Diaries of William Edward Peach 1915-1918 - Part 16

147
1918
Tuesday 20th August
Marched to Hamel to go through a demonstration of attack with tanks. Went down to river at night and had a good dip.
Wednesday 21st
Dumped our packs, got into fighting order and moved off to take up support positions in line just on left of Villers Brettoneaux Road. Took over from 53rd Battalion.
Thursday 22nd
Had to take charge of party to go back to Engineers dump. Loading wire staples etc. all day. Had a good cool off in the shade before making back.

Friday 23rd
Formed up for hop over about 2 am. Fritz shelling very heavy for a time. ZERO 4.45. Beautiful barrage went up. Being in support 1000 yards we caught all Fritz's counter barrage. My boys got through without a casualty. Gas being used so had to put on helmets for a time. Met no opposition. Got to our position and consolidated in ravine. Shelling heavy and putting over gas all night.
Saturday 24th
Making ourselves as comfortable as possible in our new home. Number of boys sent away gassed. Got letters from Lil 2, and Miss Young 1.
Sunday 25th
Took over front line from 5th Battalion about midday. Self and 6 men holding about 250 yards of front. C and B companies passed over us after dark and dug in about 300 yards out. Raining heavily.

148

1918

Monday 26th August

Stopped a Whiz Bang about 1 am. Got it in the back in

two places and in the right knee. Stretcher bearers

right alongside me got immediate attention. Was carried

off to the R.A.P. for further attention. Doctor dressed

me there and sent me on back. Got a very rough passage.

Stretcher Bearers unable to keep on their feet and Fritz

shelling us all the way. Passed through 1st relay

Station where stretcher was put on wheels. Taken on to

another post where ambulance waiting, then to 3rd Field

Ambulance (got 1st dose anti-tetanus) and on to 55 C.C.S.

Put into Ambulance train and left for Base same night.

Tuesday 27th

Admitted to 5 General Hospital Rouen about 1 a.m. Put

straight through x-rays and theatre. Had knee opened up

and stitched up. Both knee and back very painful all 

day. Unable to eat or sleep. Got a dose of morphia to

send me off.

Wednesday 28th

Had to go through another operation. Had both sides of

knee opened right up and tubes inserted. Still off food

and sleep.

Thursday 29th - September 4th

Still meeting with same trouble. Had to be doped every

night to get an hour's sleep. Knee easing up a bit.

Getting tired of lying on my back. Temperature still up.

Taking my food a bit better.

September 4th - Saturday 14th

Having showery weather right through. Wounds progressing

favourably. Had the tubes taken out of my knee and put

on ordinary dressings. Finding the hospital very

monotonous. Unit night sister (a Yank) is a little dear.

Brought me in a lovely bowl of salad one night. Just

what I had been longing for. Able to sleep much better

of a night now.

149

1918

Sunday 15th September

Got a very pleasant surprise. Three Aussie letters - 1

from Lil, 1 from Jean, and one from Mr. Leslie Benzie,

Sandy Creek.

Monday 16th

Nice fine day. Had my bed carried outside in the sun.

Found the sun very hot in the afternoon, but the evening

was lovely and cool.

Tuesday 17th

Got two parcels from Oll posted at O.H.M.S. fete on May

16th. Weather very hot and close. Knee getting on very

nicely.

Wednesday 18th - Monday 30th September

Had letters from: Mum 3, Jean 1, Vera 1, Daisy 1, Lil 1,

Aunt Maggie 1 and photo of Uncle John, Eva 1, Uncle Jack

1, Mary 1, Ida Cookson 1, Flo 2. Received a parcel from

Mum containing fine big home made cake and other things.

Had quite a "blow out". Lost our little American night

nurse (Sr. M. McGuire). All very sorry as she was so

good and cheery. Having rather wet weather all through.

My leg giving me a lot of trouble for a few days, but

quite O.K. now.

Tuesday, October 1st

My last day at No.5 General. Got quite a surprise when

Doctor marked me for Blighty at last. Things very busy

at hospital. Operating day and night. My stay at No.5

General was rather a pleasant one, and the surgical

attention was of the best.

Wednesday 2nd

Left the hospital at 4 am. Entrained at Rouen and pulled

out at 6.45 am. arriving Havre at 10.15 am. Went on

board the "Gloucester Castle" about 3 am. and sailed off

at 7 pm. The boat was one of the best. Everything being

so nicely fitted out. The sea was rough but I did not

notice it as I slept most of the way.

