At work on map sketching in doctor’s apartment & afterwards in officer’s mess.
Pte. Leyman of Fort William comes over from the 8th Battn to see me.
Many bombs are dropped on Poperinghe.
A gas attack on front line.
Tuesday 25 April 1916 – very warm
A party of snipers & machine gun men of ours fire at 5 enemy aeroplanes which come over our camp at 4 am.
Sergt. Forbes of machine gun section gets commission in PPs.
Pte. Elliott is killed & Pte. Wilson, Wilson & Sykes are wounded by shell when at Zillebeke Lake on trench work.
Monday 24 April 1916
Early morning 5 bombs dropped by enemy airmen 2 burst over RCR’s camp killing 4, wounding 11.
Our dispatch rider Pte. Stewart meets with bad accident crashes into automobile when cycling smashes base of skull.
Sunday 23 April 1916
Score of aeroplane fights.
The 60th Battn. lost 150 casualties in four days.
Church voluntary at YMCA.
Saturday 22 April 1916 – rain
It rains all day most unmercifully absolute wretchedness prevails. Colonel Buller lines up the troops & praises them for good work done at Hooge & Ypres Salient expect Huns to break thru at St Eloi.
Friday 21 April 1916 – rain
A day of rest but ‘tis raining hard.
A fierce bombardment rages all night as it rains dreadfully.
Our losses at Hooge are 56 (casualties) 17 killed, 39 wounded (7 old Pats).
*Hooge, Belgium – Is the site of a Chateau that was used as Divisional Headquarters for the Allies at the beginning of WWI. The village changed hands multiple times during the war and was also the site of a huge crater from the detonation of a British mine. Craters were tactically important on flat battlegrounds as they provided cover for troops.
Thursday 20 April 1916 – rain
Battn is relieved by 60th Battn Canadians in pouring rain & well-stirred mud. Plentiful supply of shells are falling. No. 3 & 4 take train outside Ypres for a place between Vlamertinghe & Poperinghe then march to D camp in long rubber boots on a bad road. Arrvd in camp at 5 am & slept till afternoon dog-tired.
Russians capture Trebizond.
*The Trebizond Campaign – After a series of naval and land operations beginning on February 5th 1916 Russian Troops were able to push the Ottomans away from the ancient port city of Trebizond. It was captured on the 15th of April 1916 as Ottoman troops abandoned the city during the night.
Wednesday 19 April 1916 – rain
Regimental Sergt. Major S. Godfrey & his servant Pte. Boulter are killed in the RSM dugout, CSM Pritchard is badly wounded. A six inch shell penetrates it and smashes dugout to pieces. Boulter’s head is blown clean off.
The rain causes much misery. The exposures to the elements are very trying. German snipers are very accurate & take toll on our men. Pass an awful night in shell hole.
Tuesday 18 April 1916 – rain
Conditions most horrible in the trenches. 48 hours in a shell hole without cover & cannot move around. Our casualties are totalling up & now reach 10 killed.
I go to no man’s land & sketch.
Monday 17 April 1916 – rain
Sketching all day.
Vlamertinghe is heavily shelled.
Receive parcel from Kate Draycot. West Hallam.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- …
- 145
- Next Page »
