February 1917

Still chillsome. Fine & clear.

Made a short tour of the line & caled in at the O.P. – Gordon Thom was registering so gave him a hand to land on the church in St. Pierre. – Finally drifted one in right over the end window. – Fritz has a cookhouse right there someplace. – The 5.9’s are going after that Minnie by the Crassier. In fact they went after it. – Fritz came back in a little but he doesn’t retaliate very much. – One whizz-bang got into Ross’ party at the cor. of Edgeware & Support. – 2 killed 6 wounded. – Pretty big bag for one.

Leave is on again. – Inter co’y relief.

Still cold.

Nothing particular on. – Sent some of the boys down to the Fosse with Williams to get an anvil so that Parker can keep the picks in shape.

Not quite so cold.

Before the parties were off this A.M. a couple of sleuths up from the mine looking for their anvil. – They’d miss a blade of grass & put in a claim for it. – The O.C. came up about 10.30 for a tour around. – Looked over some of the N.F. Pioneer work & it’s nothing to write home about. – Dropped in to Bn H.Q. to look over aero photos & then came back to lunch. – Finnie excelled himself on his pie made from the frozen ones which arr’d yesterday. – Williams was away to Bethune so had a great old confab. with the boss. Evidently Mac. isn’t having things his own way over in Blitey. – Bill Lindsay is over there raising cain & refuses to send over people who have been asked for by name. Pete came up tonight, so got all the gossip over the fire instead of going out. – Personally I don’t give a hoot if Bill Lindsay blocks the scheme as far as going to Blitey is concerned. – I’m satisfied if not flattered to know that Mac asked for me. – I must have more or less made good in the last year.

Quite as cold.

Battalion relief, so had lunch & breakfast together. – Boswell came up during the aft. & have been busy instructing him in the duties of a sapper officer in the line. – Went for a short tour of H.Q.’s – Bn. & Co’y in the line. – McTiers dugout has quote a hospitable atmosphere. – Sinclair is quieter. – Didn’t go out this eve. – News direct from Brigade (cookhouse says that diplomatic relations between the U.S. & germany have been broken off.

Same.

Had to roll out early & show Bull how the parties are despatched. – After brekker we called at Bn. H.Q. & took Col. McCuaig around the line. – He is a pretty level-headed duck, – knows what he wants. – He called in to see us after lunch & we discussed the whole war. – Yesterday’s rumour of the break between U.S. & Germany confirmed by communiqué & papers to-day – Wilson’s speech to Congress is about his usual line of stuff. Bernstorff & his staff at WASHINGTON were given their passports on Saturday aft. American interested in Berlin handed over to Netherlands. – It had to come I suppose, but we can handle this little job quite well without Yankee interference one way or the other. Took Bull around again tonight. – Wasted a lot of time in Melrose’s Hdqrs. – Read a good “sapper” yarn in Pearson's when I came in. – Had our cocoa + retired. – Heavy strafing in direction of LaBasée.

Tired of talking about it.

Rose leisurely & had brekker. – Cleaned up one or two odd jobs & got back to the mess at Bully in time for lunch. Wallis blew in, just back from leave & what with his yarns of doings in town & the new records he brought back, I am filled with an intense longing to be on leave once more myself. – If things keep on running the way they are now, I should make it O.K. early next month. – Wish I knew if there really was any possible chance of Squib being over. Had a letter from K. Jennings to-day with tales of extended leave, – sprawling in front of big fires etc. & here I am, back in a cold room, above the mess. – Can just imagine a 4.1 poking its nose thro’ the roof + disturbing my beauty sleep. – What will disturn it more is the 9.2 near there that shakes the place to pieces every time it goes off. – Should have persuaded the Maj. to let me stay up forward. – Anyhow I managed to get a hair-cut & bath this aft + not before I needed them either.

– No particular news of the U.S.’ doings in the papers today. – Just a lot of expressions of sentiment. – Don’t expect they will put a force in the field.

Cold.

Wilson let the fire out so it’s none too steam-heated up here to-night. – Have been loafing all day. – Cummings came down from the line at noon & cleared for Blitey this eve’g. – Went down to the #2 with him this aft. – Saw Bruce, Leger & Bate. – Met the latter for the first time & brought him back to dinner. – Had asked Craig over but he sent his regrets. – Pete was to have come up from the horse-lines but failed to appear. – After dinner some of the 3rd Tok Emmer bunch blew in & as usual, the host gave the party. – I’d better stay up the line. – The Major was away to a gas & flammenwerfer demonstration to-day. – I guess we have Fritz beaten at his own game. – Wonder if I’ll get the next tour in with the 14th. – Might be a chance to square myself as there will be dirty work at the cross-roads. – Fritz was very active with Minnies last night. – No new Yankee news.

