Walter Draycott’s Great War Chronicle
North Vancouver Museum & Archives
43rd Bde. making a raid this afternoon secure two prisoners. We lost three officers, one killed, one wounded & one missing.
We leave Villers au Bois @ 4 pm. The party are – Sergt. Major Douglas, myself, L/c Hodge & White & Pte. Wilson. We pass the guns which are firing a barrage fire. L/c W is fearfully nervous.
S.M & I break from the party & take an overland route in full view of enemy. Trenches are in very bad state.
Very busy making a special message form for the great advance. Successfully turn out 600 copies.
In afternoon to see my old company chums of 4 Coy. Say goodbye & good luck to them.
*Coy is abbreviation for Company
No entry.
No entry.
We are relieved by 9th Bde. 42nd RHC make a raid. Kill 20 of the enemy & secure one prisoner. I question him thru interpreter as to location of various defenses etc. A Pole with enmity against Kaiser.
In afternoon an enemy aeroplane attacks our offenses but is driven off, making nose dive.
*RHC – Royal Highland Regiment of Canada (Black Watch).
Very heavy artillery bombardment on both sides. Frightful.
One shell ploughs up ground at side of dugout whilst we are asleep. We decamp.
No entry.
*Infantry in touch with whole German front from Arras to six miles south-west of St. Quentin.
2:35 to 3:15 am & 4:20 am. A most Hellish fiendish bombardment is in full swing during early hours. Neuville St. Vaast is heavily shelled with 8” & 5.9” shells. Machine gun fire appalling. Many fires reported at back of enemy lines.
– fine, cold
PPCLI make a raid @ 5 am.
Fearful bombardment continues. Enemy retaliate. Vimy Ridge with Ecole & La Folie Farm are being pulverized by our artillery. I go to the Crater also Subway & to 11 Bde. Area.
In afternoon there are many air flights. Both sides patrol their own lines, then dart forward when opportunity offers & do battle. Enemy has much faster machines than ours. One of our battle ‘planes go over his lines decoyed by an enemy ‘plane painted red. He is set upon by 3 others & forced to descend. His machine bursts into flames 500 feet up & lands in German line N. of Vimy.
– snow flurries
Many air flights.
Enemy has a plane painted red & manned by a skilful pilot – a daredevil.
I go around the trenches to estimate damage.
Enemy shell Neuville St. V. unmercifully. The whole village is enveloped in smoke. A dugout containing C.M. Rifles is penetrated by shell. Kills 10 & wounds 12. Other casualties.
Enemy also shell Mt. St. Eloy & Berthenval Farm. An armour piercing shell is discovered (Blind).
*The Red Baron again?
*C.M.R. = Canadian Mounted Rifles
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