Very busy all day making out fresh maps, tracing, etc. to hand over to other brigade. At 10:30 PM we leave Ypres for a camp. I walk out with L/c Driscoll my assistant map drawer & draughtsman. Many shells are sent over but drop harmless among the buildings.
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Tuesday 18 July 1916
I go out along the communication trench & fire trenches to get a report on the condition of the trenches & their field of fire.
Monday 17 July 1916
Busy mapping out & making a report on yesterday’s survey.
Regret the news of poor Ed Wildon’s death. He was struck by a rifle grenade & smashed to bits. Pte Williamson also killed & Sergt Robertson.
Sunday 16 July 1916 – fair, rain at night
Left Ypres for front line with Cpl Richardson D.R. who was out for adventure. Made a tour from Ramparts along China Wall, Halfway-House, Yeomanry-Post –(along this route there were scores of disbanded Ross Rifles) – Maple Copse, Maple Lodge, Dormy House (around which flying bullets came thick & fast) to Zillebeke along the Lake (at the Bund a shrapnel shell burst overhead killing the sentry there) along open country to Lille Road. Arr: Ramparts @ 12 am.
*Ross Rifle – By July of 1916 Sir Douglas Haig, newly appointed Commander in Chief of the BEF had ordered the replacement of all Ross rifles with Lee-Enfield rifles. The Ross rifles had been problematic for Canadian troops as they performed poorly in trench warfare. They were easily clogged up with mud and dirt rendering them useless. Lee-Enfield rifles were much more dependable in the dirty muddy conditions.
Saturday 15 July 1916
Our patrols encounter 10 enemy in noman’s land. Result – 6 dead Germans.
Enemy active, active with mine werfers & rifle grenades (curse them).
L/c Ed Wildon, an old friend of mine, was killed by rifle grenade, smashed to bits.
*Minewerfer – “Mine Launcher” German short range mortars.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:German_troops_towing_light_minenwerfer
_1918_IWM_Q_023816.jpg#mediaviewer/File:German_troops_towing_light_minenwerfer
_1918_IWM_Q_023816.jpg
Friday 14 July 1916
Received P.C. from Charles who reports “am quite well”
Enemy shelling Ypres and vicinity.
Thursday 13 July 1916
In St Pierre Church with Pt Driscol in search for a sketch board.
Enemy land a 6” shell in center of Church wounding five men of C.M.R.
Wednesday 12 July 1916
Enemy shell the culvert- and smash it in. Receive letter from my brother William who has not written for several years.
Tuesday 11 July 1916 – fine
Very busy making map for General MacDonnel. Enemy send shells into Poperinghe 11 miles away.
Monday 10 July 1916
I say good day to Tom Draycot as he goes to trenches.
Enemy shell Poperinghe also drop bombs around our camp.
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