Feeling very weak but still carry on making maps for the 6th brigade. Meet Fryer (Lieut) of Ft. Wm. [Ft. William] of 52nd leading a party of stretcher bearers going to Zillibeke (6:30 PM). Our artillery are in full blast all night.
Sunday 4 June 1916 – fine and showery at night
Feeling awfully weak, am still in bed. Our Artillery are retaliating with heavy shells. Mr Wallis visits me. I hear my name is mentioned in dispatches. Thousands of troops are collecting here & sleeping in the open on the ground. Arms & ammunition are pouring in.
My wounds of yesterday are bound & paining but am still carrying on.
My head painful, eyes sore thro’ gas.
Saturday 3 June 1916 – fine
At 2 PM I go with Lieut. Willis (A.D.C. to General McDonnell) & an orderly, named Wall, to deliver secret dispatches to Colonel Griesbach of 49th (O.C. Battalions in firing line). When entering China Wall we walk over dead bodies for one mile after passing Halfway House the shelling is awfully intense, all calibre. Parapet blown in, burying & killing many. Am alone, orderly is killed. Push on to Yeomanry Post, rest halfway. Meet Willis. We go together reach Yeo. P. deliver dispatches. I take further dispatches to O.C. 60th BN (Col Gascoigne) deliver them under a murderous fire. Miraculous escapes. Hundreds dead and dying, also wounded. Fall many times from exhaustion. Bring more dispatches to Yeo. P. Intense bombardment at 8:30 PM. Stay Y.P. till 10 PM. Ypres 2 am.
Friday 2 June 1916 – fine
Enemy opens up with all machinery of warfare on our portion of Salient at 8:30 am.
Frightful sight all is hurry & bustle @ Bde Hd Qrt quite a change from former lassitude & inactivity. Great demand for maps & information. Capt Wallis in a nonsensical attitude. Absent-minded but full of excitement.
I lay down my pen and sneak out to lend assistance, contrary to orders. One cannot stand by and see his comrades die & not avenge them.
At noon it is reported the Huns have broken thro’ our lines.
Communication only by runners, wires all cut by shell fire.
*Battle of Mont Sorrel- A battle lasting from June 2nd to 14th 1916. As the German military saw a buildup of British Troops in the Somme, they attempted to draw resources away by attacking Canadian troops near Ypres. The German troops first attacked high positions on Mount Sorrel and Tor Top that were held by Canadian troops and quickly captured the positions. The Canadians were preparing to attack the German positions at this time but were caught off guard by the German attack. However, after a series of skirmishes following the initial attack, Canadian troops backed by the British were able to take back most of their positions by June 14th 1916.
Thursday 1 June 1916
To St Martin Cathedral at 8:30 AM to get a piece of wood for a straight edge, mine mislaid or taken.
Working hard all day making maps & sketches.
Enemy shell Ypres vigorously. Have to quit work in afternoon as concussion from shell blows my place in. Heavy shells fall all around my drafting room. Have to leave & take up quarters in the Ramparts. Many wounded brought in.
Wednesday 31 May 1916
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.
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.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- …
- 145
- Next Page »
