Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 4) - Part 3

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well on past 4 A.M. and old hands
declared they had never heard such
a din since Ypres.
19/5/18.  I went to bed at 5 and
slept blissfully on until 12 noon
chiefly because of the calm reigning
on both fronts. I learnt on waking
up that as a result of this
mornings episode the Village of
Ville sur Ancre was captured
as well as several hundred
yards of territory held by the
Hun. I wrote letters most of the
afternoon and generally looked
after the Battery as the Major
was out on a riding excursion
and all the other senior officers
were out on some job or other
One had to go as Liaison Officer
to the 8^th Infy. Bge. Rumours are
afloat that an attack is imminent
on the morrow judging by the activity
amongst the artillery one would
almost think so. 

20
20/5/18  There endeth another long
and semi interesting day on
duty at the O.P. Its getting so much
brighter early that we have to get
up half an hour earlier that
means 3.30 Sounds extraordinary
to start a day's work at that
hour but then all things
conventional must subordinate
themselves to conditions as they
exist. It was hot devilish hot
viewing the landscape for hours
at a stretch with no protection
against the sun but the ordinary
everyday steel hat which we
must wear as a protection
against flying splinters and the
tiresome sniper. The continual
glare of the sun has a striking
effect on the eyes glued as they must
be to a telescope most of the
day. Nothing spectacular ever
happens when I'm at O.P. I
did see one or two fights in 

21
mid-air but not with the alarming
frequency as I should desire
to the detriment of the Hun of
course. I did see 24 of our planes
at 8 this morning braving Anti-aircraft
and Machine Gun fire
fly over into Fritz's territory and
drop a large number of bombs
along his Communication lines and
all returned safely. The more visits I
pay to this point of vantage. the
more I realise how difficult it is
to detect a silent army at work.
There seems to be new trenches
dug every day and full of life
but not a Hun can you see
except of course in the back
areas and then only with the aid
of a telescope. I anticipated a
visit from some 8" shells as
had happened the day before
tho' it's hard to say if they were
deliberate. To all outward signs
our O.P. remains immune from
suspicion tho' occasionally a 

22
sniper's bullet flys by perilously close
21/5/18.  We were worried a good
deal during the night by shells
which would drop somewhere near
Moreover the moon is practically at
its full and planes on bombing
excursions fly backwards and
forwards all night long. It was
another scorcher and very trying
in a dugout with only a tarpaulin
for cover Its the only shade available
at the Bty. tho' and we must take
advantage of it. Much to my joy
for the mere chance of having a
good nights sleep. The Major told
me to take a 3 days sojourn
with the wagon lines. I was just
packing up when orders came
thro' that a liaison officer was
required at Battalion H.Qs so
I was switched off to that. The
31^st Battalion which we support
I knew was somewhere in Vaire
just across the River Somme and
not more than a mile away. I 

23
rather relished the idea as it's a
good scheme unless a hopover
is projected and then it means
hopping over too. However for the
rest. I rather preferred it to the
wagon lines and Vaire nestling as
it does at the foot of the Hills and
quite close to the River is surely a
delightful spot in weather like this
I set out anyway with just a
small amount of gear for it
was only to last 3 days and the
scenery on the way over past lagoons
and thro avenues of plane trees
was delightful.. Battalion H.Qs is
situated in a beautiful old
Chateau on the bend of the river
and in the midst of fine rural
beauty just typical of France
with its old outbuildings and
Gardens and so far seems to
have been very little shelled
possibly on account of being
hidden away in a perfect forest
of trees tho the town has been 

24
very much knocked about. As I was
anxious to have a look at our
front line trenches. I accompanied
the Works officer on his tour of
inspection lasting from 9 til 12
I was very glad of the opportunity for
it gave me a good idea of the trials and
tribulations of the nifantryman. They
live like hermits in dugouts some
of them mere holes in the ground
all day to emerge at night time
for exercise and a breath of
cool air. The line in our particular
sector is only about 300 yards
from that of the Hun and one
has to walk with a certain amount
of trepidation in case Snipers are
on the alert. It was a walk of some
3 miles right round the various
posts and in all cases much
wiring was in progress in
case of an attack which by the
way is declared by the powers th
be to be imminent. I was very glad
to get back to HQs again. 

25
22/2/18. 22/5/18 I spent a very quiet nixxx
exactly as I expected amid all these
rural beauties. No attack developed
during the early hours of the morning
nor were we troubled with any
hostile shells except for a half hour
or so during the afternoon. I
didn't get up until 10.30 and after
a walk round the garden it
was almost time for lunch We
live rather well here there are
plenty of vegetables to be salved
in the township it seems to have
been quite a model place rather
neat cottages almost every one
possessing a garden of some sort
Those I've seen heretofore were
always much neglected and in a
very insanitary condition. It
remained decidedly hot all day
and I had to go to the end of
the village to witness a practice
barrage from one of the Coy H.Q's 

26
The place is very much exposed to
shell fire but affords an excellent
view of one of our sectors. The walk
gave me a good appetite for a dip
which all of us took advantage
of later in the afternoon and
enjoyed in true holiday spirit
in spite of a ten minute bombardment
of the hill just opposite by
5.9's. probably the most effective
Hun Shell. and very Similar to
our 60 Pdrs. I elected to remain
in during the evening and work
in preference to taking a tour
round the advance posts.
23/5/18  Another day has well
nigh gone and the second of my
tour of duty as Liaison officer it
strangely became quite wintery
but still pleasant enough for
all else except bathing. Late
last night an American officer
wanted to be attached to
Battalion H.Q's for experience
and an interesting fellow he is 

27
too. Conversation with him soon
impresses one with the enthusiasm
with which they have undoubtedly
taken the field and he assured
me that at least 500,000 have been
exported and they are doing at
least 60 to 70 thousand weekly.
In less than 6 months they should
have huge numbers in the field
all trained in accordance with
present organisation and needs.
Some difficulty I believe arose
first as to the type of machine
gun they should be equipped with
and as that is fast becoming
the stable weapon with the Infantry
it naturally caused some delay.
They all, as was expected think
very highly of the Australian
as a Soldier chiefly because
there resourcefulness and initiative
compare most favourably with
similar qualities in themselves
They will make an excellent fighting 

28
force. I decided to pay another
visit to the advance posts ostensibly
in search of exercise after a day
spent indoors. The former system of
having an elaborate network of trenches
has now been dispensed with. All the
front line consists of is a number
of advance posts at irregular intervals
holding merely a handful of men
tho manned by that most indespensible
weapon the Machine Gun and further
in rear a series of support
posts. So that now there is correctly
speaking no front line. It was
bright moonlight so one had to walk
with a certain amount of caution
between the various posts. It's interesting
to see the infantry in their habitations
a budding Major for instance wading
thro bully beef stew seated on the
floor of his dugout and obliged to
lower his head thro' proximity
to the roof and yet they seem happy
enough. It was just 1 A.M. when
I slipped into bed.