Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 4) - Part 2

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10/5/18 altogether I didnt do very
much today I crawled but of my
improvised bed at 12 and after
lunch just wandered about the
Battery doing nothing in particular
I had heaps of letters to write
managed to get a few done this
afternoon but not as many
as I should have wished. We
usually sit up and talk
shop after dinner every night
and tonight was no exception
to the rule Nothing very much
happened during the day a few
shells were thrown at HQs
not far from us the the contemplated
attack didn't eventuate.
11/5/18 I was up at 4 again
for my turn at the O.P. It
was rather misty so I anticipated
observation would be difficult
but I was prepared to have a
shot at it. The whole morning
I could see little or nothing
 

19 
owing to the mist. In the afternoon
I had some fine fun scattering huns
I had seen much movement during
the afternoon so decided to register
on the particular spot and lay
in wait. I had several shots
and it was highly amusing to see
the huns dash for cover whenever
a round whistled by. It was
a good opportunity too to write
letters and I made the most of
it. There was little aircraft
activity so I saw no planes
coming down in flames. A plane
had come down in Noman'sland
probably the night before
and was plainly visible from the
O.P. and much damaged.
12/5/18 I was orderly officer today
but I didnt commence my duties
until after 11 because it was
10 before I had breakfast and
deadly laziness in bed. It was
a wet day so I kept well indoors
 

11 
I wondered seeing that I was on
duty whether we would have an attack
in the morning anyway I got thro'
my shoots well on time and was
just thinking of going to bed when
planes commenced to come over
and drop bombs all around our
Battery they had no sooner departed
home when the Huns commenced
to pour 59 and gas shells into the
Valley on our right I expected
the Valley would be traversed and
it would be our turn next the gas
began to float past us but it was
only slight so we were able to
disregard it. However after shelling
the country in the vicinity of Corbie
for about an hour the attack
wore off and soon ceased altogether
13/5/18 I went to bed at 5.30 intending
to sleep until after midday but
our experience in the early morning
unsettled me and I couldnt sleep
 

12 
However it commenced to rain
otherwise Id have gone for a ride
to the D.AC. so I spent the afternoon
writing letters and reading a French
novel. We had a visit from two
staff men and gave them afternoon
tea they were amusing rather than
interesting.
14/5/18. I had quite an exciting day
today and I was very glad to get
home with an unpunctured skin
First of all I was rudely awakened
by the Major shaking me violently
by the shoulder and telling we to get
under cover at once as a shell
had just fallen 50 yards in front
of our dugout. Each dugout has
what is called a funk pit a narrow
trench about 6 feet deep splendid
protection against shells. I was
very sleepy but the whizz of
another shell made me quickly
realise what was wrong However
all the rest either fell short or over
 

13
and after a while stopped altogether
I was at the O.P. by 4 30 and it was
a spendid day for observation. The
Boche were very unremitting in
their efforts to shell a wood just
in rear and succeeded in throwing
a small piece of shell into our
dugout so I kept the trophy as
being the first shell to hit me.
Little did I imagine that I was to
have a very ^ much narrow escape before
reaching home. we were going
across a field when a shell screamed
overhead and fell quite 100 yards
to the right then a second slightly
closer so we hurried on Imagine
my consternation when a third
seemed to come straight for us
We ducked for our lives and
the shell and a 5.9 at that fell
only 50 yards behind. That was
no good so we  dashed into
a hollow on the hillside and
waited for the next to pass by
no more came but it was a narrow
 

14

escape and I was glad to reach
home and comparative safety.
15/5/18. I had a very distressing day 
today it was rather on the warm
side and very humid and I
hed a good deal to do as Orderly
officer. All the officers were away
and that accounted for it besides
there were unusual circumstances
We had a good deal of gas about
most of it thrown into a RFA.
Battery over on our left they
get more than their due ^ share of shells
too evidently they have been
spotted and are getting it.
16/5/18. Another day at the O.P. and
of course that meant getting up
at 3.30. It was rather a suprise for
me to learn late last night when
I saw a night's duty in front
of me as Orderly officer that I was
go up to OP. to [[regulate]] the four
of [[?]] thro' one of our officers
returning from duty at our Tank
 

15
gun. It was extremely misty so

observation was impossible almost

until about noon A large number

of our planes were up carrying out

bombing raids in the Hun lines

Strangely life was very difficult to

detect and it was very quiet on both

fronts. During the afternoon

I witnessed some fine strategy

on the part of our planes 3 of

them by clean manoeuvring managed

to force a Hun plane down behind

our lies Capturing the pilot and

observer and saving the plane

intact. Its a relief always when

9 oclock comes because of a 17 

hours stretch in a small dugout

without the chance if a shell is

no huge joke. Evidently our

lookout has been observed because

two rifle bullets flew by perilously

close I slipped into bed very soon

after I arrived home.

                                     16

17/5/18 I got up this morning fully

intending to go on duty as Orderly Officer

again but was agreeably surprised

to find that Jessup was filling the

bill admirably. I decided to go for

a ride back to the D.AC and 

from there on to the Veterinary

Section to see Capt. Grant. It was

very warm again so I [[?]]

I conceived the idea of going in

for a swim at a lagoon just

below the Bty. It is one of a

series along the R. Ancre and

prettily situated amongst beeches

and poplars now all out in leaf

It was superb and easily the first

dip I've had for quite 18 months

Afterwards we toured the lagoon

in a small unt ad it was

glorious I'd like to have spent the

whole day there just loafing in

the sun. In the afternoon I had

rather a pleasant ride first to the

GAC and then to Villanville

                              17

where the Veterinary Corps are

housed in the centre of a beautiful

wood far away from the din of

battle. I remained there for dinner

and came back just as it was

getting dark and to the tune

of Hun Planes flying northward

on bombing excursions.

15/5/18 I was Orderly Officer today 

and during my tour of duty we had

a visit from General Hobbs General

Bessell Browne our Colonel and the 

usual retinue I didn't have too many 

clothes on nor did I feel disposed to put

any more on so stayed well under

cover and allowed the Major to do

the honors. They all went away quite

satisfied with the state of affairs.

It was noteworthy too for a visitation

of another kind the most violent

thunderstorm I've yet experienced

in France blazed forth in all its

glory and accompanied by hail

and rain of the large variety It

lasted for fully an hour but we

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were well under cover so suffered

little inconvenience. It had the effect

of slowing down the activity of the

artillery and when our daily operation

order came thro there were only two

night shoots to run off. Rather a 

pleasing prospect for me because

I saw an opportunity to sleep

most of the time. I was rather perturbed

later on when a special order

came along with instructions to put

down what is known as a "Chinese"

bombardment Ie. a show barrage

while on attack could be made

on one or other of our flanks.

It was set down for 2AM of course

that meant I had to be present

Precisely at 2 I witnessed the most

intense fire Ive yet see for all the 

Heavies for miles around

joined in and shells of all sizes

were whistling all around me

One huge 15" one, past Heilly

fairly illuminated the heavens

every time it fire This lasted