Memoir of John Shakespear Bartley, 1916-1919 - Part 12

Period 3.
-31-
rt death. It was cruel laying there all day half-frozen.
bombs had to be turned round every half-hour during the
night, or else they would freeze hard and fast into the side
the trench.  A shallow sap ran out into the listening post.
this post it was possible to hear the huns talking, and one
ould see them, and it is a wonder that Fritz did not surround
lonely post, as he must have known of its existence. He had
post out also and close to the other just mentioned. Perhaps
recounted for it. He had a machine gunner in his line who
ould actually play a kind of melody when firing, much to the
tune "Lights Out." Very seldom did one come across that kind
gunner in France.
One night "Dad WHITE" came along the trench. The huns
st have had a very bad trench, as in the dim half light they
ould be noticed standing head and shoulders above the parapet.
and they were not far away. So "Dad" gave orders for every man
get ready to fire two rounds, when he fired his revolver. He
the men waiting for that signal, but it never came off.
perhaps he had visions of the shells and Minnies which Fritz would
hurl back in return and left them well alone.
A raid came off. Sergeant "WORBOIES" (afterwards killed in
action) and Pte. KEENE (6th Reinf.) were sent out as a covering
party. About midnight a barrage of "flying pigs" and "stokes
guns fired on the hun lines. The raid came off all right, but
unfortunately Pte. Keene was riddled with machine gun bullets,
and died at the dressing station, and lies buried in the Cemetary
not far from where the 14th Field Ambulance used to be, and
close to "E" Camp.
The patrols got hold of the idea of dressing in white when
patrolling No Man's Land in the snow. No doubt this was copied
from Fritz. One night the patrol went out, but only clothed in
white tunics, and as they moved along in the snow a keen observer
could only discern a line of legs moving. This was not too good
for safety.
The men with No. 2880 on the post were not aware of the
change 

Period 3.
-32-
attire of the patrol, and "Ruby" Gallagher, who was very nervy,
nee his mate got killed on that stretcher bearing party at
ller son, became quite alarmed, when he sighted the legs, and
ought he was gazing across at the spirit world. All night
Fritz was firing flares. He supplied most of the light.
going in the first night No. 2880 was offered a so called
g-out, but something told him to let it go and select another
later on one of their own shells fell short (perhaps the
me of that was due to defective ammunition) and bursting
ar the dug out wounded Corp. Sid WELLS who occupied it. Sid
for his pillow which daylight revealed, a skull, and it
came quite a joke afterwards. The funny part about it was that
their own shells were falling short, Sid went down that long
d deep communication sap to report it, and as soon as he came
back, one of the shells "got him." It was the 18 pounders that
were doing the damage.
The dug-outs, or rather shelters, consisted of sheets of
galvanised iron which formed the roof. When one comes to describe
them now, they are very laughable. They were not sufficiently
high enough to sit up in, nor long enough to lay out in,
ser wide enough for two men to crouch in. But they were
occupied by three men, which made it awful. Truly they were a
pe of  dug-out as Bairnsfather puts it "in which one got out
and again for a rest." It was not much use using them during
the dav, as no blankets were carried, and the men's feet froze
caused much pain. To keep up blood circulation it was necessary
to massage the feet rapidly, or when it could be done, run
about. Truly it was "beaucoup froid" as the French call it.
ay Cookers were issued and Dad Easlie hit upon the idea of
ing to sleep with a burning cocker at his feet. Those little
cookers were a boon, and were issued by the Australian Comforts'
Fund. But they were not too plentiful in the line, worse luck.
y consisted of a small tin of solidified methylated spirits,
would boil two dixies of water. All night it was a case of 

