Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 27
YONVILLE
NOVEMBRE
24 DIMANCHE
Milder & raining a little.
With Captain Patterson to C Frucourt to attend
Church Parade of 34th Padre Calder took the
service - Col. Woolcock missed us - should
have bee made better arrangements.
After service inspected transport. The transport
of this Bn is the most consistently good of any
in the Brigade.
Recd orders to attend conference of General
Officers at Corps Hqrs. at Le Cateau on
Tuesday.
Leo up in afternoon.
YONVILLE
NOVEMBRE
25 LUNDI
Severe Influenza cold cough very bad.
33rd Bn in morning.
YONVILLE
LE. CATEAU
NOVEMBRE
26 MARDI
Left by car for Div Hqrs 8.a.m. Passing through
Citerne the door came open I was sitting in the front
and leaned over to shut it, when the car bumped I
struck a rib - it is very painful.
We left Div Hqrs together at 9.30. Gen Gellibrand
and Cannan in one car & Jess & self in other. The
distance is about 100 miles, pretty rough going too
The country is absolutely desolate a good deal of
traffic on road mostly Australian Artillery moving
forward. It must be rough going for all villages
& towns on route are destroyed. We reached Le
Cateau 12.45.p.m. It is a large town but very
badly knocked about. The Corps Hqrs are at the
Chateau attached to a high factory. The Chateau
is knocked about and stripped. The mirrors &
walled have been shot at by pistols by the Huns
The factory is ruined. They say the damage to their
place is £10,000,000. We lunched in the G.O.Cs
Mess and the pow wow started at 2. there
were present all the Div Australian Generals. excepting
Rosenthal (on leave) Martin (hospital) & Phillips.
Gens. Birdwood & Monash were there. Birdwood
LE CATEAU
NOVEMBRE
27 26 Contd. MERCREDI
first addressed the conference on the changes &c. He
remains G.O.C. A.I.F. Monash goes to England as
Director General repatriation. Hobbs takes the Corps.
Gen Monash dealt in a wonderfully clear manner
with the repatriation ^& demobilization arrangements.
At about 5.p.m. we had tea - my cough
was very bad and the pain in my chest severe.
After dinner the Corps Pierot troop - "Anzac Codes"
gave some music. I was glad to get away for
the fire was smoky & my cough a nuisance
Two windows in my room had been burned
out, but linen was nailed over them. There
was no bed, but I was able to borrow enough
blankets and slept well.
27. Wednesday.
Breakfast 8.30. said good bye to General
Monash. We were late starting. First Jess was
late then there was something wrong with the
car. We got away finally about 10.30.
Passed through the ground where we had our
big fight Apl 4. Warfussee, Villers Brettonneux.
LE CATEAU
YONVILLE.
NOVEMBRE
28 JEUDI.77 27 Cont'd
The town is a pitiful sight. I would have liked
to try and get some snap shots but weather too
bad. We arrived at Amiens about 1.30. and
had lunch there. Walked down main street with
Gen Jess after. The people have returned and
it is now alive again The shops going and
the streets crowded. We pushed on at 3.30.
and got back to Yonville about 5.
Cough very bad. Straightened up notes &c.
and got to bed about 11.30. but could not
sleep for cough and pain. A very bad night.
28. Thursday
In all day. Cough very bad and pain in
chest unbearable. another sleepless night.
YONVILLE
NOVEMBRE
29 VENDREDI
Didnt find it over easy to get up for breakfast.
I told Paterson he could send for the 33rd M.O.
He came round later and found I had fractured
some ribs. Arranged with him to come round
and bandage me up later - so that I could first
get conference through.
Held conference of Commandg officers at 2. Spoke
till 3.30. on demobolization and repatriation.
Dr. Birm came round with an orderly at 5.30
and strapped up the broken ribs. This made it
much easier but the pain is great when I cough
which I do constantly.
Attended a matter till 9.20. and turned
in about 10.
Leo was round in afternoon but did not stay.
YONVILLE
NOVEMBRE
30 SAMEDI
In all day. Cough very bad and gives the
broken ribs little chance to knit I can
hear them clicking when I cough. Worked
till 10.30 and turned in eleven. A bad
night but cough not so bad as last.
Col Jolly the A.D.M.S came up in evening.
He suggests I go to the Convalescent Home
at Nice for a bit.
YONVILLE
DECEMBRE
1 DIMANCHE
Remained in all day. Both pain and cough
less. cough seems now bronchial and less violent
Worked at the Thermistocles pay suit up &c. &c.
bed about 11.
YONVILLE.
DECEMBRE
2 LUNDI
Pain and cough not so bad. Think bones are
beginning to stick together. Most of day worrying
out the "Thermistocles" affair. It is clear
that the Pay officer in Sydney has pilfered
the amount drawn from the Canteen Funds.
