned to camp. This morning’s do has unnerved me. Did not turn out again all day.

Friday October 26th

Turned out 4.30am. Very dark, turned in for half hour. 5am raining hard, turned out took load up, shelling ridge again, took lame horse and another one with shoe off back to camp. Afternoon turned out with rations to position, very quiet, but still shelling ridge. My nerves are getting shaken up, I shall not stick this everlasting mud and mind torment much longer. Rumoured we pull out tomorrow. Oh to get away from this murderous place.

Saturday October 27th

Reveille 5.30. We came out of action this morning, all safe, left advance wagon lines at dinner time. Got away back to Brandhoek, camp again. We move again at 6am. Had chips and eggs tonight. I have had a monotonous toothache for the last 6 days now. First chance I get I shall have it out.

Sunday October 28th

Reveille 3am. Moved off 7.30, travelled all day and stopped 3 or 4 miles outside Watou. It is heaven to be away from all the horrors of warfare, although if we are not amidst it all someone else is. If those at home could see what a senseless thing warfare is there would be a change of affairs I know. Tonight walked 2 miles to RFC Canteen. Spent my last few pence on biscuits. Coming back was treated to a coffee and a fellow in the King Edward Horse gave two of us a loaf – we had had nothing from 6am to 6pm.

Monday October 29th

Reveille 7. (am rough exercise. Went sick and had tooth out, walked 3 miles for that. Rained all day. Pay parade tonight.

Passchendaele Incidents

From Monday October 8th 1917 when we joined in to the Battle for Passchendaele until Sunday October 28th when we pulled out from this dreadful front was a period of nearly 3 week in which I (along with all other engaged in this battle) experienced conditions so frightful as to be indescribable.
The town of Ypres, long before our Brigade passed through it had been reduced to rubble and what was left of it consisted of cellars which had not been filled in by fallen debris. To the north east of Ypres and over a large area surrounding the Menin Road and up to Passchendaele are and beyond, which had been once a lovely rural area of green field, dotted here and there with varying wooded glades, was at the time of our going into action a devastated expanse of mud and shell holes (water filled). The wooded glades were unrecognizable as such for these had received the most damage and appeared only as scarred and stunted trunks with splintered tops. The roads also had been so maimed by high explosive shells hat the quickest means of repair had been to install heavy logs laid side by side (known as corduroy tracks) and footpaths consisted of duck boarding.

