Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1916 - Part 6

JUNE, 1916.
Major BOUVET called with
car & took Henderson &
Tuesday, 27
I to meet Major COWAN in Heath trench
to site O.Ps. We sited location of 9.
& instructed A Coy to start on them
& improving the trench.
B Coy to improve the subsidiary line.
C  -  -  reclaim Gas trench
D  -  -  provide gravel & do com trench
up to Heath trench
I lectured officers on Communications
Wednesday, 28 Went to Ballieul

& saw C.E. Yard of V Corps. Had
lunch in town. Bought Pocket
Wallet & cap.
Night work interdicted for
a strafe.
Wrote to Geoff, Tom Foster, P.C
to mother, & p.cs to all other kids
except Geoff.
Lots of heavy gun fire all
along the line
JUNE, 1916.
Thursday, 29 Inspected day work at
Gravel quarry, & Heath Trench.
Brig General Lotbiniere called with
Major Bouvet & asked for 100 men to
be lent to 5^th Engrs for a night or two.
Night work stopped by rain.
Inspected work at M.G. Instructional
Course (our Lewis Gunners)

Lecture by Major Grant - "The Training
of the Soldier" Had in "Bn Stand to"
Friday, 30 Inspected 1^st Anzac Corps
Dump being run by our men
Again visited our machine
gunners practices.
Night work interdicted for
a strafe. Our people
launched two lots of gas.
17 aeroplanes flew over
our camp to German
lines in the evening.
 

JULY, 1916.
Saturday, 1 Visited Heath Trench
stopped on the way by heavy
shelling at Donave Farm
Saw 3 horses killed. While
waiting big shell to fell in ditch
50 yds from us & detonated. So
went back & round through
Ploegsteert. Heavy shelling both sides
Lecture by Major Hockley "Company in
Attack" Man of B Coy shot through thigh.
Shelling became very heavy right up
to Ploegsteert
Got letter dated 13 May from Elsie
Sunday, 2 held formal inspection of each
unit of the Bn -
Heavy shells fell close to our camp evidently
searching for big guns. Hockley & I rode
bikes to Hill west of LOCRE (MONT ROUGE)
Had a superb view of 40 miles of battle line.
Saw YPRES, the ruined cathedral & Clerk Hall being
very distinct. Saw spires of Lille, & right south to
Loos & north to near the Channel. Went via
Mont Vidaire & Mont Noir to Bailleuil & dined
in Rue de College. Saw three Newport scout planes
go up to chase a Borche machine.
Good news today of successes down south.
Heavy bombardments again at night, one of
our drivers seriously gassed in digging up a
dud shell that fell near the camp.
 

JULY, 1916.
Committed R.S.M. & R Q M.S. to trial by
Court Martial.

Monday, 3
Hockley & I visited amenities & arranged
for revetting stakes from Army Dump there
Dined at le Bouef. Met Jack Amour
Learned from him of death of Will
Deacon, Col. Fichton & Harry Bailey.
Saw the big church on square all
marked by German shells
Big moves proceeding, Borche again
strafed Armentieres last night
& road to Nieppe. Huxley had to
go long way round.
Col Newcombe called

Tuesday, 4
The Divsn moving today. Discussed
probable work. Said A Coy could
carry on with O.Ps at Heath Walk
Wrote to Elsie
Got letter No 19, from Nell, dated
4 May. Postmark 14 May. 17 & 18 are
still missing.
JULY, 1916
Visited front trenches of 26^th Bn & lunched
Wednesday, 5 with Major Currie. Lot of
holes made by Minnies.
Had Grant & Perler out to lay out four
Commn trenches.
C.R.E. dined with us. Arranged details of
O.Ps of concrete.
Got orders to vacate our Camp. Shall
have to erect temporary shelters.
N^o 1 Pioneer bn coming to our huts. We go
to vicinity of Neuve Eglise.
Old ruined church is dated 1643.
Cabled home "WELL". Sent regd.
Thursday, 6 parcel 2 lace collars, set cuffs.
& Canadian Pioneer Badge: old diaries to [[?]]
WROTE  to NELL No 24. P.C. Mrs Hervey.
Commenced move to new location
Neuve Eglise.
Bosche shelled road and got three men.
 

