Diary of Herbert Vincent Reynolds, 1916-1917 - Part 3










APRIL 1916
SUNDAY 16
Palm Sunday
I was on fatigue duty cleaning out the billets. I went
for a walk to a Meteren this afternoon. It has been a
beautifull day & our aeroplanes have been circling about
all the afternoon.
MONDAY 17
4th Batt marched out of this town to the trenches this afternoon
30 of B Sec left today as advance guard. A few of the transport
chaps arrived today.
TUESDAY 10
Went for a march & passed through Doulieu this morning.
the church there has been destroyed by fire caused by a bomb
during an aeroplane raid the 1st Batt marched through while
we were there on their way to the trenches I went into Baileal
this afternoon & saw the interior of St Waasts church again, also
went to the pictures at YMCA. Our transport chaps arrived today.
WEDNESDAY 19
I was put on fatigue duty to clean up the place after the remainder
of the unit left which they did at about 9 a.m. we followed them at
about 10.45 am. & marched out past Doilieur & through Estours to
a place called Nouveaunond.
APRIL 1916
Maundy Thursday
I was sent out to B Sect with Horacek to report for duty we got out to the
bath establishment which they are running out past Sailly at about 12
I was instructed to return to A Sec which I did reaching it at about
4 pm. A great rush of wounded came in this afternoon about 3.30 pm. The
9th Batt were shelled in their billetts & 24 were killed besides 48 wounded
which we attended too.
FRIDAY 21
Good Friday
I spent the morning loading & unloading any wagons or
ambulances that were taking the wounded to the C C H. It has
been a beautifull day & both our planes & the enemys have been very
active one or more of ours has been hovering over head all day.
I done a few odd jobs about the hospital this afternoon about 4 pm it
came over very cloudy & an extremely wet night set in.
SATURDAY 22
I put up some medicine shelves in the operating room this
morning & done a few other small jobs through the day.
The place is one mass of mud it has been raining a lot today.
The canal has begun to rise.
Memo.
APRIL 1916
SUNDAY 23
Easter Day. S. George
It has been a beautifull day & our arme have been exceptionally
active as many 7 planes were to be seen at one time. one of our
biplanes was brought down but it managed to land safely in a
ploughed field across the canal from our hospital. I received letter
from Kath. The canal has been running a banker & began
to overflow this afternoon, & flood the fields on the other side.
MONDAY 24
Easter Monday
I have been making a seat for the dressing rooms today.
the day has been a beautifull one & our airmen have been
very active a biplane made a beautiful spiral dive from
the clouds & came down almost to earth between our hospital
& the ruined tower of Levant Received 3 letters from home
& 1 from Engl.
TUESDAY 25
Easter Tuesday. S. Mark
Anzac Day. Things have been extremely quiet it has
been a beautiful day & everything seemed very peaceful.
We were paid this afternoon & had a small quantity of
gift stuff issued to us. I went for a walk with E S MacLean
& seen the ruins of the church & its surroundings. The canal has
gone down a lot today
Received letters from home also from Sis & [[?]]
WEDNESDAY 26
Another fine day but very warm almost like Egypt I
got leave from 1 pm & went into Estairs with K.S, we
seen the interior of the church & had to look through the village
I met J Kernick in there
APRIL 1916
THURSDAY 27
It has been another fine day & the place is drying up nicely.
I got on one of the wagons as an orderlie, but the motors are
only used unless there is much doing so I will not have much
to do being on the horse wagon.
FRIDAY 28
The guns have been going for all they were worth
through the night especially about 4 a m this morning.
The germans made a gass attack late last night we felt
the effect of the weeping gass but very slightly.
SATURDAY 29
I spent the morning putting up shelves in the transport
cookhouse. the afternoon putting some stairs together for the
hospital billet. The weather is keeping very fine now.
Memo.
APRIL—MAY 1916
SUNDAY 30
Low Sunday
I spent the morning putting together a flight of stairs for
the hospital billet. A fairly fine day. A taube flew over
here this morning about 8.30 am. The N Zealanders arrived
out here today 40 are put up in the same house as us, the
Maoris are here as well.
MONDAY 1 MAY
SS. Philip and James. Bank Holiday in Scotland
I spent the day making sides for limbers. Another fairly
fine day. We were issued with goggles as a protection against
weeping gass this morning.
TUESDAY 2
I spent the day putting a ceiling over the operating room
The Maoris have been renovating the trenches near our
billetts today. I went for a walk into Sailly tonight.
WEDNESDAY 3
I spent the day on the ceiling over the operating room.