German Soldiers on a log cordury track

To slip off these tracks and footpaths was to invite disaster. On either side of those corduroy tracks is almost a continuous existence a medley of war vehicles of all kinds which had either been blown off by explosion or tipped off because of the loss of their use. But by far the most gruesome sights wee the remains of horses and mules, many of which lay with their bellies ripped open and their bowels trailing out.
Leading to the very first gun position that we held as Passchendaele there was a minor roadway which was called the sunken road. This was I think so named because it lay behind the remains of a hedge. The road was about half mile long and all the shell holes (of which there were many) had been partially filled in and bridged with birchwood lain across them. On foot alone they could be negotiated without much difficulty but traversing them with two packhorses was quite a feat. Since the road was narrow in any case it was necessary to lengthen the rein of the leading horse. In doing this it was impossible for the driver to test the birchwood over any shell hole before the leading horse stepped on it. After many trips along this sunken road with ammunition I experienced one trip which led me to discard the road for any further trips. In this incident the leading horse slipped on brushwood which was supported on mud and water only and the horse sank, taking the brushwood with it, until its underbelly touched the muddy infilling. Of course the horse was laden with 10 eighteen pound shells which weight along with the clumber some pack equipment, caused the horse to flounder in my attempt to get it to climb out of the hole on to more solid ground. Meanwhile the other horse fortunately, though loose, stood still where I had left it. I was of course in the mud to the same extent as the horse. There was only one idea left open to me, and this I did although it took me ages to accomplish. I took off each of the shells from the pack and laid them on solid ground. Then I got the horse out of the hole and then put each shell back again in the pack, and then proceeded to the gun position with extreme care but I was then in a very exhausted state, and in a very shocking physical condition. All the time during the incident I was aware that at any minute there might be shells bursting in the vicinity which would have intensified the whole procedure. I have often wondered whether I would have panicked in such circumstances and have beaten a hasty retreat leaving the horses to their fate.
On my return to the ammunition dump I found that many of the pack-horse drivers disliked this sunken road approach so much that they preferred to take their pack-horse loads indirectly to the gun position by circuitous routes around the perimeter of the shell-holes. It was a longer route and very much open to being observed by Fritz but nevertheless very much better than the assigned route.
On these circuitous routes, which could be a different route every time according to how many more shells having been exploded, there were sites here and there which chilled the spine and at the same time speeded the delivery of the load. One of these sites was a wader with a man’s leg in it, another with a mans hand sticking out of the mud and another occasion the shoulder only of a man (with no head) just above the bottom of a shell-hole.
On reaching the gun position no time was lost in unloading. I remember on one occasion telling the gunner unloading the shells what I had seen and he took me to a concrete wall shelter not far away in which there lay a dead man whose head was crawling with ants and was in a very decomposed state. The reader may no doubt think that It would have been the decent thing to bury the corpse. I can assure the reader that it would have been a waste of time. Apart from it being a very precarious job since the body stood quite a good chance of being blown out of it’s grave within a short time of burial.
To get the guns into their action positions on the 8th October it was necessary to use eight horse teams to get them as near as possible through the mud and after that the guns had to be manhandled.
Regarding the transport of ammunition to the gun line – this was the only front I was at when pack-horse transport had to be employed since the guns had to be manhandled to their position, so gun limbers would have to be treated likewise and this would have been very much slower than the use of the pack-horse. Perhaps the reader may like to understand how the shells were carried by the horses. Over each horses back was strapped a stout canvas container having 4 pockets either side of it’s flanks and after filling these pockets with the shells, the tops of the shells protruded sufficiently to allow 2 more shells (1 each side) to be placed horizontally. It was quite an arduous task for a driver (most of whom were slightly built) to lift these shells in (during loading) and out (during delivery) and after 2 journeys carrying 40 shells in all most drivers were tired out and needed rest at the wagon line.
It will be noted by the war diary entry of Thursday October 11th that I had contracted a cold and wad in a feverish state. This pack-horse duty together with the frightful conditions and tension of the situation eventually got me down to a state where I had to report sick and this I did at the wagon line on the following day. Both of my lips were covered in cold sores which took some time to clear up. Conditions at the wagon line were not much better than they were at the advanced wagon line. I was put on light duty which meant that I did all duties but night duty and this took me to the 16th October when I was considered by the doctor to be right for duty again. I was however not in a very good state since I had now developed toothache which stayed with me on and off until the 29th October when I had the offending tooth out.
With my lips being extremely sore and puffed up I found difficulty in eating and on 1 or 2 occasions visited the officers cook house where Jimmy Maguire the officer’s cook made me some soft toast. It was on 1 of these occasions at night that Jerry dropped a bomb a little too close and put the wind up us all (see entry October 15th)
On Wednesday October 17th I got the fried eggs and bacon from Jimmy Maguire for breakfast, for this was not the kind of ration issued to the rank and file.
On October 23rd I was considered fit enough to back to the advance wagon line for further pack-horse transport duty.
The previous experience of such duties was still very vivid in my mind and thus the very thought of a second dose of this had no attraction for me at all. The state of my mind will be appreciated in the reading of my special diary entry of October 24th. These indicate the very apprehensive state of my mind.
The entry in my War Diary of Oct 25th need no further comment since I could not improve on its clarity.
This kind of incident was being experienced by all pack horse columns supplying ammunition to the whole of the gun batteries on the Passchendaele front. In many instances when such incidents occurred – horses would buck away from their drivers and bolt away across the shell holes and I have many times seen isolated horses in the distance. Eventually unless they were killed, they would be picked up, many times by infantry men and taken back to a base near Ypres, to be returned later by those who could recognise them.
I can remember seeing 20-30 horses tethered to a line on the outskirts of Ypres waiting to be picked up. Some of the drivers in our own Battery made use of this situation as a means to lose an unmanageable horse or a kicker or a biter and retrieve one from the collected batch that seemed to be more placid. This idea caught on very quickly until the chances of being able to select a placid horse over a period became very slight and drivers began to find that their selected horses were even worse kickers and biters than the ones they had given up or lost.
After five days of pack horse duty the Battery came out of action and we were moved to a resting place.
None of us knew the results of our efforts during the past 3 weeks, of course we now know that it was a fruitless affair with a horrendous loss of life.
To sum up this period I quote from John Terraine “The Great War 1914-18 as follows:
“The German official monograph calls Oct 4th ‘The Black Day’ “We came through it only with enormous losses” says Ludendorff. But what followed was for the British the most harrowing disappointment of all: the weather broke again, once more the rain fell in drenching torrents. “Our most effective ally” Prince Rupprecht called it. The ground became “a porridge of mud”. Under these frightful conditions, hardly describable as words, the British passed into the last and worst period of the campaign – signalled by the Battle of Polcapelle (Oct 9th), Passchendaele First Battle (Oct 12th), Passchendaele Second Battle (Oct 26th). The dreadful list of casualties shown in British Official History from Oct 4th- Nov 12th – 10,611.
“For the first time the British Army lost its spirit of optimism.”

