Sunday April 1, 1917

Clear

Nothing doing to day except building gun pits and improving our gun position.

Monday April 2, 1917

Clear day - good observation

Our battery not firing today.

Went up to the front line to our O.P. to get familiar with the trenches.

Nothing very exciting about it. The Hun is doing very little shelling. He either hasn't enough ammunition or is afraid of disclosing his gun positions.

The trenches were all mud and Spence & I were walking mud balls when we got back.

Tuesday April 3, 1917

3" Snow last night and mild today

Went to the [?] station early in the morning with Spence and observed while the guns were registering for a trial barrage. When the barrage came off it was most pretty to see. The Hun line is being battered to a pulp. Watching the shells burst and seeing the upheavals of earth one wonders how the Hun can possibly exist.

There is all kinds of guns with us - 18 pds 4.5 Howitzers 2.7 guns 6' guns 6" Howitzers 9.2 guns & 12" 15". The place is filled right up with them. I'm told there is a bigger concentration here than on the Somme.

Wednesday April 4, 1917

Dull in spots making observation very poor.

Saw one Hun plane brought down by our antiaircraft guns and one of ours by a Hun plane.

Heavy shelling by us on the Bosche line but very little retaliation from him.

At the O.P. all day observing for the battery.

Wrote to May and received 2 letters from her dated March 4th & 7th and one from F & M dated March 4th

Slept at the O.P. last night.

Thursday April 5, 1917

Very heavy fog in the morning which obscured the Bosche Position

A number of "Tanks" arrived in at 130 A.M. and are hidden in Newville St. Vaast.

Night alarm at 10 P.M. last night. The whole line woke up. Shells rained across - machine guns rattled - bedlam broke loose. Things quieted down after about half an hour with the exception of an occasional rattle of a machine gun and the regular night firing of the artillery.

Sleep at O.P. last night

Friday April 6, 1917

Raining during the day

No exciting on the front except we are carrying out the usual heavy bombardment preparatory to the attack. Had our brigade Commander, Col. King, and General Morrison in the O.P. to watch a trial barrage - Heavy bombardment of Thelus Village.

Saw two aeroplanes come down in flames after fights. Both looked to be ours.

Received 2 parcels, one from May and one from Bob. Also received 5 letters from May dated Feb 14th, 19th 22nd 26th & March [?] and two from F & M dated Feb 19th & 26th

Slept at O.P. last night

Saturday April 7, 1917

Rained Heavily during the night.

At the O.P. all day, slept there last night.

Nothing abnormal along the front except a very heavy bombardment by us. The Bosche brought down one of our observation balloons but both observers escaped by using parachutes. At
3 P.M. an aeroplane [?] was held, the aeroplanes flying low for observation.

Things got warm in the village in the evening so hurried back to the O.P. as being about the safest spot in this vicinity.

The light was good in the P.M. so did some registering on the "Old Mill."

Sunday April 8, 1917

Fine day

Slept at O.P. last night and was relieved at 11 AM. In afternoon went to O.P. at Ritz Trench. On way back visited the Tanks and went inside one with its officer.

The Hun is "strifing" the Aux Ritz Xroads about 100 yds from here and has been doing so for the last two hours. He landed one on a gun pit of an English Battery, setting the ammunition on fire and apparently destroying the gun.

Tomorrow is the big day of attack, the infantry going over at 5.30 AM. If it is successful the Hun will have to back up a few more miles towards home. Let us hope it is successful.

Wrote to May and to Father and Mother.

VIMY
Monday April 9, 1917

Rain in the morning but cleared up for the afternoon.

I had to remain in the telephone dugout with Capt Flexman.

The show came off marvelously well with much fewer casualties than expected. We took all the ground expected with many prisoners and guns. The dirty weather made it very difficult for the troops as the ground was one churned up mass of mud. However, the Vimy Ridge is ours after many long months of struggle. About noon I was able to get out to see the sights in the near vicinity. Prisoners and wounded were then beginning to come in. The prisoners seemed quite glad to be out safe. It was one great day. Mr. Spence went over with the second wave of infantry to establish telephone communication and came off uninjured after establishing an OP. in a shell crater in Counts Wood.

Tuesday April 10, 1917

Cold & wet with snow in the afternoon.

