May 1917

May 1917
4th Friday
Changed from Ward Duty, and went into Dressing Station.  
18th Friday
Part of B Sect leave Aix-Noulette, and march to Lievin, myself going by Car. 
19th Saturday
Day Stretcher Bearer.
Lens 2 miles. 
26th Saturday/27th Sunday
At 12pm o’clock we left Lievin in small parties, and marched to Aix-Noulette. Germans shelled continually all the way and we arrived at the latter place at 3am o’clock 27th, and slept til 7am.  At 8.30am marched away from Aix-Noulette for (blank, probably Labeuvrière) a 17 miles journey.  The weather being extremely hot, we arrived at our destination at 4pm o’clock, all of us beat.  Billeted at Hospital.  C and part of B Sect run the Corps Rest Station, which is a lovely place.  The village being nice country.  The rest of the Unit work the line in front of Lens. 
 

April 1917

April 1917 
1st Sunday
Left and marched to Malonely Farm near Ham.  This is a fine Chateau surrounded with water, and has an old castle.  A party of 22 men of B Sect open up hospital.  Rest of Unit at Ecquedecques. 
2nd Monday/6th Friday
Night Hospital Duty. 
Football match with N Staffs, score, Staffs 7, Unit 0. 
13th Friday
March away from Malonely Farm, and Unit arrive at Béthune. 
14th Saturday
Béthune.
Company and Physical Drill during morning.  Germans shell the town at night, one shell dropped a few yards from hospital. 
15th Sunday
General duty.  Church service during afternoon in Hospital Ward, and I also went to a fine service at night, held in theatre. 
16th Monday
Company and Physical Drill in Hospital grounds, and in the course of same a German plane flies over us, and drops bombs in Béthune Square about 100 yards from Hospital, a few civilians and our soldiers killed and wounded, our Bearers turn out. 
17th Tuesday
Unit take a march out and pass through Hinges.   
18th Wednesday
Stretcher bearer at hospital for 24 hours. 
19th Thursday
Unit march away from Béthune to Aix-Noulette which is a shell ruined village, billeted in Brewery cellar.   
23rd Monday
Division make a Charge in front of Lens, Notts & Derbys & Leics, many casualties. 
26th Thursday
Staff Sgt Hiddins killed in action.
[Staff Serjeant Hidens, RAMC] 

Undated greetings card from Ethel

 

 

March 1917

March 1917 
1st Thursday
I left Gaudiempre and joined my Sect at Berles-au-Bois and immediately sent to Dugout at Farnborough Road Trench.  Germans evacuate Gommecourt Wood and village just on right of this front. 
2nd Friday
Farnborough Road Dugout.  Plenty of shelling takes place on both sides.  Visit to Berles during afternoon, and on Gas guard at dug-out from 10pm ‘til 3am. 
3rd Saturday
Dug-out.
Went to Berles during afternoon, and at that time heavily bombarded and killed 2, wounding several. 
4th  Sunday
Farnborough Road Dug-out. 
Went to Berles-au-Bois during afternoon, and there witnessed air duel with 5 German planes against 1 of our scout planes.  The former planes opened out with all their Maxim guns, and shot off the tail of our plane, and riddled the air men with bullets, the plane crashing to the ground.  A squad of 4 of us was sent out to bring in the 2 corpses, and we had to go 2 miles to get at same which was just on our line.  The Germans shelled heavy and trained Maxim gun on area where plane had dropped.  After 4 hours we returned with corpses, and also left Farnborough Road Dug-out and came back to Berles-au-Bois. 
5th Monday
Berles.
At night Germans pour hundreds of gas shells into this village just as we got to bed.  Alarm was given and all gas helmets immediately worn and all men up.
Civilians gassed, cows killed with gas, and good number of casualties.  None of our men could sleep in same dug-out as it was full of gas.  I got to bed at 12pm in cave.   
12th Monday
Hospital Orderly Duty. 
At night 137 Bgde attack in front of Gommecourt and get in German lines but had to retire later. 
14th Wednesday
200 stretcher cases all wounded came into our place and about 300 Sitting went direct to Cas. Cle. Sta. (Casualty Clearing Station) 
15th Thursday
Hospital Duty.
Germans start a retirement.  British and French still advance. 
22nd Thursday
The Unit marched away from Gaudiempre at 2pm o’clock and arrived at Bus (Bus-lès-Artois) 9 miles away.  Billeted in huts. 
23rd Friday
Bus. 
Spent the day overhauling medical and surgical panniers. 
24th Saturday
The Unit march away from Bus at 2.30pm and arrive at Contay, a distance of 10 miles.  Billeted in School. 
25th Sunday
We marched away from Contay at 2pm o’clock and arrived at Villers-Bocage. 
26th Monday
Left Villers-Bocage and motored to Saveuse passing through Amiens.  
28th Wednesday
Saveuse. 
29th Thursday
Entrained at Bacouel and detrained at Berguette.  12 hours journey  
31st Saturday
Ecquedecques.
Smoke helmet inspector. 
 

