April 1917

On train – Base to Railhd.

Fair/snow flurries

The trip developed into a fairly good little party. – Airth handled the cooking & made tea which washed down the bully & biscuits. – Skirted Amiens about noon & saw some familiar spots as we came up thro' Halloy-les-Pernois. – Played bridge most of the afternoon. – Hit DOULLENS about tea-time & stuck there till pretty near dark. – Settled down for the night – Pulled into St. POL at some unearthly hour. Discovered that the reason for Call's face seeming so familiar is that he was taking Steve Leacock's "Economics" with me.

[Added later?] Call was an Arts '17 man – Killed shortly after this.

Cold - Heavy snow Houdain Ecoivres Cambligneul Turned out at HOUDAIN instead of AUBIGNY and at the unearthly hour of 5.30 A.M. – Bad enough to hit that hole any time in the 24 but in the cold grey morning, she's a bear[?]. – Started out to hike for ECOIVRES. A good lady in a small shop stood me to a cup of coffee & I took back all of the harsh things I've said about the French in the forward area. – Continued my journey. – Saw some of the 13th at Estrée Couchée – & was greeted like a long lost brother, but just too late to get breakfast. – Alternately travelling on foot + by lorry arrived at ECOIVRES about 10.30 A.M. to find that the co'y had moved back to CAMBLIGNEUL. – Went around to C.R.E.'s + sent a message for my horses. – Dropped to #1 Co'y + had breakfast followed shortly after by lunch. – Got home about 3PM – The whole country back of Mt. St. Eloi is getting to look like the brickfields only more-so. Never saw so much traffic and the roads are awful. – The horses are suffering. – Quite a change in the Coy while I've been away. - Bolton, Langford + Mckinnon all attached.

Cold to fine

Bull took Bonnell & I up to go over the line. – sort of played me out as I've been loafing for over a month. – Rode up thro' ECOIVRES & MAROEIL & walked from this side of Brunehaut Fm. to Eng. shelters near Glasgow dump. – The 1st Co'y are in now & have a very nice little bivvy. – Reminds you of a shooting box. – Tony Read took us up over part of the line + down one of the tunnels, but we didn't feel at all ambitious – Will see enough of it when the Co'y comes up. Stopped at Divn. on the way back to see the relief map of the bosche back country. Leach was around at the mess this eve’g. – O.C. told me that Cummings would carry on with #4 Sec. Counted twenty-three dead horse on our journey today. Weathered roads are hitting the transport hard.

Snow. CAMBLIGNEUL

Out on the training ground, getting a line on Fritz's trenches. Rode into AUBIGNY this aft to try + get some stuff at the canteen – Not very successfully as the town is too crowded. – This part of the world is simply jammed full of troops. Major Hertzberg came back from leave.

Warm. CAMBLIGNEUL to ECOIVRES Co'y moved to ECOIVRES and two sections (1 & 3) went up forward to Engineer shelters. Lofty, Tony, Kneelands, Joe Harryat + Joe Edwards were in on their way back to Cambligneul. Fritz dropped the odd shell (just one) on a hut over here + cleaned up about 15 people.

HEAVY RAIN

"W" day again – Bombardment still goes on. – Fritz must be suffering. – Cummings took #4 sec. up tonight. Got first mail from Canada since I went down. – Also had a letter from Pete. – Makes me sore to think I didn't make Blitey. U.S. Congress has voted that the state of war exists – Majority 80-6. Couple more planes brought down. More progress N.N.W. of st Quentin. RONSSOY, BASSE BOULOGNE & LEMPIRE taken. Sinclair (Lt. R.E.) - 13th corps water supply man came in + will stay with us. 13th corps in rear. – Whether they relieve us or not depends on operations.

Mostly fine. ECOIVRES X

The O.C. moved up forward today + Bull came back. Call & Airth were in, also most of #1 Co'y –Tramped up over Mont St. Eloi with Call & picked a good spot to see the war from. One of the new fast planes of Fritz's brought down the "sausage" near us. – Both men landed O.K. Bull got back here about 8 P.M. and was very disgusted at the air of gloom in the mess. – With the aid of Clan O'Leary we managed to cheer him up a bit.

