Diaries of William Edward Peach 1915-1918 - Part 9

77

1917

Monday 4th June

Our hut won prize for tidiest hut in company. Concert

given at night by 5th Battalion.
Tuesday 5th

Went across to football ground to see game of rugby

between 1st and 3rd Company Field Engrs. Alarm sounded

at night about 11 p.m. just as we were settled down

nicely in bed. All had to turn out in fighting order and

then march about 4 miles. Had to be at a given point in

a given time.
Wednesday 6th

About thirty winners of decorations were presented with

their medals by Lt. Gen. Birdwood. Hon. Andrew Fisher,

High Commissioner was present also. Ray Laycock received

his Military Medal. Band out giving us a bit of music.
Thursday 7th

Had Lester Ward across to see me at night. Won 1st prize

again for best kept hut in company.
Friday 8th

Fred and I took a walk in Henencourt to see Bill Bullock

but found he had just left that morning to go to Blighty

on furlough. Very good concert on in the Stadium at

night by 1st Division Motor transport. Finished job of

Orderly Corporal.
Saturday 9th
Fixing up ground for sports all morning. 7th Battalion
Sports in afternoon. Very good turn out. Entries good
for all events, including best sustained character. Some
very good set-ups. Our team came first in boat race.
Got into semi-final of Obstacle Race but got blocked at
one of obstacles.
Sunday 10th
Attended church parade in morning. Splendid concert
given at stadium by Anzac Cove troupe at night.

78

1917

Monday 11th June

Very heavy thunderstorm with severe lightning in early

morning. On leave to Amiens for day. Had a good day's

outing but was very tired at night. Walk from Mericourt

Station (via Ribemont and Bresle) to camp about 5 miles.

Brigade sports on in afternoon.
Tuesday 12th

First day of Divisional sports. Lovely day. Good

entries for all events. Big crowd present. Three

Brigade Brass Bands supplying music. Sustained

characters very good.
Wednesday 13th

Second day of Divisional sports and show. All finals of

racing events etc. took place. Programme consisted of

flat racing, hurdle races, fancy races, horse events

(flat and hurdle races), tug-of-war and wrestling on

horse-back, etc. etc. Show events were such as Best

turned out, cooker, water cart, limber. G.S. wagon, Pack

Horse, Officers hack, C.O.s hack and so on. Our water

cart was awarded 1st prize. There were the usual

characters, side shows, and bands to keep things lively.
Thursday 14th

Had my first morning's drill since we came to this camp.

Off duty in afternoon getting ready for taking over

R.O.C.
Friday 15th

On duty all day as R.O.C. Brigade inspection parade.

Generals Walker and Heane present. March past looked

very well.
Saturday 16th

Parade in morning. Shower baths in afternoon. Got

letters from Mum, Oll 2, Daisy, Vera, Jean, and Sammy.
Sunday 17th June

Church parade in morning 5th and 7th Battalions. Both

Generals in attendance. Three Chaplains conducted

service. Capt. Walker of Ballarat preached the sermon.

Got letters from Lil 3, Mollie, Charlotte, Lil Smith,

Glad, Aunt Tot, Ida (photo), and Aunt Nellie, also parcel

from Oll and paper from Grace.

79

1917

Monday 18th June

Up at 5 a.m. getting ready to move off on a 4 or 5 days

stunt (practice). Left camp about 6.30 a.m. and marched

to our new abode near Mailley Murllet. Passed through

Senlis en route. 8th Field Engineers billetted there but

no sign of Tom about. Had a good feed of wild

strawberries at night.
Tuesday 19th

Wet day. Out all day practising battalion in attack

(Open warfare). Ground very slippery.
Wednesday 20th

Up at 1.30 a.m. for night attack. Got as far as

Mailley but had to return on account of weather. Pitch

dark morning and very heavy rain. Marched to

Auchonvillers and carried out a bit of stunt in

afternoon. Got letters from Mum, Oll, Daisy, and Jean.
Thursday 21st

Still raining. Revielle at 4 a.m. Marched to Beaumont

Hammel to carry out Brigade stunt. Got home about 2 p.m.
Friday 22nd

Out on parade all day. Got caught in rain and got a good

drenching. Wet day and very cold night. Marched to Div.

