Diary of Oberlin Herbert Gray, April 1916 to June 1917 - Part 7

head, he didn't have his "tin hat" on
We went out in the fields near &
brought in a few wounded - The 
12^th had "hopped over" & gone off over the
fields, taking cover in shell holes &
behind heaps of manure etc. We commence
evacuating wounded to next post - About
50 Fritz wounded & prisoners brought in.
They used them, 8 squads to help us, &
made several trips right across, to wagons
Oll. made tea for numerous thirsty souls
The Fritzs were glad of bully beef -
they all looked thin & weak - 2000
had been brought up in motor cars, &
told to take & hold Lagnicourt for 20 hrs
Men of 6 or 7 regiments - I went across
with C.E. - Our last patient was
about 10.30. & we had just retd, when the
other squad was sent out to dig in
at a new aid post near the village. & a
fresh squad came here - very inconvenient.
Altogether over 600 prisoners passed
thro' brigade hd. qrs. 

Drizzly rain in aftn - At night
the 9^th relieved 12^th who went back
to Fremicourt. The 20^th Bn. on our
left came in at the critical moment in
morng & flanked the Germans who
retreated fast behind their original lines.
17/4/17 Each day has had rain snow
wind or hail & yest. evg on way home
had a storm of sleet, almost like ice.
The traffic in this road has converted
it into mud a foot deep. I made a
path from dressing stn. to corner on far
side yest. for stretchers - casualties light,
Today 2 buried in dugout, one from Mills
bomb accident & 2 or 3 others - Sinclair etc
came over for meals, they were transferred to
Schaufers Wood for 24 hrs. The 5^th Bn came
in last night & relieved the 9^th in supports
with the 8^th Bn in front line. Their cooks
have been making tea & stew for us -
18/4/17 Sinclair & others retd to our post today
& other squad retd to next relay
Miserable weather - light rain 

The Gs captured 2 batteries & the gun crews
retreated but they were won back,
The HdQrs of 5^th have been moved to
a sunken road 500 yds up. The Aid
Post is to be moved as soon as they
have dug in. Rotten weather lately.
20/4/17 Mud awful. 13 letters from Aust.
After dinner went across 600 yds nearer
Front line & dug in - With the 5^th Bn. -
We couldn't find room near the Aid Post
so went further down road - Much aeroplane
activity - Had some shrapnel crossing
valley. Dug in then went across to
Schaufers Wood to Hd Qrs 2^nd Fd to see about
rations - O went to Morchies for wood - I
retd thru M. to where Engineers are now
camped in our road. After tea retd to
road & fixed up dugout – Fritz started
shelling again & one fell in the next dug
out, breaking stretcher & nearly deafening
us - We finished it & had a troubled
night, being awakened to put on gas
helmets as gas shells fell near 

21/4/17 After breakfast 2 other squads
replaced us & we retd to Schaufers
Wood, where we were able to get a good
dinner - There are 4 or 5 damaged planes
in the fields near. In afternoon went
to 5^th RAP for stretchers &c. Some extras
sent up from Comforts Fund - Sgt. P. has
been reduced to ranks "Drunk" - on rum.
The 3^rd has moved to near here -
Have met several in 2^nd I knew in Vic.
22/4/17 The 8^th took a strong post last
night but were shelled out this morng.
I saw Capt Boylan of 9^th Bn on biz.
At 11 AM 4 squads of us sent to 8^th Bn
to help with extra casualties - The padre
came down & led us back - Had an
exciting trip & many close shaves -
Busy rest of day - Taking one case
an aeroplane battle above us & 3 ours
& 1 Taube brought down - One nearly
fell on us but landed AI - The observer
fell out, shot thru heart - 2 of my
squad carried on & O & I went 

