Awful bombardment during night & early morning.
Rains
Archives for April 2016
Sunday 9 April 1916
Little or no bombardment.
I go to bomb pit & throw live bombs.
Saturday 8 April 1916
Heavy shelling at St. Eloi & Dickebusch.
To Dickebusch & inspect the interior of church also graves of P.P.’s. Lance Corporal W.J. Huston’s is in good shape. I trim it off. After a burial service I meet the parson (chaplain) a Captain Sherring of St. Paul’s Church Fort William.
We enter the church together (with Pvt Carey) and I find a nose cap of a shell (German). I give it to Capt. Sherring who is much pleased.
Witness aerial duel & bombardment by enemy. Our plane dodges backwards & forward amidst the shells. After half hour reconnaissance our plane returns safely to our lines. Heavy bombardment during night.
Friday 7 April 1916 – fine
Rained heavy at night & awfully heavy bombardment is going on by both sides.
The 27th Battn suffer heavily.
I get a letter from Bessie to say my property has suffered a great deal from floods.
Thursday 6 April 1916 – fine
To Vlamertinghe with Lance Corporal MacQueen and Galbraith.
The camp is heavily shelled by Huns. High explosives and shrapnel. Great excitement, horses are cut loose & stampede.
Great fright to see everybody running away from the shells which come over very thick. Dispatch riders ride thro’ it all.
Wednesday 5 April 1916 – high wind, fair
Prince General Galinsky of Russia visits the regiment & inspects it. Band plays Russian national anthem. Our flag is unfurled and flies in the breeze.
Generals Alderson, Plumer & Mercier receive the Prince who has large retinue.
Prince Alexander of Teck also attends.
Our Regt. moves to Brandhoek near Vlamertinge, at night take over huts which were subject to shell fire.
Heavy shelling all night and morning.
Friday 4 August 1916
Exploration of Stewart trench recently captured by Capt Stewart. Discover 4 enemy dugouts 15 feet deep, trench 5 feet deep & 3 to 3 1/2’ wide.
Leave Ypres for Poperinghe to take train for England as my bro’ Harry is undergoing a delicate operation in hospital at Liverpool.
Tuesday 4 April 1916 – fair
Weather changing to cool & prospect of rain.
I go to Elverdinghe to see Sergt. Major Allwork, SM Oxley, SM Rayman & SM _______ . Have quite a Royal time. They beat the guards at football 2-1 Sergt. Heath is there also.
Monday 3 April 1916 – fine and hot
Our brigade headquarters are shelled. One man killed & several wounded.
I get permission to go into Poperinghe. Make purchases & send photos to Harry. Brooches to Mrs Katie Draycot, Miss Southam, Rosary to Mrs Smith (& Crucifix), Crucifix to my aunt Louise.
English beer & stout forbidden to be sold in Belgium from tomorrow.
Sunday 2 April 1916 – fine
Battalion is inspected by Brig. General Loomis.
Very hot day.
