Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 4) - Part 11

99
11/7/18 Just a week since our "small"

diversion" on the Western Front 
tho I spent most of the day well away
from shells I had been appointed prosecutor
in a case before a Field General Court
martial at Petit St. Jean a suburb of
Amiens and some 15 miles from
our Bty so I didn't relish the long
ride there and back as one quickly
grows unaccustomed to the Saddle
I left at 10 called in at the Wagon
Lines at Daours for a fresh horse
and with the "prosecuted "and Escort
set out for Amiens and beyond.
It was showery most of the afternoon
but rather enjoyed the ride as we
had taken a different road to
that part on the last occasion
Amiens has greatly suffered from
the Hun Shells and tho' we only
skirted the city there was a great
deal of damage evident all
along the route. The Bonboards
and Square has I believe been
smashed beyond recognition tho'
 

100
travellers are not allowed in the
city proper we passed this Reuaerurt
the starting point from our trek north 
some 3 weeks ago and reached
Petit St. Jean a mile further on just at
3 the hour the Court Martial was
to have been held. As usual the Court
Martials Officer a Corps man was
late and it was 9 before we got a start
I changed my character and acted as
accused's friend instead as the
officer he had bespoken was ill
and could not be present. The man
had been obliged to plead "Guilty"
but I think the sentence will be a
light one as I centred my efforts on
"mitigating Circumstances" We left at
11 on the return journey as I thought
it best to get back as soon as possible
owing to the dearth of officers at the
Bty and reached our Wagon
 Lines at 2 AM. too tired to go
any further and curled up in
a blanket to await daylight
tho' there were only a few hours to go.
 

Inside rear cover of diary ~ see original
 

  Rear cover of diary ~ see original