Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 5

TROIS ROIS
FEVRIER
14 JEUDI.
Dull wet
Gen Rosenthal left for England by car 9.30 a.m.

Instructed Capt Suter arrange car to meet him

at Calais 17^th. Conference of C.Os 10 a.m. Bde Hqrs when I put
before them subject of proposed raid & instructed them to select their teams
Instructed Suter arrange billeting Raid party forthwith.
G.O.C. Div. Sir John Monash called at Bde Hqrs.

Conferred on work in Corps Line, the necessity
for adaptation of Pill Boxes to system of machine
gun grouping - delegated to me task of arranging.
He also stated that his policy would be to pay
greater attention to the defences N. of Plogsteert and
would probably ask that more men be put on here
at the expense of going a bit slower South of that
feature. With regard to when we would be holding
the left of the Div front he stated he was not satisfied
with existing distribution of 2 support Bns and wanted
distribute "C" Bn. between "la Rosequat and St Ypres.
and the fourth or "D" Bn he would put at Red Lodge
Col Jess called discussed Corps line in its relation
to Plogsteert Wood. Also accommodation for
Bde Raiding party.
Turned in midnight.

TROIS ROIS
FEVRIER
15 VENDREDI.
Attended by Capt Suter visited the Battalion Headquarters
discussed conditions of training of Lewis gunners
in connection with letter received from Gen Monash
in which he stated he had been informed by an officer
of high rank that only No 1 would lay and fire the
gun. also discussed raiding party personnel and
the battle firing competition. Visited Transport line
and Trench Mortars. Major Officer called while away.
Letter recd from Gen Monash reference to preferential
work on Corps line N. of Plogsteert to Gheer Rd.
 

TROIS ROIS
FEVRIER
16 SAMEDI.
Froze hard during night.
Major Ureich called at Bde Hqrs 11.30 re
demonstration platoon. Agreed for same
personnel to remain another month.
To 35 Bn Pierrot show at 5.30. They put on a
very good show for a scratch thing like that.
Had dinner at 35 Mess.
On return to Bde discussed situation with
B.M. Turned in 1 a.m.

TROIS ROIS
FEVRIER
17 DIMANCHE
Froze hard during night. Fine day.
Had to ring up all Bn Commds for return of
Lewis Gun Training promised for last night.
Col. Bennett reported 12.20 p.m. Sent him on
to 35^th. He said he was not very strong but
looks wonderfully robust.
Sent report on Lewis Gun Training to Gen Monash 4.p.m.
Captain Fairweather who was O.C. 10^th
Brigade Raid reported to Bde. 2.40. p.m.
for to assist in 9^th Bde Raid. Instructed him to
report and take up his quarters at Bde
tomorrow 3.p.m.
Gen. Rosenthal was to have returned to Bde
to-night so sent baggage to 35^th but he did
not come by the boat - Slept at 35^th as my
gear was there.

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
18 LUNDI.
Froze very hard during night.
Heavy artillery work early in morning.
To Bde after breakfast. Fine sunny day.
Col Jess up. Saw B.M. Mentioned we
would have a practice move.
With Staff Capt to inspect  Bulford Camp
for raiding party.
Capt Fairweather reported to Bde. Hqrs.
General Rosenthal reported back to Bde
about 10. p.m.
I reported back to 35^th Bn 10.30. p.m.

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
19 MARDI.
Freezing hard but bright day.
Orderly room 9.15 two charges overstayed
leave. 14 & 4 days F.P. respectively.
Paraded Lieut Adis for approaching
Division without permission.
Read Fourth Army S.Os turned in
midnight.
Inspected reinforcements arrived today
about 80. good lot.

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
20 MERCREDI.
Battalion Froze hard during night.
With Capt Connell to Corps Line. Left horses
and went round work. Picked up horses
about 1. p.m. Back Bn. 2.30 Very cold
riding back. Raining in afternoon.
Heavy artillery firing about 5 a.m.
 

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
21 JEUDI.
Wet day. Some big stuff came back
forenoon, but no damage that I know of.
Got off the inter Bn or Brigade Heats for
the Corps Boxing tournament in afternoon.
Throat very bad gave me a bad
night.

