Diary of Percy George Rupert Parkes, 1916-1917 - Part 1

JANUARY 1915
1 MONDAY
New Years Day parades proceed
as usual. Thom wants the
training completed by about the
20^th. Today I pass my first batch
through from A to B class, which means
from Squad Drill they go onto Platoon
& Company Drill & Extended order work.
I take this class for their new work.
Have shifted my xxxx  lodgings to another Billet,
a fairly large chateau which is very
comfortable & people very nice.
2 TUESDAY
My voice is beginning to go now
the heavier work begins. Company
drill pretty well all day with 
about 200 men & some of these men
will pass into C Class tomorrow. In
that class they go through Bombing
Bayonet - Fighting lewis gun & Elementary
Musketry also Rapid wiring for
wire entanglements. The 7^th Bdge band
is down here at the Dugout now.
3 WEDNESDAY
Route march through DOURS & 
along CORBIe road during morning.
Afternoon half holiday.

4 THURSDAY
Received 1^st letters for a month
Two days of Company training in B class
& the best men are picked out for
C class to get on with specialists
work. The party of about 100 men I
put through were complemented for 
their good work & passing the test.
The C.O. calls an officers meeting each 
night & he generally comments on
the camp work sometimes favourably to
some & tells pretty candidly others.
We all get our turn & get it pretty strong too
5 FRIDAY
Capt Beith who commands all 
our Brigade reinforcements here has
received notice to report to the
Training Camp in England for duty.
I am taking over command here.
Would'nt mind his job a week 
or two.
Have been feeling terribly fed up with everything
again the last two days. These
"blue spasms" come frequent lately.
6 SATURDAY
There is a lot of work connected with
the organization of the Bgde reinforcements
I find. All different classes put on 
different jobs takes up time at night
& have to be put into orders for the following
day. There are 560 men all told.
7 SUNDAY
No work today so sleep all the
morning. Afternoon write letters for 
awhile until I have to attend & sit on a 
Court Marshall case.

JANUARY 1915
8 MONDAY
More men are passed into C class
& all these who are not on
specialist work are being sent to
me & go on with advance guards,
outposts & practicing attack formation.
General Wisdom of the 7th Brigade
visited the Outpost & had a look
round while the work was being 
carried on. He was struck with 
the improvement of the troops.
9 TUESDAY
Take over about 250 men under
advance guard & later halted & 
put in Outpost Company. This takes 
a long time to do when we have to 
explain & lecture on the schemes.
After the usual pow-wow each night
then two of us generally visit the
Cafe-Du-Nord for a cup of coffee & a
yarn with the Madmoiselles there
for a ½ hours before going to the office & 
writing out the morning orders.
10 WEDNESDAY
Route march this morning
During the afternoon I rode over 
to PONT NOILIC through QUERRIEU to
get a few things at Ordnance. As 
usual they have about half the 
things you want.
I have shifted my billet to where the
office is. Was sorry to leave the Chateau
but am wanted at the office at all
hours during the night so have decided 
to get closer.

11 THURSDAY
I occupy one bedroom & have made
the dining room the office.
A notable absence at the chateau was
the manure heaps in the middle of 
the yard. Here where I am it is very
much in vogue in more ways than one
The Anti aircraft guns in Amiens
opened fire tonight which meant that 
the Taubes were paying a village
visit to the city & dropping a few
bombs.
12 FRIDAY
Our machine Lewis Gun Instructor
accidentally shot through the knee
this morning. A live cartridge somehow
was put in the magazine with
dummy ammunition.
13 SATURDAY
23^rd is coming out of the line tonight
The plan when the Div went up was
5^th & 6^th were to take over the frontage
in the meantime altered & 6^th Brigade had
to keep in 1 Battn at a time.
14 SUNDAY 
The Company turns out in full Marching Order for
inspection by a Col of Div Staff and Col Travers. Result
very good on the whole but room for improvement
in 22^nd Reinforcement.

