Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

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[Aug 15th 1917] only disturbed by one shell which dropped 100 yards away.
Aug 16th. A noisy night as there was a heavy bombardment and we were due to attack early this morning. The attack seems to have been mostly a failure. We had a Concert in the evening and while this was going on an Orderly came to say that we must be ready to move at a moment’s notice.
Aug 17th. We had a comfortable move as we did not start till 9 a.m. and then marched to Dickebusch where we stopped for dinner. We left again at 5 p.m. and went by half platoons to trenches E of Zillebeke. We got on very well till near Zillebeke when the Boche started shelling the road. We went into shell holes close by and waited. Some shells came close by and mixed with the H.E. were gas shells, both lachrymatory and chlorine. We got some strong whiffs of the latter which burnt the throat and made one feel very sick. After much delay the remainder of the column came on but the guides for us had disappeared after the shelling. Meanwhile some mustard oil shells came over and we all had to put on our respirators. Eventually the men were all put in trenches but were terribly crowded. We found out our dug out which was deep, very wet and very overcrowded. However we were quite safe though uncomfortable and shared the dug out with the Shropshires and a Bde H.Q.
Aug 18th. A beautiful morning. I was up at 4 a.m. and went up to the front line to have a general look round with Stucks/Sterks. It was very interesting seeing all the ground that I had been over in 1914 but now it was absolutely unrecognizable. The country was ghastly, not a leaf or a blade of grass anywhere only shell holes full of water. Horrible smells and sights. The morning hour was quite quiet but the Boche started shelling as soon as we got to Bt H.Q. & he shelled us steadily all day with 5.9’s & 8”. Very noisy and most unpleasant.
Aug 19th. The weather is luckily fine and sunny, so that the country is drying up well. The heavy shelling all day and night caused us

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[Aug 5th 1917] had a C.O.’s conference in the afternoon and are due to move the following day.
Aug 6th. Started off at 8 a. m. It was luckily a cool and cloudy morning and it was not till the end of our 10 ½ mile march that it got hot. No one fell out till the last few hundred yards. Our billets are very scattered in farm houses all over the country and it would take a couple of hours to walk all round them. We had a fight with the Shropshires over one good billet, but Lacey’s persuasive argument prevailed with the Brigade and though it was really theirs we got it.
Aug 7th. A quiet day. Practised with Yukon packs in the morning, very useful. A good outdoor Concert in the evening.
Aug 9th. We are still in the same place. G.H.Q. are evidently anxious not to put us into the line but to keep us for a big attack as we are fresh troops and have had a good rest. During the night the Railway yards were bombed, some of them fell quite close to us and broke some windows, but very little damage was done. Hazebrouck was bombed at the same time and shelled by a 17 inch Naval gun – a colossal thing. Each shot demolishes three or four houses. It was a sad sight to see all the women and children fleeing from the town in every direction some with only a few clothes on and looking terrified. I was disgusted to see men from the Army Ordnance Corps flying too along the roads. They are all embusques and I hope will get often shelled. The men told them what they thought of them and so did the Brigadier. I was quite ashamed of them.
Aug 15th. The weather continues very bad constant heavy thunderstorms and the condition of the country side is very wet. We remained at our last billets till this morning. The last night was very sleepless as most extraordinary orders kept coming in all through the night. However we got off in time at 7.20 a. m. and marched to Borre where the whole Brigade embussed. We were a fine convoy of 177 busses, which brought us quickly up to Poperinge where we got out in very heavy rain and then marched some 6 kils to our new camps near ?Outerdon. It being my birthday we had an extra good dinner

