Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1916 - Part 5

Got LETTERS. No 14 from NELL, No from GEOFF, No 10 from
Doug & from JEAN & ELSIE
MAY, 1916.
Friday, I9 Banked Fr 60.90 to
 Canteen fund (C. Coy sales)
Had a stroll with Evans & Hockley.
C Conference with Comy Commanders
all present.
I accompanied Brig General PATON
to B - G - line to select sites for Bn &
Bde Hd Qrs.
Met Brig General JOHNSON (Art).
Attended lecture on Trench Mortars.
Genl Legge ordered scatter owing shells
coming near. Pig got one of our guns ¾
mile west of my billet
C.R.E, Prowst & I went to Subbridging
Saturday, 20 line & inspected M.G. pits
being put in by our M.G. officer & men also the
concrete dug-outs for M.G. detachments.
Suggested a few improvements.
Called at LA VESEE.
Lunched at the BOUFFE. Called again on C R E
NZ Divsn (palatial quarters) & went to see the
Cupola shelters.
In late afternoon Lt Col. Newcombe &
I inspected RUE ALLEE to & including
LA VESEE.
Londen knocked over in Lorraine Avenue
by explosion of shrapnel was not hit
Got LETTER No 9 from Doug, also from Rob & Jean
5 bundles of papers & Sydney Mail
MAY, 1916.
A Taube flew over RUE MARLE, &
Sunday, 21 dropped bomb on a fatigue
party killing four & wounding 5
Hockley & I inspected Div Baths. Shell
dropped behind our billets.
Hockley &I rode to SAILLY SUR LA LYS &
called on Lt Col (TIN) MARTYN C.R.E 1^st Divsn
Cam Robertson in front line
Learned Brig Genl. JACK FORSYTH billeted
at Fleurbaix.
Got LETTER from TOLLEY dated 27 Apl,
Londen brought me 12 pdr change case & a false
cap & part of shrapnel.
Our planes to go out between midnight &
2.30 a.m.
Inspected B Coy's work in B- G line
Monday, 22 Got under very heavy shell fire
between Cowgate & Breastwork Avenues. Sheltered
part of time in an Bde Hd Qrs. All ground
shook. Watched heavy shelling of guns in
RUE ALLEE. Got phone message to meet C R E
& Col Jackson & had to cycle back. Debris
shot over us. ordered to get all the Coys
out on night stunt digging shallow fishbone
trenches on 4 Avenues. Fld Coys &
lot of Infantry to do others.
Got letter from Mrs Vidgens.
wrote to NELL No 19.
Our Coys worked on WELLINGTON, PARK ROW, GREATWOOD
& TRAMLINE AVENUES. Col NEWCOMBE slept with us.
2 men D Coy seriously wounded, 1 of A Coy slightly
& one of MG Section fractured his leg.
7^th Fld Coy had first man killed (L/C Manly)
 

MAY, 1916.
Got letter from HANCOX
Tuesday, 23 Donnelly & I went to GRIS POT &

saw Lt Shaw who was indisposed. Discussed MG pits
ask him plot pits & arc of fire on plan.
Surveyed Bois GRENIER Village & handed C.R.E. sketch
of proposed new line to cut off Cemetery Salient & the
Southern reentrant.
Our TRENCH MORTARS severely damaged enemy
front line. Boche retaliated with over 600 shells
partly on our support & communication avenues. Only
8 casualties, 4 of them very slight.
Taube dropped a bomb in ARMENTIERRES
Saw five of our big new bi-planes at 8 am
Wednesday, 24 returning from a raid.
G.O.C approves cutting off the CEMETERY SALIENT
at BOIS FRENIER.
QM phoned at 10.25 am that BATHS had been
warned to standby with Gas helmets.
Lieut TOOTH late of ENOGGERA GRENADE SCHOOL called
BIRTHDAY PARCEL came from the dear kids, Contents
Coal tar soap from Jean, Turkish delight from Geoff,
Ginger from Rob, chocolate from Doug, Nell &
Fred.
B coy moved out of Subsidiary trench line
into billets in RUE MARLE HGG8.0

