Diary transcript of Reginald Harriman Heywood, 1917 -1918 - Part 4

30
judgment as a flea in a candle. He took me out for a ride
after tea on a gee which he specially selected and thoroughly
recommended. I took her out in all faith and hope and an
ordinary snaffle. When I did pull her up we were about 7
miles from home and she was lame in about 75% of her legs.
Finney has got to do the patching up too.
In case you want to blame me and not the boss, I can
add that I have ridden Col. Whitfield's black who is considered
a puller - but he's about as serious as a bird on a bough
to this other beast.
Orderly Officer Cook got the "Enemy Aircraft", which
means stand-by-the telephone-message but fortunately the sky
clouded over and the bosche didn't disturb us. The sound of
raindrops pattering on the roof was most musical and soothing.
0.17  Cloudy and squally. I am afraid the winter is nearly

at hand. gee! and all the ice I have seen to date has been in
a glass.
Have had more or less of a troublesome cold so wandered
over to the Major R.A.M.C. at "Remounts" who is a bit of a
rough medico. He tapped me all over and got in some shrewd
questions and finally packed me off with a certificate of
soundness and a beer bottle of medicine. Some M.O.!. We are
at present very much amused at the efforts of some Frenchmen
who are building a hut for the officers. The first day they
managed to fix up two pieces of string and on subsequent days
they dug holes filled them up again and finally partially
undug them again. Then a great calamity overtook them and
their strings blew away. They jabber and argue like a sort of
Sierra Leone coalheavers too. Expect they'll do something
some day tho' as they seem to have built and rebuilt most of
the concern on the ground.
A stormy night and no "enemy aircraft" - the first
time since Sept. 23rd I think, so little Reg. didn't have to
go and sit by the 'phone waiting for all clear.
.17. Dirty weather in earnest, high wind and rain.
Jack and I had to ride into Foutinettes and take 190
horses off the train (from the front) poor old tired wrecks.
With the aid of 60 men and 3 ambulances we got them home safely.
We had to commandeer a Tommy ambulance to salvage one old
critter that fell by the wayside tho'. What a treat the Tommy
i/c was!. After we had got our horse into his old bus he
immediately /
 

31
immediately went and over-turned the whole concern including
horses in a ditch. after a bit of a rought Court marshal I
got one of our fellows to take charge and we waited till some
Frenchmen with a motor lorry turned up - they lent us some
chains and gave us a pull and we landed the goods alright -
much to the surprise of the rather indignant Tommy. The
Frenchmen have slowed down considerably and still have nothing
resembling and  upright to show.
Old Jack Ashmore is a speed king to them.
17. Got a feeling its going to be quite cool here during the
winter, its bad enough dressing and operating here already.
Fortunately I am remaining indoors to-day having been
commissioned to design an Xmas card for the A.A.V.H.
Still our pass out checks are not to hand - its a pity
we didn't go before the weather broke ujp.
Fortunately the week will cost me nothing owing to having
had 4 kings and 4 jacks - some have greatness thrust upon them.
17. Submitted my designs and much to my surprise they have
chosen one of a somewhat battered tho' game looking donk.
That means another morning by the fire.
The Col. reckons the donk is "priceless" but I must touch
him up and that rising sun takes some drawing.
Another budget from home so I must put in an afternoon's
correspondence.
Inter alia - an amusing letter from old "Stook" in Egypt.
Dreffal cold outside but good round the stove in the mess.
17. At last we have heard indirectly that we are to launch
an offensive on Tuesday. We're not going to have a very nice
day for it by the look of things tho'.
Put in the morning round the stove but after dinner
visited Calais per motor lorry.
I shan't forget my last day in Calais which was well and
truly aflood. Whilst waiting for the Rue Royale to become
navigable put in an hour or two in a fancy goods place and
secured/
 

32
secured a few things to send home for Xmas. They have some
lovely things including an assortment of Limoges china.
Hope I'll be able to return and buy some of it one of these
days.

Drifted into the pictures - about 1 foot deep in
water and saw Charley Chaplin in Carmen.
Di^ned at the Sauvage and left for home in the M.P,
wagon at 8.30.
.10. Definite news of our departure which happens
tomorrow
10.17. Packed up again and said farewell to the A.A.V.H.
and Col. Whitfield, leaving at 12.20 per motor lorry, left
Calais Vllla for Hazebrouck at 1.20 in a shrapnel bespattered
train. Interviewed R.T.O. at Hazebrouck and he marked me
Caestre and we boarded a more bespattered train. Casetre
being the next station I pulled out my kit and said goodbye
to old John and Co. Inquired from the R.T.O. the whereabouts
of 4th Division A.I.F. Hqrs. and was told they were at
Steenvoorde about 5 mls away so off I set per hoof to find
them leaving my kit at the R.T.O's.
Being now dark I set out in considerable trepidation
but fortunately landed the goods and unearthed the D.A.D.V.S.
Col. W.A. Kendall. Dined with him and finally turned in with
him in a very comfortable bed in a billet.
On the station at Caestres I encountered "Birdie"
Heron endeavouring to find the 1st Div. and later at dinner
Jo. Tuckett blew in and sat next to me. Jo is still the
same hard case and is now a Capt. and D.A.D.O.S. with an
M.C. and M.M. and due for his majority.
"Gas" Rossiter of the "Shop" also a member of the
mess.
 