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[July 23rd 1917] shell holes in every direction. A Brigadier and his Brigade Major were both killed on the road we were on. We had luck and managed to avoid the shells and after a very long walk arrived back to find that the bus had gone. However in time we found some empty lorries and climbing on to them we came home very weary.
July 24th. Had an early start and practised an attack before the Brigadier. It was a very hot sultry morning.
July 25th. The Russian news is very bad and the papers are most depressing. Steady rain all the morning.
July 30th. Lunched at Corps H. Q. with Willan and then got a car and went on to Dunkirk to see the 2nd Bt. They had been made up to strength again and were in good form. We dined there and motored back after dinner.
July 31st. We have to stand by to move at a moments notice. The big attack has begun early this morning and the noise of the guns is unceasing. The weather is however very bad.
Aug 3rd. We are still here and have not moved. It has rained steadily since the 31st and the mud everywhere is awful making movement quite impossible. Providence is certainly on the side of the Boche. In the afternoon I had a very wet drive to Hazebrouck to try and buy canteen goods. I only succeeded in buying some wine. On the way back  went to Cassel to see Charles Butler who is on 2nd Army H. Q. He told me much that was interesting and gave us our moves.
Aug 4th. Another very wet day. Gave a lecture to all Officers and N.C.O.’s in the morning and after lunch rode over to see 7th Bt who were all very flourishing. Stopped there during a very heavy thunderstorm and then rode back over by  roads that were only torrents. Wood was suddenly taken ill with appendicitis this afternoon and has had to go to Hospital to be operated on at once.
Aug 5th. A fairly fine day but the ground did not dry up much. Many men are I believe being drowned in the trenches and others are so stuck that they are unable to be brought out. Several wounded are I am afraid like that and have been stuck in the mud for 48 hours. We

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[July 15th 1917] the 7th Bt and after tea rode on through Kemmel to the Wytchaete ridge whence we had a grand view over the Boche lines and to the towns behind them. We had not been there long when several shells came very close, as we had evidently been seen. The desolation and ruin all around was dreadful. It was almost impossible to find the site of the village – not one stone remains upon another. Chestermaster who commands our 13th Bt came to dinner and then we had an open air Concert afterwards.
July 16th. Another quiet night. Went for a ride in the afternoon and saw a Boche plane attack four of our Kite balloons. The crew dropped out in parachutes at once but the balloons were not brought down.
July 21st. No great excitement during the last five days. We are still at the same place. One day I lunched with Rennie, Seymour and Chestermaster were there too, so that there were 4 C.O.’s of Rifle Battalions there together and we then and there drew up a programme of sports and football. These were held on our ground on the 21st and were most successful. Many came from the 18th & 21st Bts and the whole of the 7th, 8th and 13th Bts marched over. It was a unique occasion and everyone was very pleased at meeting so many old friends. One afternoon I rode up to the top of Kemmel Hill to view the bombardment which began two days ago. It was a magnificent sight as we could see right up to Ostend. Ypres seemed almost at ones feet and the chimneys of Lille appeared clear on the horizon.
July 23rd. We went to reconnoitre the line that we are soon to take over. We went by bus to Voormezeele and then had a long and dusty walk across country to Brigade H.Q. which were in a tunnel. Just as we approached the Boche started shelling and we hurried inside. As he continued shelling we went up the tunnel for about 800 yards and then across country to Battalion H.Q. It was the most desolate and dreadful looking country that I have ever seen. Once it was covered with woods, now there are only grey tree stumps four or five feet high, not a leaf or a blade of grass anywhere, only miles of craters &

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[July 6th 1917] quality however have completed us up to strength. On the 5th we had to send away a guard of honour to Bavincourt for the King. We were specially selected out of the Division as being the smartest Battalion which is a great honour.
July 12th. On the 10th we received our orders to move North and on the 12th we marched to Candas 9 ½ miles where we entrained. It was a very hot morning and the men were rather exhausted as they were carrying heavy packs. The train journey was quite quick and we actually left Candas at the appointed time. The men were packed 40 or more in cattle trucks and after a seven hours train journey we detrained at Bailleul where we had another march of three miles to our camp on the far side of the Town. We are all crowded together in a small field, but for H. Q. we have room in the farm house.
July 13th. We were woken up during the night by bombs being dropped on the Station. Luckily none came near our camp. Soon afterwards a long range gun shelled Bailleul. In the afternoon Lacey and I went for a very nice ride and climbed up to the top of Kemmel Hill where we had a very fine view over Messines and the German lines beyond.
July 14th. A rather noisy night and many bombs were dropped around. The Archies were very busy and a dynamo that works a searchlight just outside my window made sleep impossible. We started off for a route march at 7 a. m. and soon afterwards a shell from an 8 inch naval gun landed not 100 yards from us. Several more came over and it seemed to be going very close to our camp. On the route march we had a heavy thunderstorm and on returning to camp found that shells had landed on either side of our transport doing no damage and another had fallen close to our farmhouse, and a large piece had come in through the window and broke our only china tea pot.
July 15th. Very heavy rain during the night, so that there was no disturbance by aeroplanes. Rode over and had lunch and tea with