GOT LETTER No 14 from NELL; also from
Budge & Rob.
MAY. 1916.
Donnelly & I met Capt Needham at
Thursday, 25 Bois Grenier Village. Showed
where to make new line to cut off the
salient. Moved over to South Side & then & Boche
started shelling place we had just quitted.
A man a few yards away hit in arm.
Inspected tramline avenue right down.
Sniper bullet went very close my head.
Approaching LA VESEE on way home got
shelled. Had one close call. Lieut
Walker hit in neck.
Pvt LEHANE A Coy wounded
Got letters No 13 from Geoff, No 11 from Doug
& from Jeans. Photo from Geoff.
off to Gardens &c.
Friday, 26 Accompanied C.R.E. to
5^th Bde Hd Qrs & inspected City Road
& proposed new line to Greatwood Avenue
& decided on new breastworks there.
inspected line to Mont farm & decided
course of new line to cut off cemetery
Salient Bois Grenier.
A Coy finished revetments

in TRAMLINE AVENUE.
 

MAY, 1916.
Hockley & I took, Os/C A Coy to inspect
work to be done on City Road & across to
Saturday, 27 Geatwood Avenue. O/C D
Coy to subsidiary line, for sundry improvements
& O/C B Coy to cut off Salient at Bois Greinier
Village. Lunched at La Vesee with Com
In afternoon met Capt Pedlar at Tramby
Avenue & went right up to left of the line
noting work to be done.
Had to shelter several times from
Aerial Shrapnel going home.
Sunday, 28
Hockley & I, also M.O rode up to
PLUGSTEERT & then to NEUVE EGLISE
in Belgium. Here bought some red
lace collars &c made on the premises
One of our planes flying along German
lines annoyed Deutschers who sent
hundreds of shrapnel at it, making a
thick cloud of smoke puffs in the sky
Wrote P.C to Bridge & also to Jean.
Recd. birthday parcel from Trisha
Nell, Eva & Bridge: Socks, books
sweets &c. also socks for Evans from
Nell. 'Tidy' from dunhill for
me.
MAY, 1916.
Went to Gris Pot to inspect
Monday, 29 centreing frames for M.G.
Concrete pits. Suggested modifications.
Inspected some completed pits.
Met Pedlar at Concrete dug outs &
suggested improvements in construction
particularly a sill below the props under
steel girders.
C.R.E & Major Arthur called & conferred
re M.G. pits &c. They, Hockley, Evans & I
lunched at Luciens.
A very savage shelling of Armentieres
across Railway from us threw much
material about & caused several casualties
Sent P.C to Doug.
Posted lace to NELL.
Tuesday 30. Did not go down the
line. Hockley & I inspected some
of the damage in Armentieres
A Coy commenced breastwork

City Road to Tramline avenue
 

MAY, 1916.
Wrote NELL No 20

Wednesday, 31 'B' Coy moved to RUE

ALLEE Fluerie 'C' Coy moved to L'ARMEE
Visited Hd Qrs 20^th Bn &

conferred with adjt re water supply
&c Capt Conn there also, were
rudely shelled there; quite
a close call.
I met Shaw and talked over gun
pits. C.R.E. called.
Hockley & I went to pictures -

Wrote to Doug & Miles
JUNE, 1916,
Major Billy allsop called also
Thursayd, 1  Capt. (gas officer)- 
heavy shelling of batteries back of &
flanks of Bois Grenier. Pig set some ways
on fire & got some gun crews. Reported
to have knocked out 7 guns
C Coy commenced chord
in salient of Bois Grenier
Post.
Friday, 2  Hockley & I inspected
old pumping plant at Weir
on River LEAYS. I then went
on to B- G- line & inspected
progress in B Coy Section,
particularly Concrete M.G pits
& M.G Shelters (concrete)
 

