Diary of Harold William Riggall 1916 - Part 6

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local raid by the Tommies about two or three
miles away on our right.  I heard later over a
front of 800 yards they took the German front line &
support trenches but could not hold the supports &
later were driven back from the front line.  So
things are just as the were.  I had to go to
Sailly sur Lys today to act as President of a
F.G.C.M.  Four cases were up before us & we gave
the three we found guilty heavy punishments.
(When you do hit, hit hard)  Saturday July 1^st
Quiet day
Saturday Sunday July 2^nd
Stood too at 11-30 last night, got orders to
start firing at 2-8 this morning.  Every thing had
been quiet for half an hour previously but on the
word "Go" the German trenches were a mass of
flame from end to end.  Our infantry (9^th Battn)
did very well, they had their hands & faces
blackened & were waiting for the word.  They
were over & into the Germans almost immediately
& got 25 prisoners & two machine guns &
a lot of booty (clothing bombs &c).  The
raid lasted thirty five minutes.  Our casualties
one officer killed one missing & three wounded
seventeen men wounded.  It is reported a
great number of Germans killed as they
broke & fled when our men went over as they
were taken completely by surprise & fled down
a communication trench into which my
guns were firing with decidly accuracy &

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it is not thought that many if any could
have got away.  Col. Burgess congratulated

me this morning on the work of the battery.

It must have been a great sight for the

4^th Division who have lately taken over from

us at this part of the front.  All our artillery

fire was absolutely perfect.  My opinion of

the German gunner is going down fast while

my opinion of the Australian gunner is going

up by leaps & bounds.  This battery is just

about up to its top form, & has improved out of all

knowledge during the last fortnight.  I think it

is as good if not better than any other battery

in the 1^st Division.  The English batteries I have

seen up to date are very poor, their officers are

without the necessary knowledge.  Six casualties

last night (latest news).

Monday July 3^rd

Last night at 12-32 we opened heavy fire on

the German trenches & after about a quarter of an

hours bombardment the 11^th Battn went across but

returned with no prisoners & not much booty.  The

found the trenches empty except for dead Germans

of whom about fifty had been killed by our

artillery fire.  Our casualties nil . Everything

very quiet today going out tonight

Tuesday July 4^th

Handed over last night to the 38^th Battery

4^th Division.  They were in an awful muddle

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and I could not leave my billet until
a quarter past one this morning.
We marched off to our rest billet at Trou
Bayard and I reported to Bde Hd Qrs at
four o'clock this morning.  Left at seven
oclock this morning & rode to look at our
new position at Ploegsteert Hill 68 arrived
there at 11 o'clock & looked over new position
& got my right section in at 10-30 o'clock
tonight.  An awfully nice lot of officers in the
Battery C 106^th Bde I am taking over from, they
are giving me every assistance.  Had two
brushes with Col. Stevenson today.  Do not like
him at a brigade Commander.
Wednesday July 5^th
Got my left section up tonight.  All
rotten old guns, three of them are our old Anzac
guns that we left behind in Egypt & one I am
returning to Ordnance for over hauling.  She is
to out to fire.  Have bought two young goats
for Bennett & a rooster & three fowls.  Hope
the brutes will lay.
Thursday July 6^th
Nothing particular doing today
Have registered two guns - the others have to be
overhauled before I can fire them with safety to
our own infantry.  Got a good billet for the
officers & I myself have a sweet little room
with a window which looks out over the

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crops & hills.  Seems funny now after the
flat country to have my guns behind a hill &
able to fire without the Huns being able to see
my flash.
Friday July 7^th
Raining today.  Continued registration.
Copy    1^st Australian Division
Headquarters
Right Group Artillery
The Officer Commanding
21^st Field Artillery Brigade
On handing over the command of the Right Group
Artillery, I wish to express my appreciation of the excellent
work and services rendered by the 22^nd and 24^th
Batteries, of your Brigade while under my tactical
control in this Group.
The result of their work render coment
unnecessary, but the G.O.C. 1^st Australian Division
and G.O.C. 3^rd Infantry Brigade have both expressed
their appreciation and gratitude for the excellent
shooting and splendid support by all batteries on
the nights of 1^st - 2^nd and 2^nd - 3^rd July, and which
ensured the success of the Infantry operations.
Will you please therefore, convey to all ranks
of the 22^nd and 24^th Batteries the G.O.C's message, and
if I may be permitted to do so, my own appreciation
of their work during the period they have been
with me.
Ready, at all times, at short notice, during
all hours of both night and day, the quick

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response, smooth and rapid fire action of
the 22^nd Battery has been appreciated by all, and
their frontal fire combined with the accurate
enfilade and oblique fire of the 24^th Battery's
guns must have been of great benefit and
protection to our Infantry in front.
Sg WL.H. Burgess, Lieut Col.
Commanding Right Group Artillery
3-7-16.  
The above speaks for itself.
This is a further message which I received
personally last Sunday morning :-
To All Battery Commanders
Right Group Artillery  2/7/16.
The G.O.C. 3rd Infantry Brigade, Brigadier
General Sinclair Maclagan D.S.O. desires me to
express to all ranks of the Right Group Artillery,
not only his own personal thanks, "but the
appreciation of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the
excellent gunnery and fire tactics of the Right
Group Artillery which assured the success of
the Infantry Raid."
Will Battery Commanders please convey
to all ranks of their respective commands the
above appreciation of the Infantry Arm, of our
endeavour to assist them last night.
(Sg) W.L.H Burgess  Lieut. Col
Comdg Right Group Artillery
Two of my present guns are no good.
One condemned & the other very erratic.

