Introduction

1914

Aug 4

Mobilisation Order at 6 p.m.

Aug 5

Left home at 7.30 a.m. arrived at Woolwich 9.30 a.m. Medical inspection, handed in papers, and drew kit by 11.00 a.m. – left by train at 10.00 p.m.

Aug 6–14

Arrived at Aldershot 3.30 a.m. bed at 4.00 a.m. and on the go at 6.00 a.m. Drill Orders etc. from 7th to 14th.

Aug 15

Packing up kit etc. all day. Boots & Saddles for Field Service. Marching order at 7.30 p.m. entrained at Government Siding at 2.00 a.m.

Aug 16

Arrived at Southampton 5.30 a.m. Embarked on “SS Cardiganshire” at 2.00 p.m. Left at 7.00 p.m.

Aug 17

Arrived off Boulogne at 5.15 a.m. Disembarked at 7.00 p.m. arriving at Lion Camp about 3.30 a.m.

Aug 18

Resting all day.

Aug 19

Turned out for ‘fatigues’ – had photo taken by several civilians; Camp was swarming with people who gave us a very good welcome into France.

Aug 20

Left by train to Belgium at 12 noon. We stopped at several stations en-route where the population awaited us with plenty of wine, tobacco, chocolate, fruit, flowers and many other good things too numerous to mention.

Aug 21

Owing to some reason unknown to us we detrained about 4.00 a.m. at MAUBEUGE in France, after which we marched about 20 miles into billet where we enjoyed a much-needed stop during the day, which was very hot, and only 33 miles from the firing line.

Aug 22

Left billet at 8.00 a.m. and arrived in Belgium at 2.00 p.m. and went into camp at 3.00 p.m. not far from Mons (at a town called GIVRY) where the troops were engaged in the first big battle with the odds at 30 to 1 against us.

Aug 23

Harnessed up in the morning ready to move but owing to the uncertainty of the Battle of Mons we stood fast all day and started on the most wonderful retreat ever known in the History of the World at 5.00 p.m. and marched 25 miles when we halted for a few hours at 2.30 a.m.

Aug 24

Leaving again about 4.00 a.m. marching all day and at about 10.00 p.m. owing to one of our drivers hanging back we lost the Column and did not find it out until we had gone about 6 miles; it appears that the Column had turned off to the left to avoid going through a town which was full of German troops. Luckily we, the lost part, got through the town alright and after marching through an avenue so dark that we could not see the wagon in front of us and about 6 or 7 miles long we came to another town which we went through and camped at the other side about 4.30 a.m.

Aug 25

It was very amusing during the long march to see the drivers dropping off to sleep in their saddles and when we got into Camp everybody was done up after the 24 hours march. Here we stayed getting very well treated by the people until Aug 26th.

Aug 26

When we marched off after finding the Column at about 9.00 a.m. we marched all day passing through small villages where most of the inhabitants had left. At about 5.00 p.m., we passed through LONGWYN and as we were going out at one end the enemy were firing on the other.We continued our march until 1.30 a.m. Aug 27th. all the time watching the enemy’s fire on the town.

Aug 27

We halted for a rest in a small field with only one small gate to get out of. At 3.00 a.m. we had to leave in a hurry and we were told afterwards that the Germans were in the same field at 3.30 so they were very close upon our heels. We continued our march both men and horses tired out but none the more for that, we were in the best of spirits. At 7.00 a.m. we halted on the road waiting for orders when one of our gunners noticed a party of ????? on our right front; we were ordered to the front with rifles and sent out to the crest of the hill in skirmishing order. Shortly afterwards one of our men accidentally fired, that told the enemy that we were on the road and they at once started shelling us, our luck must have been in as not one got hit.

There only being our Column and 20 Infantry it was impossible for us to hold them as they had a battery of Artillery (which is 10 Guns and 2 Maxims) besides Cav & Infantry and they don’t go about in small numbers, so we got the order to reverse and retired into LE CATEAU. There to our surprise we found several Batteries of RFA and no end of Cavalry & Infantry. We were in the town and the next thing was to get out being practically surrounded. After staying for about 3 hours and drawing rations we went just outside where we got a good view of the battle and of the enemy’s tactics which was to my mind very detrimental to them; they were advancing from behind a wood in masses and as fast as they came round the corner our Artillery would mow them down.

