At 2 PM I go with Lieut. Willis (A.D.C. to General McDonnell) & an orderly, named Wall, to deliver secret dispatches to Colonel Griesbach of 49th (O.C. Battalions in firing line). When entering China Wall we walk over dead bodies for one mile after passing Halfway House the shelling is awfully intense, all calibre. Parapet blown in, burying & killing many. Am alone, orderly is killed. Push on to Yeomanry Post, rest halfway. Meet Willis. We go together reach Yeo. P. deliver dispatches. I take further dispatches to O.C. 60th BN (Col Gascoigne) deliver them under a murderous fire. Miraculous escapes. Hundreds dead and dying, also wounded. Fall many times from exhaustion. Bring more dispatches to Yeo. P. Intense bombardment at 8:30 PM. Stay Y.P. till 10 PM. Ypres 2 am.
Archives for June 2016
Friday 2 June 1916 – fine
Enemy opens up with all machinery of warfare on our portion of Salient at 8:30 am.
Frightful sight all is hurry & bustle @ Bde Hd Qrt quite a change from former lassitude & inactivity. Great demand for maps & information. Capt Wallis in a nonsensical attitude. Absent-minded but full of excitement.
I lay down my pen and sneak out to lend assistance, contrary to orders. One cannot stand by and see his comrades die & not avenge them.
At noon it is reported the Huns have broken thro’ our lines.
Communication only by runners, wires all cut by shell fire.
*Battle of Mont Sorrel- A battle lasting from June 2nd to 14th 1916. As the German military saw a buildup of British Troops in the Somme, they attempted to draw resources away by attacking Canadian troops near Ypres. The German troops first attacked high positions on Mount Sorrel and Tor Top that were held by Canadian troops and quickly captured the positions. The Canadians were preparing to attack the German positions at this time but were caught off guard by the German attack. However, after a series of skirmishes following the initial attack, Canadian troops backed by the British were able to take back most of their positions by June 14th 1916.
Thursday 1 June 1916
To St Martin Cathedral at 8:30 AM to get a piece of wood for a straight edge, mine mislaid or taken.
Working hard all day making maps & sketches.
Enemy shell Ypres vigorously. Have to quit work in afternoon as concussion from shell blows my place in. Heavy shells fall all around my drafting room. Have to leave & take up quarters in the Ramparts. Many wounded brought in.