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You are here: Home / 2016 / Archives for February 2016

Archives for February 2016

Saturday 19 February 1916

February 19, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Saturday_February_19_1916.mp3
Drizzly rain in morning. I go sniping with Private Mackenzie & bag 4 Huns, they retaliate when they find me & give me a few close calls. Pte. Colville wounded in hand by snipers & Corp. Milne killed (shot through head). My waterproof is pierced by bullets from snipers. We put up dummie head (turnip) & Huns land shots through. We locate sniper & my hun goes with 6 inch shell. I fire elephant gun with telescopic sight. Leave trenches at 4 PM with advanced party to Locre. Griggs goes on leave.


*Elephant Gun – A large Caliber rifle originally used by big game hunters to kill elephants. During WWI both English and Germans used elephant guns to defend their trenches. The English found them very efficient as a countermeasure against German snipers who would often use large plates of steel as cover. The elephant guns were able to penetrate the steel, killing or incapacitating the sniper in hiding. Elephant guns could also be used as anti-tank weapons as they were often able to penetrate lightly armored tanks.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: Corp. Milne, elephant gun, Huns, Locre, mp3, Pte. Colville

Friday 18 February 1916

February 18, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Snipers busy & effective quite a number of Scotchmen [sic] of 42nd Highlanders are lying dead & unburied in front of our trenches just as they fell. Heavy artillery bombs all day

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: 42nd Highlanders

Thursday 17 February 1916

February 17, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

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.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: General Macdonell, Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell

Wednesday 16 February 1916

February 16, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Still showery & gale blowing. Lieut. Van den Burg wounded in arm by sniper in full view of us. Cpl. Griggs, Rowley, Miller, Mackenzie and I work on building a dug out. Heavy shelling & sniping all day. Our artillery send German sniper sky high with high explosive.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: German

Tuesday 15 February 1916

February 15, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Tuesday_February_15_1916.mp3
Snow falls to depth of 2 inches. Heavy artillery bombardment by us (9.2 etc.) Company leaves for trenches firing line in drizzly rain. Am allotted isolated dug out in full view of Hun trenches. Have frightful cold in chest & head.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: Hun, mp3

Monday 14 February 1916

February 14, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Heavy bombardment by our artillery 9.2 [BL 9.2 inch Howitzer] etc. Very cold weather, heavy showers of rain, shelling at Ypres

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: Ypres

Sunday 13 February 1916

February 13, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Heavy artillery duel in morning. Scores of aeroplane battles take place. Huns failed in their invasion.
2nd MacGill bunch go on leave while old Pats have to take back seat – rotten!! numerous protests. CQMS [Company Quarter Master Sergeant] Beaton goes on leave. Shells fall all around us but none strike. I walk to Kemmel & Lindenhoek & back.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: 2nd MacGill, CQMS [Company Quarter Master Sergeant ], Huns, Kemmel, Lindenhoek

Saturday 12 February 1916 – rain and fair

February 12, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Early this morning the Huns take a few trenches from the British troops near Ypres. Our artillery pound the devil out of the Huns making hellish roar and din. We retake trenches. Aeroplane fights numerous all day.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: British, Huns, Ypres

Friday 11 February 1916

February 11, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

Wet and miserable, lots of mud. Private Mackenzie and I make tour of trenches. We are subject to pesky bombardment and snipering. Relieved by 49th Regiment at 6 PM and march to Kemmel hill to huts.
Major Grey goes to England on leave.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries Tagged With: 49th Regimen, Kemmel, Major Grey, Private Mackenzie

Thursday 10 February 1916

February 10, 2016 by Sarah McLennan

A very miserable night, snow in morning at 9 am, fairly quiet day. Usual bombardment.

Filed Under: 1916, Diary Entries

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