Left the temporary hospital here at Dickebush and taken in motor wagons to Bailleul. Here, I inoculated and go through awful agony. At night I cannot sleep and my breathing comes in painful gasps.
Friday 8 January 1915 – Rain and little sun
A night of fearful agony passed and morn breaks with a big gun salute from our battery and sniping from the German trenches. About 10 o’clock till dusk there is a horrible hellish bombardment and shells fall into our trenches. Rained heavy and some sun. Cold wet and terribly agonising. In the midst of this bombardment I am wounded by a shell, 11 am. Have to wait until 5:30 pm until I can be attended to. Then I have to put on my marching orders and take my rifle, (blind as I am) to the field dressing station. As we get out of the trench the German snipers keep up a rapid fire at us but luckily miss us. As we pass by the trench occupied by No. 5 platoon we hear the sickening sensation of a man groaning in his agony. He had been shot by a sniper and the bullet had penetrated his abdomen. He died later that night as also did Captain Newton of No. 3 Company who received a similar wound. Bullets were now flying thick around us and several of our men were shot. We reached the road, which was “shot to pieces” by large shells known to the troops as “Jack Johnsons” and “Black Marias”. Not being able to see clearly I naturally found out where the holes were located. When we reached the Village of Groote Vierstraat we found out to our surprise that no-one knew where the dressing station was. So I got a party together and left the offices and made for Dickebush. At two places on the way we asked to be attended to but they refused – too busy – so I made for an hotel and had coffee, chops and bread and then reported to the General Hospital at Dickebush where my eye was operated upon and some splinters taken out. I stayed here all night cold wet thro’ and shivering through exposure. I had to walk three miles to get attention; in agony, carrying a Rifle and accoutrements. I had not tasted biscuits nor bread for three days, living on Bully beef and jam.
*Jack Johnsons and Black Marias – High explosive shells from German artillery were nicknamed Black Marias or sometimes Jack Johnsons after the black US boxer who at the time was the heavyweight champion of the world. After impact these shells would burst with a large cloud of black smoke.
Thursday 7 January 1915 – Rain
Morning arrived and we still wallow in mud. Snipers are very busy and dangerous. The cannonading on both sides is awful but spectacular. Hell let loose.
Shells bursting all around, but luckily we had built a bomb proof shelter during the night. We get scant rations, bully beef and the biscuits we have in our haversacks. Other trenches have hot tea etc; we are unfortunate and have nothing.
Night comes on and also more suffering and sniping. Our gunners simply blow holes in the German trenches and killing many.
Men go out after dark a distance of a mile to draw rations, under a sniping fire. I am one of the party. Return but fall down many a hole. We keep a sharp lookout but “nothing doing”. Our suffering from cold and wet thro’ and no cover. Oh its really indescribable. The walls of the trench cave in and we have to work with our hands in the mud and throw it back again to build up the embankment. The Germans are firing all the time confound them and throwing out star shells which illuminate the ground as almost day. Lots of men groaning in agony with the cold and wet. It’s painful to hear them. Morning appears and I’ve had no sleep. (A one pound tin of Bully all day)
*Star Shells – Artillery shells used to illuminate the battlefield during the night. The shell’s contained a magnesium flair which would ignite and illuminate large portions of the ground below it. The shells were outfitted with a parachute to allow them to fall to earth more slowly thus providing light for a longer period of time. Star Shells were also sometimes used as signals.
Wednesday 6 January 1915
Roused early and on the march at 9:30 am. We marched 15 miles yesterday, but makes no odds, same again today. Boots are bad and toes are protruding. Feet wet thro’. Roads composed of cobble stones and bad to march on. At Bailleul the Germans fired on our troops from a church tower and killed quite a few. Quite a good many farmers working in the field only a little distance from the firing line and several people of all trades are in the towns. We encamp in a field for a few hours till dark then we are marched into the trenches under heavy rifle fire from both sides. We relieve the French troops. All night we stood to the loopholes and kept up a rapid fire. I silenced two German snipers who were very troublesome their aim was good and their bullets whistled uncomfortably near. I am stationed in front of a dead Frenchman and on my left in the trench is the body of another one. There are four more higher up. The trench is two feet full of mud but we have to wade thro’ it. No place to sleep so had to stay out in the open trench all night in the pouring rain. What a horrible night – indescribable-
*Bailleul – A town in northern France that was occupied by the German military for part of 1914. It was taken by the British later in the year and became a rear base for the western front along Flanders. The Germans re-took the town in 1918 but were forced to retreat after just three months due to relentless shelling by British and French troops.
