Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1917 - Part 3

FEBRUARY, 1917.
SUNDAY 18th.
Very sick; bilious
MONDAY 19th.
Went to D.H.Q, saw C.R.E re
next 'push'. Our jobs roads &
trams. First to do Baupaume
Road to Le Sars.
TUESDAY 20^th.
Did not go out today. Held O/R.
WEDNESDAY 21st.
Hockley & I rode by La Boiselle to
Pozieres & thence along Baupaume Road
to near Sugar mill below Courcellette. Then
walked on till stopped by hostile shelling.
Found roade road very badly cut up in most parts.
Went down William Alley & over to Tram line. A Coy
finished laying right to Sunken Road. Lunched with
Donnelly & explored old dug outs being reclaimed. 

THURSAY 22nd.
Bathed at D Coy & lunched there
FRIDAY 23rd
Sick.
SATURDAY 24th.
Sent out A & B Coys today advanced trench
for attack on Butte de Warlencourt, Patrols found
Germans were falling back from the ridge. Dug
trench in front of Maxwell support line. 
 

Got letters 58 & 60 fr Nell, 41 Geoff, Elsie,
Church, Hayne, Bage, Paris, photo proofs.
FEBRUARY, 1917.
SUNDAY 25th.
Put C, D & B Coys on to clearing & repairing Baupaume
Rd, to Le Sars
MONDAY 26th
WROTE TO NELL No 44.
A Coy pushing tramline towards
Butte de Warlencourt
others on Baupaume Road
TUESDAY 27th 
Same work
Family Remittance No 6
£20
WEDNESDAY 28th 
B & D Companies put onto road
from Martinpuich Church to Dead
Mule corner.
A on tram.
C on Baupaume Road.
Dimant & I tried out Douglas bike
& side car.
Started Duck boards to Little Wood.
Dan Evans dined with us. 

MARCH, 1917.
THURSDAY 1st.
Major Grant & C.S.M. Dickenson to
Training Bn. Eng.
C Coy to replace D on road to Dead Mule.
D to lay duck boards to Little Wood.
2 men of A Coy & 1 of D Coy Killed.
FRIDAY 2nd.
Went to Butte de Warlencourt &
Quarry. Saw 4 dead in one lot, Killed
night before.
D Coy to carry Duckboards to Malt
Trench. Visited C.R.E & suggested that
Corps light line from Martinpuich be laid
in valley & not on road from Dead Mule
corner.
SATURDAY 3rd.
WROTE NELL 45 
A Coy finished Tram to Quarry
near Butte de Warlencourt.
Dimant's dinner. Dan Evans lectured us. 
 

MARCH, 1917.
Got letters NELL 62 & 63, Nellie
Jean, Geoff 44, Jess R, Elsie, May Robinson.
SUNDAY 4th.
Visited Evans after the
Singsong. Heavy fall of snow
in the night.
MONDAY 5th.
Hockley & I went with Donnelly
to the Baupaume Rd NE of Le Sars
& determined further route for tramway.
Afterwards explored Butte de Warlencourt
& adjacent trenches
Called on CRE re further work
TUESDAY 6th.
Hockley & I went to look for billets
in Eaucourt La Abbe. Bosche shelled it
continuously. went along Hexham Rd.
all gunners there. Saw an Albatross
bring down one of our monoplanes. Later
Saw one of our B.E planes land SE of Martinpuich.
One engine cylinder Knocked off. Heavy
shelling of our 9.2s destroyed shelters, but did
not harm guns.
WEDNESDAY 7th.
Looked over Martinpuich for dug outs -
Divn promised hut at No 4 Camp Hot Cross
Roads.
Ordered Donnelly to run branch tram down
Hexham Road towards Factory Corner & to
clear dug outs near Ravine on Baupaume Rd
to take 1 off 18 O.R.
Very cold night. 