Had afternoon tea in des Forte drawing room
Worked in room till 10. then gave in last.
A bad night. Cough bad.
YONVILLE
DECEMBRE
3 MARDI
Dull damp day. Chest not so good
bones clicking so cant have started
to knit.
Left at 10.a.m. in car for Hallencourt
to attend Divisional Conference on
Demobolization &c. Returned to Hqrs
at 1.p.m.
Major of 9th Fd Coy came up at 4
Leo at 6.30.
Finished and sent off papers in
"Thermistocles" matter.
Gen Gellibrand discussed my going to Cap
Martin for a opsec. He wants me to go for
a month but a week will be quite sufficient.
YONVILLE.
DECEMBRE
4 MERCREDI
In morning I addressed a parade of relieved
wounded and some recruits after I interviewed
suspended sentence men.
At 2.p.m I held a conference of Commandg
officers, Seconds in Command & Adjutants.
Cough not so bad and I think the bones are
knitting.
YONVILLE
DECEMBRE
5 JEUDI
Dull & damp but mild day.
Col. Bruggy came to Hqrs in morning
discussed educational schemes & New
Year Honour Supplementary List and captured
Guns claimed by 33 & 39th Bns.
Capt Dunbar was up at 4.p.m.
Leo & Arthur called in.
Cough & damaged side better.
YONVILLE
DECEMBRE
6 VENDREDI
Felt very ill all day. Had to lie down.
If I am to suffer this misery all the rest of
my life I can only hope it will be brief.
YONVILLE.
DECEMBRE
7 SAMEDI
Dull damp day but mild.
Col. Bruggy over in morning talked
over Educational & the Supplementary
Honours list
In many
Capt Dunbar up in afternoon
Leo & Arthur also came in.
Feel better but still very shaky.
Gen Jess was round to lunch.
Slept very badly.
YONVILLE.
DECEMBRE
8 DIMANCHE
Feel weak and ill.
After breakfast I walked through Citerne
to try and walk off the feeling of illness.
Again at noon I walked out on the Frucourt
road. It is a perfect day sunny & quite warm.
YONVILLE - MAISINERES.
DECEMBRE
9 LUNDI
Saw 33 Bn pass at 9. at 10. ^ 35 a little later Gen Gellibrand
called for me in the car. to take me out to
Maisinieres. Passed T. Mortars & 9 Field Coy
on way. The latter's road discipline was poor
Dropped the General at Martainneville
& went on to my Headquarters. I have a
nice sitting room but a poor bedroom.
Our Mess is at a little cottage. Saw the
34 march by shortly after 1. They were
going well and their transport was very fine.
Spent afternoon straightening up. Pain where
I hurt my chest a bit troublesome.
A splendid day for the march bright
sunny and mild.
MAISINIERES.
DECEMBRE
10 MARDI
A wet miserable day. We were lucky
to just miss ship and have such a fine
day for our march yesterday.
Nothing at moment. Pain was in late in
over on the Gas Cylinder enquiry.
MAISNIÈRES
DECEMBRE
11 MERCREDI
After breakfast walked with B.M. to MARCELAINES
to see the 9. T.M. They are comfortably billeted, but
have some sickness.
Guard supplied by 33 Bn. over my Hqrs poor turn out
Col Morshead called. discussed with him matter of
lack of smartness in guards: - Pte Jones mutilated paybook,
Historical writing up of battles; Faults on yesterdays
march of 9th. Applications for special leave, &c
The Div issue fresh tactical schemes. It
will be quite impossible to carry on the
work we have in hand satisfactorily if we
are to have this sort of thing.
A miserable wet day.
Recd letter from Div saying paper re "Thermistocles"
now being returned for reconsideration by division
but papers were not enclosed.
MAISNIÈRS
DECEMBRE
12 JEUDI
In morning rode with Capt Paterson to CHÉPY
(33 Bn) Inspected billet and transport lines with
Major Hawkey. Thence to FEUQUIERES (35 Bn)
saw Col White - also Leo. Rode back via AIGUEVILLE.
(9 Fd Coy) back to Hqrs 1.30. Rained heavily all
the while. Found Gen Gellibrand at Hqrs on
return.
Recd the "Thermistocles" papers which should have
accompanied the Div letter yesterday.
Recd tactical scheme from Bde Majors this will
necessitate bringing in the C.Os. Discouraging for
them while they are busy with the education
repatriation and historical work.
Recd papers on enquiry into Gas Projector
stunt on 24/25 June. It appears Pain told
the Special R.E. officer he accepted responsibility
for casualties. He must have been mad.
A howling wet miserable day.
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