Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 5) - Part 1

front cover see original

L. R. Turner

No. 5
 

12/7/18. I didn't have a very comforting
sleep without blankets and a
well ventilated tent in addition
I was up at 7 and on my way
to the Bty. Within half an hour
I had expected to be relieved by
Jessep as the only one available
but during the day he had Contracted
Bronchitis necessitating his
removal to Hospital so there was no
alternative. It is Quite 7 miles
to the Bty position in Vaux
but I took a different road
thro Fouilloy and Aubigny both
shell-shattered towns and still
subject to occasional shelling
probably on account of the large
Number of Heavies located in
the vicinity. I took a trip up
to the O.P. more to Get a Sun
bath than anything else and
incidentally sleep while the
Telephonist watched for evening
movement. It would have taken
 

2

a great deal to disturb my peace of
mind as I was very languid. Much
to our surprise and annoyance 
orders came out late tonight that
we were to take over from the 10^th
Battery on the Left Sector just
when we were expecting a
Resumption of our leave so
premptorily cut short. Apparently 
it is a General Change Round
We Relieve the 2^nd Division they
Relieve the 3^rd and we hand
over to the latter. The 4th are
also transferring their allegiance
to the Left Sector which makes
it appear as if another stunt
was in the making.
13/7/18 Sunday and usually a
day for shifting camp so we
weren’t surprised to learn
early this morning that one
section would change over
tonight the Remaining two
tomorrow. the Guns are to
 

3 
remain in position which will
considerably facilitate the transfer
tho' we stand a good chance of
Getting worse guns in the deal.
all of ours being Specially good
Guns and only recently overhauled
I always seem to have the job of
Clearing the position and will be
the last to leave tomorrow
night The position here just
on the outskirts of the Village is
none too safe but altho we Go
to prepared positions as they
are right on the main Amiens.-Albert 
Road they are sure to
be much shelled However we
are used to that by now.
I'm the only officer left tonight
so will have to carry out the
shoots again and Get what
Sleep I can on the Morrow.
14/7/18. It was almost midday
when I got up tho I could
have slept on for Quite 3 more
hours. We had a little excitement 
 

4
during the night about 15 shells
being thrown over at intervals
in and around the guns I was
just coming out for one shoot
when the familiar crash appeared
just in front and I dashed for
a friendly tree in anticipation
of a few more Coming over
they Came but well to the
left so I was able to reach
the Guns Without mishap. We were
busy all day changing over
showing the new officers over
the position and giving our
Guns a shoot over the Zero
Lines for their benefit. The
Major went off at 3 leaving
Me to clear the position and
supply any further information
Required . I sent the Remaining
Gunners off at 9 and followed
myself with the Wagons and
a few details an hour later. I
decided to Go via Mercourt and
Ribemont to our new position
 

5
just near the Bresli Road I hadn't
been over the road before and it
was only a few thousand yards
behind the line but risked a
few shells and a possible advance
into enemy territory. We had
to pass by several Field and
How Batteries in Action and
of course had to dash past
Whenever there was a lull in
the firing. We reached the Bty.
however just on midnight
Rather Good travelling for the 6
Miles. I was tired after being
up for 3 nights and saw a
splendid opportunity of
sleeping soundly especally when
I saw we had 15 feet of
overhead Cover, to Resist any
Stray shells that might Come
over.
15/7/18 I spent most of the day looking
round our new positions and the
3^rd since I joined the Bty but what
a relief to arrive at a place where
 

6
we had everything ready for us. We
live on the main Albert Amiens Road
and the Bty is just on the other side
Rather good positions but liable
to much mud in wet weather owing
to Soakage. It is an abjection to be
so close to such a highway as the
traffic is extremely heavy and it's a
Good mark for hostile planes as
they can easily identify the road,
and follow it still we must risk
Something. We are having a new
position prepared some 2000 yds.
closer to the line in view of a
possible advance and when excavating
Came across several stone Coffins
containing human skeletons and
apparently those of the old Romans
who once overran this Country
It was an interesting find and
I couldn't resist the temptation of
withdrawing a couple of teeth
as souvenirs of the Morlancourt
Sector. While we were Checking our
lines this afternoon the enemy
 

7

threw a few 4.2's in front of our
Guns but as there was a road just
nearby we Contented ourselves by
saying that the Road was the objective
and not our Bty. It seems to make
one doubly Secure. We had a Rest
from "Harassing fire" tonight so all
of us were able to Go to bed and
anticipate what we all need most
a good Refreshing Sleep.
16/7/18. I halfed the day with duties
I got up at 9 and did a tour of duty
as orderly officer and after an early
lunch repaired to the O.P. to relieve
anofficer already there That most
essential of places Rejoices in the
name of the "Tactical O.P". and is
used by all Batteries in the Sector
in Case of detection which seems
very possible in View of the number
there we have a deep dugout to
repair to but all things Considered
it's not nearly so good as the one
We had on the Hamel Front. We have
an excellent view of the much Shattered
Morlancourt and the high Ground
behind much Coveted by our troops
while just below on the banks
 

8

of the Ancre are the villages of
Ville-sur-Ancre and Dernancourt
the former Recently captured by the
2nd Division. There are not the
facilities for sniping as we had before
but I had a few rounds [[pea fun?]]
on the datum Point to check the
Corrector. During the morning
I had a look over the internal
workings of a British Tank
there being 3 of them just near
our Bty. and found it all
very interesting They Certainly
look very Cumbersome viewed
from outside but everything
is most Compact inside and
splendidly fitted up.
17/7/8. By Some mischance I was able
to have another Good night's sleep
but had no sooner got out of bed
when B.H.Q. "suggested" we send an
officer to do Liaison and the Relief,
was to be made at 10 of course I
happened to be the only one available
altho' I was due at O.P. at 12 and
 

9 

had to ride over to our Wagon Lines
in the meantime and take a Summary
of evidence for a Court Martial tomorrow
but we are used to that by now.
I abandoned the idea of going to O.P.
Set out for the Wagon Lines of Freden-Court 
some 5 miles away at noon
and was back again at 6. I was
very pleased to see so many Heavies
in the Country behind us they are
a Source of Security to us in the
same way that Field Guns are to the
machine gunners and somehow
I do believe there will be a stunt
on our front in the immediate future
We also passed Several Battalions
of "Tommies" going towards Quernen
apparently they are going up to the
line as well. I set out to walk
across Country to Battalion HQs
in Buire just as a storm was
coming up and had only gone
a couple of hundred Yards when down
came the rain in torrents Of course I
managed to get wet thro' and it didn't