Diary transcript of Reginald Harriman Heywood, 1917 -1918 - Part 14

130

aid got some sort of a bomb protector for the horses. The

plough will have to be returned after dark as it is now minus

a wheel.

.6.18.  No papers to-day, so can't say if Fritz has reached the 

Marne yet. Meanwhile he hasn't been so reckless with the iron

issue round here to-day, tho'  there was plenty of stuff blowing

round about Bussy, where I was trying to find the new 4th Bde,

locations.

The little affair at Cantigny by W.S.A. troops was

brilliant and successful - as brilliant as anything of its kind

could be.  One of the few bright spots in fact in these dreary 

days.

.6.18  Sunday, and as Brownie's back is still too bad to ride

and Dick is getting enough work to make him quite dopey decided

to play safety and gave a miss.

Fritz amongst other things claims to have reached the

Marne, gadzooks, gadzooks.  That emergency I drew up  on the

Pyrenees will come in handy.

His guns have been touching up our horses too the last few

days; to-day one shell called for 28 horses in the 43rd Battery-

16 of them killed.  Otherwise the day has been ^ as devoid of interest

or incident as the longest of Chas Garvice's novels.

3.6.18. Darkie hasn't sung for days.  I wish he would.  Anything

would be better than the heavy tragedian manner i the throes of
which he has laboured for the last few days - all I think on

account of the non-appearance of a letter from one MIss Lambie

of Watchem. Vic. Little does Miss Lambie know of the unhappiness

she has instilled into the lives of at least two men since the last mail came in.

Tom Tucker called in and lunched with me: for him he was

particularly cheerful,  in spite of having had no Blighty leave

yet, and seeing no immediate prospect of getting same.  Bill

McGregor and Phil have moved out of Pont Noyelles, a wise

precaution

I should think, but Tom hasn't found their new location.

The Boch shelled our old position over at Riveny again

last night causing casualties and the quick retirement of the 

3rd M.V.S. (Johnnie Legg) a Sanitary Section and a section of

the 3rd A.S.C.

4.6.18.Saw the 4th Bde. up near Bussy and  had a bit of a pow-wow

with Sgt. Smith, late of the 2nd Bde; who has taken over

vice Sgt. Williams.

From where the Bde, are there is a fine view of Corbie,

Villers Bretonneux, and the neighbouring ridges, which were 

being/

 

131

being well pasted with all kinds of shells.

Conducted a couple of minor operations, one on Jimmie's 

tail, from which "Doc" Kelly amputated a couple of joints, and

one on Snowy Claydon's head, in search of a splinter of A.A.

shell.
Darkie is almost impossible to-day but there is some
excuse.  A tommy came and asked him did he belong to a certain
West Indian Labour Bn. Darkie who failed to find a suitable

reply is dark certainly , but the above gentlemen range in colour

from that of a mourning band down to a Nugget patent polish.

Today is my birthday and as Darkie had placed a large 

bunch of poppies, daisies and cornflowers in a shell case on my

table am feeling most festive.

.6.18. Rode over to Hqrs. for the wherewithal for the boys to

re-open the two-up school - expect it will be in full swing again

for a few days until one more fortunate than the others rakes in

the total issue.

I see long Charlie Turner erecting himself a kipsie

out in the crop; he is expecting his three dug-out companions to

wax rather festive tonight I imagine.

The Man with the Iron Jaw and  Tom Tucker lunched with

me.  Locky's brother is coming over from the U.S. with the 89th

Division.  Do you get that? This Division is made up from

Texas and Arizona and includes some rather wild spirits.

.6.18. It would seem that Miss Lambie has saved the situation.

A large mail came in to-day and the murderous and soulful look of

gentle riotousness has departed from Darkies' eye.

Visited the 254th Tunnelling Coy. in the Hospie

Amiens and as the 8th Bde. are also accommodated in there, I

lunched with Locky and his pal Percy Sparks.  Sparks is Q.M. of

the 31st Bn. and a great little fellow.

Spent a considerable portion of the afternoon assisting

in dismantling an S.R.5 which came down in the poppies opposite.

It was being flown by a  little Yankee and developed acute engine

trouble. Some days ago a Fritz 'plane came down intact, the pilot

casually asking for a cigarette and remarking he was fed up 

with the war. He also added that others would be following his 

example shortly.  The little Yankee mentioned above flew the

Boch 'plane over to the aerodrome and stated that it was no wonder

the Fritz was fed up as the machine was the bummest thing

he's ever been in.