baths and had a good hot shower at night.
Saturday 23rd

Usual drill all day with the usual rain. Out hunting for

wild strawberries in the evening; got a good feed.
Sunday 24th

Packed up ready to say goodbye to Bolton Camp. Moved out

after breakfast and marched up to camp at Martinsart. Nice

fine day.

80

1917

Monday 25th June

Doing a brigade stunt over near Beaumont Hamel (and Peach

Post). Had a good look around the old battle field

Fritz's earth works such as big dugouts, concrete wells,

underground ball room, etc. carried out on very extensive

scale.
Tuesday 26th

Battalion resting all day. Going out for night attack.

I was out with a party all afternoon doing a bit of

salvaging therefore got out of going out with crowd at

night. Getting a bit of fine weather once again.
Wednesday 27th

Out for an hour or so in morning salvaging. Crowd got

home from our night stunt about 9 a.m. All very tired.

Over watching "froggies" ploughing with motor tractors.
Thursday 28th

Marched off from Matinsart at 6 a.m. arriving at

Henencourt Wood about 9 a.m. Travelled around via

Warloy. Had remainder of day to ourselves.
Friday 29th

Whole Battalion marched to Bresle to hear lecture by

Colonel Butler and Archdeacon Ward. Very good addresses

given. Had afternoon off.
Wednesday 30th

Smartening up drill this morning. Too wet to go on parade

in afternoon. Got letter from Stan.
Sunday 1st July

Oll's birthday. On a job with party of men, cleaning up

around camp, so missed church parade. Warned about 11

a.m. to pick up and be ready to move off to a Brigade

School. Moved off after dinner to billets in Henencourt

village. Met Eric and Rex Finch. Rex attending same

school as self. Had a bit of a fly round together in

evening.

81

1917

Monday 2nd July

First day of school. Back to the old game of squad drill

once again. Acting Platoon Sergeant. Met old friend of

Show Grounds (old opponent in bayonet fighting).
Tuesday 3rd

Getting settled down to routine of school. Went for a

walk round to the Battalion in afternoon.
Wednesday 4th

Right in thick of things. C.O. got permission from

Froggy where we are billeted, for us to help ourselves to

cherries as long as we didn't damage the trees. Had

great feed of cherries, red, white and blackcurrant, and 

raspberries.
Thursday 5th

In among the fruit again. Marched to Ribemont in

afternoon to see a Flaminwaper demonstration. Consider

it well worth seeing.
Friday 6th

Having a very good time at school. In with a fine lot of 
fellows. Mostly chaps who have had a college education.

Six of us camped on our own in a little hut among the

trees. Went across to Battalion to see Fred in evening.
Saturday 7th

Down at 7th Battalion Rifle Range doing a bit of

shooting. Unfortunate accident happened. While party

having instruction in Lewis Machine Gun (stoppages),

instructor got hold of a live cartridge and inserted it

in gun thinking it to be a dummy. As a result Rex Finch

and another chap, who were sitting in front of gun, were

wounded. Bullet passed through Rex's right forearm

making a nasty wound and then on through the other

fellow's jaw. Went across to Senlis in afternoon to see

Eric (8th Field Ambulance) and tell him of accident.

While is Senlis met Fred Waldron (C company, 29th

Battalion).