After some hard fighting and good work by our Cavalry & Infantry, who completely annihilated the enemy, we were able to continue our retreat, but it was in no way safe and we had several hundred Infantry besides Cavalry and three Batteries of Artillery RFA who split up into sections and dropped into action on our right and left to keep the enemy at bay while we went along the road.

On reaching a small wood it was noticed that there was about 1,000 German Infantry in waiting for us on our right front but when they caught sight of our Infantry with fixed bayonets they turned tail and fled as they in no way like cold steel.

We got on a little further when we had to halt under cover of the crest of the hill for our guns to come up as our Commander has been notified by Scouts that there were more of the enemy in front of us. Having cleared them off we continued our march and at 6.00 p.m. halted to water and feed our horses this being the first they had had during the day after which we went on, passing through ST. QUENTIN where we halted for about half an hour during which time the people were eagerly trying to make us understand their many enquiries as to how the battle was going on and if the Germans were coming to their town, and as in other towns they gave us a very good welcome.

Continuing we marched until 2.30 Aug.28th.

Aug 28

In the original diary, the next paragraph was included at Sept. 2nd, but I have taken the liberty of moving it here, to keep the narrative in chronological order.

There is one thing I have missed and that is our retreat on to HAM. Here according to what I could gather we were going to make a big stand. We halted on the road just before entering the town to water and feed our horses during which time thousands of Cavalry & Infantry passed us (it was here that I met PARMETOR). On entering the town we saw soldiers and civilians busy digging trenches and our Engineers were busy laying electrical wires and undermining the Place as it was our intention to blow the Town up as soon as it was full of Germans. This decision had been come to owing to the Enemy blowing up our hospitals at LIGNY which were full of wounded all of whom perished including doctors, medical orderlies and nurses. Prior to our entering the people were told of our intentions and were requested to clear out. Having gone through the town we unloaded our wagons and went back to pick up the Infantry who were too tired or had sore feet to walk.

In the War Diary of the 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery, Ammunition Column, the events of 28 August 1914 were recorded thus:

Left ROUPY at 3.30 A.M., marched to HAM, received orders there to empty Ammunition Wagons & take Infantry to NOYON. Took about 250 into NOYON & eventually got into bivouac at 10 P.M.. First time that horses had had their harnesses off for 3 days & 4 nights.

When we unhooked our horses and got what sleep we could [with] myself sleeping on the footboard of the wagon. We turned out again at 4.00 a.m. and continued our retreat during Aug. 29th, 30th and 31st.

Marching day and night getting what sleep we could when we halted on the road, passing through the munition Park on the 30th, and DU MOUNET at 4.00 p.m. on the 31st. Here we had another good reception, the people distributing cigarette etc. which was very acceptable as we had been practically without a smoke for a fortnight, we Camped in the middle of a forest which was very damp owing to the large quantity of trees keeping the sun off the ground.

Sep 1

We started on our march again about 9.00 a.m. Here again we were in a warm corner which was unknown to us at the time. We passed through COMPIEGNE – although we did not know it but heard of it afterwards we were on the point of being annihilated. The enemy had one Battery laid on “L” Battery and one on us, they fired on “L” Battery [at NERY] and smashed them up and it was their intention to have a go at us afterwards and no doubt they would have done had it not been for the quick way in which “J” Battery, the Cavalry and Infantry came to the rescue and completely annihilated them capturing all their guns and the remaining battery fled for their lives which once again saved the Column from annihilation. We had little or no sleep this night.

Sep 2

We started off very early and had a very long and tiring march arriving at CH FOTES late in the afternoon. Here we stayed during the 3rd and 4th filling up our time doing our much needed washing and also having a much needed bath in the river which was visited by most of us two or three times a day the weather being very hot. Thus ended what will be known in future History the finest retreat ever known in the World and proved the superiority the British Forces have in fighting a rearguard action.

I might mention that the most heart-breaking incidents during the retreat was seeing the inhabitants leaving their homes knowing full well that they would return to find them ransacked and in some places burnt to the ground. This I think would touch the heart of the most hard-hearted man. Our messing during this time was very good under the circumstances the worst part of it was that we did not have time to cook it before it went bad; owing to this our bill of fare was biscuits and bully with jam and these as a luxury, so you can guess we were not getting very fat.