Fine + warm Y

Had my easter eggs (poached) in bed & stayed there till noon, not feeling very pert. Lunch rudely interrupted by Fritz delivering some scrap-iron promiscuously. Got a direct hit on the rear that nearly finished Gillespie. – Am beginning to realize that I haven't got much of the stuff that heroes are made of in my composition. – Got the wind up & made for the open country. – It's a good thing the O.C. didn't give me a job to do in the big war or I'd have balled it up sure. – O'Leary & Anderson went up tonight. Hope they come thru O.K. – If Fritz only knew what is coming to him before breakfast.

VIMY RIDGE TAKEN Z

Showery - Blustery - Snow at night.

Action highly successful. – 2nd & 3rd Bgdes gained objectives on schedule. – 1st Bgde passed thro' & took FARBUS WOOD. – 2nd Bgde reforming to attack WILLERVAL in the morning. – Other Can. Divs (on left) & 51st H.D. on rt. did equally well. – Attack extends a long way down 3rd army front – Prisoners incl. a Gen & staff (reported) & guns taken. – - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Didn't get much sleep last night – Had the breeze up. – Fritz shelling ECOIVRES with H.V. gun. – Nerves. – Up at 4.30 & got out in front of BOIS-DE-BRAY with Bell & Lang to see the show start. – Zero hr. 5.30 A.M. Wonderful sight – from SOUCHEZ to s. of ARRAS. – Mine blown on left. – Guns & horse lines moved up almost immediately. – Organization seems perfect. Went up to BERTHONVAL FM this aft. Ernie up forward. – Hope he gets thru O.K. – Saw Clyde & Clint. – Also Baldy Stevenson. – Lou Anderson wounded going in last night. – Cpl Mackie wounded. Coxon killed. – No details.

Pickup & Boyd Symonds killed.

Fair to cloudy with snow at night.

War still continues. – Everything satisfactory. – 4th Div. struck a bit of a snag but got thru. 1st Cavalry Divn came up this aft. don't know where they are bivvying. No sign of them from BOIS-DE-BRAY. – Mac & I went up to view the countryside this aft. – Lots of stuff moving up forward. – Field guns now in advance of NINE ELMS. Bunch of mail forwarded from Hospital today.

G.H.Q. reports situation 11:13 P.M. giving line on southern front – CROISILLES – T50 – N34 cent. – COJEUL RIV. In N336 – N27 cen. N22a – N16 cent. – N12 cent. – MONCH-LE-PREUX to Riv. SCARPE about I25 cent. North of riv. line continues N18 cent. – H12a H3C – FARBUS – along W. edge BOIS-DE-LA-FOLIE – S16C – S15 cent. 11,000 prisoners - 103 guns 163 M.G.S. – 60 T.M.s

Cold - heavy snow in aft.

Everything but wagon-lines moved up forward. – Went up as far as NINE ELMS with Bolton. – Explored a few Bosche dugouts – Sent back by O.C. to take McKinnon's place. Walked. - Rain. - Wet. - Messing with 3rd T.M.B. Turned out of Billets for 13th corps. Maj. McKenzie 8th Bn in.

Fair to showery

Shifted billets. – Jammed up in a Nisson hut with a mixed bunch. This wagon lines job is no pipe. Two more horses for the Mobile. Others in poor shape. Coxon buried in BOIS DE BRAY cemetery. Chasing around for some stuff wanted by the C.R.E. all aft. – in at 8.30 + going to bed as soon as they rustle up some grub for me.

Fair to rain ECOIVRES

Alexander came around this aft. + we went out for a ride. – Too much traffic and the roads are too bad to have a decent ride. Met Bethune over by Chateau La Haie – He had it from H.A. group H.Q. that the Boshe was backing out of LENS. Gen. Currie also spinning that on us tonight. – Got orders about midnight to move the Pontoon & Trestle equipment up to ARIANE. – Evidently someone thinks there may be one more river to cross, or else they want the wagons for hauling material. – If so we will be hard hit for horses.