Period 3.
-58-
Iking vine to keep up circulation and the men looked like a
elass of Esquimaux reinforcements on an ieeberg from Lap-
na, or somewhere, attired in sheep skins and balaclava caps.
tney often, jokingly remarked, all that they wanted to com-
ete the outfit was a set of horns and they would be reindeers.
After standing down of a morning it was usual to keep
ards on during the day while the men rested - or rather tried
rest. But not so at Le Transloy. Orders used to come around
at eleven o'clock a barrage was to be laid on Fritz, and
the men had to retire down the communication sap, till the
trafe was over, as some of the artillery fire was expected to
Ail short on account of inferior ammunition. This was carried
at, and a lot shrapnel did fall short, much to the horror of
o.p. P'cAtN The men lying in No Man'a Land, who obviously
pld not get in from the outpost in daylight, but had to suffer
ell, and take pot luck. However they were not hurt. Crouch-
na out there half-frozen and facing their own shells was no
lessant experience for a man. But a war was on. At another
Ame orders came around that all men must not sleep after two
elock in the afternoon as some of the "heads: (Red Caps) were
aking an inspection of the lines. Of course there was no sleep
[å night. Everyman stood to on the defenee in ease of a sur-
ruse attack by the enemy. They seemed to forget that the men
ad been "standing to" all night, while the "heads" were well
ack in deep dug-outs. During this trip in Fritz strafed with
ehizzebangs and heavier shells. As a rule the front line was
sually a safe place from the heavier gun fire. Itwas the sup-
por. line and the reserves that generally caught it hot.
In those days the temm in the front line was fairly short
u account of the weather conditions, and when the night came
to bring the relief party up it was a most anxious time, and the
men often wondered whether they would be "stiff" enough to be
knocked" going out.
In front of Le Transloy was a gentle rising ground, hav-
ing a road lined with trees at the top, being in foll view from 

Period 3.
-34-
from the men's trenches, along which hun transports were often
seen moving along with British shells hurrying them along.
n the early mornings the boys generally got in some shots at
un working parties. There was not much use for the rifle
in those days, but the machine guns were very handy and des-
tructive. More or less the.303 Howitzer was out of action and
snoked up with mud, and No. 2880 often had to use his as a
walking stick to avoid falling in the mud. But at ihis time
übe ground was frozen, and great fogs came along which made
the "stand too" much longer. 'A fog was a great screen for
mm attack and the first hour after dark and the hour before
tne dawn were generally the most dangerqus hours. At night
the machine guns on both sides were rattling away sweeping
the country, and doing dsmage to working parties and the
troops travelling in the open.
During this trip in. Bill s7tCl- and Jim S £706K
ent on furlough to Blighty.
The Colonel had purehased a quantity of jam with some
fort funds, and this was issued on "dry nights" when no
am issue was given. In addition he purchased a few primus
stoves, but their life was short and sweet. The men had to
amp them to the line and then the N.C.Os. claimed first
use of them, and the poor private hardly ever saw them, and
s they dumped them in the mud.
The relief came in good time. As usual the Battalions
luck was in, and as they moved out Jerry (as the Tommies
alled the hun) was quiet. Hurrying with all possible speed
Aeross the "death trap" they "rode" those frozen duck boards
t Needle Dump where dixies of hot soup awaited them. The
men were wearing long rubber boots which gripped the ice
nieely and good progress was made. Previous to going in.
the ankle boots were stored at the dump. This is how they
sere "stored." They were placed in the universal sand-bag
and exposed to the frost for four nights. The result was 

DECR 1916
Period 3.
-35-
that they were frozen as hard as iron.
On reaching Needle Dump the order was given to change
to ankle boots, and the gum-boots (rubber) were to be carried 
out sling around the men's necks. Most of the men had
swollen and sore feet, and to change over boots was impossible,
Those who did, found them as hard as iron. And then the fun
commenced. The men, heavily laden and line weary commenced
to slip and slide on the ice. Nos. 2880/2929 had a trying
time, as the hard boots would not grip, and many a fall they
had that night. No. 2929 managed to push on ahead. Once
No. 2880 came down with an awful crash, right on his back,
the woodwork flew off his rifle and his "steel-lid" flew
yards away, whilst the mess tin lid "flew" elsewhere. After
having a good swear he gathered up his kit and sat down on
the duckboards with a "don't care, if a shell does get me
feeling" and had a few mates with him.
Presently along came Dad White ”What are you doing
here" he said. No. 2880 said that he was dead-beat and could
not go any farther. So Dad gave them permission to put on
the rubber boots. The effect was magical, and the long trail
to Padre Ward's soup kitchen at Waterlot Farm was soon covered
and the men felt much better after partaking of a hot drink and
a smoke. After a rest another start was made, but on turning
a corner of the duck-boards too fast, No. 2880 slid right
off and landed in a shell hole smashing the ice crust and getting
a "backshee" bath. Finally he reached the huts at
Trones Wood and called out for No. 2929 who hauled him up the
steps and he lay like a log till morning. But very thankful
even for that. This was the night of the 3rd December, 1916.
Next day was spent in cleaning up, ready for the coming
inspection by the Company commander.
On the 6th of December the Battalion moved back to
Montauban for a six weeks spell. This was a bit stiff as all
the rest of the Brigade ..... 