15 MONDAY
The whole Depot is put through
a Gas demonstration & smoke 
Barage today. All precaution were
taken before hand of inspecting
helmets & box respirators.
One man in the 24^th reinforcements
would have sold his soul to escape
it. His officer came to me & told 
me this man was funking it. I 
got him over near myself & soon found he
was scarred out of his wits. Told him
he would have to go through & he soon found it
was all up & finally got a bit calmer. He is still alive

16 TUESDAY
Division have asked that we push
on with the training as they think
we are rather inclined to be lagging.
This is the thanks we get for doing
our best & working from morning till
late at night. If some of these brids would
only come off their cushie jobs, instead of
sitting back drawing DSOs & MCs etc
& criticising what they know jolly little 
about & give a hand here or better still
have a turn in the line, it would relieve us greatly
17 WEDNESDAY
Heavy falls of snow during the night,
this morning it is lying about 6" thick
on the ground. Everything looks a perfect
picture. The principle amusement of 
the morning is a snowball fight.
the afternoon half holiday The 23^rd & 22^nd
play football. Capt Sandford for 22^nd & 
I play for the 23^rd. A win resulted for us 
by 9 to 3. The snow made the ground very xxxxx
slipery & at times when down on the ground we looked [*like balls of snow*]) 

18 THURSDAY
Snow still on the fields but is beginning
to thaw on the roads or where there is 
traffic. It is very very cold this morning
& light showers of snow & cold rain
is falling. Am feeling the after
effects of the game yesterday. Its
agony to get on & off the horse to 
say nothing of walking.
19 FRIDAY
Parades lengthened another half
hour so as to push on with a
view of winding up the training
C.O has promised to let me get
back in a week thank goodness.
20 SATURDAY
Sports meeting held today. The G.O.C
Div & C.O of 5^th & 6^th Brigades are
present. A march past takes place
as we march to the ground. The 6th
Brigade wins the Squad Drill competition.
Football, Running, Jumping etc is the 
programme
21 SUNDAY
Work all day on account of another
draft going away soon  

22 MONDAY

Draft sent off this morning which

leaves about 360 of the 6^th Brigade

still here.

Very heavy black frost & one inches

thick. We are feeling cold very much 

in spite of  good clothes & sheep skin

jackets.

The Col came in & had a cup of tea after

parade. His adventures will on

the New Guinea expedition are very

interesting to listen to.

23 TUESDAY

My work has slackened off

a bit on the parade ground now

& able to do more in the office.

Nearly all the men are on specialist

jobs.

24 WEDNESDAY

Another draft sent away this 

morning & the Depot here will be
closed on Saturday next. Div are

wanting the men before going into

the line again.

We invited the CO, adj, & Doctor, round

to dinner tonight & spent remainder 

of evening playing cards.

25 THURSDAY

Days leave to catch a motor Transport &

ride into Amiens. Start of programme

by having a bath & lunch afterwards

at Hotel du Commerce. the place is full of

French soldiers & English Officers after

having a look round we made a 

visit to the Cathedral. It is a beautiful

structure. The main entrances are sandbagged

to prevent damage by shells. This

is one of the largest cathedral in the world.

26 FRIDAY

Spend this morning awaiting

canteen balance sheet.

A lovely job the way things

are.

Afternoon spent in getting

men ready to depart for their

Units tomorrow. 

27 SATURDAY

Depot breaks up & I take 6th

Brigade to Ribemont our

destination via Querrieu

arrive at 3 pm after 5 hours on

track. Find changes in Battn

on arriving & myself 2^nd in command.

28 SUNDAY

Mal Smith evacuated sick Friday Major

Crowther of 21^st now in charge. Walk

over to hospital & see Major. 

29 MONDAY
The Battn marches out with view of

going into line again. Arrive at Becourt

where a very nice camp is of huts.