The weather is keeping fine & the signs of spring are
on every side all the trees have become green all of a sudden.
MAY 1916
THURSDAY 4
Things are extremely quiet here our guns fire a few
rounds per day no enemy shells fall very close to us, they
never seem to make any attempt to shell this village.
Of a night the crackle of machine gun is heard at intervals
also a few rifle shots.
FRIDAY 5
Anti aircraft shell fell in garden plot near Qr Masters store
this morning after failing to explode in the air. A gass
attack is expected tonight as wind is favourable.
SATURDAY 6
I went along to the smiths shop near the Estairs bridge this morning
to bore screw holes in the brackets for the limbers. A party of about
a doz men went out to the supp0ort trenches to renovate the dugouts
for shelter for wounded if any big bombardment occurrs.
Memo.
MAY 1916
SUNDAY 7
2nd after Easter
I spent the morning working on the frames for the limbers
It has been inclined to be wet today a few light showers fell.
Things have been very quiet no aeroplanes have been about.
MONDAY 8
We were paid this morning at 9 am. It has been rather wet
today a few showers fell but not very heavy. Received letter
from Parkstone.
TUESDAY 9
Our aeroplanes have been active today
WEDNESDAY 10
I was put on one of the Foord cars as orderlie today & am on
duty from 5 pm to 5 am tomorrow. We had a trip at about 9 pm
with a patient into Merville to the No 2 C C S.
MAY 1916
THURSDAY 11
I was called out at about 1 am to transfer a patient to the No 7.
C C S at Merville. An aust mail arrived today I got 6
letters. Our aeroplanes have been active.
FRIDAY 12
I spent the day doing odd jobs on the pantry etc at about
11 am two aeroplane bombs fell in the fields only a short
distance from us the brewery was the target but no damage
was done. I had a trip to the No 2 C.C.S at Marville at about 5 pm
& another a little before midnight to the 10th Batt outside Sailly.
SATURDAY 13
I was not called out after midnight.
Memo.
MAY 1916
SUNDAY 14
3rd after Easter
MONDAY 15
I was called out at about 3 am to take two serious cases into
No 7 C C S at Merville in one of the sunbeam cars. It commenced
to rain at about 4 am & has been very wet all day.
TUESDAY 16
I had a trip to Merville to 2nd C C S at about 10.30 a m It is a
beautifull day & enemy aircraft have been over head this morning. At about
12.30 pm 4 enemy shells exploded within 20 yds of our hospital but no
damage was done. I went into Estairs after dinner & got back at 6 pm
I had a trip to 1st Howitzer batt between here & Sailly for an injured man
at about 8 pm Received 6 letters.
WEDNESDAY 17
I was sent over past Sailly to 102 Howitzer Batt for an injured man at 11.30 am
He had been kicked with a horse.
MAY 1916
THURSDAY 18
It has been a beautifull day & our aircraft have been extremely
active. I went to the 101st howzs btty between here & Sailly
at about 7 pm for a sick man.
FRIDAY 19
I woke up this morning feeling rather rotten with a
rash all over me I reported at sick parade & got put
in hospital at about pm an alarm was sounded & the
unit prepared for a rush of wounded but it turned out to be
only 15 cases one of the releiving Batts got shelled on their way to
the trenches.
SATURDAY 20
I was sent to the Div Rest Camp that we are taking
over from the 3rd Field Amb at about 9 am in one of the horse
ambulances. I was put in No 20 ward. All the unit shifted
& took over the Camp this afternoon.
Memo.
MAY 1916
SUNDAY 21
4th after Easter
Not feeling well today. Still covered with the
rash but it is not measles as I thought. B Sec is issuing
a paper which they call the Gun Gazette
MONDAY 22
Not feeling too bad but did not have a decent nights
rest as the rash was very irritable.
TUESDAY 23
Pretty right again so am being discharged tomorrow
I went for a bit of a stroll into Todieu after tea. A Sect is
following B Sects lead & are issuing a weekly edition of the Section
Leader. I found a place in the billet which is an old shed
this time & brought my gear into it.
WEDNESDAY 24
Empire Day
I was discharged out of hospital this morning &
have been boiling water all day fro drinking purposes.
Extremely heavy bombarding has been going on the last few
days.
MAY 1916
THURSDAY 25
I have been boiling water today. It has been rather wet
today. A party of B Sect xxxxx are making a road on the
southern enterance of the camp under the supervision of the
engineers a couple of whom are in charge of it.
FRIDAY 26
I was put on doing a few odd jobs around the place today
SATURDAY 27
I was put on duty in No 19 ward as orderlie today.
