Diary of David Bernard Harford, 1916-1917 - Part 3

(13) A.I.F 
us through the dark gates into ertinity & only let it not be 
crippling and yet life; it is like nothing so much as 
a world ending in earthquake the whole earth tremble 
until one is almost hurled upward and wonders whether that 
last light explosive was a gas-shell how ones comrades 
are faring, whether ANY of us will be alive when the 
bombardment ceases suddenly there is a concussion that 
seems to shake the breath out of my body. a big shell has 
burst very near. Already a man feels in his inmost self 
half-way to the other world , hopeless but without fear. 
Hark! is the bombardment really getting less voilent or 
is it only fancy? it is not fancy, it is reality overhead 
is a new note. the scream of shells, our shells, passing 
over us on their way to the Enemeys batteries, one is 
astonished still to be living, and then one hopes one may be 
alive not only to-night but also tomorrow, a month hence 
'yes' even till the troops go home. and then we creep out 
and take stock of the damage and set to work to assist 
the wounded. and remove the dead. everywhere can be 
heard the cry "Streacher bearers at the double". After 
which we set to work to repair our wrecked trench. 
a heart breaking task. Far into the night we labour. still 
our machine gunners endeavour to keep down the Enemy 
fire, and at last our efforts are crowned with success 
we post sentries and lie down anywhere to get an hour or two's 
sleep, in four hours time I am called to take part as Sentry. 
there is now a bit of night sniping going on and I take 
part in it. 17^th - moved back into reserve trenches for 
a spell; D Company taking our place in the front lines } 
18^th oct. - nothing doing much, enemy sent over few shrapnels 
during forenoon } 18^th 'quiet' "stand-to" every four hours 
for an hour and a Guard now and then is all the work we 
do now, bar a "fatigue" every other night improving the 
trenches. we have a rum issue after we have finished 
 

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(14) 
work at night. 19^th heavy frost last night it is very 
cold at night in our damp dug out's; without a fire 
we are not even allowed a light at night. 
20^th heavy rain last night, roof of dug out let in 
the water. everything wet through. 21^st bombardment 
by enemy. Armoured train during night four 
men killed in Engineers (rear lines) and one more 
killed and six wounded in front lines.) 22^nd 
front line trenches caving in in places owing to 
continued wet weather. this afternoon some of us 
were sent up to repair them & we had to wear "gum" 
'boots", as it was up to our knees in mud and slush in 
places.] I have been nominated to go to the sniping 
school at Mont des bats, and have to be ready at noon. 
today. Later Departure for School at Mont des bats five 
mile march to Brigade Headquarters to catch Motor Transport 
with 15 others. Later 4.p.m. Arrived at School. we have been 
alloted a warm barn to sleep in with plenty of straw on floor 
It is a bit of a change after the cold wet trenches. 24^th 
-work begins. we have no time to ourselves what with listening 
to Lectures, taking notes, and rifle shooting.] 31^st oct passed 
test. Leaving at 2.p.m. to rejoin Battalion. Later 3.p.m. 
waiting at station for train. Later Delayed at town of 
Abbeyville are to remain here for day or two. 1^st Nov having a good 
time. this is a big town. with two Cathedrals-very old. 
5^th Nov. caught Motor Transport. and on our way to village 
with unknown name where our different Battalions are 
Billited. Later rejoined Battalion. 6^th we are to have a few 
days spell here. and then make for the Somme in easy 
marches; a distance of 50 Kilometres. 7^th first day, 
march. roads muddy.] 15 Nov_arrived at temporary Base 
 

A.I.F. 
(15) 
at Somme; at demolished village of Longueval ] 16^th Nov 
plenty of Enemy shells. both shrapnel and H.E.'s 
Notes for Diary. Poperhinge village. [[?]] miles from 
Billet every wayside house a coffee stall where you get 
fresh coffee, which is ground while you wait. (28 sept_ 
Bombardment of Enemy Aeroplane at height of 8000 feet. 
right at our Billet. nose-cap of shrapnel shell fell 
from sky and went through roof and floor of huts 
right through a spot where a man sleeps at night. 
22^nd nov German Aeroplane brought down from ________ 
3000 feet. It fell sides down for awhile, then dived 
headlong to earth, the bombs on board blowing up as it 
struck the ground; blowing the machine to pieces and scattering 
the fragments into the air, it fell about 600 yards from 
where we were working, one of our machines came down 
a minute later; but the two men on board were only 
wounded; one having his leg broke in the fall. 
The German machine attempted to bomb us, but was 
prevented by our own aircraft; three of which 
instantly attacked him with machine gun fire, 
bringing him down & after a fight which lasted about 
ten minutes, it was a terrible sight to see the machine 
falling from such a heigth; 29^th Nov. one of our battle planes 
on fire above Devils wood about 1000 feet up. Aviator looking 
for place to land when our machine dived I thought he 
was done for, but he landed safely on open patch of 
green grass outside the wood; about three quarters of a mile 
from our dugouts. the men were only slightly burned; 
one being wounded in the arm by an enemy