over to give assistance. - The pilot
was unhurt - & went over with Major C.
We went for stretcher - but had to wait
till Fritz had bombarded & set plane on
fire, about 100 shells. Retd & carried off
aviator & had 6 or 8 more shells after us.
We buried him near some hawthorns -
Retd to 8^th & back to Chauffers by 8 PM.
The British are relieving us in 2 days.
23/4/17 Relieved at One Tree post, Aerial
activity. Came down to Chauffers Wood where
the 33^rd B. Fd. Amb. had taken over -
After dinner walked to Buique where
the 3^rd had established the main dressing
station. It was very changed & a credit
to them - 2.6" Naval guns were firing
from near & Frltz started shelling -
pieces were flying about camp & one
man was wounded - A number left camp
to sleep in dugouts along road, & were
late for parade next a.m.. Col Butler
read Kings Regs to them & was very
annoyed - 

25/4/17 The 33^rd Fd Amb took over camc - 
We marched off at 9. to Bapaume, the
road is being mended - All mine holes
are filled in - Passed Eng troops, artillery
pontoons etc. the light railway is laid
right up & trains come up to Bapaume.
Yest. we were cleaning ourselves up, on fatigues
etc. - Encamped to N.E of Bapaume
26/4/17 Inspection of Kit - tent pitching etc.
Heard that No 11 train was at 3^rd Cas.
Clearing Hosp. & walked over ¾ mile &
found Alf C. & Joe in evening with 3 others
We went inside & had a good yarn - 4.
of us were over 6ft 1. The tallest was 6ft
5" - Two Fritz planes were over this a.m.
sailing round regardless of shrapnel
& machine gun - They must have seen
a lot but we heard they were brought
down at Fremict - One of our planes
was doing spiral dives, looping loop etc.
over Bapaume. - Very heavy bombardment
27/4/17 all through night.
29/4/17 We went down to the train No 11
& spent an hour or so on 27 & yest. 

at noon saw Joe for a few minutes
before they left. – Recd nice home
mail; photos etc. Glorious weather yest
washing wagons & limbers - Gen Birdwood
came round unofficial visit - Voting today
on Federal election. Walked round among
the ruins of Bapaume. The Church was
blown up, & is an absolute wreck. In the
cellars are scores of skulls, (500?) they
are relics of the Guillotine in the
French Revolution. - Went round the
Citadel, an ancient fortress, it dates
back for centuries - remains of brick
coating to walls & Moat - The Germans
had made a stronghold of it - deep dugouts
etc. several look outs in the fir trees which
cover its slopes. They commanded a splendid
view for miles round the country.
1 May Yest. while I was on fatigue Arthur
Gould came along & had a chat - We
were inoculated against typhoid in evg.
I walked across to the 6^th Fd Amb & 

saw Arthur later. C. Section "off
duty' - not feeling too well - Went for
a walk in evg. past CCS & through
village of DVilliers where a great battle
was fought in the France Prussian War
A monument to the fallen of many divisions
2/5/17 Had boots mended. Attack on our
front tonight. We are to be ready to move
at ½ hrs notice- Enemy aeroplanes have
been flying over us lately at great
height.
3/5/17 ^ Early dinner & then the bearer sections left in 3 motor lorries
for next village towards Vaulx, roads
frightfully dusty. Camped in tents.
5/5/17 We had tea early then marched
to Main Dress1 Stn where 5^th Fd Amb were.
A short rest then to a wrecked village Vaux on
road leading to Lagnicort & Morchies, a
huge mine crater in the centre of the
village - Had tea from YMCA in a barn
Mr Peake (of Euripides) was there, Marched
on past terminus of Motor Amb, cross
Country, past terminus of horse amb 

wagons - A bright moon was up &
shone on strange scenes- dozens of guns
were firing, their flashes lighting up valleys
Shells bursting here & there. Fritz fares
ascending along his front, red, green, white
etc, signals etc. Reached relay post in
a sunken road - The dressing station.
travelling Kitchens & dugouts xfor reserves,
Hundreds of men waiting to move off. Numbers
of casualties coming in, stretchers & walking
The 7^th Fd Amb has been going since the
attack started morning before at 4 AM & they
had over 30 Casualties - The 14^th 2^nd & 6^th Fd
Amb have suffered too. 76 casualties in 2 days. Fritz knew all about
our attack, & started his barrage 3 minutes
before ours started. The men went over in
successive waves, many were caught by
our shells falling short. The 6^th Bgde took
their objective but suffered heavily owing to Eng
Dn (on left) going too far to left & taking wrong 2
villages leaving 2 villages in hands of enemy
on their right - Officers & NCOs suffered heavily.
[*WOUNDED 5-6/5/17*] 