*Loopholes – Loopholes allowed soldiers to look out of the trench without exposing their heads. Loopholes were built into the protective wall of the trench and could exist simply as a small gap in between sandbags or sometimes as more complex structures, such as a steel plate with holes to see through.
Tuesday 5 January 1915 – Rain
We move off from Blaringhem for somewhere. Troops very tired. Bad feet and bad boots.
Roads very bad for marching – cobble stones. Heavy marching order with skin fur coats. Oh what a load 55 to 60 pounds – many fall out. We camp at Meteren in a barn, no change of underwear until leaving Winchester. Getting bully beef and biscuits. Water bad. Again no sleep.
*Bully Beef – Corned Beef
Monday 4 January 1915 – Rain
Heavy bombarding around Armentieres and Lille. Our new move is cancelled. Retired to rest last night but ‘tis impossible wet clothes and wet feet. How I escape Rheumatics, colds, etc; is marvellous. Lot of men attending the doctor. Have not had my clothes off for over a fortnight –
“they are commencing to make themselves known”
*Fortnight – 2 weeks.
Saturday 2 January 1915 – Rain
Another wet miserable day with high wind. Major Gault arrives back from the trenches. He says the men are being pulled out of the muddy trenches, being unable to get out themselves, legs swollen with rheumatics. Men in trenches standing on their fallen dead comrades to avoid standing in the water which is thigh deep (your King and Country needs you?)
The Companies go out and dig more trenches in the rain and biting winds.
Our men have been paid and the usual drinking crimes are the result.
Friday 1 January 1915 – Rain
We receive orders to Parade outside the village of Blaringhem (Nord Department) at 12:35 pm for inspection by General Sir John French. We line up at our “hovel” at 12:35 pm (noon) and march 5 miles in full marching order to the parade ground (a sloppy field). We stand here for over an hour in the cold wind and rain when finally General French appears with his staff, arriving in Landau (automobile). He inspects our Brigade consisting of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifles, Shropshire Light Infantry and Rifle Brigade. Before dismissing us he (General French) says a few words to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry “Proud to have us in his command”. Knew we would acquit ourselves” etc; Arrived back at the “Hovel” at 5:30 pm in a drenching downpour. I am for guard duty again (twice in a week) and mount at 6 pm. My turns are from 8 to 10 pm and 2 till 4 am and 8 – 10 am and 2 to 4 pm. A wet cold miserable night with a high wind. I guard the Ammunition and horses of which (the latter) there are about 30 or 40. I find time passes quickly when looking after the poor beasts and adjusting their blankets. I am like the horses – without shelter. There was no bombardment last night.
*John French – A veteran officer from the Boer War, he was given Command of the British Expeditionary Force during the opening months of WWI. He clashed with those around him, first disagreeing with Lord Kitchener on a location for the deployment of British troops. With few successes in the early part of the war French’s leadership was criticized and he was relieved from the position in December of 1915.
Thursday 31 December 1914 – Showers
A cold windy & wet morning & we march again in full marching order to a place 6 miles away to dig trenches. It rains & we get wet thro’. The trenches are half full of water. We arrive back at 6 pm feeling absolutely all in. Sore feet sore head & sore hearts. We parade at 7:15 & after waiting an hour we receive 25 francs from the Paymaster, my first pay in the Regiment. Heavy bombarding during the night.
*All in – An Idiom for feeling exhausted
Wednesday 30 December 1914 – rain
A wet & miserable cold day. The company goes 6 miles away to dig trenches to safeguard the road to Calais, agony of agonies with being wet, cold & suffering from cramped sore & wet feet – English fashion boots. At night we get an issue of rum about 2 ounces. Very cold at night sleeping in an open wagon. A man of the Essex Regiment shot for desertion & insolence (a few days ago). There is now a man waiting under death sentence to be shot for insolence & drunkenness.
*Calais – Calais was a town very close to the front line in Flanders during WWI. It was a key port for arms and reinforcement on the western front during the war.
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