Draughting up till 2 PM then off to trenches & viewing. Have a very narrow shave at Zillebeke near Tuileries, shell (shrapnel) bursts over me. Again at Hell Fire Corner the enemy fire 4 shells at a stretcher bearer party who were carrying wounded men out. Two killed, 4 wounded. Sketch Hooge & vicinity. Afterwards to Regent, Cork, Grafton Sts. & Forrester lane.
Enemy shell those trenches vigorously with H.E. doing great damage. Enemy shell Ypres with 10.5 inch.
Archives for May 2016
Tuesday 30 May 1916
Enemy open up with serenade of heavy shells Shrl & H.E.
I worked yesterday from 8 am until 1:30 am this morning.
Enemy busy shelling Ypres & Ramparts with 5.9 & 10.5 in HE & shrl.
Aeroplane activity.
A Pte. Bishop & self go along Ramparts & canal all around Ypres. Troops shoot fish in the moat. Two swans are still in moat around Ypres & the female has a nest of young ones.
*H.E. Shells – High Explosive Shells were shells with a strong steel case, a bursting charge and a fuse, the fuse would detonate the bursting charge turning the shell into hot sharp shrapnel that would be discharged at high velocity
Monday 29 May 1916 – fine
An enemy & one of our own aeroplanes are brought down by shell fire.
Enemy lets loose with big shells on Poperinghe & Ypres 30 shells on Poperinghe, & only 5 burst killing 3 men.
Much aeroplane activity. Our [Ho?] fire shells with 10.5 & 5.9 HE [high explosive] and Shnl [schrapnel?] The enemy using Russian Shells.
Pvt. Harrison & I go thro’ Cloth Hall & Cathedral at Ypres.
Sunday 28 May 1916 – fine
Enemy active above our position. Big shells, mostly shrapnel.
Map drawing up till 1 PM. Obtain a pass to go for tour of inspection in trenches. Whilst near Gordon Rd. & fire trench a snipers bullet struck my steel helmet filling up back of neck with sand from another bullet. There was considerable noise caused by ring of steel helmet. Felt very nervy afterward. Later on I crawl on hands & knees along sandbag walk & duck board walk. Arr back at Ypres Ramparts safely @ 7:30 PM.
Saturday 27 May 1916 – fine
Enemy shell our position vigorously. Much aeroplane activity.
A man is killed at the pontoon bridge when standing in opening thro the Rampart. Both legs shot off by shell.
A party of 9 in ch[arge?] of Pte. Harrison arrive at Bde Hqr for working party build room in Rampart.
General MacDonnell arrives back to Bde.
*Pontoon Bridge – A bridge supported by buoyant materials that will float upon water. They are usually temporary and were very useful in war time as they could be quickly constructed or removed. They were used extensively during the war for river crossings.
Friday 26 May 1916 – fine
Two men killed on Ypres market square.
L/C George Rowley hit by bullet (stray) which lodged in his leg – a lovely Blighty one.
* A blighty wound was one serious enough to warrant recuperation away from the trenches, and even a furlough in England (“Blighty”), but not so serious as to permanently maim the victim. Sometimes such wounds were self-inflicted.
Thursday 25 May 1916 – fair
Much shelling of aeroplanes on both sides.
I make maps of trenches & vicinity for Brigade Intelligence officer.
At noon go into St [Jostin?] with Pte. Wenick ppcli.
Sketching & draughting in afternoon.
In evening I go alone to Cloth Hall & Cathedral (St Martins) get some oak from Cloth Hall for souvenirs.
*Cloth Hall – A commercial building in Ypres that was originally built in the 13th century. It was the main market and warehouse for the Flemish cloth industry. It was nearly destroyed during the First World War due to artillery fire but was rebuilt between the 1930’s to 1960’s.
From National Geographic – VIEW OF YPRES: PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM A FLYING MACHINE. The pitiful ghost of one of ravaged Belgium’s most beautiful and historic cities. In the central foreground may be seen the roofless remains of the famous Cloth Hall, the largest edifice of its kind in the kingdom, begun by Count Baldwin IX of Flanders in the year 1200. Just beyond looms the scarred and desecrated Cathedral of St. Martin.
“Ypres Belgium NGM-v31-p337-B” by This file is lacking author information. – 300 ppi scan of the National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 (1917), page 337, panel B.. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ypres_Belgium_NGM-v31-p337-B.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Ypres_Belgium_NGM-v31-p337-B.jpg
Wednesday 24 May 1916
Appointed Brigade Draughtsman & Sergt. i/c [in charge] of intelligence work.
Have orders to go to Ypres for map drawing on Brigade Staff. Leave Ouderdom @ 2 PM, arr Ypres @ –. Enemy shell vicinity vigorously & heavily.
As I approach Belgian Chateau a shell approaches & bursts only 30 yards in front of me. Hardly had it burst when another approaches & I am in a semi dazed condition not knowing what to do.
I trip over wire & am saved a few yards further on. 6 shrapnel shells burst in rapid succession over the road. Am lucky again & miss the bullets. Arrive at Bde Hqr in the Ramparts @ Ypres at 5 PM.
Tuesday 23 May 1916
Enemy aeroplanes busy reconnoitering & dropping bombs.
Monday 22 May 1916
Oppressive heat but later turns to rain.
A bullet whizzes past my head. Very close.
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