7.6.18.  Arose betimes and took another 6 inches off Jimmie's 

tail/

 

132

tail in the most approved fashion.  Then followed the demise

of a mule, and I improved the shining hour by doing a little

research work on her carcase.  By 11 a.m. after groping about

up to my shoulder amongst her internal arrangements I apparently

presented a sickening spectacle - so much so that on the

arrival of D.A.D.O.S. and Jimmie, D.A.D.O.S. who confessed

to having been very drunk last night was most agitated. He

even refused a drink until I'd had a bath.

Tom Tucker and Phil arrived before lunch and that ended the

day so far as anything of military importance was concerned.

The Boch is about 40 miles from Paris but has slowed down

or up ( whichever you prefer) to almost stopping points.

Might I add that Phil affects somewhat unusual and resplendent

attire and is consequently looked on with silent and

amused contempt by that old soldier Tucker.

.6.18. Jinnie with truly feminine logic hates me most cordially.

I used cocaine too and only operated on her to save her life.

It's a hard world.

Had a most enjoyable joy ride with Jimmie and Mitch in a 

Divnl. car down as far as Abbeville.  We  passed thro' Vignacourt

Flixecourt, Longuet, where the 10th A.F.A. Bde. are and where I

had lunch with Major Seelenmeyer who has been awarded an M.C.

Jimmie had lunch with Maj. McKenna at the 11th Bde. further on

and we returned thro' St. Savern and Longpre'.  France isn't 
such a bad old place - in the summer and away from the war, but

doesn't know anything about happy mediums - the roads are either

axle deep in mud or similarly enveloped in dust - vide to-day.

Abbbeville is rapidly falling into great disuse and even 

the D.V.S. and suite have had a thin time with the bombs.

Seeley is living in a chateau belonging to the Countess of

Somebody or another, which is a work of art and filled

with quaint and carved furniture and pictures to match.

9.6.18.  Jinnie has recovered from her operation and I think she's

going to live - not what you'd expect after a successful  operation

is it? She's quite forgiven ,e too, I forget whether to 

forgive is a female perquisite or not.

To-day's Bystander has a paragraph saying that Fritz places 

the value of British units as regards fighting in the  following

order - 1. Australians, 2. Guards, 3. 51st Division.  That appeared

in orders taken from the Boch some months ago, but as far as I

know has not been previously published in an English paper.

The boys have been issued with short underpants which

have greatly taken their fancy - so much that numbers of 

them/

 

133

them have dispensed with their ordinary trousers.  Living

about here this fine weather you'd think there was a monster

Stawell Gift or something like that on shortly.  I hesitate

to aske you to imagine what a long lean brown figure enclosed

in a pair of calico shorts and a singlet under  a "Sieda" hat

looks like.

10.6.18. The drought  has broken and we are to-day getting a good

steady rain which all things considered is very acceptable.

The Boch appears to have halted for a time in his drive

for Paris.  The French and the Yanks between them are forcibly

assisting him in this decision.

Had lunch with my friend Tom Jones M.C. at the 12th Fld.

Amb. He is that famous transport officer whom I met first up

at Voormezeele (The Brassene).

We went over to Allonville in force to the 15th Bde.

sports: we entered quite a team but did no good.

Norman's horse - the one we swapped Herbert to the

police for  - jumped really well too.  I might add that he has

jumped the Liverpool Grand National course.

11.6.18. The Boch has gone off into another spasm from Montdidier

to Noyon, about 20 miles of front.

Don't know how bad it is, but it s bad enough. I'm afraid

Jerry is a bit hard in the head forces - uses his cerebrum,

cerebellum and medulla oblongata at one and the same time

Fritz does.

Meanwhile the Aust. Corps seem to be the only ones that

do anything  on our side. How much longer they'll be kept at it

is hard to say, but surely they can't keep them hopping over

much more.  Brigades from this and the 2nd Div. went over last

night, got to their objectives and 1,000 prisoners.

Fritz has been "searching" for a couple of our 12 in

guns up near the 4th Bde. wagon lines, and which must annoy
him a lot; by the way he's always after them with one thing and

another. The "overs" were going pretty near the Bde. lines so

Col. Dowse has given them orders to move at least 200 yds

from the guns.

Wonder when someone else is going to do a bit of hopping

over!

I think some home mail must just about be due. I'm 

getting that parched prairie praying for rain feeling.

 

134

.6.18. Observe the entry opposite, then lengthen the range to 

the above remark and think all you know about telepathy.  From

all accounts they had a full account of Mr. Blob's temporary 

incarceration long before I did.