Greetings card from Ethel to Frank (undated)

 

 

Feb 1917

February 1917 
1st Thursday
Left Cross Street Dug-out for Bienvillers. 
2nd Friday
Left Bienvillers with C Sect for Gaudiempre, who relieve 2nd Fld. Amb.
A & C run Hospital and 36 men of B run the line. 
4th Sunday
I was sent to 137 Inf Bgde Depot St Amand, as Medical orderly, and billeted in hut’s Aid Post. 
5th Monday
I took charge of Sick Parade at 8am, which numbered about 30. 
6th Tuesday
Same routine.  Bitter frost prevails, ice hanging from exterior of huts.  
16th Friday
Still Medical Orderly for 137 Bgde School St Amand.  MOs out of New London Division take sick parades. 
20th -22nd Tuesday
Sick and temperature of 100.2, but still carrying on. 
23rd Friday
I was taken into Gaudiempre Hospital, temp 103.8.
27th Tuesday
Gaudiempre.
Discharged from hospital for Light Duty on Car as Orderly. 

Jan1917

January 1917 
1st Monday
Left St Amand for Bienvillers to joint part of B Sect who are attached to C, working the line, and A Sect at Foncquevillers.  I was billeted in cellar on Souastre Road. 
2nd Tuesday
Bienvillers. 
A party of us started on sandbagging round Dressing Station.  The inner part being Elephant steel tubing, and quite a safe place against shell fire. 
3rd Wednesday
I in a squad of 4, left Bienvillers in the afternoon for Shell Street Trench.  Our dug-out was steel and situated in support line near medical aid post, a distance of 200 yards to fire trench. 
4th Thursday
We were called out of bed at 2.30am o’clock to take 2 wounded cases to Bienvillers, the same occurred whilst out on patrol at .... (damaged page)
took us 2 1/2 hours .... stretcher case down. 
8th Monday
Relieved by another squad at night, and we returned to Bienvillers for 3 days.    
10th Wednesday
Germans shell our village at night, which is quite a daily occurrence.   
At night Germans shell our Batteries, we had to collect under heavy fire. 
12th Friday
Left Bienvillers for Support trenches. 
Bitter cold weather prevails. 
22nd Monday
Left Barrier Dugout and returned to Souastre Road, Bienvillers, for 3 days rest. 
27th Saturday
Left Bienvillers for Cross Street Aid post, in Support lines. 

Dec 1916

December 1916 
1st Friday
Brévillers.
Smoke Helmet Drill, with box helmet.
The Unit play 5 N Staffs Lucheux in semi-final of cup.  Robbed.  Result Staffs 2 Unit 1. 
5th Tuesday
Left Brévillers by car with 10 of B Sect, for Bienvillers, and take over Dressing Station, plenty of runs on Ambulance to Gaudiempre. 
6th Wednesday
Bienvillers.
Gas shells poured into village.  Many journeys with gassed patients, some of which died. 
8th Friday
Left Bienvillers with Car of wounded, and had a breakdown on road to Souastre, and could not move for 5 hours.  The Car was towed to St Amand at 8.30pm. 
9th Saturday
Left St Amand on Ambulance as Orderly for Foncquevillers, continual journeys with sick and wounded to Couin.
A Sect work Foncquevillers. 
10th Sunday
Foncquevillers shelled continually, many journeys with sick. 
11th Monday
Foncquevillers.  Continual journeys with sick to Couin and wounded to Gaudiempre. 
14th Thursday
Left Foncquevillers at night, returned by another car.  We returned to Head Quarters at St Amand for 6 days. 
18th Monday
Left St Amand for Souastre, to work Foncquevillers line, journeys at night.  
22nd Friday
Left Souastre for Foncquevillers.  Major Lloyd-Jones wounded at Foncquevillers, and died as soon as we reached 20 Cas Cle Sta (Casualty Clearing Station) S.W. back. 
25th Monday
Left Souastre at 11am o’clock for St Amand and had a fine day.  Lovely Xmas dinner and tea, and kept the night up well. 
31 Sunday
St Amand.  Fetched out of bed at 3am New Year’s morn to collect wounded at Bienvillers, as Germans had shelled the billets. 
 