On the morning of Saturday Oct 27th we moved out of action, moving back to Brandhoek, and the following day travelled again to 3 or 4 miles outside Watou. Here, since I was still suffering toothache I walked 3 miles to have it taken out.

The Menin Road (below)

Tuesday October 30th

Reveille 3am. Moved again through Caestre, Strazeele, Vieux Berquin to Doulieu behind ? front. Took 2 sick horses, very quiet here. I have a very happy feeling now we are going away from Ypres and yet every now and then I feel as though I should have more of those trying times. Somehow I feel as though we are not far enough away from that place yet. I want to get right away from it.

Wednesday October 31st

Rough exercise. Harness cleaning all day, found a place for egg and chips tonight. Got in bed very early.

Thursday November 1st

Harness cleaning and inspection. Not much room in billet, all crammed together.

Winter 1917

Friday November 2nd

Ordinary half day holiday. Write home and to my sweetheart who I will know will be wondering what had become of me. Bought 2 green envelopes.

Saturday November 3rd

Ordinary day. Am being put on the signalling staff today in a class under Capt. Smith and Bdr. Unsworth. Have a very bad throat today as the weather has suddenly gone very cold. Passed the day with Buzz? Etc (learning Morse and semaphone signalling)

Sunday November 4th

Most of Battery had baths today and about time. I was on last party, had to walk 8 km, got back to camp 8pm.

Monday November 5th

Wakened up at 3am to take some men to station to go for remounts. FSMO do this morning and inspection by the Colonel.

I have not recorded in my War Diary the actual date of my first visit to the Zonnebeke gun line but on Thursday Nov 15th I again resumed my diary.

Thursday November 15th

2am Reveille. Took two packhorses, lost our guide. I tried to lead them. Missed my way, went up the wrong plank track. Fritz sent two shells in the midst of us. Two horses wounded. One man leg blown off (Davies). Dumped ammo and returned to wagon line.

Friday 16th November

2am Reveille. Sent up to position as Signaller. The following six days I cannot describe in words to the full. The most unhappy, tormenting time of my life. I can only record incidents. 9am to 1am. Bumped out of position, had to run for my life. Bdr Togu(?) wounded.

Saturday November 17th

Sent on intelligence NCO to Battery HQ, Very foggy. Should have found FOP but conditions too bad. Returned. Cpt Binns(?) died of wounds.

Saturday November 18th

Sent to find ammo dump. Found old Battery position. About 1500 rounds of ammo there.

Monday November 19th

Feet sore. Fritz ? all day.

My feet were sore because of the wearing of the gum boots continuously.

Tuesday November 20th

Similar to Monday. Bumped out in afternoon.

Wednesday November 21st

Bumped out this morning. My feeling these 6 days I cannot express so hard I tried but I never wish to experience a second lot.

Thursday November 22nd

Relieved this morning, sent to wagon line for a rest. Had 6 days rest. On the 29th sent up to Battery position again.

Thursday November 29th

Sent to position. Fairly quiet on position this time excepting one night when Fritz had a direct hit on officers mess.

There could not have been any casualties from this direct hit for I am sure I would have noted them Also during the next six days there were no further incidents apparently worth recording,

Wednesday 5th December

Relieved and sent down for another rest.

Sunday December 9th

Sent to DHQ (Divisional HQ) to continue signalling course. Left off at St Idersbold. Elliot and J. Roberts sent with me (DHQ Reningelst) Shall be here 2 or 3 weeks.
I am most thankful to get on this course. To be away from those horrors for a time. Some fellows call it luckiness being sent on a course. It is NOT. In my case I firmly believe it was the result of prayer; as I have prayed so often to be sent away from this place.

 

 

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