Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 5) - Part 2

                                       10

improve matters when I arrived at

HQs to find a Relief in progress and

the place far from inviting. The 

cellar my predecessor was living

in was mud deep  in water and

the general affluvium beyond description.

A deep dugout was in course of

preparation so I elected to camp

there tho I was wet thro" and had

no blankets with me still one

can put up with a good deal

when the occasion demands

was in luck's way and happened

an old friend Col. Freeman and

whom I had done Liaison with

before in China was taking over

from the Sgt. Battn and I had to

see him in the morning.

18/7/18. The mere handing over last

night was more like pandemonium

than anything else. In hours there

seemed to be a continual buzz of

conversation about every half hour

someone would push himself into

my small enclosure with a lighted 

candle and enquire who I was

I believe I told them to go to H-

several time of course I was expected

                                               11

to sleep in the cellar half full of

water and my presence in the

safe dugout was resented. Still I

decided to stay there at all cost.

I didnt get up until 10 by that time 

all was quiet but where I crawled

out into fresh air I found the

Colone just having breakfast and

ready to set out for the line. I

didn't offer to accompany him

as I saw the prospect of having a

sun bath and it was a sun 

bath in every sense of the known

according to Custom to it commenced

to rain late in the afternoon

and continued well on into the

night There was some desultory

firing on our sector but over on

the right the Germans made a

small attack but were driven back

we received news of a French attack

which they advanced 6 miles on

a 25 mile front capturing 9500

prisoners and 200 guns rather 

a good haul.

                                     12

19/7/18 Word came thro late last night

that we were to go out as a mobile

Reserve and that I was to be Relieved

by an Officer of the R.H.A. Btn. taking 

over from us. We were however to

reman in action until tonight

I was heartily glad to get back to the

Battery and find out just what

was on the cards. It afterwards

transpired that as we were in

need of a spell instead of going

back to a Rest Area we were

to go out in Reserve to be at

hand when required for any

offensive at short notice. Of course

it only meant repairing to our

wagon lines but if we are only

left alone it will be a good rest.

The afternoon was more or less

a holiday we just cleared our

temporary home of all its valuables

as the incoming Bty were taking

over entirely new positions and in

fact were already in action. We

pulled out just at dusk and

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reached the Wagon Lines out of

Freshencourt at 11 quite satisfied]

that for one night at least we will

have a good sleep.

 20/7/18 We very leisurely got out of 

bed this morning and just as 

leisurely carried out our own

morning. Visit inspection 

and around the lines It was quite

unusual for me to even see 

Wagon lines for during the last

month I've been continuously

with the Bty. I have a vague idea

that we won't remain out long 

as a matter of fact we have to

select a new Bty position in

view of a possible stunt on

our last section and I see

the self sauce stunt coming 

off very shortly especially as it

would be a still further [[?]]

[[?]] to the French who are

making fresh efforts at Soissons

If they would only cut out

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"final objectives" and allow our

troops to push on and capture

his field guns I would gladly go

back into the line tomorrow we

would finish up the war all the

quicker. I'm Orderly Officer tomorrow

and the Major has fixed first 

parade for 5.30 I would fall

in for a hopeless task.

21/7/18. Sure enough we do go back

to the line and tomorrow night

The Major had instructions to

select two new positions in the vicinity

of Ribemont and set out early

on his quest. The positions are

just across the Railway line

running between Ribemont and

Mericourt and tonight we proceed

to the position and "dig in" When

this war produces more pick

and shovel workers than Gunners

and we no sooner leave a good

position than we have to dig again

In spite of the fact that it was Sunday

we had a Sectional Cricket match

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this afternoon but its so long since

I played cricket that I decided to

stand down and was merely a

spectator. The Major returned with

a full account of the new positions

which happen to be along the Canal

pas the other side of Ribemont and

as usual fairly close up. We have

to get 300 rds. of ammunition om

the spot tonight and tomorrow

take up our sections and dig in

ready for the guns tomorrow night

Were worried in that state of awful

preparedness for about an hour

when orders came thro to cancel

everything so that we breathed freely

once again and went to bed

resigned to the fact that we didnt

have to turn out early and dig.

22/7/18 The commencement of another

working week but we really don't 

commence on our [[?]] as a

Mobile Reserve until Wednesday

We busied ourselves with the

ever-recurring "spit and polish"

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why some Good Samaritan at the

War office doesn't suggest that all steel

work should be allowed to rust

I don't know but it's a work of

art to keep it polished under the

conditions that exist it would break

the heart of the best driver. This afternoon

we indulged in a Cricket match between

the left and right Sections my present 

and past charges but of course I

played with the former and altho' I

haven't handled a bat for quite 10

years succeeded in making 2 

and 3 not out but it's almost

impossible without practice. We have

some very enthusiastic players

and it creates a good deal of

amusement. Incidentally we

lost by 10 runs on the two innings.

23/7/18 The Chief item of interest today

was the announcement that we were

to have portion of the U.S. Army

attached to us for instructive

purposes consisting of 1 officer and

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37 other rans with 31 Pde anti-tank

guns, 3 mules and a good quantity

of original American good humour.

I had to go to B.H.Q. to meet them

and conduct them to their new

home. They proved to be real good

fun Knew little or nothing about

Artillery and their 'pop guns' were

a source of much amusement

to our experienced 18 Pdr Gunners.

They Guns they are equipped with

are small French guns capable

of firing an armour piercing

shell up to 3000 yds and owing

to their mobility ideal guns for

bringing about the downfall of 

tanks. The officer is real good

company and is the first I have

had any great experience of and

the men amuse our fellows greatly

as we have distributed them amongst

the tents so that they come in direct

contact with our men. Cricket

was off as it rained heavily all 

the afternoon

                                      18

24/7/18 We commenced to live within

the spirit of "Mobile Reserve" at 9

this morning. My Section owing to the

fact that was Orderly Officer was the

duty section and did not participate 

in the training. After many months

in the line the gunners particularly

have forgotten much of what they

knew about mobile warfare and 

they will soon take an interest

in the work we propose out.

We had a cricket match in the

afternoon with a Pioneer Coy

and were beaten by an

innings. Owing to having rather

a hospitable board we somehow 

manage to attract all the

joyful spirits in the area and

tonight it reached the limit 15

It's over the odds so I've decided

to take charge of all we dispense

and issue it in small quantities

I anticipate our visitors will

dwindle considerably from now on

                                      19

25/7/18. Our revellers didn't depart

until long after 12 but I had 

repaired to my hit long before and

was well asleep when they went.

I was well up at 9. and as my Section

had been detailed for Section Drill

I was out with the teams and back

on my old game instructing

"recruits". I felt very fresh too as

I hadn't done any for months. Still 

a section is very much easier

to drill than a 6-gun Battery and

mot nearly so great a strain on

the vocal chords. In the afternoon

I set out for a ride to visit an

old friend at the 4^th Div^l Supply

Col. H.Qs going via St Gratien

and Allouville. It was a very

pleasant ride as the country is

very picturesque especially

around Allouville. There is a

large park of several hundred

acres there belonging to Hegurasy

of 3-star fame and we rode

thro' it on the way. It is used