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Saturday July 8^th
Have just received orders that we are to
pack up as we are moving again tonight.
Nobody knows where we are going to but
it seems as if it will be a long distance, as
we are ordered to return all maps of this
part of the world.  Its Hell this continual
moving.
At 11 o'clock tonight the releiving battery had
got their guns in position & my guns were out
& we began our march back.
Sunday July 9^th
Arrived at our new billet St Jans Cappel
near Bailleul at 2 o'clock this morning &
after looking to the men & horses turned in.
A beautiful day.  Saw I.U.M. about one
of my guns that wants overhauling badly.
but he cannot do anything to it as he has not
got the spare parts I require so I've got to carry
on as best I can but it is hard luck.  Eh!
Today was a beautiful day & I took the
opportunity to ride up to Mont Noir on the
Belguim border about a mile & a half from here
from which a magnificent view of the firing
line can be obtained, almost from Orleans to
well South of Lors.  It was certainly a
glorious view & again how I wished you were
with me.  Received your letter dated, May 16^th &
sent you a cable "Quite well all love.

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Monday July 10^th
Received orders this morning that we are
entraining early on the morning of the 12^th inst.
Had a hot bath this morning dear it was lovely
& had all the men marched in, & made them have
a bath also.  Had my photo taken today but
afraid it will be a failure as the man who took
it counted one two three & I felt my face
sliping when he pressed the bulb.  Had a talk
with Bob. Ramsay today, he's got a good
soft job.  Yesterday cut all our kit down
to a minimum & sent all surplus clothing
into a room we hired in Hazebrouk.  Don't
want to carry much luggage when fighting
It's another beautiful day today
Sorry to say I had to have Bennett & all the other
batmen up for orderly room this morning, for not
attending parades & generally slacking work.  Put
them on defaulters picket.  Trouble in store in
that quarter I am afraid.  But as I told them I
will have them obey orders or else I'll make their
life a hell & break them.  My groom Lawrence
is under close arrest for being drunk.
Tuesday July 11^th
Nothing doing today, just waiting & getting
ready for the move tomorrow morning.  I will
be sorry to leave this place as it is very quiet &
pretty with hills & dales & beautiful trees & so peaceful
that one never thinks of a war being on.

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Wednesday July 12^th
Left St jans Cappel at 5-40 AM. & marched
to Bailleul Main Station & entrained.  Train left at 9
AM. reached Doullens at 2 PM. where some batteries
were disentraining but we went on to Candas &
reached it at 3 PM where we unloaded & marched to
Havenas where we camped.  No doubt the Australian
troops surprise the Englishman with the speed at which
they work, they nearly all remark on it & as one said to
me "I wish we always had the handling of such troops
they are certainly a fine lot of men."  The billets the
men have here are filthy & I am disobeying orders & am
allowing the men to camp alongside the guns & horses
under the shelter of trees.  Wherever we have been I have
always found that the British Tommy leaves his billet in a
most disgusting state.  Got to bed myself at midnight.
I have got a very nice billet myself with an old dame
who provides bed & sheets for me.  Have arranged with
her for my other officers to stay at same billet.
Thursday July 15^th
Awfully pretty country round here.  Took the
men out for a route march this afternoon.  Bennett
& the other batmen have been playing up badly & giving
us a lot of trouble, so yesterday I made them march on
foot while the battery was on the move & had a talk with
them afterwards, telling them plainly & quietly that it
was foolish of them trying to annoy me because I
had the upper hand & I had fully made up my mind
to break them badly if they continued playing up.

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Friday July 14^th
Wet today.  Bennett is behaving much better
today, but Langlands (Mr Lloyd's boy) has just been
set a task by me that will break his spirit a little
when it is over.  My groom (Lawrence) I have sent
before a medical board as to whether he is fit for active
service or not.  He will be sent to the base, I told him I
would get rid of him if he got drunk again & I have kept
my word.  It will be a lesson to the rest of the battery.
Gen. Hobbs sent for all Battery Commanders last night & told
us that we will be in the thick of it in two or three days
time.  He is living at the Chateau - a beautiful
country house in a huge garden where the countess of
Something or Other lives with ther daughters - while
we are camped outside the wall in the hovels at the
foot of the hill.  Makes one think of the gentleman of
France.  I am billeted in a cottage just near the
side gates to the Chateau & alongside the wall & I have
a violent flirtation with one of the daughters who
perches herself on the high stone wall.  I expect she
feels safer up there.
Saturday July 15^th
A beautiful day.  We are still waiting here
ready to move at two hours notice to the front.  It is
splendid here now the men are working well & I
am keeping them busy.  Drew 100 francs today
& gave it to mess secretary (Mr Ford) to provide a
few extra dainties for our mess.  Received a letter from
you today - dated May 29^th - a quick service.

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Sunday July 16^th
Received four different orders during the
night re moving.  Got later orders this morning
at four o'clock to move to PUCHEVILLERS.. which
we reached at midday after a three hours march.
I have got a good billet for myself & the officers the
horses & men are camped in an old orchard.  A dull
day & is raining a little.
Monday July 17^th
Received orders today (i.e. early this morning)
to report at Bde Hd Qrs at 8 o'clock where a
motor car would be waiting to take me & seven
other battery commanders up to the front.  After a
two hours run we reached Fricourt & left the
car & walked over the captured country & it
was very interesting passing along German trenches
& noting carefully their precautions against our
fire.  But what I found most interesting was
seeing the terrible effect of our artillery fire on the
German trenches, it is too awful to try & explain.
The whole ground is absolutely turned upside
down.  Some of the holes made by our trench
mortars are about twenty feet deep & from
twelve to thirty feet wide.  Awful holes.  The
day unfortunately was very dull but I was
able to see a small hill covered with timber
taken by us without much opposition.  But
we have guns everywhere, it is in fact guns
guns guns all over the place.  And I can