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[June 5th 1917] we had a very good concert.
June 6th. Still very hot. Ordinary parades. In the afternoon went to see a demonstration of Tanks. Sixteen did a sham attack on our old trenches in the F. Sector. It was quite interesting and there were crowds of spectators, mostly staff, who were evidently anxious to say that they had seen a tank. They were remarkably silent and could barely be heard a hundred yards away. Some also could go 7 to 8 miles per hour on favourable ground and their powers of rapid turning were very good. Just back to camp in time to avoid a dust storm and thunderstorm. The 7th Bt Band then played to us very nicely.
June 7th. An early rise. Spent the morning field firing. Weather very hot. The Brigadier & Div General were both watching. On arrival back in Camp found the Corps Commander making a tour of camps. Heavy thunderstorm in afternoon: then succeeded in collecting some very nice flowers in Beaurain. The Brigadier dined with us in the evening and came on to our concert. Hear that I am to go on leave to-morrow morning early.
June 8th. Left Beaurains at 7 a.m. in a car with Bruce and arrived at Boulogne at 10 a.m. and reached London 3 p.m. Pretty quite quick going.
July 6th. There is here a hiatus in my diary as I have been too lazy to write lately and there has been very little of interest to record. I returned from leave to England on June 19th getting back here in 7 ½ hours from London, which is very quick travelling. A car met us at Boulogne and took us direct back to our destination. Since then we have been resting in the village of Puchevillers, about 12 miles from Amiens. The whole time we have been very busy training, field firing etc and occupied with all sorts of Brigade Competitions in which we have done very well. The Concert Party performs every other night and what with a Cinema and other attractions in the village, the men have had plenty of amusements in the evening. The weather on the whole has been good and has interfered very little with the training. Drafts of very poor

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[May 30th 1917] has been trained to grow right into our house. The weather is warm and sunny, and as long as we are not much shelled it is very pleasant. Saw all the Companies during the afternoon. Towards evening a very heavy thunderstorm came on which flooded us all out and made the trenches horrible again.
May 31st. A fine day after the storm. C Coy were very unlucky in the morning getting five officers wounded by a shell. Two however were very slightly hit and could carry on. Otherwise the day was uneventful.
June 1st. Beautiful weather. The trenches are drying up nicely. Had a quiet day with very little shelling except at night when they put some over very close to our house.
June 2nd. A hot morning. Discovered some excellent asparagus beds in Wancourt, so sent over to collect some as well as gooseberries for making tarts and rhubarb. Lacy came back laden with irises, paconees, snowballs, weigalias, and day lilies.
June 3rd. Another glorious day. The Boche spent from 10 a. m. till 4 p. m. in firing at three batteries about 500 yards away from us on the other side of the valley. He was putting 8 inch shells into them and before lunch his shooting was extraordinarily good, he got four direct hits on the guns but no one was hurt. As he devoted his time to counter batterywork, we in the trenches had a quiet day. In the evening I walked into Wancourt and looked through all the gardens where there were many nice flowers and shrubs. At midnight our relief by the 6th Somersets began and we got back to trenches near Neuville Vitasse by 3 a. m.
June 4th. A hot cloudless day. What a blessing this weather is. We spent the day in support: very quiet and peaceful. I went inside a derelict tank and inspected it carefully. It looked most uncomfortable. In the evening we were relieved by the 7th Bt. We moved back to a camp near Beaurains. Scarcely had we got there before bombs began to drop  on other camps around us and we had to put all our lights out. There was nothing near our camp.
June 5th. A very hot and lazy day. The men were all employed in bathing and inspections. In the evening the Oxfords band played and