November 1916 
1st Wednesday
Marched away from Brévillers at 7am o’clock, arrived at Outrebois at 11am o’clock. 10 miles.   
3rd Friday
Reveille 4.30am.
Marched away from Outrebois 6am and arrived at Gapennes at 11.30am o’clock, a distance of 18 miles.  
5th Sunday
Gapennes.
Marched to Church Parade, which unfortunately did not take place. 
6th Monday
Gapennes.
The Unit commended a course of Training.  Physical Drill at 7.30am, Company Drill 10am to 12am. 
Lecture afternoon.  
8th Wednesday
Gapennes.
News of Fred (Franks brother) being sent to No 16 Base General Hospital.
11th Saturday
Left Gapennes at 11am o’clock and marched to Froyelles, a distance of 4 miles.  The Unit is billeted in a Farm, 3 miles from Crécy and its ancient battlefield.  
13th Monday
The Unit march in all 15 miles to be inspected by General, all 3 Amb being present, everything went off well. 
14th Tuesday
Reveille 6.30am.
Drill in full marching order during morning.
Fetched out of bed at night to go on Hospital duty.
Very cold weather. 
15th Wednesday
Day Hospital duty, in double walled marquee which is only for our Units sick. 
Hospital duty.  
22nd Wednesday
Marched away from Froyelles at 1pm o’clock and arrived at Yvrench at 3.30pm o’clock, a distance of 7 miles, billeted in barn. 
23rd Thursday
Reveille at 5am. Breakfast 6am.  Left Yvrench at 7.15am and marched to Bachimont a distance of 12 miles passing through Auxi-le-Chateau. 
24th Friday/30thThursday
No entries
[Presumably during this time there ws a march to Brévillers, about 20km (about 12 miles) to the South-East, where they were on 31st October.] 
 

Oct 1916

October 1916 
2nd Monday
Changed from Night to Day Duty, No 1 ward. 
 
14th Saturday
Berles heavily shelled by Germans.  Horace Harding killed, Wolverhampton Bty. 
17th Tuesday
Left Hospital La Herlière and marched to Berles to work the line, relieving C Sect.
I took up Night Duty in Dressing Station, which was situated in cellar. 
18th Wednesday
Berles.
Night Duty.
Wet weather.
Bombing raid by Leicesters.  German officer killed.   
22nd Sunday
Heavy bombarding by both artilleries. 
24th Tuesday
Changed from Night to Day Duty, Dressing Station next door to Signals, at which J.E. was on duty. 
25th Wednesday
Berles-au-Bois.
Day Duty Dressing Station.  6th S Staffs make bombing raid, a party of 120, a great success, 6 unwounded prisoners taken. 
26th Thursday
Berles-au-Bois.
Day Hospital Duty.
At night went up with Infantry as a Stretcher Bearer, as Gas was being taken up. 
27th Friday
Hospital Day Duty.  Received many birthday cards, and spent a good day at Dressing Station,  
29th Sunday
Day Duty at Dressing Station.  Relieved by another Field Ambulance and marched back to La Herlière arriving at 6.30pm o’clock.  Had a good time with M. 
30th Monday
Marched away from La Herlière at 11am o’clock in pouring rain, and  reached Brévillers at 3pm o’clock a distance of 12 miles.  B and C Sect billeted in one large room.  
 

In the following weeks there were other attacks, and Frank (16th September 1916) tells us about a great British advance, and the capture of several villages; also of 'a new type of armoured car' with caterpillar tracks.  This was the first appearance on the battlefield of a new weapon, now universally known as the Tank. 
The Tank had been developed and transported to the war in great secrecy, and caused great consternation in the enemy ranks.  Often arriving in front of their positions in a smoke screen, causing initial panic and cries of 'Der Teufel kommt!' (the Devil is coming).  At this stage it was a weapon of unknown effect, so was not used in strength.           

