September 1917
 
 

Saturday 1st September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast. Not much doing so have had quiet day, did some washing and mending. Very windy. Fritz plane brought down last night near here. Went out this evening and had cup coffee with Dad and into bed 10 p.m.

Sunday 2nd September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and on duty at 8 a.m. working in Loco. yard taking brackets etc. off new engines. Had from 12 to 1 for dinner and off duty 5 p.m. Went to church this evening, very nice service. Fritz plane over about 9 p.m., into bed 10 p.m.

Monday 3rd September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. Fritz planes been over during night dropping bombs round district. One of our drivers wounded near Ouderdom. Went to work at 8 a.m. fixing up some small jobs on new engines, lead plugs, brackets etc. Dinner at 12 noon and back at work 1 p.m., worked till 4.30 p.m. then had hot shower bath and tea at 5 p.m. Went with Dad and Uncle Tom at 8 p.m. for cup of coffee. Fritz planes over again tonight, been lovely day, in bed 10 p.m.

Tuesday 4th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast. Went over to work at 8 a.m. Fairly busy all morning with lead plugs and brackets off new engines, not quite so busy this afternoon, finished 5 p.m. Went out with Dad and Uncle Tom and had cup of coffee. Fritz planes over tonight bombing. Our searchlights caught one and it appeared to be damaged and coming down. Searchlights and anti-aircraft guns going all night. In bed 10 p.m.

Wednesday 5th September, 1917

Got up once or twice last night to have look if I could see fritz plane, dropped lot of bombs. Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. building up engine that came off rails and was badly damaged. Dad working with us. Knocked off at 5 p.m. and had tea. Wrote couple of letters tonight, been lovely day. Fritz planes came over about 10 p.m., searchlights caught one and it appeared to come down in our lines.

Thursday 6th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast, went over to work at 8 a.m. putting front plate on engine that fell in creek. Worked steadily and had dinner at 12 noon. Back at work 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Very muggy day and rained heavily this evening, our guns going pretty solidly. 1st Anzac Corps coming up on this front. Did some writing and into bed at 10 p.m.

Friday 7th September, 1917

Was not disturbed by enemy planes last night. Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast, worked from 8 a.m. till 12 noon and from 1 p.m. til 5 p.m. Very muggy again today. This evening our barrage was very heavy, told fritz had counter attacked but was knocked back. Enemy planes over about 10.30 p.m., did not see them. Wrote a letter and into bed at 10 p.m.

Saturday 8th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast, worked as usual today, only bit harder. Believe something doing up line shortly. Understand lot of ammunition to be got up pretty quickly and all engines wanted. Quiet this evening, too misty for planes. Turned into bed at 10 p.m.

Sunday 9th September, 1917

Up and at work as usual till 10 a.m. when went out to C1 near Brisbane dump with cranes to put engine on line out of shell hole. Fritz shelled us, his planes saw us. Back at 7 p.m., had tea and in bed 10 p.m.

Monday 10th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m., had breakfast and at work 8 a.m. fixing up engine that we went out for yesterday, cab and bunkers badly strained. Very nice day. Fritz plane over very high about 4.45 p.m. Our planes forced it down as it was trying to get back to own lines. Finished work 5 p.m., had bath and tea. Fritz planes over tonight, our searchlight picked one up and guns drove it off. In bed 10.30 p.m.

 
 
 
  Tuesday 11th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. had breakfast and at work 8 a.m. working on same job as yesterday. Inclined to be frosty and foggy this morning but turned out lovely day. Fritz plane over very high about 3 p.m. driven off by our fire. Aust. troops up this way now, believe they are all coming up here. Looks like another push. Our planes busy tonight. In bed 10 p.m.

Wednesday 12th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and on duty 8 a.m. Rather dull day but brightened up later on. Working on repairs, nearly all our engines out as things are very busy and ammunition going up to guns in great quantities. More Aust'n troops arrived up this way today. Off duty 5 p.m., had tea and did some washing. Our planes very active tonight after dark. Turned in about 10 p.m., our guns booming.

Thursday 13th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Rather chilly all day, windy and inclined to rain. Not very busy as all available engines are out, only about four in for repairs. The 16th Co'y Aust. R.O.D. arrived last night and camped near us, do not know any of them. After tea went out with Fred Patterson to find a friend of his in 22nd Batt'n, found them at Dominion Camp about 2 miles away. Returned to depot and in bed 10 p.m.

Friday 14th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast then at work 8 a.m. On various small repair jobs all day. Rather dull this morning but brightened up fine this afternoon. Finished work at 5 p.m. but was called out on small job at 5.15 p.m. Finished again 5.45 p.m., had tea and got cleaned then went for walk with Dad and Uncle Tom to Popperinghe. Back at camp at 8.30 p.m. and after yarn into bed at 9.30 p.m.

