Monday
1st October, 1917
Up and at work as usual, sharp this morning but lovely day. Our guns going
terrifically from early this morning until dinner time. Big lot of troops
went by today in motor Wagons towards line, mostly Aust'ns. Our guns eased
down after dinner. Finished work at 5 p.m. Told we will have to move out
of our hut, new huts being provided for us but not yet erected. Fritz
planes over again tonight bombing. In bed at 10 p.m.
Tuesday 2nd October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m., had breakfast and at work as usual, rather cold morning
again but lovely day later though a sort of haze hanging about. Things
not so busy just now. Received word at dinner today that my leave application,
though recommended by my O.C. had been turned down by the Sup. Light Rly's,
does not seem any hope of getting it before Xmas. After tea wrote a letter
to Harold. Things quiet tonight up to turning in at 9.30 p.m.
Wednesday 3rd October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, rained overnight and dull and miserable
today. Looks as if winter is beginning. This afternoon 3 pals from the
Amb. came to see me and we had a good yarn. News in the papers looking
very good. Had yarn and wrote a letter after tea and in bed at 9 p.m.
Thursday 4th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. The infantry went over the top this
morning with great success. About 2500 prisoners brought down this way,
rumours of capture of very great number of prisoners ranging from 10,000
to 25,000, hope it is true, also capture of "Polecapelle". Weather
very miserable today. Tucker not too plentiful. After tea wrote 3 letters
and had a yarn and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Friday 5th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, miserable day today, drizzling rain.
Had afternoon off. Harry and two pals came to see us and we walked to
Reninghelst and bought Xmas cards to send home, had cup of coffee and
back home for tea. Latest rumours of our offensive very good. Harry and
friends left about 5 p.m. Had 2 letters from home and one from Dais about
Fred's death. In bed 9.30.
Saturday 6th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, miserable day again, wet and cold.
Our hut to come down tomorrow so made arrangements to go into another.
Our guns seem to be very active and fritz keeps lobbing an odd shell over
this way. Packed my gear tonight ready to move in morning and into bed
10 p.m.
Sunday 7th October, 1917
Put clock back one hour at midnight and up at 7 a.m. Fritz bombing close
by early this morning. Put up bunks and moved into new hut today, fairly
comfortable. Rotten day, wind and rain. In bed 9.30 p.m.
Monday 8th October, 1917
Fritz put over few shells not far from here during night. Up at 7 a.m.
and at work as usual. Looked like nice day at first, but turned out rotten,
rained hard. Fritz put some heavy shells near here during day, some fell
in Waratah hospital camp killing and wounding patients, a doctor killed
also. After tea wrote a letter home and did some odd jobs, raining very
hard tonight. Fritz balloon brought down today. In bed 9 p.m.
Tuesday 9th October, 1917
Up and at work as usual. Rotten day again. Fritz put few shells over us
again today. Heard that 2nd, 3rd and 5th British armies had all advanced,
also French army further north with considerable success. Waiting anxiously
for news. Finished work at 5 p.m., wrote a letter to Dais and in bed at
9 p.m.
Wednesday 10th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Fritz plane over bombing last night,
also put a few shells over. 4th Field Amb. came to camp opposite us so
saw Harry. Harold came to see us as well. He came out of line last night
and is camped at Busseboom, a friend took shapshot of us all together.
After tea went and saw some old pals with the Amb., back at camp and in
bed at 9.30 p.m. Rotten day.
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Much better day today though cloudy. Some of my old pals from Amb. came to see me. Rumours of big sucesses further north by the 5th Army, also of impending attacks this week or early next. A fritz plane over at tea time. Harold and Harry came to see us after tea. At 8 p.m. went out and saw lot of my old pals, returned to camp at 9.30 p.m. and in bed by 10 p.m.
Friday 12th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, rotten day, very rainy and muddy. Harold and Harry over after dinner to see us. Finished work at 5 p.m. Must be awful for boys in the trenches, more prisoners taken today. Harry and old Mitch round this evening. Went out about 7 p.m. and saw Stan Cohen, had yarn with him till 9 p.m. when returned to camp and in bed 10 p.m.
Saturday 13th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, rotten day again, too wet to work after dinner so had a bath and did little washing. Harold and Harry turned up after tea and stayed talking till 8.30 p.m. Very wild and wet night again, turned into bed about 9.30 p.m.
Sunday 14th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Had half day off and did some writing. Harold and Harry up to see us tonight. In bed at 9.30 p.m.
Monday 15th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, little finer today but cold. Some of the boys from Amb. over to see me at work. Finished work at 5 p.m. Fritz planes over bombing this evening. Harold and Harry up to see us. Went across to Amb., had a yarn with the boys and got some Amb. stores and in bed 10 p.m.
Tuesday 16th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, fine but cold. Don't feel too good today, have heavy cold. Harold came up for tea and Harry later. Went out and had cup of coffee, then went to Amb. and saw Lieut. Bankier who used to be S.Sgt. in Amb. now of 4th Batt. Had yarn and supper and returned to camp and in bed 10.30 p.m., raining tonight.