 

Sept 1916

September 1916 
2nd Saturday
Hospital.
Changed from Day Duty to Night after 1 month on days. 
Hospital Night Duty. 
written in a French hand  -
Lucie Branle
La Herlière
Par L’Arbret
Pas de Calais 

11th Monday
Part of B Sect are sent up the line nightly in readiness for our Gas attack. 
12th Tuesday
written in a French hand -
Madame Branle Dubois
La Herlière
Par L’Arbret
Pas de Calais 
13th Wednesday
Night Hospital Duty.
Very cold. 
 15th Friday
Bombing party of 12 Germans attack 5 N Staffs, and are taken prisoner, the wounded Germans coming into our Hospital 6 am o’clock. 
16th Saturday
Great British advance.
Flers, Martinpuich, and Courcelette captured, Foureaux & Bouleaux Woods
also won 2300 Prisoners.  For the first time new kind of Armored Car is used, Caterpillar. 

Cup of tea for a casualty

 

August 1916 
4th Friday
Many casualties from Working Party, who were out in front of our line. 
6th Sunday
Hospital Duty.
Many accidental wounds admitted. 
7th Monday
Hospital Day Duty.
Lovely weather prevails. 
8th Tuesday
Hospital Duty.
Fred lands at Rouen. 
(Fred is Franks’ younger brother)
Good progress is being made on all fronts. 
Hospital Day Duty Ward no 1, only one orderly.  Wet weather prevails. 
9th- 19th Saturday
Hospital Day Duty.
C and part of B Sect return from the line. 
Lovely weather prevails. 
26th Friday
Romania declares war on Austria, Germany’s Declaration on Romania. 
Hospital Day Duty. 

Aircraft

This is a British 2 seater aircraft similar to the ones Frank mentions

 

The Somme

The Somme. 
The Battle of the Somme started officially on 1st July 1916; an offensive in that sector of the Western Front had been in the planning for some months, originally for a combined French/British decisive blow.  The start of the attack became more pressing when the Germans attacked heavily at Verdun, which the French were committed to defend as a matter on national honour.  The German strategy was to inflict a massive defeat on the French Army at Verdun, which was holding this strongpoint; such a defeat was designed to inflict such a psychological blow to France that she would ask for an armistice and end the war to Germany's advantage.   
The British and Commonwealth armies made their attack on 1st July in order to put pressure on German resources and force them to move troops away from the Verdun attack, and also to take advantage of a perceived weakening of the German defences in the Somme area. 
The 1st Battalion the 6th South Staffordshire Regiment was ordered to attack enemy positions in the front and rear of Gommecourt Wood.  An artillery barrage was to prepare the ground and cut the enemy barbed wire defences.  The hour-long barrage lifted at 7.25 am, the troops went 'over the top' into a smoke screen, and in a repeat of the Hohenzollern Redoubt fiasco, were cut down in droves by heavy enemy machine-gun, rifle, and artillery fire.  The few men who reached the opposing trenches found that the wire had been partially cut but not removed by the preparatory artillery fire, so were unable to make any progress.  Just over half of the battalion was destroyed in that morning, mostly in the first few minutes.  Later reports told that most of the casualties were the work of one enemy machine-gun that had not been suppressed in the north-west corner of Gommecourt village.  The 1/6th South Staffordshire regiment now numbered about 250 men.   
Over 19 000 men in the attacking force of 100 000 were killed in the first few hours alone.  A total of nearly 60 000 casualties was recorded, counting those killed, wounded, missing, or taken prisoner.  This was a truly shocking toll, never experienced by the British Army before or since, and it added to the growing undercurrent of unease at home about the strategy and tactics used.  Haig became known in some circles as the Butcher of the Somme.  

