Diary of Alexander Sutherland Mackay, 27 October 1917 - 4 March 1918 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.50
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

2 Weather from during 24 Oct flast two mornings then days. wecare fround. Evidently Tthe firk a desnt strell. Dorny well on t 14 byt sory to ru by the papers. that fonts that Itapans have had a solidere hro y fi beginning to think its. fot letters todny from Roy o Goper i £ Extaatilly 1 still mang of a shapt, agusnat forts of nusours in the wind Eight all againt are some of the Staly Youres I feally doubt of Headdnarters starter any definide pran yet. fany have the Italmt calamty will upsid idlentations to a great exten rain of late. The Fancth Lelth of no dre well in the Champago donng
O4e 2 of the Wagoes could only themelves together, wr tmight Bull Sf the tee looming in the distance Andinany Camp Ways 4814 Barkliel yesterday had a decent steate Chantably horse) chip reggs of frint. Also managed to w bath firt for a month di Thr Hrencht yr £4 annse coblinga largefnumper of guas sammuntion good, luskt may they continue the yen I feet days, all hands being 510 inventation afair with the exception of a fo Thurpted on less than 2 m/-ag moge to mus aut avy 4 thes efld aboard. Pulist an shithout againt Hundany
3 ✓ altoon at Plug St It urtaenly to ao n as if we are to shift but whether losps inteaction of no remains to be sun sving nto action this mynning 9/1/17 ab akfou callid labul Farm comewhis near messing I believe. The majority dy first thing this morning In gving ith the . S. Waggon at 1 octork np O. ncolation any new position can't shap our cast at yr. 4 Landen in our new position in 10/447 yesterday afternoon. I made a acti mistake in fiving the name as atul Stinking Farm is the military Haren name So faf its a regular treat, for ver from Tommus as a going concern Hok Govely dugouty you can stand upand some feeng pave preplanes. Shills and wviry rare I sauet handed within npur dd of fust peition whthe Passchindaile call the Yhres contrant is really a home rich k isong prefemble fo the Waggon Linc. Idouth ou men would ofect tto ag if to Rept here for the Wanter. XX 7 6 wik the commes only had scasualtie that wile de us. The Buttergi we dealf on y be 24 ephort limn & only apout sp a Fortlys land behend w 80 the blla f they are favrly comf tar. it looks as if both ides wtthere holding Willing. Howsver o n Ty are in as I wouldngt be all at bush is in snd. Thet A afe generally brought in to D
take part in pny scraps going 11/12 p Things atill mut. At night forty Land. a few fover but nothing flike the Brunors porsins. A fillows suck would by oight ont fo get knocked har inder The prsentistatle of afters. Its a Lorsend. having aute comfortable dayonts out gifs afduent nights slup. Hisaiifilams hover about some in the dantime but it all for absevation, no tomtn ont fr Its only a rumour our kirpl one wrnd mforguant aout ypaes We compline 19 Aiation Hallowns 2 sq ushle the otheoving Hear at me Whe u fied fo the ugont, no for nothing to complaint about 1314 por Luble doing on either juid U cont hauply neatiye he is infastion hiee when he thinks of the hot tipnie at the form poritions Last night dent ofer a for gar shillo but Th they you not close enought or in sufficienty number to ofr dugant to compit us to don our masks. You can hear the booming up Parchendaple Very I. git an a that spt again n apthought the have Frity pretty well the know from all accounts. nt 44 Itill at gut shill, fur only 4 tht they may not fleace us We would do me for the curation still athing of the part Evidently Agoff a o0 at the last position, they all b thats the cause of the We had severall
✓ from there with horefeyes the from gas onearly all decured a lghty fy drill apparently stood the chain ohe the void fell. Since coming here. We have alway been dry have warm comfortubl bunky so there why Ialo not Mve imp Iknow it takes an utr time to recor from gus effucts hey This morning Farty plugfed of our balloong. His plane awooked down out the clougs obrought the balloon down in flasnes. I don't know how the acrovants afteon Crf Antianeraft guns iver late ip coming on the scene. As Jusual very guist all May 19/4/17 The gives Passehendail way have byen froming consistently. Frits is atmost to get it back but 6 a hopiless tack. According evidentts our troops have pdouned hef papers t in addition to holding the village We pea thi Etalians are making a stand good luck may they ke if up Rusnya is exidently a blank but there poub of the French couriilfes are. 1 & sfubs more than they can 291 fas been sending over nome. at nather close to our posiet & 4 14 munte be after the avid he Servation bullions Ht planes Htot fer is specitating m aftend to distard Lath stpertes with wal 4y
