Diary of Frederick William Gadsby Annand, 1918 - Part 4

MAY, 1918.
SUNDAY 5th.
WROTE NELL No 90
Hd Qrs moved into billets in BUSSY.
Thunderstorm.
Called on Stanley.
MONDAY 6th.
GOT LETTERS NELL 131/2/3
Geoff 76, Rab, Doug. Fred, Nellie. Elsie.
Donnelly & I rode to HEILLY & Saw Grant &
Phillips. Village being heavily shelled as
we arrived. Wet night. Advised
B & C Coys to be returned. Missed MILO.
12 C/S cocoa & Milk; 2 C/S chocolate; 2 C/S biscuits;
1C/S P.O Mixed goods, (V 2931, 29 T 931, T 936
T 933, T 937, T 939 T 934 T 2027 own comforts.)
TUESDAY 7th.
B & C Coys moved to QUERRIEU.
Donnelly, T. O & I reconnoitred the
country S of Albert Road forward to
N of HEILLY.
Had birthday dinner. Majors Stanley &
Phillips & Lt E. Tooth attended. A
pleasant evening. Special warning
enemy attack expected tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY 8th.
Reconnoitred Somme line & drafted
our Subsector Defence schemes. Called
on 4^th Pioneers. Got orders to
move & relieve 3^rd Pioneers,
good fishing (traps) in Hallue. 

MAY, 1918.
THURSDAY 9th.
Officers from & to 3^rd Pioneers as to taking
over. Donnelly, T.O. & I reconnoitred for
Camp sites for Hd Qrs & C Coy. Decided
on I 7 a, between Pont Noyelles & La
Houssoye.
Stanley & Capt Barsh came in evening
& played ‘bridge’.
FRIDAY 10th.
Relieved 3^rd Pioneers
A & D Coys to near HEILLY. B to North of
RIBEMONT. C & Hd Qrs & Transport to rally
on N of ALBERT ROAD between PONT NOYELLES
& LA HOUSSOYE. Dug in to banks.
Night turned cold.
Recd tinhat caps & socks from Ede
SATURDAY 11th.
JEAN'S DAY
Improving Camps.  About 300 men
dug advanced trench on right front of
5^th Bde area. Some proceeding with
dug outs & M.G posts.
I visited D.H.Q at St Gratien & saw
C.R.E & G.S.0 1. Arranged for 2 Coys to go on
trench digging. A Coy dug outs &c. 

MAY, 1918.
SUNDAY 12th.
Card to Jean. Wrote Senkey.
Donnelly & I visited A & D Coys at Heilly
& B at Ribemont. Met Allsop at Heilly.
Lot of shelling at Ribemont. Inspected
Saw Mill. Advised B get out of village.
Genl Smyth called.
MONDAY 13th.
Looking around for alternative
Transport lines. Henry & Olfen to Abbeville
look into our Kit dump. Light rain
work as usual.
Posted wool to Nell
TUESDAY 14th.
THE GOLDEN AGE to Jean
WROTE NELL 91
Inspected C Coy work on A D Stan
South of Franvillers : also Albert Rd
La Houssoye to Franvillers view to
Camouflage.
WEDNESDAY 15th.
Donnelly & I inspected work on
tunnelled dug outs for Bn Hd Qrs
& two R A Ps north & west of
Mericourt. Lot of heavy
Shelling. Visited D Coy & HdQrs
of 5^th & 6^th Bdes. 

MAY, 1918.
THURSDAY 16th.
Visited D H Q & saw General Smyth who
said stunt may be indefinitely postponed
or much modified. Durrant told me
the. ration O/draw question had been settled
& no one is being penalised.
Had bath at Querrieu.
Bombs along river at night.
FRIDAY 17th.
WROTE GEOFF
Went to dentist & to G.H.
Biddy 1st & Peter 2nd in A.S.C open race.
R.E. 8 'plane down & through wire.
Capt Roth sent me silver soap dish
for birthday present.
SATURDAY 18th.
Got orders for tomorrows’ attack.
Attended Engr Conference
5^th Fld Coy Hd Qrs. Inspected work at A D S
tunnelled dug-out being done by C Coy.
Got my top plate from dentist.
Inoculated for T.A.B (typhoid &c) 