July 1916

July 1916 
1st Saturday
Staffs Infantry lead Charge and go over top at 7.30am.
46 Division make a Charge at Foncquevillers and Staffs Bgde reach Germans where from which they are forced to return, being greatly outnumbered, the German shell fire was deadly and terrific casualties numbering 2000 for Div.
Notts & Derbys make an advance, British advance at several points. 
[On this the first day of the first Battle of the Somme, British Army casualties were approximately 21000 killed and 25000 wounded.] 
2nd Sunday
I am on Hospital duty during Charge, at Gaudiempre, wounded continue to come in convoys.  Colley, B Sect killed on 1/7/16 and several Notts & Derbys.  British continue to bombard on a long front and infantry attacks and successes at many points. 
Bearers return from trenches. 
46 Div come out of action. 
3rd Monday
Advance party of B Sect leave Gaudiempre and march to Bailleulval and take over dressing station 1 1/2 miles in rear of line.  Quiet time.
Motor orderly. 
4th Tuesday
Bailleulval.
Motor orderly. 
Travelling to La Herlière Headquarters and Hospital. 
Aft. Berles and La Herlière. 
9th Sunday
From Bailleulval to La Herlière.
No. 18 car finished first week up line. 
10th Monday
Car returns to La Herlière and journeys to Couturelle and Doullens, Avesnes and Frevent.  
12th Wednesday
Went to Bailleulval to baths, and on to ADMS.
Return to Hospital La Herlière and from there to Berles. 
13th Thursday/14th Friday
Car goes to 2nd NMFA and 1st NMFA with dental cases.  At night all Cars are sent up to Berles at 10pm o’clock in readiness for casualties from our bombing attack.  Terrific bombarding by our artillery for some hours.  Cars return to La Herlière at 5.30am o’clock. 
15th Saturday
Doullens by Car, taking eye cases. 
 
17th Monday
Motor Orderly.
Berles. 
 21st Friday
New General inspects the Unit and Cars, all is satisfactory.   
22nd Saturday
Motor orderly.
Car staying at Head Quarters La Herlière 
Went to Doullens and Frévent 60 miles in all. 
26th Wednesday
Doullens by Car, and Bavincourt.  
28th Friday
Left La Herlière for Berles to work the line, constantly taking sick and wounded from Dressing Station to Hospital La Herlière. 
29th Saturday
Called up at 3am o’clock to take wounded man to Hospital La Herlière, again at 2pm and 10pm.
Heavy bombardments. 
30th Sunday
Journeyed to Hospital at 2am, B Sect relieved from lines and take over Hospital at La Herlière, A Sect coming up the line. 
31st Monday
Returned for duty to B Sect, who are running Hospital at Berles, at which I am put on Orderly Duty No. 1 ward, hours 7am to 7pm, all beds full. 
 

The Somme. Waiting to go over the top

 

Friday, 6 November 2009
June 1916
1st Thursday/10th Saturday
Night Duty.
11th Sunday
Gaudiempre.
15th Thursday
Gaudiempre. Hospital night duty.
Operation to toe rt foot.
19th Monday
Gaudiempre.
Moved from tent Hospital to new huts, which are being completed, B Sect in bivouacs, A & C tent Sub Div in bell tents, remainder run line.
23rd Friday
No duty.
Heavy storm, watched kite balloon break loose and disappear.
Bgde working party out up trenches in advanced trench, whizz-banged by Germans 150 casualties, came through our Hospital Gaudiempre.
24th Saturday
Gaudiempre.
Made Motor Orderly.
Went up the line at night at Foncquevillers.
Heavy bombardment by our Artillery.
[The opening bombardments of the First Battle of the Somme were reportedly audible on Hampstead Heath, London.]
25th Sunday
Gaudiempre.
Went with Car to CCS Doullens.
[CCS - Casualty Clearing Station]
26th Monday
The Car goes to Savy 25 miles each way.
27th Tuesday
Doullens by car, taking wounded to CCS.
30th Friday
Return to my Sect for duties while the Charge is in progress.
Hospital duties.
Allies make combined offensives on this front.
Posted by staffordshiresoldiersgreatwar at 07:29
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May 1916

May 1916
1st Monday
Bailleul-aux-Cornailles.
Day Duty.
Lovely weather prevails.
Sleeping out in the field.

3rd Wednesday
Day Duty.
Many of our Sect in Hospital sick with trench fever.
Packed up at night ready for move, David goes on leave, and from then it stops until again settled.
[This diary entry is clear enough, but not sure what he meant; probably talking about the move.]

6th Saturday
Reveille 5am.
The Unit march away from Bailleul-aux-Cornailles at 8 o’clock am, midday halt at 11.30 am ‘til 12 mid. A drink of tea served, and afterwards march away. arrive at Ivergny 1pm o’clock, billeted in barns but slept out in orchard, and at 1 o’clock am I had to carry my bed back into the barn owing to heavy rain, and then I had to be troubled with army of rats.
Marched away at 1 o’clock and arrived at Gaudiempre at 6 o’clock pm.
Billeted in barns.

