Enemy aeroplane flies very low last night dropping bombs on Neuville St. Vaast & machine gun firing.
1st Canadian Division capture village of Fresnay after severe fighting.
L/c White goes to Paris on leave.
Archives for 2017
Wednesday 2 May 1917
One of our ‘planes came down under control in a field both pilot & observer slightly wounded. Machine perforated with bullet holes. Oil valve pierced by bullet, propeller also. Steering gear jammed in fact a most narrow escape for both men. Observer claimed he brought down two Huns during the day. Machine was an old DeHavilland but reliable.
4 of our Triplanes bring down 5 Huns. All ours returned safely. There were 7 Huns all told. The others “beat it”.
Tuesday 1 May 1917
Enemy shell La Targette.
In early morning there are many air fights. Our planes bring down 3 enemy’s. S.M. Douglas walks from La Targette transport lines to Villers au Bois. Outside Villers au Bois some of our planes are manoeuvring when a collision takes place between two planes resulting in one having a wing & propeller blade torn off. He descends rapidly and crashes with an awful thud. Both men are dead smashed & twisted. Awful sight. Later in afternoon one of our Farmans descends riddled with bullets & a corporal wounded. He brought down two of enemy.
Monday 30 April 1917
Enemy shell Vimy & the pits. Only a few gas shells come over.
Am very busy all day on a/c of handing over to 9th Brigade. Enemy machine falls in flames near Thelus. Douglas & I make our way back to La Targette via Bois de [Bouval…] – Arras Road & Neuville St. Vaast. Sleep night @ Transport Lines with Sergts. Baker, Scott & Smith. Absolute Hell is going on around Arleux & Oppy villages.
Sunday 29 April 1917
Baxter & I take tour round lines & [Forse] No. I visiting enemy ‘vacated’ gun pits & dugouts. Study their method of construction.
Enemy pounds Vimy with heavy & medium artillery.
Our shells set fire to many building in Mericourt, one of which burnt itself clean out. French permission to shell Mericourt has to be obtained from the French liaison officer. Done.
Saturday 28 April 1917
Knowling goes to Hospital.
Canadians take Arleux in Gohelle & part of Oppy. 300 prisoners.
A new man for draughting office comes in place of White. Welcome. His name is Carlile.
Enemy counter attack in Oppy.
Friday 27 April 1917
Enemy burst open the canal bank & flood area S. West of Lens. We can plainly see it from Vimy. One of our ‘planes brought down in nose dive on Vimy Ridge.
Enemy put heavy fire all around us.
Thursday 26 April 1917
White is shell shocked so the whole work is left with me.
Enemy heavily shell our battery positions at Vimy.
Enemy ‘plane brings down one of our machines of Bristol type, old pattern. It falls near Vimy. I rush over & help observer out of machine & bandage severe gash in left cheek. His name is Lt. Mercer. The pilot is untouched but shaken. Machine a total wreck. Struck large tree in descent.
*Shellshock was the blanket term applied by contemporaries to those soldiers who broke down under the strain of war…. (It) was often held by medical professionals to be the result of physical damage to the brain by the shock of exploding shells. Military authorities often saw its symptoms as expressions of cowardice or lack of moral character. Its true cause, prolonged exposure to the stress of combat, would not be fully understood or effectively treated during the war.
Wednesday 25 April 1917
Lt. Montgomery is wounded.
Enemy heavily shell our batteries & put 2 out of action. An enemy plane came over our lines in morning & located the battery positions.
Tuesday 24 April 1917
No entry
*Second Battle of the Scarpe in progress near Arras.
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