Up till not the Boch hasn't got very far with his new

upheaval, about 3½ miles with heavy losses,  the French are

sticking to him and he can go a long way at the price.

Went for quite a promenade with Brownie whose back is just
about well, but nothing more exciting than a mule race occurred

during the day.  They're the cussedest things ever.

Lt. Col. Terence Patrick McSharry  has been awarded a 

C.M.G. - getting a fine breast, Little Mac is C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., 

.6.18 Extract from statement of German prisoner - "We are very

frightened of the Australians and especially the Australian

snipers, they are the best in the world."  The above appeared in

orders to-day.

My pilgrimage to Maj. Brownsworth appears to have been of
some avail and last night I got the following order.  "Arrange for

1207 Pte Claydon to meet interviewing officer R.A.F. at R.T.O.'s

office Picquigny 22nd inst".  evidently Jo. is going to get a fly.

He's only a boy at present sentiments divided between ambition

and food, gee, I never saw anyone eat so much earnestness and 

application but he's a good boy and keen. 
The 4th Bde. didn't move and are going to risk the spare

parts for those big guns. I was up there this morn:  and its

certainly an interesting locality. The Boch was amusing himself

firing salvos (of 4) at their tame balloon.

To-day we had to send a ½ limber to Pont Noyelles to draw

comforts - what ho!

.6.18 Still another round by the Boch down S. of the Aisne this

time, and so far without any marked success.  Meanwhile time is
slipping along and the Yanks passing along the roads are a very 

cheering sight.  They are all infantry now-a-days too: not

technical units like we need to see,  The papers own up to 700,000

now. To think of it  - we've only got to hang on about where we 

are for another 3 months, and then we're home and dried.

Jimmie and Tas Morgan were both here this morning and for

once in a while everything seems to be highly satisfactory.

Apres Locky Searle called in, he was making for La Houssoye

with his transport, and the 5th Div. are going in tout suite.

Evidently something doing.

.6.18.

Jimmie sent along to-day an instruction from the Cyclist Bn.  
so/

 

135

so we have started a machine gunnery school. With our own

salved gun and a new one issued to us by D.A.D.O.S.  we should

be able t put up some sort of a show now.

Things are decidedly quiet in our line at all events and 

after moping about all day doing nothing by even: I felt at

war with the world,  so up and rode Brownie thro' Longpré where

I met Gordon Drane ( 13th A.L.H.)  He hsn't shrunk any since

I saw him last Traralgon Gipps;  and rides at about 16 stone.

Continued on my way thro' Argoenvres where I encountered a

French family of my acquaintance setting out in the family

caravan.  I rode along behind them and kept up a running fir

otf conversation with the two girls in the back.  My imperfect

knowledge of French however served me unkindly and arrived at
our destination I found myself armed with an implement - a cross

between a hoe and a harpoon and set to work grubbing Scotch

thistles out of the landscape.

Returned about 9.30 p.M. still broad daylight, pondering

over the advantages of esperanto - I had apparently heartily

approved of the above, and at a purely nominal rate of

reimbursement, so there was nothing to do but hum a sad and 
foolish little song to cover up my humiliation.

 I might add that the patchwork looking landscape totally

devoid of fencing but consisting of widespread agglomeration

of crops, barns &c. represents the agricultural, arboreal,

terrestrial and horticultural accessories of a couple  of hundred

cordial and dilatory inhabitants of a neighbouring village.  How

they know who's is which I cannot say.

No farm is a farm without its festering pool and similar

manure heap in the back yard. Col. Mac  explains that when a

young couple are married their friends  - of agricultural 

instincts - present them with vast quantities of manure which

they assiduously wheel into a heap and then to prevent their

more go ahead neighbours borrowing or even stealing it, build
a homstead round it.

16.6.18.  Went off early in search of 32388 Gunner A.H. Burbridge,

and found tidings of him at the first port of call, the 2nd

S.A.A. section½ a mile away. He was there but on guard at
 the time so I left word for him to call here tomorrow.

Rode over after lunch to see Richthofen's grave in the 

pretty little cemetery at Bertangles.  On the way we passed

thro' one of our impromptu aerodromes - the hundreds of 'plane

and thousands of bombs are a solace and a balm to eyesight.

Called and had afternoon tea with my French friends. I

certianly had a cerebral sensation of foolishness when

Fedora's/

 

136

Fedora's financee happened along - a gentleman with that

homeward plods atmosphere and a Mephistopholean moustache which didn't match.

17.6.18. Another offensive - the Austrians this time attacking h

Dagoes on an 80 mile front. No details to hand.