9th Tuesday
Gaudiempre.
Left at 10pm by Motor Ambulance and arrived at Doullens Station at 11pm and stayed the night there.
Left Doullens by 6.30 am train, and arrived at Havre 9pm o’clock, and immediately embarked on ‘Monids Queen’ which sailed midnight and arrived Southampton 9am. London 12 midday, Wolverhampton 4.20 pm.

13th Saturday
Home on leave.
Went out to tea Portland Street. Spent night at the shop.

14th Sunday
Ringing at St Giles.
Met Ethel at Park Brook.
Home for the day, had a good party, rang at St Giles at night, and attended service.

15th Monday
Home.
Lovely weather prevails.
Had tea at Hunt’s, Wood St, having fine times.
[Anne Hunt was Ethel sister in law]
PS Eng.
[Not sure what this last entry means - got engaged perhaps?]

16th Tuesday
Spent day at Harry’s.
Dinner Park Lane.
Tea. Will Ward’s.
[ Both Will & Harry were Franks elder brothers ]
Fallsinge Park. Colosseum Dudley Road at night.

17th Wednesday
Home.
Went out to dinner at Dugmores, and tea along with Ethel at Wards.
[ It was Thomas Dugmore who managed the company of Beddow & Sturmey ( lock makers ) where Frank worked before the war, he & Ethel were on friendly terms with the Dugmore family.]
Gower Street. Picture Palace.

18 Thursday
Home.
Ethel comes to dinner and afterwards we attend party at Portland St. Walsall.

19th Friday

Fine weather prevails.
Went to Wolverhampton in afternoon, had Photo taken and came and had tea at Arthur Dugmore’s.
Supper at Clemson Street.

20th Saturday
Home and spent day there.

21st Sunday/22nd Monday
Daylight Saving Bill comes into force.
Left Willenhall by 10.20am train and Wolverhampton by 11am. Ethel travelled with me to Birmingham. I left that place at 11.45am London 3pm, had tea, and left for Southampton at 4.30pm.
Sailed 8pm on ‘Hark Angel’ liner, landed at Havre 3.30am and immediately entrained, and arrived at Doullens 8pm o’clock and had a lift on motor bus, and walked from St Pas to camp arriving at 11pm.

23rd Tuesday
Gaudiempre.
Bivouacking out.
Fine weather prevails.
B Sect still running canvas Hospital.
First day of my reserve year.

25th Thursday
Gaudiempre.
Football match in 3rd round of Wortley’s Cup, replay.
5 N Staffs 3 Unit 2.

26th Friday
Lovely weather prevails.

29th Monday
Gaudiempre.
Night Orderly Duties.
Hours 7pm to 7am.
A Sect still running the line and C and part of B digging communications trench.

31st Wednesday
Night Duty.
Great Naval Battle off Jutland Bank, British losses six large ships and eight destroyers. German losses 20 ships.
[Later information says that the Germans lost one battle cruiser, one pre-Dreadnought, four light cruisers and five destroyers, while the British lost three battle cruisers, four armoured cruisers, and eight destroyers. Many of the surviving German heavy ships had suffered serious damage, increasing the British dominance in heavy ships. The outcome was indecisive, but the German Fleet stayed in port for the duration of the Great War, until scuttled by the German Navy at Scapa Flow on 21st June 1919, after the Treaty of Versailles.]

April 1916

April 1916

1st Saturday
Bath house orderly.
Heavy artillery bombardment at night.

5th Wednesday
Ecoivres.
Police duty.

6th Thursday
Left Ecoivres at 6.30pm o’clock by Car for firing lines at Neuville-Saint-Vaaste, billeted in Dressing Station which is the Cellar of ruined Brewery, in which are supports erected by Germans.

7th Friday/9th Sunday
Went up to Medical Aid post of 6th South Staffs in the morning all the way by communication trenches, the chief being Chassery, the former is deep and well made, a good deal of sniping is done, and not much more rifle fire, chiefly bombing and mining, by craters, which are continually blown up on both sides. All the villages here are blown to the ground. The French did part of same to drive out Germans September 1915. Close fighting took place, French on one side of the streets in Neuville-Saint-Vaaste bombing Germans on the other. I visited reserve lines of trenches.

10th Monday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
Fetched out of bed at 2am o’clock, to go up 6th M. Aid Post for dead officer, had to bring him back by communications trenches, and it was very dark.

