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

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24/5/18
Wintery Conditions still prevailed
all day. It was too wet to get out and
the growth is so profuse everywhere
that the wet grass is even worse than
a heavy shower of rain. All the afternoon
a Conference was Sitting arranging for
a raid during the early hours of the
morning to establish identification
of the Divisions opposing us and
rather a hellish job. At 5.30
an officer from the 54 Bty arrived
to relieve me and I was rather
sorry that my holiday had come
to an end but one doesn't like being
away too long from the Bty and
moreover I anticipated there would
be a Mail waiting for me. When
I returned I found there were no
letters waiting for me and only
the previous day a series of bombs
had exploded quite close to our
dugout. I sincerely trust it was an
accident tho in a day or so we
we will turn our new bombproof
quarters  some feet underground
 

30 

25/5/18   Here we are at another weekend
they seem to come and go with alarming
regularity and still not sign of a
move on the part of the enemy. It wouldn't
be so bad if we did something ourselves
because the sooner something desperate
is done the sooner well be home again
Our raid last night was a failure the
Huns were too alert so it happened.
I didn't get up until after 10 but then
it was 1 before I turned in and
a particular heavy bombardment
at 2 kept me awake long after.
I had an invitation from the Colonel
to appear some poor unfortunate
arraigned before a Court Martial
on a Serious Charge and tomorrow
I'm going across to Brigade H.Qs
to look into his Case. I shall have
the rest of the right on duty thro'
being Orderly officer and a sleep
in during the morning will [[?]]
of how I once stayed in bed for
breakfast one bright Sunday many
months ago.
 

31 

26/5/18 The prospect of a good peaceful
day is good but the realisation is
even better. We finished shooting
at 4 by putting down what is
called an S.O.S. all it amounts
to is a concentrated bombardment
for about 5 minutes along a line
parallel to our front and approx-
imately coinciding with the Hun
front line or what represents it
with lifts up to say 500 yards
just in case an attack is in
contemplation. This is usually
carried out at dawn the favorable
time for attack. Instead of
turning in at my usual place
I repaired to a vacant bed in
another of our dugouts carefully
blocked up the entrance with a
blanket and threatened destruction
on anyone who dared wake me
before Midday at least. I suffered
that blissful immunity. While I
shaved and leisurely dressed my
brother who arrived arrived 54^th
 

32

Bty the night before told me of his
experiences reaching his destination
They were similar to mine rest camp
of foot slogging but then he's used to
that after 2 years experience with
the Infantry.  Just as we were going
to bed a series of loud explosions
not fifty yards away made us quickly
realise that a hostile airman was
out for plunder. One landed very
close to No 4 gun tho' no-one was
in the vicinity at the time fortunately.
27/5/18. It's just a week today Since
I was on O.P. duty my "holiday" as
Liaison officer intervening. The
morning was very misty making
observation difficult so I had an
opportunity of sizing up the position
after a months experience and from
a rather Good vantage point tho over
a very restricted zone of course.
The particular part of the front held
by our Brigade forms a rather
sharp salient projecting from a
line running from Albert South
 

33

past Amiens and crossing the Somme
on the left of our zone. The salient
includes the village of Hamel and
then extends back past Villers Brettoneux
on the 24^th April a determined
attack was made to capture the latter
place as it Commands the whole of
of the Ancre Valley in our rear and
overlooks Amiens. The village was re-
captured and no further attempt has
been made. Clearly an attempt to
deepen the Salient on our Zone would
be ill advised as we hold the high
ground on the North of the Somme
but we anticipate attacks on
the flanks and if succesful will
force us to retire and sure enough
they will come and soon because
delay seems ruin for the Hun. Our
four last Divisions are here
and the Authorities show good
judgment because if anyone will
hold this important point the
Anzacs will. To them is due the honour
and glory of stemming the tide.  Some
8 weeks ago. If Amiens falls it will
 

34

be serious because it is the Centre
of our lines of communication.
But we'll hang on. The enemy has
been shelling the woods and valleys
with Gas with alarming regularity
the last four days and a slight
whiff almost gives One Nausea. It
has a tendency to remain for days in
damp atmosphere with little wind
and favourable conditions are only
wanting when we expect something
violent in that direction it will
be the prelude to a strong attack
28/5/18    Orderly officer again
today and after a violent sleep
lasting for quite 10 hours. There
was very little shooting last night
consequently I was able to sleep.
The strenuous part of the day's work
as Orderly officer is at night time
but I was detailed for a 3 days
spell at the wagon lines and
rather looked forward to it too as
the mental strain is rather severe
so left about 6 getting there
 

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just in time for mess. Our wagon

lines are just above Pont Nouvelle

and in a very picturesque part

under a hill which overlooks Corbie

occasionally a shell falls in the

vicinity and the Hun planes are

particularly partial to wagon lines

still so far they have been fairly

well immune.  I was able to get

to bed early and look forward

to  breakfast in bed.

29/5/18      Why this is hardly war

not a sound of a Gun could

be heard all the morning I got

up at 11 and just wandered

round the wagon lines until

lunch.  For two hours a day

we allow the horses to graze on

clover and lucerne plots of

which there are plenty here

about. Vegetation is profuse

every where because this is the

season of the year and a great

treat for the horses besides cutting

down the horse ration account

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It is so quiet here that we were

able to indulge in a cricket match

with the 55th Bty. whose wagon lines

are just nearby, so  the soldiers

have plenty of variety.

30/5/18     I indulged in riding exercise

of no mean order today.  This morning

I rode over to the 49th wagon lines

to see Smith. There are so many

wagon lines between here and

Daours and beyond that I had

some difficulty in finding him.

It was a glorious morning and

the fields are looking their best

waving wheat and barley fields

interrupting with plots of

lucerne and clover and everywhere

in and amongst the green are

to be seen countless poppies

and cornflowers growing wild

and throwing off a brilliant

contrast to the sea of green

without a doubt one realises

what a beautiful country

France is particularly at this

37    time of year and a feeling of

remorse comes over one to think

of the devastation France has been

subject to but it makes one

appreciate life even tho the

circumstances are against a

cheerful view of it.  I rode thro

Daours the subject of a daily rain

of shells and turned south after

leaving the town to ride along

the canal under the shade of

a magnificent avenue of trees.

A British Co. Pdr. Bty. was dug

in along the bank but out in

the open some 100 yds in front

was a single gun so placed to

draw the fire of the hostile 59's.

The shells were falling perilously

near so I lost no time in

exchanging greeting with my friend

and returning.  In the afternoon

we rode thro' Bussy another

shell shattered village on the banks

of the Aucre and out towards

Allouville noted as being the home

38    of Hennessy of "3 star" fame.  He

lives in a magnificent chateau there

altho' it is now much neglected.

We fed with a brother officer

on the outskirts of the village and

rode home just as dusk had

fallen to the tune of Hun planes

going into the back areas on

lone [?] excursions.

31/5/18     The end of another month

each seems to pass by practically

unnoticed and with that alarming

regularly that seems opposed to

the ups and downs of the fortunes

of war.   I rather welcome the

termination of still another

month for it brings us still closer

to a realisation of our hopes

whatever that might be.  The Hun

set out to create quite a 

diversion last night as is his

custom and countless bombs

in the vicinity of the Aucre was 

the result.  Fortunately we had

no visitation although a few shells