Diary of 262 Lance Corporal Alexander Lyall - Part 2
23/4/16
Big bombardment
expect by our guns
today but did not
come off.
A few of the old 17th BN
men returned from
England to day & all
speak well of their
treatment there.
Had a letter from
Jack. He was on is
way to Tel-el-Kebir
24/4/16
Went into Erquinham
today for tea & supper
along with Macfarlane
& Sgt White. Learned a
little more French from
a nice little girl who
could Parley Englay
Tre Bean. The French
people say English is
very hard to learn
I can quite understand
it with such a number
of dialects about.
25/4/16
Things were quiet this
morning but a little
more lively this afternoon
Our friends the enemy put over
about 200 of their big
shells & wrecked C. Coys
billets the whole place being
burned to the ground. The
men lost their rifles
equipment etc only just
getting away as they stood
Our guns replied with what
success I don't know yet
only three men were wounded
26/4/16
It has been a real spring
day with signs of a spell of good
weather. Our artillery has been
very busy all day & tonight
there was every sign of a
possible attack on our left
towards Ypres. Weeping gas
is reported tonight from
Erquinhem where it was
felt pretty strongly. It has
not been noticeable in
our direction. At 12 M.N.
everything quite We expect
to go in the trenches again
tomorrow night
27.4.16
I went for a bath this afternoon
& on the way back missed a
piece of shrapnel by a
hairbreath. Bath done &
clean clothes worn.
I came by the trenches again
(front line) tonight at 3.30
& had scarcely arrived when
our boys got going with the
trench mortars. This must
have woke the enemy up
with a start as they c/attack
some stuff back thick &
heavy but did no damage
whatever. During the stunt
someone thought they smelt
gas. (quite an unusual thing
seeing as we only use candles
and had orders to stand by
with gas helmets. ready for
use but thank goodness
we did not require these.
If any gas was about it
did not come our way
so everything is quite again
Letter from Lina today reporting
Mother not too good first I
heard of it after the O.K.
28/4/16
After the excitement of last
night today broke very
peaceful & continued more or
less so all day Our aeroplanes
were very busy with
observations & at times were
a splendid target for the German
artillery but poor beggar they
had no luck our chaps being
to good on the wing for them
I got paid 20 francs today. We
get paid very regularly every
fornight. MacGlachin says he
had a lot of messages today
Two men went on leave to
England lucky dogs. I
expect to go in about twelve
months time with a bit of
luck.
Weather now beautiful &
warm & trenches drying up
nicely.
There are signs of great
activity on our left I think
there is some dirty work
going on there.
29/4/16
Today has been a repetition
of yesterday very quite
The enemy gave us a few
shells in the course of the
day but did no damage
one landing in the 26th Batt trench
killed one of their linesmen
One of our snipers fixed up
a German sniper today
Had a letter from Mother
reporting all O.K. Willie
being back in the trenches
again, I am still in hopes
of seeing him in France
somewhere Andra was
busy & all right. John was
still in Egypt & anxious about
my whereabouts.
30/4/16
The morning broke with
news of a German Gas
attack on our left but
it did not reach our
trenches. We were all
standing by ready with our
helmets. Two German deserters
gave themselves up & reported
a possible gas attack thus putting
us on our guard. Enemy fired
over 200 shells in quick succession
tonight near our rest billets
I have not heard of the damage
done yet All O.K. now & quiet
1/5/16
Things continue quiet
on our front. We
spent a very quiet night
Our aircraft has been
very busy all day
During the afternoon
the enemy opened on one
of our batteries & sent
over some fity shell
doing no more damage
that to plough up a
field a little more than
was necessary.
Had a letter from Jack
he had transferred to
the 4th Pioneer Batt. I
wish him the best of luck
2/5/16
Other day of peace &
to pass the time we declared
war on the rats. After
some shell fire (we killed
a few with that) we
charged killing many
They made no attempt
to recover the lost ground
We came out of the
trenches tonight at
8.30 P.M. having been in
for five days without
a casualty.