Sep 5

This was the day that Tommy had been longing for when we began to show our superiority over the Enemy, it was also a day of surprises to the Enemy as it was their belief that they had completely annihilated the British. It is a well-known fact that they had concentrated all their force on to the British owing to the Kaiser’s note to them to smash up General French’s contemptible little army, and no doubt they had good reason owing to our long retreat from Mons to think so, but that retreat had tired them out and the reverse came as a big blow to them.

We were told that the retreat was a scheme but I don’t think that it was meant for us to retire so far as we did but at the same time it was a pity that we did not entice the Enemy on to the big siege guns that was in waiting for them about 25 miles outside Paris but no doubt they had been informed of this by their spies who were very numerous at this time. It is also my opinion that had the French acted at once when they received orders we should have got the upper hand long before we did, but it is no good looking back to what ought to have been done it is what is to be done now.

Now to our headway – we turned out at 3 a.m. and marched until 1.30 p.m. when we halted to water and feed our horses and give them a rest. After having our breakfast and dinner together and seeing to our toilet we started off again in good spirits at 4.30 p.m. arriving at MORMANT at 12 midnight.

Sep 6

We were still on the march not just a few miles but mostly 12 to 16 hrs. a day with just a short rest at intervals to feed the horses, so it is seen that once we got the Enemy on the run we kept them at it, and at a very hot pace too

Sep 12

Still on their heels, but at 12 midday after we had done a good march we had to halt owing to the Enemy making a bit of a stand. Here which was on the top of a hill we got a good view of the fighting which again impressed upon me how detrimental the Enemy’s tactics were to them in advancing in masses, of course they made a good target for our Gunners and as far as we are concerned they can keep on doing so. Eventually after the Enemy had been driven back we made another start and after a few hours march we went into Camp in a field.

Sep 13

We were up and on the go very early but to our discomfort it began to rain and it continued all day and so did we and about 6 p.m. we arrived at BRAINE where we halted for 2 hrs. It was still raining very hard and we were already wet to the skin so we could not get worse; from here we went to the top of a hill about 3 miles away but found that we were on the wrong road. Here we fed our horses and waited until the early hours of the morning.

Sep 14

When we made another start and after doing something like 6 miles we arrived at VILLERS-EN-PRAYERES where we had another fine view of the firing. We remained on the road during the day eventually going into Camp where we remained until Oct. 5th during which time the Battle of the Aisne was in progress. Our routine during our stay was exercising the horses and supplying munition to the Batteries. We were visited daily by the Enemy’s aeroplanes who directed their big guns christened by Tommy as “the coal box“ on to our various Camps in the district. They as a rule started firing at midday and 4 p.m. just when we were going down to the canal to water our horses, but luckily for us we did not stop one, and practically all they were doing with the exception of one or two which found the 9th Lancers at LONGUEVAL and the 11th Hussars a little further up the road, was ploughing up the ground for one of the farmers.

Oct 2

Owing to them getting the range a little nearer to our lines we had to hide our wagons and horses in the woods that was at the back of us, we were so well hidden that one could walk along the road 50 yards away and not see us and I’m sure that an airman would be unable to see us from above. It was at this Camp I am sorry to say that one of our Gunners on being challenged by a 11th Hussar sentry three times and not answering got shot and died on the way to hospital it being entirely his own fault and no blame can be put on the sentry who was only doing his duty.

This incident would appear to refer to the death of Gunner William Blissett 62342, who was killed on 28 September 1914 and is buried at Villers-En-Prayeres Communal Cemetery. [See CWGC record.]

Oct 5–17

We left here at 4.00 on Oct. 5th and was doing forced marches every day until Oct. 17th passing through and including many other towns ARRAS, FERFAY, BERGUETTE, H EN HALDON, BAILLEUL and LOCRE and re-entering Belgium about 10.00 on Oct. 17th; the reason for this march was that the Battle of the Aisne had practically come to a finish owing to the Enemy being badly beaten and unable to break through at this point. They tried a new scheme to flank our left wing near the coast, but having found this out through our aeroplanes and having the advantages of the railway as far as HAZEBROUCK we arrived first and stopped their little game and very much to their surprise too, as they didn’t expect to have the British to face at this part of the line. I might say here that it is the British they fear most, although the Kaiser was pleased to call us a contemptible little army.

