Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1917 - Part 3

FEBRUARY, 1917

SUNDAY 18th.

Very sick, bilious
MONDAY 19th.
Went to D.H.Q, saw CRE re
next 'push'. Our jobs roads &
trams. First to do Baupaume
Road to Le Sars.
TUESDAY 20th
Did not go out today. Held 0/R
WEDNESDAY 21st
Hockley & I rode by La Brisselle 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 out 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, Baze, Paris, photo troops.

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 Duckboards to Little Wood.

Don 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 duckboards 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 CRE & 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. Don Evans lectured us.

 

MARCH, 1917.

Got letters NELL 62 & 63, Nellie

Jean, Geoff 44, Jess R, Elsie, Maj 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 training.

Afterwards explored Butte de Warlencourt

& adjacent trenches.

Called on CRE re further work

TUESDAY 6th.

Hockley & I went to look for billets

in Pancourt 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 BE planes land SE of Martinpuich.

One engine cylinder knocked off. Heavy

shelling of our 9.20 destroyed shelters, but did

not harm guns.

WEDNESDAY 7th.

Looked over Martinpuich for dugouts -

Divn promised hut at No. 4 Camp Hot Cross

Roads.

Ordered Donnelly to run branch tram down

Hexham Road towards Factory Corner & to

clean dugout near Ravine on Baupaume Rd.

to take 1 off 18 OR.

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 Louparte Road. D Coy called off

their job in Emma ally owing to stunt.

B Coy repaired & cleared road from 50 yds SW

through Le Sars to Aquaduct Road.

A Coy commenced on dugouts near the

ravine.

SATURDAY 10th.

B & C Coys moved to Hot Cross Roads.

B still working on Baupaume Rd.

D still off Emma ally.

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 in 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 CRE 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 jig &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 dugouts for

later saw Genl Singh & inspected out L Guns on

A.A. posts. Hockley went to Baupaume. Moved

half of B C & D Cys forward to Le Sars.

MONDAY 19th.

Went through Baupaume to Avesnes

& Brefillers. Several high velocity

naval shells came over near us.

Put C Coy to repair crater in Avesnes.

Rode through Grivillers to Lonpart 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 near

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

togethering tools for loan to

Engrs.

Wrote Doug. B.A & Davis

FRIDAY 23rd.

Went out & inspected road

to & beyond Baupaume. C Coy

finished Crater in Brifuillers &

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. Barrer feed shown

at a tea fight.

 

 

MARCH, 1917. 

SUNDAY 25th.

Wrote to Rab

MONDAY 26th

Sent Postal notes to F A Swaine

£3/. 8/6 & to Great Bank of Scotland

Ply 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 2-8-6

WROTE TO NELL 49.

THURSDAY 29th.

Went out to Baupaume. Met Col Elliott.

Went over road with him. Great lot metal

arriving in motorlorries. 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 Cy. Saw free balloon going east.

Rode out to near Le Transby  [Fld Marshall Haig,

Army Comd., 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 CRE. Attended bombing Demonstration

at Bomb School. First our flares & saw method

of lighting rockets &c.

 

APRIL, 1917.

Got Q 285 ordering MOVE to WELLINGTON HOTS.

SUNDAY 1st.
Lts Holder, Ride & Grove arrived

with 25 men.

D. Coy on store &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 Aveling.

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 service 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

Micholm. Met Col. Rolph.

Had yarn with Wertheim.

 

APRIL, 1917.

Got letters: Nell 66 & Jean; Geoff 46; Jean 24 Jenny

MIles; Pier Robinson Swaine (Photos)

Day; Bennet; Mjr 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 Doddy.

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 officer's Post house. Bought

padlock.

SATURDAY 14th.

C & D Coys went up to

Baupaume for forward work.

I attended G.CM at Favrevil. Then

saw Tolby & called at D.H.Q.

Rly loco shot by direct hit through

boiler.

 

APRIL, 1917.

SUNDAY 15th.

Sent home Germ 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 Coy at Vanc.

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 & installed crater in

Lafunicourt, others on roads &c.

Got LETTERS from Ede Vaitoria

Primer 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) whis who &

parcels Mrs U.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's. In afternoon went

to D.H.Q.

SATURDAY 21st.

WROTE NELL 53.

Laid out posts for defence of

Vaulx Vrancoourt & started A & B Coys

on show. C & D wiring near Moscute

 

.

APRIL, 1917.

SUNDAY 22nd.

Moved Hd qrs to H 2 6 a 4. 5

Got LETT A & B on posts

C a post at Morcull

D wiring at Moreuil [*Gas alert

Planes active*]

MONDAY 23rd.

GOT LETTER 68 fr NELL

2 Coys strong posts & wiring

on support line

2  Coys do Vaulx Vrancourt line

TUESDAY 224th.

Same work as above

GOT LETTERS NELL 72, Jean,

Elsie, Genl Chauvel, parcel Mjs

Toole.

WEDNESDAY 25th.

Holiday ordered for Anzac Day.

Had sports in afternoon.

C & D Coys on support line

defences near Longette at 

night.

Capt Louden returned & Lt 

Robinson &

Sent REMITTANCE No. 8 £10 - Total £120.

THURSDAY 26th.

A Coy Vaulx defences

B - Logette Road

C & D resting

I visited & inspected Moreuil Lagnicourt

Defence line & saw Hindenburg

Line. Got shelled with a whiz-bang

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 in VAULX Corps Defences

C - wiring Moreuil Lagnicourt

Lt Col Davis called also

C.R.E.