MAY, 1918.
SUNDAY 19th.
Attack & advance beyond VILLE-SUR-ANCRE
quite successful. Few hundred prisoners
& lot of enemy Killed. German infantry ran
away & left their officers. At night B & D Coys
& 100 men of C under Major Donnelly dug 760 X
of good C T from new front line at K 1 d 6 8
MONDAY 20th.
C R E & I inspected tunnelling for A D S
S of Franvillers & for Art Bde at Heilly.
Called on 5^th & 6^th Bde HdQrs, Brig Gen Paton
very complimentary re C/7 we dug S of
Ville sur Ancre, 5^th asked for completion
of their support line which I arranged
to do. Sent guages to Geoff.
TUESDAY 21st.
Donnelly & I visited B Coy. inspected
line that Coy garrisons, & held O. Room.
At night completed support line
for 5^th Bde.
Wrote Rab & Wasteneys
WEDNESDAY 22nd.
Donnelly held O/R at Heilly
I had tooth filled in afternoon
Betty BIDDY won flat race at D A C
Sports meeting.
Lot of bombing at night. 

MAY, 1918.
WROTE NELL 92.
THURSDAY 23rd.
Donnelly & I inspected work on A D S
now nearly completed. Visited Heilly
saw mill. Big improvement in methods.
Saw Brig Genl Wisdom who asked for part
of A Coy's Camp for Bde Battle Hd Qrs. Agreed.
Bosche used lot of gas against Mericourt
& neighborhood.
FRIDAY 24th.
Interviewed our new Divl General
Rosenthal. Said he heard ours is
a good show. Interviewed candidates
Wood & Peacock.
Commenced flank trench for
7^th Bde.
Cold & damp
SATURDAY 25th.
CABLED. "Remembering first." charged for 7/907
GOT LETTERS.
NELL 134/5/6/7: Nellie, Geoff 77, 78, Doug (2)
Fred, Jean, Elsie 2 & p.c., Lil, Dickson, Miss Matthews.
Donnelly inspected Mericourt Dug
outs & Mill at Heilly. I am a bit
'off colour', & so is the Doc.
Rather cold.
Capt Shaw returned from T.B 

MAY, 1918.
SUNDAY 26th.
A little misty. Donnelly, Ride
& I reconnoitred & selected line
for extension of flank trenches on left
of our area, in British Sector through
D 23 b & a. Dug to 2 ft at night. Lot of
bombing of Querrieu & other places.
MONDAY 27th.
Inspected work on Ad Dressing Station.
Fine cool day. Lot of bombing & shelling of
opposite wood at night.
Corpl Parish Killed at Franvillers.
TUESDAY 28th.
Visited A Coy at Heilly. Attended at
7^th Bde Hd Qrs to bid farewell to General
Birdwood, who presented M M ribbons
to Sergts Poland & Watson.
C/O  6^th Fld Amb called re work on
Vaux sur Somme - Corbie Rd & fittings at
Ad Dressing Station.
WEDNESDAY 29th 
Brig Genl Rosenthal, our new Divl Genl
called & chatted, inspected Transport
&c. Fine cool day.
Further news of German
progress from Chemin des Dames
towards Soissons. 

MAY-JUNE, 1918.
THURSDAY 30th.
WROTE NELL 93.
Rode Motor bike to Heilly. Inspected
Mill &c. Held O.R at A Coy Hd Qrs.
Fine & warm.
Open air concert in twilight
sketched by Artist Streetham.
FRIDAY 31st.
Donnelly inspected new C/T.
I did not go out. Batch for
O/R. Bdes relief. 28^th Bn bombed.
SATURDAY 1st.
JUNE. 
Wedding Day
20th Anni
Inspected Ad Dressing Stn S of Franvillers.
My cold in head very bad.
Bn beat S A A Sec D A C at cricket.
Wrote supplementary note to Nell. 

JUNE, 1918.
SUNDAY 2nd.
Attended Church Service.
Conferred with Br Genl Wisdom re
preparing for stunt on right.
Met General Monash, new Corps Commander
MONDAY 3rd.
Received Cable from Nell
"Happy returns first."
I went out to Heilly & from there to
inspect our work in tunnelled dug-outs.
Good progress
C & D on right Bde C.Ts
My CABLE 'Remembering first' dispatched from
London at deferred rates.
TUESDAY 4th.
Still fine & hot.
Did not go out. Administration
WEDNESDAY 5th.
German raid on 5^th Bde. front
by about 200 & 12 LGs repulsed
with considerable slaughter. 21 pris.
We relieved Tunnellers &
Americans on Bridge & Road
demolition duties. (D. Coy) 

JUNE, 1918.
THURSDAY 6th.
C R.E & I inspected piquets on the
bridges & road mines &c. Called on
& conferred with Brig Genl Wisdom re
preparations for proposed advance.
Parcel socks Mrs Evans & Ede
FRIDAY 7th.
Birthday parcel arrived. Cake,
(mouldy), Socks, soap, Grainuts, Shortbread,
choc & dental brush.
Did not go out.
Coys (diggers) completing deepening
& widening right Bn C/Ts.
SATURDAY 8th.
Went to Inf of 5^th Divns Sports
near Cardinette. Packed
golden china vase from Heilly. 