JULY, 1916.
GOT LETTERS 16A, 17 & 18 from NEL
Friday, 7 also 15 & 16 from Geoff, 14
from Doug, 2 from Rob, 2 from Elise, Jean &
one xxxx Nell. Moved to new camp
on bn site. Met Genl Birdwood &
Lotbiniere in Heath Trench.
C.R.E. called in evening.
Heard of Baltic fight, & riots
in Germany. Also French program
arranged to send patrols into
Noman's land.
Saturday, 8 Got paper from home
Ordered to move South.
Sent surplus kits care of Caretaker
Museum
ECOLE DEDESSIN, RUE DES VIVIERS
BAILLEUL
No 2
Remitted ₤15 home through the
Field Cashier

Moved On to LA CRECHE.
JULY, 1916.
Wrote NELL No 25.
Sunday, 9
Stayed at LA CRECHE
Hockley & I walked into
Steenwercke
wrote to Doug
Monday, 10 Marched to
STRAZEELE, arriving at 2.30 p.m.
Billeting arrangements by
Lt Wentheim very good.
 

JULY, 1916.
Tuesday, 11 Marched to
billets at EBBLINGHEM, arriving
about 4 pm. Had good march
Bought cherries there. Very good
billets
wrote to Geoff
Wednesday, 12 Marched to S^T OMER
& entrained.
Hockley & I Lunched & dined at

Cafe ST VINCENT, ST OMER
Attended service in cathedral -
Left by train at 11.3 pm
 JULY, 1916
Arrived at LONGUEAU LONGEAU by train
Thursday, 13 at 8.30 am
Marched to FREMONT at 4 pm
General LEGGE called to see us.
Billeted in splendidly furnished old farm house
Madame Gambia very deferential to M'seur Le
Colonel - Beautiful wall papers. &c. Interesting old
weapons & medals of her husband a Capt who
was captured by Germans in War of 1870.
Had an evening walk & gathered beautiful
lot of flowers
Saw partridges & heard larks singing
Saw Dan Evans in Ambulance going out to line
Recd. Canteen money F 46
Friday, 14 At billets in Fremont
Col Newcombe called & [[insinuated]] the
probable work of Engrs & Pioneers when
we join in the push
[[? ?]] Platoon drill
Got letters 21 & 22 fr Nell; 17, 18 & 19 fr Geoff
15 & 17 from Doug, Rob & Jean.
 

JULY 1916
Bn drill & also laying
Saturday, 15 trenches & base drill
Col. Bridges (G.S.01) & Major Witham called
on us while out on parade.
Hockley & I cycled to AMIENS, visited
the beautiful Cathedral & dined at Hat
de RHIN.
Sunday, 16 Hockley & I to rode to
Bertangles & there saw Col. Collett.
Fine old Chateau: beautiful iron
gates. Thence rode down beautiful avenue
to Villers - Amiens Road & by that rd to
Poulainville. From thence through Vaux
home to Fremont.
At forenoon parade did entrenching
base & Coy drill.
Col Newcombe & Evans called in
afternoon.
Heard our people captured 20
heavy guns.
JULY, 1916.
Monday, I7 Training at Fremont
Tuesday, 18 Training at Fremont
 

JULY, 1916.
Wednesday, 19
Training at Fremont
Attack practice by Bn -
met C.R. E at Longpine re
detailing an officer for mapping the
trenches &c & men for guides.
Thursday, 20
Moved to RUBEMPRE.
I was billeted at Doctors house
Nicely furnished.
JULY, 1916.
Friday, 21 Moved to HARPONVILLE
Rather poor billets.
Hockley & I cycled out to the firing line &
went over scene of British 'push'. Inspected late
German trenches at ovillers- la-Boisselle.
Saw many German dead & heaps of discarded
equipment. Went down into a deep German
dug out. Some dug outs still burning & stinking.
General Birdwood & Maj General White called
while I was away. Also Col. Newcombe
I reconnoitred route for proposed tramline
Went out via Albert, returned by a more
northerly route.
Saturday 22 WROTE NELL No 26
 

JULY, 1916
Sunday, 23 Rcvd NELL's No 2
& letter from Rob.
Attended impromptu church
Service
Rode to 3^rd Bde HdQrs at
Warloy

Coy's route marching &c
C R E called
wrote to Rob & Geoff
Monday, 24 2 Coys route marching
& 2 wiring &c.

