Thomas James Richards, Diaries, Transcript Vol. 4, 9 November 1916 - 31 May 1918 - Part 25
-232 -
March 27th. Wednesday.
We are taking matters very quitely indeed. Parties go up
working each day, but there is nothing serious doing at all.
I though 15 in. guns could only be fired off a strong bed or
from a railway platform especial prepared. But I have seen a
15 inch gun up amongst the forward 18 lbs. near Hill 60.
We have a Battalion mess running very successfully now.
There was bottled been about but it is all Whiskey and sherry
wine now. Whiskey costs only 6 francs a bottle here, and there
is plenty then.
The only releif from coughing was got from whiskey of
which I have drunk some bottle and a half a day.
March 28th. Thursday.
It is quite cold to-day and the war news is pretty bad; it
is at the same time this day two years ago since we landed in
France. No doubt it was celebrated in some quarters too but
we did not take any notice of it here, although a party of us
come in late for dinner and started on whiskey and soda. I
did not mind, as my cough keeps me awake so often that a
little booze puts me to sleep. Anyhow the 7 at dinner were
pretty tight before the lecture on "Tactics" by Capt. Somerset.
I have drunk two bottles of whiskey in 4 days it seems the only
medecine on hand the Doctor can do nothing at all for me.
March 29th. Friday.
The "Padra" assures me that it is Good Friday to-day. It
seems very early this year. Easter will be a bloody one, perhaps
worse than any preceeding Easter as the Germans are making
a mighty bid for victory. The news from the Somme is a whole
lot better now. The work done by the 3rd Div. A.I.F. and the
New Zealanders is beyond praise. It is reported that the
Tommys cheered our men all along the road into the battle.
There is no doubt about the hardy qualities of our men.
- 233 -
March 30th. Saturday.
With a working party, out at 6.30 a.m. and carrying material
up on Hill 60 in the clear light. It makes a fellow "windy"
to have so many men going about while 10 German balloons look
coldly from high up in the sky upon us. The Pioneer officers
did not turn up so that we had very little work to do and got
away by 10 a.m.
Phosgene gas is sent across in liquid form contained in
shell, which upon exploding splashed about and slowly became gas,
it laid in dugouts, out of the wind, for many hours, men took
particles into dugouts on their boots but it was sufficent to
kill them in agony, thousands will die in after years from its
effect.
March 31st. Easter Sunday.
I have been to Church in the Y.M.C.A. Hut to-night and I
felt as though I have more religion in my than I seem to think
especially as I am reading NIETZSCHE by J. M. Kennedy. This
German had a strange view of Christianity and I agree with him
that the mournfulness of religion as often preached with the
purpose of touching and holding the weak, the slave etc. is
pretty right. I received a parcel of fruit from M. D. Soden
to-day. She is very good.
Our movement orders came quick and sudden to-night.
April 1st. Monday.
April Fools' Day but there seemed to be very little nonsense
about it. We moved from Ridgewood Camp towards
Poperinghe and back to some form of civilisation after just
35 days in the wilderness.
I looking over to-day Observer (London) I find nearly all
articles are of a serious nature, mostly dealing with the
- 234 -
possibility of Germanys hugh success. The submarines have
sunk a record number of ships and the chances of Germany gaining
Paris and the French Coast so that an attempted landing in
England could follow. The age limit is again raised and there
is a great rush of recruits. England seems now to realise her
danger after years of idleness and extreme wasteful. This to
me is an excellent sign as long as they have not wakened up too
late. There is no doubt that we are to be turned into the Somme
inferno. I don’t so much mind that either, but we have taken
this war so serious and fought it everywhere never have we
slakened down and agreed to the terms "if you dont shoot we
wont" as was common in some English Devisions. We Australians
fore-saw the present situation while the English looked on
knowingly and talked loudly about our terms to Germany. Now
they are wondering what terms Germany will give; and we have to
fight on and on.
April 2nd. Tuesday.
I was wakened this morning at sunrise by the birds
(skylarks I think) singing bright and cheerfully; this with
the blooming of the beautiful horethorn are sure signs that
Spring in with us. We paraded with full packs up and route
marched through the densely cultivated country. Everybody was
busy on their farms. Old people and children both male and
female were harrowing and working. It is a great piece of
land. The hop patches do not appear to be receiving much
attention this year.
April 3rd. Wednesday.
To the baths at Poperhinge this afternoon at very few
minutes notice. It took us 1 1/2 hours hard walking to get there
and then the water was cold and no clean cloths available for
the men. Poperinghe is in a knocked about condition now-a-days
The women that we have met in Belgium are of a sameness, their
weak faces dark eyes broad beams and flabbiness are more
- 235 -
noticable on one's return to Belgium. They are hard workers
though and have never had much else than hard toil to amuse
themselves with.
April 4th. Thursday.
It was surprising the number of gas resprators condemned
on parade this morning, damp and rust being the cheif causes,
very few were actually unservicable however.
Arthur Hollingworth called at the camp to-day and we went
out for a stroll enjoying a chat and a bottle of champagne
together.
