April 1917
 
 

Sunday 1st April, 1917

On parade 9 a.m. and on mess shed at 10 a.m. Got ready to receive wounded by 12. Odd case or so, plenty sick. On duty till 10 p.m. then into bed.

Monday 2nd April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 and on duty 8 a.m. Wounded started coming in about 9 a.m., walking cases only, very busy and worked hard. Big attack on our troops going forward. Huns shelled this town and round about us, one shell lobbing about 10 yards from our tent. Got dinner about 3.15. Managed to get all cases through, dressed 250 up to being relieved at 8 p.m. Our O.C. and A.D.M.S. and all concerned highly pleased. Tired tonight, in bed 9 p.m.

Tuesday 3rd April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 a.m., on duty 8 a.m. at dressing tent. Fritz shelled this way again today lobbing one at entrance to O.C.'s tent. Kept pretty busy all day. Just after tea a Fritz plane came over and set two of our observation balloons on fire but was hit himself and brought down in our lines, rather exciting, balloons were close to us. About 30 of our cases yesterday were Germans, heard our boys took 500 prisoners. Off duty 8 p.m. and in bed 9 p.m.

Wednesday 4th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m. breakfast 7.30, on duty 8 a.m. Fixed up our dressing tent decently today, had fair number of cases. The advance still going on. Snowed today and very muddy. Heard fritz retired 2000 yards last night. Enemy shelled town again nearly got our horses. Only one very slight casualty in town so far. Rumours of success near Arras and 4000 prisoners. Off duty 8 p.m. in bed 9 p.m.

Thursday 5th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 and on duty 8 a.m. Had few wounded this morning but not too busy. Just after dinner started write letter enemy plane dropped 2 bombs about 100 yards away, 3 wounded brought in to us, trephined one but he died also one of others died, very badly smashed up. Lot of walking cases from the line, kept going at top speed until relieved at 8 p.m. Been lovely day today. Turned in 9 p.m.

Friday 6th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 a.m. and on duty 8 a.m., very nice morning, had fair number of patients. Enemy plane came over, lot of our guns moving up and heavy bombarding in Arras direction. Received orders have to move camp, are going about 2 miles further up, shifted part of camp today but going on with our work. Had about 300 sick and wounded this afternoon, very busy. Wrote letter, off duty 8 p.m. and in bed 9 p.m.

Saturday 7th April, 1917

Routine as usual till tea time when packed up, loaded wagon and set out for new camp about 2 1/2 miles beyond Bapaume. Enemy shelled round our old camp, caught A.S.C., caused no. of casualties, 6 being killed. Dropped one on road just behind us. Reached new camp site and got prepared to start work in morning. Busy till 10 p.m. when turned in.

Sunday 8th April, 1917

Up 7 a.m., after breakfast very busy fixing up, had few wounded and sick, also escaped tommy prisoner. Glorious day, expecting our troops to make big attack soon, in bed 10 p.m. The escaped prisoner was a 5th Dorset Regt. taken by Huns at Beaumont Hamel nearly three months ago. Had been working 13 Kilometers behind enemy's lines, escaped last night, wounded slightly through arm. In shocking verminous state, said he had had very bad time.

Monday 9th April, 1917

Rained most of night and wild sort of day. Very heavy bombardment to the north early this morning. Usual routine, on duty 8 a.m. till 8 p.m., some wounded through. Could see fritz's shells bursting on ridge ahead of us. Various orders going round, told to expect to advance at any time. Rumours of good news viz:- success at Arras and district, large no. of prisoners 10 to 20,000, 19 enemy tanks captured and about 60 guns. Enemy plane over very high. In bed 10 p.m.

Tuesday 10th April, 1917

Up 7 a.m. and on duty 8 a.m. Snowed a good deal today but not very cold, wind boisterous. Had few wounded in and were relieved by B. section at 2 p.m. C. Section arrived today from Millencourt. At 8 p.m. A and C section bearers went out up the line and I turned in . Have to be on duty at 2 a.m. in the morning. Expect heavy stunt tonight or early morning.

 
 
 
  Wednesday 11th April, 1917

Up 1.30 a.m. and on duty 2 a.m. Only few cases up to 7.30 a.m. when large numbers started arriving. Worked for my life till 6 p.m. by which time we had dressed and fed nearly 700 wounded. Our attack was successful but positions could not be held against enemy counters. Hard luck. On duty again 8 p.m. Heard some of our bearers have been made prisoners, not true. Our casualties heavy, treated about 900 up to midnight.

Thursday 12th April, 1917

Going strong until 2 a.m. when relieved, believe enemy losses greater than ours. Turned into bed 2.30 a.m. almost too tired to sleep, ache all over. Up for dinner and on duty at 2 p.m. Wounded nearly all finished but was told to be ready to move to rear in morning, our division to be withdrawn on account of severe losses. It is very terrible. Worked hard packing up till 8.30 p.m. and am absolutely done up. Had a wash and clean up by 9.30 p.m. and turned in 10 p.m.

Friday 13th April, 1917

Reveille 6.30 a.m., on parade 6.45, roll call and orders. Finished packing up, loaded G.S. Wagon and on motor char-a-bang by 8.15 a.m. Sorry to have to go back. Arrived at Becordel via Martinpuich and Posieres about 11 a.m. and took over at once from 7th F.A. Div. rest station. Everything very disorganized and men tired out, was very busy arranging things all afternoon and did not get to bed till 11.30. Feel like a thorough holiday and rest, work this last four days being such a strain and so severe.

