Diary for George Lush Finlay, 1915-1918 - Part 17

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000245
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

i and ay to moe oustrn W t m t the ands water was suvrn have neae experined sust we hees bp and I dont want to againn e poor men hutud tirblet teis spitit S and althorrg 4l but tow now The agan ill he ut I filst which Wllboro tianothe t 2 werifre bot a parcit from auntet and letter from Jessi from the and Royal Bank in hird setying that the had Fhlaced 1 my credit.
y weit M t M s my p ttn araugis hds. t tmes or a n to gng onostn orge is mo t t t co mo to any by o hs ar mi mire W w 776 Dec 19t si in Switch truich in the mid. Yesterday was rather bad day for The company was duorganice with mimorous cass had feet. Thirty men could not get their book on owing to manner in which then feet had swotten through bung in wil boots contimbusty Br sem to think that it is our pult but in this tere are mistaken When tahiques are called for he measant his got from our company and consequently thele is a row. However they are getting better now and Iexpect that when we more back the fiy will be alright Permegel is very upset
us may my any by t t t t t o f m t t t him give on Mars ery M t t ms Mo.N rn at the state of his mens feet B sum to oa bit work of Man a We had know yestura and this didnt imperov matters our anyon leaks and stanting s a rather writatin dedmake so notody will be sorryg to go to their values again Dec1 He as not more from here for thare or your more days unfortunately but when we do go if will he to some comparativn comprtable place Last night was with and uncomportable and hmorour night Hanter, with whom I am saring two blankits
aMY t g t MY t t w t o ornm t t t s y nast m g t t tg on yr you vyn mush t t t t t horpry o 006 M 30 B a very fidgethy port of person and as I nlet with my kines i Me divernt llike my companionsl and any blames me for his discomprt My drswnes that I am stuping on about two wchestof bankes wull he sain that I te everythin However atr the way the world and suppose in about we weeks hane will laugh about witch muich know Yesterday afternoon n continued to fal will into the night. It is ron pusing and looks ay though it with continue
& t t m ony Sen w o mnn 199 o t t My Seth t t t t t w t 1ORI apruse tothe sist the hond i awht te ground is contred with snow the hoad, which to nays ago was tane placed t dun in now prozen had and the only King Thro Lis e thent ave the water in the shill holes has about o ic ont aninc erminds me Dustcather of the hor on Gallepoe just your when we not our first blishard Espect to woreto Bernatay his athernoon and from t comportatic sinct
t 292 t t t N w t t m have moved Dec 210t from Bernajay to Manets where we are occupying huts. We got to Bernajay Yesterday afternor and were greeted by about 30 or 30 shells from a big Aerman raval gun which was pippering the raslway tine. One swill but one hut and blew it to blays killing it and woundy The dibris flew up about 10 feet and a hole was lift which measured about 2-15 fiet acros and 13/ ait one corfaral was bown right through the roof and on coming down unhur
Mrs Derham advising dispatch 6o0k dated & 1/16 Auntil 70t Wite Borrie leard B from London Jesste arge Oct 15th Nov 20 Royal Bs Jessus address eformon BB of And yr Corwhitt London Ct immediately started Wo call his role This same corporal was blown out of his augont when in the truchis the last time This sort. of thing is the worst Fluck when a man is six wills behind our front tine. hi naturally thinks he is pretty sate a snd was presed at it wass found be a 12m naval shilt Recuvet from letters enclosing 17.10.16. one prom sim dated misaaen ons 7/10/16 2/1716 pop Mottis Mr Read 14/076 murnt+ Thope
M t hmyns r Mr m yuor Mo brs t rnymoroni to po N o was o noyt1 7 w t t Licse Royal B 10 Wiote re 13 telling them to place it to my credit on current op Trote to N05 Erie muriel amnitel Not Jessu Ric Royal BR Gordon L.R. Stillman Murill MNoS Me 29th Ouc at Manet dritting runforcunents which have just arrived amongst whon are thoee men whom lift behind in australia went one hhe dd airmar lines nar Iricourt his afternoon and saw what a magnificing positi tey held when the pirst shirled. The many diy
not parcet to dotum from Werhead containn so players cigarithes taun par crys fruit mind fart wrotln ditaines the witten to to Vlurn from &pel Phead containing Do Cigartthers candle Towel & Toap Csntanting of Crame No spet Serhead an docks candle; Jan 119 him hidding, Ranendinon Squart. Tursry Sansage. Herman angouts are being salved of the Tumber which support ther sear and hoop and consequently are now beguining to fee in The lines were apparente cantured at a rish for they have not heir damaged very much saw a grane on which was a painsen pitrol tin with a painted incripton ander thes in is a letter from a dear mother to his ion please do not hear disbroy. Kiidless to say ll have has not been Wncher but ave hom ted date ourso moning pna but it is not yet to
ing Nio gurgen onsrt 1 otMs 76 ny1 o f w Cmany sou unno Mr r Dec 34 Marys Jan 20 Wroke Mrs Head lokw tne Moth rell Address monnest Hall Avenue 1948 Indiana Unicago Minors Well Wrt Mary Ku Milltan this Eelire

village last night but
suffered fairly heavily.
The 2nd Bn. attack Hermies
tomorrow & it may prove
a tough proposition but
the xx fall of this village
north may influence
the Hun in Hermies as the
other village is slightly
in rear.
Fritz has had the decency to
respect cemetries for the
cemetrey in Haplincourt
is untouched. He has
defiled it slightly by
burying some of his own
dead there.