THURSDAY 8th
Snow storms today. Memo to Nell 
Hockley & I walked out to Hot Cross Road
& inspected huts there Decided to move
B & C Coys to there.
FRIDAY 9th
Tramway finished up Baupaume
Rd to Loupart Road. D Coy called off
their job on Emma Alley owing to stunt.
B Coy repaired & cleared road from 50 yds S.W
through Le Sars to Aquaduct Road. 
A Coy commenced on Dug outs near the
ravine.
SATURDAY 10th.
B & C Coys moved to Hot Cross Roads.
B still working on Baupaume Rd.
D still off Emma Alley.
Went to D.H.Q re tram system, men &c. 
 

Got letters 65 fr NELL (& Nellie) Comforts Fund,
Mrs Evans Peggy Robinson.
MARCH, 1917.
WROTE NELL No. 46
SUNDAY 11th.
Prospected for further Camp accommodation
Saw one of our Monoplanes come
down & turn turtle. 5 men of A Coy Killed
by a big shell in dug out in Le Sars.
MONDAY 12th.
Attended funeral of 5 A Coy men.
Heavy shelling of A Coy camp soon after.
Inspected our new Hd Qrs Camp.
Sent out Donnelly & Dimant to survey
Dug outs at the Ravine on Baupaume Rd.
D Coy moved to Hot Cross Camp.
Paid £20 - 75 for Roll books &c
TUESDAY 13th.
Sent all Bn (except part of A
Coy to work on Baupaume Road from
Le Sars forward. Enemy had again
fallen back. Got some men out
on job at 4.45 am.
WEDNESDAY 14th.
Moved Hd Qrs to vicinity of Hot Cross 

THURSDAY 15th.
I went out to the Ravine on Baupaume
Rd where A Coy making deviation round
Crater.
All Coys on the road. Met CR.E out
there.
Very cold night
Wrote Mr Whitehill
FRIDAY 16th.
Met Genl Birdwood
Wrote Lt Col Davis.
on reconstruction road to Baupaume.
SATURDAY 17th.
Wrote NELL 47
Germans made further big retirement
I went up to Baupaume.
Got Bosche jug &c in dug out.
Our men got road through for guns
by 4.30 pm
one German brought down three of our
De Havilands within ½ hour. one close
to me. Talked to defeated pilot. 
 

MARCH, 1917.
SUNDAY 18th.
I reconnoitred Martinpuich for dug outs &
later saw Genl Smyth, & inspected our L Guns on
A.A. posts. Hockley went to Baupaume. Moved
half of B C & D Coys forward of Le Sars.
MONDAY 19th.
Went through Baupaume to Avesnes
& Biefvillers. Several high velocity
naval shells came over near us.
Put C Coy to repair crater in Avesnes.
Rode through Grevillers & Loupart Wood.
Got tumblers & 2 books as souvenirs
Sent box, Bosch jug, tumblers, 2 whiz-bang
shells home.
TUESDAY 20th.
I did not go out to front
Coys still on roads.
WEDNESDAY 21st.
Went through Baupaume &
inspected damaged houses view
to quarters. Went through FAVREUIL
and BEUGNATRE. Met Dan Evans,
Got basket & 2 Bosche 9" how charge
Shells.
Heavy fall of snow at night 

THURSDAY 22nd.
Inspected transport & saw
to gathering tools for loan to
Engrs
Wrote Doug, B.A & Paris
FRIDAY 23rd.
Went out & inspected road
to & beyond Baupaume. C Coy
finished Craters in Biefvillers &
Avesnes. Lunched at ‘C’ Coy Lt Clerke
reported to C Coy.
SATURDAY 24th.
Wrote NELL 48
Padre & I went into Albert. Got
promise of some 'comforts'. Lunched
at YMCA officers' Club. Better feed than
at a tea fight. 
 