Cold & dusty.

Have just completed a report in 4 parts on the new pattern steel helmet with steel mesh visor. – Can’t say I think much of it myself tho it will be a protection from splinters. – What with the frost & dust I feel a bit off color to-night & won’t be long getting into the old flea-bag. – Leave is off again & the mail is deucedly irregular. – Subs in the channel I suppose. – Rumours that only grub & munitions will be shipped across. – That being the case we’ll have to start something & end the war pretty quick. – We can’t get on without our extras & parcels from home. Being orderly dog today I took the boys out for a young route march this A.M. – Called at 8th + 1st Btys. this aft. & saw Dooley & Ham.

Not quite.

Going to get to bed early tonight. Went back to Sains & had lunch with Pete & Pay. – Proceeded to Hersin & saw Joe & Haigh at CUP YARD. – Called for Pete on the way back & he came up for dinner – The Beer-Emmer (Paul) dropped in for tea. – Seemed to talk quite rationally. – Had a mess meeting after dinner & then Pete & I went around to visit Clan O'Leary. – Didn’t stay long & here I am. – Quite a strafe going on a little bit north during the evening. Old Fritz hasn't had much rest lately. – Raids all along the line & GRANDCOURT defences taken according to papers (8th) to hand today – No more recent news. Twenty-seven ships torpedoed in first 24 hrs. after the Huns new dictum took place. – They will suffer for it yet. – Letter from Charley, dated 4th. – Was to be proposed, & balloted on the 5th. – Suppose I'll be due to ride the goat if ever get any more leave. – Between that & calling on George I’ll have my hands full. – Birkett + Bell were told they'd lose seniority if sent to Blitey for instructional work. – That wouldn't worry me.

A bit milder.

A proper day of rest. – Wilson brought up my brekker about 9. – I rolled out about 10 & took the church parade at 10.45. – Mac the sly dog went up the line. – Moffit’s preaching wasn’t so bad today but he can’t come up to Shires as a padre. – The O.C. asked him over to lunch. – Slept most of the aft & wrote a couple of letters. – No mail. – Had planned a little trip tomorrow, to see if Ernie or Clint was in the vicinity but Col. McCuaig came around this eve’g & wants some of his mob coached in wiring so it’s up to Rusty in the morning. – Have to take over Mac’s work on Reserve Lines the following day. Looks like Wilson was going to crawl again. Another heavy strafe going on a bit to the left this eve’g.

The O.C. & I went down to dinner at #2 co’y. – Quite an affair. – Among those present. – Hertzy, The Doc. – Bruce Ross – Guy – Bate, Leger, Tett, Teddy Birkett, the owner of the billet, Pete – A new chat to the 1st + the 2nd Entr. fellow who lives at #2. – The dinner of course was to commemorate the arrival in France of the 1st Divl Engrs. – Turned into a regular bouquet throwing contest. – Everyone on his hind legs making speeches or cocktails.

Spent the early part of the day teaching the 13th how to string wire. Took over the Reserve Line work from Mac + went up to the Maroc side tonight.

Wiring this forenoon. – This aft Platts + I went up over the line as it’s too dark to see what’s going on at night. – Big mail. Flock of parcels. Heavy strafes around the Crassier tonight.

Mild – Froze up at night.

Can hardly keep my eyes open but as Mackie hasn’t appeared yet with the night reports it must be done somehow. – Nothing to report on the western front. – That damned Minnie is raising such a racket I can’t write straight. – Last night’s strafes turned out to be nothing more than strafes. – Fritz never even attempted to come over. – Saw Tommy Williams today, but not to speak to C.R.E. – Fether came up. – Fosse II people are after that anvil. – Pickers. – Mac got his War Loan to-day – Wish I had half what I spent last leave to put in it. Had dinner at Calonne with him as I went up early with Mackie. – The gramaphone’s gone on the bum again. DOUG HAIG SAYS THIS IS THE YEAR OF VICTORY. – Though not necessarily the year of Peace. – The victory will be decided on the WESTERN FRONT (Wow) where the Boshe line will be penetrated in several paces ( wow-wow) – I’m a peace loving citizen myself.

Much milder – Dash of rain.

The usual strafe just over. – Peace reigns on the western Front, in so far as the sector between LOOS & SOUCHEZ is concerned. A little nice warm rain is going to play the devil with things in general.