Went forward to the O.P. in Counts Wood to act as F.O.O. The snipers were busy and got several of the infantry who were foolishly exposing themselves. In the afternoon the Hun commenced shelling the Wood so I & the telephonists decided to take refuge in an old German dugout about 100 yds in front. We carried our wire across this exposed place - snipers bullets whizzing around. Made it successfully and prepared to spend the night. We were then only 100 yds from our new front line which was on the far side of the steep hill. The view was magnificient - could see into Hun territory for several miles. It was an F.O.O.'s paradise.

Wednesday April 11, 1917

Cold and muddy.

Spent a rotten day but did some successful shooting, getting a direct hit on a Hun gun.

Suffered from lack of rations and water as none could be brought in to us. Was out of smokes too. Took sick during the day from lack of sleep and food.

The Hun is to be seen all over the country side but out of range of our guns which have been unable to get up yet.

The battery moved up to the Lens-Arras Road today. It was some terrible job. We were the only battery of the Division that got up.

Thursday April 1, 19172

At 5 A.M. we decided to abandon this O.P. as Fritz had been shelling it all night, getting 3 hits on the Dug out which partially caved in the roof and sides, besides causing us to go out in the midst of a blizzard to repair the wire, between 3 AM & 5 A.M. Believe me, it's not a very pleasant sensation, repairing telephone wires with heavy shelling falling and bursting all around. At 4.15 A.M. we "made a bunk" and landed up at the dug out of a company of the 21st Bttn which is largely composed of men from Sarnia and vicinity. Stayed there till 7:30 A.M. and then came back to the Battery - pretty well fagged out but still alive. Went to bed after breakfast and slept till 12 P.M. when I had to go up to our new O.P. to observe while registering the guns. Later in the afternoon Mr. Hersey relieved me and I came back to the dug out.

Friday April 13, 1917

Fine clear day.

Was at the Battery all day puttering around. Got the last gun into position. At 4:30 had to enter Vimy Village to make a reconnaissance of the roads. The infantry had just entered and there was much doubt whether the Huns had entirely left. I got in and out alright without any adventures, except being sniped at a couple of times and made my report. I was the first artillery officer to enter the village. Went back later in the evening to do some salvage work but as the place was being shelled too much I brought the men home.

The Hun had withdrawn from La [?], Vimy & Willerval after firing them all.

Wrote to May.

Saturday April 14, 1917

Fine clear day. Mud drying up in grand shape.

Started at 5 AM to take over a [?] Hun gun which had been captured by us. Found it all complete with exception of the dial sights. However our target was visible so we fired over the open sights. Ran the gun out of the gun pit, turned it around and blazed away. Fired all the ammunition in the pit and then beat it. Luckily we did go as the Hun seemed quite put out to be bombarded by his own guns and came back strong. Stayed around the battery all afternoon.

Received 2 letters from May dated March 10 & 14th

Sunday April 15, 1917

Raining all day. The country is a sea of mud again and the last two day's sunshine wasted.

Stayed around the battery all day. The roads are in terrible shape but the pioneers and Engineers are working hard to improve it. The artillery is moving up but is having a hard time. Our battery is not firing as the Hun has moved back so far we are out of range

Wrote to Father and Mother.

Friday April 20, 1917

Fair - mud commencing to dry up.

Recoinntred for a new pack path with Capt Flexman. Decided on one from Thelus over the open hill and thence down to the guns.

Left it to the wagon lines in the P.M. to look after the supply of ammunition. which hadn't been coming up very regularly. Started out at 6 P.M. and unfortunately held up by traffic so arrived at Thelus a little too late. However managed to get over the path and to the guns without casualties, although had several narrow escapes in Vimy. On way back were heavily shelled. Dead horses were lying all over the road - some battery had hard luck. On passing the old gun position found that the Hun had fired an ammunition dump nearby and also one of our own. It was a very lively night all around.

Saturday April 21, 1917

Fair & getting warmer.

Slept till 11 A.M. after arriving in Camp at 4 A.M. Had hell shelled out of us going and coming from the guns. Had 2 men wounded but neither seriously.

In P.M. went forward to look out for another pack path. Found a very good one but on our way back were chased across the open by Hun shrapnel & H.E. Had a dozen close calls but made the battery safely Parkinson & Hersey as badly scared as I was. Meet Spence with 82 pack horses at Thelus at 8 P.M. and convoyed them to the gun position. Were not shelled at all luckily with the exception of one stray shell that passed about 4 feet above my head and burst about 20 ft away. Came back to wagon line by Eaurie getting in at 2 A.M. The wind got around to the north and became cold.