Have a yarn with Major get to know

something of what is doing. Am told

my recommendation for Major is being

submitted. How long present condition

will last I don't know. I am not

senior enough to take 2^nd in command

permanently. Very pleased in finding

Rev Clarendon with us. He knows dad well

30 TUESDAY
Still at Becourt. Games mostly 

to keep men warm! About ¼ mile

to our left is Sausage Gully that we entered

& marched up in our first Posiers Battle.

What a difference now.  At that time

Guns every few yards, now huts &

a railway running up. The famous

village of Posiers is only a short

way from here & I am told a couple

of huts are on the Gibraltar spot.

31 Wednesday

31 TUESDAY
Very cold last night. 18° Farenheit  

is the record. Snow also fell

be during the night another

change Major Crowther is to 

report back on 21st & Maj Duggan

to replace him.

1915 FEBRUARY

1 THURSDAY

leave Becourt Camp to go to Div

Reserve for 4 days. Arrive at Scots

Redoubt with about 3 miles further

on the road toward Contalmaison

Arrive about 4 pm. Camp huts here

not quite as comfortable as Becourt.

2 FRIDAY

Waiting here in Div Reserve 6^th & 7^th

Bgds in line. Parades morning

& afternoon & games. Capt Pedler

of 22^nd Bn transferred to us. Expect 

he will be 2^nd in C.

3 SATURDAY

New Capt takes over. I am sent to A Coy! 

Not at all in favour of going to A after

going through so much with D Coy. On other

hand I was once Sub in A Coy & now OC.

somehow its like home again. Capt Beith

the OC has been transferred.

4 SUNDAY

Coy Commanders go to the line tonight

Its a long distance walk to relieve. Through

Contalmaison. Martinpuich to Le Sars where

the line is leave at 5 pm get back at 11.45 pm.

5 MONDAY

Operation Orders out to relieve from line.

Two Coy frontage A. & C in first line not

regular trenches but detached posts

here & there, leave Scots Redoubt at 4.20 pm

arrive at front line 7.30 pm. Good going 

considering all well by very slipery track. Two men 

slipped & limbs broken. Relief not arranged

at all well by 20^th Bn Coy. C.H.Q, is in Le SaRS

cutting. Also support Coy are there in

German Dugouts.

6 TUESDAY

Visit posts about 4 am. All over ground

work. Warlencourt Butte is looking 

right into us from right flank. Our

left is on Bapaumle Rd. The Butte is like

a huge mound of earth also 50 ft

high & without doubt a German strong

post. Our Artillery are always pumping 

shells into it. German line cannot be

seen he is possibly doing same as us

with strong posts.

7 WEDNESDAY

Enemy Artillery searching for our

position with 4.9° Movement in day

impossible. Two German messages

intercepted by our operators. On to the 

office that our sector was being marked

by trench mortars. Extra viligent or

look out in case of a raid.

Relieved by Support Coy & my Coy comes back

to Le SaRS. Very bright moon but we 

exchange without causing suspicion.

8 THURSDAY

Several Enemy planes over during 

the morning. Some pretty 

low. The front posts straffed this

afternoon evidently after aeroplane

observation this morning. Hasn't

our range quite though.

9 FRIDAY

Just finished 'Stand To' this morning

when received phone message

Enemy movement on left. All the

garrison stand in immediately

nothing came of it.

G.O.C. Div round on a visit not often

a visit from that quarter. This new

one General Smythe is evidently one

who takes an interest in front line

troops & knows what we have to put up with

10 SATURDAY

Relieved by 22^nd last night. Bn goes into Bdge

Support. A Coy at MARTINPUICH in dug-outs

built into side of embarkment. Fairly

comfortable. We are right in what was once

a village, now nothing but a huge heap

of debris. Was as bad as Posieres which does not

seem possible.

11 SUNDAY

Artillery stunt last night 1^st Div had

a go at old spot Bite & Bayonet Trench where

7^th Bdge were unsuccessful while on [[?]].

12 MONDAY

Supply ration parties for line

Battn. A Battery of our 4.5 Howitzer

about 100 yds in rear of us are

attracting a few hefty shells from

the Hun & feeling a bit close to be 

pleasant.

