Diary of Percy Lay, 1914-1918 - Part 6

Wed 12^th Left Butancourt at ten and

marched to Talmas a distance of

ten mile felt very tired after march.

13th Left Talmas at three and marched

to Rainoville about 5 mile away.

and heard that we were likely to have

a go from this Front. 14th Had good

news read out to us by our Captain

and had to be ready to shift

at five minutes notice 15th Battn

went for a short route march

and Heard the British had captured

the position on our front.

Attack on Aerodrome. by

Hostile Machines 16th Left Camp

at ten and had a Eleven mile

route march to Varennes.

17th Left Camp for a short route

march and had a pretty fair

evening 18th Company out on Parade

and we also got paid.

19th Battn stored Kits and moved up

nearer Firing line. but they would

not let me go on account of my

bad hand. But put me in charge of Kits

20th Met Eric Watson as his Battn

took over our billets in evening we

went down to have a look at a lot

of German Prisoners at Athux.

21st Sgt Mainard came in and told us

that the boys were likely to hop

over at any time 22nd Hop over

put off for a couple of nights

23rd Heard that the 1st division had

made a very successful attack and had

captured Pozieres 24th Our Battn got

pretty badly smashed up but we

had gained all our objectives and

was hanging on to them like grim death.

25th Fritz shelled Hell into us in

fact we could see the shells

falling they were that thick

26th Sixth Brigade went up nearer the

Firing line and they were to relieve our 

lot . 27th Third Brigade got relieved

and our Brigade  would most likely

be relieved the next day. 28th

We got relieved and came back a few

mile where we had a good Feed

and sleep. Was awful to see how

many of our old mates were missing

29th Four Transports came along to

take away our Kits and we

had a journey of forty five Kilo's

and had to dump them on the road

side at Bonnyville 30th Fifth and

sixth Battn came in to the town

our Battn went on a little Further.

31st Our Transport came along for 

the Kits and we rejoined our

Battn August 1st Got my third

stripe and there was also a lot

of other promoted in our Company.

August 2nd Went for Route march in morning

and in afternoon we did a bit of Bay

Exercise 3rd Route march in morning

and in afternoon we did more Bay work.

4th Another Route March and more

drill in Afternoon. 5th Lieut Barry

gave the Officers and N.C.O.'s of A

Coy a lecture on the L.M.G. 6th

Church Parade in morning Syd Goodwin

over to see us in the afternoon.

7th Cleaned up Camp and moved out

at two and billeted in a little town

near Talmas. 8th Left our Blankets and

had a long march to Vadencourt

wood, very hot march 9th Parade

in morning in Afternoon Officer's and

N.C.O.'s went out to watch a

demonstration of Signals by Aeroplanes

10th Inspection by the King 

We were all lined up on the road

and the King and General Birdwood

drove slowly through in a Motor. After

that General Birdwood inspected

our Brigade and gave them great

praise for the work at Pozieres and also

gave out the ribbons of the Honours

that had been won at Pozieres.

11th Had a sham attacked on Vadencourt

wood. and this sort of fighting will do

me - down to Contay in evening

12th Drill in the morning and in 

afternoon we defended the woods

against b and D. Coy's 13th Church

Parade in morning and we got paid

in afternoon 14th Moved out of Camp

at seven thirty and bivy for the night

just outside Albert and it rained

fairly heavy making things very unpleasant

for sleeping out. 15th Left Camp at

twelve and went into Reserve

Trenches a Saurage Gully. Artillery

very active.

16th Things a lot quieter and our Planes

were very busy. 17th About 90 of us

had to go up and dig a hop out Trench

and they made. things pretty hot for us

while we were digging it. One of Fritz's

Planes was brought down in Flames but

it look alright. dont fancy coming down

that way myself. 18th Early in morning

we went up to the line as we were

to hop over same night. Went over at nine

my party on the right did good work

and had the German's beaten when all

our left retired and after all our

bombs had been thrown we had to go

back also but not before I had the

satisfaction of getting four Hun's with

one bomb. After we got back to our

trench we reorganised another attack.

but this time they were ready for us.

and we got hell. but we could not

get nearer than twenty yards to his

trenches and we had to fall back once again.

After a few minutes spell Captain Lodge

came along and said we would have

another go at them. I went out with

him for the third time and it was Hotter

than ever as Fritz's had got his Support's

up. Captain Lodge got wounded alongside 

of me as we were going back.

