November 1917
 
 


Thursday 1st November, 1917

Fritz planes dropped bombs near here 10 p.m. last night till nearly 11 p.m., also couple of times during night, but did not hear them again. Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, mild but inclined to rain, got colder towards night. After tea went out for coffee, then wrote letter and in bed at 9 p.m.

Friday 2nd November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work at 8 a.m., very mild but inclined to rain. Very quiet day, not much doing and too dull for planes. Rum ration was issued last night for first time here. After tea did little at souvenir ash tray then went for coffee. Back at hut at 8 p.m. and wrote a letter, afterwards had yarn and turned in at 9.30 p.m.

Saturday 3rd November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. One of our chaps scalded his hand, dressed it for him and at work 8.15 a.m. Finished repairing trucks for present so went on Engines, not much doing. Very dull day but mild. After tea went out for coffee with Dad and Uncle Tom then Will Hill and I had yarn and in bed at 9 p.m.

Sunday 4th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, mild and rather nice day. Our guns going hard last night and again this evening, very quiet otherwise. Turned into bed 9.30 p.m.

Monday 5th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. straightening an engine frame today. Very nice and mild day, good number of our planes about. News of sinking of eleven Hun boats (patrol etc.). Dad not too good, got bad cold. Guns very busy at intervals. After tea went out for coffee. Came back and in bed 9 p.m. as have got nasty headache.

Tuesday 6th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work at 8 a.m. Believe Fritz planes over during night, did not hear them. Dad not too good so went on sick parade and was admitted to Waratah divisional rest station, got nasty cold. After dinner I got off and went up to see him and take some things, he is pretty comfortable. After tea took my washing out and my great coat to have the colours sewn on, back and had a yarn and in bed 9 p.m.

Wednesday 7th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., cold and bleak morning, hailstones fell. Working on small Huntslett engine that is in to be inspected and overhauled, got terribly black with soot and water, looked pretty picture. At 4 p.m. had a bath and after tea went to see Dad, he is doing very well. Believe fritz plane over at 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. this morning but driven off by our planes before could drop bombs. Turned into bed 9.30 p.m.

Thursday 8th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., rather cold. Took wash out plugs and mud hole door of Huntslett Engine. Great no. of our planes about. At 11 a.m. a fritz plane came over and was brought down. Fritz plane was over bombing about 3 a.m. this morning, did not hear him. News of further Italian retreat. After tea wrote letters, went out and had some eggs and turned into bed 9.30 p.m.

Friday 9th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. stripping tanks etc. of Huntslett, worked hard and did good days work. Dad came back from rest station. Fritz planes over after tea about 8 p.m. bombing some distance from here. Went out and had coffee, wrote a letter to Dais. Feel tired and was weary tonight, suppose it is home sickness. In bed 9.30 p.m.

Saturday 10th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Got the engine stripped and cut off some stays ready for drilling, biggest job we have had in so far. Rained hard off and on all day. Finished 5 p.m. Piece of copper hit me in eye today, not sure if went in but aching tonight. Turned in 9.30 p.m.

 
 
 
  Sunday 11th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual drilling out stays today with wind and hand drill, good days work. Heavy bombardment last night and all day. Turned in 9 p.m.

Monday 12th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work at 8 a.m. Broke down the stays and took out the burrs ready for tapping, very nice day, my job very dirty. Bombardment still going on night and day, third day of it today and it is terribly heavy. Received two letters today and a field post card from 30 Gen. hospital say Harold is there suffering from shell gas. Wrote two letters tonight, had cup of coffee and in bed 9 p.m.

Tuesday 13th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. getting mud stays etc. out of water space, also took out centre stay plates as boiler has to be lifted out of frame. Fritz planes over, driven off by ours. Nice day, fourth day of bombardment. Various rumours afloat. Received two letters today and wrote two tonight. Had cup of coffee and into bed at 9.30 p.m.

Wednesday 14th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Took out spark arrester from my job then could not do any more for present so went on job with Uncle Tom patching broken buffer beam. The bombardment eased down during last night, have not heard any news yet. Rather nice this morning but dull after dinner and drizzly rain tonight. After tea went out for coffee and in bed 9 p.m. Had a letter from Harold.

Thursday 15th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. putting a footplate and bunker on an Engine with Uncle Tom. Took down ashpan and damper doors from the Huntslett engine. Not a bad day, few clouds about. Fritz planes tried to get over, beaten back by ours. After tea wrote a letter to Mirrie and asked for 1918 diary in case Dais. can't get one for me. Guns going again tonight. In bed 9 p.m.