MARCH, 1917.
SUNDAY 25th.
Wrote to Rab
MONDAY 26^th
Sent Postal Notes to F A Swaine
£3/18/6 & to Great branch of Scotland
Rly for 16/10.
TUESDAY 27th.
Went over Bn work on road &
visited wrecked Town Hall in
Baupaume. 28 men Killed
including 7 comforts men & 2 Interpreters.
by Hun 'time' mine (8 days).
Saw sundry prisoners.
WEDNESDAY 28th.
Cheque Com Bank to Sparrow       £11-1-6.
   do         do     Cockatoo (road) Coy 2-3-6
WROTE TO NELL 49. 

THURSDAY 29th.
Went out to Baupaume. Met Col Elliott.
Went over road with him. Great lot metal
arriving in motor lorries. Learned Corps
take over up to Baupaume.
Heavy rain. In afternoon went to D.H.Q
& arranged supply of 500 sets underclothing
to start Bn baths.
FRIDAY 30th.
Went out Baupaume Road
people seem regard our men superfluous.
Lunched C’ Coy. Saw free balloon going east.
Rode out to near Le Transloy. Fld Marshall Haig,
Army Comdr, Prince of Wales, Genl Birdwood & others through
our area. Saw funeral start out of French
Deputies Killed at Baupaume Town Hall
explosion.
SATURDAY 31st.
WROTE NELL 50
No 7 Remittance £10 - tot £110
C. Coy lifting metal for 4^th Divn. B on road.
Attended presentation of medals at Shelter Wood.
Lunched with C.R E. Attended Bombing Demonstration
at Bomb School. Fired our flares & saw method
of lighting rockets &c. 
 

APRIL, 1917.
Got Q 285 ordering MOVE to WELLINGTON HUTS.
SUNDAY 1st.
Lts Holder, Ride & Grove arrived
with 35 men.
D. Coy on stone &c. for 4th Divsn.
Got letters 64 Nell, 45 Geoff & Jean, 4 papers.
MONDAY 2nd.
Moved Bn to Marlborough Huts E of
the Ancre near Aveluy.
Hockley & I walked to Albert in
heaviest snowstorm I have seen.
Flakes big as pennies.
Conferred with Major Sharp & Capt
Alexander re proposed work of clearing
Camp sites. Evans went to England.
TUESDAY 3rd.
Bn rested. Rode around the
country.
Hockley & I attended performance
of Anzac Coves (Pierrots) at the
Cinema Albert.
Band instruments arrived.
WEDNESDAY 4th.
Collected a lot of tents,
Got inoculated T A. B
Got letters No 67 from Nell; Whitehill
Cards from Doug. 

THURSDAY 5th.
Sick & sore, Delivered 200 tents
to Corps.
2/Lt Dewey reported in from
Reforcements.
FRIDAY 6th.
Visited C & A Coys.
delivered to Corps a lot of tents
2/Lt Dewey 
Padre held services at outlying
Coys & in evening at Hd Qrs for H.Q &
D. Coy. Band played O.K
SATURDAY 7th.
I went to D.H.Q. & saw Col Summerville
re sundry items. Lunched with Col
Nicholson. Met Col Ralph.
Had yarn with Wertheim. 
 

APRIL, 1917.
Got letters: Nell 66 & Jean; Geoff 46; Jean 24 Jenny
Isles; Pier Robinson  Swaine (Photos)
Day; Bennet; Miss Bisson
SUNDAY 8th.
Had Bn Church Parade. Very good.
Band O.K. Lt Armitage took basket
German Shell cases to store at Cook's London.
MONDAY 9th.
Had revolver practice
with Hockley & Padre. I was
the Daddy.
Got letters No 70 Nell (& Nellie)
refund Scottish Rly. 8/5½. (68 & 69 missing)
Walked into Albert & got P.Cs for
Kids. Great news of NEW PUSH
TUESDAY 10th.
O/R at C & B Coys.
Rode into Albert & attended
Pierrot show very good.
Heavy snow storms & high
winds.
Got Courier
WEDNESDAY 11th.
Selected site for Rifle Range &
measured off ranges.
Went to 5^th Fld Amb at Pozieres &
had gum opened for abcess.
Heard 4^th Div got through Hindenburg
Line & were bumped back.
Met Capt Voss 