A.I.F. 
(16) 
shrapnel bullet. 30^th Nov moved up to supports 
1 mile from front line, have been in reserve until 
now. our work now consists of night-fatigues to 
the front trenches; taking food and drink to the men holding 
the line; and digging saps and communication trenches at 
night all the time under the enemys artillery fire 
1^st Dec moved into firing line. During afternoon enemy 
shell-fire very heavy about four oclock one of our machine 
gunners and his assistant was killed by a shrapnel-shell 
which burst just above the parapet of the trench. 
2^nd Dec moved out of firing line our place being taken by 
the twelfth Battalion. we were shelled by shrapnell coming 
out through the communication trenches, but suffered no 
casualties. Later after a five-mile march we took the train for 
Vigancourt; a French village about 34 miles from the firing-line, 
where we arrived at 8 o'clock in the morning. We are not 
due for the trenches again until early in January; and are to 
spend Christmas at this village. our work now consists of 
route marches rifle-shooting and sham fighting. 
25^th Dec Christmas day 6 p.m. We spent a very enjoyable day 
and had a very good spread at dinner, including champagne 
which is cheap here being only four shillings per bottle. 
the expenses for the day amounted to only two francs per man. 
26^th Dec. Boxing day 8 p.m. We had some sports during the day 
footraces high jumping e.t.c. 1^st january 1917. During the 
evenings of the 29^th, 30^th and 31^st of Dec, we had a bit of Boxing 
which was held in the village hall. men from all the Battalions 
in the 4th Divisions and men from some of the other Battalions 
took part in it. It drew very large crowds the whole 
Australian army seemed to be there. and you had to book 
a seat an hour early to get in at all.

A.I.F. 
(17) 
There was some very good boxing and some very severe 
punishment given and taken. 4^th commenced the return march 
to trenches. 7^th Sunday, resting at village of Fricourt. about ten 
miles from firing line. 8^th 3 p.m. arrived at temporary Base. 
Longuevale where we are to begin duties as reserve Battalion for a month 
after which we are to move into -be supports and from there into the 
firing line. 12^th there is a very heavy bombardment in progress to 
the west it is rumored that the French are going to attack 
tonight. the concussions of the bombardment is shaking our hut 
like a leaf. 25^th Febuary, back in billets at Fleurus about 15 miles behing 
firing line. after doing six weeks fatigue work at temporary Base 
about four miles behing firing line, carrying timber and material 
for trench construction. we were eight days in the firing line. 
on our last night in we made a raid on the enemy which failed 
we being driven back by heavy machine gun fire. we were only 
a small party of about 40 men which made the raid. the weather 
has been frightfuly cold. all the time we were at the T.B. and in 
the firing-line so cold that I could not take my hands out of my 
sheepskin mitts to make an entry in my Diary. 28^th Feb. 8 p.m. 
we had sports today which turned out very well. there were foot 
races tug-of-war, which was contested by the 51^st and 50^th 
Battalions the 50^th Battalion won the tug of war, the last event of 
the day was a wrestling match on horse back in which the officers 
of the 50^th and 51^st Battalions challenged the rest of the 
Battalions in this event the men won the cheif prize. being 
carried off by one of our Sergents. 6^th March. We are out for 
some time. the ordinary routine now is sham fighting, 
route marches, and rifle drill. occasionaly we have abit of 
rifle shooting. 21^st March 9.30 A.m. Departure for firing line once 
more the Huns are falling back and we are following them up 
Later 2.30. Arrived at Fricourt where we are to spend the 
night. Fricourt is a fair sized village which has been shelled 
out of existence.

A.I.F. 
(18) 
22^nd March 830. we fall in, in full marching order and 
continue our march at one oclock we. ) pages gone) 
quarter of a mile a head of us in all the towns and villages 
the Huns have evacuated they have even cut down the 
fruit trees and there is some fine orchards in some of the 
villages we have passed through they have even poisoned 
the wells. 23rd 9 p.m. we are in an open field on the crest 
of a rise within half a mile of the Germans, entrenching as 
fast as we can dig. 24th 6.A.M. we have finished our 
trench, which is now four feet six inches in depth. and 
now have nothing to do but sit and await events. 
a drizling rain has begun to fall. and we have not the 
slightest shelter from the rain. Later 9.P.M. We have been 
relieved and gone back to the village. half a mile away and 
dug our selves in in a high bank. alongside a road; where 
we are to spend the night and have a good nights sleep. 
To-morrow evening we are to take the village just 
a head of us where the Germans are entrenched. 
25th 12 Noon. I am making this entry is a sort of 
temporary hospital. where I have been sent with 
trench feet; which I developed yesterday when we were sitting in 
the cramped up in the cold wet trench unable 
to move for fear of being shelled. Later 2.30. P.M. 
our hospital is situated just behind a hedge where 
we have a concealed Battery, and we are right in the 
line of fire from the German guns even as 
I write shells are screaming and Bursting around 
and at any moment one might hit - 
 

A.I.F. 
(19) 
this ramble shackel building buil 
fair and square; just now! some Engineers 
were getting some water from a well near 
by when it blew up killing four of them 
and wounding three others. it was 
only another of Fritz's favorite tricks 
of sowing mines in unexpected 
places. 
P.S. This is a copy of the private 
Diary of Private D. B. Harford. 
No 3844. 51st Battalion. A.I.F. Late 28 Batt_ 
who died of wounds. in France. 
1917 March 31st aged 30 years and 
five months. 
copied by his mother, 
Mrs J. A. Harford. 
Berri Berri. River Murray. S. Aust