Diary of Alexander Sutherland Mackay, 12 October - 7 November 1918 - Part 2

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on wet boots. About a dozen of Fritz’s
aeroplanes came over a while ago flying
fairly low, no antiguns opened up,
machine guns t eventually turned them.
However observation is very poor so
I doubt if they saw much. I hope so
anyway for our sakes. The heavy guns
are well up for this stunt, so he will
catch it solidly if he remains in
his present posie until morning
22/10/18. Our stunt did not eventuate
this morning, it has been postponed
until tomorrow morning. Still drizzling
& mud galore. Fritz did a good deal
of strafing last night, although none
came too close to our dugout. Several
more 18 pounder batteries have pulled
in today, the concentration of artillery
 

12
fire will be very solid from this
side. His heavies seem to be the
only guns operating, he has evidently
pulled his Field Artillery well back.
We move forward in the morning
after the stunt, our officers have
just returned from picking a forward
posie.
23/10/18 We had an awful time last
night or I should I say this morning
the stunt opened at 1.30 am & went
on for an hour. The noise was something
deafening, at 2.30 am we knocked
f off & moved forward to a position
1000 yds in front. Going along the
Fritz lobbed a shell fair under the
team in front of us, knocking 5 horses
absolutely rotten & wounding the three

 

13
drivers. The rest of the teams galloped
to a flank & we came into action with
the five guns. The closeness of the shell
practically saved the situation, it was
a 5.9 & if it had lobbed a bit out
from either side goodness knows what
casualties would have occurred. At
the new position, we all started digging
little trenches, the one I was in held
three all huddled together to keep
our heads below ground. Fritz however
soon shifted us, we appeared
to be in his direct line of fire near
No 5 gun. After landing one either
side we did a get & ran to a
shellhole near No 1 Gun. We stopped
there xx shivering in the mud & praying
for daylight. Daybreak was as glorious
 

14
sight, he eased up his gun fire
then & gave us a bit of a spell. Going
back he lobbed another shell near one
of the teams killing the six horses
& wounding one driver. It was miraculous
how the men escaped. Night moves
are the dread of the Batteries, you can’t
see where you are going or the lay of
the land, on this occasion we had
to pass through gas he had evidently
shoved over previous to our shifting. The
stink was strong, but none of us
donned our masks. I don't mind
admitting Fritz put the wind up
us but he must of have had a
regular cyclone blowing, judging
by the terrific barrage put over from
our side. This trip also we had
 

15
the rare experience for Artillery of
me being received in the new posie
by machine gun bullets, the 108^th had
2 casualties from these. We were only
some 2000 yds behind his line.
We hear they have Fritz now on
the move; thes this is the strongest
resistance he has put up since the
push began. I believe however
this the is his most strongly fortified
position on the whole front. We
are to stop here tonight so have
all been busily digging decent dugouts
I hope we have a quiet night, nobody
had a wink last night all are
fairly knocked out. They will have
to rest our fellows shortly the continual
shifting & shell fire is getting on
 

16.
their nerves.
24/10/18. The best sleep l've had for
some considerable time last night, all
thoroughly tired & little or no interference
from Fritz. Bright clear
day today, another stunt is just going
on, it opened up at 9.30 am.
Don't know what its in aid of, it
appears too bright for the Infantry
to hop the bags unless Fritz is
retiring & they're making a chase of it.
We have Tommies in front, all our
boys have been out for a fortnight
or so. The 2^nd & 5^th Divy Artillery
went out this week, so our turn
must sh surely come shortly, we've
been in as much if not more
than any of the other Divisions
 

17
25/10/18. We got word to pull out last
night to the Wagon Lines. It was dark
when the limbers arrived up but Fritz
never sent a shell near us. It was
a good long trip to the Wagon Lines, but
we did not mind that a bitt bit, it
was such a relief to get out. Had a
beautiful sleep last night, was awakened
early by shells lobbing in the next
paddock from Fritz's long range guns.
We are now awaiting orders, all appear
to think it means our long promised
spell coming to light. I sincerely hope
so for one. Fritz has made no
mistake about mining & blowing up
Bridges & Railways here, the former
particularly are awful wrecks. The
5^th Divy has just passed by, they
 

18
reckon they are off to "Amiens" for
their spell, that looks good for us.
26/10/18. Had a good spell yesterday
at the Wagon Lines & a good sleep last
night. Fritz chased us once during
the morning but most of his shells
landed in the village "St Souplet".
We pulled out this morning & passed
back through Bohain to several
villages to Wiancourt where we
are now camped. This is the place
where we formerly in action
but now we can't hear a shell.
Its delightful living in houses again
three of us are up in attic of a house
that has been considerably knocked
about but its a great relief to feel
boards under you in place of the
 

19
of the wet ground. Bohain is a
big place they are battling improving
the roads for all they are worth. Its
a beautiful main road, they have numbers
of German prisoners working there.
We also passed a park with enemy
guns, recently captured, lined up.
They were of all descriptions.
27/10/18. Having grand weather here
we may go out further any day. I
fancy they must be waith waiting
until the 5^th Divy in front are clear

the 4^th are following us up. The slight
gas the other night is getting my
voice again. I hope it doesnt mean
last year's programme over again
 

20
28/10/18. Still here, there are rumours

we shift tomorrow, I hope so as there
is always a risk whilst here that
we may get pulled back. Had a
hot sponge bath last night, the first
for weeks. The long spell in this
time has been a boon for the chats
they didn't neglect their opportunity
either, Im sorry to say. A thorough
change of clothing when we go really
out will be more beneficial thank
a substantial feed for all hands.
29/10/18. Still enjoying the quiet life
no word of moving yet. We are very comfortable
here although it will be a change when
we get back amongst civilians again.