I wrote to Ric
 "  Jessie (perxxxay)
 " Eric

 

feet from the cold
and water was enormous
I have never experienced
such cold feet before
and I don't want to
again. The poor men
suffered terribly but
their spirit is fine
and although a little
bit low now they
will be up again
with a rest which
will come in another
couple of weeks.

——
I got a parcel from
Auntie and a
letter from Jessie
and one from the
Royal Bank in London
saying that they
had placed £15 to
my credit.

 

the chateau  He is a Vandal
all right, but at the
same time he is a jolly
good soldier.
Rode forward this morning
& looked at the line of resistance
which is at present occupied
by two of our companies
There are four rows of very
solid wire which has no
break in any of it. We
are occupying it and it
will prove a very strong
obstacle to pass if Fritz
every comes back again
The grass is just coming
up and everything in the
fields looks lovely.
Today is a glorious day
and everybody thinks
that war is one great
picnic at present for
the sun is such a
treat.
The 3rd Bde took another
 

Dec 17th Still in Switch
Trench in the mud. Yesterday
was rather bad day for
the company was disorganised
with numerous cases of
bad feet. Thirty men
could not get their boots
on owing to manner in
which their feet had
swollen through being
in wet boots continuously
Bn seems to think that
it is our fault but in
this they are mistaken
When fatigues are called
for the men can't be got
from our company and
consequently there is
a row.  However they are
getting better now
and I expect that when
we move back the
feet will be alright.
Permezel is very upset

 

that there was a house at all
at one time. The church
is a complete wreck and
the once very fine chateau
is merely a shell.
As I have said he has
done his work very
well leaving about three
cellars only which were
fit to inhabit without
repair. The cross roads
at the end of the village
were of course mined and
a big crater was the
result. This has of course
been filled up
But his work didn't stop
with merely rendering the
village a heap of stones
(which was quite permissable)
but he cut down all
fruit trees whether big
or small and has cut
down several beautiful
big trees that were in
 

at the state of his
mens feet. B seem to
be a bit worse off
than A. W
We had snow yesterday
and this didn't improve
matters. Our dug out
leaks and Stanley
is a rather irritable
bedmate so nobody
will be sorry to get
to their valises again.

Dec 18th We do not move from
here for three or four more
days unfortunately, but
when we do go it will
be to some comparatively
comfortable place.
Last night was both
and uncomfortable and
humorous night.
Stanley, with whom I am
sharing two blankets is

 

shell the place merely
because it gave good
observation on to Thilloy
and that district. Passed
over Grease Trench and
Stormy Trench and saw that
Fritz was as badly off
as we were. The roads from
Beaulancourt to Haplincourt
is quite good, not much
damage having been done
to it and of course the
fields are fields and
not shell torn areas.
Haplincourt at one time
was a pretty place but
the Hun has done his
work of demolition very
well, there being no shelter
left standing. Every house
has been blown up
before he left and there
remains nothing very
much but a pile of
bricks and lime to show
 

a very "fidgetty" sort of
person and as I sleep
with my knees up he
doesn't like my companionship
and says  blames me
for his discomfort.
My answer is that I
am sleeping on about
two inches of blanket
while he says that
I take everything
However thats the way
of the world and I
suppose in about
two weeks time
we will laugh about
it.
Dec 20th

Switch Trench. Snow
fell yesterday afternoon
and continued to fall
well into the night. It is
now freezing and looks
as though it will continue

 

exchanged for Pinches
in England at the end
of this month so it seems
likely that I will be made
Adjutant at that date
when xxx I should have
some knowledge of the work
xx by then even though
Billys method of imparting
information is hardly
very clear.

April 8th With the Bn at HAPLINCOURT
left MONTAUBAN camp yesterday
morning at 5 o'clock on horse back
with the Col & company commander
in order to allot accomodation
Rode over in the a snow storm
through Flers & Guedecourt
Beaulancourt. Villers-au Flos
was very interested in our
old friend Guedecourt
which has been chewed up
by Fritzs heavies, and
we decided that he used to

to freeze for the rest
of the day.  The cold
is awful, the ground
is covered with snow,
the mud, which two
days ago was knee
deep in places is
now frozen hard and
this is the only thing
we have to be thankful
for. The water in the
shell holes has about
an inch of ice on it.
This weather reminds me
of the 26 Novr on Gallipoli
last year when we met
our first blizzard.
I expect to move to
Bernafay this afternoon
and from to comfortable
billets.