Had brekker in bed. – All same Dranoutre & didn’t show much life till noon. Drifted round the Reserve line early this eve’g & then went down to dine at C-co’y 18th with Melrose & his cohorts. – Donald, Plante, Hebden, Irving, McGuire, + McDiarmid. – They had a fairly lively time last night so were quite willing to be quiet tonight. The O.C. went down to the CREs this aft – big changes to take place soon. – What with the forming of the 5th Divn + filling vacancies here there should be some shifting in the seniority list. Sent away for twenty five quid worth of War Loan today. Just realized that two years ago tonight I joined the bally army.

Mild – Rain.

A new family moved into the vacant house across the road last night. – A 6” How outfit fresh from Blitey. – Am afraid they will be noisy neighbors. – Some great studies for B.B. amongst them. – Another nice quiet evening bust up by the entrance of Clan O’Leary – “Introducing the good old game of Diddlum Buck “ – The more you put down the less you pick up. etc. – They had another premature tonight which greatly worried Harry. – They’ve had a bunch lately. Had the little gunner johnny from the new outfit into tea. – Nice chatty boy – new out & full of pep. – It’s a treat to talk to that sort – Has already offered us free use of their sidecars. Had the bots down doing a bit of shooting this aft.

Raining to-night. – Just a gentle drip but steady. – Here goes out front line, – also most of the C.T.s 12 officers & 761 O.R. taken on the Ancre today

Raw.

Slept in as a Christian should on a Sunday morning, so missed a sermon by Moffit. – After breakfast in bed, I managed to find energy enough to go down to #2 + enjoy their lovely bath-tub. – Of course the time I go away is the time I’m sure to be wanted. – Emergency call – CALONNE C.T.s tumbling in as frost comes out. – Rush parts out this fat. – Can’t do much but dig out as fast as they fall. – Only just realized the significance of the “rat-traps” Fether was talking to Bruce about when I was down there this am. – This evening is the first quiet time there has been for some weeks.

Moist.

Being a nice misty day Cpl. Mackie & I explored the Reserve Line wire. – Extra gangs busy on C.T.s which are in pretty poor shape & will be worse before frost is all out of the ground. – Had a touch of the rats this aft. – Every one out, & nothing to read so went for a prowl. – Had rather a surprise at dinner when the O.C. told me to take a trip to BETHUNE tomorrow & get the gramaphone fixed. – Visited 252 Bty après dinner & arranged with Ashworth to make the voyage on his bus. – They seem to have a very decent bunch down there.

Sgt. Ward rejoined the Co’y to-day. – Platts was very worried lest he should have to return to #3 sec. but fixed it with the O.C. – Evidently we are to shift from here shortly – out, down, in, & over I suppose. In the meantime, #4 sec. will relieve #3 on the night of the 21st 22nd. Cummings due back tonight.

Rain

A trifle fatigued this eve. – Following the O.C.s instructions I proceeded to BETHUNE this morning with Ashworth. – Beastly wet. – As far as the Decca is concerned, the trip was a frost, for altho I managed to get a new spring it refuses to speed up. – There’s an awful fetching youngster at the music shop tho’ – Real “Vie Parisienne” stuff tho a trifle more modest. – After lunch at the Club, did a bit of shopping and had my phiz pulled, looking as tough as possible (not much effort required) – Arrived home safe & sound. – Ashworth & his O.C. came in to dinner & had a game of bridge. Awfully quiet tonight – Am sure Fritz must hear that old train puffing away down by the Fosse.

Foggy

Here we are, in the war zone once more, & she’s a beaut. – Waist deep in most of the C.T’s + getting worse every minute. – Col. McCuaig started out to visit the front line Co’y’s to-night – got mired & came in utterly exhausted – Has very kindly asked me to mess with them at Hdqs – Can’t very well turn down the bid but it’s a bit of a bore & they will only be in one more day. – They are a jolly fine bunch in the 13th & for hospitality can’t be beaten. – Bull & I went down to dinner there this eve’g & had a game afterwards. – No use going out to the parties tonight. – Pitch dark & heavy fog.

Fine. MAROC.

Nothing particular doing so went down to the Co’y for lunch. – Bull gave me dope on the relief. – Went around by the heavy battery – saw Ashworth. – He came up to tea later. – Atkinson also dropped in. – Had to leave then & go over to the 14th. Powell wants the gap wired up where Fritz came thro’ last night. – Made arrangements to do it. – Switched sappers & all that sort of thing & got it all squared away as I thought & then found that the co’y in the line had done damn all & nobody knew anything. – Finally got a green party & was just going to get them out about 12.30 when Fritz got windy + started something. – Stood in the cover of a travase[?] with my knees knocking together till he quit + then came home. 5 A.M.

Written up sometime afterwards.

C.C.S. & Hospl. Train

Feeling rather seedy so was loaded on the train as a stretcher case.