Diaries of William Edward Peach 1915-1918 - Part 11

97
1917
Friday 5th October
Weather still bad. Had a bit of a doze through the
night. A few aeroplanes came hovering above us shortly
after daylight, but they could not do much on account of
the weather. We spent the day improving our positions
and doing a bit of sniping. Things looked very strange
when we got moving about at daylight. Men were moving
about out in the open everywhere. One would think they
were all digging a vegetable garden or something of the
kind. The stretcher bearers and carrying parties had a
difficult job getting to the front line as the mud was
knee deep. About 11 p.m. after a couple of counter
attacks, we were relieved by the 11th Battalion. It was
a case of get back as best we could, and I can assure you
we wasted no unncessary time in doing it.
Saturday 6th
Everybody was mixed up on the way out. Several of us got
in with a crowd of 6th Battalion lads and we went back
with them as far as Westhock Ridge. We got a dixie of
stew and drink of tea there, and made off to our place of
assembly at Swan Chateau. The cooks were waiting for us
there with a good feed, and drink of cocoa, and I must
say it was greatly appreciated. Rum and cigarettes were
there for those who wanted them. As soon as we had
satisfied the "inner man", we got into our blankets and
had a bit of a sleep. It was just 5.30 a.m. when we got
settled down. Got word after dinner that I had to get
into "Walking Order" ready to go off to the school at
Arelay. Went back as far as Dickiebusch that night, had
a bit of a clean up, and settled down for a good night's
rest. Got letters from Mum, Daisy, Harriet and Sammy.
Sunday 7th
Got a start on track from Dickiebusch about 9 a.m. Went
on D.A.D.O.S. at Ouderdom and got fitted up with
clothing, then caught a bus on to Poperinghe. Too late
to catch train so had to wait till next day. Went to
picture show at night. Very wet day.
Monday 8th
Left Poperinghe by train at 9.30, got to Etaples at 7.30
p.m. Travelled via Hazebrouck, St. Omer, Pont Cologne
and Bonongne. Spent night at rest camp (with a lot of
"Scotties") at Etaples. Still wet and cold.
 

 98
1917
Tuesday 9th October
Up at 5 a.m. to catch train, but had to wait at Station
in cold till 9 a.m. Supposed to get out of train at
Aveluy, but train did not stop. Carried on to Achet le
Grand and caught empty train back again. Got out to 1st
Anzac Corps School about 6 p.m.
Wednesday 10th
Accommodation and tucket at school very good. Not taking
too kindly to the parade ground. Weather wet and
miserable.
Thursday 11th
Busy trying to get myself in some kind of order. Shining
up rifle, brass on equipment and so on. Very cold and
wet. Went to concert at night (The Misfires). Good
show.
Friday 12th
Weather no improving. Feeling none too well. Pains in
head and ears. Went to Doctor at dinner time, and had
about a gallon of water shoved in my ear. Suffered great
agony with earache at night. Turned in to bed about 6
p.m.
Saturday 13th
Feeling better again. Had afternoon off, but spent it
writing up notes.
Sunday 14th
Spent day writing letters, trying to make up for lost
time.
Monday 15th
Sun broke through clouds early in morning and remained
out till about 4 p.m. Gave us a chance to do a bit of
"hopping over the bags" and so on. Rain fell again
during night.

99
1917
Tuesday 16th October
Weather practically a repetition of previous day. Issued
with little white singlet for doing our physical jerks
in. Concert at night by members of the school.
Wednesday 17th
Beginning to make hours of work a bit longer. Extra
lecture nearly every night. Had our old C.O. Lieut. Col.
Jess, lecturing us from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Managed to 
dodge lecture at night. Went and got my hair cut and had
a good bath instead.
Thursday 18th
Had rather an interesting afternoon's work. Building dug
outs etc. At work with the cross cut saw, hand saw and
so on.
Friday 19th
First of a series of boxing contests at night. 1st
Division against 5th Division. All supposed to be
novices at the game, but some decent shows put up. 1st
Division won 6-4.
Saturday 20th
Ceremonial parade in morning. Colonel Heritage in
charge. Very dissatisfied with work and let us know all
about it. Went up to Pozieres in afternoon to see if I
could find any trace of Perce's grave but had no luck.
Place very much altered now. Grass very thick and high,
making walking very difficult. Big number of "Yankee"
Engineers now camped at Pozieres, also big number of
Indians salvaging old material and cleaning place up a
bit. Got a letter from Roy McLean.
Sunday 21st
On leave to Amiens. Caught train at Albert at 8.40 a.m.
Lovely day. Had my photo taken. Had a look through
Cathedral. Pipe organ playing whilst I was there. Spent
a fairly enjoyable day and caught train for home at 8
p.m. Train did not stop at Aveluy, consequently was
carried on to Beaucourt Hamel, and had to walk back
(about 5 miles). Got home at 11 p.m. Sent model of Hun
aeroplane to Dad.
 