150

Thursday 3rd October

Arrived at Southampton about 4 am. Anchored out from the

wharf a bit and remained there till about 3 pm. as other

hospital boats were in ahead of us being unloaded. Taken

ashore at 3.30 pm. and caught our train (about the 4th to

go) at 7.45 pm.

Friday 4th

Arrived at Bristol (via Andover Junction and Salisbury)

at midnight. The Stretcher Bearers (volunteers in their

uniforms of blue) and the Red Cross girls were all lined

up on the station ready to receive us. Gave us a right

royal welcome - cake, sandwiches and tea was served out

to us and we were each given a nice white handkerchief, a

packet of cigarettes and a box of matches. We were then

taken to our destination. I was taken to 2nd Southern

General, Southmead Section (ward 10) about 5 miles out of

Bristol. First impressions of the place very good. Ward

so nice and clean, and well fitted out (gramophone and

piano). Was washed, tucked into bed, and got a bit of a 

snooze. Sisters and nurses all very nice and good food.

Four other Aussies in ward along with myself.

Saturday 5th

Found it good to be back in Blighty once again. Things

seem so much more cheerful here than in France.

Sunday 6th

Visiting day. A fair number of visitors out to hospital

in afternoon. One or two of them came and had a yarn to

me for a while. Scored a few nice grapes off same.

Monday 7th

Wintry weather now setting in. Glad to be in under a 

good solid roof. Getting gramophone for breakfast,

dinner, and tea. Piano silent as we have no pianist in

ward.

151

1918

Tuesday 8th October

Spent the day writing letters and reading. Leg now

feeling splendid. Giving me no trouble at all. Ward

very full. Hardly know what to do with patients. Number

of up-patients sent across to barracks to sleep to make

room for new arrivals.

Wednesday 9th

Visiting day again. Had a very successful afternoon. As 

a result had for tea - Blanc mange, custard, cakes and

grapes.

Thursday 10th

General inspection by Doctor reporting progress. Put me

down as "improving slowly". Found a pianist at last to

come and give us some music.

Friday 11th

Started a job of making a mat. Work when finished to be

sold and proceeds to go to blind soldiers at St.

Dunstans. Mat valued at about 30/-. Work easy but

requires a lot of patience.

Saturday 12th

Had a busy day getting some of my letters written for

Xmas. Pianist came up for hour or so in evening and gave

us some music.

Sunday 13th

Lovely find day. First sun we had seen for quite a long 

time. Not a great number of visitors out to see us. War

news very cheering.

Monday 14th - Saturday 19th

Things going on about same as usual. Had letters as

follows: Mum, Lil, Grandpa, Oll, Harriett, Aunt Nellie.

152

Sunday 20th October

Had a couple of new visitors out to see us. My mate

being rather shy, I had to do all the entertaining.

Monday 21st

Had another visit from the "Duchess" to see how I was

progressing with my mat. She was very excited about a

letter she had from Admiral Jellicoe.

Tuesday 22nd

Received parcel from Charlotte.

Wednesday 23rd

Had a fair number of visitors to see me. Brought me some

eggs, bananas, apples, cakes and custard.

Thursday 24th

Doctors weekly inspection. Had my leg taken out of 

splint. Received a parcel from Mum.

Friday 25th

Had Stan in to see me for a while. Arrived about 11 am.

and left again at 1 pm. Leg not feeling too good.

Saturday 26th

Finished the mat I was making and handed it in. Had a

party of ladies up entertaining us during afternoon

(piano, violin and cello).

Sunday 27th

My mate had a party of visitors to see him, but I fell

for the job of entertaining them as he was rather on the

shy side.

153

1918

Monday 28th October

New sister taken over charge of ward. Sister Peckham in

bed with flu.

Tuesday 29th

Things very quiet. Our new sister seems as if she is 

going to turn out a real nark.

Wednesday 30th

Had our usual visitors out to see us.

Thursday 31st

Started a new job in the fancy work line. Making ladies

handbags out of old top hats.

Monday, November 4th

Put on massage treatment. Rather painful for a start.

Had knees x-rayed.

Thursday 7th

Managed to get out to bathroom in wheel chair for a bath.

