Diary of Alexander Sutherland Mackay, 11 September 1918 - 11 October 1918 - Part 1

 

11/12/13 Sept 1918.  Three loafing days, our
reserve stunt has been taken over by

the 1st Divy & we are now stopping

here for our rest. They say it will

last about a fortnight. It has been

raining off & on pretty well all the time.
No bombing of late owing to the cloudy
weather. Tonight looks as if it is going
be be very clear so we may expect
a visit from our friends

14/Sept As prophesied, Fritz made the
most of his opportunity last night
for bombing raids. Talk about some
magnificent sights, Fritz's first plane

came over & was not long before a

searchlight picked him up, in an

 

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instant about 8 other searchlights flashed

up. The were in a gu huge circle

all round us it was a beautiful picture

to see these long xxxx pillars of light

running up into the sky & concentrating

at a point almost directly over our heads

where you could see the enemy plane

hovering  xxxx like a gigantic silver hawk.

Once fixed with the lights, the

barrage opened, Antiaircraft & machine

guns popping a treat. The searchlights

hung on to him like glue & some of

the burst from the guns were exceptionally

good, this plane however escaped. The next

plane over dodged the searchlight, we

heard him dropping bombs on our right .

2    3

The third visiting gents luck was right

out he was soon picked up.. As soon

as the barrage out  opened, he let go

his eggs in a bunch & started to race

for home. One of our planes however
happened to be in the vicinity above him
& pounced down pouring in a fusilade 
of tracer p bullets. These bullets are

luminous, you could see their path

through the searchlight. We were all

excited awaiting results, presently a

cheer went up from hundreds of men

as we saw Fritz falling in flames.

The fire evidently exploded all his

signalling rockets, as the plane was

falling lights of every description & colour 

4   3

flew out. We had three other visits
but they were all picked up in

turn & did not stop long. The second
last was also attacked by one of our
planes. He was too far away to see
the result, all his rockets were fired

but if wounded he may have fired

them himself to see a place to land.
No doubt our searchlights did great

work last night, they deserve every
credit. The night was very suitable
for bombing, I'll bet his lines get

a few visits from our planes. We
have all dug down now, with a We
only have a tarpaulin on top of ours,
but a fellow would be very unlucky
 

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to catch a direct hit. A few inches

below ground is better than all

the erections on top from these bombs/

The majority make hardly any xxx

hole, they are instantaneous, the damage

is then spread they throw out like a 

pancake
15/16 Sept. Little doing, on the 14th night
Fritz was evidently dubious about repeating
his previous nights programme, last night
he sent a few across, they returned minus
one, which we saw coming down in flames
In no case did they travel far back
they were content in confining their attention
to the forward areas. We are going into
 

6

action again tomorrow, they say we are
only in for the one stunt this trip but
I can hardly think that probable, as we
are taking up 600 rounds a gun.
Rumour goes on to say that after this
stunt, the whole Corps is going our
or a decent spell. That will not be
difficult to digest, it it turns out to
be correct.
17/Sept Moved up tonight leaving about
6 oclock, we got to the position at 9 pm
after passing Fritz on the road twice
bombing.
18th Sept. We had a prettymiserable
night last night, Fritz which we
now hear from the prisoners, anticipated

 

7

this stunt for the last 3 days & was
over last night in full force
bombing. To make matters worse
it rained a treat, we did not
open our blankets just sat up against
the side of a bank all night & dozed.
The stunt came off at at 5.30 this
morning & was entirely successfull.
They gained all objectives, two of our
Battalions without a single casualty, &
some 1000 prisoners have gone past.
We shifted forward about a mile
at 10 am. & pulled in on a road.
We find however Fritz has
retreated again & left us out of
range. Our latest orders are to
 

8

move foward again at 7 pm.
The prisoner look a strong healthy
set but as usual show no anxiety

as to their fate. One of Fritz's planes
came across awhile ago & did a fine
piece of work, bringing down the balloon
just behind us in flames. He did
a beautiful dive, hardly giving our
Aeronauts time to jump. He then
dodged 3 of our planes & got home.
Very cloudy, afraid we are in for
another wet miserable night.
19/9/18 Moved forward last night about
a mile & got into a good posn. The
guns are on a sloping bank, our dugouts
are in a good bank below. I had a
 

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win with my dugout, was just
preparing to dig in & having no
tarpaulin, expecting a wet night.
Along the bank, a little shelter with
two bunks in, had been grabbed by
the officers, they however evacuated this

on finding our underground dugout
so I immediately reserved their former
posie. It is very comfortable, keeps
out the rain & saved a lot of exertion.
for me. Fritz is evidently retreating
as we have had no shells. His planes
however are exceptionally active bombing
of a night. Raining off & on.
20/9/18. Still here, we are within
range of the Hindenburg line now
 

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so can't move forward very far. The

Heavies never give him a moments
peace, at him day & night. Can't
understand why so little retaliation
going on by him as his defences on
the Hindenburg line must be strong.
They anticipate at good tussle to
break it. Our stunt according
to the papers was very successful, over
6000 prisoners & a number of guns.
Our boys reckon Fritz would not stop
to scrap, although the papers say
otherwise. Still cloudy but rain

hanging off.
21/9/18 Fritz made it a welter with
his bombs last night, he dropped them