100
1917
Monday 22nd October
Five off and one N.C.O. missing from morning parade.
Fine day - ordinary parades etc. Pay day.
Tuesday 23rd
Too wet to go outside, so did all our work indoors.
Boxing between 2nd and 4th Divisions at night.
Wednesday 24th
Got a parcel from Oll (duplicate for my 21st birthday).

Ordinary parades etc. Weather a bit better.
Thursday 25th
Out on a barb wiring stunt. Our leader (marching by
prismatic compass) got a bit out of his track and upset
operations somewhat. Colonels as usual not too pleased
with things. Weather rather miserable. Got home about
10 p.m.
Friday 26th
out on a bit of a practice stunt in afternoon, had a
pretty fair time of it.
Saturday 27th
Usual parades in morning. Divisional Wing sports in
afternoon. Weather fined up a bit and things went off
well. Our section (the strays) surprised the crowd by
winning the ceremonial drill competition. Our
tugs-of-war team came second. The first pull we had was
against the Officers. I won the potato race and with the
pioneer officer as my horse, won the Balaclava Mellee.
Our dinner at night was a huge success. The menu: soup,
roast potatoes, peas and cauliflower, pudding, jellies
and custard, nuts, lime juice, soda, beer, whisky, wine,
gin etc. Finished up the night at 11 p.m.
Sunday 28th
Big front in morning. Put day in writing letters.
Turned into bed early at night.
 

101
1917
Monday 29th October
Very cold out on parade. Down at rifle range in
afternoon and again at night.
Tuesday 30th
Wet miserable day but nevertheless had to go out on
parade just the same. Semi-final of boxing contest.
Wednesday 31st
out on a stunt in morning, putting up barb wire in
afternoon.
Thursday, 1st November
Bitterly cold morning. Out on another stunt. Got
tripped up going through scrub and gashed palm of my
hand. Was allowed off parade for rest of morning. Final
of boxing at night. Some very amusing contests.
Friday 2nd
Out in the rain doing and outpost scheme. Concert in hall
at night. Several "Yanks" among the performers.
Saturday 3rd
Half day off as suaual. Stayed at home and had a general
clean up.
Sunday 4th
Went into Amiens for the day, Had a fair time. Went to
theatre in afternoon. Got my photos.
Monday 5th
First of inter-division competitions took place in
afternoon, (shooting on the range). A very close go.
 

102
1917
Tuesday 6th November
Wind up stunt of the school, all branches, with live
ammunition. Very interesting demonstration.
Continuation of musketry competition in afternoon.
Concert in hall at night (Scarlet Runners). Very good
turn out. Got letters from Mum, Grace, Daisy, Olive, Lil
and Uncle Harold.
Wednesday 7th
School sports and competition. Our squad won respirator
drill, thus winning the musketry cup for 1st division
Wing. First time 1st Division had ever won the Cup.
Very wet day. Had a great dinner and evening to finish
up with. While Colonel in middle of speech to us, other
wings made a raid on us with smoke bombs, causing great
excitement.
Thursday 8th
Farewell speech by Colonel in morning. Started off on
our way for home. Marched to Varennes, via Bouzincourt
and Hedaville. Entrained at Varennes and travelled as
far as Abbeville that night (via Candas). A very
miserable journey. Slept in trucks all night.
Friday 9th
Resumed our train journey at 10 a.m. and came on as far
as Etaples. Out for a stroll around camp in afternoon.
Went to picture show at night.
Saturday 10th
Left Etaples about 10 a.m. for Caestre. Travelled via
Boulougne, Calais, St. Omer, and Hazebrouck. Reached
Caestre about 6 p.m. and marched to Reinforcement camp.
Roads and camp over ankle deep with mud.
Sunday 11th
Had day to ourselves. Went for a stroll around Caestre.
Turned into bed very early.
 