Fair & Warm ECOIVRES to ARIANE Didn't organize properly for the shift & I had to make all sorts of trips. – Went up to Eng. shelters when pontoons were loaded & located new line. – When I got up there had orders to move everything up so got back as quickly as possible + sent everything possible up. Had to leave one tool cart + some technical stores with a guard. –Tommy cast a shoe when I was coming down + that delayed me a bit. – Everything moving up forward + as the T.M.s had packed, I had no tea. – Got up to Ariane about 7 P.M. – Wilson had a bit of a bivvy pitched. – Looks alright as long as it keeps fine. – Went over to the Coy for a late dinner. – Came back + rolled in

Rain – all day

Low Sunday. – Barometer low & spirits the same. So the boys get no rum tonight.

No luck in getting material for a bivvy so back under the wagon cover to-night with McKinnon & Langford for company. – Bolton is also back but got a place in the gun-pit where Birkett & Staples are. – Rest of the Co'y moved up to BOIS CARRÉ & NINE ELMS. Lang has gone out with the pack mules to take rations in & John is celebrating his dad's birthday down in the gun pit I guess. He'll come in & talk my head off I suppose. I crawled in at 8:30. – Nothing else to do + the only place to keep warm. Situation about the same. – Some of our light guns have got up closer + there seems to be quite a strafe on. Holmes & Johnston wounded. Doc. Towers left to go down to #7 Can. Gen.

Fine – changed to heavy rain 6pm

Langford got in at 6.00 A.M.

Fine morning with a bit of a breeze gave us a chance to dry out. Capt. Boswell moved down but I still seem to be it. – Bolton got busy & finally succeeded in raising the material for a bivvy. – Not in time to be completed to-day so we are back under the wagon cover again to-night. – Hoping that it weathers the storm. Wilson cut his hand & had to go to hospital. – Cummings came down from the line with lumbago. – Despatched him from Fld. Amb. To D.R.S. about 6.00 PM + wish I had gone too. – Langford went up to take his place. Holmes very low – in Fld. Amp

Rain – fair – snow Ariane

Murray – #2 sec. shot himself

Visited #7 Can Siege Bty. (McGill)

Wasn't a bad day for the most part. – Still living under the wagon cover. – Warry + his huskies are hammering away at the hut.

Canon Scott dropped in on his way down to Anzin to see his son in the McGill Battery so I trekked along with him. – Got rather wet around the feet as the Scarpe valey is a bit marshy. Saw Hilary, Catchfield, Harris, Rosebrough + a bunch more. – Snowed like the deuce while we were down there.

Rain – Mostly

It did stop raining in spots.

Every horse in the lines out again + all of them going down hill steadily. Everyone running out of cigarettes & getting absolutely fed up with the rest of the world. Jim Stock came around this aft. & gave a talk on the Administration of the Engineer Services. No particular news – The French are still drifting ahead down south & we are doing a few things around St. Quentin.

Fair.

Word came down this morning for Bolton to report at BOIS CARRÉ at once for a special job. – He had crocked up his foot so it was up to Rusty. Reported BOIS CARRÉ 1.00 P.M. – Got details of job from O.C. – To run out guide wires from O.P line to assembling position in front of German wire. – Visited Battn. (14th) at 4P.M. – Saw Col. McCombe, & Tommy Hodgson – Made arrangements for parties & guides – Don't like the trip down the hill to FARBUS station as Fritz can see you the whole way down. Got rolls of wire & stakes ready. – Wire in rotten shape. – Started out about 7.00 P.M. – Called in at Jr. Hdq. & picked up Jackson (Tommy's asst) – Met parties at Co'y Hdq's 9.45 P.M. – Chased around out in front & got them started. No Man's land is about 1500 yds across so there is plenty of room for exercise.