13 TUESDAY

The whole Brigade go back to Div

Reserve to Scots Redoubt after doing

8 days in forward system. We get

back about 11 pm.

The thaw is setting in & last of

snow disappearing.

14 WEDNESDAY

Got a bit of cleaning up done.

at COs list in the in Coy in some sort of tangle

8 pm what I can see the Coy as a whole

is the same way, have a nice job in

front of me to get things squared up.

I seem to be permanently attached to 

to it now so something is going to moves

all round from Officers to privates.

Evidently been on a sodt wicket for a 

time for them to get into this state.

15 THURSDAY

A football match if arrange in NCOs

challenge Officers. Have played in some

funny games but this takes the [[?brim]].

It is played on best piece of ground

available & that is sprinkled very

freely with shell holes. One 

minute the player & ball in sight

the next all suddenly disappear

right out of sight into a large

shell hole from which they now

appear again.  NCOs  to host for us.

16 FRIDAY

Coy parades & issue new pay books.

Coy Commdrs got in front line to our sectors.

We are on left of our last place. 2 Coy

frontage A & C. Capt Pedler accompanies me.

Just in time to run into enemy barage

near Le Sars squat down under a bank
like rats until its over. Then bring up &

back along duckboards & rough track

as the end is about 10 miles.

17 SATURDAY

Pack up & get details ready to take over

trenches tonight. Start our under cover of

very heavy fog at 3.30 pm. Get as far as X boards &

held up found out later (Brigade thought fog had

lifted) lost hour of this act. Arrived up quietly &

took over. Capt Pedler is is with me to receive

xxxx instruction.

18 SUNDAY

System of defence as lost (isolated post & a support)

litle information obtained from Coy of 5^th Bdge I relieved

a Brigade singing out for intelligence & disposition.

19 MONDAY

Enemy artillery & Mortars fairly lively

today. Relief tonight by B. Coy &

we go to 26^th Avenue Bn Reserves.

Relief complete safely. The enemy

shell our track at Le SaRS & Bapaume∧be

Rd at regular intervals. Gives us a 

few Le SaRS & stops I then tell men

to make for it. Rought track over trees &

ruins get down about 500 yds down road &

he lets fly again luckily his direction is

a bit out & they fall just off road.

20 TUESDAY

Reserve in an old communication trench

very badly knocked about. C.H.Q, in

a rotten little dug out down about 12 ft

with a [[spaci?]] on the bottom about 6x6x5. I

sleep on a plank raised off ground 12" wide &

start off for Battn about 1000 yds distance

mud very bad. Do nothing all day

but talk to pass time away. At night

furnish carrying party & ration party

from E.E dump  to pm H.Q. 22 yds take 5 hours.

21 WEDNESDAY

Drizzling rain all day very muddy

to be relieved tonight by 22^nd Bn.

Arrives about 11 pm. The Coy out in

two parties. I take 2^nd lot & go for a 

short cut to duck boards about 200 yds

distance from trench. Very dark &

heavy fog mistook my direction 

got well & truly lost. Shells were falling 

in a certain direction which I took to be

Bapaume Rd. Proved right & got direction from

that. Had to pick every step on boards out.

22 THURSDAY

Arrived at Villa Camp 2 Am ∧about 4 miles "all out" a

hot cup of cocoa waiting worth its weight

in gold. Slept until 11 a m had

breakfast & got up at 1 p m.

The camp is mainly tent & pretty rotten

at that. It is very scattered about

no doubt in case of air raid & shelling.

Supply working parties in rear of 

line. Turn in about 8 pm.

23 FRIDAY

Pay arrives at last everyone was broke

up till now. A months pay for all.

Camp in very muddy condition, will

be glad to get out if it back to Scots

Redoubt. "Stand To" comes unexpectedly at

10.30pm. In 15 minutes am away with Coy in full

fighting order. All is intensely quiet not a shot

taken heard no one knows what is happening

Report to Bdge & sent to occupy Gun Pit road. Hear 

there that Germans have evacuated line & returned 

back some distance.