we all had to can out a pived back 820 km. Our mayor Entrpperson got. Henvcked hl and of fegs at fall good Blighty, at feart. I Mad at af him after getting some frehurns (on this pater couldnt gett back for t atto boot). He must have ilvsen 2l dyy cloey in 300 yarss from where the wel burft, a by fuc of the sill fi got bint. Hate har a good look pound yet he got a turnt throught the wall of the officers dingont. at the pad of ours. He has fenviled so we are going ito charce kleking there After puck a guit shill I toll shlling made a regular 2/4 We fare not allowed to lepe 10 hire hack ght after all iwe shipted. to varous dugouts ett. About bck ofa got in a concule fillow afdoy am up again this morning about ly The Captain from the Wapgon 2p ih to take the woundeal. Lepes plac. I believe he intend Mes oftin the posie about 100 yards to X Ropten luck we will have to the 46 a dugt they can't be prsectly 2 as purshire. Is bo qnite apppto fe take the nisk there, howwere satchd cace off oby orders damer Ferity. its were a bit pessimiste affh west poss lasting f D pave absored some movements by made no mistale about I suppose yesterday hi
11 over 240 shills mves fall 4 heavy stuff 4.2,5.9. & 8 wih. Thes hny atuff hilways have I waity tapte (in thi monith one dogsmt mind his wfybangs veralboues te m 22/1/17 Atere qt day yeterdan, Fonte 1 the ffarm house agains Lae We adout for the right Befui throwing ourrelved downf when the shells burt esliphing ant the freng, owing to having subber guin t were up a longly state when we fot there I was mudh from haad to foot fgasping for trath owing to the cold I dhave Induly we dyclard which way to rin before Lepring ur fugont, an time was waited 12 intends halting the pertions hat ather al the farhyse as el is a thing of the past. W here the morning t far the night is te tin thee a youl you ank sut hard to wit the hent we ebapbet ad 234464 Oit Iha fairly arnl days Ferity has kindly tumest his attention clauhene The awfeward part is that our Baptery in po pput ap if one section miases te puget it. The night fefore last. he gapsed four of our min at the forward gup Thi have allegane to Hospeta 2444 frothn mut night for us fout.
13 the right seption guns got it thot this had to do afact during the nighty. Little istalptio tkes place from any of our Bats herd they are simply holites te Weether a atunt is fto tuke Bacplater they are keking our gunt ppitions hindent. I do not know The if danch gfens come at at the fback a on therailw lin ocasial few fouads ids a get. We det the benefit of any fire armn Observation has been partucilarty Wh bad of late fowing to the forgn weather tnday wes clar but a very strong a pre whill ing bothind or hereplen operating 4or 24 Ifelle trouble from Frete H fully emprd iup near Paskcheondacle 14 Guoffout Halloons broke andy toiang, our appairer guns tried to bring it failed miserably It vlew down but right over Fillys line, I suppose he collared it ere this. The peronants has in parachutes. An Austratan excaped m Idrived but to date my fluck has be oni s far as letters are concerned. 24 sent & far over the aftpnoon wm in fre a hol id 4 idately our Observation Balloon o knocked off pay doday. Our guno have funy today. Frity is fite they to relatate is ha ay from ao Observation afferaling clondy weather We had a atunt last night 14
etly afook Frity up. shuln fire all day. He is sending a few over mow 8 pro, but I fany our grens fre to gft bury again, so he fray up. Bussin has urdertly got n siparate peace it will relise a fot from that frmt sprotably stis of things a bit worne for us but his froop 4 fow ther will get a surprnd sae I th when they stnte this He was been employing t bet froops there eyet the allies S i to pusp them back when tiy. anttt Itly appears to be dfing better thank goodness. Not two lpters toda one from Elsw dated 15/10/17 sone from hyL Blacket. Apparintly 2 Ehies letters are mining ith 6 16 to last write saying eeived my phote alsn th fr notyet to hand. In jolly letin Blehsel that acoumt arrived Set given upp ofe I pat card from the letters 43 Wra funean hert Sen 42 ay morning therly thick off the fwfateor this morning. flow 4 Omnsland hat wegther day but hary fighting ging affe Bumoued we are to on the 14th inst. Hope Higs tf up as that they wat p deke last tie w doing there days a few bomly i i a lonly sunit if leters 4 44
r from Ron to but ag wke t I hove to su Har are pultouth X supesontoid weatneg all the water for the ll Affciently theck youle Lwort bunk int teon thes 8 1t Ue Exceptinally athogh gs ha m at of t lofd wealher diparted for ther t the A a down as gracefully a ur Barnctats Wmusit yous g n he 8 11 121 Jo 1 forte one 4 4 18 Cndi atots fs managed & for his lp Mfo hales in his washine H Paris leave yeslrdoy, 14 pts prity will aes Decande m plays. Frity is I ltte xconsutedt at nights renened (teay 12/142 ine the arr About 10 foth olituny Bomb. I free of our thim i looked like to byg bulldogs. They brought lams, ncedlers to say Icheer went up) when to felling Our litte beggars chaping the others home Ther i things comfired to ours.