11th Tuesday
Clerk’s duty in Advanced Collecting Station. Wet weather.


13thThursday.
Advanced Dressing Station. Neuville-Saint-Vaaste Aux Rietz. Clerking
duty, and collecting from S. Staffs Aid post.

14th Friday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
Clerking night duty.
Heavy artillery bombardments.
Wet weather.

16th Sunday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
A mine blown up at 12pm o’clock by Notts & Derbys, and heavy bombardment took place immediately, both sides sending showers of shells.
Night duty. Several wounded.

17th Monday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
Wet weather prevails.
Night duty.
German plane drops bombs at midnight, shook dressing station.

18th Tuesday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
Night Duty Clerk. Quiet night and wet weather.

19th Wednesday
Neuville-Saint-Vaaste.
Mine blown up at night under S. Staffs, but the casualties were few. Heavy shelling of trenches from both sides. Night duty.

20th Thursday.
Left Neuville-Saint-Vaaste and returned to Head Quarters Ecoivres in party of six. Division comes out of action for short rest.

21st Friday
The Unit leave Ecoivres at 9am o’clock and march 14 miles, arriving at Bailleul-aux-Cornailles at 1 o’clock pm.
Sect billeted in barn.

22 nd Saturday.
B Sect run Hospital. Night Orderly Duty. Sleep at Hospital.

23rd Sunday
Easter Sunday.

24th Monday
Night Nursing Orderly. Hospital full of patients.

25th Tuesday
Bailleul-aux-Cornailles.
Night Duty.
Orderlies go in Bell tents. Lovely weather and beautiful country surroundings.

26th Wednesday
Night Duty.
40 patients in tents.

29th Saturday
Bailleul-aux-Cornailles.
Lovely country village, tents pitched among beautiful surroundings and lovely weather prevails. Night Duty.

30th Sunday
Night Duty.
Church Parade at which only 12 of our Unit were present, the first service I have been able to attend for months. Lovely weather and fine.
Service by Chaplain Howard.

A Silk Embroidered Postcard That Frank Sent To Harry His Elder Brother

 

March 1916

March 1916
1st Wednesday
Hospital

2nd Thursday
Longvillers. Discharged from Hospital, and moved by Motor Ambulance to Mount Pleasant Farm near Doullens 10 miles, billeted in barn.
Snow fall.

5th Sunday
Mount Pleasant Farm.
Packing up waggons.

6th Monday
March away from Mount Pleasant Farm, Unit.
Snow falls during march, arrived at Canettemont, 12 miles, billeted in barn.

7th Thursday
March away from Canettemont and arrive at Magnicourt-sur-Canche 4 miles
billeted in barn from which French troops move.

11th Saturday
Unit leaves Magnicourt-sur-Canche and march to Acq 12 miles billeted in barn.
Visit Mont-Saint-Eloi which the Germans have shelled to ruins.
[Mont-Saint-Eloi is a village near Acq,with the remains of an Abbey]

12th Sunday
Acq.
Moved out of barn and billeted in large hut along with A and part of C Section.
C Section work the line.

13th Monday
March from Acq to Ecoivres, billeted at Chateau; A run Hospital.
Watch Australians big guns taken into action.
Staffs Infantry go into action.

15th Wednesday
Ecoivres.
Police duty. Inoculated.


16th Thursday
Ecoivres.
Excused duty owing to inoculation.

17th Friday - 25th Saturday
Ecoivres.
Police duty.
Notts & Derby’s charge casualties 80. 60 Bearers warned to prepare to go up trenches at 3am o’clock, but they had no further order.

29th Wednesday
Ecoivres.
Police duty.
Witness German plane brought down by one of ours in a duel.

30th Thursday - 31st Friday
Bath house orderly.

Zeppelin

It would have been a Zeppelin like this that Frank mentions in his diary of 1st Feb 1916

February 1916

1st Tuesday
Maison Roland.
A party of Zeps make a raid over England, dropping bombs over
Midlands and doing considerable damage especially Walsall,
Many lives lost.

2nd Wednesday.
Maison Roland.
Route march round country 7 miles.

7th Monday
Went by car to Saint Ouen to disinfect blankets, and returned at night

13th Sunday
Maison Roland.
No church parade.
We had a farewell party, including eight of us, on the occasion of
Eddie Edwards and Arthur Moore finishing.