Friday 16th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., finished putting bunker on and after dinner went on my own job on the Huntslett and drilled five more stays outside with air drill. Dull day today. Bombardment gets very intense at times and has been going intermittently all last night and today. After tea went out for coffee and into bed 9.30 p.m.

Saturday 17th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Drilled out 5 more stays inside before dinner, after dinner broke then down and took out the burrs ready for tapping. Bombardment seemed to ease this afternoon. Very dull day and rather cold. After tea wrote a letter home and turned in 9 p.m.

Sunday 18th November, 1917

Up and at work as usual. Half day holiday today so Dad, Uncle Tom and I walked to Boescheppe, had eggs and chips and back at 5 p.m. Feel tired tonight so turned into bed 8 p.m.

Monday 19th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m.. One of R.E.'s got nasty cut so dressed it for him. Salvaged lot of drugs from over the road that an ambulance had left. Dad went away with another chap on train as guard over some tractors, think to the Somme district. After dinner straightened side of copper fire box. Very dull day. After tea wrote letter to Dais., went out for cup of coffee and back again 8.30 p.m. In bed 9.30 p.m.

Tuesday 20th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., finished straightening side of copper box and washed boiler out. After dinner started marking some lead washers, dressed a couple of chaps hands, very dull and cold day. After tea wrote a letter and had a yarn, guns booming intermittently. Turned into bed at 9 p.m.

 
 
 
  Wednesday 21st November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, took out lead plug, wash out plug and two broken studs from smoke box door clips and fixed them up. Very dull day and rained this afternoon. This depot ceased as a running shed at midnight last night and all engines except those under repair have gone to "Quinton". Had letter from Harold, he is in Mill Rd. Infirmary, Liverpool. Am glad to hear it, wrote to him again tonight. Dad landed back tonight, had had fair time. Had yarn and turned into bed 10 p.m.

Thursday 22nd November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Fixed up couple of worn out plugs, an awkward job. Work rather slack, nearly all engines away, looks like move for us. Turned out rather nice day and very mild. Fritz planes about at times very high, chased off by our planes which were about in great numbers. Dad and I had cup of coffee and turned in at 9 p.m.

Friday 23rd November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Work rather slack, can't understand what is doing, did small job or two. Wind getting up and pretty cold. News of third army's victory near Cambrai (General Byng's army), very good. Great discussions on Aust'n conscription question. Guns going pretty hard up here. Wrote some letters tonight and in bed 9 p.m. Uncle Tom in rest station, diarrhoea.

Saturday 24th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Got tap from Quinton and started tapping stay holes in Huntslett engine. Tapped two and tap went bung, too soft, so had to knock off. Wind blowing hurricane making our hut terribly draughty. Wrote a letter tonight and turned in about 9.30 p.m.

Sunday 25th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Nothing doing, did few dressings for chaps, boils etc. Half day off this afternoon, did some washing. Dad and I went for coffee tonight, and in bed 9 p.m.

Monday 26th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Still windy and cold, seems like snow. Started straightening an Engine frame today, but could not make much headway on a/c of conditions under which we have to work. Wind dropped good deal after tea and rain came at intervals, not so cold. Did some writing tonight, guns booming heavily. Made cup of tea and turned in 9.30 p.m.

Tuesday 27th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Raining very hard so could not do much till about 12 noon when cleared up. Put a fire on bent engine frame and straightened one side today. Good news of our offensive at Cambrai. Rumoured we have occupied Camb. Guns going heavily up here tonight. Wrote letter to Dais and in bed 10 p.m.

Wednesday 28th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. My 27th birthday today. Straightening engine frame today. Windy but fine and mild, our planes about in great numbers. Our planes about all last night and some about again tonight though blowing up cloudy. Went for coffee with Dad after tea then wrote a letter and into bed 9.30 p.m.

Thursday 29th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Put up front of Engine again and straightened the buffer plank. Windy but nice otherwise, fritz plane over and driven off by ours. Received letters from Mam and Dais after dinner. After tea wrote some letters and argued about conscription, am for it. Fritz planes bombed Popp. and shells dropping in it. In bed 9 p.m.

Friday 30th November, 1917

Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m. Re erected front plate and commenced setting smoke-box door which is badly twisted. Pretty cold day, at intervals our guns sounded very plainly. Fixed up couple of chaps who are sick and after tea did some writing before turning in at 9.30 p.m.