JUNE, 1918.
SUNDAY 9th.
Major Donnelly & A.B.C. Coys went out to
Assembly Positions for coming attack by 7^th Bde
Enemy made big attack E & W Montdidier
Rough West wind & slight rain.
MONDAY 10th.
We cooperated with 7^th Bde in attack on Ridge
S.W of MORLANCOURT. Line advanced about 700 yds on
front of 1 ¼ mile. C Coy plus ½ of B dug C/T on right &
A Coy plus ½ of B dug C/T on left. A Coy got light
German M.G. Prisoners 395. I got back to Camp
about 7am net next morning.
TUESDAY 11th.
B Coy, plus some of A C dug C/T in
Centre of area of advance.
My hayfever is very bad.
WEDNESDAY 12th.
C Coy improving forward end of right
C/T. A Coy doing same on left.
I went to D.H.Q & had a long
conference with Genl Rosenthal. 

JUNE, 1918.
THURSDAY 13th.
B Coy, plus 25 men of A went out to
improve central one of the new C/Ts.
Got into a heavy strafe. 8 Killed & 7 wounded.
Less than half the A contingent got onto the job.
Must enquire into cross.
I am very sick in bed with influenza.
Many others ill & heavy evacuations.
Major Donnelly also bad.
FRIDAY 14th.
I am somewhat better but Doc Keeps
me in bed. Glad to stay there. Head
ache gone, but back still aching. Others
getting ill.
D Coy relieved by a Coy of 5^th Pioneers &
moved to Camp near Bussy..
SATURDAY 15th.
Bn (less D Coy) was relieved by 5^th Pioneers
& moved to Camp on left bank of HALLUE
River opposite BUSSY. Booth took ill.
Adjutant bad. Lot of others got the 'flue'. 

JUNE, 1918.
SUNDAY 16th.
GOT LETTERS. NELL 139, 140, Geoff 78, Rab
Rob (2) Jean (2) Doug, Nellie,
Elsie, Jess, Comforts.
I in bed with bad cold. Bosche shelling
Bussy & around our camp
MONDAY 17th.
WROTE NELL 94.
Bn dug a C/T.
I am very weak.
Two Hun planes driven down
Fine & cool.
Lt Col Grant called.
TUESDAY 18th.
Bosche plane came over & destroyed a
Sausage. One of the crew fell as parachute
did not open. Hun got away.
Lt Col Hearne called re work.
Posted gilded vase home
WEDNESDAY 19th.
I went to St GRATIEN to dine with
Stanley.
Major Tolley called.
A lot of heavy rain showers. Called
at old Camp for Milo & found the
locality been shelled since we
left. 

JUNE, 1918.
THURSDAY 20th.
Wiring & entrenching
Donnelly rode Triumph to
Abbeville. Showery day.
FRIDAY 21st.
Cold day; high West wind
Hd Qrs beat A Coy at cricket.
A Coy wiring W of River & S of Bussy.
SATURDAY 22nd.
Donnelly & I rode beyond Allonville
& returning called at MG Bn Sports.
Shells dropped in D Coy lines
at daylight. No one hurt,
but a bivvy wrecked. 

JUNE, 1918.
GOT LETTERS NELL 138, Lat, Melb
Comforts, Miss Matthews.
SUNDAY 23rd.
Church Parade. Called on Phillips
at 3^rd Pioneers & had dinner there.
Learned Grant sent to England.
MONDAY 24th.
I rode 'Triumph' to Abbeville.
Found it has been bombed a lot.
Saw many Yankees en route.
Light rain fell. Lunched at Hotel
de France; dined at club.
TUESDAY 25th.
Section & platoon drill;
bayonet fighting &c.
I attended conference of C/Os
with G.O.C at 5^th Bde Hd Qrs
Riviery Hospice.
WEDNESDAY 26th.
Same as previous day.
I talked to Bn officers on
things in general. 

