Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 6

CATACOMBS - PLOGSTEERT
MARS
5 MARDI
Presided Court Martial at Rue
de Sac in afternoon. Tried three cases.
Gen Rosenthal rang up re forward
accommodation while away. Phoned
him 7.30 p.m. nothing doing but would
reconnoitre & report tomorrow morning.
A good deal of Artillery & Machine Gun
Fire during night. He sent a good few
shells in vicinity of advanced Coys about
5 .a.m. 

CATACOMBS - PLOGSTEERT
MARS
6 MERCREDI
To. "Advanced Estaminet & Prowes Point
to reconnoitre accommodation. Wales
still deep in former. Saw Capt Coghill
& Lieut Grace and asked them to have
report on accommodation in by 12.1.45pm
On way back met General Birdwood
& General Rosenthal in Plogsteert
Wood going forward.
Aircraft very active to day. We appeared
to bring down one of his.
Artillery activity generally increased
but response by enemy in this region
remarkably poor. Good deal of
gunning during night.
No. 824 Driver F. Lennard 35 Transport
won the Corps Light Heavy weight.
Boxing Championship. 

KORTYPYP.
MARS
7 JEUDI
Lt. Col  23^d Bn came up in
morning to arrange relief.
Fine day quite springlike weather.
The Hun commenced shelling our
vicinity about five mostly big stuff
We moved off about 5.40. I came
away with the M.O. about that time.
Walked to KORTYPYP. Arrived
there about 7 p.m. Hun & our 
artillery very active during
night. Cold frosty night.
Left Col Bennett with 23^rd
He is to take command of 20^th Bn.  

DESVRES
MARS
8 VENDREDI
Fine, cold & frosty
Fixed nomination paper for Queensland
State Election & mailed same.
Marched from Kortypyp 12.40. Held up
by 33^rd Bn over quarter hour. Entrained
STEENWERCK with 33 and sundry Brigades &
Div details. Arrived DESVRES about 9. 30.p m
Found rear half of train had broken off
leaving A & part of B Coy behind. Marched
to HERNEVEAUX arriving there about midnight.
Monsieur Galend had some food ready
for self & staff at an estaminet. Potato soup
and stewed rabbit. Balance of Bn
came in soon after 1. a.m.
Turned in about 1.15. a.m.
Billeted at Chateau of the Count ^Comte
de Belle Ville 

HERNEVAUX 
MARS
9 SAMEDI
Perfect spring morning clear, warm
and sunny.
Capt Eade reported back from T.B.
also Capt Brodziak came back to 34.  

HERNEVAUX 
MARS
10 DIMANCHE
Another beautiful spring day.
Padre Osborne held church parade 9.30
Attended same.
Inspected transport on the march in afternoon
Sent in recommendations French & Italian
Decorations.
In evening I saw the Countess. Her chief
anxiety was about the Price francs per
day for use of the Mess Room. Rather
sordid to say the least. I think however
that most of these so called French Counts
etc are ex shopkeepers.
Very bad night cough and chest
very bad.
Sharp frost. 

HERNEVAUX
MARS
11 LUNDI
Fine spring day
Cough very bad. Feel very done up
bad night.  

HERNEVAUX
MARS
12 MARDI
Another fine day. Chest still very
bad and cough awful.
Major Blacklow reported back
from Leave. 6.40. p.m.
Sent report to Brigade on Majors
Blake, McDowell, Grant & Hunt
Talked over with Major Blacklow
his appt to command Machine
Gun Battalion. 

HERNEVAUX
MARS
13 MERCREDI
Another perfect day. clear and sunny.
Walked to baths, thence to "A" Coy's billet.

Major Blacklow left to go to M. Gun. Bn.
In afternoon went to "D" Coys billet.
Battalion Parade. March past and
I brought it home.  

HERNEVAUX
MARS
14 JEUDI
Wet. dull bleak day.
Medical inspections interim organization.
Major Blacklow down consult viz
organization of his new command. 

HERNEVAUX
MARS
15 VENDREDI
Visited ''C'' Coys billets in morning.

In afternoon Div Dem Platoon gave

demonstration in use of smoke bomb.

Gen Rosenthal came up just

when it was over. Talked about

matter of 2^nd in Command.

