Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 3) - Part 10

89 

This afternoon we went for a ride
out to the Mobile Veterinary Section
of the 5^th Division to see Capt Grant
an old friend of mine and found
him hard at work tending to the
maimed and the sick. We had
afternoon tea with him consisting
of Australian Cake Australian Tea
and even Australian Milk. Its
been raining hard all the evening
and consequently the frontiers
quiet.
28/4/18 Why we should always
move on Sundays I dont know
but just when we were beginning
to imagine we were Comfortable
amongst the wheat and flour
we receive orders move out. I
as detailed to take 18 Wagons
full of ammunition to the Batteries
and when I returned I was greeted
with the news that we had to get
out. A German officer had been
captured and a map was taken
 

90
from him showing the exact location
of our Wagon lines so we decided it
was time to move and forestall
the Hun. The drivers are used
to moving and within an hour
we were all ready to move off
and to move a whole Section
is an enterprise of some magnitude
The position selected is ideal for
Wagon lines if only the shells
leave us alone. We had some
trouble rigging up Quarters
but with the aid of a tarpaulin
and a few boxes soon had a
comfortable place to sleep in
I've been wondering whether we
haven't fallen out of the frying
pan into the fire because no
Sooner were we settled down
when shells commenced to fall
just over be a wood There are
two 60 Pdrs in front. So
evidently they've been located
and will get the benefit of it
 

91

29/4/18. all the morning and most
of the afternoon weve been Erecting
our temp army home and making 
it still more comfortable. Its a
long time since I did any axe
work but had to turn to this
morning and Cut down two trees
for Suitable Timber for our
habitation. Its a serious Crime
to cutdown trees in France particularly
those that have been earmarked
but necessity knows us law in
times of war tho We took Good
care constituted authority didn't
wander along at the Crucial moment.
Just after tea I witnessed the
Capture of a Hun plane and a great
and exhilarating Sight it was too
Whenever a plane wanders over
our lines there's always a
tornado of shells and machine
gun pellets following in its wake
and this was the first attract
our attention Then from the East
 

92
 

dashed up four of our planes and 
four were already pursuing firing
the whole time He was headed
off when making for his own
territory and gradually by deft
maneuvres surrounded and
compelled to land some two miles
over from our Camp. It's most
exciting while it lasts and we
followed the pursuit with much
eagerness. The place was only
damaged slightly by rifle fire
and one of the occupants had a
bullet thro his foot otherwise it
was a Cheering hand for the
RA.F. The map Captured from
Hunn had quite a number of
our wagon lines denoted and
evidently was after more so it
was well for us they was Captured
as we would probably have had
to pull out Again or else be
Shelled These things help to make
life here cheerful.
 

93
 

30/4/18 The end of Another month 
and almost 6 have passed since
we shouldered our packs and our
hoatles for this much harassed land
where I went to sleep last night I
imagined I was in for a good
rest but before very long another
outburst from our 15" neighbours
heralded a most refreshing Outburst
from I think every Conceivable
gun on the whole front judging
by the din created. Its' almost
impossible to sleep tho' I daresay
Ill soon tire of remaining
awake throughout. Rumour hath
it that the Hun is Commencing
today in behind Villers Bretamoux
after being roughly ejected last
week that will mean I daresay
that they will await our offensive
in this Particular Sector and
these terrific bombardments are
used to put an effective Check
on their energy.
 

94
 

I'm Orderly officer for the day
but the duties are Comparatively
light still I'll dodge a trip up to
the Batteries during the day or night
1/5/18 Mayday and in France of
all places. This is the anniversary
of the date I enlisted when I walked
into the Town Hall and gave up
my civic freedom and I don't
know that I ve ever regretted it
I did little this morning except
improve our dugout and wander
about the lines superintending the
erection of harness Shelters I
had a letter from Capt. Nicolson
this morning from one of our
Battery trapulines where I had
not been so far so I suggested 
to the O.C. That I should go
up with Ammunition this Afternoon
in order to see him. It was very
quiet so we Covered the two
miles in perfect quiet After
having a chat with the Captain
 

95
who had a brother in my Reft and
is now recovering from a bad case
of Meningitis I suggested riding up
to Bge HQs and seeing Col. Frank
Derham so he rang up and I confirmed
the suggestion. He was very
surprised to hear of me so close
and insisted I ride up without
delay. The road led thro' Bormay
a village which has been
almost shattered to pieces this
last weeks violent bombardment
and when our wagon lines got
a rough handling and across
the Railway Line. His dug out
is in a Quarry a very Good
position tho' Well up not being
more than 2000 to 3000 yds from
the front line still there were
no shells so I was alright. He
was very pleased to see me
and hear all about Melbourne
affairs particularly legal. The
Batteries in his Bge were only
 

96 

a short distance away but there
was no time to go up as I had to be
back for tea. Still I was glad of
the opportunity and enjoyed the
trip.
2/5/18. This has been a typical
Summer day Glorious in the sun
and only for the presence of
soldiers and the occasional
boom of the guns one would
have difficulty in realising that
a war was Actually on Everything
seemed so still and quiet
at times and the Country back
here looks Superb. The fields
everywhere are green wheat
and oats just Coming on tho'
quite a host of it is overrun
by the B.A.C. Mules. Two planes
Hun of Course have passed
overhead during the day tho'
Ours quickly get in pursuit
One of them I believe was
brought down near our lines
 

97
The end of his career. The other
Section of our B.A.C. as well as H.Q.s
have settled down near our lines
much to our regret we had quite
a fine home before now the
increased activity is sure to
draw the attention of Hun planes.
Thats H Q's lookout.
3/5/18 Another fine day though
we knew it wouldn't last long
anyway the Aeroplanes made the
most of it for us less than
three Hun planes were brought
down during the day. All the
occupants being killed. Our
late wagon lines were well
bombed too during the day
just as well we got out when
we did. All the morning we
spent improving our lines
erecting harness sheds and
it may be all to no purpose
for if Villers Brettoneux goes
then well have to get out
 

98 

pretty quickly because the whole 
Command of the Valley where our
guns are will have been attained
and you don't move well get
shelled out Now all the shooting
the Hun does in our direction
is by the map and it can't be
accurate without observation
We went to bed tonight to the
accompaniment of a heavy rain
of shells over the ridge from us.
just one of the enemy's occasional
outbursts.
4/5/18. The first thing I remembered
this morning was a heavy
downpour of rain followed by
drops of water on my face evidently
the Tent was still failing to withstand
rough weather still it didn't last
long and after throwing a waterproof
sheet over me I went to sleep
again. I had a trip out to our
Batteries immediately after
breakfast but except for a few