Am busy cutting hair all day.
We get orders to leave this district for Maricourt, 10 miles away.
On the march at 8 pm and after a half of 1 hour to pick up the other companies in a field we resume the march. The Cambridge Regiment take over our Billets at Eclusier. Am feeling weak from effects of a cold. Pass thro’ Cappy and after a tiring march reach Maricourt at midnight. Here we find more Regiments and Headquarter of the 27th Division.
As usual our Billet consists of very old barn and very crowded.
Friday 15 October 1915
The Huns open the morning with more “Putty Kegs” and two trench sappers are wounded.
A report states Private Moyle has died of his wounds.
Hodgson is buried alongside of Lance Corporal G.B Johnstone.
Our artillery play on German trenches with high explosive and shrapnel, whilst the Company leaves the fire trench for the support trench.
We are relieved by No 1 Company and go to Eclusier where we stay the night.
*Trench Sappers – Military/combat engineers, comes from the phrase saper, French “to dig” or “to trench”
Monday 11 October 1915
King’s Royal Rifles leave our division to reinforce on another part of the firing line. We leave Eclusier for the trenches again. Put on listening post outside the trenches.
Friday 8 October 1915 – fair
Had a rather interesting night firing volley and rapid fire at a German working party. They follow with heavy rifle fire. Towards morning I noticed a German making toward his trench. I fired and down he went – dead. In morn’ I went with Lance Corporal MacQueen to the Village of Frize under fire from the Huns. The Church is a deplorable wreck. Only two good walls standing. We were sniped at while picking souvenir bullets out of the plastered walls. Nearly got one each. Left the trenches for Billets at Eclusier at 8:30 pm.
Monday 4 October 1915
A milder night last night. A few bombs came over. The Kings Royal Rifles lose rather heavily some of their men being buried in the trench. We are heavily shelled during the day. A bullet passes in front of my nose. Receive smelling salts from Beatrice of Stafford. No. 1 Company relieves us at 8:30 pm. We go back to Eclusier “The Rat Pit”. No rum ration the platoon Sergeants stole it from the Guard Room and they are now under arrest.
Thursday 30 September 1915
Half morning we parade for rifle inspection. At 3:50 pm we leave Cappy for the trenches again. As we pass thro’ Eclusier we throw off our packs and some of our ammunition. We enter the trenches to relieve the Royal Brigade. We leave the trenches again for “Eclusier” Village the “Rat Pit” or “Rat Hole”. Slept a fairly good night with occasional rat bites. Woke up very tired.
Wednesday 29 September 1915 – rain
A cold wet and miserable morning. And still raining. Our rifles are clogged up with mud. Get to work to make an improvised shelter. We have been in the open trench two days two nights no shelter. At 9 am the Germans shell us with heavy guns. The Huns commence again with trench mortars and we reply. Some note paper comes to me when rations arrive from Headquarters. Welcome. I’ve none. We are on Bully Beef and biscuits. I make some cocoa by putting some fat in a can with a piece of rag, then light it placing the canteen over it. Our hard biscuits are covered with mud, therefore – gritty. Rats!!! Lots of them. The fellows are wallowing in mud and have not the heart to amend difficulties. 3 pm the Huns are still busy shelling and bombing us. The King’s Royal Rifles have lost heavily. Commences to rain heavily at 5 pm and kept up all night. We “stand to” in full marching kit from 5 to 7 pm. Orders come up for us to be relieved at 8 pm but the relief does not appear till 9:30 pm. Commence march thro’ narrow trenches wet, muddy and slippery and raining hard. We are soaked to the skin. We go down the road slipping and sliding all over the place. A more weary tired and miserable lot of men could not be found. We pass thro’ “Eclusier” to Cappy where we stay in billets for the night. A ration of 2 oz of rum is given to the men and we retire to rest at 12:30 midnight.