14th Monday
Maison Roland. Eddie and Arthur leave the Unit for Base, as their time expires in 14 days

16th Wednesday
Our chip shop:

Baillet Albert
Café Anglais Maison Roland
Par St Riquier
Somme
(Written in a French hand)

19th Saturday.
Maison Roland. B Sect march away at night and arrive at Longvillers 1AM Sunday morning, billeted in Chateau, in which part of roof and windows are missing

20th Sunday
Longvillers. Preparing another Chateau for Hospital, worked all day in cleaning and clearing up.

21st Monday.
Sick with influenza.
Excused duty

22nd Tuesday
Longvillers.
Admitted into hospital with Influenza, temperature 102. Milk diet.
Heavy snow storm.

January 1916

1st Saturday to 4th Tuesday

Isbergues. Gale.
B Sect running Hospital
Billeted in good barn

5th Wednesday
Major Hodder promoted Lieut. Col. (RAMC doctor)

9th Sunday/10th Monday
Left Isbergues and marched to Berguette Station, entrained 16 men per truck, left the latter station 10 o’clock am, had a good journey, and a fire in truck to cook our food. We passed through Paris goods station getting on the main line for Marseilles. passed through Lyons, fine weather prevailed, and scenery was beautiful as we travelled south.

11th Tuesday
Arrived South Marseilles 4 o’clock pm. Unloaded train and marched to Borley Camp, billeted under canvas, 3 miles out of town. Marched passed German prisoners. Cut my left hand.

12th Wednesday
Borley Camp.
Fine weather prevailed.
Walk on sea front.

13th Thursday/ 14th Friday
Camp.
Rough weather.
March out along seafront.

15th Saturday
Camp.
First pass out into Marseilles.
Visited -.

16th Sunday
Camp.
Went to Services at night, preacher Bishop of Trafalgar.

17th Monday
Police duty.
24 hours on and off.
Fine weather prevails.

19th Wednesday
Marseilles.
March out visited Notre Dame De La Garde Marseilles, full birds eye view of town and sea

20th Thursday/ 22nd Saturday
Police duty.

23rd Sunday Marseilles.
Daily routine.
March out along sea front and up the cliff.
Lovely weather prevails.

24th Monday
March out along sea front in the morning.
Lying outside all afternoon in lovely sun.

26th Wednesday
Marseilles. Pass out into town. B Sect leave Borley camp and ride by tramcar to Soute Camp, 3 Miles the other side of Marseilles. 8 men to a Bell tent, Hospital run by the Sect.

27th Thursday/28th Friday
Soute Camp. Last pass out into town, B Sect leave camp at 10pm and march to Marseilles station at which the unit entrain, horse and motor transport, leave Marseilles at 3 o’clock am, 32 men in a truck first night and 20 afterwards. None of us knew our destination, whilst on the journey, as it was carried out under sealed orders.

29th Saturday
We arrived at Pont-Remy at 5 o’clock am at which place we disembarked, and at 8am we marched away and had breakfast in a field, after which we marched to Maison Roland 8 miles.

30th Sunday
Maison Roland, billeted in Chateau, all the Unit. A Section run Hospital. Small country village with only a few scattered houses.

31st Monday
Maison Roland.
Usual routine.
Wet weather.
Fred (Frank's younger brother) called up on 20th under group no 2 of Lord Derby's ; he visits Lichfield , Aldershot and finally staitioned at Salisbury

Bringing back a stretcher case.

10-16 Oct 1915.

Advanced Dressing Station

17-23 Oct 1915.

17-23 Oct 1915.

17 Sunday
Fouquieres.
Clerk of Ward no 3, night duty. Heavy bombardment prevails. Hours of duty 7pm to 7am the following day.

18 Monday
Staffs reinforced.
Clerk. Night duty.
Heavy bombardment. Met Harold Ford.

19 Tuesday
Ditto.
Vermelles name of place of Staffs charge.

20 Wednesday
Left Fouquières 9.30am.
Marched 10 miles, arrived at Allouagne, billeted in lovely school.

21 Thursday
Allouagne
1st, 2nd, 3rd Field Ambulances.
Marched 10 miles & was inspected by the General & he spoke words of praise and thanks for the recent good work we’d done in the charge.

22 Friday
Allouagne.
Humfrey Fox wounded - news from home.
Rest.
Billeted in Schools.

23 Saturday
Allouagne.
Rest.

Resting at the Front.

Resting at the Front.