33
0.10.17  Held a council of war with D.A.D.V.S. {"Bill") and at
last prevailed on him to allow me to live with Maj. James
("Jimmie") and the 4th mobile.
Must explain that the Mobile is a little unit of itself
and Jimmie is O.S. We carry all our world with us and are our
own mess and everything,
The redoubtable Jimmie turned up and after a row with
Bill, which is usual, took me off "home" which was pitched in
the midst of the horses wagons &c. and a slushy field. Jimmie
despatched a limber for my kit and when it arrived I rigged my
bunk alongside his in the tent which he naively explained was
only indifferently watertight - our office, boudoir and dining
hall. Being pay day we paid the men (31 all told) in our
palatial quarters and then hied us off to the town for dinner,
honouring the occasion with a bottle of champagne.
Called in at "B" mess where Jimmie lost 50 Francs to
the estimable Jo at banker and then returned and slept like tops.
The Div. is to move tomorrow - up towards Ypres so we
have a good trek before us.
1.10.17  Arose fairly early, and from goodness knows where
Jimmie's batman conjured up toast tea and excellent bacon
and eggs: I ask you?
Then we reduced our whole world to moveable dimensions
and trekked.
We had to leave our main body to conduct a bit of a
rough burial service over a horse which had died and on which
Bill wanted a P.M. Needless to say we didn't open him but still
got his report alright. Took us all morning tho' and having
crossed the Belgian border we arrived at Reminghelst late in the
afternoon and Jimmie took over from Captain Fletcher Q.M.V.S. -
pretty hungry you bet.
I have to look after the 4th and 13th Infy. Brigades but
have not seen them yet.
There's a war on here alright and its unpleasantly close.
As I write there is one our our big guns fairly close and it
nearly blows this poor old hut down - makes me jump anyhow. The
whole district is a hive of feverish industry and the sky fairly
black with planes and observation balloons. The ammunition
dumps and gun parts stagger the imagination - and motor lorries:
miles of them.
 

34
Fortunately we have seized a very respectable hut -
the surroundings aren't exactly park-like but we'll be fairly
comfy. till the Div. pulls out.
We dined down the town - and dined well at the house
of the "Gaby" who is a Belgian girl and a character sure
enough.
There are now back areas now and all these places
round here are periodically shelled with long range guns - high
velocity and naval guns otherwise known as "rubber heels".
Only the howitser and high trajectory gun shells make a noise
when they're coming. Rather nerve racking but expect I'll get
used to it.
By the way "Jimmie" a monk they lugged all round
Egypt was put in her box and tied on the top of a lead of
forage. She arrived safely as did a couple of pups.
12.10.17  Most disgusting weather - and I only refer to it now
when its partic: over the fence. The mud and slush is heart-breaking,
what must it be over the other side of the
Paschendale ridge.
Talking of which I reminds me that our fellow are
still doing gloriously and are now in the village of Pach:
rumour has it. I wish I had the time and the ability to record
the stories of fellows from the Divs. as they pull out.
I'm proud to be an Aust. and prouder still to belong
to the 4th Aust. Div. even one of the First Div: chaps
admitted that the fourth is the Div. that's done the fighting
in France.
At Lagincourt we lost 3500 in the morning and 6 weeks
later at Messines we made this main show.
Still haven't got the map locations of my brigades - so
there's nothing for it but wait for the Sergeants to report.
Lived in the hut all day - George still conjuring up
weird and wonderful dishes - and went thro' poor old Ridley's
papers. He was killed taking up ammunition - for which job
he volunteered all the other officers being knocked out, in
spite of his being a veterinary officer. 
13.10.17  Poor old JImmie is down with a touch of malaria, so
I made him as comfy as poss: and then set off to locate Bill.
I've/
 

