Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 20

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for nothing. Last night I
went out to A Coys post. There
was some pretty heavy shelling
but no casualties. One man
yesterday was nearly a
casualty. A shell burst
right near where he was
standing, but he escaped
uninjured. He's gone back
with shell shock though
another man in D Coy got
a bullet clean through the
heart. We buried him last
night. Today the
aeroplanes of both sides are
vey active, and the
sky - beautiful and blue
for its a glorious day -
is filled with tiny shrapnel
clouds. This morning
Clarie Fairlie and I rode our
bikes to Armentieres, about
four miles away. It bears
evidence of some very heavy
shelling since I was last
there.
Wednesday July 12^th 1916
Back in the old home again. We
left Fleurbaix at 2 am yesterday
and arrived at Sailly at about 4 30 a.m.
I was up again at 7 o'clock to
make arrangements for moving again,
and at 4 pm we left Sailly,
arriving here about 6.30 pm
(Saw Lance Mc Lean en route ; he's
terribly fat and well - fed looking)
We found that the 4^th Pioneer Bn
had usurped our Headqrs
billet ; and the old lady was
very upset to think we could not

117
stay with her. However, we soon
fixed it, and here we are in
the same little spot. It's a very
short stay, though, for we move
again on Friday morning. Tomorrow
I must cut down my kit still
more and send back everything
other than what I absolutely must
have. I'm very tired
kiddie, so will go to bed early.
Friday July 14^th 1916
In the train once again. Had
a very busy day yesterday. Did
not wake until after 8 o'clock, so
lost no time in shaving and having
my breakfast. After breakfast got
busy, when at about half past
nine I got an urgent wire from
Brigade "Your battalion due at
Divisional Baths at 6 am not yet
here. aaa. please explain. " That
knocked me kite high. I had
never heard of any bathing parade.
I at once conjectured that Brigade
had failed to send me the orders
and was just beginning a wire
to that efffect when it occured to
me that perhaps the wire orders had
come during the night and the
sergeant had forgotten to give
them to me. (He did that once
before but I did not think he
would do it a second time.)
So I went out and asked him
if he had received any orders,
and he said "yes, about midnight".
I began to work up some righteous
indignation and demanded why
he had not brought them to me.
He took the wind out of my sails

119
by stating that he had given them
to me. I told him to come
off and not try those tricks
so early in the morning, but
he stuck to his guns. He says
that when he wakened me he
said "I'm sorry to have to disturb
you, sir" and that I replied
"I'm sorry you had to get up,
sergeant." But I haven't the
faintest recollection of it.
However, I hunted through
my bed clothes and there,
sure enough, were the papers
inderneath my valise. And
then I breathed again! The
orders stated that the 47^th Bn
would bathe at 6 am and
the 48^th at 10 am. It was
then after half past nine.
I jumped on a bike and cut
down to the nearest company,
got the O.C. Coy to get his men
together quickly, and send them
of  post haste in time to reach
the baths by quarter past ten.

And then I went back

and dispatched a wire to Brigade
in my most 'injured innocenct'
tone, protecting against the
charge of neglect of orders.
We were up at  4 this morning
and breakfasted at 4.30 am.
A five mile march to the station,
entrained at 9.30, and here we
are, bound for a place called
Doullens, which we expect to
reach about 3 pm today.
Saturday, July 15^th 1916
We reached Doullens to time

 121
detrained, and at quarter past
four set off on a fifteen
mile march to this place.
-Berteaucourt - les - Dames. It
was a long and weary march
for the men, who were
carrying an oil sheet and
blanket in addition to
their full pack and two
day's rations, and several
of them dropped out before
it was over. We
eventually got here just after
midnight , and by 2 am
everyone was billetted and
we were having supper.
My billet is the most
comfortable I have yet had.
I have a bedroom all to
myself, and a big bed
with real sheets and real
pillow shams. You can
bet I was not long turning
in. I was awakened
at about eight a.m. by the
noise of the C.O. dressing next 
door. He seemed in a terrible
hurry. I found out later
that General Birdwood and
General White were downstairs
waiting to see him.
Today we have done no
work, but let the men rest.
I went round with the M.O.
at foot inspection this morning,
and really some of the
men are nothing less than
heroes to have stuck the
march like they did. Boots
all to pieces, boots with great

