Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1917 - Part 4

APRIL-MAY, 1917.
SUNDAY 29th.
Bathing & rest
nice weather
Lunched at D.H.Q. Went over stunt
practice ground
MONDAY 30th.
Visited D.H.Q.
D Coy cut C.T from Noreiul
N.W to C 4 c 3.1
B completing Vaulx forward
posts.
Practice of attack before daylight.
A. Coy carrying from Noreiul to forward dump.
TUESDAY 1^st.
MAY.
B Coy on Vaulx posts.
Visited with Hockley & other officers
the Bve Hd qrs in Noreiul  at night &
settled some details.
Met Lt. Col. Davies, Lt. Col. Elliott &
Major Tolley.
WEDNESDAY 2^nd.
Preparing for attack on the
Hindenburg Line between Bullecourt
& Queant tomorrow morning.
THURSDAY 3rd.
Bn moved up to Noreiul to positions of
readiness, arriving at 2.30 a.m. C/O at 5^th
Bde Hd Qrs. Contemplated objectives not all joined
on uniformly. G.O.C Div front D Coy to carry Stokes bombs
& C to carry S.A.A., 40 of B. Coy stretch bearing.
A & B then cut C.T along road through U 29 a & c
to 40 yds. from O.G.1. C did some between O.G.1 & 2.
Had to stop work to repel attack. Continued
till all 5^th Bde returned to Rly cutting. Did
abt 1200 yards, giving good shelter.
FRIDAY 4th.
A& B went out to do posts & C T
in left sector, but were diverted by Bdr
to carrying bombs. D dug post across
O.G. 1 at 29 b 66 & C dug CT at 29 b 3 7 &
150 yards south. Major Hockly in charge.
Very heavy shelling all over.
SATURDAY 5TH.  16
A& B  dug C/T 500 yds 28 d 55 9.5 to
b 9.8. C & D dug CT 350 yds from 29 d 6.6
to 29 b. 6. 4.
Heavy enemy barrages & several
counter attacks. Could not start
work till 12.30 a.m.
 

 
MAY, 1917.
SUNDAY 6th.
C Coy went out & put blocks on
O.G. 1 & 2 near road in U 29.d & finished
C/T to left.
Dunable to get on job for heavy barrages
MONDAY 7th.
WROTE NELL N^o 55.
A & B cleared & deepened C/T in U 29 a & c
D aid post in front of O.G.2 left sector
with C/T to line M.G. positions & general
consolidation
Our Camp shelled in evening. B
Mess Cookhouse blown up.
TUESDAY 8th.
Coys (less 4 planning went out to
improve night C/T & dig new
trench in left sector connecting
two new posts. Owing to German
attack about 9.30 men could not get
out on to job. C/Ts blocked by Divisions
charging over. Very intense shelling.
WEDNESDAY 9th.
Bn moved to GORDON CAMP.
Some men travelled from Baupaume on Corps
Light Railway & some in motor waggons. D Coy
camp shelled savagely about 1 pm & 6 men hit
(including Lt. Furnell & one man fatally.)
Hockley & I dined with Fenshell & Harris
at CLR. Camp near Baupaume.
MAY, 1917.
THURSDAY 10th.
GOT LETTERS, 73&74 Nell, 50 Geoff, Jean, Doug
Frank Buott, Mrs Coulton, Card's birthday Jean Doug Fred.
Visited D.H.Q. & submitted appns
Paris leave Donnelly & Hockley.
FRIDAY 11th.
Had Bn parade & drill. Revolver
practice. Open air concert &
brewing at night
Wrote to Jean
SATURDAY 12th.
Did little drill
Padre & I visited pictures at Albert
Capt. Sinclair, Lt Armitage & 54 O.R. went
to Rest Camp at St Valerie sur Somme.
Hockley & Donnelly to Paris.
 

MAY, 1917.
SUNDAY 13th.
Wrote to NELL No 56
church Service
Got cable 'Birthday greetings are you well'
MONDAY 14th.
C.O attended conference at D.H.Q.
re Regimental funds & allotting portions for
post war needs. Decided against.
Squad drill &c.
Some officers had rifle practice.
I fired German rifle
TUESDAY 15th.
Wrote to NELL 57. Sent German note.
Squad drill & F.GEMS
I rode to Bouzincourt see about
Billets. Took Dog Leg Camp.
WEDNESDAY 16th.
Gave Potts £10, to be repaid by his brother
A.E. POTTS, Bk of Asia, Petersham Syd to Mrs A.
Count No 9 - Total £130
WROTE NELL 58
THURSDAY 17TH
Bn moved to Dog Leg Camp between
AVELUY & BOUZENCOURT.
A wet morning. No men fell
out on march.
Doc & I walked into Albert in
evening.
FRIDAY 18th.
Hockley & Donnelly retd from Paris.
Bn at Musketry preliminary training.
Padre & I walked to Albert & had tea
at offrs Rest house.
SATURDAY 19th.
Got letters 77 NELL, Jean, Doug, Nellie.
75 & 76 missing.
 

