Thomas James Richards, Diaries, Transcript Vol. 4, 9 November 1916 - 31 May 1918 - Part 16

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May 15th.   Tuesday.   Bomb Explosion. Aveluy.
I spent a pleasant couple of hours with Lt. Brown of the
9th Bn. a New Zealander with their noted craze for football
and a South African officer with the Australian forces.
At the first parade this morning Lt. Col. Fitzgerald
put the officers through the correct and only approved form
of salute. I must get into conversation with the Colonel as
he is the leader in the Australian X France footballlmovement.
We went onto throwing dummy bombs, the formation of bombing 
squads and later the practice of bombing down a trench. It
was an old trench one from which the Bosch were griven in the
"big push" of last year. The bag of dummy bombs was placed on
the parapet and the 12 bombing officers gathered round talking.
The instructed decided to put the bombs into the bag and try
another movement before lunch. As the bombs were being thrown
into the sandbag I heard a sticker pin go off and someone
shout out "Look out." Everybody scrambled up and ran, the bomb
exploded and although I was 10 or 15 yards away I felt myself
hit on the back in several places. By my side was an officer
shot in the stomach I losened his belt, and then with Brown
went back to the Hut. Later there were 5 officers in an Ambulance 
car making for Pozieres where the 1st Field Ambulance
attended to us and then sent us back 6 miles right where we
come from at Aveluy.
There was something decidedly wrong about this arrangement 
as it ment a journey of 12 miles when 1 mile would have
taken us to our present destination.
Anyhow we are now all in a comfortable hut between linen
sheets and with the best of attention. Compbell, with the
stomach wound, is in a very serious condition otherwise there
is nothing very wrong.
I have a nasty piece of bomb in each of my shoulders.
Had the one on the left gone in a little deeper it would have
penetrated the lung so I am jolly lucky indeed, as it is I am
very sore and cannot move my shoulders at all but it will be
alright before very long.
 

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May 16th.   Wednesday.
I went under gas to-day and had a piece of metal extracted
from my shoulder. The whole operation occupied only a few
moments. I expected some little sensation when going off to
"sleep" but this I did not feel at all. I "came too” also with
ease, and was surprised at the quickness of the whole job.
It is raining to-day and right into the night which makes
me greive for the troops holding onto Bullecourt midst mud and
shells.
May 17th.   Thursday.
It is an infernally difficult matter to sleep the whole
night through in the one position lying half on the back and
on the right side. Yet, I will get used to that I expect.
On the ward wall opposite are a set of pictures that
keep attracting my attention much as I dislike them. They
represent a girl in a blue and white striped coat with an anxious
and keen looking fox terrier dog in her arms. I dont
mind this dog he is so well drawn and business like, but the
girl, although I like her coat, is a rather weak uninspiring
sort of drawing. Next is rather charming "flapper" with long
rolly lengths of rich brown hair, but her attention is woodenly 
directed upon the dog in her arms. I dog with one black and
one white eye, the white eyes are awful sights I think. There
is another "flapper" further down with a hugh scarlet hat on
and again a silly lap dog nestling against her cheek.
There are no patients across the ward though the beds
are ready made with white sheets and red blankets. Some pretty
flowers stand in a brass shell case on the small table. The
room is very pleasant inside and comfortable.
At about 5 o'clock our train came along. The Officers
were comfortably placed in a soft cushioned and roomy carriage.
And oh! the journey down through the beautiful Spring country
side was charming; it was all so barron and desolate the last
time I came towards Amiens. At 3 a.m. we were comfortable
 

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quartered at the No. 2 British Red Cross Hospital at Rouen.
May 18th.   Friday.     Rouen Hospital.
To-day has passed along pleasantly enough I have had
three good meals with wine or beer to drink, a bath vaslined
and combed my hair and had my photograph taken an X Ray
reproduction of my shoulders only to find out if there is any
more metal there and its whereabouts. Everything is of the
very best. The Sisters hard to beat, not quite what one
would call good lookers but yet real "dinkums."
May 19th.   Saturday.
Another peaceful day with the kindest attention and the
very best treatment. I had another X. Ray photograph taken
to-day. I expect it to show up a bit of metal in the left
shoulder. In visiting my friend Brown to-day I discovered a
vase full of my most delightful perfume giver Lily of the
Valley. Lilac is also glorious while Tulips easily held pride
of place for good looks and a'charming range of colours. The
birds are disappointing, though I must remember I am in a large
town I suppose: I heard a Cuckoo plaintifly calling yesterday.
I saw a blackbird too but to-day the are swallows and sparrows
about only. The weather is splendid and I sleep like a child
between sheets and keep the window open.
May 20th.   Sunday.
There was Church service held this morning but in waiting
for the Doctor (who did not arrive) I had no chance of going.
Prior, my room mate is going to England. He had a splinter
in his neck nothing to speak of and when he can get to England
I feel almost certain that I can get there too. To-days X Ray
photograph shows a piece of metal under my left shoulder blade.
They might remove it here but I will ask to have it taken out