Called on the tooth cobbler at the fourth fld. amb. - he

relieved me of a trusty molar and into another dabbed an alkmalgam

filling which I swallowed with my lunch.  Dentistry de luxe isn't

it? to be able to sit back in a chair and watch a thrilling

air scrap to the accompaniment of much A.A. material falling

around the yard and on the roof.

Adrian called in during the evening and we held quite a

lengthy consultation.  He is much the same as ever and seems to

have mastered all the military by-ways and side issues.

8.6.18. The Macaronyites are now from all accounts dealing it out well

to the Austrians.  It's a bit soon to hope yet, but the Austrians

aren't too clever and if they do happen to come a crash on an

80 mile front we can look for big things I think.

Fritz has been harvesting our balloons lately - two in view

from here to-day.  In the case  of the closer of the two one of the chappies' parachutes failed to connect and he dropped several

thousand feet like a dart.  He landed in some timber and didn't

even break a bone.
Did a P.M. on Col. McSharry's charger  one of the old foundation

stones too)  which died suddenly after being done over with

mange wash - but won't bore you with the p.m.  revelations. Saw

the Col. himself looking rather tucked up after a trip to Paris,

and fortunately was able to fix him up with a rather decent little
mare - never mind where from. Gee! there'd be money in this game

at home and if we could only import some tommy officers.

9.6.18. Wonder when H.Q. will take a tumble, and keep out of these

villages/  Fritz has opened up on Bussy and when  I was up there

this morning for the wherewithal I hardly knew the place.  70

gas shells and a varied assortment of other hardware have worked

wonders.

I had just got out when he opened up again too.  Paid the

section and then went up to the 4th fld. Amb. in answer to an

urgent call - they're a terrible trial these medical transprt

officers, tho' it must be added that they do treat visitors in

an entertaining and hospitable manner.  I also paid the al fresco

ivory carpenter another visit and restoppered that refractory 

wisdom tooth.

9.6.18. Saw the artillery pulling in again after their fortnight's

spell/ .

 

137

spell. The horses look as tho' they've had a very strenuous

"spell". The are relieving the 5th artillery, who are going

back for a fortnight's manoeuvres.

The drought has broken in earnest and we've had a couple

of very rainy days, but it settles both the dust and the 
Gothas-something these days, n'est-ce pas?

To numerous cares is added that of attending to the despatch

dogs and to-day one was brought in in an ambulance by a

particularly effusive tommy officer.  The effusive one was

enchanted with the necessary operation, and pressed me to dine

with them, but I could hardly bring myself to anything like that.

McInnes and also Owen are suffering from the effects of

Yellow Cross ( Mustard) gas - from merely skinning a mule which was killed by a gas shell in Bussy.

.6.18. Jimmie came over this morn: and between us we considerably

cut down the strength of the section riding horses. What with 

pets and strays that these fellows will drag along I've never known
where we've stood, except that we are still a little over establishment.

The weeding out process has left us with a very fair lot

of horses too.

The Boch has made another characteristic onslaught on

the French and ordered Rheims to be taken at all costs - so far

with signal lack of success.  The Dagoes are also hoeing in well

so things might be worse.

Just as I was sitting down to tea, Sgt. Bill Fawcett who

hasn't been too well was taken suddenly seriously ill and I had to

allez-tootsweet for an ambulance.  I rather had the wind up because

the symptoms were all those of meningitis. Darkie has got a

sprained ankle, Shadow Walsh is just walking about to save funeral

exes. and with one or two minor casualties I can see the O.C. with

his coat off and hitting the cinder track very shortly.

Talking about coats off - I had a deal of satisfaction

out of that tommy officer yesterday. 
he was about 6ft 2 and no other dimensions that you

could notice, looked about 17 with a nice fresh complexion and an

unfortunate stutter.  He referred to me most respectfully as

"Sir" all the time  - I had my coat off.

I hope Bill Fawcett hasn't got anything so serious as 

meningitis but whatever it is I'll be sorry to lose him.

6.18. To-day is the longest day and it feels it every bit of
it. Between you and me I'm getting a bit too old to be in the A.1.

Class, in other words, I'm a thing of the past and should be

tucked /

 

138

tucked away is a cushie job down a the base. This painful conclusion
was forced on me on our return from Picquigny after
riding some 40 odd kilos.

It was Snowey's day to visit the interviewing officer
R.A.F. and as I though this might happen to be Clive Baillien
who is D.A.Q.M.G. of the A.F.C.- decided to accompany Snowy - in
any case I thought perhaps I might b e able to do something to 
oil the mental machinery of this well nigh inaccessible corps.
Whatever you do, it is all a matter of approach isn't it?

