Handwritten transcript of diaries of Apcar Leslie De Vine, 1 January 1915 - 6 October 1918, Part 21 of 26

199 
26/10/17 In our huts, rained continously all day, ground 
in a very swampy state 
  
27/10/17  Rained nearly all day, making everything very muddy 
& miserable. At night the camp was bombed, causing 
many casualties in the tents of the 2nd Bn, who are 
quite close to us making one large camp. Fifteen of their 
men were killed & many others wounded. bombs also 
fell in our Bn transport lines, killing several horses 
one falling in our lines but failed to explode. We 
escaped damage as we are in huts under the trees 
& not easily seen from the air 
  
28/10/17 Sunday No parades today,  all the camp now 
working after yesterdays casualties, making the huts 
bomb splinter proof with sand bags & mounds of 
earth built up as a low wall around each hut, 
this should have been done long before yesterdays 
disaster has just wake somebody up to the unprotected 
state of the camp. We hope that others using this camp 
after us will reap the benefit. 
  
29/10/17 Usual parades today. Ground much drier, 
we will move nearer to the line tomorrow 
  
30/10/17 Revelle 6am fall in 8am, marched through 
the conjested traffic single file to Ypres, which is now 
much more damaged than when we were here last 
Owing to the contineous bombardment & bombing the old 
Cloth Hall & Cathedral are in a much more ruinous 
state. We passed right through the town leaving it 
by the Menin Gate, camping on some high ground 
just outside the walls on the E side across the Canal 
All the Coy on fatigue for the rest of the day fixing

200 
up dugouts & shelters to sleep in 
  
31/10/17 Sun shining all day, much warmer. during the 
afternoon had a good ramble over the ruins of Ypres 
which is now in a terrible state of wreckage. Camp 
bombed at night fortunately without any damage to us  
All the bombs falling wide of the mark, this sector 
of the front is the worst for bombing, raids taking 
place every night without fail, over the ruins of the 
town & the camps surrounding it on the off chance 
of hitting something, thousands of men & horses are 
 scattered over the whole area, which is now a 
very tempting target. All this makes it very 
uncomfortable for us but after a few visits you 
take no notice. Although the town of Ypres 
itself is practically deserted there are many 
amunition dumps, batteries etc located round 
about all offering good targets 
  
1/11/17 Warned for B O Sgt all day. During day 
orders arrived for us to move up to Westhoek Ridge 
Left camp at 1.30 pm arriving on the Ridge at 4.30 
pm where we relieved the 10^th Bn in reserve 
We were shelled while coming up causing us a 
few casualties 
  
2/11/17 In dugouts on Westhoek Ridge all day. heavily 
shelled compelling us to leave our dugouts & Coy shelters 
& take refuge in the "Pill boxes" this shelling 
caused us many casualties, also plenty of HE shrapnell 
flying about & SOS shells 
  
3/11/17 On Westhoek Ridge all day, heavy shelling at intervalls 
causing more casualties

201 
4/11/17 Sunday On Westhoek Ridge all day, untill 
4 pm, when I left with Mr Hawk for the front line 
to find our Coy sector when we relieve the 12^th Bn 
probably tomorrow night. We went on patrol with 
the 12Bn at 10 pm, patrol consisted of 12 men, 2 NCOs 
& 2 officers, we carefully reconoitered the ground in 
front as tomorrow night we will have to take out 
our own patrol. Carefully patrolled about 1000 to 
1200 yds in front of our outposts, passing through 
Bury Wood, Birma, & Rhine Copse, this country is very 
low lying & swampy and we are frequently 
bogged up to our hips in the soft mud & water. It 
is not possible to hold an outpost in this sort of 
country, nevertheless the whole ground is thoroughly 
patrolled by both sides. We are equipped as lightly as 
possible carrying only our rifle, 15 rounds & 1 bomb 
Several times we were fired on by an enemy patrol 
but could not locate them as they were too well 
hidden & protected by their outposts behind them 
We were out for 2½ hours, all managed to rejoin our 
lines safely, on our return each man is given a big nip 
of rum to warm us up as we were terribly cold & 
wet through 
  
5/11/17 Good deal of heavy shelling during the day, with 
plenty of gas thrown over. The Coy relieved their sector 
during the afternoon. At night on patrol with Mr Hawk at 10.30 
patrolled Bury Wood. Birma & Rhine Copse, but did not 
find the enemy patrol, the ground is still very swampy 
returned to our outpost at 2am. We have now relieved 
the 12^th Bn on Paschendale Ridge East of Zonnebeke 
  
6/11/17 Easy day, no fatigues, no patrol tonight, handed it 
over to B Coy. Heavy shelling all day, one shell falling