Our Regt Pierotts gave concert which
I attended 6.30.
Yates reposted back from leave
Freeze hard during night

HERNEVAUX
MARS
16 SAMEDI.
To. Chateau Freshnoy. Bde Hdqr
Gen. Rosenthal gave a tea there in
afternoon. Discussed with him the
establishment just out - Also the
taking over of Brigade on his
departure on leave tomorrow.
Beautiful grounds. but I do not
think I will take up my quarter -
there. Will if possible stay on at
xxxx Herneveau.

HERNEVAUX
MARS
17 DIMANCHE
Church Parade in morning
1600 dinner with "B" Coy Sergt in
evening.

Assumed temporary command Brigade
during absence Gen Rosenthal on leave.
Beautiful spring day though car sharp
frost at night.

HERNEVAUX
MARS
18 LUNDI
To ESCOEVILLES saw battle firing and
assault course competencies 35 Bn. The
serving Platoons were from D. Coy
and two "B" Coy. Left HERNEVEUX
11.30. Arrived back at Chateau 8.30.p.m

HERNEVAUX
MARS
19 MARDI
With Major Dunlop to
to A judge selection of Platoon to represent
Bn in assault course competition. Had
lunch at Chateau Freshnoy. Bde Hdqrs
went through papers with staff Capt. and
returned to Hernevaux by 3. pm
Dull and wet.

HERNEVAUX
MARS
20 MERCREDI
Overcast and wet in morning but cleared
to a fine day afterwards.
Left Hqrs. 11. a.m for ESCOEVILLES for
house where 35.34 &36 Bn carried out
2^nd Series (selection of best platoon in Bn)
of Battle course competition. Finished
up 4.p.m Had some tea at 36 Bn
and rode back to Hqrs arriving there
at 6.p.m. Had will on Major
Dunlop (B.M) and Physical Instructor
Garner (Sergt).
Very heavy firing to the north.
all evening and late into night.

HERNEVAUX
MARS
21 JEUDI
Walked over to Bde in morning.
Instructed Capt Paterson vice Major Pain
on leave in England inspect records.
Instructed Capt Dixon meet Officers 10^th F^d Coy
inspect Gas Training Course and in consultation
with Major Dunlop to get
from him requirements men and time
for course to be constructed at Herneveux
Work to be started when material is on
the ground. Arranged meet B.M. my
Hqrs tomorrow. to proceed to Escoevilles
Read notification from Div of sappe lead in Grant
as Second Command 35^th. Discussed this with
Capt Blake after lunch
Detailed Lt Col Moreshead proceed one
months leave England & Major Grant to
remain in command 33^rd.
5.40 p.m. Received word from Col Jess to
stand by to move with 98 24 hours
Issued instructions all units & personnel to Blake
Fine day. Enemy attacked 10 Division
on 3^rd Army front - 13 Division on 5 Army
Front in close formation. Reports state attacks
repulsed heavy loss to enemy, he having left
thousands dead on field. 

CHATEAU FRESHNOY
ABEELE
MARS
22 VENDREDI.
Took up Changed my personal Headquarters
from HENNEVEUX to CHATEAU FRESNOY,
AINETHUM. Will Asst Brigade Major, Major
Dunlop proceeded by motor lorry to
new Headquarters WATAU at which
place we arrived at 4. p.m. Brigade
entrains at LOTTINGHEM. 11. p.m. & 12
midnight to ABEELE at which place they
are due 3.15 and 4.15 respectively. Thence
they march to billets
Fine day, but sharp frost at night.

WATOU
MARS
23 SAMEDI.
First train did not turn up till 2.15 a.m.
and did not arrive at ABEELE till after
8. a.m. Owing to limited capacity of
trains the 9^th Field Amb. and a Company
of Pioneers were left behind at LOTTINGHEM
At 10.45 this morning a wire from Division
was received at WATOU station that on no
account was baggage other than blankets
and officer kits to go on train
5. p.m. Received warning to be prepared to 
move to-morrow morning carrying only necessities
and to make arrangements with Area
Commdt to dump all spare baggage

SERCUS
MARS
24 DIMANCHE.
Brigade embused for SERCUS where
we arrived 1.30. p.m.
Billeted at Chateau of
about mile outside village
on arrival received orders to entrain
on night 25^th-26^th.
Our troops have established a line
and operations are developing somewhat
more satisfactorily - though S. of LE
TRANSLOY still uncertain our troops
withstood numerous hostile attacks
N. of LE TRANSLOY inflicting heavy losses