Handwritten transcript of diaries of Apcar Leslie De Vine, 1 January 1915 - 6 October 1918, Part 13 of 26
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26/4/16 A good deal of shelling today, many shells falling
near our billets, searching for our guns which are hidden
quite close on the main road, no one hit otherwise a quiet
day. We exchange billets with C coy so that we can take
up our share of Brigade fatigues, which start tomorrow
27/4/16 Sent with 30 men to the firing line on engineers
fatigue, this is the first front line we have been in,
in France we are all very interested in the new conditions
prevailing on the Western Front, the firing line here is
not dug, as it is impossible to dig more than 1 foot
without striking water, sand bag breast works are
erected about 5 to 6 ft high & 3 to 4 ft thick which gives
very solid cover & protection from rifle shots, but would
not last very long under artillery fire. The German
line is about 125 yards away & is constructed in the same
way. Everything is remarkably quiet in this sector, which
is at present being held by an English regiment, very
seldom is a shot fired although constant watch is
being kept on the trenches opposite. A considerable amount
of movement is taking place all day long to which the
Germans apparently take no exception, the idea being
"Dont fire at me and I will not fire at you" these sentiments
were expressed to me by a British tommy. We work in the
line all day & return to billets at 4 pm. At 11 pm the
gas alarm was sounded as the Germans were using gas on
our left, all the billets were roused up, donned our
gas helmets quickly dressing in fighting order, & rushed to our
strong post which we are under orders to hold in case
of an attack, however we were stopped by an orderly when
half way there who informed us that the gas attack was
not on our sector, but to the left & was now over,
helmets could now be removed, returned to billets &
turned in again at 12.30
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28/4/16 A Coy for fatigues in the "line" not detailed for
any duty today. day off for me. Very quiet day on the whole
29/4/16. Quiet day. Detailed for engineers fatigue at
rail head at 8 pm loading the trucks on a light railway
pushing them up to the line filled with rations,
engineers materials, etc, hear that we are relieving our
2nd Bn in the front line in a few days
30/4/16 Sunday Very lively day, dozens of HE shells
falling on the roads & billets near us, a few fell near
our billet fortunaty without hitting it as all the Coy
is accommodated in one large barn, some trees quite
close are blown down, and a few houses along the road
1/5/16 Nothing doing during the day. In charge of
engineers fatigue on rail head leading to trenches
at 8 pm, we all return safely although a machine
gun was turned on us. fortunately without inflicting
any casualties
2/5/16 Coy on fatigues all day, no duties for myself
warned that we will be relieving in the front line
tomorrow, mounted ROC at 5 pm
3/5/16 ROC all day, easy day, nothing doing, In the
evening the Bn relieved the 2nd Bn in the front
line, very quiet all night, this being our first night
in the front line in France. We are in the
Petillon sector in front of the village of Fleurbaix at
Cordonnerie Farm
4/5/16 Fairly quiet day, there is now plenty of sniping
during the afternoon, as our boys have woke things up
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The line is not so quiet now, as the English regiment left
it as quiet as a mouse it was nicknamed "The Nursery"
now our boys are taking shots at anything that offers a
target. Fritz replies when he gets a chance with the
result that things are pretty dangerous. In reply he gave
us some shelling from his 77mm guns, but not much damage
done to the trench
5/5/16 All day very quiet, at 7 am a violent bombardment
opened on our left near Armentiėrs in this sector are the
New Zealanders, the whole line shook with the vibrations
of the exploding HE shells, our big guns replied, the shelling
lasted for two hours, This is our first experience of a
bombardment in France which is much more consentrated
than on Galipolli. About 9 am the 9th Bn reported gas
from the left, the alarm being given all gas helmets were
put on, the attack lasted untill 9.30 am. We have been
"standing too" since day break and "stand down" at 10am no
attack developed on our front
6/5/16 Our post of the line quiet all day, nothing doing
7/5/16 Sunday Our sector of the line shelled during the
morning, many shells passing over us burst in the vacant
ground behind, all being HE. Paid 60F = £2.3.0 today in
the front line, everything very quiet. Very little sniping. Pass
Word A Coy 4th Bn
8/5/16 Heavy shelling on our right during the day in the
direction of Laventie, otherwise nothing doing. On our front
the Germans opposite to us were relieved during the night
Pass Word Anzac
9/5/16 The Germans in front were relieved during the night
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the newcomers are very quiet, we think they must be
Saxons as they are much quieter than the others &
snipe very little, they greeted us at dawn by waving
a yellow shirt & exhibiting messages. It rained
constantly during the night. Very muddy Pass Word Suvla
10/5/16 Ground very muddy & slippery all day owing to the
constant rain, everybody cold & wet through. Fritz
is very quiet all day, probably they are in a worse
condition than we are
11/5/16 No rain during the night, ground drying quickly
a little excitement about 11 am. The Germans sprung
a mine about 12 to 15 yards outside our parapet
without doing the slightest damage to the fire trench
the distance had been badly judged, the ground
shook a good deal and the parapet got a good
shaking up, threatening to fall, but not a single bag
was dislodged, although a fairly large crater
was blown up, which gave us the additional job of
occupying it at night, so as not to allow Fritz the use
of it as a bombing post to worry us. Very quiet for
the rest of the day. Pass Word - Yoss
12/5/16 Everything very quiet, very little sniping. Pass
Word - Albury
13/5/16 very wet today, raining all day practically
without stopping. everything in the line very wet
and everywhere a sea of mud, which is vey sticky
sticking to your boots in large lumps. everything
quiet. Pass Word Serapeum
14/5/16 Sunday Everything vey muddy, no further
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rain during the day, it is now very difficult to
move about the trench owing to the suction of the
mud. Pass Word Judy
15/5/16 Everything quiet as usual on our front during
the day, at night several bombs were thrown over our
parapet all falling behind the trench doing no damage
About 12 bombs were thrown. We replied with our
trench mortars which settled the argument, as
no more were thrown at us Pass Word April.