Memo.
MAY 1916
SUNDAY 28
5th after Easter
I had the day off & had an easy day of it
MONDAY 29
Enemy aircraft have been exceptionally active this morning
it has been a fit morning for aerial reconasiance. I have been
on duty in No 19 ward. The Surg Gen inspected our camps today.
TUESDAY 30
I have been on duty as orderlie in No 19 ward all day. A heavy
bombardment is going on this evening away to the east towards
Levante it commenced about 6 pm & continued till about 10 pm
We prepared everything for a concert in the mess room tonight but the
party did not turn up & we were disappointed.
WEDNESDAY 31
I have had the day off today. The enemy made a two hrs
bombardment on the 11th Batt trenches last night & caused a
good number of casualties. There are reports of heavy artillery
going on again this evening away to the south east again.
JUNE 1916
again last night. The reports of a gun of some sort could be heard today
rattling the shells off like a machine gun & regular.
THURSDAY 1
Ascension Day
I have been on duty in 19 ward. It has been a beautifull day &
the aircraft have been busy, one of our small planes chased an
enemy plane & kept at it, till they went out of sight. A party
of our unit went to Sailly where W Hughes was to interview the
austr troops. one of our captive balloons broke loose & drifted away
over towards the north east at about 7 pm. The enemy bombarded the 11th Batt
FRIDAY 2
I was shifted to 22 ward today.
SATURDAY 3
Memo.
JUNE 1916
SUNDAY 4
Sunday after Ascension
A quantity of Red Cross comforts were issued to the patients
today. pillows were issued to each bed.
MONDAY 5
It has been rather wet today. I had the day off.
We were paid this afternoon. I went to the dentists &
had two teeth filled this morning. A concert party
from the 1st Brigade organized by the Y.M.C.A gave a very
decent concert in the mess hut tonight. Very heavy artillery
firing went on through the night towards Estaires.
TUESDAY 6
WEDNESDAY 7
JUNE 1916
THURSDAY 8
FRIDAY 9
Our fellows have been buisy arranging things for the concert
which took place tonight, & it turned out to be the most
successfull one held here so far. A mail arrived today but
I got nothing except a letter from England!!
SATURDAY 10
Our unit played the 3rd Fld Amb Rugby this afternoon &
won by 12 to nill at Nouveau Monde.
Memo.
JUNE 1916
SUNDAY 11
Whit Sunday. S. Barnabus
Received letters from Mother Jess & Commonwealth bank
today
MONDAY 12
Whit Monday
An extremely heavy bombardment is going
on tonight away to the north.
TUESDAY 13
Whit Tuesday
It has been raining near all day & the place
is absolutely one mass of mud. Received a letter from M Stones
today.
WEDNESDAY 14
Ember Day
The place is one mass of mud & slush. Had a day
off so I went out to Sailly to see H. Elliot in the 7th Batt
the roads are in a terrible state after the rain.
JUNE 1916
THURSDAY 15
FRIDAY 16
The ground is drying up pretty well now.
SATURDAY 17
A terrific bombardment went on through the night
the enemy made an attempt to use the gass. The day
has been a beautifull one & both our air craft & the
enemys made good use of it, I went to Stienwerck to see the
football match between our unit & the 5th Fld Amb we won by
15 to nill. The ground dried up splendidly today.
Memo.
JUNE 1916
SUNDAY 18
Trinity Sunday
It has been a fine day again today. A church
service was held in the mess shed this afternoon.
The enemy used the gass on Frid night & all the crops in the
area over which the gass passed are practically ruined.
MONDAY 19
About 5.30 am orders were given for the whole of B sect to pack up
& be ready to move off steel helmets were issued to them & they
moved off at about midday, we do not know their destination
at present. A sect. have taken over B sect wards & there is
not enough orderlies I have been on No 23 & 18 wards.
TUESDAY 20
Two wards were closed up today. We heard today that B sect are
at Neuve Eglise a place in Belgium. A concert party from Miss
Lena Ashwells concert company gave an interesting & enjoyable
evenings entertainment in the mess shed tonight.
WEDNESDAY 21
I have been on duty in No 16 Ward today. Just before sunset
tonight about a doz planes of ours were to be seen manouvering
in the air four large battle planes passed over on their way home
at a great height & speed.
JUNE 1916
THURSDAY 22
FRIDAY 23
SATURDAY 24
S. John Baptist. Midsummer (British Isles)
A chap was operated on today for an absys in the thigh out of my
ward today.
Memo.

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