202 
into the officers dugout wounding Mr Hawke & Mr Balcombe 
While Mr Hawke was being carried away by the stretcher 
bearers, another shell fell on him blowing him to pieces 
without touching the bearers who were carrying him 
to the Brigade Station Mr Balcombe got through 
  
7/11/17 Easy day today, no patrol tonight. Heavy 
shelling all around our Coy area during the day 
All HE shells today, no gas 
  
8/11/17 Much aerial activity this morning with 
several fights over our lines. We were relieved by the 
1^st Bn at 1pm much to our surprise, as we did not 
expect relief untill darkness & as a result we were 
not packed up. Later we occupied the support 
line on Anzac ridge, just below our previous 
position on Westhoek Ridge. Heavy shelling all 
around our camp during the afternoon with 
many gas shells 
  
9/11/17 Whole Coy on duck board fatigue, making 
an approach to our camp, which is an old 
disused trench off the main duckboard road 
Heavy shelling all around us during the day 
causing us some casualties. There were three gas 
alarms during the night, our casualties due to 
gas this time in the line have been rather heavy 
making us much under strength, there are not 
many of us left by now. fortunately the gas has not 
had any effect on me, the effect differs on different 
men in different ways, some loose their speech 
others get vy sore eyes, others take it on the lungs 
etc etc. Have taken few precautions seldome wearing 
my helmet. feel OK notwithstanding

203   
10/11/17 Rained heavily all day, making the mud too 
thick to walk about in. Shelling much less today but 
general conditions are much worse 
  
11/11/17 Sunday The 1^st Brigade are relieved today 
We were relieved by the 2/6^th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers 
relieved early at 8 am marching to Ypres, entering 
the town by the Menin Gate marching through to 
Poperinghe & on to Vancouver Camp near Ouderdoum 
Managed to get a bath at the camp, this is the first 
wash for 10 days 
  
12/11/17 In Vancouver Camp all day, probably marching 
off tomorrow, issued with a complete change of 
underclothes today 
  
13/11/17 Packed up full marching order, told before 
we moove off that we are to march about 80 miles 
to the coast for a good rest, the march to take 
about 6 days. Left camp at 9 am & marched 8 miles 
to Berthen arriving there 2pm 
  
14/11/17 Left Berthen 9 am, marched 15 miles to 
Zuytpeene & were billeted in the same farm we 
occupied on our last visit here several months back 
  
15/11/17 Left Zuytpeene 9 am marched 10 miles to 
Wardrecques 
  
16/11/17 Left Wardrecques 9 am marched 12 miles to 
Remilly-Wirquin 
  
17/11/17 Rested here all day

204 
18/11/17 Sunday Left Remilly-Wirquin 9 am 
marched 12 miles to Bléquin 
  
19/11/17 Left Bléquin 9am marched the last 
stage of our journey through the town of Samer 
where the Brigade Hd Qrs are situated to 
a small village 2½ kilometres on the other side 
finally halting at Tingray. We have marched 14 
miles today and 75-80 since leaving the front line 
I have not felt any ill effects of the march, although 
very many fell out with sore feet etc. Feel very 
fit & not in the least foot sore or tired 
  
20/11/17 We are billeted here in a large private 
house Nos 1.2.& 3 platoons being together, spent 
today in a general clean up, taking shortages 
etc 
  
21/11/17 Easy day, Sports etc no parades. Visited 
Samer in evening 
  
22/11/17 All day leave granted to Boulogne returned 
9.30 pm 
  
23/11/17 Short parade today, having an easy time 
all this week training recommences again next 
week 
  
24/11/17 Detailed as Coy O Sgt for the week 
relieving Cpl Goldwater 
  
25/11/17 Sunday Did not attend the Church Parade 
which was the last one conducted by Chaplin Mc 
Kenzie as he is leaving us for Australia very soon

205 
He has been contineously with us since 1914, and is the 
only chaplain in the 1^st Brigade, if not in the whole 
Division, that has remained with his Bn since its 
formation. After Church parade 5 photographs were taken 
by a special photographer from Bologne 1. Full Bn 
2. Original members of the Bn since 1914. 3. Gallipoli men 
4. A Coy group. 5. A Coy NCOs 
  
26/11/17 To 6/12/17 At Tingray. Co Ord Sgt attended 
no parades 
  
6/12/17 To 14/12/17 Leave granted to visit Paris 
  
14/12/17 Left Paris. Garde du Nord 7.30 pm travelling 
all night to Boulogne, arriving 5.30 am next day 
  
15/12/17 Arrd Boulogne 5.30 am. Leaving for Calais 9.15 am 
changed there for Hazebrouck & Caestre arrived 6.30 pm 
  
