Hard frost during night which added to the discomfort of the troops.
In afternoon the Germans shell our trench most unmercifully. Hell let loose. Hundreds of casualties. Dugouts blown up in the air, trees smashed down. Shells, trench mortar bombs, aerial torpedoes & other missiles employed.
We go up to bird cage trenches. Raining & troops miserable. The bursting of trench mortar bombs and grenades make vivid flashes and a deafening noise.
Boys have wet feet. Pvt Forster killed.
Wounded – Pvt Smith, Mason & ..
Friday 24 March 1916 – snow
“Zillebeke Village [view of the ruins]” Public domain via Vancouver Archives http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/zillebeke-village-view-of-ruins
The whole district is in its winter clothing.
Troops very miserable. No dry wood for cooking. Young Baker and I go to an old dilapidated farm & get some. We are under fire & ‘tis against orders to go but – ?
Late in the afternoon Boulanger & I go into Zillebeke. Visit church lots of tombstones broken & fallen down by shellfire. A shell unearths a vault which shows the embalmed body of a being encased in zinc coffin. Also body of Baroness J.M.A.C.G. de Vinck de Winez etc., etc. Heavy shelling all night also trench mortars. Hell on earth.
Thursday 23 March 1916 – snow
A cold wet miserable day.
Severe shelling by both sides accompanied with trench mortars & rifle grenades make the whole scene a perfect hell.
The snow comes down in small flakes but does not stick.
Eleven of the 42nd rifle suffer, six C.M.R.’s.
I got to headquarters & brigade Hqs & go through Zillebeke also pass by Zillebeke lake. A mile long shells are bursting all around. Am saved nasty head wound by wearing steel helmet.
*Rifle Grenade – Grenades that could be fired from a rifle thus increasing their effective range. During World War One, specialized grenades were attached to rods that had to be inserted into the barrel of a rifle. A blank cartridge was fired to propel the grenade towards the enemy.
Wednesday 22 March 1916 – drizzle
Up at 7 am. Rum issue at 7:30 am. Am on trench police duty, bullets flying everywhere. One of the C.M.R.’s pass me on stretcher – shot through lung by sniper – small chance of recovery.
‘Tis raining again, a most miserable day with a good depth of filthy mud. Our dugouts have been well battered by shells all morning until 3 PM. The Huns rain shells in on us.
Tuesday 21 March 1916 – mist, rain
The C.M.R. transport are blown up by shells.
Battn moves to Bde reserve via Kruystraat [sic]. Ypres at 5 PM at Zillebeke (sanctuary woods).
Rained a drizzly rain & all troops wet thru. Lost our way. Back to village of Zillebeke. Entered long line of trenches halted in middle. Boys tired (10 PM) laid down in mud. Rain beat down on faces, bullets flying everywhere also shells. Company absolutely fed up. Many fell down shell holes. Enter very small dugouts at 10:30 PM. Sleep with knees up all night out there. Dugouts for 2 had to take 4. Absolutely rotten management.
Our battalion open up with terrific bombardment.
*Sanctuary Woods – Just east of Ypres, the wood was named by British soldiers in 1914 as it was used to shelter troops. Canadian troops were stationed here during 1916 and the woods were defended by Canadians from the Germans during the Battle of Mount Sorrel.
Monday 20 March 1916 – fine
My [rucksack?] is carried by transport wagon. I march with Coy. to Ouderdom near Poperinghe encamped in huts.
Many aeroplane fights.
Huns shell Dickebusch and Ypres all afternoon.
Bombs from German aeroplane drop near our huts.
No casualties.
*Poperinghe- One of only two towns in Belgium that was not under German occupation during WWI. It was used to billet troops just behind the front lines and as a safe area for hospitals.
Sunday 19 March 1916
Inoculation very sore & in state of fever.
Srgt [Shivers?] & Holt also Ostrum go on leave to Eng.
Saturday 18 March 1916 – fine
Inoculated against trench fever.
Battalion inspected by General Alderson previous to going to Ypres.
*Trench Fever – A disease transmitted by body lice caused by a bacterium that lives in the stomach walls of the lice. The symptoms include high fever, headache, and sore leg or back muscles. The poor conditions of life in the trenches caused a huge number of cases during the war. In fact during 1915 to 1918 one fifth to one third of British troops reported ill had trench fever. Antibiotics can be used to treat trench fever no effective treatment or inoculation was available during the war.
Friday 17 March 1916
Aeroplane fight by dozen.
Busy all day h-cutting
Thursday 16 March 1916
[no entry]
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