We got to Picquigny and it wasn't Clive - I patted in my 
frame and found a bescpecaled old chap with consierab le 
abdominal signs of prosperity and a voice which sounded like the 
purling of a rill to me - with not a trace of the colonies in it. 
I thought I came to talk business not to learn the rudiments of
art from him, but was very patient and Snowey came away with a 
recommendation - so that's the first fence behind.

The war is still on but I'm almost beginning to believe - 
we always hope - that things will be coming our way a bit shortly, 
not the only sort of things that have been coming our way since 
March 21.

.6.18. For strategic reasons but against his will Maj. Seelenmeyer 
M.C. took over the command of the Mobile to-day, and I relieved 
him of his position, V.O. i/c 10 Bde. A.F.A. Seeley arrived 
just before lunch in a much camouflaged cart drawn by a blind 
horse and after lunch I returned to the 110th How.Bty. wagon 
lines in the same ornate vehicle.

The wagon. lines were along the banks of the Hallue where 
the 13th Bde. used to be soon after we came down here and midway 
between Bussy and Pont Noyelles. Men and horses are all dug in 
and the scene would be very picturesque to anyone who felt in 
the mood to enjoy it. On the way we passed thro' Bussy which has 
been vacated by Nqrs. but not till they had got a shell in amongst 
then which knocked Col. Moseley (A.D.M.S.) Her. are now back in 
the tall timber.

I dug in with the Doc. Interpreter and the Gas Officer. Both 
the doc' and I were called out during the night which was otherwise 
fairly peaceful.

.6.18. Returned to the Section, but rode one of Seeley's horses 
this time as I had a couple of visits to make and wanted to be 
home before nightfall. Seeley seemed glad enough tone returning 
and wouldn't even wait to lunch. For the time being I am signing 
everything "for major" and can only add that orders are orders 
and Jimmie is rather an astute conniver of stratagems. Jimmie 
(with only 3 V.Os to help him at present) is responsible for the 
health and 101 other things of upwards of 4,000 horses, so you'd 
think/

139

think the heads would let him know something about what he 
wants wouldn't you? Cyril McKenna (11 Bde. A.F.A.- is on 
leave). Little "Doc" Kelly of this section has been awarded the 
meritorious service medal, and it is no more than he has earned. 
He's the hardest worker and the finest little fellow amongst the 
gee-gees I've seen for many a day. He comes from Gisborne way 
and amongst others used to look after "the Welkin" and "Mrs. 
Peggotty".

25.6.18 Don't know what Jerry is waiting for, but I wouldn't want 
to hang off if my friend the enemy was being reinforced to the 
time of 250,000 a month. P'raps it's the 'flu ; its bad enough 
here but from all accounts its worse over Fritz's side.

Yesterday we got Sgt.Williams' mare back. She was 
p[inched from Allonville on Apr.25 but nearly everyone in the 
Div. that he knows a horse from a cow knows Sgt. Williams mare-
"Kate".

The Stars-d-oystez seemed to have declared a vendetta on 
the Austrians and are still administering a nasty jar. The 
representatives of the patchwork nation have gone back over the 
Piave again - some of them.

Have exterminated the bugs and chats but the ubiquitous 
flea is still conducting minor operations. Still there are 
hopes, last night during a vigorous offensive on my part I 
winged several and brought others down out of control.

16.6.18. Seeley has gone down with the "dog's disease" so I made 
ready to proceed toot sweet to the artillery, but Jimmie arrived 
and said Seeley hopes to be about again tomorrow.

Billie McGregor dropped in this afternoon and as the 2nd 
Div. are relieving the 3rd he is taking over from Johnnie Legg 
and will be living close handy shortly but he hopes to get away 
on leave.

Have tried chilling away an hour or two at the boisterous 
game cribbage, but Darkie will lick his thumb so its not altogether 
a success.

Paris leave has opened again, but from all accounts the 
gay city is only a shadow of its former self.

17.6.18. Had a disturbed night last night quite a change. I 
thought I heard a squadron of big bombers making for Paris too.

Consequently a pretty full day to-day has left me feeling 
most righteously fatigued. Saw the 3rd Section D.A.C. 27th A.S.C. a

and 254th Tunnellers this morn: and after dinner the 1st and 2nd 
D.A.C. and 4th Fld. Amb. this afternoon - all outside work.
Benny Lewers (C.M.) is for the time being O.C. of the 4th Fld.Amb.