Diary of Gordon Colin Cooper, 1918 - Part 8
APRIL, 1918.
Thursday 25
Usual routine
Taube over early
Anti doing a lot of
potting - pellets dropping
all round camp
Swimming in evening
Wrote Leo. (9)
APRIL, 1918.
Friday 26
"Iggary Stunt" one of
our troops, who had
been alloted a ticklish
job "fell foul of Jacko"
& were surrounded
- cut off. had to get
out quickly to go to
their assistance, they
had already got out
just after we started
so we came back
to camp feeling well
satisfied because of
a false alarm
APRIL, 1918.
Saturday 27
Warm days. Taubes
over early. Anti's
at work. lot of
pellets falling in
our camp area.
Had some fun with
one of the new remounts
who would not leave
camp.
APRIL, 1918.
Sunday 28
Usual routine, very
quiet. wrote some letters
and tidied up camp
for relief.
Relieved off outpost after
lunch and rejoined
Squadron.
Drew rations for next day.
later getting fixed up
APRIL, 1918.
Monday 29
Revaille at 4, went across
Gonoya Bridge & onto
the plain near Jericho
stayed the day: very warm.
drew 2day rations for 'stunt'
saddled up & started off at
10 A.M. and recrossed the
river & proceeded up
along Jordan to Um Shiot,
APRIL, 1918.
Tuesday 30
Arrived at Redout at
sunrise: Jackos offering
resistance but retreated
after a while: periodical
shelling by Jacko and
different parts of line
very warm - took up
outpost at night: Jacko's
shelled all afternoon & night
got in among horses.
MAY, 1918.
Wednesday 1
Quiet in morning; Jacko's
reported advancing: too
strong had to retire some
distance, showery during
morning, some hot corners
in the retreat: halted half
way, back to Howie Ridge.
(McNeil & Tebbs wounded)
Fought rear guard back to
old Possie: relieved by 5th M Bge
(N.Zrs on supports) went back &
camped near 10 H.Q. getting back
late, waited for rations but
none came. tired, out.
MAY, 1918.
Thursday 2
Drew rations about 3 oclock
and took up "possy" on
Jordan banks; camped
in the shade all day
very warm
Taubes over very low; put
M G. on to Bridge Head truce
during day. Came up
behind N.Z.H.Q at dark
put lines down, had
to shift camp at 10.20
to another possy
Drew rations at 3.30 AM
3/5/18
Took up outpost line
after "stand to" till
sunrise. Came back to
original possy behind
N.Z.H.Q. watered up. very
hot day. Jacko's shelling
in vicinity. (P.T.O)
MAY, 1918.
Friday 3
Drew rations at 3.30 AM
took up outpost line
on bank of river at "stand
to" withdrew after sunrise
& came back to
possy behind N.Z.H.q.
Very hot day. Plenty
of shelling going on from
both sides. Jacko's shelling
in our vicinity.
Cool breeze sprung up
about 4.30; went back
about 2 miles & had to
return later during night.
Squadron making new
road over Hills to Es Salt
MAY, 1918.
Saturday 4
Drew rations early and
went across to foothills
to fight rearguard to
Division returning
from Es Salt.
Marched till after dark
and proceeded back
to Ghonoya Bridge and
crossed Jordan about
1 o'clock.
Troops withdrawing
all day got shelled &
bombed.
MAY, 1918.
Sunday 5
Got into camp at 3.30
stayed till daylight and
then rejoined squadron
after breakfast
Good mail in; 10 letters
MAY, 1918.
Monday 6
Rather showery during
day: took horses to
2nd Brigade and went
round to see all the
lads. "Arty" Reynolds, Claude
Tanner, Billy Campbell.
Dermott McGregor: had
lunch with Clem Harris.
when we got back,
Bob Bone" & Dowling Brown
came over from 4th Bgd. had
tea.
Got some more letters (7)
Wrote 109
MAY, 1918.
Tuesday 7
Early morning bomb raid
(9 planes) one of our boys
hit with M.G. bullet.
Windy & dusty.
Got into 7th Regt. heavy
Casualties;
Went to bed early feeling
off colour
MAY, 1918.
Wednesday 8
Hot & dusty.
Taubes seen at daylight
dropped bombs on 3rd Bgde
damage not known.
Eric McGregor wounded.
Clarrie went to Canteen
& bought a few articles
Enid.
Mrs Walker.
MAY, 1918.
Thursday 9
Very hot day.
No taubes over in morning;
but one or two
during day. very high
1s & 2s: given instruction
on Captured Machine Gun.
(1917 model).
Mrs Branch
MAY, 1918.
Friday 10
Very hot day. orders to
shift; got all us & other
gear into Q.M. stores, drew
rations & moved off -
proceeded to foothills on
old Roman Road & waited
about an hour then
proceeded onto camp at.
and put the lines
down: & made camp.
at Ain Kajla
Lucie.
Madame Piot.
MAY, 1918.
Saturday 11
Usual routine. drew
rations etc: more trouble
about shorts
"Whacker" Walker went away
to Flying Corps
Very hot day, but got
a fair breeze: bought
10/- worth of oranges (2 for 1).
MAY, 1918.
Sunday 12
Quiet day. very warm
and a big dust storm
after dinner. blew
all afternoon.
Wrote No 110.
MAY, 1918.
Monday 13
Usual routine: went
down to 1st & saw
Billy Calaon and gave
him paper with account
of Inverell show
MAY, 1918.
Tuesday 14
Usual rouutine, very
hot & dusty; went
down on watering
parade.
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