                1917

27/28/29 Oct Weather fine during

these days, last two mornings

frost on the ground. Evidently we are

here for a decent spell. Doing well on

these fronts, but sorry to see by the papers

that the Italians had had a solid reverse

No voice yet, I'm beginning to think its

a goner. Got letters today from Roy

Elsie & Lil re Exhibition.

30/31 Oct. Still no sign of a shift, as usual

all sorts of rumours in the wind - Egypt

Italy & Ypres again are some of the

starters. I really doubt if Headquarters

have any definite plan yet, I fancy

the Italian calamity will upset

calculations to a great extent.

Little or no rain of late. The French

are doing well in the Champagne

 

                   2

District, if the Dagoes could only

pull themselves together we might

see the end looming in the distance.

1/2/3/4 Nov. Ordinary Camp Days.

Visited Bailleul yesterday had a decent

feed steak (probably horse) chips eggs

& a gorge of fruit. Also managed to

secure a warm bath, first for a month

it was glorious. The French are

continuing their success, capturing a

large number of guns & ammunition - good

luck may they continue the run.

5/6/7 Nov. Quiet days, all hands being

inoculated again, with the exception 

of a few operated on less than 12 m/- ago.

I just managed to miss, not sorry 

with the cold aboard. Latest rumour

is that we shift out again Sunday

 

                        3

to go in action at Plug St. It certainly

looks as if we are to shift but whether

into action or no remains to be seen

9/11/17 Going into action this morning

at a place called Gabriel Farm somewhere

near Messines I believe. The majority

left first thing this morning Im going

up with the GS Waggon at 11 oclock.

One consolation any new position cant

be worse than our last at Ypres.

10/11/17. Landed in our new position in

action yesterday afternoon. I made a

mistake in giving the name as Gabriel

Farm, Stinking Farm is the Military

name. So far its a regular treat, we

took over from Tommies as a going concern

lovely dugouts you can stand up in, some

even had fireplaces. Shells are very rare

 

                  4

nuisances & none had landed within

200 yards of our position - what a 

contrast to Paschendaele & all the Ypres

positions. Its really a home &much

preferable to the Waggon Lines. I doubt

if any of our men would object to

being kept here for the Winter. In

6 weeks the Tommies only had 3 casualties

- that will do us. The Battery is

split up a good deal, one gun being

up in our support line - only about

800 yards from Fritz's line - behind a

hill. I believe they are fairly comfortable

even there, so it looks as if both sides

are simply holding the line. However

all the 3rd Divy are in so I wouldnt be

surprised if a push is in store. The

Australians are generally brought in to

 

                        5

take part in any scraps going.

11/12 Nov Things still quiet. At night Fritz

sends a few over but nothing like the

previous positions A fellow's luck would

be right out to get knocked here under

the present state of affairs. Its a Godsend

having such comfortable dugouts, one

gets a decent nights sleep. His aeroplanes

hover about some in the daytime but

its all for observations, no bombs in the

wind. Its only a rumour our people are

not vigilant about Ypres. We counted

19 Observation Balloons & 39 Aeroplanes the

other morning, Have a nice little office

fixed in this dugout, so Ive nothing to

complain about.