16/12/17 Sunday In camp all day Very cold 
  
17/12/17 Camp all day. snowed during night, vy cold 
  
18/12/17 Snowed all day, vy cold, warned to rejoin Bn 
tomorrow 
  
19/12/17 Left camp with draft 9 am in motor buses 
passed through Fletre & Bailleul to Kemmel where we 
marched to Lindenhack Camp where the Bn were billited 
  
20/12/17 Heavy frost on the ground this morning with a 
very cutting wind. Warned for Bn Guard, mounted at 2 pm 
with 15 men. Very cold night with a heavy frost, we have 
several prisoners under arrest

206 
21/12/17 Heavy frost all day, relieved from guard 12 am 
Coy left for the reserve lines, in the front area at 1.30 
after detailing 15 men to form a raiding party & to train for 
a few days for the raid. I was detailed to remain behind 
as one of the Sgts of the party with Mr Gunn & Mr Court. 
Men from other companys joined us later making full party 
of 35 men 
  
22/12/17 Started training for the raid. Training consists 
of steady "doubling" first thing in the morning before breakfast 
then physical exercises with bayonet fighting, detailed 
as 2 M S of the party 
  
23/12/17 Sunday Nothing doing all day. resting 
  
24/12/17 Training as usuall, heavy fall of snow during 
the night, forage parties out to find a Christmas dinner 
  
25/12/17 Christmas Day No training today. ground 
covered with snow. the forage parties returned during  
the early hours of the morning with 17 fowls. 7 sacks of 
potatoes also a case of rum taken from a rum dump 
Each man has also put 1 franc into a fund & I have 
bought plenty of oranges, apples, nuts etc, we have 
plenty to eat after giving the officers 2 fowls for 
their dinner. We made ourselves very warm & happy 
for the rest of the day & night with plenty of rum 
  
26/12/17 Training as usual, heavy fall of snow during 
the early morning, snowed heavily during night 
  
27/12/17 Training as usual with a good run to 
Nieuve Eglise & back

207 
28/12/17 Same as yesterday, we are feeling very fit 
  
29/12/17 Training as usual 
  
30/12/17 Sunday No training today, heavy fall of snow 
  
31/12/17 Received orders to move up towards the line 
left our huts at 3pm & marched to Minden Villas 
dugouts where we are camped behind Bn Hdqrs 
  
1918 
  
1/1/18 New Years Day. Very quiet day, hardly any 
artillery activity on our front, although there is a 
very steady bombardment on our L all day in the 
direction of Paschendale Ridge. We are now in the 
Mesines sector 
  
2/1/18 Everything quiet today. Out on patrol at 
night to see the country over which we will cross 
when we carry out the raid "No mans land" is 
full of frozen shell holes, it has been freezing hard 
all day and terribly cold at night. We all dressed in 
white suits so that we cannot be seen against the 
snow, this effectively hides us, we patroled to an 
empty pill box, which we found evacuated, although 
it had been held by a German machine gun party 
the night previously, tonight it is unoccupied 
  
3/1/18 We are compelled to remain in our dugouts all 
day, as no movement must take place above ground 
during daylight, owing to our exposed position, and 
being under direct observation. No patrol tonight

208 
4/1/18 It has been descided that tonight the 
raid is to take place, we were not informed untill 
late in the day. A large German outpost has been  
selected, and everything is ready. We are dressed 
completely in white, so as to match the surrounding 
country which is now thickly covered in snow. 
We leave our outpost at 8 pm & started on our 
way across "no mans land" after mooving foreward 
about 200 yards we heard shots fired & bombs bursting 
on our left rear, a 3^rd Bn sentry called out 
"Stand too the 4^th!" our outposts then passed the 
alarm on, one to another, presently machine & Lewis 
guns commenced to sweep the ground around us 
fortunately without hitting anybody. Then we 
realise that "Fritz" too has a raiding party out 
trying to raid our outposts. Both parties have 
crossed one another in the darkness without being 
seen, his party now being behind us & his trenches 
in front, thus placing us in a very difficult position 
Things are now commensing to get rather warm & 
we are in the dangerous position of being between 
two fires, so we decide to remain where we are 
for a while & catch Fritz on his way back. We 
take up our position in a frozen stream, lying 
along the bank flat on the ice which makes us 
terribly cold. All the while our machine gun 
bullets are sweeping the shell holes in front of us 
only just passing over our heads as we lie flat 
down on the bank, many of the bullets throw 
frozen mud in our face as they strike the ground 
just in front of us. We lie a long time like this 
untill the firing eases down, but Fritz did not 
return our way although every man is watching very 
carefully. Two men volunteer to crawl along the