Saturday 14th April, 1917

Up 7.30 a.m., had breakfast, unloaded our wagon and carried panniers etc. to dressing hut by dinner time. This afternoon arranged the place and set out instruments etc. Been very busy day as we are so short-handed only two sections being here. Turned in about 9 p.m.

Sunday 15th April, 1917

Up at 7.30 a.m., breakfast and on duty 9 a.m. Had lot of dressings etc., slight wounds. Rotten day. Off duty 8 p.m. and in bed 9 p.m.

Monday 16th April, 1917

Up 7.30 a.m., breakfast and on duty 9 a.m. Am doing the clean dressings of all patients of which we have about 600, about 50 dressings a day, also have to be ready for any emergency operations. At 5.45 p.m. inocculated our own unit against para-typhoid, was done myself. Afterwards wrote some letters and in bed at 9 p.m.

Tuesday 17th April, 1917

Up 7.30 a.m., breakfast and on duty 9 a.m. At 9.30 Major Welch had look at wounded and we re-dressed their injuries. Had a gassed patient through, also had to give number of anti-tetanic injections. Not so busy this afternoon so had a read. Rotten day, my arm sore from inocculation. Wrote letters tonight and in bed 9.30.

Wednesday 18th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 a.m. On duty at 9 a.m. and kept busy with dressings etc. all morning. After dinner had few more cases, rotten place to be in and weather very unsettled. News of more victories for our troops and for our Allies. Received letters from home and of Dad's sailing. After tea was busy writing till turned in 10 p.m. Our guns going very heavy tonight.

Thursday 19th April, 1917

Today was much similar to yesterday though not so much rain. Had lot of anti- tetanic injections to give. At 3 p.m. went and had hot shower bath and felt clean again. News of more victories to our side, can hear guns roaring all day and still going on. After tea was busy writing, had few interruptions for injections morphia etc. and turned into bed at 9 p.m.

 
 
 
  Friday 20th April, 1917

Routine as usual, turned out very nice day so about 2 p.m. set out for "Meaulte" about 2 miles away and saw W. Hill, had yarn until tea time then went into "Albert" to "Anzac Coves" variety show. Very good and enjoyed it. Out about 8.45 p.m. and arrived back at camp about 10 p.m. and turned in.

Saturday 21st April, 1917

Up 7.30 a.m. and had breakfast and on duty 9 a.m. Dressings etc. kept busy till dinner time. Had quiet afternoon, very nice day. At 6 p.m. had committee meeting re Anzac Day dinner then busy writing till 10 p.m. when turned in.

Sunday 22nd April, 1917

Routine as usual, beautiful day, guns thundering like mad tonight, more writing and in bed 9.30 p.m.

Monday 23rd April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 a.m. and on duty 9 a.m. Dressings etc. kept busy till dinner time. Fritz plane over this morning but soon driven off. Rumours of big successes by French. Few dressings this afternoon, fine day again, mud clearing up. W. Hill over to see me and had tea with me. Afterwards had chat with Mr. Baber our Warrant Officer and had read, turning into bed about 10 p.m.

Tuesday 24th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 and on duty 9 a.m. Dressings etc. kept me busy till dinner time, very nice day. Guns booming and our planes very active. Few dressings after dinner, received two letters and did some writing. W. Hill came up to see me for a yarn. Rather chilly at night, turned in about 9.30 p.m.

Wednesday 25th April, 1917

2nd anniversary of landing at Anzac. Morning routine as usual, after dinner played Rugby against 7th A.S.C. winning 3 points to nil. Had dinner and concert in mess hut, started 6.30 p.m. Officers and all the unit present, was very good, dinner splendid. Sang in a part song and supported the toast of our unit proposed by Major Welch and had enjoyable evening. Turned in about 8 p.m.

Thursday 26th April, 1917

Guns were going heavily all night. Up at 7 a.m. and routine for morning as usual. Very fine day again. One of our boys sick, mumps? Few dressings after dinner and at 6 p.m. assisted Capt. Douglas to inocculate some of our chaps Para-Typhoid TAB 2 was done myself. W. Hill up to see me again. Did some writing and into bed 9 p.m.

Friday 27th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 and on duty 9 a.m., dressings etc. till dinner time. Fine day. After dinner had practice game rugby then shower and rub down. My arm a bit sore from inocculation. W. Hill up to see me and had tea. Guns booming heavily, did some writing and turned into bed 10 p.m.

Saturday 28th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 2 eggs and bacon from canteen fund 7.30 a.m. On duty 9 a.m., dressings etc. till dinner time when we had baked rabbit (frozen). At 3 p.m. played 8th F. Amb. rugby and won 7 points to nil. Had shower and rub down and then tea. After tea did some writing. Been very fine day, in bed 10 p.m.

Sunday 29th April, 1917

Routine as usual, real splendid day. Inocculated some of our chaps, also voted today. Had a read tonight and turned in 10 p.m.

Monday 30th April, 1917

Reveille 7 a.m., breakfast 7.30 a.m. and on duty 9 a.m., busy with dressings etc. till dinner time. At 2.30 p.m. had practice rugby match followed by shower bath and rub down. Beautiful day, very warm. After tea had read till 8 p.m. when turned into bed about 8.30 p.m.