Peri od 3.
-36-
had gone farther out. The six weeks "spell" will ever live
in the memory of those who "enjoyed" it. They had a job
clearing the slush off the road and laying a metal road.
Rations were scarce and the "chats" were in great abundance,
and so were the fatigues. "Raiding parties" used to venture
most of a night and "pinch" rations from the Tommy dumps.
Tom S –– used to watch the sentry, and while he was at
one end of his beat, Tom would wriggle across and with a
knife in his teeth, he would cut open a bag of "dodger"
(bread) and throw a few loaves to his awaiting mates. The
Tommy sentry was none the wiser. Coal was obtained in a similar 
manner. In those days the "unexpired portion of the
twenty-four hours ration" was so small that it was hardly
visible to the naked eye, and the troops spent a lot of money
at the Canteen for food when it was possible to get it.
There was quartered near Montauban, a company of the
Devons. Not the famous fighting Devons, but a Labor Company
of the Tommies. But as the Australians were too rough for
them, they were taken away.
The traffic along that Montauban Road was very busy and
on going to the line the men had to dodge between the traffic
as best they could. Christmas Day was quiet; the men were
allowed off fatigue, but a rifle and equipment inspection was
held in the afternoon. There was no dinner that. Even the
usual mug of tea straight was not forth coming, but at night
the Australian Comfort Fund's parcels arrived, which made it
a little bit like 'Cmas. While working along the line along
that road it was pitiable to see the trucks of men with labels
on their tunics starting for Blighty, all suffering from
trench feet. The hard work and rations caused No. 2880 to
lose consciousness one day, and he was four days in the A.M.C.
Hut, but was soon about again. It was amusing to see the sick
parade come along of a morning, and "put a tale over" on the
doctor. 

Period 3.
-37-
On 14th of January, 1917. the Battalion was relieved by
the 29th Battn., and entrained for Fricourt. It was noticeable
that day that Minniwerfer Bill had a bottle of rum, as the
head of the bottle was (unknown to him perhaps) sticking out
of his haversack. At Fricourt was a partly ruined old church,
then used for a canteen, and a well kept cemetery, containing
British dead. There were also baths there -- "Russian Baths."
On 17th of January, they went back to Trones Wood to
spend some more of the winter with its heavy falls of snow and
frost, the coldest winter known in England for 25 years.
On the 18th a journey was made along the same old
trail, but to another sector. This time those in high command
made things a bit too willing, and in addition to the ordinary
battle array the men set out for the trenches carrying a duckboard 
between every two men as they bogged along through the
mud. Thus the average man was heavily laden, and many dumped
the boards. No. 2880 and Donniger were carrying a board, and
they were getting exhausted, when suddenly they, board and all,
rolled over into a large hole, and the board was flung away,
but another was picked up. It was a moonlight night and the
men were sneaking along to the trenches carrying duck-boards
over a rise. It was a wonder that Jerry did not take observation 
and open fire. However a position was taken up in a
series of shell-holes, not connected up, and forming a lot of
posts. It was a very simple matter to walk over to Fritz in
the dark, and not realise it till one got there. Unfortunately
ration party did this, and when they heard Fritz challenge,
they threw down the rations and bolted back.
One night No. 2880 and Serg. --- managed to get lost
in No Man's Land, and on finally coming in were challenged by
No. 2929. The dead lying about were very numerous and working
at night to improve the position, was hindered by the buried 