It is raining heavily now but the blossom and leaves still
progress. Blackbirds or Thursh are prettily singing in the
morning and evening.
April 5th. Friday.
Marching with full pack etc. up seems to be very trying
now once I used to carry twice the weight without feeling it.
We moved this afternoon about 9 kilos and camped in a hugh
farm house. The weather is wet and nasty at the moment but
not cold.
Lots of very queer stories are coming to hand about the
English and their running away. One regiment came back for
five days without firing a shot. The French are very angry at
their running back. I have heard Australians say that the
women still left in Amiens are so frightened that they try to
get our men to stay over night with them.
April 6th. Saturday.
Out at 2.30 a.m. breakfast and move off at 3 a.m. for the
railway 5 kilos distant. It was a heavy march, full of stops
and breaks. The men had breakfast at 6 a.m. and the train
started at 7 o'clock. We had a good run to Amiens 6 pm. and
after cocoa at Y.M.C.A. marched off to Allonville. One cannot
imagne the dejection and depression of Amiens. All the stores
and building are deserted. We marched cheerfully through
-236 -
Place Gambette and passed only a hand full of people whereas
we would hardly have been able to get through the crush in
ordinary times. It was a sad eyed few people we saw.
April 7th. Sunday. Allonville.
All officers slept well on the hay in the hugh barn and
woke refreshed and fit this morning. The men were comfortable
also.
There is no resemblence of Sunday to-day or does there
appear to be much war going on.
This time last year the Hun was retiring in this same area
and I was with A. Coy. attacking Hermies and Demicourt. I
believe the enemy went back destroying everything with the
present offensive over easy country in mind.
A Q'ld Register from E. Rollston to hand. They seem to be
having a rough time with floods etc.
April 8th. Monday.
My birthday to-day and its an awfull day, raining heavily.
We went for a route march, a very nasty one, on the road I
picked some fine violets, there were some prim-roses about but
it is a little early for most flowers. The guns seemed fairly
busy last night and I felt afraid that we might be called out
these anxious times.
On the road this morning we passed two women and a man
with sad looking care worn faces, so pensive and pathetic.
The name on the Cape cart (with shafts) showed one that their
home was only 2½ miles this side of the firing line. There
is a lot of childs play going on in our barn. Its like a big
holiday place.
April 9th. Tuesday.
I have met Capt. Billy Buttner of Charters Towers here.
He has not long been over in France.
I have been reading Nietzsche in a strange "lodging house"
as we shifted from our big barn and picnic like atmosphere;
- 237 -
This is a very remarkable book and discloses much concerning
his idears of women. He slates and condemns Germans right and
left. There are very large number of refugees about, they are
a great nuisance as it is so difficult for troops to get in.
One hears so many stories of the great work done by A.I.F.
and awfull stories of the English troops that he begins to
discredit both.
April 10th. Wednesday.
The news of a German victory in the Flanders area, is
very depressing indeed. We can hardly see where it is all
going to end. We will have to kill off more of the enemy to
level them down a bit.
There has been heavy gunfire around here over night and
morning and it makes one very anxious indeed, as there is a
chance of our being called out at any hour. This going into
battle makes a fellow quite anxious as the thing is so
uncertain.
Ready to move off at any moment, indeed we have been
"standing to" for several days and expecting fight at any hour.
April 11th. Thursday.
The ways of the army are indeed strange, we packed up
this morning and moved out, but as the unexpected mostly
happens in war, we moved toward Amiens instead of to the war
Zone, 14 Kilo walk and we came through the deserted and pathetic
looking City, not badly knocked about as yet, but in
grave danger of entire distruction. Lt. Bitmead and I went
into town for dinner and had the greatest difficulty in finding
a Cafe open. Amiens used to be quite full of good eating
houses. Shells and bombs were falling regularly day and night.
April 12th. Friday.
I have been into Amiens to-day. Bought a bottle of
- 238 -
champagne at 5 francs. There are few places open. An English
chemist shop with front all sandbaged displayed the following
brave notice. "The Ameins Pharmacie de Paris (as well as the
Branch at Reims which has remained open, under Shells Bombs and
Gas). Will Remain Open until further notice. Hours 8½ to12
2 to 6 p.m. Owning to circumstances customers are required to
wait Patiently."
Presnell and I had done some shopping and had a champagne
cocktail at Gastons (the only cocktail house open) and moved
off back to billets. Near the Cathedral a shell struck a wall
80 yds, in front of us and a woman who had been sitting on the
roadside came excitedly towards us saying that two English
officers had just passed down the street and were probably
killed, she made down to where to shell fell thinking only of
the two officers and saying in bad English "No! no sir I am
not frightened." We passed through the shell smoke and found
the officers had passed safely by, the woman smiled releived,
we bid her good day and passed on thinking what a fine brave
woman she was even if her appearance did make one suspicious
of her reputation. Quite a number of shells fell around but
we passed along the street. Nearing camp one of our men
asked two women, each carrying two loaves of bread, where he
could get some bread, they directed him and passed on about
25 yds. then stoped and called the soldier back saying it was
a long way and he could have one of their loaves; this he took
and paid for. A fine action so we thought and came home full
of admiration for the humble and persecuted French women.