123
nails sticking up, feet
with blisters and raw sores
on them bigger than half
crown pieces. They are
made of the right stuff.
The news from the 
front is splendid today.
Our cavalry has gone
right through the enemy
lines, and troops
have taken over 8000
prisoners. I am very
glad, for the French people
were beginning to think we
were leaving them to do
all the work.
We expect to get
into it tomorrow, at
Contalmaison, where the
push is greatest.
Sunday July 16^th 1916
And still here. And from
present appearances will be here
tomorrow night. Eh bien ! je
suis tres contente. These billets
are the best I have yet struck,
and the rest won't hurt us any.
Only I don't like to feel that we
are here in comfort while there
is so much work to be done
elsewhere.However, it is not our
fault. We can't move without
orders. Today we
had a very decent mail.
I received a letter from you,
one from Mother, one from
Ethel [[Scance]], and one from
Uncle Arthur. It is
raining steadily tonight, and I am
going to bed early. Tomorrow

125
is the anniversary of our wedding
day sweetheart. When are 
we going to be together again?
We'll need to get married
all over again, won't we ?
Sunday 17^th July 1916.
Four years ago today sweet
heart, and what a happy
day it was. The waking
in the morning to realise that
it was "our day'. The
waiting in the manse, and
then your coming. The
few words, your dear hand
in mine, and the  knowledge
that you were my wife !
The lunch at "Arcadia", the
train journey, and Aldgate.
And you such a dear,
sweet , happy girl. Oh
chicken, I love you so dearly,
better now than even then,
for I know you so much
better now. And as to
know you was to love you,
so to know you better is to
love you better. N'est ce pas !
Today we have been
for a route march to Domart-
en - Ponthieu and round via
St Ouen. Beautiful country,
and oh the poppies, bright
scarlet poppies. The wheat-
fields bright with poppies ;
cornflowers and poppies.
Poppies everywhere, a blaze
of red, gay and flaunting.
When I got back about
5 o'clock I found a pile
of papers, among them orders

127
to move tomorrow, and a wire
from the Field Cashier to draw
pay. I rode back to Domart
and drew the pay, over a
thousand pounds of it, and
when I got back I found
the move order cancelled.
So I suppose we will go
the day after tomorrow now.
Ted came along to see
us today. He's very lucky
in that he has a motor car for
his personal use. Very nice
Thursday 20^th
Tuesday the CO went up
to the front line near Fricourt
to Contalmaison to see the
work that has been done there.
The battalion went for a
long route march through
Domart, on to Berneuil and back
through Pernois. Wednesday
morning there was a Brigade
Route march, and today we
have been doing general training.
This evening those of us who
are mounted worked out a
tactical scheme in the country
round about here. The galops
across the fields and along
the roads from place to place
were very enjoyable.
The news from the front continues
to be good. I wish
we could get in and help.
The 1^st Division (or part)
is now in the line, so perhaps
we'll get a chance soon.
Friday 21^st
Had a letter
from Ethel today. She tells me

128
that the papers report me as
wounded again .Remarkable ;
isn't it ? Today we had
a short march to a wood about
2 miles away, where we carried
out battalion training. It has
been beautiful weather these
last few days.
Sunday July 23^rd 1916
Had Church Parade this morning.
The afternoon I was shown over the
big Jute works of this town ( M. Hirondel)
They employ over 1800 hands, mostly
women now. The process of
preparing the thread from the
raw jute is much the same as
cotton spinning and wool-working
Afterwards I saw the various
stages of the manufacture
of hessian. It is all very
interesting. This evening I
went to dinner with A Coy officers in
their new billet. They are very
comfortable. After dinner (a bottle
of champagne too, bless you) we
had some music. Cumming
had all his songs with him
among them the Indian Love
Lyrics. Brearly managed to 
dig up a violin from somewhere,
so everything was O.K.
Today I received a parcel
from Uncle Arthur ___ Tobacco,
socks, and envelopes. Bonsoir.
Wednesday July 26^th 1916
Still here. Ted came
along today to see us. He has
been promoted to A.D.O.S. of Australian
Forces in England and leaves for
his London Headquarters tomorrow.
He is very sore about going to
what he calls a "damned cold-
footed job," but anyway it is