Rode to Varennes & got timber
Wrote to NELL No 27
JULY, 1916
Tuesday, 25 Had a night stunt taking up
& entrenching positions in the dark, with a
covering party out.
C R E called early in morning re Durrants'
job -
Sent Durrant & Moss out to the front
about Contalmaison to reconnoitre re roads
tram &c.
Started work on making pack crates for
carrying water cans.
Wednesday, 26 C R E & Capt Officer called
for breakfast. Sent gear out to Dimart.
 

JULY 1916.
Thursday, 27 Moved from HARPONVILLE
to CONTALMAISON & relieved 1^st Pioneer Bn
I had tea with officers of 7^th Fld Coy &
went round P0Z1ERES trench with EVANS
and Major Henderson.
Instructed by C R E to tackle C.Ts
A Coy to do Tramline working under C R E
direct. My horse's foreleg severely cut
while being lead back to Reserve Area.
Hot shelling all about. Doc Hit & bruised
Friday, 28 Comm blown up but not damaged
2 mens lightly wounded in daylight -
Lt Wertheman took out party of 12 in attack to
consolidate strong points. Pvt Hulls was killed
2 detachments M.Gs lent to 20^th Bn joined in
attack & got back safely last lot at about noon.
Work on C.Ts SUNK TRENCH & COPSE
AVENUE
Making barbed Trench wire.
Never in such a hell of a row as
during the battle. It was stupendous
& informed Shaw said if hell is worse
he will throw up his Engineers ticket.
 

JULY 1916.
GOT LETTERS Nos 23 from Nell & 20 from
GEOFF.
Saturday, 29 work on SUNK TRENCH and
COPSE AVENUE, also extension of DINKUM TRENCH CENTRE ROAD
D Coy completed 600 yds of making of barbed Trench
wire.
Sent watts to report on proposed opening
of trench W of chalk pit & also E & N thereof.
Started Inf party on latter, but C R E called
them off again.
Saw Evans. He & Polson much shaken.
Invited them to camp in our cellar.
C Coy started Centre Road: A & D Coys
sent to assist; worked all night & more
very good job.
Hockley & 1 inspected work on Centre
Sunday, 30 Road & advised extension
General Birdwood called & said he
had heard we did good work.
Moved Hd Qrs to a stronger cellar.
C Coy at work on Sunk Road & on Rd
La Gavissalle to chalk Pit Rd. Track had
not been started as stated by 7 F.C
Got a hellish bombardment of Contalmaison
& our spot in particular. 5 hrs of H.E., shrapnel
ten & poison gas shells - absolutely damnable
Sergt Thoren &, a M C Sergt very bad & some
other cases gassed. Thoren died
Moved Hd
B Coy centre Road
D - Copse Avenue
 

JULY, 1916.
Moved Hd Qrs to SHAMROCK
Monday, 31 TREE, aid station &c
6^th Bde Hd Qrs. -
B Coy Centre Avenue
C - Bomb stores & Fld Kitchen

dugouts
D Coy Copse Avenue
AUGUST, 1916.
Tuesday, 1 B Coy extension of CENTRE
ROAD towards E of cemetery through
POZIERES. assisted by D Coy
C Coy (less 2 platoons & 100 men of
A Coy laid out & dug to over of 3 ft
deep 600 yds of advanced trench. Did
excellent job. Major Grant wounded leg
& arm. Lt Hope ribs. our own Lewis
Guns for protection. 28 men of C Coy
casualties, none of A. Several MGs
Bomb accident severely injured 2 men
& damaged number of others.
Wednesday, 2 D Coy sent out to get
Centre Road pushed through to
completion, but reported task almost
impossible, being blown in as it was constructed.
Sent Lt Richardson to lay out advanced
trench to join up from 5^th Bde on right
to what we dug. He did the job & got the
Inf party set out & was then killed by M.G
fire, was most conscientious capable officer.