13/14/15 Nov Little doing on either side

One can hardly realize he is in action

 

                       6

here when he thinks of the hot time

at the former positions. Last night

Fritz sent over a few gas shells, but

they were not close enough or in sufficient

number to our dugout, to compel us to

don our masks. You can hear the

guns booming up Passchendaele way, I

never want to see that spot again,

although they have Fritz pretty well

settled there now, from all accounts

16/17 Oct Nov. Still a quiet spell, our only

worry is that they may not leave is

here long. It would do me for the duration.

My voice is still a thing of the past 

over 4 weeks now, Evidently I got a 

touch of gas at the last position, they all 

appear to think thats the cause of the

lost voice. We had several men go away

 

                        7

any scrap from there with sore eyes

& faces from gas & nearly all secured

a Blighty. Ny dial apparently stood

the strain but the voice fell. Since 

coming here, we have always been dry &

have warm comfortable bunks, so there

is no reason why I should not have

improved. I know it takes an awful

time to recover from gas effects.

18th Nov This morning Fritz plugged one

of our balloons. His plane swooped down

out of the clouds & brought the balloon down

in flames. I don't know how the acronauts

got on. Our antiaircraft guns were

late in coming on the scene. As usual

very quiet all day

19/11/17 The guns Passchendaele way have

been booming consistently. Fritz is

 

                             8

doing his utmost to get it back but

evidently its a hopeless task. According

to the papers our troops have advanced

in addition to holding the village.

We hear the Italians are making a

stand - good luck may they keep it up

Russia is evidently a blank, but there

is no doubt the French & ourselves are

giving the swabs more than they can

digest.

20/11/17 Fritz has been sending over some

big stuff rather close to our posie. I 

think he must be after the road

he has no observation balloons or planes

up as evidently is speculating. Hope

he doesnt intend to disturb our quiet

home here.

Later Fritz started w vengeance

 

                               9

about 3pm. WE all had to clear out 

& have just arrived back 8.20pm. Our

O/C Major McPherson got knocked but in

both legs a real good Blighty, at least. I

had just left him after getting some returns

made up (on this paper couldn't get back for

the return book). He must nave been

standing close on 300 yards from where 

the shell burst, a big piece of the shell

came whizzing & got him. Have had Haven't had

a good luck round yet, he got a decent

hit through the wall of the officers' dugout

& one at the end of ours. He has knocked

off now so we are going to chance sleeping

here. After such a quiet spell, I tell

you this shelling made a regular

stir.

21/11/17. We were not allowed to sleep

 

                             10

here last night after all, we shifted

back to various dugouts etc. About

a dozen of us got in a concrete pillbox

We came up again this morning about

8am. the captain from the Waggon

Lines came up to take the wounded

Major's place. I believe he intends

shifting the posie abut 100 yards to

the left. Rotten luck we will have to

make dugouts they can't be possibly

as strong as ours here. I'd be quite

satisfied to take the risk here, however

it's a case of obey orders - damn Fritz.

All hands were a bit pessimistic 

about the quiet posie lasting, he

must have observed some movements 

here as he made no mistake about

the range. I suppose yesterday he

 

                               11

sent over 200 shells across & all

heavy stuff 4.2, 5.9 & 8 inch. This

heavy stiff always leaves a nasty

taste in the mouth one doesn't

mind his whizbangs & coalboxes so

much.

22/11/17 After a quiet day yesterday, Fritz

started on the farm house again last

night. We cleared out & made for

some dugouts on the right. Betwen

Between throwing ourselves down when

the shells burst & slipping in the mud,

owing to having rubber gum boots on, we

were in a lovely state when we got there.

I was mud from head to foot & gasping

for breath owing to the cold I have. Luckily

we decided which way to run before

leaving our dugout, no time was wasted

 

                       12

I'm afraid Fritz intends putting the

kibosh on this position, he appears

anxious to knock the farmhouse, as

our quiet spell is a thing of the past.

We are back here this morning & so far

things are quiet. Night is the time he

gets the wind up you, you cant see

the bursts so have to risk the next

shot. Falling into shellholes & barbed'

wire are side issues.