MAY, 1917.
SUNDAY 20th.
Church Parade. Walked to Albert.
Waraker called me re Bde sports.
MONDAY 21st.
"D" Coy moved to
Marlborough Huts to work for Corps
School at Gough Huts; others training.
Hockley & I rode to Albert.
Band instruments tried out.
TUESDAY  22nd.
Got Letters 75 & 76 Nell
Jean (2), Nellie (2) Geoff 51, Doug, Mrs Thomas,
Elsie, Cornfouls, Primrose.
WEDNESDAY 23rd.
Post out 58?
Drive to  Rubenpre with
Genl Smyth & lunch with him
& drove back.
Called at 7^th Bde also.
MAY,1917.
THURSDAY 24th
Investigated complaints at Corps
School. Lunched D Coy. Went
to Corps rear qrs
Lodged complaint against
Lt Col. Fitzgerald.
FRIDAY 25th.
Left Camp 7 a.m.
Left Albert & Armiens & arrived
Paris 5 pm. Hotel Continental
Tuilleries Gardens, Louvre, Opera Place
Drove through Bois de Bologne
Dinner at Hotel Continental
SATURDAY 26th
Visited Trocadero & then Parc de
Buttes &c Chaumont. Lunched there
Called Mlle Borlean, met cousin &
went Bois Bologne, Dined Continental
& took lady home.
 

MAY, 1917.
SUNDAY 27th.
Padre & I walked to NOTRE DAME & heard
beautiful service lunched at Trocadero
Bastille,
Met Boileax & visited  De Invalides & Napoleon
Tomb, went opera A I D A.
MONDAY 28th.
Padre & I visited church
Sacre Couer & old Paris
lunched there. Called for Mlls
Boileau & Minfleire & went by
train to Versailles. Dined there
& saw both ladies home.
TUESDAY 29th.
Visited Madeleine Church, Petit Palais
& art &c show there, Pantheon, Church of
Saint - Etienne-du-Mont, xx Luxembourg
palce & Gardens. Train trip through old
wall towards St Cloud River trip on Seine.
At night attended performance at the
Follie Bergeres.
WEDNESDAY 30th.
Did some shopping, & walked
about City, left Paris at 11.40 p.m.
MAY-JUNE, 1917.
THURSDAY 31st.
Arrived Amiens 4.50 am & Albert 7.30 am
Home to camp 8.15 a.m.
Brig Genl. Gellibrand called. Discussed
work &c. Hockley & I rode to Bougimont
& called on Dan Evans.
FRIDAY 1st.
JUNE
Wrote NELL 59
My wedding day anniversary
 

JUNE, 1917.
MONDAY 4th.
Horse show & sports at Senlis
xxxx Engaged in jumps
Bn won limber driving
TUESDAY 5th.
Bn inspected
by Genl. Birdwood.
Congratulated on turnout.
WEDNESDAY 6th.
Medal ribbons distributed
by Genl Birdwood at Warloy
I introduced to Mr and Mrs
Fisher
JUNE, 1917.
THURSDAY 7th.
I visited 5^th Army Musketry School at
Warloy & afterward rode to 5^th Army
Inf School at Toulencourt. Dined &
slept there, guest of Major Donnelly
Genl Smyth called; told me
of great victory at Messines by our
3^rd & 4^th Divisions.
FRIDAY 8th.
Met Bn being put through
Gas at Millencourt
Lecture Patterson & I 'Bridging
Expedients".
SATURDAY 9th. 
Brig Gnl Johnson called. I rode
through Mesnil & beyond & walked
through Archery Wood with Padre.
Considered scheme for a
regimental tour.
 