 

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over in England. That will lengthen my stay there and give
me more justification for being there.
May 21st.   Monday.
There is nothing much to write about any more than it
was a very pleasant day. I tried to write but could not get
down to it at all. I play patients read a little, smoke chat
with the womenfolk walk around the garden a little, anything
but settling down to write as I so badly want to.
My last letter from Bro. Bert was dated March 7th and as
he was likely to sail at any moment there should be a chance
of meeting him before I return to the Battalion. This would
be lovely.
May 22nd.   Tuesday.
It is 8 o'clock the sun still shines brightly over Rouen,
and floods with its cheerful radience the little garden on the
North side of the Hospital wherein I am at the moment roaming.
I have been lying about in the garden all day in fact and
though I regret the lazyness the appearant waste of good days
I nevertheless enjoy it to the utmost. No word has been received 
of a hospital ship leaving so I dont know how long I
am likely to be about here. The girls about the Hospital
are a splendid lot always smiling and happy but as in most
Hospitals they are not allowed much liberty, I don't think
the V.A.D.s are permitted to go out with officers or men; there
Voluntry Aid
are some fine girls amongst them too. I have taken a fair
number of photographs in the garden these I will have to have
developed and posted back to the girls.
I drafted out a cable for Mother to-day but I did not
send it I want to do so from England. And as long as the
military folk have not advised her that I am wounded and set
everybody worrying all will be well. But if there is no
boat going to-morrow I will wire without fail.
Remained in the garden until 9 o'clock.
 

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May 23rd.   Wednesday 
The first thing I heard this morning was that a boat 
would be sailing today and I would be ready to move off by 
9 o'clock. I was sorry to leave in a way as the Sisters were
jolly good, and so bright.
I was rather disappointed to find a train in waiting
instead of a boat to take us down the beautiful River Seine
to Havre. The train left at 10.30 and got to Havre by 3 p.m.
where we waited aboard the "Esscribo" and stood by until just
on dark when we pulled out accompanied by an escort.
This Hospital ship, and all of them are now alike I 
believe had no distinguishing marks at all. Once all Hospital
ships were painted white and had a huge red cross on the side
at night they carried a band of green lights but since the
Germans declared war on Hospital ships they are painted the 

same as troopships and wait until nightfall to slip across
the Channel.  That is what they are doing to-night.
May 24th.   Thursday.
We slipped into Southampton about daylight this morning
and went ashore onto the train for London at midday arriving
at Paddington Station where I was pushed into a lovely big
motor car and ran for many miles over to 3rd London General
Hospital Wandsworth.
It was Empire Day and the weather most delightful,
thousands of children graced greens and were having a
great time of it.
 

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May 9th. Location of Grave
130 yards West of road from Vaulx - Noreuil
12 yards South from shattered tree on 
a magnetic bearing of 330%
Hand drawn diagram, See original 
Photo.  At Doignies 14/4/17.
Hand drawn diagram, See original 
This is a copy of the grave on a German cemetery which
we later on passed through.

1917
May 23rd
to
September 30th.
Left Havre for Southampton to London. Bomb wound.
3 L. G. Hospital London.
Cobham Hall, Kent.
Newquay, Cornwall. July 28th.
Perham Downs, Salisbury Plains. Aug. 12th.
Saw Bro. Bert. Aug. 16th.
Returned to Battalion Aug. 27th.
Wounded. Sept. 17th, and returned to London.
 