Monday 11th

News that Armistice had been signed reached us about

10.30 am. All overjoyed at news. Had a bit of a spree 

and sing-song in ward at night to celebrate occasion.

Tuesday 12th 

Had my leg set in plaster of paris from ankle to thigh.

Wednesday 13th

Allowed up on crutches for first time. Taken in motors

to special matinee for wounded soldiers at Hippodrome in 

afternoon. Was carried from car into hall and strange to

say was put into a seat right alongside Joe Walton. Both

very surprised at strange meeting. Felt A1 at night.

Outing did me world of good.

154

1918

November 19th

Plaster of Paris is not fitting too good so had it taken

off and another put on from toes to thigh.

December 6th

Transferred to 3rd A.A.H. Dartford, Southmead.

Authorities trying hard to do us out of our crutches but

we had an argument with the C.O. and came off best. Left

Temple Meads Station at 12.10 and arrived at Dartford

about 6 pm. (via Paddington and Charing Cross).

December 7th

Inspected by M.O. and marked for board.

December 10th

Boarded by C.O. and M.O. Marked C3. 100%.

December 11th

My mate (Corporal Thomsett) and I put on boat roll

(Kanawna) for Australia. Boat supposed to leave on 15th

or 16th. Parade to C.O. and granted 3 days special

leave.

December 12th

Left Dartford by train about 9.30 am. arrived Bristol

3.30 pm.

December 14th

Left Bristol by 12.10 noon train; got to Paddington at

2.35. Had a bit of a look around the Strand, and a game

of billiards at Australia House, and then left Charing

Cross by train for Dartford. Got a ride in ambulance

from Station to hospital. Ambulance was conveying party 

of nurses off Kanowra to hospital and strange to say I 

found the one I was sitting next to was none other than

Ollie Laycock.

155

1918

December 15th

Found out boat not sailing now till about 26th so put in

for more leave.

December 16th

Leave granted. Left for Bristol about 9 am. Stayed in

London for few hours and caught the 6 pm. train from

Paddington. Got to Temple Meads at 9 pm.

-1919-

January 1st

Arrived at Crewe about 2.30 am. Transferred in

Birmingham train arriving Birmingham about 5.30. Had a

wait there for about 3 hours and then caught train to

Bristol arriving at destination at 12.30. Had a feed and

a brush up, met my friend at     Rd and then went for a 

run out to the hospital. Went in to the Clare Street

Picture House for tea and then on up to my lodgings at

Durdham Downs.

January 2nd

Spent the day round at Mrs. Edwards. Left about 7 pm. to

try and catch my train back to London but missed the 7.30

and had to wait till 11.10 pm.

January 3rd

Got to Paddington about 2.30 am. Had a feed at the

buffet and then got a taxi across to Waterloo. Turned

into bed for 3 hours at the Y.M.C.A. there and then

caught my train out to Dartford. Got out to hospital at

9 am. (9 hours late).

January 4th

Up before Orderly Rooms for overstaying leave, but

Colonel had nothing to say. Had one and another hunting

us up all day long to make sure we were ready for boat.

Went to concert at night but found it a poor turn out.

156

1919

January 5th

Left Dartford by hospital train about 9 am. for

Southampton. Picked up a number at Kensington and

Southall en route. Got to Southampton about 6 pm. went

on board HMAS Kanowra and got settled down for night.

Boat pulled outside bar about 9 pm. and anchored for

night.

January 6th

Steamed off about 6 am. Passed down south, passed the

Isle of Wight and then out into the mighty ocean once

again. Things started to get very rough about 6 pm.

consequently everybody began to feel peckish. I was

rather crook so turned in for night.

January 7th

Now about in the Bay of Biscay. Sea very rough and boat

rolling all over place. Feeling too bad to get out of

bed, but pleased to see I had plenty of mates. Skipper,

number of crew, staff and patients all down to it.

January 8th

Sea still very rough. Part of deck damaged in early

morning. Spent another day in bed, but feeling a little

better.

January 9th

Feeling much better. Managed to get up for breakfast and

then made off up on deck. Lovely fine day. Still a fair

swell on water. Got back into blues once again.

January 10th

Sea nice and calm. Boat making good headway. Sighted

Cape St. Vincent in morning. Lying about in sun all day.