Diary transcript of Reginald Harriman Heywood, 1917 -1918 - Part 7

60 

7.12.17. Spent the day wandering over the neighbouring parts

of the old Somme battlefield. Our camp is pitched on the edge
of a big empty canal over which every bridge has been destroyed
by the hun. We are of course surrounded with shell holes
and wire and the debris of months of war.

It must have been a terrible blow to Fritz to have to 
leave, as his position must have been very strong and the dugouts 
(100s of them) are real works of art some of them.

The whole picture is one of fearful desolation and 
ruin. We are near what was evidently a prosperous manufacturing 
town once but is now just a skeleton full of debris and 

machinery twisted into fantastic and grotesque shapes. Everything 
smells of the hun.

The fine old Church is just a shambles, everything 
gone smash, - Altars, Statues, Organ, Stained glass &c, and 
shells and nosecaps sticking into the wall everywhere.

The churchyard is in the same condition, graven and 
beautiful vaults blasted open and broken in all ways - in some 
you can see the remains of the occupants.

The only pleasant sight we've seen is the numbers 
of Fritz graves.

My three trusty men have quartered themselves in a 
cellar with the horses stabled in the remains of a drawing 
room over their heads. As it gets dark about 4.30 we were 
early to bed, so early that Mac had to get up about 9 o'clock 
and find his way across the shell holes and wire to the 
canteen where he procured tinned sausages and peas, so we had 
quite a supper.

8.12.17. The more one sees of this place the worse it 
appears. There isn't a living soul about except the soldiers 
and transport, not even a bird, bar a few crows, and not a living 
tree. What a place to spend Xmas in - a merry Xmas and Peace 
and Goodwill &c. However the general impression is that we'll 
either be in the line or right back again.

Fritz has already dropped a bomb close enough for 
pieces to land on our roof to say nothing of the mud.

Still we have resumed our football and the Pierrots 
have given a show and are to appear nightly.

9.12.17. Sunday and a steady rain. The roads which were

frozen/

61 

frozen and good when we came in have now thawed and simply 
disappeared - dissolved into quagmires.

Went over to Div. to get the oil but nothing doing, 
tho' the general impression is that we will be either up in 
the line or well back again by Xmas.

Came across a dugout today that was some dug-out, 
easily room for a whole battalion in it, bunks and all complete, 
but there must have been a few dead Fritz's in it by 
the smell. Close by there is a big ammunition dump abandoned 
by the same Fritz and also a tunnel 2 mls long which he must 
have used to bring his rfcts. up. Reckoned he was here to 
stay sure enough.

This is the blackest week I can remember - we've 
pretty near hit bottom. The Dagoes are on the run again. 
Russia and Romania - nar poo and Fritz has pushed us back 
from Bourlon Wood with worse to follow further down at 
Gouzeacourt. He can't go wrong and the U boats have it 
the clouds again.

What an Xmas.

10.12.17. Passed thro' the remains of Haut Allaines which 
village is more a wreck that this one - Moislains - if possible. 
The church has come in for particular attention of course. 
We are to be prepared to move at 1 hour's notice and at "over 
the top" strength, that doesn't look much like going back. 
They're sure to put us in I should think - just for luck, they 
couldn't resist it after bringing us this far. Its rough on 
the boys but of course the Bosch decides these things. He 
must win now if he is going to, but I think we'll hang him up 
on his own line till the Yanks arrive tho' they do tell me 
there was nothing between him at Gouzeacourt and Peronne 
bar a labour battalion or two the other day.

Tonight this poor old hut is fairly rattled - Fritz 
is putting some terribly heavy stuff over at Gouzeacourt.

11.12.17. The coldest day ever, a very heavy frost with a 
strong wind to top it off.

After shivering myself into a sweat and coughing up 
smoke and lumps of coal all night I went over and asked Bill 
if he would transfer me to the Flying Corps. Bill wasn't 
enthusiastic and said he wouldn't recommend it, but made vague 
promises instead. Meanwhile I have to consider it.

In the afternoon we did a bit of rough electioneering
voting/

62

voting on the Referendum. I'm afraid this last move will 
influence the noes.

In the evening (5 p.m.) the Brig. and I with the aid 
of a torch found our way over a dynamited bridge and thro' the 
mud shell holes and wire to the Pierrot's. In the interval the 
Brig. got on the boards and gave the boys the "Dinkum oil" as 
far as he knows, which is that we are a reserve divn. and will 
not be shoved into the line except in extremis, but at the same 
time the ready to move at over the top strength and at an 
hour's notice holds good.

12.12.17. The barrage which was terribly heavy all night 
swelled into drum-fire at 6.30 and continue till nearly 8. 
Our pool old hut has commenced to shake some of it bolts out 
with the vibration. When it stopped the silence was almost 
eerie.

Sigs reckoned the preponderance was 9.2s and his 
opinion was some' confirmed during the day. I jumped on an old 
London bus that was going my way and he told me an enormous No: 
of guns were going down to Cambrai - mostly 9.2s.

The weather is providentially much milder today and 
the football was advanced another stage.

13.12.17. Another terrific barrage this morn: Of course we know 
Fritz is winning everywhere and doing just what he likes, but I 
know on which side of that barrage I'd rather be and its not 
on Hunland side either.

If our stove doesn't improve soon we'll come in well 
for hams, and talk about dirty - if we went back to Freville 
now the inhabitants would be justified in their dark suspicions.

Tweedie (Asst. Staff Capt) and I wandered round trying 
to find a good stove, but the Bosch doesn't leave much and always 
sticks a pick thro' the stove if there happens to be one left. 
He also chops all the trees off just above the ground as far as 
time permits. Tweedie is a good little fellow - a real battler 
and sharp enough to file bills on.

14.12.17. After another night of smuts and the utmost squalor 
Sigs and I got desperate and decided on a new heating system. 
After considerable discussions as to the design we finally 
evolved a furnace which must be regarded as an engineering 
triumph. With two old Bosch spades and a French bayonet, a 
pile of bricks salvaged from the village and my batman - who is 
inter alia somewhat of a mechanic - to carry the hod added to a 

liberal/

63

liberal supply of mud always on hand we soon had a 
scientific and highly ornamental furnace in our midst.

On stoking up we found it an instantaneous success 
and tho' while the mud was doing it emitted fumes suggestion 
that several dead Fritzes reposed in the vicinity it is now 
dry & burns well and the smoke air a na-poo fini. A contraption 
in front enables us to use it as a slow combustion furnace 
enabling us to enjoy a decent fire all night.

We now hear that we are to move 3 or 4 miles further 
up towards the unpleasantness early next week - into tents too, 
what joy.

15.12.17. The bomb birds were over this morning and dropped 47 
bombs around here just playful like - none too close 
fortunately.

A beautiful bright day but I never imagined that the 
sun could have so little ginger in it.

The football advanced another stage and my team now 
occupies the proud position of being the only team that hasn't 
won a match. My pool old gamma pin has launched a strong protest 
and I had to stand down.

Put in a wild Saty. night at the Pierrots who had 
several excellent topical songs. I forgot to mention that 
Capt. Jack - a V.C. was umpiring to-day - no sinecure believe me. 
He said he had his platoon posted on the hill with a machine 
gun to cover his retreat.

16.12.17. How I used to love roast beef once and now I've had 
roast beef every night for dinner since Oct. 25th and beef in 
some form or another at least one of the other meals per day. 
On 3 occasions I didn't have beef, but then I had nothing.

A howling blizzard blowing straight down the flue 
somewhat upset our heating arrangements in the evening, but 
after being very adjacent to the asphyxiating point with the 
aid of a tin-opener and some petrol tins we were able to effect 
alterations which carried the smoke in next door and afforded 
us a considerable measure of relief.

I could just see Waring and Tweedie thro' the haze, 
and they were sitting over the stove and a bottle of whisky, 
which they finished neat and gravely congratulating each 
other over the success of their engineering and assuring 

themselves/

64 

themselves that we were now Jacques (as the boys say tho' 
goodness knows how they spell it).

17.12.17. The smoky blackness of our hut was in marked contrast 
with the conditions outside - on emerging, as there was six 
inches of snow on the ground. One has to wonder at the way 
poor outraged nature tries to hide the signs of all this 
turmoil. The grass always seems to be more luxuriant round 
the old trenches and shell holes and in many other ways she
tries to heal the torn and bleeding surface.

Viewed from afar the poor old village looks like a 
fairy picture. Only when you get near it you realise that 
its a frozen nightmare. Beyond the village stretches the 
Somme battlefield with its white pall spread over it and 
obliterating the litter of battle.

Only the broken regiments of blasted trees etched 
in grim remorseless lines of jet black arrest the eye.

It only looked pretty tho' and when a strong wind 
came along the cold made me think things that I would blush 
to mention.

Hobbled along the road to the 12th Bde. and returned 
to our fire - gee; what a relief. It's not bad plodding along 
up to the knees in snow but you want to keep clear of the 
shell holes and the wind is damnably keen.

18.12.17. The snow's come to stay alright, but fortunately the 
wind is a na-poo today and conditions much more pleasant. When 
I say pleasant I mean indifferently pleasant, as the temp. of 
course, was well below the duck egg all day.

One thing about this war business that is satisfactory 
in its way is the way the time passes. We've been 
here nearly a fortnight - as the rooster remarked, eggs today 
and tomorrow feather dusters.

Waring and I ran grave risks of getting a "Blighty" 
we went down to the Bde. baths and removed a little of the 
soot, and after that to help us recover from the shock we walked 
over to Div. where they keep excellent Dewars.

The stove played us a sorry trick in the evening - 
smoked to beat the band and nearly gassed us all. We had to 
pull down the chimney which we found blocked with soot and 
from then on we had the best fire ever.

65

19.12.17. At 9 a.m. left Moislains for Templeux-la-Fosse. I very 
wisely decided to walk and even at that I went from cold to 
colder. The roads looked splendid but it took us over 2 
hours to get the transport along the 3 miles which separate 
the ex-villages. Skating at the glaciarium wasn't in it and a

we had to double bank the horses up the slightest rise. Very 
few of the horses were shod with frost cogs but I'll bet they'll 
all have them when we're pulling out if its anything like this.

Templeux is in even a more pitiable state than 
Moslains. The landscape has been amputated and had its roots 
grubbed properly. Things are pretty much hashed up when my 
3 trusty minions can't find some sort of comfort and they are 
reduced to living in a half buried water tank. The battalions 
are in tents, but fortunately Hqrs. have Nissen huts and ours 
has a really promising stove, from which we have amputated the 
fire bricks &c. and rigged it to suit ourselves. We've also 
removed the bend from the chimney so that we can drop a brick 
down to remove the soot.

Beaucoup bombs about.

20.12.17. Dotted and carried one across the country to the 12th 
Bde. and called in at Div. about lunch time where I enjoyed a 
most excellent lunch. You can trust Divn. They've solved the 
mystery of living. Personal effect is absolutely contraindicated 
- work is a thing that isn't done in the best armies 
anyway. Of course the heads must get up and sign some 
papers every day, draw the giddy plans as it were, but there 
on its a case of carry on Sar. Major!

Having developed spavin or something in both ankles, 
it took me 2½ hours to walk home 4 miles.

This must have been an exceedingly pretty village 
once, but it gives one chilblains on the heart to see it close 
up. I wonder how Turps is getting on in Amiens - we sent him 
in with 400 F. to purchase turkeys and other odds and ends.

21.12.17. Still tres tres froid but not as bad as it might be 
as the fog which has been gathered on the scene during the 
last few days is warmer than the wind - it also keeps the 
Gothas away.

Things have not apparently quietened down on this 
front - and German orders have been captured ordering their 
present line to consolidate and moving Regtl. Hqrs. further 
back. Also leave which was closed has been opened again to 

the/

66

the Bosch.

The Padre has returned from Blighty with a limber 
load of music and costumes for the Pierrots who are 
working hard for their Xmas pantomime.

Turps also returned with two turkeys, a goose and 
4 chickens with all sorts of gadgets attached. As there 
will be 7 of us for dinner we shouldn't starve. Waring 
is now melting some icicles from the roof and proposes 
make cocoa so must lend a hand.

67

22.23.24/ Wangled 14 days' leave for Sgt. Williams and sent the 
[*12/17.*] two previous volumes of this compendium to Blighty. There isn't 
a shop closer than Amiens - hence the above conglomeration.

We are all here still and in the pink in spite of 
swarms of Fritz's bomb birds. I don't know why we haven't had 
a few bombs almost us as we must make a great target on the 
snow in the bright moonlight. All we've got is a Lewis gun and 
no search light.

Stupendous preparations for Xmas. 25 turkeys which 
found their way into the canteen went off like chats in a candle; 
and 250 doz: beer and 40 cases of whisky, champayne brandy and 
port lasted nearly a day.

The Pierrots are working hard at their Xmas show - its 
going to be some show "Cinderella up to date".

I haven't had a parcel or an Xmas letter up till now,

for Godsake someone send me a mince pie.

Arthur Waring and Maj. Tovell went to Amiens to get a 
few odds and ends that we didn't trust Terps to get - inter 
alia Arthur got this book. Xmas eve was the greatest night I 
ever experienced. What characters these boys are, and the 
drunker they get the better I love them. You would have thought 
from the medley of sounds that we were at Aspendale instead of 
in this God-forsaken hole. What amuses me is the way they go 
and visit their pals when they get a few drinks on board - they 
must go and look "Digger" up, no matter how far away Digger is 
camped or how much snow there is.

"Terps" has been busy making wigs for the pantomime 
during the last 2 days, and I have painted menus to beat the 
band.

25.12.17. This day last year I was at Sorrento, Vic, and if I 
remember right it was 100° in the shade

This festive morn: we were awakened at 6 a.m. by the 
15th band's carols. Christian Awake &c. till all the instruments 
froze up. The next item was Holy Communion in an Adrian hut 
punctuated with 9.2s and an occasional burst of Emma Gees from 
the front. Then followed the advent of an extra supply of wine 
at the canteen. This must have gone round by wireless becos' in 
3 minutes the sky line was dotted with figures coming from all 
directions and all converging on the canteen.