The French women are brave alright; I saw some of them outside
their homes with brooms sweeping up glass and broken bricks
and putting things straight as soon as the bombardment stopped.
I would not remain in the same houses a single day now.
We were in the train and had just moved ½ mile outside
Amiens when a hugh air raid commenced. There were 15 or 20
search-lights working and a lot of guns but 60 or 80 bombs
were dropped. It was fine to see the searchlight get onto
- 239 -
the planes, it made them look like as if they were made of
silver paper. One machine was brought down. It was moonlight
and many of the raiders could be seen flying about. The Hun is
determined to wreck Amiens, it is a huge railway junction you
know and troop train go right into it.
Several of our men have been on the drunk as the cellar at
the Hospital was full of wine. It did not seem quite a fair
thing to billet troops in a Hospital but we had the Brigade
there. Fritz might have know we were there as he dropped one
bomb on the building, it was the smallest bomb I know, as it
hardly broke through the roof.
I slept on the floor of the carriage all night.
April 13th. Saturday.
Early this morning we passed close to Hazebrouck and it
was a miserable sight to see the farmer folk coming along the
road with wheel-barrows and bundles. Driven back and away from
their farms by the Hun.
We got out of the train, had breakfast and moved off a
little distance to pick up the Battalion.
We knew nothing as to the situation only that the enemy is
advancing and we must be ready to hop in and stop him. Our
packs we dumped, not even an overcoat carried and off we go
without the least sign of grumbling.
We waited in a field and went out in front of Strazeele
digging and wiring.
April 14th. Sunday.
We came back from wiring at daylight and though the men
had to sleep under an hedge we four officers got into a house.
There are batteries all around and the Hun is landing shells
all about; it is a sickening feeling. We got into bed and
slept fairly well until evening when an artillery officer came
and claimed the rooms for his men. This battery already has
4 whole houses. Naturely we refused to be turned out. This
- 240 -
English one star officer did not care what became of us as long
as his men got the beds. His men carry several blankets a man
and there was floor space for 40 men in the house, but no regardless
of the fact that we never even had an overcoat he wanted
to turn us out. He was the meanest and most inhuman man I've
yet met. All day long alarms were coming through and while
the artillery put on their equiptment to gallop back, we were
"standing to" ready to go forward and fight. Its a most
peculiar world. We ended up by laughing at him; later he
brought his Major but it was hardly likely we were going to
shift more especially as it was English troops that let the
German through and we were hustled up to hold on and cover up
the Tommys' weakness.
April 15th. Monday.
We are in the house still. The owners of this place must
have just walked out in a few minutes as there are cloths
hanging on the line wine and champagne in the cellars and everything
about undisturbed. There are a couple of fine private
houses here and it is a shame to fine the curtains furniture
and bedding getting broken up by shell fire. The men too take
everything into the holes under the hedges that will help to
keep them warm and we cant say anything as the clothing might
just as well be used up.
April 16th.
Wiring to Strazeele again to-night. It seems that Strazeele
is the key to Hazebrouck (a large town and railway
junction) and that the 1st Aust. Devision have sworn to defend
it to the very last. It is awfully dark laying down barb wire
and a little disconcerting when the Hun puts down his barrage
at intervals. We got back to bed at 2.30 a.m. but was disturbed
by gas until "stand to" at 4 a.m.
At 2 p.m. we moved 400 yds. away into a field and at
- 241 -
5.15 p.m. after the boys have made their sleeping position
good we have withdrawn their coat and blanket (issued yesterday)
rolled them in bundles given out two bombs and three bandoleers
of ammunication each man, 280 rounds altogether, and are ready
to move into action at five minutes notice.
The Church tower at Vieux-Berquin is a good observation
point for the enemy. We heard our artillery were going to
knock it down this afternoon and sure enough the tower disappeared
at 4 p.m.
We moved out at 6.30, a Battalion in artillery formation,
over the fields with the intention of attacking on the flank
of a French Devision that was taking Meteren. We came under
heavy shell fire and lost men but reached some reserve trenches
and lay down there in the cold until nearly 4 a.m. wondering
what was going to happen us and we as cold as it is possible
to be. We were roused up just before daylight and rushed up to
a system of outposts were we releived the Scottish Rifles, and
at daylight we were sniping at Huns wandering about in large
numbers.
I dont know what happened the French attack but nothing
eventuated at all last night.
(
( April 23rd.
(I have heard to-day that the reason the above attack did
not commenced was because the English captured the French runner
with the complete operation order and held him as a spy for
)
two hours so the orders with zero hours at 6 was 1 hour)
late.)
April 17th.
It was a cold night of anxious waiting last night right
enough but we have had some good sport shooting Huns to-day
as they seem to be hopping about in plenty. The enemy planes
have been especially active, they came down low and fired
Douglas WhitfieldThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.