JUNE, 1916.
Saturday 3 C.R.E & I inspected
whole of B-G- line commencing at
LILLE RD.
Condemned work of C Coy on the
chord of B- G- Salient, revetting
badly placed.
Inf allotted to D coy working
without any proper direction by
our people.
Sunday, 4 Hockley & I met C.R.E.
& O/C A Coy at City Road. Inspected
work there & new line across
to Greatwood Avenue. Agreed
to fire step portions only
Urged Arnold look to drainage
at once.
Hockley & I then met Capt Conn.
Showed him where to start on
wire & how to do it. Went up
line to Moat Fm, & looked at
M.G on Tramline Avenue.
Lot of pig shelling about LILLE Road,
very close to Allsop's battery, one
bldg put on fire. Mortars active.
JUNE, 1916.
Monday. 5 Engaged at Field General
Court Martial sitting at Coquinghem.
President, Brig General Johnson.
Accused Lieut. Shaw &2/Lieut McMeekin
of 5 A/2 Trench Mortar Battery & also
Major H.G. Viney Bde Major 5^th Inf Bde
Court dealt with case of Lt Shaw
all related to Bosch attack on
Rue de Boix Salient on 5th May.
Tuesday, 6 Still at Court Martial
Disposed of McMeekins case & started
on Viney's.
our people had an offensive stunt
at 11.15 p.m. great shelling & TM work. It
looked splendid. Mortars cut wire &
knocked Bosch parapets about. our
people brought back 3 prisoners.
 

JUNE, 1916.
Hockley & I inspected work at Bois
Wednesday, 7 Grenier & thence to
Command Post. Saw M.G Sergt at work
on 2 pits. Inspector 23A the first
new pattern to be completed.
C.R.E. Evans & our officers saw our
pattern Bangalore torpedoe tried at
wire cutting - very successful
Had Evans to dinner
Cabled home "Caps may be dangerous"
Thursday, 8
Finished Court Martial on Major Viney.
Had tea at Rooms with Lt Col Collett 28 Bn
& Capt Foss who led late raiding party.
Got paper "Sydney Sunday Times" from
Nell & letter from Mrs Cloughley.
Cannot understand why no letters
from home. Evans got a bunch early
this week & Hockley got packets this
evening.
JUNE, 1916.
Met C.R.E (Lt Col. Newcombe) & G.S.O 2
Friday, 9 (Major Arthur) at Command Post
& inspected Subsidiary line right up to
Lille Road. B Coy making good progress
with B type 'Dug outs'. D Coy doing some
good rationing. Nine concrete M.G. pits
finished & several in progress.
Hockley, Evans & I went to the pictures
in the evening.
One of our water carts at LA VESSE got
fired on. Horses knocked down the driver
& bolted right back to stables at Coquinghem
passing sentries at 2 railway crossings & going
through Armentieres. No damage. Five of our
planes up in evening. One Hun brought down,
Hockley & I rode to Div Bomb School
Saturday, 10 at LA BOUDRELLE. Nine teams
competed in Divl teams competition. Our
Bn Came second. Ahead of 2^nd rd we
led [[?]] of 3rd 1 pt behind. Finish - 9 pts.

I met Genl Legge there. Got Bulletin 6 apl
Sent Nell a family remittance
of £30 through Field Cashier
 

JUNE, 1916.)
Accompanied C.R.E & Evans to
Sunday, 11 PLOEGSTEERT. Did
not see much work worth
anything. Hockley met Col.
Wisdom; 18^th Bn who has
erronious ideas of his own
responsibility & importance.
Got letters. 14th 15 & 16 from Nell
14 from Geoff, 12 from Doug, also Jean.
Nell & Fred, 4 bundles papers &
R.E journal.
Wrote to NELL No 21. Sent doz films
Monday, 12 Inspected Bois Grenier
& showed Lt Sinclair where to cut
off revetment & do wires then
inspected line to South & also
City Rd & Annand Avenue.
Met Conn & directed him to
apportion sections of line to
his sub
JUNE, 1916.
Tuesday, 13 Wrote to Rob, Jean
Mrs Viagen & Nellie.
Inspected left of Bois Grenier
line with Hockley & Pegler. Noted
good progress with dugouts (B) & wells
ordered Bomb store to be made south
of Wellington Avenue.
A cold damp day.
Hockley & I went to pictures.
Wednesday, 14 Hockley &I met Arnall
at Command Post & inspected City Road
Annand Avenue & Greatwood to
White City. Suggested plan of drainage
place for M.G on lacs Rivie at greatwood
Met C.R.E. called on Col Brane
new actg Brigadier of 6^th Bde. Heard
7th Bde called off somewhere.
Tonight clocks put on 1 hour
11 to midnight for daylight
Saving.
 

