Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918-1919 (Vol. 6) - Part 1

 

Vol. 6.
L.R Turner Lt
53 Bty
A.F.A.

1
12/9/18. Our Treck turned out to be a

very long and tedious one. We were

desirous of reaching the Somme at least

by dark and we expected any hostile

planes would devote their attention

to the main Road well forward if 

at all even tho’ there were some friendly

clouds to obscure the Column after

passing thro’ Estrees and Monseu-Chauseé 
where the Church tower had 

been wantonly blown up by the 

retreating Huns we reached Brie just

on the Canal as the last trace of 

twilight was disappearing in the west.

We were however refused passage

over the bridge at Brie and had to go

via St. Christ some 4 miles down 

the River here the bridges had been 

blown up but reerected and roughly

too but we negotiated them in the dark

safely. Striking the Main Road again

we passed over the long Stone Road

thro’ Villers Carbonnel and soon were 

able to recognise the familiar Barleux

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where we had spent some very

anxious half hours. As was afterwards 

elicited the Billeting Specialist had
gone on to Peroane expecting we would
come that way so that when we arrived
at Hebecourt at 3 A.m. there was no one
to meet us  It was raining heavily so
there was nothing left but to pull 
in off the roadside run out
picketing lines and turn in for a
few hours sleep. It was still raining 
at 8 o’clock and we learnt
thar we should have gone on to
Feuilleres situated on the banks of the
Somme some 5 Kilos on. Where our
billets were waiting for us. By 9 we
were on the road again tho’ as soon
as we reached our new rendezvous 
it stopped giving us an opportunity of 
getting our shelters erected. There are
a few huts on the spot built by the
Huns and rough too evidently not
intended to house an Army H.Qs.
Still good enough for the insignificant 
Bty. Staff. We were all disappointed 
with the apparent idea of H.Qs. to give 

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us a rest We should certainly have
preferred Amiens or the immediate 
vicinity where we might have the
opportunity of seeing civilization in
all its glory.
13/9/18. We spent rate an uncomfortable 
night. The Major and I had gone out
for dinner to a neighbouring Bty and
as it rained rather heavily we had some
trouble to evade the numerous shell
holes about on the way home as it
was impossible to walk the “straight
line” - on account of the slippery
ground - nor was that all for the rain
would persist in coming thro’ our
habitation practically the whole night 
it rained heavily. We had the usual
parades and the usual stables and
there was a good deal of cleaning up
to be done to make the place presentable.
It continued to rain more or
less the whole day so we didn’t have
too propitious a Commencement 
for our spell. What we are most
concerned about is how long it will 

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last. At least we aren't likely to have

any hostile planes over as long as
it's wet.
 14/09/18 I was due for the exalted post

of orderly officer and had to get up

at 6.30 tho I would have appreciated

a good sleep instead it was still very

damp under foot tho the rain seems

to have ebbed away. And will give

us an opportunity of pushing the

[[?]] still further tho- material

success has bear gained to than the

last four days by the [[?]] in spite

if the rain. We performed the same 

cleaning up duties tho the men

Would have appreciated the afternoon

off still it’s always the same when 

ever we are out for a well earned

rest. One of our officers departed 

for [[?]]count to make some

pancakes at the officers Ordinance

store there going by medium of

a motor cycle about which he

Knows little or nothing. I wish him

luck at least. We witnesses one

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of the funniest spectacles I’ve ever seen

tonight. A [[?]] plane could be

distinctly heard coming over almost

immediately we could see him dis-

tinctly with the aid of the searchlights

and after an interval there sudden-

ly appeared in the dazzling light

one of our small planes constantly

on the lookout for any wandering

Gothas. He gradually drew nearer

and nearer and we held our 

breath when all of a sudden

the Gotha burst into flames and

travelled rapidly to earth as soon

as the flaming mass hit the ground

there was a huge explosion from the

numbers of bombs on board. It

was thrilling while it lasted and

a huge cheer went up from the

thousands of onlookers to think

that a new [[?]] of [[?]]-

[[?]] the [[?]] from this had been

succesful. Later in the evening

another plane was brought down

by the same means and the search-

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lights seemed to be extraordinarily 

[[stuck?]] in picking up the hostile 

Machines

15/9/18 we had another small show

during the night but the managed on

this occasion to dodge the [[?]]

Ever tho we do have to put in some

[[?]] work cleaning harness

and the like it’s few an opportunity 

of living the men medically 

examined issued with clean 

clothing and incidentally washed.

but the still wonder how long

it will be before we have to return 

for another stunt. We were expecting

the prime minister and general

[[?]] during the manning to

make an inspection of the far-

farried 5th [[?]] and we set to work

to another place and the were

still more presentable. It was with

mixed feelings that the men received

the announcement that “Billy’ Hughes

was coming to see them tho to where

of on good authority that a good deal

Of the recent leave the men have been

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having is due to his efforts. After all’s 

we saw nothing of them is just settled

down to enjoy our rest. The anticipation 

was however short lived for orders came

tho during the afternoon that we weee

to be ready to move back into the live 

at 10 AM. tomorrow. The poor 5th 

Division falls in again.

16/9/18 I was detailed to go forward

and select wayon lined in the Vicinity

of the place vacated by an airlift at

9 o’clock. It appears that the Australian

boss is to take the line by surprise 

frontal attacks in the vicinity of

Vermand which to all accounts is

[[?]] held and is the last bar

before searching the Hindenburg Line

to which the Hein will be compelled

to [[?]] if any contemplated attack

is successful. Rumour has it that

After this crap the while corps is to

go out for a rest possibly the

whole winter but that seems too

Good to be true. However we have

some tough work ahead. I had 

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Word to say about group H.Qs we

were given a square to select [[wayon]] lines

without any recommitting and of course

where we arrived there was no suitable

place for miles as practically all the 

remaining Austr. Divisions were there 

already still we managed to crowd in

somewhere. The Btn. Arrived at 4 and

at 6 we ran up ammunition to the

position selected by the major just

beyond Hechin and about 4 800

Yards from the front lines. It is to our

bright narrow light and we live in

nightly dread of losing horses and

men running ammunition forward

Still we can’t stop the war and must

take our chance

17/9/18 I spent one of the most

memorable as well as one of the

most cheerful nights so far last

night. We had gone to bed under a 

glorious starlight sky and our last

thoughts were that it would [[?]][[?]]

so we merely erected a light frame

and carelessly pulled a tarpaulin 

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