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May 23rd.   Wednesday night.
After a lot of warning as to the necessarty of sleeping
in our cloths and if possible a life-belt or at least to have
the string tied around the waist so that is the case of alarm
there would be no time lost in looking for it, we moved out
of the Harbour, Havre, at dusk 9.15 p.m. and after waiting
a little while set off at full steam, arriving at Southampton
by breakfast time. A very good breakfast it was too served
up to us by good, attentive ships stewards. How different
to the usual 2nd class woman waiters?
May 24th.    Thursday.
It was about breakfast time when I got up cloths and all
and found the "Essequibo" drawing against the wharf. There
was very little commotion or bustle as the 1st train load was
got away. At midday my train got away for London. It was
very charming to see the fine old English scenery once again,
At Paddington Station the officers sitting up were ushered
into fine motor cars and sent to the respective hospitals. I
got a lovely big red car all to myself, and travelled through
pretty parks with children singing and playing on the rich,
velety grass celebrating Empire Day. Through Clapham to
Wandsworth Hospital nearby when I was sent into"F." Ward and
made fairly comfortably though nothing to the splendid hospital 
at Rouen.
May 25th.    Friday.
The Doctor had a careless kind of a look over me this
morning and stalked off; I wanted to get away into the City
in the afternoon everybody gets away from 2 to 7 p.m. but no,
I had to stay at home and read R.W.Services' "The Trail of
98" a jolly good story and I'm glad I ran across it as I
wanted to know more about this man. The long room with 22
beds in it is not so nice nor is the grub quite as good as I
expected, while, no beer is surplied.
 

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It seems strange that the women about this Hospital are
so staid and half spirited compared to the bright woman in
France. There was joy amongst the Sisters and V.A.D.s at
Rouen, but here it is very different; they seem a poorer
class of woman here too. Hard and miss shapen.
May 26th.   Saturday
Nothing much to write about; Though it has been a
lovely day. I would have pinched out this afternoon but for
not having a blue arm band which every patient must have on
walking out. I wanted to buy some half a dozen little thing
amongst them a fountain pen, but I will have to wait now
until Monday.
Through the Bank I sent a wire to Mother. "Wounded
both shoulders doing splendidly quite happy.
May 27th.   Sunday.
It is a bright sunshine day. So much so that I cannot
resist going out onto the River though I have no permission
to do so neither have I got a blue arm-band which all patients
are bidden to wear when going out.
With Blackburn of the 4th Battalion I trained to Richmond
and walked down onto to Thames where Blackey found some old
friend in the over generous form of a red headed matron. One
I beleive boosting in the name of Mrs. Archer Turnour; she
talked about the age of her lovely old home, and the beautiful
spot it commanded, forgetting appearently that we were sitting
thereon. The other side of the River was the"wrong " side.
The cheap chatter of the old damsel roused my suspicion at
once. And I was doomed to learn before I had afternoon tea
and left that it was only a "boarding house" with the name of
the "Bellevue Private Hotel" and refered to by the lady as
the Club. Her daughter was all light noisy chatter and no
wonder my temperature was over 100 when I got back to the
Hospital.
Miss Turnour was good enough to press me to coming on
 

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the River with her and though my shoulder are bad she said
she would do all the poling, or punting, I think they call it
I must go on the River but I dont think it will be with this
young lady she talks too much about nothing and has the wrong
coloured red hair.
There were a whole lot of people on the River and I was
surprised to see so many white cloths with both men and women.
It looked quite like an Australian crowd until they spoke and
then the spell was broken.
My head ached terribly and to put up with those jabbering
woman, by the way, the superior minded boarding house mistress
reminded us twice that she was a cousin to Sir John Jellicoe
with much affected pride.
I got back by 6.30 p.m. and remained out in the yard
until after dinner time then I got quitely into bed with fever
raging wildly.
May 28th.   Monday.
The Nurse discovered my temperature at 102 this morning
but as the day wore on it improved considerably and when Bob
Miller, Hasty A'Beckett Bert Boardman and two lady friends
came along I was fairly good. They left a whole lot of fruit
and sweets.
May 29th.   Tuesday.
Temperature down to normal but I have a big head and a
nasty mouth. I have been fasting now for 50 hours. I suppose
it will pull the very devil out of me.
This evenings paper refers to a speech in which the Minister 
of Defense, Pearse, has a movement on foot to return all
of the remainder of the First Contingent to Australia.
This would please me very much indeed but I fear there
are going to be many difficulties to surmount. In fact I
doubt if ever it will come about.
Temperature over 101 to-night.