16/5/16 Warned during the early morning that I am going
on leave to England at 4.30 pm, sun shining today the first
time for several days, mud drying up quickly. very
quiet day. Packed up full marching order & reported to
the Bn Orderly Room at 4.30 pm. pass & travelling warrant
issued, marched into Sailly and caught the motor bus
at 8.30. First visited the Bn Quartermaster and was
issued with a new uniform etc. slept at a Y.M.C.A.
hut at Steenwerck ready to catch train early in morning
17/5/16 Up at 3 am and marched with many other men
who are all going on leave to Steenwerck Station and entrained
for Boulogne, arriving there at 11 am, we went direct on
board the SE & C Rly's SS "Invicta" arriving at Folkestone
England at 12.30, left by train for London at 2.15 pm arriving
at Victoria Station about 4.30 pm, reported immediately to
our Hd Qrs at Horseferry Rd & drew £10. I have been
very fortunate in reaching London direct from the front line
in 24 hours, as my pass does not commence until tomorrow, &
I have still several hours to the good, including a whole
evening. This is my first leave since joining up in Aug 1914
= 21 months leave granted for only 7 days expiring on the
24/5/16
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18/5/16 to the 24/5/16 On leave spent the whole
time in London
25/5/16 Returned to France from London after a weeks
leave, left Victoria Station at 7.30 am arriving a Folkestone
at 10 am & was sent to the rest camp, to wait for the
boat that leaves for Boulogne at 6.30 pm, visited the
town from 2 till 5 pm. We all "fall in" to catch the
boat at 6.30 pm & arrive at Boulogne at 7.45, too
late to catch the train for Sailly, so we are marched
up to Ostrohove Camp situated on the top of a hill
by the wireless station just outside the town, where
we spent the night
26/5/16 In Boulogne all day, visited the town at 2pm
untill 5.30, visiting the Cathedral and other places of
interest. Caught the train at 9 pm arriving at
Steenwerck soon after midnight, where we caught a
motor lorry for Sailly arriving at 2 am
27/5/16 Arrived from Boulogne at 2 am. found the
Bn in the same billets we occupied, in a mill; before
we relieved the Bn in the line for the first time.