We carried from the first relay post to the
wagons, and about 11 PM relieved the 7^th
Fd. Amb. & all went up to the RAP. Things
were very warm – bullets humming by shells
bursting in all directions, shrapnel, flares
lighting up & revealing fiqures moving about
in all directions - Here & there a body lying.
Reached the RAP & soon started work. A lot
of H.E.S falling near in different directions
My squad was starting off with a patient
We had gone only 100 yds & a shell burst
near, a piece caught me a whack in the
heel thru three thicknesses of leather & cut
across the back about 2" - Two of the chaps
carried me back to the Aid Post. I had it dressed
& then limped down to the Wagon about 1½ m.
The wagon started off with a load & started
off steering clear of shell holes. The motor
amb took us thru Vaulx to the 5^th Fd Amb
where I had it dressed again - I asked to
go to the DRS. so as to get back easily
to the 3^rd later on. In the early dawn
we went on the light railway, & came
through to Bapaume - stopped ajust outside 

near railhead for a time, then took
motor lorry to 4^th Fd Amb. rest station at
Pozieres - the country is getting very green
& trees are leafing, but most of trip was
through a desolate country, a land of innumerable
shell holes - piles of rubbish where
Villages had been. wrecked war material,
destroyed railway - wrecked cars - 2 or 3 "tanks"
woods & trees utterly destroyed - The outlook
from the rest stn. was desolate to the last
extreme. All their bearers had left that
morning for the Line. Had dinner there
& about 3 took the train to Becordal, passed
thro' better country, trees & hawthorn hedges
leafing green. Had refreshment here & different
ones were evacuated to different destinations -
I went to the DRS. at Bellevue Farm just
outside Albert, a pretty view from it. The
Farm comprised a group of buildings, with
a large courtyard - The big barn was over
100 ft long by 50 or 60 wide. Huts erected near
I spent the night in one ward - This morng
as soon as the M.O. saw my heel he consigned
me to a further trip to the CCS. - Had 

dinner & in aftn we were conveyed north
by motor ambulance to Avelny on the
banks of a small lake fed by the R.
Ancre. The 9^th C.C.S. (RAMC) is stationed
here, rather pretty surroundings now that Spring
is come - strict restrictions as to bounds etc.
The M.O. here, put E.S. on my card - "Evacuation
Sitting" - so there is some more travelling ahead.
7/5/17 We left Avelny about 4.30. some
150 stretcher patients & a large number of
walkers –  A few miles travelling took us out
of the war area & the landscape changed
from to green fields, villages in their natural
beauty, canals & streams reflecting the trees
growing along their banks. The scenery was
gloriously beautiful, an utter change to
what we have seen for weeks. The twilight
lasted until after 9 & soon after
we reached Amiens - We had tea &
supper of Cocoa. Attempted to sleep sitting
up & dozed till we reached near Etaples.
Dozens of motor ambulances driven
by girls, quickly had stretchers transferred
to them & moved off. 

