Heavy bombardment on our right. Absolutely fierce. Many aeroplanes are up. Several fighters. General MacDonell praises me for the maps I’ve made & general work in connection with draughting office.
We hand over to 5th Bde. 2nd Div.
Friday 20 October 1916
Left Ribeaucourt with General’s Orderly Pte Currie @ 7:30. Arr chateau de Beausoin at 11 am. General MacDonell is ill & goes to hospital. PP’s go to Ouen & RCK Villers L’Hopital.
Grand day. Capt Wallis goes to trenches @ Vimy. Get names of people re billeting chateau & villagers.
Monday 4 September 1916
I pack up & off for Winnezeele at 9:35 am. It rains lightly. Roads very bumpy & wet. General MacDonell sends for me for congratulations re services to English Brigade.
Thursday 17 February 1916
Gale still blowing & occasional showers. Heavy artillery action from 4-5 am. General Macdonell wounded in shoulder & arm by sniper. Private Kerry wounded in eye, Poulnett wounded (3 Coy.) Dismal wet night. Confirmation of capture of British trenches at Hooge –Rotten!!
*Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell – A Canadian police officer and soldier, Macdonell served with the North West Mounted Police until joining the Canadian Mounted Rifles to fight in the Second Boer War. He was a decorated soldier and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a Brigadier-General during the First World War. Macdonell was sometimes called “Batty Mac” for his behaviour under fire. During the incident that Draycott refers to, where Macdonell is injured, it is said that he was shot by a sniper after venturing too far into no man’s land. Instead of retreating he stood up swearing and yelling at the sniper shaking his uninjured arm in anger. The sniper then proceeded to shoot him in this arm as well.