Hard work all night getting our

wounded and trying to find our

Captain. Hardy, but a shell must of

blown him to pieces after he was

wounded. 19th We had dug in two

hundred yd's ahead of our old Front

line and this saved our lives as

they shelled just behind us unmercifully

and at old times dropped some in

our trenches. Had great snipping as

the Huns crept out in Front to

shell Holes. A lot of our chaps went

out with Shell Shock. Our Officers

and some of our men got relieved Aug 20th

Things quietened down a lot and we were pleased

to hear that all who had been in the line

for three days were to get relieved and

it was a relief to get out and have a

sleep as we had none for three days but

it seemed that we were not to have much

as they shelled us heavily with Gas Shells.

21st Found that out of twenty four in my

Platoon that went over with the 1st wave

there was only five of us left 3 Killed

3 missing and thirteen wounded. The

5th Brigade relieved us and we went back

near Albert had a good sleep that night

22nd Moved out of Camp and went to

Warloy where we billeted for the night

23rd Marched to Rubxxxfire Rubemfire and had a

good night as I met J. Alford and

J. Graham. 24th Went to Amplier where

we were billeted in a nice little Camp

our Coy were duty Coy for the day.

Aug 25th Left Camp at seven and entrained

for the Northern part of France and after

a five hour's journey we arrived at

Godarville and then marched to

where our Camp was 26th Went into

Reninghelst and found it quite a change

to what we were use to on the Somme.

27th Church Parade in morning and 

we had a easy day. reorganized our

Platoon but we were a lot under strength

28th Left Camp at one and marched

to Poperinghe which we found to be a

jolly fine place. went to pictures in

evening and they were the best we

had seen so far in France. 29th

Rained heavily all day and night

and some of our lads went up to

the trenches as Advance Guard.

30th That night we entrained up to Ypre's

Arylum and then relieved the Queen

own Regiment and found we had

taken over a rather quiet part of the

trenches. 31st Got a few trench

mortars and a couple of Minnie's over

into our trenches but they did no

damage. Sept 1st Very quiet all day but

wind turned to Gas alert and we had

three alarms in one night. A few of

our details rejoined us 2nd Saw a

very interesting box on between two

planes and both of them had to clear

off. 3rd Brigade Staff up through the

trenches and Fritz gave us a fair

issue of Trench Mortars but did not

get any one - 4th A few more of our boys

returned from Hospital amongst them

Sgt Grams and Stoks 5th Very wet all

day and we put in a pretty miserable

time in the line. Out putting out barb

wire that night 6th 3rd Brigade Staff up

through trenches had a bit of a

stunt in Evening.

7th Out on Patrol but it was a hard

place to patrol as trenches were only

twenty yds apart and in between

them it was all barb wire. 8th

Artillery duel in morning and in

Afternoon things were pretty willing

with French Mortars. Minnies and

Rifle Grenade's 9th A mine was put off

on our right. Out on patrol again that night

10th General Walker and Brigadier up

through the trenches and that evening

when we were out on patrol we

heard Fritz having a musical evening

in one of his dugout. 11th Fritz made

things rather warm and we heard

we were to be relieved the following

day. Some of the fifth came up to

take over the trench stores.

12th A bit of a Stunt and we

were relieved same evening and

went back about three mile to some

reserve trenches. 13th Fixed our boys up. A

lot of our chaps that left us at Messines

our old Sgt Major returned from Camel Corps

14th Had to Supply 60 men for fatigue

and they had to leave at six in morning

15th Had to send every available man on

Fatigue. Batmen and all having to go

Lieut Lovett took charge of A Company.

16th Had to supply the same. Fatigue

on yesterday also heard leave was

likely to start to England. 17th Got

six days leave to England. and

went down and stayed at waggon lines

for the night 18th Caught the train at

Poperinghe at quarter past six and had

a good trip to Hazebrook where we had

to change trains and from there to Bolougne

we had a very slow trip. caught the boat

which landed us in England at five and

arrived in London just on ten and stayed

night at Peel House.

 

Sept 19th Fixed up everything and then went

out to have some fun went to play in

evening and enjoyed ourselves. 20th Spent

day in having a look round London. met a 

few of my mates that had been wounded

and also met Captain Fay who got wounded

in Pozieres Stunt. 21st Met Lieut Tickle

and Cpl Arnott and we had a good

time together. also met Bob Marshall

and arranged to meet him next day.

22nd Met Bobby Marshall and that

evening we went to see the Play

called Razzle Dazzle. 23rd Having a

look round the places of interest

also seen the Guard change at St James

Palace. in Afternoon we were shown

over the Royal stables. 24th Met a

couple of old eight Sqd that went

to the 60th and we had the best

of evening's 25th In afternoon we went

out to Hyde Park and also put in

another good night. 26th Spent day with

a few of our mates and had a pretty lively

evening 27th Met Sgt. Major Calur of the 2nd

Field Amb and he would have me go and

spend the night with him and we had the

best time of my trip 28th Took me all I

knew to catch my train as it was I had

to leave all my parcels behind. We

arrived at Bolougne at eleven and they

gave us four hours off. and we had a

good time. Left Bolougne at six and stayed

night at Hazebrook 29th Caught train at ten

and arrived back at Battn same afternoon

it was a real B__ coming back to this life

30th Did not do much that day as I was

suffering a bit of a recovery. Hard life after Eng.

