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You are here: Home / 2017 / Archives for May 2017

Archives for May 2017

Friday 4 May 1917

May 4, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

https://greatwarchronicle.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Friday_May_4_1917.mp3

– fine

General McDonell goes to Bapaume & Somme battlefields for a sightseeing tour.

I lay in “bed” all the afternoon with weakness from effects of shell gas poisoning which I got at Petit Vimy while warning others of the danger today. Temperature is 104°.  Awful pain in head and chest.

*”The wearing of a gas mask is a confounded nuisance. To tell men to put these queer appliances on, one must, of necessity, speak….with the thing off.  This was being done when a voice behind me called, ‘Put your own on, Sergeant!’.  Too late ……It was akin to swallowing finely broken sharp pieces of glass.”  Excerpt from Draycott’s memoir “Pawn No. 883”.

Filed Under: 1917 Entries, Diary Entries Tagged With: gas attacks, mp3, Petit Vimy

Thursday 3 May 1917

May 3, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

Enemy aeroplane flies very low last night dropping bombs on Neuville St. Vaast & machine gun firing.

1st Canadian Division capture village of Fresnay after severe fighting.

L/c White goes to Paris on leave.

Filed Under: 1917 Entries, Diary Entries Tagged With: 1st Canadian Division, Fresnay, Neuville St Vaast

Wednesday 2 May 1917

May 2, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

https://greatwarchronicle.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Wednesday_May_2_1917.mp3

One of our ‘planes came down under control in a field both pilot & observer slightly wounded. Machine perforated with bullet holes.  Oil valve pierced by bullet, propeller also.  Steering gear jammed in fact a most narrow escape for both men.  Observer claimed he brought down two Huns during the day.  Machine was an old DeHavilland but reliable.

4 of our Triplanes bring down 5 Huns. All ours returned safely.  There were 7 Huns all told.  The others “beat it”.

Filed Under: 1917 Entries, Diary Entries Tagged With: mp3

Tuesday 1 May 1917

May 1, 2017 by Sarah McLennan

https://greatwarchronicle.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tuesday_May_1_1917.mp3

Enemy shell La Targette.

In early morning there are many air fights. Our planes bring down 3 enemy’s.  S.M. Douglas walks  from La Targette transport lines to Villers au Bois.  Outside Villers au Bois some of our planes are manoeuvring when a collision takes place between two planes resulting in one having a wing & propeller blade torn off.  He descends rapidly and crashes with an awful thud.  Both men are dead smashed & twisted.  Awful sight.  Later in afternoon one of our Farmans descends riddled with bullets & a corporal wounded.  He brought down two of enemy.

Filed Under: 1917 Entries, Diary Entries Tagged With: Farman airplanes, La Targette, mp3, Villers au Bois

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