JUNE, 1916.
Met CR.E, Comr
Thursday, 15 & Shaw of 18^th Bn.
Lt Col Wisdom joined us & we
proceeded to inspect B- G - line
to Bois Greiner Post/ Lunched with
18^th Bn Hd Qrs-

Got query re censoring of Tolleys'
indiscreet letter from Serapeum.
Friday, 16  Donnelly & I inspected
Grub line from Bois Greiner he left. Got
under Shrapnel at time Desplanque
In afternoon drove in Car to WISQUE

near St OMER for lecture on 'attack
on the Bluff. Had a glorious drive
through delightful scenes. Had dinner
at St OMER. Left car at CROIX du BAL
& rode home. Great strafe began
as I was approaching. Evans came
round to watch from my window.
N.Z. Divsn made a raid.
JUNE, 1916
Saturday, ,17 Had coy officers down to 
City Road to see A Cy team do
some wiring on a new method
Very good. Capt. Conn sick
La Vesee heavily shelled in the

early morning
Great fight between 5 planes four
of ours & a Hun
Accompanied Col Brand &
Sunday, 18  C.R.E. on inspection of
Subsidiary line & rds support line
far as Ration Farm.
Hockley & I had a long walk
round Armentieres. Called at 
Luciers & had a beer.
'Bosche shelled heavily the 
Lille Road  ¼ mile east of our
billet
 

JUNE, 1916.
Met Lt Walker at Trammins
Monday, 19 Av & made detailed inspection
the lime to Bois Grenier Post,
Good work done by C Coy behind
brick walls.
Hockley & I walked round N W 
Suburbs of Armentieres
WROTE to NELL no 22 &

enclosed advice to Geoff.
Tuesday, 20 Rode to D.H.Q. to lodge
recommendations for promotion of Holder
Manders, Millarky, Potts & congrave -
Learned we are ordered to move to
ALDERSHOT Camp near NEUVE EGLI
Have to relieve 12th Sherwood Foresters (
Gunner Bn) Lt Col Hunter in Command
Took car to Bailleul & called at H.Q
24th Divsn, thence to new Camp &
lunched there.
Posted New Church Times & Hospital 
Magazine, also London News & Daily Ins
to Nell
JUNE, 1916,
Wednesday 21 Moved Bn to
ALDERSHOT CANP near NEUVE EGLISE
in Belgium
Dined with By Brig Genl  JACK FORSYTH
Thursday, 22 Rode out to hill 63 to
look at site of proposed new trench &
Art. O.PS.
Brig Genl  LOTBINERE & Major BOUVET
called & conferred about the
scheme drawn for the Corps O.Ps
Got plan from 2nd F.C. Didn't 
think great deal of it.
 

JIUNE, 1616
Saw C/o 106^th Art Bde &
Friday, 23 afternoon met Major Cowan of
4.5 Howitzer Batty & accompnaied him to Head 
Trench on hill 63. Arranged to do Concrete

O.Ps there.
Had tea with him. Strape started
was with the Batty in action. Fld Coy
just behind us hit. Magazine damaged but
no explosion. Then had dinner. Got hm
at 12 30.
Saturday, 24.  Met Major Bouvet S O
& E 1^st Anzac & Major Kim
104^th Fld Coy R.E. & discussed work.
Arranged we should do Heath Trench

& approaches sheets, also O Ps  shaven.
Also what should we tackle. Subsidiary him
Got cable from Nell reading "Thanks
cable, parcel letters all well" Nell Ann
also sunday papers, mil Australian
A cny commenced work on
Heath Trench preparing for
O Ps & improving approaches
JUNE, 1916.
B.& C. Coy commenced
Sunday, 25 work on subsidiary line
but found it- was on night of our area
Rode over to B.AILLEUL. & saw Major
Benevet. Had afternoon tea there.
Drove back, in motor can + decided
on a site for the Army Corps Dump
we are to start + take charge of.
Our 12 inch gun fired few rounds &
Hun retaliated with big stuff behind
NEUVE EgLISE not far from our Camp.
Monday, 26 wrote to NELL No 23
visited, gravel quarry & arranged for
work share. In afternoon went through
HEATH TRENCH & the SUBSIDIARY LINE.
A & D Coys working at night,
Flight of aeroplanes went out & fired
two enemy baloons. By gun near
us fired one round.
A very wet might