Archives for March 2017

Wednesday 21 March 1917

March 21, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

– snow

We leave Bruay & happiness for Villers au Bois. Snow flurries all day.

Villers au Bois very crowded with troops. Bde. are allotted one room for office only. Lots of mud. No room for a draughting office. In afternoon wander around the ruins of Villers au Bois.

Tuesday 20 March 1917

March 20, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

– snow flurries, rain & small hail.

Orders to move today to Villers-au-Bois cancelled.

French advance 25 miles in 3 days from Lassignes [Lassigny?] to Barisis. They are now at Ham.

Monday 19 March 1917

March 19, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

– snow & rain with high wind

French take Noyen & Nesle.

Sunday 18 March 1917

March 18, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

Germans making an organized retreat to the Hindenberg Line.

*In March 1917, the German armies on the Somme carried out a strategic withdrawal known as Operation Alberich. They destroyed everything on the ground that they left: flattening villages, poisoning wells, cutting down trees, blowing craters on roads and crossroads, booby-trapping ruins and dugouts. The withdrawal was to a more powerful shorter line, positioned to take tactical advantage of ground. British patrols began to detect the withdrawal of German infantry from the Somme in mid February 1917 and a cautious pursuit began, halted only as the Hindenburg Line itself was approached.

(http://www.1914-1918.net/bat17.htm)

Saturday 17 March 1917

March 17, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

Capt. HM Wallis came back today from Eng. Fresh from a Band Box – a “Tailors Model”.

*The expression ”fresh from a bandbox” means neat in appearance, spiffy, smart-looking, fresh, sharp; A bandbox is a small receptacle for collars and millinery, much used in the 17th century for storing the ruffs, or bands, commonly worn then.

Friday 16 March 1917

March 16, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

– sharp frost.

Duchess of Connaught died in England.

*The Duchess of Connaught was the wife of the Governor General of Canada and the mother of Princess Patricia, after whom the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry is named. Princess Patricia maintained close ties with the regiment throughout her life, and hand-sewed the original regimental colour, the Ric-a-Dam-Doo, which was carried into battle in every First World War battle in which the Patricias fought.

(http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/ppcli/1st-battalion.page)