Fine & warm

Got back to Co'y Hdqrs. about 2.00 A.M. to wait for all the parties to report in. – Jackson got back about 3.00 as he had been out on longest wire with Platts. – Fritz crumping around the tunnel so much that I was scared to come out. – Finally got back to Jr. Hdqrs. about 4.30, had a bit of a rest & got back to BOIS DE CARRE about 6.00 A.M. – All in. – No place to sleep – flopped on the floor for a while under the table but too tired – Mail came in. – O.C. came up about noon. – Could have cried when he said the left flank wire had to be run out again. –

Fine & warm

Fine & warm

Experiencing what Squire call the enviable feeling of absolute rest that follows the completion of a dirty job. – It took me till noon to get up. – Teddy Brickett & I went into ARRAS to have a look around. – The town is far more interesting than ALBERT.

C.R.E was up at the mess & the O.C. broached the subject of leave to him but it seems to be a washout. – He's going to apply for my transfer to an A.T. Coy. Major Brown of the 123rd Pion. came in after dinner. – Gave me Waddy Sutherland's location so called in on him as I went home. – He says he thinks he was wise to stay + finish the course + get married. – Also he had a good time. – Well he should know.

Fine & warm

Orderly Officer

– Galloped madly up to the billets in time to be just too late to read about 10 pages of orders etc. Came back to the horse-lines to attend pay-parade and back to billets for lunch. – Cummings + I went into ECOIVRES this aft to arrange for bathing the co’y. Had an omelette at the usual hang-out – Met Hebden & a bunch of the 13th. – Rode back with Wilkes – Good Gallop across country. – Tommy slightly lame. – Mac walked down to the lines with me after dinner. – He needs a rest as much as I do only he won't let on. – Canon Scott drifted in about 10 P.M. – Took him home.

Cloudy & windy

Being sent where the rest of the crocks go. – To a bomb proof job at Divn. – O.C. tells me to report to C.R.E. tomorrow & be asst. to Wilkes. – Can't say I'm sore about it tho I hate to leave the Co'y. – Still it's a change & a chance to broaden out a bit while learning the inner workings of the mysteries of Hdrs. – Rode into ARRAS with Waddy this aft.

Fine

Reported to C.R.E. about 10.30 A.M. & was told that there was lots of work for me to do, but haven't noticed it yet. – Messing with #2 co'y. - C.R.E. has applied to the Genl for my transfer to an A.T. co’y but I think I would rather stick here. My only trouble now is the number of prematures pulled off by the two 6” Navals behind us. – Fritz fairly busy with his planes & brought down the ballon at ECURIE. –

-75

Cloudy

Didn't hurry about getting out but at that was able to look in at the office before any one was around. – Chased out of the place to go up to AUSBURGER & see Kneelands – Had lunch up there.

On an important job now. – Building a hut for the G.O.C. – Fether came in this aft. – Said he had heard there was a job being made for me. – They seem very considerate – Wish they'd send me to Blitey & be done with it.

-10 (-85)

Fine

2nd Bde went after ARLEUX at 4.40 A.M. – All objectives taken. – Tony Reid wounded in the face – Nothing known of Joe Edwards – hoping "no news good news" all day but still no report at all tonight. – Over 300 prisoners. – People on rt. having a hard time round OPPY – From reports to-night a party seems to be cut off in there & Fritz is still in possession of the woods to west. Rushed work on Gen's hut & completed at dark. Wilkes went into BETHUNE. Memo from C.E. posts me to C.E.P.B. unit. – Don't like the sound. – Broke even to-night.

± (-85)

Warm

Putting finishing touches on the G.O.C.'s hut. – He seems quite happy in there.

Joe's body was found last night. – Pretty well smashed up, – he never knew what happened I guess. – Had lunch up at #3 – Wilkes went in to BRUAY so I stuck around the office & wrote the odd letter. #1 co'y relieved in the line by #2 and came back to the Labyrinth, so I changed my messing. – Only hope its not so expensive with them as with #2

Fine & warm

Two more huts wanted & the Col. promised them for to-morrow noon. – Got a gang on about 1 P.M. but didn't really get started till after three. – Kept at it till dark, so couldn't get down to Joe's funeral. – He was buried at ECOIVRES & nearly every one was there. – He had lots of friends for you couldn't help liking him. Roosevelt has his wish at last. – He has been given permission to raise a Div. for service in Europe. – States are putting compulsory measures thro as we should have done long ago.