Saturday 15th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work at 8 a.m. Did some small jobs this morning. After dinner Dad and I put on repairing some trucks blown up by fritz's shells. Dais's brother Will found us at dinner time and had dinner with us, also came tonight to have yarn, camped 5 minutes from us. Had great yarn and in bed 10 p.m.

Sunday 16th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and work as usual. Fritz's planes very active, saw 16 over at once. Very nice day. Will Hill came tonight, we went to see Stan Cohen. He is back at base so did not see him. Had yarn and in bed 10 p.m.

Monday 17th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Very dull morning, brightened up later. Received letters from Mam and Dais. About 2.30 p.m. Harold came to see us from Scottish lines, then H. Hitchens from 4th Amb. came to see us. Went for cup of coffee and had good yarn, Harold left just after tea. Wrote a letter home tonight and in bed 9.30 p.m. I feel very tired and weary tonight, sometimes I think the life is having its effect on me and yet I am as well as can be.

Tuesday 18th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. repairing trucks that have been blown up with shells. Dad and I working together. Rained a little this afternoon, made a stove pipe for hut and finished work 5 p.m. Had tea and got cleaned then wrote a letter to Dais. Heavy firing must be going on, sky a blaze of flashes, but wind carrying sound away. Turned in 9.30 p.m.

Wednesday 19th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Not very busy today, very windy and broken clouds. Fritz plane over. Finished work at 5 p.m. Will Hill came round to see us and got a recommend for transfer to this unit from Capt. Duncan. One of our drivers given leave today to go and see his brother (F. Furnell) a few miles away, both were killed by shell. Had a yarn and turned in 9.30 p.m.

Thursday 20th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., repairing frames of trucks hit by shells. A few wounded passing up road, latest news says our attack this morning was great success, numerous prisoners coming in and everyone elated with news. Very dull and windy day, but our balloons up and planes very active. Finished work at 5 p.m., did some washing and wrote two letters, had a yarn with Dad and in bed 9.30 p.m.

 
 
 
  Friday 21st September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Plenty of work on hand as fritz has caught a few of our trucks with shells and bombs. Very nice day. Our push said to be progressing splendidly. 14 fritz planes over this afternoon, bombing round Dickie Bush. Finished work 5 p.m., had quiet night and in bed 9.30 p.m. Fritz plane over about 10 p.m.

Saturday 22nd September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Same work, very dull and like rain today but kept off. Just at dinner time 10 fritz planes over bombing, not many casualties or much damage. Finished work at 5 p.m. About 7 p.m. Harry came to see us, he is camped at Yale, arrived today. Had yarn and he left 7.45 p.m., in bed 9.30 p.m.

Sunday 23rd September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Things very quiet, very nice day. Our guns very active tonight and in bed at 9 p.m.

Monday 24th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Rather cold and foggy this morning, not much doing for us. Day came out splendid. Fritz planes very active, also ours. After tea went for walk with Dad and Uncle Tom, back at 8 p.m. and wrote letter. Received two letters today. Things quiet tonight, believe our boys attack in the morning. Turned in 10 p.m.

Tuesday 25th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. on truck repairs. Rather busy this morning and worked hard. Beautiful day, got very hot this afternoon. Harry and Joe Tichman came down to see us and stayed for tea, walked into Reningholst this evening with Harry, Dad and Uncle Tom went too. Back at 8.30 p.m. and in bed 9.30 p.m. Guns going heavily.

Wednesday 26th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. repairing damaged trucks. Did some rivetting today. Our offensive still going on and our troops giving fritz a hiding and driving him back. Batches of prisoners came in today, very sorry looking lot, Dad after souvenirs. Very nice day, knocked off work at 5 p.m., had read and in bed 9.30 p.m. Fritz plane over about midnight but was asleep. One of our men wounded last night.

Thursday 27th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. rivetting again today. Rather dull this morning but very sunny and hot later. Worked solidly this morning. After dinner W. Mitchell and H. Peskett came to see me, went and had cup of coffee and they stayed to tea. Very fine night, wrote letter home. Fritz came over tonight again bombing, also heavy gun fire. Wrote to Dais. In bed 10 p.m.

Friday 28th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. on same work. Chilly this morning but beautiful day followed, getting tinge of frost in mornings and evenings now. Fritz plane over very high this afternoon, driven off by our anti-aircraft guns. Finished work 5 p.m. and after tea did some writing. Fritz planes over bombing again tonight, one of our big naval guns on railway firing near here. Bright moonlight, in bed 10 p.m.

Saturday 29th September, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Turned out splendid day. After dinner did some washing. Put in application for leave to England this morning. Finished work 5 p.m. Bright moonlight again tonight and Fritz planes very busy bombing round the district. Our planes busy too. Received letter from Harold to say came out of stunt all serene. In bed 10 p.m.

Sunday 30th September, 1917

Up and at work as usual till dinner time, had bath this afternoon. Harry came to see us and had tea. Fritz planes bombing all round district tonight, our planes active. In bed 10.30 p.m.