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
22 VENDREDI.
Wild wet day.
Rode over to Bde Schools who were giving
a demonstration before breaking up. Gen Rosenthal
there & C.Os and other officers of units.
British Members of Parliament visited the
lines. One saw the tea and insisted on
asking to taste the soup.
Drafted relief order for 24-25
xx Turned in 1 a.m.
 

KORTYPYP
FEVRIER
23 SAMEDI.
Cough bad all night. Woke feeling very sick
and ill. Had to go down to it.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
FEVRIER
24 DIMANCHE.
Cough very bad. feel very shaky. Dull
bleak day. Moved to CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
5.30 p.m. Miserable quarters. Feel very
done up. Dr gave me some lats
slept late about 3.p.m. Cough not quite
so bad. Relieved 38 Bn.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
FEVRIER 
25 LUNDI.
Wet and miserable day. Very muddy.
Chest very bad. Turned in soon
after 8 but could not sleep for
coughing.
Hard frost.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
FEVRIER
26 MARDI.
To attend Commanding Officers Conference
at Div. Hqrs. Car picked us up at 9.30 a.m.
got back at 6. p.m. Cough very bad.
Feel very ill. Bad night. cough very bad.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
FEVRIER
27 MERCREDI.
Feel weak and ill but cough not so bad
Think I am on the mend.
Normal shelling both sides.
some aircraft work.
Wet night. Bad night cough very bad
& pain in lungs.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
FEVRIER
28 JEUDI.
Sent in recommendation
Kings Birthday Dispatch
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
MARS
1 VENDREDI.
Slight snow. Gen. Ros. rang up 

to say we were to move into
U 8 d & 14 b. says can put 300 men
there understood to reconnoitre. after got in
touch with O.C. B Coy Pioneers. Appl 9. a.m.?
Corps Comdr can come up in afternoon also
Haig but did not see either.
9.40 p.m. Very heavy artillery fire on right.
Intense bombardment over front lasting well
through to midnight & continuing intermittently
through night.
 

CATACOMBS PLOGSTEERT
MARS
2 SAMEDI.
Reconnoitred new position
PROWES POINT TO ANTOINES FARM
with 2/Cd B Coy Pioneers, - Major Blake
Capt Connell Lieuts Brown and
Grace. Sent up "C" and "D" Coys. 2.30
& 3. p.m. respectively.
Studying raid orders &c in afternoon
Snowing.
 

CATACOMBS.
1^st WARNETON RAID.
MARS
3 DIMANCHE.
To Advance Bde Hqrs. in at
Major McDowall came over about
12. noon with information that he
was to move his xxx 3 Coys & Headquatr
into Catacombs. Went round with him
and pointed out accommodation
Called at Bde Hqrs. in afternoon
advised B.M. of arrangement of raids
36^th and of disposition of my two
advance Coys. Also of dugout accommodation
forward. Met Col Allsop on
way back in Mud Lane.
Brigade raid at 11.45 p.m.
We got 10 prisoners 1 officer & 9 10 others
Our casualties 1 officer 15 wouding wounded 4 seriously 2 killed
4 seriously wounded We also cannot
trace one officer. Turned in
about 1 a.m. Feeling very ill.
Dull bleak day.
Our casualties  2 killed
1 officer 15 others wounded
1    "    missing Lieut H. IKIN. 36 Bn
We captured one machine gun
 

2^nd WARNETON RAID
MARS
4 LUNDI.
To Advanced Brigade Hqrs. with
Capt Connell to get particulars of last
night. Everyone at Mess late |.
breakfast. Straffed Adjutant.
Grace also paraded for having his
billet dirty after leaving.
Raided enemys trenches again
at 12.45. a.m. He put up
a bigger fight and counter
attacked. We succeeded in gaining
every objective except "R". The Hun counter
attacked and offered strong resistance. We
killed at least 40 outside casualties inflicted
by our Artillery, Rifle & Machine Gun Fire &
bombs thrown at distance. We captured
some prisoners but as they refused to come
on they had to be dealt with. Our casualties
                Officer   Others
Killed          1.          3
Wounded    1.         21
      Total           26     
& Captain Brodie who commanded left
of the assault was killed.
We captured two machine guns.