JUNE, 1917.
SUNDAY 10th.
Church Parade with aat
Regimental officers tour.
Our Band played at Albert Sq.
MONDAY 11th.
Training - Rode to Albert
Band played at G.C.C.S. on River Bk.
TUESDAY 12TH.
Lecture by Capt. Roth on
Command & Discipline
Contaism.
WEDNESDAY 13th.
Bn drill
2/Lt J Dennison found
dead in Aveluy Wood a case
of suicide. A decent fellow.
Cannot understand it at all.
Band played at Artillery swimming
JUNE, 1917.
THURSDAY 14th.
Outpost Scheme & ad Guard.
Run against 7^th Bde. Had an
interesting day.
Met Genl Wisdom.
FRIDAY 15th
Wrote NELL 60. Nell & Fred.
SATURDAY 16th
Court of enquiry into death
of Dennison.
Hockley left for England.
Durrant & Needham returned.
 

JUNE, 1917.
SUNDAY 17th.
Bn moved by billets in Le Barque, LIGNY
and Ligny-Thilloy. Poor roofless & ruined
cottages. I met Stanley & Harrison on road.
Only 1 man fell out D. Coy & 4 out of A. None C & B.
MONDAY 18th.
Met C.R.E. & Genl Williams 4^th Corps.
(English) & went over proposed Corps Line
of posts we are to do.
Attended lecture by Genl Williams
on 'tactical wiring'.
GOT LETTERS. NELL 7 80, Rab, Geoff 52,
Lil R, Capt Taylor, Boileau, Switzi & others.
TUESDAY 19th.
Had A & B Coys reconnoitring for
billets in Fremicourt & Berigny.
Major General Smyth called & chatted
for a long time; offered our Band.
Got papers.
WEDNESDAY 20th.
Got Cable NELL "Congratulation delighted
brooch knitter." (dated Brisbane 13th)
A Coy moved up to Berigny
& B Coy    -        -    -  Fremicourt
JUNE, 1917.
THURSDAY 21st
FAMILY REMITTANCE
No 10 £10 & £1 to kids Total to Nell £140
Visited D.H.Q. on routine
matters. Accompanied Padre &
Roth to confirmation service Met
Bishop of Khartoum.
Attended demonstration of our
Listening sets & Gower Buzzers.
Heavy storms.
Gauged auction bridge.
[*Started work
in Corps posts*]
FRIDAY 22nd
GOT LETTERS Bridge & Cresswell
Needham & I inspected the
posts we are digging in corps line

Got wet. Called at B Coy Hd. Qrs.
Lunched at Baupaume Rest Camp.
Some men collecting farm machinery.
SATURDAY 23rd.
20 men working for Savoy Section.
Officers' Gymkhana; our Bn scored heavily.
GOT LETTERS. NELL 79 & 80, Geoff, Jean
Nell & Fred drawings. Little photos.
 

JUNE, 1917.
SUNDAY 24th.
WROTE NELL 61
Church Parade
MONDAY 25th.
Met C.R.E. on Corps Posts
Set out C.T.S
Inspected A Coy.
I rode Triumph from Berigny to
Hd qrs
TUESDAY 26TH.
Inspected D Coy at Training
Bayonet practice, bombing & bridging.
Our band played at D.H.Q.
WEDNESDAY 27TH.
I rode Triumph to Amiens &
back to Baupaume in afternoon
Bought taps & souvenirs of
weeping angel.
Capt. Cheverin returned.
C Coy party commenced
pulling down down huts at Hot Cross Camp
THURSDAY 28th
Inspected Corps line of posts
reconnoitred road near Benicourt
for sites for Hut  camps.
Fierce storm caught in; blew down
several trees & tents &c
FRIDAY 29th
Visited D.H.Q. re cars &c
Lt Peppercorn left for England.
Donnelly & I took two Aust nurses
out for a ride in the twilight.
SATURDAY 30th.
GOT LETTERS 84 NELL, Elsie
Wrote Geoff
Got up first lot of huts
81, 82 & 83 missing.
 

JULY, 1917.
SUNDAY 1st.
2 prs socks Gypsy Robinson
Church Parade
Went riding ^with nurses.
MONDAY 2nd.
Visited D.H.Q. & went round
line of Corps posts.
Attended hospital sports &
played tennis.
Good concert here at night.
TUESDAY 3rd
Donnelly & I again
had ride out with
nurses.
I went to Amiens on
motor bike. Had hot 
bath &c.
WEDNESDAY 4th.
Training
A & B Coys retd to Thilloy
JULY, 1917.
THURSDAY 5th.
Training
Sent presents (weeping
child of Amiens Cathedral)
to Rab & Nellie. Paper
weight & pendant
respectively.
FRIDAY 6th.
Met G.S.O. 1 at 6.30 am &
rode around area of Divl Factire
Scheme & detailed my proposed
dispositions. Told to write orders
& take to meeting of officers & the
G.O.C.
SATURDAY 7th.
Preparing for Scheme
Bn Concert.