35
I've got a good mount at last - one of the originals
from Q. and he'll do me, My groom tells me he can gallop,
and out-jump anything in the Div. He's a brainy old chap too.
Gee! you can't guess how cold the rain can be in these
parts.
Needless to say Bill was out but anyhow the locations
weren't available and as the weather wasn't exactly propitious
for a detailed search, decided to wait till I'm called for or
the locations come to hand - whichever first.
I find Jack Madden of Flemington is attached to the
4th M.V.S.
14.10.17  Its just dawned on me that today is Sunday - not so
you'd notice tho'.
Found the missing units this morn: some 5 or 6 miles
away - to the east of Ypres. Had a look round the 12th Brigade
and found all pretty correct and arranged with the Sgt. to go
over the 4th Bgd. tomorrow.
Its rather heart-breaking trying to diagnose lamenesses
when the poor old critters are standing out in the wind and
rain, and up to their hocks in mud. Oh this mud: how fellows
live in it let alone fight beats me.
Jimmie is himself again, for which many thanks as he
is a great gloom dispeller.
Fitz has had a day of the year to-day, and I had my
first close encounter with a bomb, gee! its not the game its
cracked up to be. From our point of view he seems to do as he
likes in the air and we saw 8 huge Gothas leisurely dropping
bombs. Just a few minutes ago I saw an enterprising hun shoot
down one of our large obs: baloons. At present there is one
dropping bombs like ripe fruit off a tree and it isn't altogether
conducive of romancing - so cheery-oh!
.17.  Suitably attired in oilskin and gum boots I towed toured the
remainder of my units on Dick and found all well. The engineers
to make sure have dug their horses in - I ask you? But up
there all the camps and lines are so packed that Fritz can't
help causing casualties whenever he drops a bomb. The poor
horses have caught it lately.
My/
 

36

My travels led me up towards Ypres - and oh the

desolation and ruin. He was shelling Ypres with high velocity

shrapnel and it behoves one to make a hasty diagnosis. He has

also had another great day in the air and has dropped bombs

all round here.

 

He is hard at it at present and for reasons gone into

before, I'll close.

 

 

16.10.17.  After a night exceeding hideous - rode up to the

quagmire again. Fortunately Fritz hadn't landed any bombs

amongst the units that I am immediately interested in.

 

On the way encountered a squadron of tanks emerging

from a swamp - couldn't help thinking of that picture of the

"Bunyip" in "Childhood in bud and blossom." Old Dick thought

them pretty fearsome too and got the wind well up. I fancy he

thought he'd been called for.

 

What wonders horses are - some look really well - mud

and shells and all.

 

Fritz is not broken yet - and living here you wouldn't

think he'd badly bent even - but next spring when we have the

Yanks to put the icing on the gingerbread he'll have such a

bend that his feet and his head will both be able to rest on

the same spot. About then it will dawn on him that he's backed

the wrong horse.

 

Oh those stiff Russians - if they'd only hung on we'd

have been home and dried 'are this.

 

17.10.17. Thanks to a more or less stormy night, had a good

night's rest.

 

Went my daily round, finding en route an ambulance

which is under my care and which has been missing to date. They

were located at Belgian Battery Corner - on the road to Ypres -

and some corner. There aren't many buildings about - not so

you'd notice at all events, but there are plenty heaps of

bricks and rubbish around. And the big trees, what a merry

time they've had! When you see them torn up by the roots or

frayed off short and otherwise treated like so many bunches

of celery, it makes you think. There are enough shells &c.

lying about the roads &c here to have fought the Boer war,

but generally speaking I give them a wide berth.

 

Was treated to a great sight this morn: - the archies were/

37

were blazing away at an enterprising Fritz some 14000 ft up

when suddenly several of our machines appeared on the scene.

One little chap cut Fritz off and diving at him at an incredible

speed fired a couple of rounds with his machine gun and exit

Fritz. One wing came off his machine which fell rapidly emptying

out one of the occupants who beat the machine down by about

½ a minute. Some thud. It was my melancholy duty to assist in

extricating the remains of the other occupant from the wreck.

The cruel part was to see our machines circling round and

following the broken German down.

 

Going to dine at Gaby's tonight.

 

18.10.17. Dined not wisely but too well at Gaby's. Struck an old

chap there - one of the first English Div. right thro' the

whole piece. What fools we've been. Again words fail me. We

think this is a hard life, but what about the first winter in

Flanders. I would like to refer to his first experience in 

relieving a unit. Coinciding with his taking over and settling

down the Germans touched off a mine under his trench. This

somewhat disturbed the defenders 126 of whom were killed but

the estimable and gallant Captain who tips the beam at about

16 stone landed in the local horsepond which he earnestly 

explains was more or less of a "cushie" landing.

 

Their simple enthusiasm over their first "dug outs"

was quite tragic. Their shell proof shelters consisted of a

few think planks spread across a couple of heaps of mud - the

sort of thing you could almost spit thro'. Against 12 in: stuff.