Sunday April 22, 1917

Fair and cold.

Mr. Merkle arrived in from Hospital

Slept till 9 A.M.

Went forward with ammunition in the Evening as far as the Dump. Mr. Spence coming up in the evening with the pack animals. Mr. Spence took the party forward over a route of his choosing. Got lost both going and coming. I remained at the Dump to look the return party up and send them back. Stayed there till 4 A.M. and then beat it back to camp. Met part of the party on the road but as it was too light to take a chance allowed them to return to camp.

Received a letter from May dated March 18th and one from Mother dated Mar 18th and also a tin of Hudson Bay Tobacco.

Monday April 23, 1917

Fair but cold.

Went forward in the P.M. with an N.C.O. from each Sub Section to show them the pack route by day light. Mr. Spence brought up the pack animals and I conducted them across. Made two trips without much trouble and got in over 82.5 rounds which was pretty good going. The shelling was a little heavy as the Germans were making a counter attack on our Front line trenches. Our guns received an S.O.S. and bedlam broke loose. We waited till the firing ceased and then went forward to the gun positions. Arrived back to Camp at 4 A.M. Tuesday.

Tuesday April 24 1917

Fair but cold wind from the North.

Slept till 11 A.M. after arriving back at 5 A.M. Found Bill Compton had been sent down from the O.P. He went forward with us in the evening. Mr Spence made the first trip, Bill & I waiting in the D.A.C. dug out till the men returned and were loaded. Were fairly heavily shelled during the trip but no casualties although some fairly narrow shaves. Arrived back in Camp at 430 A.M. pretty well fagged out -

Wednesday April 25, 1917

Fair but cool.

I find these trips are taking it out of me. and it is harder to go each night. Having 100 or so horses and 60 or 70 men with me who are depdendent on me for guidance and to a certain extent for their safety is somewhat nerve trying. During the trips I perspire so much that I can wring the water out of my tunic.
Slept till late in the forenoon. Left La Forgette at 730 for the same old trip. Just after passing under the railway embankment had a shrapnel burst nearby & wounding 2 horses, hitting one man on the mouth with a piece of stone and me on the shin. Thought I had a blighty, but no luck - only much pain and a bump on my shin. Half a minute later along came another which plunked into the bank about 6 ft to my left as I was attending the wounded man. Thank God it was a dud or I wouldn't be writing this. Got back alright without much more excitement.
Mr. Spence taking over the party at the Dump & I returning to camp with the casualties in man & horse.

Thursday April 26, 1917

Fair & cool.

Capt. Flexman down from the guns, Mr. Merkle taking charge of the wagon lines and
Mr. Carmichael returning to the battery.

Started out at 7:30 P.M. with 60 horses and 20 mules borrowed from the D.A.C. Had a very uneventful trip both to the guns and return. getting back to the waggon lines with out any casualties.

Had the afternoon free on account of getting back to the W.L. at 1 AM. and so didn't sleep all day.

Wrote to May.

Friday April 27, 1917

Fair and cool.

Stuck around the waggon lines all day resting up.

Saw a Bosche aeroplane bring down one of our observation balloons in flames.

Saturday April 28, 1917

Fair and warm.

Rode up to the guns in the A.M. to see what was doing. Found that Hersey is transferred to the 16th Battery in place of Compton who has gone to hospital.

Stuck around the wagon lines all afternoon. Feeling pretty tough - stomach on the bum - reaction I guess from the previous strenuous nights.

Received three letters from May dated March 28th, Apr 2nd - April 5th.

Wrote to Father & Mother.

Sunday April 29, 1917

Sunny and warm.

This weather is putting the horses back into great shape. Went over them carefully and find that a large number have been more or less badly cut up thru' the rough usage of the past few weeks. On the whole though they are in fair shape.

Wrote to the Doc. and to May.

Monday April 30, 1917

Sunny and warm.

Orderly officer today.

Took out an exercise ride in the A.M. Around the lines all afternoon. In the evening took the horses and [?] up to the guns and removed them to the forward position. Got back at 2 A.M. Was mighty lucky this trip - the Bosche was apparently taking an evening off.

Received a letter from May dated March 22nd