103
1917
Monday 12 November
Started off on route march to join up Battalion at 9 a.m.
Did not reach destination till about 6.30 p.m. Reckon
must have travelled about 17 or 18 miles. Route taken
via Hondenghen, Staple, Ebblinghem, Remmiscane and
Arques, Heuringlen. Learned news that my promotion as
Sergeant had come through on 5th October 1917. Met Dave.
Nice fine day.
Tuesday 13th
Went in to see Dave in afternoon. Fine day. Glad of
spell after long march.
Wednesday 14th
Set off once again on march. Travelled as far as St.
Pierre. Weather nice and fine.
Thursday 15th
Got another early start on road and marched back to
Becourt. A big number of the men suffering with sore
feet. Mounted gaurd at 6 p.m.
Friday 16th
On guard all day. Got letters from Mum, Grace, Daisy,
Oll, Lil and Uncle Harold, also parcel from Mum. Went
for a stroll with Dave at night. Just like old times
being together again.
Saturday 17th
Continued march back via Desvres to    . Had great
difficulty finding billets for us. Company and Battalion
scattered all over the country. Got letters from Mum 2,
Jean, Oll, Aunt Nell, Glad, Charlotte 2, and Sylvia
Thomas.
Sunday 18th
Troops out on a raiding party getting vegetables for
dinner. Managed to get a good feed of swede turnips and
potatoes. Packed up and marched back into billets at
Desvres. Company billeted in cement factory. Sergeants
in private lodgings. Had a good swim in hot water baths
at factory.
 

104
1917
Monday 19th November
Weather still keeping fine. Put in day doing drill and
recreation. Fred, Dave and I out for a stroll together.
Had a good feed of fried eggs. Got a letter from Vince.
Spent night writing letters.
Tuesday 20th
Got letters from Mum, Oll, Vera Robb and Ida. Pay day.
Out with officer in morning trying to arrange for billets
for company. Had afternoon off.
Wednesday 21st
Company had to leave billets at Cement works on account
of "Kookaburras" opening up there. Had to shift our
quarters also. Now billeted at Estaminet in market
square. Not a bad place.
Thursday 22nd
Out on parade in morning, but had afternoon off on
account of wet weather. Sergeants mess at my billet.
Froggies all nick name me "Petit Sergeant".
Friday 23rd
Got a letter from Jean. Had a bath and swim up at Cement

works. Water very hot. A company played B football in

afternoon. I had a game (first time played for years).

Met Will Waters.

Saturday 24th

Escort to one of our Sergeants, up for F.G.C.M. Cold and

wet day.

Sunday 25th

Short church parade in morning. Wind blowing a

hurricane. Fall of snow shortly after dinner. First for

season.

105

1917

Monday 26th November

Out on parade in morning. Had to remain in billets in

afternoon on account of wet weather.

Tuesday 27th

Mounted duty at night as R.O.S.

Wednesday 28th

On duty all day as R.O.S. Very little doing after

morning inspection of billets.

Thursday 29th

Rather taken by surprise during dinner hour. Had a call

by Mr. Piercey Nixon and Gordon, also several of the

Sergeants. All congratulating me and shaking hands.

Could not make out what for. Later learned that I had

been awarded Military Medal, and they had come along to

wet it for me. All of us turned up late on afternoon

parade and were nearly being put under arrest. Had

afternoon off to see football match between 7th and 5th

Battalions. Very good game. 7th Battalion won.

Friday 30th

Parade as usual in morning. Too wet to go out in

afternoon. Took over command of No.1 Platoon.

Saturday, 1st December

Ordinary parade in morning. Weather extra cold so filled

in most of time at recreation. Mounted guard at 4.30

p.m.

Sunday 2nd

On guard till 4.30 p.m. Everything went off well. No

inspection by Colonel or Field Officer. Cold biting wind

all day long.

106

1917

Monday 3rd December

Lovely fine day. Heavy frost in morning. Had afternoon

off to see football match between 7th and 8th. 8th won. 

Dave, Fred and I went to hear the Kookaburras at night.

Got letters from Mum, Grace, Daisy, Aunt Maggie, Lil,

Glad, Lil Smith, Charlotte and Sylvia Cook.

Tuesday 4th

Another heavy frost followed by fine weather. Parade in

morning recreation in afternoon. Got letters from Jean

and Stan.

Wednesday 5th

Out all day on a route march and stunt (about 12 miles).

Marched through Samer and      . Still nice weather.

Thursday 6th

Ordinary parades morning and afternoon. Wrote a few

letters at night. Sing-song in billet (piano) after tea.

Friday 7th

Brigade sports. Weather cold and fine, rain setting in

so did not go out. Stayed in and played draughts. Could

not find anyone to beat me. Turned in to bed early at

night as officers having a spree in next room. Cooks got

a bit merry after officers left. Got arguing point and

started a brawl. Froggie came in and woke us up to try

and quieten things down a bit.

Saturday 8th

Up to baths for a swim in morning. Had photo of platoon

taken after dinner. Spent night writing letters.

Sunday 9th

Got the proof of our group. Turned out A1. Church

parade cancelled on account of weather. Had a busy day

writing letters.