Diary of 262 Lance Corporal Alexander Lyall - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2023.6.50
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

No262 agnalter Ahy Bat Bde 18416 After a good took ro Hance we arrived in the trenches to night in the Armentiens district we had, no trouble on the way up to the trenches & thing all round seem very quitt I am attacked to Aloy at present. Sleeping accomodation very pfor rats are pliptiful. one weather to good no rain for over a week
liest day in the trenc abutt over shings very quiet very little Ls siting ne daytime. wp tofever of tone chiefly he night Erenche in a bad state after a day of cam indetod is attect Hay. No aathers tda Last night thee was a little activity with artillery but during the night beaely an things were quite as aau soday has been simpas to yesterday more te less quite with more rain tear me are now quity settled down to trunch Lity gai & seem to know their work therought
131 this to much we irond £ meme ttl in mea te Edayto Oe sher tered St White Eadaa 9 at act taont at laft fle ar to rand Ower Eivlsily wounded out tods 2 efected to see th throw &d n las
154 tust finated our first Another quite day it in the rest billet with the exception f & find the change for few ounds by the astilling n f wire relieved by th vy little e 19th Batt iamolliga ack to the do eth B Iam have a + a few ta 5 houe men ing 0 tei ow fatigue ft 25 the line have Hee t to were camfortable Iam living it e wice va here & the few tay be a nice, change owne for fer gu on hore Thestenpoew teraf
eat Elea ansove atin Denemd have quit all o must be save Theet 44 O a story right of wind treen it to still very wenterg the day has sused quietty & quickly Had ye letter from hom oe from Factortin fn Lidney Pacfailane & L Aleto 2 back to Mada day. I expect we will move into reserre tomorrow. I will be y theave an
12½ Ae came into the trench ai about 12 mdda te enmies astillen n hard t ge oft had is luck ti shl fait pst asa lade seend at our night quiet supporte to t atyke No cansaliae reported we came and memy vy quiet We gave them a few shells for tea tonight Those sitts that Cad on arrival Shave a god frrem my ducait here &can ea diep of tea I feet like on thereoo Lard to betieve to a war onte go with be ltin
E We came out of the trenches this morning for another spell. The enemy were very busy soon after we left sending in about Too shells in quick time & kelling a few of our men bleathe very much improved & getting warmer. had ay letter from reporting everythin 22441 Things move or less quitt along our front Nothing of Importance to report. A few shelts landed near our billetstin Afternoon slightly wounding two of aur men otherwise doing nno damage. Enemy dreaflane brought down by an g0

 

 

 

 

 

 

[*90 L*] 

No 262.

Signaller A Lyall

17th Batt

5th Bde

A.I.E.F.

10/4/16

After a good look round

France we arrived in

the trenches tonight in

the Armentieres district

We had no trouble

on the way up to the

trenches & things all

round seem very

quiet. I am attached

 to A Coy at present.

Sleeping accomodation

very poor rats are

plentiful. The weather

is good no rain for

over a week.

 

11/4/16

The first day in the trenches

about over. Things very

quiet very little firing

during the daytime.

Work [[?]] & firing done chiefly

by night. Trenches are

in a bad state after

a day of rain.

Pendleton is attached

to A Coy. No casualties

in A Coy today.

12/4/16

Last night there was

a little activity with

artillery but during

the night & early morning

things were quite as usual.

Today has been

similar to yesterday

more or less quite with

more rain Our men

are now quite settled

down to trench life

again & seem to know

their work thoroughly.

 

13/4/16

The weather is much

improved today.

Enemy put a few

shells in & near to our

trenches during the

afternoon. One shell

entered Sgt. White's

dugout at headquarters

wounding Sgt White

Derring & Jim Owen.

Owen severly wounded

& not expected to see the

night through. Derring

has gone to Hospital. Sgt White

is remaining here.

14/4/16

Jim Owen died last night

poor Jim. Sgt White is still

suffering from shock but 

improving. Yesterday was

a repetition of the previous 

day & today has been much

the same. There seems to be

great activity on our

left flank but no news

to hand. We are going

out tomorrow for a four

days spell having been

in five days.

 

15/4/16

Another quite day

with the exception of a

few rounds by the Artillery

We were relieved by the

19th Batt tonight & came

back to the rest billets

for a few days. I am

living in a dwelling house

left by the owners; being

too near the firing line.

It is very comfortable

here & the few days here

will be a nice change.

Expecting news from home today.

16/4/16

Just finished our first

day in the rest billets

& find the change from

the trenches very nice.

There is very little to

do in signalling as we

have a good [[Lieut?]]. The

men in the ranks have

fatigue work & don't

have much of a spell.

I am living in a dwelling 

house vacated by the

owners for safer quarters

The aircraft are busy in

this quarter but do little damage.

 

Armentieres    17/4/16

Another very quite

day at home by the

fire. We went for

a nice warm bath

in the afternoon & were 

treated to a change

of clothes. I feel quite

clean now. it is

raining very hard

tonight & very windy

The enemy have been

very quiet all day.

They must be saving

their ammunition for

another strafe.

18/4/16

After a stormy night

of wind & rain it is

still very wintery

The day has passed

quietly & quickly.

Had a letter from home

one from Jack & two

from Sydney.

Macfarlane & Pendleton

go back to Headquarters

today. I expect we

will move into reserve

tomorrow. I will be

sorry to leave our nice

home here.

 

19/4/16

We came into the trenches

again about 12 midday

The enemies artillery

tried hard to get us

soon after we came in

but had no luck. Their

nearest shells failed

to explode just as well

for us. They seem to

be busy on our left

flank tonight. but our

front is quiet. We are

in support for this

turn & then things are pretty slow.

20/4/16

No casualties reported

since we came in

Enemy very quiet

We gave them a few

shells for tea tonight

Those shells that crack

on arrival. I have a

good fire in my

dugout here & can

have a drop of tea

whenever I feel like one

It is hard to believe

there is a war on but 

things will be livelier soon

 

21/4/16

We came out of the

trenches this morning

for another spell.

The enemy were very

busy soon after we

left sending in about

300 shells in quick

time & killing a few 

of our men

Weather very much

improved & getting

warmer.

Had a letter from Mother

reporting everything O.K.

22/4/16

Things more or less

quiet along our front

Nothing of importance

to report.

A few shells landed

near our billets this

afternoon slightly

wounding two of our

men otherwise doing

no damage.

Enemy areoplane

brought down by our guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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