82

1917

Sunday 8th July

Church parade had to be put off on account of wet

weather. Did a bit of writing in afternoon. Met Bill

Bullock (C company, Cycle Corps).
Monday 9th

Firing rifles grenades and learning German machine gun in

morning. Ordinary parades. Went for route march out

round Millencourt and Lavieville in afternoon. Showery

weather.
Tuesday 10th

Usual parade morning and afternoon. Went in Bresle in

evening to concert and picture show given by 5th

Battalion. Inspection of 1st field Ambulance by Genreal

Birdwood.
Wednesday 11th

Had General Walker and Brigadier Gen. Heane to see us at

drill in morning. Lovely fine day. In among raspberry

bushes in evening. Had a real good feed.
Thursday 12th

Review of 5th Division of King George and General

Birdwood in morning. Continuation of sports and show in

afternoon. Went across for an hour or so to see the

turnout. A fair number of heads knocking around. A

party of French nurses present for the occasion.
Friday 13th

Had rather an easy day's work. Went for a walk round to

the Battalion at night.
Saturday 14th

Down at the rifle range shooting in the morning. Went

across to Edgehill Casualty Clearing Station in afternoon

to see Rex Finch. Got into a good clump of fruit trees

on way home, cherries, red and white, currants and

raspberries galore.

83

1917

Sunday 15th July

Up about 4.30 a.m. getting ready to move. Started off

full packs up at 6.15 a.m. March to camp just out of

Bray via Buiure, Dernancourt and Lavieville arriving at

destination about 11 a.m. (March about 10 miles). In

afternoon march down through Bray to Somme river for a

swim. The swim went A1, but the march of about 2-1/2

miles each way was rather tiresome.
Monday 16th

Showery day. Drill hours extended by 1-1/2 hours. New

billets very comfortable and surroundings not too bad.
Tuesday 17th

Had a letter from Stan. Wet day. No early morning

parade on account of weather and spent afternoon inside

listening to lecture.
Wednesday 18th

Went for a 6 mile route march down around Bray. Took a

walk across to Battalion to see Fred, in evening.
Thursday 19th

My 21st birthday. Programme of day. An hour's physical

jerks (6-7 a.m.) before breakfast. A bit of fat pig and

bread for breakfast. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. parade. Dinner,

boiled beef and spuds. 1.30 p.m. marched down to Bray,

and spent afternoon in swimming in Somme. Water A1. Had

a bit of a feed for tea. Salmon, sauce, preserved fruit,

bread, butter and jam. Went to concert given by Bge M.Gs

and Bge School in Y.M.C.A. Promoted to rank Corporal.
Friday 20th

Out doing advance guard and outpost work. Had a nice

easy day.
Saturday 21st

Busy washing our equipment all afternoon. 7th Battalion

footballers came across and played school team. Raining

hard all the time. 7th Battalion won.

84

1917

Sunday 22nd July

Church parade in morning. Fritz aeroplanes flew right

over top of us during service. Put in afternoon writing

letters.
Monday 23rd

Had day off. Packed up ready to move off, but

arrangements postponed. Got a parcel from Daisy

(birthday).
Tuesday 24th

On parade all morning. Had afternoon off to pack up.

Moved off full packs up about 6 p.m. to our new billets

in Meaulte. New camp only about 3/4 mile away, but had

to march about 4 miles to get to it (good management on

part of Brigadier). Went down to the River Ancre for a

swim. Perfect day.
Wednesday 25th

Showery day.  Down to river for a swim at night. Got

caught in heavy storm.
Thursday 26th

Started on route march (full packs up) about 1.30 p.m.

Marched to Aveluy via Albert. Had swim in lagoon at

Aveluy and then entrained for our journey up North.

About 30 of us in horse truck I was in. Route of journey

via Albert, Corbie, Amiens, Saint Roche, Vignacourt,

Canaples, Doullens, St. Pol, Hazebrouck and Caestre.

Entrained about 6 p.m. got to end of train journey 5 a.m.

Country all the way looking beautiful. Crops in many

cases just about ripe. Maize, lucerne, sugar beet, etc.

looking lovely and green.
Friday 27th

Distentrained about 5 a.m. All marched past Y.M.C.A.

stand with dixies and got a cup of cocoa. Had short rest

and then started on march again headed by brigade band.