3/5/16
Quiet day at the billets
today. Enemy apparently
quite content to let us
alone. Went to H.Q. tonight
for a walk &
got a bycicle for our
section. Mr McCullock
tells me he is putting
me through for a
L/Corporal & I think there
is a possible chance of
another stripe soon. Another
would be handy with
4/- a day extra coming with it
4/5/16
I spent the morning in
observation. There was
signs of the enemy using
Helios but I got very
little information for my
trouble & I am still in hopes
of finding out something
useful. The enemy put
over a good few shells
during the course of the
day. One of our aeroplanes
was brought down in
flames near Armentieres
He never go a chance to
show fight.
5/5/16
Four years since Father died today
The day was quiet with
the exception of a few shells
that came over doing no
damage but at 7.30 we
had a lively time. The enemy
commenced a fierce bombardment
on the 19th & 20th Batt trenches
principally on the 20th giving
them a hot time for a while
we along with the 18th hurried
to the trenches to help them
smash the Allamano but we
were not required as our
artillery gave them great
assistance & made a big
mess of the Germans. The 20th
lost about 30 men killed &
a few wounded the 19th had
practically no casualties to
speak of. It was an
exciting few hours while
it last but by midnight
things were more quiet
again & we came back to
our billets this morning
feeling pretty sleepy
6/5/16
Today has been very
quiet after the excitement
of last night. There were
87 Casualties in the 20th Batt
27 killed & 60 wounded
It's believed the Germans
suffered greatly from
our great artillery fire
without attaining anything
at all. I spent a
good part of today in
peaceful slumber
after the sleepless night
of yesterday.
7/5/16
Today has been one
of the quietest we have
had for a long time.
Even the Areoplanes
seem to have had a spell
today. I went to H.Q., in
the afternoon for a lecture
by Mr MCulloch on a
new system of telephone work
I am suffering with
a nasty cold in my
head & chest It is very
disagreeable.
I wrote to Mother, Lina, Win
& Jack today.
8/5/16
Artillery duels have been
numerous today but little
damage has been done
There are signs of a big
struggle on our front
soon & the Germans wont
have it all their own way
The weather is a bit wintry
today & my cold is about
the same.
The country round about
here is looking very pretty
now. Spring is approaching
on the land if not in the weather.
9/5/16
The weather is very much
improved today & so am I.
Our aeroplanes have been
active over our lines & have
kept the German air guns busy
One airman more daring
than the others was brought
down by machine gun fire
but came down slowly &
landed in our own lines
I had a letter & parcel
today from Madge
Please to hear everything
was O.K at home
10/5/16
The day has been very
quite There is nothing of
importance to relate.
I will note here the
nearness of civilian
(especially women & children)
to the firing line some
being only a matter of
a few hundred yards
from the trenches. They
seem to take very little
notice of the shells bursting
unless they come through
their roof which they very
often do. One family last week
being all killed with one shell.
11/5/16
Had a quiet morning. I
went to the baths in the
afternoon & on the way
back discovered there was
a bit of a strafe on. I stopped
to see one of our heavy guns
fire & shortly after I could
hear a shriek overhead
followed by a fearful
explosion close near which
fairly shook me. It was
a German Jack Johnson
bursting. They did not get
our gun but I made sure
they had got me. One gets
used to most things but
never to heavy shelling
bursting near you. The
only consolation is they hit
you you never know.
I had a letter from Willie
tonight dated May 4th Lucky
dog he was on his way home
for 8 days. I am hoping to
meet him soon. now that
he has promised to pay me a
call. I hope it won't be long
12/5/16
Today has been a real
Spring day a day very
similar to the day we left
Sydney & it happens to be
the anniversary of our
leaving. It seems much
longer than twelve months
ago. I sincerely hope I am
back there before another
anniversary comes around
Lieut Chidle was buried
today he was shot through
the head last night.
We came in the trenches again
today (after a ten days spell)
without an accident & the
night has been very
peaceful so far
Maralyn KThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.