23/24/25 Oct Three fairly quiet days. Fritz 

has kindly turned his attention elsewhere.

The awkward part is that our Battery

is so split up, if one section misses

the other gets it. The night before last

he gassed four of our men at the forward

gun. They have all gone to Hospital.

2/11/17 Another quiet night for us but

 

                            13

the right section guns got it hot, they

had to do a git during the night. Little

retaliation takes place from any of our

Batteries here, they are simply holding

the line. Whether a stunt is to take 

place later they ate keeping our gun

positions hidden, I do not know. The

big 8 inch guns come up at the back

of us on the railway line occasionally

fire a few rounds & do a git. We

get the benefit of any fire drawn from

Fritz. Observation has been particularly

bad of late owing to the foggy weather,

yesterday was clear but a very strong

wind prevented any balloons or aeroplanes

operating.

27/28 Nov. Little trouble from Fritz

He is fully occupied up near Passchendaele

 

                               14

One of our Balloons broke away today,

our antiaircraft guns tried to bring it

down but failed miserably. It blew

right over Fritz's line, I suppose he

has collared it ere this. The aeronauts

escaped in parachutes. An Australian

mail arrived but t date my luck has

been out as far as letters are concerned.

29/11/17 fritz sent a few over this afternoon

we thought we were in for a hot time

but immediately our Observation Balloon

went up, he knocked off.

30/11/17 Pay day today. our guns have

been fairly busy today. fritz is

just starting to retaliate, so far they

are well away from us. Observation

very bad, drizzling cloudy weather

1/12/17 We had a stunt last night

 

                        15

evidently shook Fritz up. He stut up

& has not fired all day. He is sending

a few over now 8pm, but I fancy our

guns are to get busy again, so he may

close up. Russia has evidently got a

separate peace, it will release a lot

of men from that front & probably make

things a bit worse for us but his troops

from over there will get a surprise

packet I think, when they stroke this

front. He has been employing his

best troops here yet the Allies also

see, to push them back when they

want to. Italy appears to be doing

better thank goodness. got two letters

today, one from Elsie dated 15/10/17 & one

from Phyl Placket. Apparently some

of Elsie's letters are missing, as she

 

                    16.

says she wrote last week saying

Roy had received my photo album

That letter is not yet to hand. Im jolly

pleased that album arrived, Id given

up all hope.

2/3 Dec Received post card from Elsie, letters 

from Vera Duncan & Gilbert Gunn.

Snow yesterday morning & fairly thick

ice on the water this morning. How 

one longs for Queensland hot weather.

Quiet days, but heavy fighting going

on Cambrai. Rumoured we are to

pull out on the 14th inst. Hope things

xxxxx quieten up so that they wont

pull us back like last time.

4/5/6 Dec Little doing these days. Fritz

was over dropping a few bombs now

very close. Received a lovely bunch of letters

 

                                  17

from home also one from Ronnie.

He was up to our Waggon Lines

but of course missed me. I hope to see

him as soon as we pull out. He had

seen Claude Watson. Cold weather set in

all the water in the shell holes is frozen

all day long, sufficiently thick to walk

across. Guess I won't burst into tears

when this Winter is over

7/8/9 Dec Exceptionally quiet, although

our guns are more active of late

Cold weather departed for the time

being. Light drizzly rains.

10/12/17. Saw Fritz this morning dived

at one of our Balloons. The Aeronauts

jumped & came down as gracefully as

possible in their parachutes. He missed

the Balloon & our guns gave them hell

 

                      18

some xxx splendid shots, he managed

to dodge & went for his life. I'll bet

he has a few holes in his machine.

Put in for Paris leave yesterday, 14 

days & thinking its pretty well a cert.

If so I'll be leaving Sunday.

11/12/17  12/12/17 Quiet days. Fritz is a little

more consistent at nights.

Just xxxxxx witnessed (today 12/12/17)

a great fight in the air. About 10 Gothas

came across dropping Bombs. Three of our

Spuds got to them - it looked like

fox terriers on to big bulldogs. They brought

one down in flames, needless to say

a tremendous cheer went up when

we saw it falling. Our little beggars

are now chasing the others home. These

Gothas are huge things compared to ours.

 

 

Last edited by:
Marj MoodieMarj Moodie
Last edited on:

Last updated: