Diary transcript of Reginald Harriman Heywood, 1918-1919 - Part 1

Vol. III

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18.7.18. A militarist sort of a day to-day. ^Our  /recalcitrant cook got
right over the traces this morning and required an orderly room
trial. By the way he no longer controls out destinies in the
cook house - Cooper has relieved him with Boofer Dodds as offsider.
Several minor arguments had also to be settled and the
question of "strays" is becoming rather acute and requires
delicate handling.
There is a pretty good furphy going about the French
making a push on a forty mile front.
Tonight we had our semi-final gallops and Brownie went
very fast for a couple of furlongs, tho' he was stopping badly
after that - I wish we could have given him a bit more work.
I'm going to ride Tas Morgan's big black horse but don't
fancy him much, at any rate I'm satisfied he couldn't have 
stretched old Dick out even.
19.7.18. Things are looking up - to-day we got another allotment
on the leave roster and another cut out of the comforts fund -
sweets, tinned vegetables and some decent playing cards from the
good people of Ballarat.
Conference morning this, so I spent the day at home as
the conference was held here. Nothing much bar a marked depletion 
of my stock of cordials happened - tho' a suggestion that Tas Morgan
should make the mobile his headqrs. was put forward.
That's right about the French - they gave it to Fritz
properly in the neck, they got pastsed his guns too in places and
took many prisoners.
An off day on the track to-day, we'll have our final 
gallops tomorrow.
20.7.18. Gad. I'm getting too old to ride; this morn: I went round
the fourth Bde. which took me from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. and on
arriving home I was quite worn out.
From the latest accounts the French and Yanks have taken 17000
Fritzes and 350 guns - that's a ghastly ending to an offensive
which fell flat on a 50 mile front, eh what?
Final gallops this evening and Brownie went very fast
again. He's improving with every gallop but I wish he could have
had a bit more work.
21.7.18. The number of Fritz prisoners has swelled to over 20,000
and the Froggies have bagged 400 guns. Up North they are pegging
away at him still and the Scotties have got back to Meteren. What a 
time the 1st Div. have had up there and they are still at it.
They/

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They seemed to have been in the line all the time - or at least
if they haven't, every time they are in  they do something.
Went over and inspected the course at Allonville, which 
is a bit rough, tho' not bad, and then hastened on to up near
where D.A.D.O.S. is. There was a match on there between two
3rd Div. nags for 2000 francs aside. Charlie Cooper was riding 
one and reckoned it home and dried, so we cheerfully laid a shade
of odds. The good thing was never extended.
Phil called in and had tea with me. His crowd is over
Gilsy way.
22.7.18. Well the sports are all over, and we didn't have a win, but
still we weren't altogether disgraced.
The meeting was a most interesting and successful one, and
only marred by a sad accident in which Capt. Kemmis (Camp
Commandant) and Maj. Smith (M.G.Bn) were killed. Kemmis was
going well alongside me in the first race, when his mare suddenly
went down and evidently Maj. Smith's horse came over him.
Major Hinton's "George" was the hero of the meeting and won two
open races. Young Geo. Leonard (Vic) rode him.
There was some good jumping in the 3 hurdle races and the
donks provided much amusement and astonishment both on the flat
and over the sticks. Novelties included the arrival of a 
squadron of 12 'planes which landed on the course in time for the
3rd race - having got the day off from Hazebrouck.
Two of the 'planes had a bit of a match down to Calais
and back (140) miles but I didn't see the finish tho' they expected
to be back in just over the hour. A BOche also provided a 
little excitement by lowering in flames a couple of our balloons
not far away. There was a very large crowd there and amongst 
others that I saw were Arthur Best (5th D.A.) and Roy Gibbons who
was down from Doullens for the day. Gen Rawlinson (4th Army)
and a host of other nig guns - of numerous nationalities were
there.
The whole concern was quite as good as a country cup
meeting and the crowd was much larger than most country cups
would draw; they came on foot, horse, limber, G.S.wagons, lorries,
motor and aeroplanes.
23.7.18. Nothing much doing bar a steady rain. I had to send over 
and get the pelt taken off Capt. Kemmis's mare as she was also
fatally injured. Kemmis and Major Smith were buried in the
little cemetery down the road toward Amiens.
Copplestone the Sanitary Section man has been sore
trail lately and this morning came in and made all sorts of
impossible remarks about the disposal of manure. I wonder 
how/

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how many men he thinks are available. I had a go at is myself 
this afternoon for a couple of hours and now am covered with
blisters and a sorry wreck generally.
24.7.18. Got a bit of our own back to-day as we have unearthed a 
trotter. We had her well placed to-day in the 12th Bde. Sports
and backed her from 4 to 1 down to 6 to 4  She won very easily
and I think we'll give her a run in the Corps meeting next month.
Went up to the 4th Bde. per motor transport. The 
chateau where Bde. Hqrs. are is a beautiful old dwelling; at
different times it has been 4th Army and Corps Hqrs. It was Corps
Hqrs. at the Pozieres stunt. I was fortunate to become the possessor
of some souvenirs including a Lunimoges milk jug and some
cut glass from Corbie.
25.7.18. There's a moving day ahead of us shortly, in fact I'm to 
take over from Capt. Grant (5th M.V.S.) on Sunday. Just as well
perhaps or the boys will be forgetting how to pack up.
Fritz has been dropping an occasional bomb lately but our
own 'planes are worrying him a lot apparently. Last night was
more or less of a dud night and we didn't hear a Fritz but our 
own planes were going backwards and forwards all night. You
could see his searchlights frantically stabbing away at the 
clouds in all directions, but when he did get one of our machines
in the light there would be streams of tracer bullets from the
'plane and out would go the lights very promptly. The French 
have made another small tho' successful push just south of us
this time.
26.7.18. Moving day has been postponed or at any rate all moves
have been cancelled for the time being. That may mean just
putting it off for a few days, or we may be going to another
front, we may even be going right back tho' the last is a 
highly remote contingency. We had a conference this morning
but 1/5^th of the total members was missing, viz. Seeley and there
was nothing of importance. The Bridge party in the evening is 
still the thing.
Geoff Madden takes a hand now and is coaching us along 
slowly - plays a good fist Geoff does.
27.7.18. There isn't much doing in the veterinary line so after
a look round the D.A.C. rode Ginger over to Argoeuvres. By the
way I'm riding said Ginger in old Dick's place, he's the most
mad headed little beast, and he and I are going to have a row 
very soon.
Madam and Fedore were evidently "charme de vous voir"
or at least if they weren't they were at great pains to make
me/

4
me think so. The mephostopolean one wasn't there for which
I was thankful.
Pardon me for mentioning the weather, especially as
it is so unmentionable. As far as I can see there's 3 months
bad weather and then nine months dam bad.
Little old Melbourne used to have a name for changeable
climate, but don't you believe it. Constant and steady!
why after this our climate's got the pyramids looking like
shivery grass. You go out here in the perfect morning sunshine
and half an hour later wonder whether the Niagara falls
or only the City baths have opened upon you. Clears up at
night too generally and this evening Jerry has been very busy 
with him little bomb birds.
28.7.18. Still no orders to move but there is a very strong
rumour current that we are going over the river to relieve the
French division on our right.
There's a stunt on in the morning timed to start at
1.50 a.m. - the 5th Div. are in it, but I can't say who else.
By the numbers of ambulances that have gone up it must be a
big affair.
29.7.18. Had a letter from jo. to-day. he is on 8 days leave
before he goes before the R.A.F. Doctor for his final nerve 
test - some test he says.
We're going over the River alright, so the staff and
I will have to go over in the morning and prospect for a new
position.
I am to be relieved from solitary confinement in a
measure as old Tas Morgan is coming to live with me in the future.
30.7.18. The staff and I perambulated thro' Camon and over
those famous bridges over the river - those bridges with the
superfluous "do not loiter" notices. To do Fritz justice, tho'
he hasn't hit the bridges direct his long range shooting is
marvellous. Its the saddest thing I know to ride thro' Amiens
with its street after street of lovely villas all deserted,
not a sound but the horses shoes on cobbles. It is estimated
that one house in seven is hit, and that's on the safe 
side. A hit from one of these shells doesn't leave much house
either, and I haven't seen a place with the windows intact.
We/

5
We rode tho' St. Acheus, Boutillerie, Cagny and towards
Boves and finally found a nice camp near Boutillerie, so I came
back to make arrangements with Div: but found the spot jumped
by the 1st Sanitary Section.
31.7.18. Ditto the perambulator act and the staff and I found another
camp which us good tho' with certain disadvantages which includes
the liability to ejection without further notice if the gendarmes
prove to be men of some integrity and beyond the reach of filthy
lucre.
A shell has landed in the back yard and somewhat disturbed
the internal arrangements, otherwise its not to be sneezed at.
Capt. Morgan has arrived and proves a welcome addition to
the bridge party, tho' he is somewhat about our class.
1.8.18. Spent most of the day cudgelling my brains for material to
put into the war diary. Fortunately it is only a monthly affair
and in addition no one is ever likely to read it. All the same
the evacuation thro' this month were the lowest on record and
our evacuation rolls form a good general index of the condition
of the horseflesh in the division. We evacuated only 44 horses
from the division during the month, while in the previous two 
months we sent away 153 animals from one battery alone. Needless 
to add it was a tommy battery, but their casualties mostly
followed on the German March offensive. The greater proportions
were debility and mange.
Jimmie lunched with us and he, the Staff Sgt. Brown, Tas & 
myself spent two hours on our favourite topic - the blind and
beautiful idiocy of heads in general with special reference to
some mild atrocities lately committed by the D.D.R.
A Boch airman relieved somewhat the monotony of the afternoon
by coming over and shooting down 5 of our balloons. However some
of our 'planes arrived and he hit terra firma almost the 5th
balloon, but he'd earned his oats.
Tomorrow - nous partons.
2.8.18. Moved  over to the new camo this morning pulling in about
10.45 a.m. after handing over to Major Copplestone the 5th
SAnitary expert. Fritz has wheeled up hi ironmongery again
close enough to plonk some big ones into Amiens this morning so 
was glad to get over th "don't loiter" bridges.
As is usual on such occasions the move was carried out in
the pouring rain, but these fellows are great workers, and we'd
hardly lobbed before they had some sort of a receptacle under
every waterspout and everyone was at work on some little contrivance
designed to further the comfort of both men and horses.

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By evening we were well set with cover for all, stabling for

the section horses and good standing for the sick lines.

Think we're in for a busy time here as we seem to be the

only Mobile over this side; we'll be evacuating for the

division, tommies and Canadians. The float has been out for

a Canadian horse already down in Cagny,

Hqrs. are in Cagny, only a couple of kilos away.

3.8.18, They're still putting the rough stuff into Fritz down the 

Marne way. Glad I don't live in that salient . I spent a 

fortnight in a salient once and that'll do me.

Saw the 4th Bde, up at Boves this morn: but they are

moving out tomorrow back to the other front up in front of

Corbie. Think there is something big on shortly, but can't

quite make out the strength of it. Don't know whether the

whole division will be moving across to the other front, but

its probable that we'll have another move in a few days.

We're evacuating to Picquigny from here to the XIXth Corps

V.H.S. its about 15 kilos so considerably closer than Vignacourt.

4.8.18 Four years to-day since England declared war - with all her

faults little old England has got a pretty fair record to show

during the said four years. I remember coming across the

bridge at Maribyruong and buying the "Argue" special containing

the fateful news. Then there was our own pledge to sent 20,000

men - we wondered where they were coming from and now the 

"indefatigable" Australians have had 252,588 casualties. That

includes only 3,000 prisoners, compree only 3,000 prisoners?

Strikes me our coming over her is a big bluff, but I

won't talk of it on principle. If it comes off, it will have

been one of the cleverest bluffs of the war. Its going to be

some stunt this one, gee, the stuff that's going up. Amongst

it the four Canadian divisions have filtered thro' and you

hardly see a man about all day. Do you get that? the four

Canadian divisions - over strength and spoiling for a fight - 

they're quite sore at having been out of it so long.

We've got word unofficially that we're going back to the

other side, so again the staff and I went prospecting for a

camp. We've got a little wood behind Bussy but its going to 

be alfresco this time.

5.8.18 Like Mr. Micawber - wasn't it - we've spent most of the

                                                                                         day/

 

7

day waiting for something to turn up. Hqrs. have moved to

Daours but so far no one has turned up to relive us tho' the

4 Canadian Mobiles must be somewhere about. However we're off

tomorrow or no.

Tas. has spent most of the day endeavouring to extract an

erstwhile molar with the aid of a pair of artery forceps. Per-

sonally I wished the operation had been a more prolonged one as

the inclusions of a pair of forceps and most of a fist in his 

mouth interfered with his whistling which is on an ambitious and

incessant nature. As a warbler he's got all the birds in the 

trees about as chatty as the dove on a funeral wreath.

The trouble now seems to be now that Fritz may go back

before we can have a smack at him, in fact he has gone back in

places on this front. Fortune seems to be with us at last as

to-day has been very wet and thick and giving us a chance to

complete preparations for this stunt, without Master Fritz

knowing it all.

6.8.18. From the sublime to the ridiculous, we pulled out of our

home and trekked across to this comfortless wood. Needless to

say tho' it was fine when we set out, it rained heavily later

and building a camp in the rain  is no bon.

Young Tucker found his way across here in the evening and

rather cheered me up as he has just returned from leave. Amongst

other things he informed me that the 1st Div. are down here. We'd

heard rumours to that effect and Tom had seen some of them, and

in fact later in the evening some their A.S.C. pulled into the

next wood. They'd hardly arrived before Fritz dropped a bomb in

amongst them which got about half their horses. Altogether, he

made it very unpleasant round about her last night.

Little Col. HoSharry was killed last night up int Vaire-sous

Corbie - not even in supports, That a loss he'll be in a stunt

like this one is to be,

7.8.18. Those bombs last night put the wind up me, so I've spent

most of the day digging a funk hole - its some digging too here.

As General Monash has sent us a circular to that effect,

there's no harm in saying that this is to be the biggest affair

we've ever been in. For the first time, our whole 5 divisions

are to be together, and the 4 Canadians are on our right.

There are two good English divisions on our left, and I believe

the advance is to cover 10,000 yards or more, but that depends

largely I expect on those on our left.

Tanks and artillery are to be employed on an unprecedented

scale.

8

8.8.18 Can't get much news of the stunt, but what is available

is all to the good. On the way up to the 4th Bde. this morn:

I passed a very healthy stream of prisoners, now estimated at

700 including generals and all sorts. The heavy artillery

were 2 miles the other side of Fritz's line at 8 o'clock this

morn. Unlike previous shows, there was no preliminary bombard-

ment so it must have been a very wonderful affair.

It's hard to say how far we've gone, but the 4th Bde.

transport are moving up as far as Vaire Wood.

Later news shows that the tommies on our left were the

fly in the ointment and failed to gain their objective enabling

Fritz to enfilade our left flank. Amongst the casualties was

Major C.R. Seelenmeyer A.A.V.C.M.C. poor old Seeley!

Our calvary are well through and the tanks and armoured

cars are going still.

Tomorrow, the Mobile joins in the hunt.

9.8.18. Made an early start striking our camp near Bussey about

7 a.m. and moving off about 8.30. We passed the big gun at Bussy

blazing away at a target beyond Bray, went thro' Daours and along

the Daours-La Neaville Rd. past Windt flat and into a camp near

La Neuville, It's been an old Bde. Hqrs. and in the words of the

post it'll do me - Tas and I are living in a dug out of Cupola

iron and Sandbags and have a mess and cookhouse and all complete.

On the way we passed more healthy streams of prisoners,

and gee what a day I've had. It's a nice job trying to get in

touch with any of the units - they're moving so fast, and there

are a good number of wounded coming in. In addition there are

large numbers of Boch horses which all have to be tested with

Mallein.

Besides horses there is inestimable booty, guns of all

sorts, ammunition, a red cross train and 20 nurses, and corps

staff complete to the London waiter and anything up to 20,000

prisoners.

The Canadians bagged a whole train, engine guard and 

1500 Fritzes complete.

If we had people on wither flank that could go the

pace with us I think Fritz would have been back on the Hinden-

burg line - as it is, it seems probable that the diggers are in

sight of Peronne, and to do the tommies justice they've had a

hard fight.

I wish I could relate a tithe of the wonderful things

                                                                       that/

9

that have happened, and the Diggers! they've got smiles from

ear to ear and sum it up "Home and Dried".

10.8.18. "Greta British advance" "British 4th Army". "British

under Haig" - those are the headings in the paper and the

whole time the show has been dwelling on its left flank. Still

the tanks, tommy heavy artillery and 'planes and also the

cavalry did all of them fine work - up where the old front

line is you can see where the tanks pounded along stopping at

the doors of the dug outs and firing a couple of shells down -

2 inch shells at that.

I was up there this morning thro' Corole - which looks

nearly as bad as Bapaume, Hamelet, Vaire Wood and beyond

Hamel where the old front line was - it's a gruesome sight.

Our bombardment was very short - four minutes - but tremendous

ly sweet, and all that is left of the Booh trenches is a line

of debris, with here and there a well perforated coal scuttle

hat sticking out of the earth.

                                                           a

Further on, the scene is quite indescrible - the remains

of quartermastar's stores, machine gun fitters, telephones,

bombs and ammunition horses, mostly dead. Oh, its a lovely

sight. I even saw a German padre's outfit, a most gaudy affair.

It must have been the most complete of surprises - it looks

as tho' that were a very clever move sending us over to the

other front and creating an impression that we were holding

in addition to our own , the front on which in fact 4 Canadian

divisions were packed.

The French appear to be going great guns too - this

evidently is only a part of the battle.

11.8.18. Being Sunday, I thought I'd have an off-day, but since

8 a.m. and its now 8 p.m. have been going on my top gear -

chiefly shooting, skinning and digging graves. Fortunately a 

liberal sprinkling of shell holes renders the last fairly easy.

A big Fritz bomber came down last night - and it was

 some sight, as he hit the ground in flames, his engines going

full ahead and about a ton of bombs on board. They got his

in the light and two of our night scouts applied the necessary.

A 58th Bn. boy gave me his version of the two days

fight, and how they got the big gun that used to shell Amiens.

I wish I could repeat the story to you - that boy could stand

on any stage int he English speaking world and make a fortune

if he could repeat that story adjectives and all.

The new to-day is conflicting, tho' all seem agreed

that the French have been as successful as we have. The

                                                                                     casualties/