I ask you.

 

The Germans were on a rise - as usual - and draining

their position with the aid of the Lille waterworks - the

drainage running over our position - you bet! Ran the rounds -

and found things not too good - the pack teams must be getting

hell taking stuff up at night - what wonders they are. The

duel in the air continued thro' out the day but Fritz didn't

seem to have any the best of it.

 

19.10.17. Spent a more or less worried day. We expect to pull

out about Sunday and of course you can't afford to have any

lame ones at the time of trekking. Needless to say there

are plenty of lame ones - some too bad to walk too - that

means the Mobile have to gather them in the float and poor

old Jimmie is about 3 deep now. Everyone is crying out for

the float- including Cyril Seelenmeyer up the other side of

Ypres. Horses are so scarce that one can't shoot them with

an easy conscience either. There has been a fearful duel on

all the afternoon between the big guns. How men can survive at/

38

at the firing end; let alone stand up to it at the business

end is what I can't understand.

 

20.10.17. After the usual inspection of the lame, the halt and

the blind, returned and lunched, and then walked into Reminghelst 

for a bath. Cleanliness is next to Godliness you know

but as Geoff adds - it takes a lot of advertising to sell soap.

 

In Reminghelst I saw A.M.Forbes (O.M.) who is a major

and one of the heads : wtih a car and a red band to his hat &c.

 

The day has been foggy and a Fritz took the opportunity

to come down very low and inspect the neighbouring ammunition

dumps &c. What a night we are going to have.

 

Poor old Dick and I were charged by a somewhat

excited cow this morn: as tho' there aren't enough dangers.

 

No word of our moving out yet but let's hope it will

be soon.

 

21.10.17. The lively night came to pass alright - still alls

well that ends well, and the dump is still intact. I began to

wish Fritz would land one on it and then go away satisfied.

Billie's birthday and the Caulfield Cup this week-end. I

wonder how they both are. The weather must be lovely over

our side now.

 

That reminds me of an Australian pte. and a Tommy 

officer who encountered one another in the midst of one of

the oceans of mud that one sees up the road. The somewhat

nonplussed officer inquired the way to so and so but our

worthy replied "Gor-blim'e, do you take me for the --harbor

master?".

 

Put in considerably over an hour sticking on buttons - 

its the fall of the year in some earnest. Jimmie and I dined

at Gaby & Co's and an enterprising hun hurried us along by

dropping several bombs on the road behind us and close to

where we had just passed. Its somewhat of a relief to dine

down there. I may safely say that our festive board is

rough but honest - consisting as it does of a foundation of

hen fruit and onions cemented with margarine, and a superstructive

which includes tinned stuff and more tin stuff.

Good you know but very consistent.

 

22.10.17. I know why they colored France "green" on the maps

alright. Blue would have been more appropriate but then the

geography man would have got mixed up with the sea; still the/

39

the concrete idea which the word green represents isn't altogether

misleading. Of course the filth and debris and rubbish

would prejudice anyone but this climate! Gee! if we owned

France out in Australia we'd hand it over with an apology for

the condition its in.

 

When I went up to the quagmire this morn I found part

of the Div. including my 4th Bdge. had pulled out but only a

little way. The 1st Div. taking over from us.

 

That reminds me of a 1st Div. fellow who was sweeping

some of the slush off the road. He was accosted by a 3rd Div.

fellow who sarcastically asked how he managed to get such a

cushie job and the laconic reply was - "oh I came out early".

 

The 3rd Div. I might add, haven't got as good a name

as some of the others for some reason or another.

 

23.10.17. Dined at Gaby's again - and the meal was somewhat

enlivened by a bomb which landed unpleasantly adjacent. The

flying pieces made an imposing tattoo, but fortunately the

only damage was that sustained by the windows and the lamps.

Still it isn't nice and its not polite for a gentleman to drop

something which combines all the strong points of an earth

quake and a thunderstorm at your front door. I'm sure its not

done in the best armies.

 

Awoke in the throes of trench fever, formerly known as

flu': and spent the day in bed cursing old Isaac Newton or

whoever it was invented gravitation - for not confining his

theory to apples. All hardware ought to go the other way.

 

The cursing was diversified with Three Castles and

Aspirin.

 

Gee! what a time the Frenchmen had chasing those hun

gas bags all over France. It appears they put it all over 4

or 5 at least of the Zepps that were returning from their last

glorious exploit in England.

 

One is never lonely in this hut - there must be

millions of rats here.

 

24.10.17. The nicotine-aspirin has had an astounding effect

and this morn; I was in harness again. It grieved me muchly

to have to put a bullet into a very nice horse - with tetanus -

but this is no time for sentiment.

 

Too/