Reported to the Bn Orderly Room for duty, rest of the day off
28/5/16 Sunday Easy day. Nothing to do
29/5/16 Parade this morning, detailed for guard at Div
Hd Qrs to mount a 4.30 pm, rest of day off
30/5/16 Guard at D HQ all day. Visited the Div baths
during the day for a hot bath, all had our clothes
disinfected & clean underclothes issued, very quiet day
the guard not being turned out once
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31/5/16 Three parades during the day, early morning 7.30
physical drill, 9-11 am morning parade, 2-4 pm afternoon
parade. Paid 70F =£2.10.2
1/6/16 Inspection today by Mr Hughes. Prime Minister of
Australia accompanied by Generals Birchwood & Walker
with their staff, Mr Hughes made a speech, then we were
dismissed, lazy afternoon nothing to do
2/5/16 Three parades today. Coy for duty tomorrow
3/6/16 Coy for duty, only 4 men of No 4 platoon on parade
We all fell in at 7.20 pm for an all night fatigue in the front line digging
4/6/16 Sunday Off all duties, we are on permanent
digging fatigue each evening at 7.20, digging trenches for
underground cables to the firing line, all cables now must
be buried 3 ft as a protection against heavy shell fire
Heavy bombardment near Laventie all night
5/6/16 Off all duties as a concession granted to the digging
fatigue behind the lines at night we return to our
billets before dawn & sleep during the day
6/6/16 Returned early this morning from fatigue, during
the afternoon a demonstration of bayonet fighting was
given by an English Sgt Major of the regular army
7/6/16 Digging fatigue all night
8/6/16 Orders issued today that the night digging fatigue
are to be on parade during the afternoon, starting
tomorrow. We left billets on fatigue at 7.30 pm for the
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line, it started to rain just as we commenced the job
& rained all night, we arrived back at the billet
wet through
9/6/16 Slight cold today, due to the soaking through
we got last night, everything very muddy, no change of
clothes & we are damp all day
10/6/16 Last day in these billets, warned that we are
leaving at 9 pm tonight for the firing line we
marched during the night to Fleurbaix to new
billets right behind the line, we will remain here
in support for a few days & relieve the 8th Bn
11/6/16 Sunday Remained in our billets all day, this
billet is very dangerous & subject to heavy shell fire
owing to it being constantly under observation from
the German lines, and as a consequence we have to
keep inside during day light, no movement must
be seen outside. Fritz did not worry us during the
day, not a shot being fired at us, it rained
heavily during the night making things very muddy
Billet known as Linnet Farm
12/6/16 Detailed for Bn quarter guard at Fleurbaix
mounted at 9 am, can hear a heavy artillery duell
all day & night at Ypres, we bombarded on our front
during the night
13/6/16 Dismounted guard at 9 am, nothing doing for the
rest of the day, told off for night fatigue in front line
rained heavily during the day & night, making the trench
full of deep mud, finished fatigue at 11 pm, returned to
our billets wet through
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14/6/16 Detailed for fatigue all day in the support
lines 200 yds behind the firing line, very muddy returned
to billets at 5 pm feeling very wet. All watches today
are advanced 1 hour, owing to the introduction in France
of the English. Daylight Saving Bill, thus making our time
the standard English time. All watches were advanced 1
hour a midnight (last night) This Bill became operative
in England during my 7 days leave in May
15/6/16 No fatigue today, easy day, nothing to do
16/6/16 Detailed for fatigue party during day, worked all day
heavy bombardment on our front broke out during evening
17/6/16 Early this morning about 2 am, the gas alarm was
sounded, so we had to stand too in gas helmets, gas
was used on our left, very little reached us
18/6/16 Sunday Easy day, resting after an all night fatigue
fatigues again tonight, heavy bombardment at 11 pm on our
front. The fatigue party had to man the alarm post
(Jars Post) while the heavy shelling was on for about
2 hours. All the line "stood too" nothing doing, just
a little warming up, the Germans did not attack
19/6/16 With the working party in the reserve trenches
all day, mooved from our billets at Linnet Farm to
Smiths Villa at 9 pm. Gas alarm during the night
gas again being used on our left, but it did not worry
us much. We stood too at the billet for any emergency
but were not required. Routine stand too 3-4 am &
8-9 pm
20/5/16 Detailed for fatigue party in the front line, worked
shelling all around the billet, searching for the guns that
are hidden nearby, the billet on our left being hit
several times, we all had to occupy the safety trenches
while the shelling while the shells were dangerous, our
billet was not hit, No casualties
21/6/16 Fatigues all day, working on gas proof dugouts
that are being build at the rear of the firing line
Owing to long hours of daylight "Stand too" now at 9-10 pm.
22/6/16 Fatigues all day, building gas proof dugouts, several
trench mortar bombs were thrown over, but caused
no casualties amongst the working party
23/6/16 No fatigues today. We are leaving these billets
tomorrow for the front line. Am detailed to leave
with the advance party, leaving for the front line
during the afternoon to obtain particulars of my platoon
front (No 4 platoon) At night joined the patrol of A coy
of the 2nd Bn to get acquainted with our patrol front
& to see what repairs are necessary to the barbed wire
in front of the Coy line. It rained heavily about 4 pm
making the trench fill with water & mud, the dug outs
were badly swamped out, rained steadily all night.
Pay drawn before leaving for the line 50F =£1.15.5
24/6/16 Very muddy all day, raining steadily everything
being swamped. Several shells were fired into our
parapet during the morning but did little damage, plenty
of shrapnel showered over the line & behind it. After dark
the Bn arrived & relieved the 2nd taking over their sector
Detailed to lead our first patrol out at 10.30 pm, left
the line through the Sally Port returning at 12.30, no
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