Wednesday 17th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, finer today but cold wind. Our planes very active. About 11 a.m. fritz plane over Reninghelst very high, our planes cut him off and one of them sent fritz crashing to the ground. After dinner more still of our planes about. Finished work at 5 p.m. Harold round tonight, he is not very well, told him to go sick tomorrow. Went round to Amb. at 7.30 p.m. and got some stores and couple suits of pyjamas for Dad and I. Back and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Thursday 18th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, much nicer day today. Half doz. fritz planes tried to get over about 1 p.m. but beaten back. Harold and Harry round to see us. Will Hill round to tell us his transfer is through, will be with us tomorrow. Went round to Amb. about 7.30 p.m. and got some things and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Friday 19th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Will Hill came to our unit today. Rather nice day today. Fritz planes over very high, our planes active. After tea wrote a letter to Dais. Our guns roaring very heavily all evening, seems to be heavy bombardment on. Fritz plane over bombing about 8.30 p.m., in bed 9.30 p.m.
Saturday 20th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, very nice day but hazy. Fritz plane over very low about dinner time, also over very high again later. Our planes very busy and guns booming. Went into Reninghelst with Will Hill after tea and bought some Xmas cards, back and in camp at 9.30 p.m.
Up at 7 a.m. and on duty as usual, busy all day till knocked off at 5.p.m. Had just cleaned up after tea and was going to do some writing when enemy plane or planes bombed our camp, it was terrible. The Royal Engineers suffered most, two of their huts being hit direct and others wrecked. Dad had just gone out with Uncle Tom, Harold and Harry were with me, made them lie down then went to look for Dad. Saw a wounded man, dressed him (Brachial artery severed) and took him to A.M.C. near by. Total casualties so far as I know are 14 killed and 34 wounded, some of wounded sure to die. Dad took cover under Motor Wagon inside which a man was killed, later 35 holes were counted in wagon where pieces of bomb had gone through. Dad upset, got him fixed up and turned in 10 p.m.
Monday 22nd October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and went over to job at 8 a.m. Dad still upset so did not do any work. Very few working, everyone too upset. Buried 11 of the killed this morning, four of our company were wounded and 2 gone to hospital with shock. Did some writing after dinner. Harold came to tea and we saw Harry later. Fritz planes over bombing district tonight again. Turned into bed 10 p.m.
Tuesday 23rd October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m., very wet morning. Went over to job, did not do much as too wet. Worked after dinner. Harold came over for half an hour at 2 p.m. After tea did some writing then went for cup of coffee and visited some of boys at 4th F. Amb., had some supper with them and at home and in bed 9.30 p.m. Dad sleeping over at farm with Uncle Tom. Heard today total No. casualties from bomb raid by fritz on
Sunday night was 71 killed and wounded.
Wednesday 24th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work at 8 a.m., rained hard during night, little clearer this morning. Went for coffee at 11 a.m. Worked hard after dinner, our planes very active, great nos. of them about. Fritz planes tried to get over but driven back. After tea wrote letter and went for coffee. Very wild and wet night, turned in 10 p.m.
Thursday 25th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, still repairing wagons. Rather wild day and inclined to rain, also cold. News of French victory near "Soissons". After tea sky cleared and seemed like frost. Went out for coffee and had supper with Amb. boys. Fritz planes over bombing not far away about 9.30 p.m., in bed 10 p.m.
Friday 26th October, 1917
Up 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Put in application for leave to England this morning. Very wet and windy day, almost impossible to work in the open. Heard rumours of immense French success. After tea went for coffee and had supper with Amb. boys and back at hut and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Saturday 27th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual. Nicer day but chilly. News of great French successes. 4th Field Amb. left today, Harry went with them for a rest. Our planes very active and rumours of an advance on this front. After tea went out and saw Charlie Price, 14th F. Amb., wrote a letter home and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Sunday 28th October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work as usual, fine day. Guns going and saw no. of wounded. Cut my fingers badly on tin. Tried to write letter to Dais. In bed 9.30 p.m.
Monday 29th October, 1917
Did not sleep much, my fingers ached horribly, had to take bandages off during night to ease them. Up at 7 a.m. and went over to job at 8 a.m., very nice day but cold. Did not do much and after dinner had a sleep and read till tea time. Could not write tonight so went out for coffee. Fritz over bombing nor far away, driven off. Into bed 10 p.m.
Tuesday 30th October, 1917
Fritz was over bombing at 5 a.m. but did not hear him. Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., very cold and bitter day, rained this afternoon so could not do much. After tea finished my letter to Dais and had a yarn. Great discussion as to whether Fritz will be over tonight. Turned into bed 10 p.m.
Wednesday 31st October, 1917
Up at 7 a.m. and at work 8 a.m., very nice and mild day. Fritz planes over bombing all round here about 5 a.m., dropped over 100 bombs, believe number of casualties in Popperinghe. Heard 47 men waiting for leave train were killed. After dinner filled sandbags for around hut as protection against bombs. Had bath and after tea went out for coffee. Back at 9 p.m. and Fritz plane over 9.15 p.m. Did not drop bombs so into bed at 9.30 p.m.