Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1916 - Part 3
MARCH, 1916.
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FRIDAY, 3 Wrote to Nell No 8 &
sent 1 doz of Tolly's photos
Called at Army Hd Qrs & saw order
appointing me to command of
Pioneer Bn & Evans promotion
to Capt. Called on Major Williams
APM & his wife.
SATURDAY, 4 Visited 5th 6th & 7th Bdes
& saw B coy in Camp under Capt
PEDLER..
Appointed Capt Grant to C Coy
& Capt. Arnall to A Coy.
Orders given to 7th Bde to
move to Monseur tomorrow,
& 7th Coy warned to be ready
to move there within 4 days.
Capt Arnold came in from
5th Bde & I appointed him
O./C A Coy.
MARCH, 1916.
SUNDAY, 5 7th Bde moved to
Monseur where Division
is concentrating prior to going
to France or elsewhere.
Stanley came to see us &
have lunch &c ric Conns, Tolly,
Polsen, Close, Stanley & I rode
bikes into Ismailia & had dinner
at the club. Good wine, good company.
and Stanley had letter from Warterey
Only wanted Honey & Grant to be
complete up the Brigade
MONDAY, 6 Arranging about concentration
of Pioneer Btn at Monseur. Moved into
my new quarters & new unit at night.
Copy of A.I.F order. Appointments Promotions
&c LIST No 31 dated 29 Feby 1916.
PIONEER BATTALIONS - No 2 PIONEER Battalion
& Major F.W.G ANNAND from 2nd Divl Engineers
to command (temp) dated 1st March /16.
Evans promotion of Capt dates from 22 July /16
List No 33.
Great confusion of camels & horse transport
at ferry tonight. Large liner went South with
returning soldiers for Australia
Photographed gardens at Ismaila today
also some street scenes.
MARCH, 1916.
TUESDAY, 7 A & B Coys comments
Camp with 3 & 2 officers; also
portion of C Coy.
Col. Blainey called & advised me
not to put in for my promotion but
leave it to him. Said I was definitely
appointed to this command.
Wrote to Mrs Coulton.
Some details come into
Camp & got some tents put
up.
WEDNESDAY, 8
Called on 7th Engs at their
new camp. Evans &
Polson called here
tonight. He promised to
transfer Roberts. Said I
would take & hold
Cohen for him.
MARCH, 1916.
Thursday, 9 Wrote to Rab & sent films of
Canal bridges; Suspension bridge;
Laying tram Ferry Point; At club Ismaila, Dhouas
at Ferry Post; Hospital Heliopolis; 7th Pontooning
Wrote to Mr Goldsmith.
Attended conference with G.O.C &
lecture on Gas helmets.
Men did musketry training etc
I mounted first guard.
Developed film, all good.
FRIDAY, 10 Very sick bilious
Many men sick with innoculation
Got letter No 8 from Nell, papers also
letter from Mrs Goldsmith.
MARCH, 1916.
SATURDAY, 11 Lieut SHAW, MG
officer joined us. Had a talk to
Col. JELLIBRAND, Brigadier 6th Bde.
Vacc Inoculated for PARATHOID &
Typhoid fever.
Wrote to Jean & sent films of
Discussing a burst; Building Jetty, Square
Ismailia; Basilica Heliopolis; Interior Basilica.
Loading tool carts, Villas Heliopolis.
SUNDAY, 12 Got a few poor
horses. Rejected some cripples
Evans dined at our mess.
Wrote to Doug and sent 7 films
Diver Descending: Pontoon Barge 7 Engs,
Desert Rail Head; At Ferry Post;
Cornwallis & our barge; Arab Road
makers; My Secretaire
MARCH, 1916.
MONDAY, 13 Got letter No 8 from
Geoff with photos of Nell & Fred, Cor,
boat lighting &c. also wattle cards
from Jean.
Spoke to the General & Col. Blainey.
7th Engrs & some 7th Bde departed.
Returned Betty & Saddlery also compass
& binoculars.