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[May 27th 1917] bombardment and on going upstairs found that it was on our front. All the telephone lines to Companies were broken and I could not get through to them. However the wireless set was working and our left Company said they were all right. After half an hour the bombardment quieted down, when some one said that the Boche had broken through. I could not see anything and did not believe it. An orderly of ours was however shot standing at the top of our dug out, another was missing and several dug outs close by were bombed. We collected everyone we could and started scouring the country. A Coy collected one officer and six men, all Prussians of the 31st Regt. The officer was badly wounded. I soon after went round the line which was fairly quiet. We had very few casualties considering the heaviness of the bombardment. The communication trenches were completely blown in but the front line was not much damaged. A quiet afternoon but suddenly about 11.30 p. m. another barrage was put up on our right. This did not last for long but it caught several working parties and caused many casualties. The Boche at the same time attempted a raid against the Battalion on our right but he never reached the trenches.
May 28th. A quiet day with very little shelling. Visited the right Company in the line in the morning. Kestrel Lane at one place was very unhealthy, shells falling on either side. There was much blood everywhere from the working party which were badly caught in it last night. The afternoon and evening were quite quiet.
May 29th. A few minutes after I had finished shaving outside two shells landed close to the entrance of our dug out killing two men and wounding another. One poor fellow was completely blown to pieces part of him landing 90 yards away at the mouth of the Sergt Major’s dug out. The weather continues fine and the trenches are nice and dry. We were relieved during the night by the 9th R.B. but did not get to our new H.Q. till 3 a.m. It was a quiet relief, no casualties.
May 30th. We have a shelter in a small dug out under the bank in Albatross in which to live. A May tree which is in full bloom

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[May 21st 1917] but nothing in the day time. There has been very heavy rain and the trenches are in an awful state of mud.
May 24th. A certain amount of shelling but very few casualties. We have a grand view over the country from our Headquarters. Certain places the Boche shells regularly and some batteries in the Coseul Valley have had a very poor time. One night the Boche sent over a number of gas shells. We also have gas appliances, but the wind has proved unfavourable, though we have had several alarms that it was going off. To-night the Boche has been shelling very heavily to the N. of the Coseul and I expect an attack there. We are to be relieved by the Ox and Bucks at midnight.
May 25th. We did not get away till 4 a. m. as the telephone lines were broken and we could get no news of C Coys relief. All Companies eventually got clear without a casualty, and we walked back in the early morning to our old H. Q. on April 10th. The day was very hot and the batteries near us had a poor time of it, being shelled nearly all day with 8”. I saw several direct hits and pieces of shell were flying about everywhere. The 10th Durhams relieved us in the evening and we moved back to Beauraine. While having dinner we were bombed by aeroplanes but no damage was done. After dinner the General came in and told me that instead of having a rest, I was to go and take over command of the 9th Battalion the following day as Henry Porter had been wounded. George Rennie had just come back so he took over the 7th Bt again after being away over six months.
May 26th. A very hot day and it was most pleasant to have a bath. Am very sorry to leave this Battalion where we have a very nice lot of Officers. Our Band played in the afternoon. I had only just started it and this was the first time it had played in public. They were quite good. After tea I rode up as far as Wancourt and then walked up to Battalion H. Q. We are now in the left sector which is not nearly as pleasant as the right sector. We have a deep dug out but there are so many in it that it is not very comfortable. We had a very quiet evening.
May 27th. Whitsunday. I was woken up at 2.30 a. m. by a heavy

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[May 16th 1917] dead Germans in a horrible state of decomposition. Weather misty, changing into rain which made the going very bad and slippery. Sent out two officers patrols one of which failed to return so I fear they must have been killed or captured.
May 17th. A very wet and dark night. It was hard work going around the line as the mud was very bad. The front line was however quieter.
May 18th. In the evening we captured two men and killed another. They were carrying two machine guns into a shell hole in front of their line. From the prisoners we got some very useful information with regard to all their machine guns and trench mortars, so that the following day we were able to put most of them out of action. The day was quiet but our guns were active. The weather and wind was unfavourable for the gas projectors and “Laycock” did not come off.
May 19th. Another prisoner of 8th Regt captured. He was seen in No Man’s land and chased and caught by some of our men. An NCO who had been lost on patrol the night before came in after spending all the day in a shell hole in front of the German line. He brought very useful information. The day was quiet, but the communication trenches were still very muddy. An attack by the VI th Corps took place on our left at 9 p.m. Our relief by the 8th Bt was not finished till 2.30 a.m. No casualties, though there was a certain amount of shelling.
May 20th. Very little sleep during the night as the 33rd Division on our right made an attack at 5.15 a. m. Our artillery co-operated but as it was very foggy we could see nothing. The attack yesterday evening was a failure and this one only partly successful. The day was very hot and I enjoyed basking in the sun outside the dug out. St. Aubyn came back with some lilac this evening. It shows that Spring has come. Towards nightfall it started to rain. I hear that Rennie is on his way out to the Battalion. No one ever thought that he would come back and after commanding it for six months, it is very bad luck to give it up again.
May 21st. Quiet days spent in support. Big working parties at night