We went in a large bus. & after a
mile drive came to the 18^th Gen Hosp.
Got to Bed about 4 & had a couple of
hours sleep before breakfast. Later in the
day had bath, & saw the MO. I have to rest
my foot as much as possible. They discovered
that the ward we were in had case of diptheria
so we are now in isolation - glorious weather
From CEW Bean. - Sunday  Daily "Mail"
The Germans counter attacked the Austns in the
Hindenburg line 3 times last night. The fighting
was very severe in places & the Germs managed to
get a footing in our position but were driven out again
All day & all night German shells descended heavily
on the Austn position - In spite of this the Austns
have maintained themselves for 3 days & 3 nights
far into the heart of the German line, where they
are still h. on.
10/5/17 Walked along the road about a
mile to a farmhouse - & had a drink of
milk - Lovely scenery, fields & wildflowers, old
barns & a fine old farm house, the farmer
& his wife & 2 daughters & farm servants.
13/5/17 Glorious weather - The birds woke me at
4 AM - larks singing & I heard 

the cuckoo for the first time- I lay listening
to the birds till 5 when it was quite
light - walked along to the farm yest.
In one shed were 25 or more pigs - white. The
largest was about 400 lbs. Fields of daisies
& buttercups, violets & primroses etc. A flock of
sheep on a hillside guarded by 2 dogs.
Yest. a German 'plane flew over Camiers, it was
fired at, but ^to no effect. Heavy fighting still
going on at Bullecourt - The Austns are
still there. Transferred to Ward 20. My wound
is progressing favorably, it is sore at side.
16/5/17 H .Brown of our unit came in 2 days
with wound in arm - he told me the sad
news of the death of Ralph Sharp. Obs White &
Locke - Sinclair has lost his right arm -
Nearly 30 casualties altogether. Had some
rain, the weather has been misty & colder.
My foot has been aching more & is not
going on as fast as it should.
17/5/17 I was passed for "Blighty" to day
& leave by the first boat.
18/5/17 This has been a memorable day
the journey through from 

Camiers to the Hospital I am
now in, in one of the most beautiful
spots in Eng. Clandon Park, the home
of the Earl & Countess of Onslow, near Guildford
in Surrey. It is one of the "stately
homes of England", & in the palmy
prewar days was visited by the
Kaiser & other Royalties. About 2 oc
in the morning we were awakened
& informed that a convoy was off
for "Blighty" - We were soon ready &
ere long started in motor char a bancs
We came thro' to Etaples, there took the
hosp. train. At dawn we were still
travelling on thro' pretty country &
finally arrived at Calais. Transferred
to the boat which left about noon.
Two hosp ships, escorted by a destroyer
It was very misty, but calm & we
had a good trip. Entered Dover Harbor
& drew up alongside the Wharf. Saw.
Dover Castle. The train left about 

4 PM & we had a delightful journey
up rough the S.E. counties - Glorious
woods - country lanes, streams &
orchards. Kent easily takes the
palm for the most beautiful county - It
was an everchanging panorama, meadows
& banks of wild flowers. We passed Canberbury
& I saw the spires of the cathedral
towering up above the town. Passed
Rochester, a manufacturing town, & Chatham
Saw the estuary of the Thames - M.
ong on train - had dinner on boat & tea
train. The woods were beyond
scription in all their Spring glory.
pproached London- saw the Crystal Palace
The hop fields & orchards were interesting.
different to ours- Stopped for awhile at
lapham Jn. - noticed the electic trains
Passed Brixton Rd & Wandsworth -
Changed to SW.R. & passed thro' suburbs
Noticed many people working on their
allotments, at Worcester Park among
others - Stopped at Epsom & put off
a lot of stretcher cases - 

Carniers to the Hospital I am
now in, in one of the most beautiful
spots in Eng. Clandon Park, the home
of the Earl & Countess of Onslow, near Guildford
in Surrey. It is one of the "stately
homes of England", & in the palmy
prewar days was visited by the
Kaiser & other Royalties. About 2 oc
in the morning we were awakened
& informed that a convoy was off
for "Blighty" - We were soon ready &
are long started in motor char a bancs
We came thro' to Etaples, there took the
hosp. train. At dawn we were still
travelling on thro' pretty Country &
finally arrived at Calais. Transferred
to the boat which left about noon.
Two hosp ships. escorted by a destroyer
It was very misty, but calm & we
had a good trip. Entered Dover Harbor
& drew up alongside the Wharf. Saw.
Dover Castle. The train left about

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