During the afternoon Waring and I had a brain wave 
and manufactured some Xmas lanterns - if we'd only had the wave a 
little/

68 

little earlier we'd have been an unqualified success. And then 
happened dinner, and if you take the trouble to look at the 
menu you'll see we did ourselves proud. Even the B.M. forgot 
to growl and I.O. Johnson, the mess secretary, was transposed 
with delight. The happiest incident of a very happy little 
dinner was the advent of one Hollingswood No.1 on a machine gun. 
He just called in to wish "Mr Brand" the Compts: of the Season 
and needless to say he was well primed. When asked to partake 
of a little refreshment he allowed that he was a teetotaller, but 
when pressed he thought that a drop of whisky might do him good. 
The drop consisted of about 7 fingers, and he considered that 
there was plenty of water in the whisky now-a-days.

It sure did him good, and the then gave us a most entertaining 
½ hour. You can guess that its not possible to reproduce 
his stories, but I must refer to his experience at Broodseinde. As 
nearly as I can remember it was like this - 

"The Fritzes came over with their b--- coal-scuttles on 
their heads, and when we let them come without a barrage they 
reckoned they were home and dried. Then they went across in front 
of my gun and I said this'll do me. I felt sorry for the poor 
old----s. Mr. Wurtumburg was there that day, good fellows too, 
but they shouldn't have got in the way and they had to go".

You should have seen the loving way he handled his gun 
and the expression on his fine strong face. He's had 5 brothers 
killed and doesn't love the Boch. There was one survivor who 
came at No.1 with a bayonet - but he winds up the story by producing 
a handful of souveniors and adding "Well that's what I 
ratted from the poor old -----".

Another story was of how he and No.2 salvaged the Brig. 
from the mud at Goudeacourt. Mind you he was telling the Brig. all 
this and he said, that when they saw the Brig's plight his pal 
remarked "Gor Blime, there's poor old Steve stuck in the b-- mud".

These reminscences from the landing up to date lasted 
for ½ an hour and we were all sore with laughing but finally Tovell 
and Mac had to assist the said Hollingswood home. Everyone was 
speechless and so we were spared the toasts that were down on the 
card. You wouldn't think it possible to have a Merry Xmas in a 
place like this, would you? Well, forget it, no nits and then 
nothing. Thanks to a good lot of fellows du vin and the Almighty 
spreading a fog over the landscape we had Peace, Goodwill and a 
good time".

26.12.17. Boxing Day and the only box-on I've had was with a 
sweet tempered tho' misguided mule. I won in the second round. 
A terrible lot of sore heads were on view this morn. but Xmas will 
be a long time coming round again.

Once/

69 

Once again some bird took a fancy to old Dick but we got 
him back again during the day, thanks to the initiative of the 
13th Battn Sergt and old Dick dumping the hoss thief on the side 
of the road and returning toute-de-suite.

At last the great Xmas pantomime made its appearance, and 
believe me I've seen many a pantomime I enjoyed less. When you 
think of the difficulties these fellows labour under the result is 
little short of wonderful. The whole show is complete, ugly 
sisters, Cinderella, Fairy Godmother and all. Dancing aeroplane 
scene, it's all there - to say nothing of the orchestra. All the 
costumes are new from London and the whole thing is delightfully 
amusing and especially the topical references. Why - to see the 
tears coursing down from old Brig's face was worth the franc alone.

It has its pathos too when you think that these boys who 
entertain us so might go over the bags any old time.

27.12.17. Indifferently sober again and back into our strike again, 
it's some stride too over to Hant Allaines where the 12th Bde. are 
still located. Its still hopeless to think of riding on these 
roads.

I tried a short cut across country but the going was terribly 
heavy - too many shell holes and ditto wire. Besides I got into 
the throes of some manoeuvre - it took all my eloquence to explain 
that I was a benevolent neutral and thereby save myself from the 
unpleasant eventuality of being metaphorically exterminated.

Recent Furphyses have it that we are to move within a few 
days back to the Ypres front of all places. What a refrigerated 
nightmare the train journey will be.

28.12.17. Most cruelly cold to-day - the wind blowing across the 
snow-frozen ground cuts pieces off anyone.

Had another few rounds with that mule to-day; he is a nice 
amiable animal - put up a regular barrage with all four hoofs. 
Still I launched a strong offensive and finally gashed a hole in 
his shoulder and managed to land the contents of a large abscess
on terra-firma.

In spite of our efforts to plug up the cracks with the Xmas 
Sketch the snow persists in filtering into our hut where it melts 
toute-de-suite and makes things very unpleasant. Tweedie has just 
indented for fum for six officers with bad colds so must assist him 
in the preparation of his famous hot toddy.

29.12.17. Still very cold but "Sigs" and I journeyed over to Divvy, 
very adroitly climbing up on a Tommy lorry which greatly facilitated 
the journey.