 

There may be a chance
of a third star shortly
afterwards. I hope so.
Move forward to
Montauban on Thursday
We are Div. Reserve so
I dont suppose we'll
get into the line for about.
another fortnight and
there is a slight chance
that we wont got
right forward at all.

Apr 6". Left Buire today with
battalion for Montanban
camp which is situated
almost directly opposite
the site on which the
battalion was deposited when
it came to the Somme in
October. I was with the rear
party & waiting behind
to see to cleanliness of billets
Williams is going to be

Dec 21st, Have moved
from Bernafay to Mametz
where we are occupying
huts.  We got to Bernafay
yesterday afternoon
and were greeted by
about 20 or 30 shells
from a big German
naval gun which
was peppering the
railway line.  One
shell hit one hut
and blew it to blazes
killing 4 and wounding
7.  The debris flew
up about 120 feet
and a hole was left
which measured
about 12-15 feet across
and 12ft. deep.
One corporal was
blown right through
the roof and on
coming down unhurt

 

Mrs. Derham advising despatch
of book dated 8/10/16

Auntie 10th letter
Dorrie R Card
Jessie (2) from London
Marge Oct. 15th
Royal Bk. Nov. 20th

Jessie's address:-
c/o Union Bk. of Aust
71 Cornhill
London E.6.

 

immediately started
to call his roll!
This same corporal
was blown out of his
dugout when in the
trenches the last
time
This sort of thing is
the worst of luck.
When a man is six
miles behind our
front line, he
naturally thinks
he is pretty safe.
A "dud" was picked
at & it was iss found
to be a 12 in naval
shell.

 

Received letters from:-
Sam  dated 17.10.16
[* enclosing
one from
Miss Allen*]
Eric      "        7/10/16        22/10/16
Mollie   "       16/10/16
Mrs. Read     16/10/16
Muriel F         7/10/16

 

spoke to me and asked
me what I thought about
a job on Bn HQrs. as
understudy to Williams
the adjt. with the promise
of a job as adjt possibly
or a transfer to a
staff job on Bde when
I had got used to staff
work. This last I regard
as too good to be true
but I think is quite
probable that I will
get the adjutants job
as Billy although a
good sort is a bit
too slow & methodical
and is not a good as
smart soldier
Promotions have gone
through rapidly & in
about a months time
I will be the senior
subaltern. If I then
have the adjutants job
 

Dec 21st

Wrote to Royal Bk
re £12 telling them to
place it to my credit
on current a/c.

Wrote to
Eric No 5
Muriel F
Auntie No 6
Jessie
Ric
Royal Bk., London
L.R. Stillman
Muriel M No 5

Dec 29th Still at Mametz drilling
reinforcements which have
just arrived amongst whom
are those men whom I left
behind in Australia.
Went over the old German
lines near Fricourt this
afternoon and saw what
a magnificent position
they held when the push
started. The many deep

 

No 1  parcel to Volum from
Peterhead containing.
             {  50 Players cigarettes
 eaten { 1 pkt crys fruit
             {1 mince tart
              {1 woollen cap
retained {1 pr mittens

 

No 2 pcl. to Volum from
P'head containing
50 cigarettes
candle
Towel & soap
Galantine of Game

No 3 pcl.   Peterhead
Pair socks, candle,  an

Jan 3rd 1919 Plum Pudding, Raisins Lemon

Squash, Turkey & Sausage.

German dug outs are being
salved of the timber which
support their sides and
roofs and consequently
are now beginning to fall
in. The lines were apparently
captured at a rush
for they have not been
damaged very much.
X Saw a grave on which
was a painted petrol tin
with a painted inscription
"under this tin is a letter
from a dear mother to her
brave son please do not
destroy". Needless to say
the grave has not been
touched.
Got letter from Auntie
dated Oct 20th advising parcel
but it is not yet to hand

 

Mar 19th Wrote to Eric
   "    Gordon
   "    Rob
   "    Mollie
   "    Auntie (10)
   "    Buff
   "    Mrs Hillman

Buffs address.

Tarrabandra
Gundagai
NSW.

Apr 4th  Joined up again with  Bn
at Buire. School finished on
Friday 30th Mar & we were
supposed to leave the
following morning in busses
for of Bns but they were
not available so we had
leave to Amiens for the
rest of the day.
Had a written paper at
the school Got 82 marks
out of 100 & was 3rd on the
list out of 40 officers
Got a pleasant surprise
on rejoining. Major Carter

Dec 29th Wrote to
Mrs. Read
Rob (4)
Maureen
Mollie
Annie
Fred
——
Mary's address
Monnett Hall
4948 Indiana Avenue
Chicago
Illinois
U.S.A.

Jan 3rd   Wrote to Mary
 " " Sam
 " " McAllen
 " " Phil
 " " Elise 

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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