Sinclair & Patterson came in
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TUESDAY, 14 wrote to Nell No 9
sent films 'Ferry Post' (Ferry), Raft
Service: Webbs' sail bridging, well sinking;
Furling sail; Hunting; my home Ferry Post
also Bennetts chez ₤ 3. More men
joined up, also Capt Hudson, RAM, C
Held an inspection of the Bn
& made a speech explaining aims,
objects & what I hoped we would
do. Gave them for motto
"Second to none".
MARCH, 1916.
WEDNESDAY, 15 More men joined up
also 2/Lieuts DIMANT & MOSS. Called
on Col Blainey re promotion of Offs.
Div Hd Qrs has moved out.
Had venereal inspection; no casualties.
Wrote Nell No 10 & sent last films:-
"In Ismailia"; 'Street Ismailia'; Reunion
Mess Mess & Melody; 'well sinking'
Got ₤ 18 change from pay
Coy Funa
THURSDAY, 16 Got instructions to
complete establishment out of the
reinforcements here. Inspect them
& got a preliminary draft of 381 to allow
of some being called. Put Capt.
Conn in Command of D Coy (temp).
Had the bunch innoculated for
T.A.B.
MARCH, 1916.
FRIDAY, 17 Organising the new
Company & drafting to & from
the other three
SATURDAY, 18 Major Hockley called
Accompanied him to Ismailia &
arranged for his immediate transfer as
2nd Comd.
Saw Jamie at Coules review 6th Bde
with Genl Birdwood.
Entrained at Monseur sending Lieut
London & 50 men with horses at 9.15 pm
K Dimant & 60 men on No 3 train & the
balance left in open trucks at
11.50. Considerable rain fell during
the journey. Was comfortable
in my sleeping bag.
MARCH, 1916.
Sunday, 19
Arrived Alexandria
docks after 0800. Had a snack
above MINNEWASKA at 1.00.
Changed Egyptian money for English notes
£9/10/- & 1/1.
Lunched on board transport MINNEWASKA.
Embarked the Bn in transport LLANDOVERY
CASTLE in the afternoon. Got cabin No 119.
At night went into the City with Capt. Pealer &
visited the Kursall
Lieut London 50 men & horses embarked
on City of Edinburgh.
Monday, 20 Sailed from Alexandria
at 1053. Weather fair but a good
swell on the sea. Many men
& officers seasick. I felt squeamish
but was not sick.
Turned in early.
MARCH, 1916.
Tuesday, 21 A very fine day. Saw
quite a lot of other ships. A warship
escorted us all day long. Keeping out to the front
across our track till dusk when she
fell back & got abeam about ½ mile
on Starboard & exchanged Morse messages.
Got the second paratyphoid dose
of innoculation.
Wednesday, 22 A fine day
MARCH, 1916.
Thursday, 23 Came abreast of
Malta at noon. Hove to opposite
Valetta awaiting orders. Sailed on
again about 1300.
Friday, 24 Passed Pantelleria Island &
Cape Bon before breakfast.
Passed South of Sardinia.
MARCH, 1916.
Saturday, 25 Arrived at Marseilles at
1545. Beautiful city.
Sent letters No 11 to Nell; Geoff, Jean,
Mother & Col Deacon.
Spent night on board Llandovery Castle.
Sunday, 26
Left Marseilles by rail
at 11.12.Set Spent night in train.
MARCH, 1916.
Monday, 27 Travelling in train
Monthound all day & night
(Lt Col R Smith)
22nd Bn.
Tuesday 28 Arrived at THIENNES
at 17.30
had to walk to SERCUS to
billets. No allotment having
been made had a very bad
time in the cold & dark.
I saw flashes of flare &c out on
the firing line.
Slept at the Cassel CHATEAU
MARCH, 1916.
dnesday, 29 Bn billeting in proper
order progressed & completed.
Got baggage transported
Shifted my quarters to the
Priest's Presbytery.
I visited Col Blainey at
D.H.Q. ; also saw Col Jackson,
Col Sutton, Major Newcombe, Capt.
Minns & Major Henderson.
rsday, 30 Inspected all the Bn
Billets. It took nearly 4 hrs
to walk around & inspect the
lot.
In afternoon rode bike to
MARBECQUE to locate Rifle Range
&c. Found out location of 7th
Fld Coy & met Polsen, Webb, &
Cartwright.
Arranged Company route
marches for tonight.