JUNE, 1918.
THURSDAY 27th.
Looked around new area & Vacquemont
for site for Saw Mill.
Lunched with 3^rd Pioneers
Bosche shelled Bussy at intervals through night.
D Coy relieved 3^rd Pioneers on bridge
& road crater guard & demolition
parties.
FRIDAY 28th.
Bn completed relief of 3^rd Pioneers
in A Divl Sector (VILLERS BRETTONEUX)
Camped (less B. Coy) on south bank of SOMME
E of BLANGY TRONVILLE, N 23 a 1.1.  B Coy at N
edge of BOIS l'ABBE, Transport west end of LAMOTTE
MILL on north bank of SOMME east of LAMOTTE.
SATURDAY 29th.
Called at Div Hd Qrs. Donnelly
went round of jobs. Asked to hasten
chambers in B Coy two left dug outs.
Wedding-day parcel arrived. Cake
in excellent condition. 'Blue Bird'. Had
card party regaled on cake & wine. 

JUNE-JULY, 1918.
SUNDAY 30th.
WROTE NELL No 95.
FAMILY REMITTANCE No 16 for £20
making £245 to date on raffle & Kids.
Orderly Room. Did not go out.
C.R.E called.
MONDAY 1st.
JULY. 
Orderly Room. Did not go out. 
Accompanied by Major King I
inspected work of A Coy on
dug-outs in Villers Brettoneux
& vicinity.
TUESDAY 2nd.
I accompanied CRE on
a round of inspection of
dug outs in progress.
Lunched with him at D.H.Q
Inspected our Saw Mill at work.
WEDNESDAY 3rd.
Got orders re a party to dig a C/7
on night following tomorrow morng's
attack. I did not go out. 

JULY, 1918.
THURSDAY 4th.
6^th Bde cooperated in attack by 4^th Div &
advance beyond Hamel. At night C
Coy plus 45 of A Coy dug a C/T from new
front line in P 20 d.  Capt Shaw wounded
& evac. About 3 Killed & 14 wounded.
Our Camp & billets shelled by big H.V. in
afternoon. Two Killed & 1 badly wounded.
A lot of bombing & gas shelling of neighborhood
through the night.
I visited B Coy's Camp
FRIDAY 5th.
Wrote GEOFF
GOT LETTERS. NELL 141/2/3/4/  Nellie & Fred:
Geoff 79 & Camp; Rab, Doug, Elsie, Let,
Messrs Whitehill & Irving. Jean 2.
Donnelly called at D.H.Q.  I did not
go out. Office work. Cloudy day.
Quiet night.
SATURDAY 6th.
I inspected our Saw Mill. Heard
that G.O.C had been there.
Donnelly went on leave. Major
King. temp 2nd in comd.
Had reconnaissance made of
proposed site of 2 Coy dug outs at
O 23 c & O 22 d. 

JULY, 1918.
SUNDAY 7th.
With Capt Armitage inspected bridges
on Somme prepared for demolition
& guarded by D Coy.
MONDAY 8th.
Sent parcel containing carved head
from Chateau at Villers Brettoneux
Major King accompanied C.R.E on
inspection of B Coy dug out work.
I called at D.H.Q in afternoon
re sundry items of administration.
Wrote to Jean.
Artillery scrap about 11 pm on front.
TUESDAY 9th.
Usual work. I inspected
some new tracks & emergency roads
view to improvement.
WEDNESDAY 10th.
All available men mustered & taken
to vicinity of Villers Bretteux to go out & dig
forward C/T in event of 27^th Bn succeeding
in advancing line about 700 yds. They
did not succeed, so party moved
back to Camp after 12.30 am 11th.
Too late for alternative task on
buried cable. I & Adjt attended
at 27^th Bn Hd Qrs. 

JULY, 1918.
THURSDAY 11th.
A Coy & detachment of D Coy
commenced forward C/T in left
Bde area. Got 4 new saws for
mill. Vicinity of Camp & in
Blangy Tronville shelled by a lot
of rapid fire shells in evening.
FRIDAY 12th.
With Major King, inspected
our Saw Mill & then called on
G.O.C at D.H.Q re Hayes & McNeill.
17 men of D Coy absent from evening
work parade.
Sent parcel two boxes of
Heilly vases.
SATURDAY 13th.
Consulted G.O.C re concerted absence
of some men & talk of collusion with
men of 4^th Divsn. Sent Awarded 14 days
FP No 2 to 17 of D & read Sect 7 of A.A.
6 of them again A W L after special
warning. Attended 7^th Bde concert.
A good show.