THURSDAY 12th.
WROTE NELL 51.
FRIDAY 13th.
Sent home German book (+)
Walked into Albert & had tea
at Officers’ Rest house. Bought
padlock.
SATURDAY 14th.
C & D Coys went up to
Baupaume for forward work.
I attended G.C.M at Favreuil. Then
saw Tolley & called at D.H.Q.
Rly loco shot by direct hit through
boiler. 

APRIL, 1917.
SUNDAY 15th.
Sent home German Detonator Box
Wrote Rab, Nell, (note) Patterson.
Lunched at B Coy & judged skill at arms
Competition.
MONDAY 16th.
Padre & I walked into Albert. Called
A & B Coys into Marlborough Camp to be
ready march tomorrow to Baupaume.
Hockley went out to C & D Coys at Vaux.
Padre & I attended Albert pictures in
evening N.B.G.
A cold wet night.
TUESDAY 17th.
A & B Coys moved up to
Baupaume.
C & D on wiring before front line.
WEDNESDAY 18th.
A & B Coys moved to near Vaux
Hd Qrs to Baupaume.
D Coy filled & metalled crater in
Lagnicourt, others on roads &c.
Got LETTERS from Ede Victoria
Pioneer Comforts, & Com Bank (CR Wood)
Socks from A.P.B Comfort Fund
10 Castlereagh St Sydney. 

THURSDAY 19th.
Got LETTERS NELL 69 & 71, (8 still missing
Doug, Geoff 47, 48, 49, Jean (2) who’s who &
parcels Mrs J.B TIPPER Socks from Peggy Robinson.
Rode out beyond Vaux towards LONGATTE.
Coys on roads & cinder track. D Coy made good
job of crater in Longatte.
Saw enemy positions. Had lunch C Coy.
Hancox called.
FRIDAY 20th.
Met Stanley at Baupaume.
WROTE NELL 52.
Went orderly Room in forenoon.
Sergt Sinclair. In afternoon went
to D.H.Q
SATURDAY 21st.
WROTE NELL No 53.
Laid out posts for defence of
Vaulx Vraucourt & started A & B Coys
on them. C & D wiring near Noreuil 
 

APRIL, 1917.
SUNDAY 22nd.
Moved Hd Qrs to H 2 6 a 4. 5
Got LETT  A & B on posts
C a post at Noreuil
D wiring at Noreuil
Gas alert
Planes active
MONDAY 23rd.
GOT LETTER 68 fr NELL
2 Coys strong posts & wiring
on support line
2 Coys do Vaulx Vraucourt line
TUESDAY 24th.
Same work as above
GOT LETTERS NELL 72, Jean,
Elsie, Genl Chauvel, parcel Miss
Toole.
WEDNESDAY 25th.
Holiday ordered for Anzac Day.
Had sports in afternoon.
C & D Coys on support line
defences near Longatte at
night.
Capt Louden returned & Lts
Robinson &     joined up
Sent REMITTANCE No 8 £10 - Total £120. 

THURSDAY 26th.
A Coy Vaulx defences
B   -   Longatte Road
C  & D resting
I visited & inspected Noreuil Lagnicourt
Defence line & saw Hindenburg
Line. Got shelled with whiz-bangs
FRIDAY 27th.
A Coy Vaulx defences
B   -   Lagnicourt Road
C & D resting
Met Brig Genl Wisdom & Evans &
Brig Genl White & Nicholson
decided on a new post in valley &
put work in hand.
SATURDAY 28th.
Wrote NELL No 54
B Coy on forward VAULX defences
A on VAULX Corps Defences
C - wiring Noreuil Lagnicourt
Lt Col Davis called also
C.R.E