Wrote to Nell No 12
MARCH, 1916.
Friday, 31
Took Bn to MERBECQUE & all
went through poison gas &
also weeping gas.
Wrote to Nell No 13
Pioneer Bn at Rue Marlene
Armentieres (Col Shakespeare)
APRIL, 1916.
Saturday. 1 Left letters 12 & 13 at D.H.Q to be
censored.
Drove out by Motor bus & car to ARMENTIERES.
Lunched with Col Shakespeare at Hd Qrs of Pioneer
Bn. In afternoon rode to his reserve post & then
accompanied him on an inspection of the
works on which Pioneer Bn is engaged.
Got hotly shelled in neighbourhood of
BOIS GRENIER. Had dirt thrown over me
twice.
Evans called while I was away.
Col Blainey promised to get us loan of
two horses.
Sunday, 2 Sent old War Diary
to Evans.
Hockley took Bn to Church Parade
at Les Cesarair
Pay distribution H.Q. Mr Shaw 6,000 fr
A Coy 6,000 "
B " 6,000 "
C " 6,000
D " 6,000
Received on loan from 13 A L H.
Bn mare B 18/768; Bn g NZ 1742.
Saddles, bridle, rugs, nose bag, bucket &
brushes.
List No 38 duty 14 Mch/16
APRIL, 1916.
Monday, 3 Left CERCUS & proceeded
by Motor bus to ARMENTIERES to stay at
18 Northumberland Fusiliers (Pioneer Bn) H.Q.
& got in touch with the work &c
Put up at RUE MARLE -
In evening walked around part of the
line with Lt. Colonel Shakespeare.
Tuesday 4 Accompanied Col Shakespeare
& Major Porch on a tour of the right Bde
area & part of the centre.
Went along part of front line &
through HUDSON'S BAY, also up Gunner's
Walk & down GREATWOOD AVENUE.
Lieuts Needham, Moss, Dimant,
Murray & went liason around as Coy
Advance officers to see details of
work & billets.
APRIL, 1916.
Wednesday, 5 Toured with Col Shakespeare
& Major Porch the line from
LILLE ROAD South along the Bois GRENIER,
line to TRAMWAY AVENUE, & thence forward the
line of Posts from LA VESEE to RUE ALLE.
Conferenced with C.R.E. in the morning
as to allotment of work, drawing of
stoves &c. The Bn rported in having
marched from CERCUS & arrived at
billets in OUT^TERSTEENE.
left Sercus 9.30 arrived Outtersteene 5 pm.
hursday, 6 Sent Coy officers (Ad) to allot
billets at ERQUINGHEM
wrote Nell No 14
Bn arrived in billets in
ERQUINGHEM. 4.30 pm
Had great dinner with
7th Engs & 208th (N.F.) Engrs in
an estaminet or restaurant near
the Cathedral. All places
in neighbourhood apparently
deserted.
A glorious evening.
APRIL, 1916.
Friday, 7 Coy Commanders &
2 platoons moved into the
billets & trenches of 18th
Northumberland Fusiliers
(Pioneer Bn) & took over the
work in progress. Q.M &
adjutant reported to & conferred
with opp numbers S.M. took
over ammun. & reserve rations.
Saturday, 8 Lieut DIMANT & 100 O R
sent to SAILLY LALYS
to be attached to Mining Corps as per
D.H.Q. J 43-
Completed relief of 18th Northumberland
Fusiliers (Pioneer Bn) & took over
sundry stores from them & the work.
Accompanied Col Macdonald, Lieut Col
Shakespeare, Major Newcombe & Capt Evans
to portions of the line.
Got shelled by shrapnel at
Rue Alle.
APRIL, 1916.
Sunday, 9 Conferred with
Major Newcombe re general
scheme of work &c & methods
of dealing -xxx Went over part of Bois Grenier
line with C.R.E
Had Coy Commanders & M.G D in to
confer as to plan of work & the
methods of procedures.
onday 10 Inspected part of B.G line
with Hockley. Got shelled by shrapnel
& H.E. Saw them getting it hot further
South. Conferred with C.R.E re
M.G camp & dugouts.
Evans dined with us.
Sinclair & Shaw came up re the
design of emplacements & shelters
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