Oct 1st Doing Battn Ord. Sgt and General

Birdwood and staff inspected our

Brigade and gave out the medals that

were won on the Somme.

 

Oct 2nd Doing ordinary drill Parades

and we had inspected a large draft

of Reinforcements and they made our

Company nearly up to strength. 3rd

Parade put off on account of rain a

lecture in Huts on the care of arms

got issued with New respirators

4th Our Battn Sports were put off

on account of rain 5th Brigade

Sports also put off on account of

wet weather. 6th Officers played Sgts

football and we beat them by about

three goals. Went over to see B. Pearpoint

7th A Coy duty Coy and we had to supply

four Guards and about one hundred men.

for Fatigue 8th Had to get all men fitted

out with box Respirators and steel Helmets.

and held a concert in YM.C.A Hut in

evening 9th Brigade Church Parade in

morning and our advance Guard went

up to take over trench stores 10th My

Platoon had to go up early to take over

Glargors Post and we left  Camp at half

past twelve and had about ten mile's

to go to the trenches. Found our post

to be a night outpost only but it

was rather a rotten place as we were

about nine Hundred yds from rest

of our Coy. Two of us had the job of

patroling No Man's land. 11th Quiet all

day except for a few rum jars that

they use to put over. Out on our patrol again

same evening 12th A bit of a Stunt on

at twelve. but things quietened down

towards evening. 13th During the day

they got a good few of our boys

their Trench Mortars 14th

Got relieved by the 21st Battn and as

we were taking our relief party out

we got caught with a heavy Barrage

 

 

Th Huns left their trenches with the

Idea of making a raid but soon

had to go back when our Artillery

got on to them. We finished relieving

about Eleven and then caught train

at Ypres and arrived back at

Scottish lines at two. 15th Left our

Billets at seven and marched to Abelle

 where we stopped the night and it

was a hard march after coming out

of the trenches. 16th Started off again

at seven and did about a ten

mile march to place where we

billeted for the night. A lot of our

boys fell out on this march. 17th

Started off again early and did about

fourteen mile to our next stopping place.

called Houlle. a rather forsaken place.

18th Were told we were to stop here

for a couple of days. We also got

Paid

19th There was to be a G.O.C. Inspection

but it was put off on account of

the wet weather. We all voted same day

30th Parade in morning and in afternoon

their was to be a representative

from Australia to ask the men if

they had any grievances but after

waiting two hours they did nit turn

up. 21st Got up early and marched

through St Omer to Arques where we

entrained for South again. had a

ten Hours journey and passed through

Bolounge. Etaples and Abbeyville

and direntrained just the other side

of Abbeyville and had to march

a few miles to a place called Buser

where we were billeted 22nd A

very heavy front and we did not

work but heard we were to go.

by Motor bus on the following day.

 

23rd Marched four Mile to where we were

to get the buses and had a long

journey to Dernocourt a little Village

just outside Albert. 24th Very wet.

and we started out again and went

up nearer the firing line. The road been

very busy. Great Evidence of a big

Push been on. 25th Fitting our Platoon

out with bombs. Filed dressing and

all other articles 26th We were to

stand by to go up the line at one

hour notice and after a while it

was cancelled and we had to go

up roadmaking 27th Still very Cold

and wet. Inspection of each man

by the C.O. 28th We were to go up to

the reserver trench today. but all our

movements werecancelld for forty

eight hours 29th We moved out of Camp. in

afternoon but after going a little way

we had to return to Camp and we were

not sorry as it was very wet. 30th

this time we sent along a advance Guard

and we had to await orders to move

but they were again Cancelled and

our advance Guard returned to Camp.

31st. Spent day in drying our clothes as

we had got wet through the day before.

still raining like the very devil. Nov. 1st

Got orders to move to Pommiers Redouble

arrived there about Midday and after a 

couple of hours spell two Companies

had to move up to Barnafray Camp

Same evening we had to supply a Fatigue

Party to the line. Nov 2nd Moved out of

Camp in Afternoon and had a muddy

trip up to the reserve. trench. and it

had mud up to our Knees. Spent

night trying to make some sort of

a dry spot. to sit down in. 3rd

Had to stick to our Trench all day as we

were under direct observation from