Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 4) - Part 1

18
 

St
M
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tume
 

PRO1698/4
 

1657
 

6/5/18. I hardly know how to
express my thoughts on the catertain    
men. I was appoided on my
first night at the Battern. Leeping
quarters are vern liiited so I
unfolded my Falise at the head
of the mess and decided to get
what sleep I could. Anyway I
wasnosoover asles where our
whole six yuns right overhead
almost blazed fouth. That wasnt
the only time however for there
were 4other operation orders
to fulfil atvarious intervals
all of which tended to Rishort
M Sleep Shadtoretng at i
so that Ihould get to our o
before dayhight as it happens to
be in full view of the Hin
and necessitated a walk of two
miles at least. Ittwrned out to
be one of the most interesting days
 

165
 

Ioe ever experienced. The O.P is
an excellent one giving mank
of the whale of the Bone allotted tous
as well as apest deal more
spent 16 hours there observing
And directon shook on anything
of a suspicious nature. I was ver
duensiry to see the Hune walkong
about Quite unconcernedly where
they considered themselves under
lover as a matter of fact they
didn't count on the being sope
rund. Anyway weve put a
Heavy Ballling on to them, and
my hopes ren high. Our yans
were pouring shells inp the
yone allder ho the Hinded
very little an return except
thow ovr some 5.95 about
100yds over the OP Pwitnessed
a Hu Blue coming down
in fames as the result of
a determined Attack by one
ofours. I was geate trilling to
 

witness in Spite of the awful.
deak of the pictins. We didn't
get back until 9.30 feellng very
much like enjoying denner as
Got oern lettle I steep lastnight
went to bed very corly touifhy
15/18 Rhank t Elork SSlept
Mrs two heavy boubardments to
our Tuns, and was awakened
b my batman amouncing that
ym breakfast was reade. Who
everdreamt Id be having
it in bed on a job like this
but its evidently the Custom
and senpoyed the relayation
immensely. I give me an
opportunity too of lasking over
the Bhy position and finding
howthet By. is run. atherfter
teoon I went- bt on a prope
expedition fortunber and
Othernecessaries for building
duyouts. much to my relief
I received a packet of letters
 

163
 

from the Bank my collection of
for a month and 21 in all.
Ihad no hure to read them but
saw an exceltent chance on
the morrow as ill be at the
OP from 5 Fill G.BM
8/5/18. My day commenced ben
early Iwas awake at 2.30
calel lsternt to a pales from
our BM. auxhadto be out at
if Vesibility was bad all the
morning so I raw no anoplane
fights and du oue or two
Hines and they lvident were
duder the impression a couldint
be seen. So I read my letters
which took we at lest shours
and at the same him keeping
my weather tx open for advonci
Hims es Ht suspected a
shafe this morning. I had
peat opportunities hhis Afternoon
and twice scattered banderin
 

105
 

Bockes. The whole Fivision opene
out on tane wood loveryis
was suspectd the lenig were
workeng on yuu emplocements
at y and again at 8 the
latter being the most exciting
as the flashes were playnts
visible thro' the trees. dant
yet back until 10 feeling punshed
and much in hed of bed
Mess Ill sleep like aCB.
9/5/18. I was orderly officer todes
my first time as such and
Hmcans General Supervision
of the whole Bater ane when
theres a stit on Keeping i
close touds with the Yuars rep then
offalling shells. I spent most
of te day improving the pits
in autchpation of a supreme
effort on the part of the eneme
so break the on Our partiould
front. Ill have to leaven a host
 

9
 

if shipp before Ican Soply San Sin
duold hand. I had t work shs tw
shook for the officcr at the D.P.
did secured sdirect heps on
auspected HG out of y but
the Yeurs do Great work and have
been carefull colbiated and lol
have some fine peners Yesterdan
workingunder lover of a mist we
put in an old 15 Pdr. on the
reverse stope of a hill over
looking the Whole oour yone
to be used as an Ank bnk
your in case of a said and
if the raid is succespul then
it will be blown up and the
Crew go for their leves wwas
ver nearly being but in
charp ond bet one ofour
officers wanted a lest so he
shured the enoiable foot. The
more Isee of our najor whe
 

1657
 

bry the way is a Young Dunkook
bollep Chap the more Sadmire
his many Zeabhes really were
averyhdoon famly. bouight
and much to my regret word
camethro that the termans
were attacking in the morniig
We had had avisit from yea
SerWm Berdword duvring the
morning and it was he who
first amounced the fact
afterwards conjermed by our
inkllyence report. I commenced
the usual wyhts shork at
different intervals with m
repedations the I had shiet
instrictions to wake the mayor
should the harning goup litter
by an wtese benbardment
or by rockets fred from
our how line. These attacks
as a rule commence fst at
dawn and Ican blly on I
 

8
 

suiffed the arr with some cork
of perturbation mrony fiue
Hoween 3.30 and Ht M. Ee
had onrtast shoot at 5.45 and
after it was over I walked avrow
the hill to see whether Icould
defect anything tasudl as
i was hs gtting aght many
hosble places wereup and
they suatasking werlly some
mile or so away with much
Fam butthey came bof our
way. It was a bage relief to
Go to bed feeling that at
any trak we are free for
another day. During the last
bomberdment the recint
of the Battem was one folhing
mess of stells and thats
not a choce pospcty any
means I went besepean
and had not the slystetnbert
ton of worryout ate until at
least middly that they.