Diary of Harold William Riggall 1916 - Part 10

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hospital at Camiers saying he had received a bullet
in the back under his shoulder blades which is on his
spine & has paralysed his lower limbs & he is being
sent to England to be operated on. I am writing him.
Tuesday August 15^th
Left my German rifle (Lloyd left his also) with the 
schoolmaster with whom we were billeted at S^t Leger to 
look after for me until après la guerre. Moved off this
morning at 10.30 with three guns - as I sent one away
three days ago to the Lahore division - & somed moved
back through Canarples- Havenas &c to Vadencourt
where we bivouaced. It had rained like anything 
on the journey. Sorry but I had to place Sgt Major 
Freeman - Sgt Morley - Wheeler Corp Sorenson - Gnr 
Tully & Gnr Herman under arrest for drunkeness.
Wednesday August 16th  Mametz Wood
Left Vadencourt at 6.30 AM & rode up to the 
position of the 21st Bty at Deliotte Mametz Wood & eventually
released them taking one of their guns over to bring
me up to strength. I do hate the Dinkums (2^nd Div)
their gun pits were bad & horribly dirty. Their datum 
line was all wrong & I found them impossible to give
me any information that I would rely on. One thing
the barrage line they gave me as right & I find on 
working it out as left. A hopeless lot.
Thursday August 17^th
Sgt Major Freeman & the others were remanded 
this morning to trial by Court Martial. Ordinary
barrage work. I am now under the tactical

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control of the 3rd Bde. We are living at present in 
a big German underground dugout about two hundred 
yards away from the guns but it is too far away &
I am getting the men to build me a shelter alongside
the guns. It won't be so safe but it will keep out the 
shrapnel & I must be close to my guns & it would 
be very bad luck if a crump landed fair on my 
hole & bed. The Germans have been crumping a good
deal down the road tonight so I have decided to stay 
at my dugout and merely keep one officer at a time at the 
guns.
Friday August 18th
Ordinary barrage work. Arranged in conjunction 
with the 22^nd Bty to send linesmen up to Gloucester Alley
in front line trenches & lay a telephone & enable us to use
as a forward O.P. Lineman left at 10 AM 
at 4 PM. having laid the wire but stated they had
just got communication with the battery when a crump
fell in trench & rolled them over & others fell cutting the
wire. An attack was on so they returned down the 
valley and got back safely through the German Barrage
Our first division is attacking tonight moving further
forward. The English first division on our right attached
this afternoon and took two trenches. They are a fine
body of men, regulars Black Watch, Seaforth Highlanders 
&c the Scottish troops. Very different to the Terriers
& others we have been with. Their officers speak
very highly of our men, & say it is an honour
to fight alongside them. Have just heard the

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mail closes tomorrow but have no chance of getting
a letter away to the F.P.O in time to catch it. We 
always hear too late, But the letter I wrote at
St Leger will go by it, & in any case I have no news.
Saturday August 19^th
Had a small stint last night helping the 6^th
Battn to consolidate their line, otherwise all day
just the usual barrage.
Sunday August 20^th
Same old work. It is unhealthy to wander
about here much as the Huns put crumps & shrapnel 
over at odd times. Lloyd was up as F O O in the
front line registering the guns on to the Chimney
Courcelette. Heard today that Kingsmill has got
the D.S.O for the Pozieres stint. Enough said.
God only knows who recommends the promotions.
Out in orders that we are to be relieved in two days
time by the 2^nd Div & are to entrain by the evening
of the 24^th I wonder where to? Is it to 
Ypres - Messines - England or Australia?
Monday August 21st
Got straffed last night from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
this morning with gas shell. One shell came into D
sub section pit & burst Acting Bdr Heward cut
on the leg with piece of shell & leg swelled with
great rapidity. Both he & Corp. Cearns were 
gassed and collapsed & had to be taken to the
hospital. Neither will die I think. All the rest
of the detachment felt effects of gas & as the

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gun has gone out of action (spring trouble) I
have sent gun & detachment back to the wagon
line to wait until we pull out. Quiet day.
General Hobbs braved danger and came up when all
was quiet telling the men that they were going our
for a good long rest but telling Colonel that we
are going to Ypres to release the Canadians
who are coming here. A nice rest that will be.
Got a letter from you (dated June 27th) today & 
one from Mrs G.B. Appleton & papers. The Huns
crumped my dug out last night but it one of 
their own building & very strong. I am firing with
one gun now as two others are coming back too
far & I am putting them out of action until I
can get them overhauled at Ordinance. But I
am keeping them in the line in case they may be wanted.
Am anxiously awaiting your photograph.
The Scottish Regulars (1^st Expy Force) with whom
we are agree with us in thinking the English troops
no good. They get on splendidly with our boys 
who always look very big & massive when alongside
them. There is not much of me but I top most
of England's troops.
Tuesday August 22^nd
Fairly quiet night last night only a few gas
shell come over & did no damage. On ordinary 
barrage work all day.
Wednesday August 23^rd
At midnight last night orders came in re

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moving from Mametz Wood. I had very
sad news this morning from 2nd Field Ambulance
1st Anzac to say that Corporal Cearns has died.
Poor boy he was such a fine lad & a splendid gunner
quiet my best. He had only the other week been appointed
No.1 on D gun & would have got his sergeant strips
within a few days. He was talking to me a couple
of days ago & saying how happy he was now that he
had charge of a gun which was all he wanted.
He is an only son & his father a chemist how 
tobacconist in a large business in Hobart Tasmania.
I dread having to write to him. I am having 
enquiries made to find out where Cearns is 
buried & will have a good cross erected &c
Moved out this afternoon the last of the battery
getting away at 4.15 P.M. I am very pleased to get
out it is a melancholy position shut up in the valley.
Left wagon lines at 6 p.m. & trecked through Albert
to Brickfields Camp which is a large expanse of
paddock land about two miles from Albert where we
bivouaced in the open on stubble land. Major Eddy
Waters was camp commandant & after tea George
Stevenson & myself went over to his tent & had a 
drink & a yarn with him. He asked after you
& I thought he looked much older.
Thursday August 24^th
It rained during the night and we had
reveille at 4 a.m. & after breakfast moved off
at 6 a.m. through Bouzincourt -Hedauville -

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Forceville - Louvencourt - Vaucelles - Marieux
 - Sarton (where we watered) - Orville - Amplier
- arriving at Authieule at 1.30p.m. where we
picked  the horses to the lines which are tied between
the wagons & we & the men are billeted in canvas
huts.
Friday August 25^th
Set the men cleaning vehicles & harness.
Gen. Hobbs rode through the camp during the 
afternoon and complimented me on the state of my
horses guns & harness. In fact I have never known 
him so gracious. But really everything was good
as the men have worked awfully well. I rode
into Doullens (1 1/2 miles) & bought some 
underclothing which I needed. Had a good
wash this morning & I needed it.
Saturday August 26^th
Kept men on fatigue. Had horses out grazing
in a paddock I have got for ten francs. Received
letter from you dated July 3^rd & the wallet with
photos. Bill's is awfully good I have the large one
already. Yours I do not think I would call a 
good likeness. It is very sweet dear & I just
love having one of you full length but I think I
like looking at the one I have in my other wallet best.
But I love the photo of Dad. It is awfully nice
having one of him & they are very good. I am 
so proud of my Dad. I feel so proud when I 
show anyone his photograph.