Billeted at a farm house in Saint Sylvestre Cappel.

People were nice and clean. Several of family able to

speak English. Went for walk across to Aerodrome in

afternoon. About a couple of dozen planes went up during

short time we were there. Several came down also. One

plane met with accident. Came down nose first into field

of lucerne, overturned, and crashed to pieces. Pilot

luckily escaped unhurt. Very heavy bombardment on up the

line all afternoon. Lovely day.

85

1917

Saturday 28th July

Nice fine day. Put in the morning at drill. Washed

equipment in afternoon. Having a bit of a rest in shade

after finished washing and dozed off to sleep. Found I

was in time to be too late for tea when I woke up.
Sunday 29th

Went across to 7th Battalion in morning for church

parade. Brig. present. Had to cut service short as

storm approaching. Got ringing wet on way home. Went

across to Battalion in afternoon. Got paid (70 francs).

Got Australian mail at last. I got letters from Mum,

Dad, Daisy, Jean, Aunt Nell, Vera Robb.
Monday  30th

Got 6 more Australian letters - Oll 2, Vera 2, Glad 1 and

Lil Smith 1. Wet day.
Tuesday 31st

Weather still showery, usual parades all day. Awake with

toothache half the night.
Wednesday, 1st August

Very heavy bombardment going on all morning. Fritz

shelling Hazebrouck (about 20 miles behind line) in

evening. Slight damage done, but people a bit afraid as

it was first time town had been shelled. Two or three of

the other chaps and I having a romp in the hay at night.
Thursday 2nd

Too wet to go out on parade. Having examinations in

Bayonet Fighting, Musketry, and Lewis Machine gun. All

having a go with boxing gloves at night.
Friday 3rd

Being examined in squad drill all morning. Too wet to go

out in afternoon. Had a great "kick up" in billet at

night. (Billet a fine big barn with splendid floor).

Started with a few acrobatic feats and boxing contests

and finished up with a dance. Lecture by Brigadier at

night.

86

1917

Saturday 4th August

Wet day as usual. Had several officers of the Brigade 
across to see us drilling in morning. Had a dip in dam 
in afternoon and then went to sleep on top of hay. 

Sunday 5th

No church parade. Bigger number of school on leave. 
Mate and I went into Hazebrouck for day. Spent good day 
looking all round the town. Sent home 20 views of place. 
Went to picture show (Anzac Cove) at night.

Monday 6th

On sick parade in morning to get put on dental list. Too 

many there so had to go back following day. 
Tuesday 7th

On dental parade. Had about 3 miles to go to dentist and 
then had to wait nearly all day to get tooth out. Had 
dinner at 1st Field Ambulance. Went across to aerodrome 
in evening for a walk. Big French plane went up while I 
was there. Packed up at night ready to move off 
following day. Nice fine day for once.

Wednesday 8th

Reveille 5.45 a.m. Moved out full packs up, at 7.30 a.m. 
to Doubliu (about 16 or 17 miles march). Travelled via 
Hazenbrouck, passed Forest and through Vieux. Saw Will 
Waldron and Reg Wheeler when passing through Hazebrouck. 
Billets in Doubliu very poor. Big tumbled down shed. 
Very heavy rain at night. Went for stroll down town in 
evening to get a feed. Saw big church which Frtiz poured 
petrol over, and burned in 1914. Had breakfast in 
morning before march at 6.15 a.m. (Piece of dry bread 
and a drink) and march till 2.30 without anything to 
eat. Big number fell out along way with sore feet. Had 
a blister on my toe myself, but stuck march O.K.

Thursday 9th

Awakened about 3 a.m. Could hear bombs dropping all 
around. Fritz having a bit of an air raid. Dropped 
bombs on Bailleul. One farm house blown in. Lovely fine 
day consequently lot of air fighting and going on. 
Showery again in evening.