Period 3.
-38-
bodies. In Gusty Trench, a little to the rear were bodies
of their own men piled up many feet high, and the gro und
round about lay thick with dead--Australian dead.
When the relief came the men moved back to cow Trench,
and luckily Fritz was quiet on the way out. But it was only
a calm before a great storm and at half-past eleven that night
No. 2880 was doing a gas guard, when the hun guns opened up,
and a very heavy fire was laid down behind the lines. It was
a great sight; along the hun front the flash and roar of the
suns made a great scene. After some time the bombardment ceased
as suddenly as it began.
The next night Donniger made a stew which nearly poisoned 
his admirers, for it came out that he put in a packetof
vermin powder in mistake for soup-powder.
On 24th of January, the Battalion moved to Trones Wood
and on the 26th to "E” Camp. All the gear had to be man-handled
as the mud was too heavy for the limbers. No. 2880 was on
Colonel's fatigue and just fancy his wrath when he had to lump
along such things as a coal-scuttle, etc.
At 4.30 one morning a party had to go to Rose Trench
with Mr. RUSH–- who had just joined up for the first time,
but he forgot to draw the gum-boots and so the party had to
turn back and get them. Arriving in Rose Trench the men noticed
what great improvements had taken place, since their last
visit, and how strongly it was rivetted. One could hardly
believe that it was the same place. Later the fatigue party
crossed over to Miller Son Dump, and occupied part of an immense
shell proof dug-out, which Fritz had had to leave, and which
would easily hold about 1,200 men, being placed in bunks three
deep. But while in there one had to "get into bed" to get
out of the other fellow's road, for the place was full of bunks
and horribly crammed for room. There were several entrances.
After a day or so there the fatigue party moved to another 

Period 3.
-39-
dug-out, lying in a sunken road, and quite handy to the
The fatigue was carried out in the front line and it was
de to get there in daylight by wading up a horrible twisty
lled Eternal Alley, which was blown in in places and very
It was a common sight to see men wading along this alley
ly sand-bags wound round their feet in place of boots. The
te suffering from Trench feet and were going out for treat-
When they struck the duck-boards, the sharp wires would cut
feet, but they had to go on. Now, a little distance up
Alley was the "clutching hand." This was a hun's hand sticking
of the side in the attitude of begging, and it became quite
mark.
Up on top the dead bodies of Australians lying about
how dangerous it was to be up there, but for all that it was
ploughing through the mud in the alley.
Water in the front line was waist deep in places and the
party used to, in the foggy mornings, bail the water out
of a long wooden bailer attached to a handle. The trench
irly shallow, and it had to be deepened. Fritz was quite busy
over minnies and pigeon bombs. When the fog lifted, the
ntinued to work, right under hun observation. A pick or a
would go in the air and a hun sniper would have a shot at it.
the men were shot. Perhaps Fritz woke up to the fact that
were a lot of men in the line, and quite suddenly at two o'clock
afternoon, he opened up on the front line with a terrific
ment which lasted for hours. And then he placed a creeping
on the alley and followed the party on their way down to
g-out, and when they reached the sunken road, it was discovered
was "lobbing" his shells right on the road, and had the way
However his barrage lifted and they ran along the road
he barrage to the dug-out door. As soon as they reached
he barrage fell on the road again and a shell landed right
in the door, but luckily all the men were in. And then there

 FEBRY 1917.
Period 3.
-40-
as a bustling around to see who was missing out of the party.
was a comfortable feeling to be down there, while the shells
urst on the top, and made the old dug-out rock.
But this lesson did not have any effect, for a couple of
days later the men were sent up again and Fritz laid down another
bombardment, and a very heavy one. No. 2880 happened to
be away from his gas mask when it opened up. He had laid it on
bank in order to work freer, and had foolish-like wandered a few
yards away. In the bustle and excitement for cover it was forgotten,
but luckily another mask was found, and what was still
luckier, no gas came over. But the shelling was awful and the
nnies could be very easily distinguished by their dull crash
m the other shells. After that they went no more to bail out
ter.
On 3rd February, 1917. "A" Company captured Sun Ray Trench
at two o'clock in the morning word came along to the dug-out
proceed up the line to re-inforce. And off they started up
Eternal Alley, and then by mutual assistance the men clambered
the top and proceeded over land. Just as the top was
hed a salvo of shrapnel from Fritz burst nearly overhead and
was hard to keep in touch with the man in front, to lose him
nt disaster. It fairly put the "wind up" some of the men; it
been raining and the ground was slippery.
Hun flares were going up pretty freely and it was a case of
pping dead "while the light was on", as movement would be
eeted. A flare went up and No. 2880 suddenly stopped and
menced to slide into a shell hole full of water, and the water
almost waist deep. The long boots soon filled up and he
ld not get out on account of being heavily loaded, and the
aggravating part was that in his overcoat were a couple of
s of dry socks for a change, but they too suffered immersion.
h HARDING.. the parson's son helped him out and off he went