24 SATURDAY

We rested in Dug Outs during the night &

near this morning L. Hun patrols are going 

forward. Wild rumours that Hun has gone back

to Villa Camp.

25 SUNDAY

C.O. has to go back & past by Dr. orders.

Maj Pedler 2^nd in Command from the Army School. I 

take command of Bn.

MARCH 1915

26 MONDAY

Brigade relieved & 23^rd back to Scots Ridoubt.

Our patrols are pushing forward to

get in touch with enemy. It was very

scarce. 21^st & 22^nd have been pushing forward

enemy snipers accounted for 2 Off & several

men. 22^nd attacked Strong Post. but were

held up in wire Capt Cull killed former 23^rd Off.

We have passed his nearest trench Ga22AWITZ

trench & our patrols now reconnoitring MaLT

trench.

27 TUESDAY

Everything flows along proverbly

Expect a CO to arrive anytime.

A new organization is out concerning

Coys & Platoons the later to be more self containing

a fighting unit.

28 WEDNESDAY

Brigadier holds meeting of all Officers

in Brigade. The first time we have al

met for 8 months.
Officers concert in YMCW by Officers of
bdge.  Major Bateman arrives to take over 

from me. I think we shall like him
Coy Commdrs feel more at home already

than with late C.O. Capt Dunn who has been

Adj by since Gallipoli is off with prospects of

going to staff school . Lt Evans takes over Cdr

1915 MARCH

1 THURSDAY

Go up to line with CO to have look

round. We relieve 20^th Bn tomorrow

night. Bn H.Q. is now when NoMans land

was just near Butte. Guns, 18 pounders are

already past Le SaRS & up to HexHam Rd.

An enemy railhead has been here & 

damaged rolling stock everywhere.

A large coal dump & large quantities 

of wire has been left by enemy.

2 FRIDAY

Relief commenced 4.30 pm from pm ScoTS

ReDouBT Complete 9.15 p.m.  A Coy Hexham RD

'B Coy' GIRDTRENCH. 'C Coy' GALLOWITZ TR 'D Coy' MaxWELL Support. We are in Supports

to 24^th. H.Qrts in concrete cellar in

which water continually drips from

roof. All suffering from touch of 

poisonous Gas from coal fire.

3 SATURDAY

Still in Supports, Our 18 pounder

batteries are still pushing up along

Hexham Road. Enemy turns his 

Guns on the Butte & pound about

pretty often.

4 SUNDAY

Relieve 24th Bn. I am send forward to

direct operations along front ling.

MARCH 1915

5 MONDAY

System of outposts on two Coy

frontage. Conditions quiet

and received to take over part

of 1^st Div from Two more Coys

moved up. Total frontage now

about 1000 yds.

6 TUESDAY 

Quiet all day. Word received

from Brigade much movement of

things at Bapaume & going east.

Think possible evacuation of

GREVILLIER Line. Two large fighting

Patrols are sent forward of 1 Off & 25 men

report wire intact & line still 

held strongly. Relieved tonight by

22^nd Bn. We move back to Sussex Camp.

7 WEDNESDAY

Battn resting Comfortable huts

for three days is something to look

forward to after the cold snap in front

line. Very cold again today & snowing.

8 THURSDAY

Still at Sussex Camp & Coy

Inspection each morning are

all the parades we have.

9 FRIDAY

Large enemy shells fell during

night on the railway close by.

Nothing doing so write letters all

day.

11 SATURDAY

Relieve 24^th Bn in Reserves Bn. H.Q

near "Seven Elms" Coys scattered

about. A Coy lIving in the vaults of 

EancouRT L'ABBAYe. Relief complete

9.30 pm.

11 SUNDAY

Enjoying a good nights rest & word 

received 23^rd to go back again to the Huts

Something in the wind I guess.