We went into billet at NEUF EGLISE [NIEUWKERKE] about 7 p.m. on the 17th. inst. and stayed until the 31st during which time there was a lot of heavy firing and fierce fighting in the district of MESSINES and along the river in the direction of YPRES which kept us very busy supplying munition to the Batteries. Reports came in to us day by day of the situation. One day our losses were 700 wounded and 300 killed against 7,000 Germans killed saying nothing about their wounded which they had carried off.

Oct 23

The Indian troops joined us we gave them a very good reception and they seemed very pleased that at last they had got the chance of showing the Empire what they were worth in the field.

Oct 24

On the 24th it was reported that we had blown up a German armour train capturing 1,000 prisoners and finding 500 dead which was very good work, it was also reported that on the 23rd we accounted for 1,600 Germans killed, who tried a night attack on our lines but got a warmer reception than they cared for as is seen by the figures above. On the 24th they managed to get through our first line of trenches but were repulsed with very heavy losses.

Oct 26

On the 25th, 26th & 27th they were very quiet with just a little fighting at MESSINES. On the 28th our heavy guns arrived: … eight 4.7“ and eight 6” Howitzers bringing with them many Territorials, and took up their position under cover of the night and no doubt surprised the Enemy when they started firing in the early hours of the morning and continued all day and during the night Oct. 29th.

Oct 30

Heavy firing continued during the day and General Hague broke through the German lines with the 5th Army Corps and owing to this we had to stand fast all day in case he wanted reinforcements which he wired later he was not in need of.

Oct 31

Retired out of the town about 2 miles and stayed on the road until 6 p.m. supplying munition to the Batteries all the time; we went into billet at DRANOUTRE where I was glad to sleep in a coal cellar. Here was the grave of Driver McKigney who was an old chum of mine in Africa, it appears that he was accidentally shot through the temple by his own chum while he was cleaning his revolver.

This refers to Driver Archibald McKigney 16666 who was killed on 18 October 1914 and is commemorated by the CWGC here.

Nov 1

Stood fast all day owing to the uncertainty of things in the firing line, at 4.30 p.m. we was ordered to turn out and went into billet at LOCRE about 4 miles away. Here we slept in a hay loft at the Nunnery. We had handed over to us on this day 25 German prisoners of war.

On this day the Indian troops had a very fierce fight for Ypres. Before they charged they dropped their rifles which led everybody to think they were going to run away but no such thing, as before dropping the rifle they unfixed their bayonets and charged with bayonet in hand which of course the Germans did not like; as I have said before Germans don’t like cold steel.

Nov 2

Stood fast again all day but was very busy supplying the Batteries with munition as on the first. We turned out at 3.45 p.m. and went back to DRANOUTRE.

I & J Battery were at MESSINES where they kept ???? where I was more fortunate than before as regards sleeping accommodation.

Nov 3​

Very busy day we supplied J Battery alone this day with 4,000 rounds of munition. IE turned out at 4 p.m. and marched to SAINT-JANS-CAPPEL where we stayed during the 4th and 5th but at the same time we were kept very busy.

We turned out at 3.30 p.m. on the 5th to go back to DRANOUTRE but owing to all the roads being blocked up with troops we were obliged to Camp in a field 1 mile outside the village. The reason for us going to and fro was that we had to keep as near the Batteries as possible and as they ???? with only 6“ guns moved from one place to another in the firing line so we had to move with them.

Nov 6

Stood fast all day and turned out at 3.30 p.m. and marched to a farm just outside BAILLEUL where we stayed until Nov. 12th; during this time we were supplying munition in large quantities to the Batteries. On Sunday the 8th was the quietest Sunday we had had since we arrived in the country. The old saying is better the day better the deed, it is very extraordinary that Sunday is generally noted for a big battle.

The 9th was also very quiet only hearing the rumble of a gun now and again in the distance. On the 10th a very early start was made there being very heavy firing which woke us all up at 4.00 and continued all day – which resulted in a great victory for us in one of the largest battles fought since the beginning of the War.

After we had fed our horses at 5.00 p.m., being fed up with bread and j for tea, I took a walk to BAILLEUL a distance of 1½ [miles] where I thoroughly enjoyed a pork chop which went down well with a cup of French coffee. On the 11th we exercised our horses in the morning and shifted our lines in the afternoon; we were not very busy otherwise, our Batteries having a day’s rest. It was very windy all day and at night it was very wet so I adjourned to a café to write this and one or two letters and incidentally keep myself dry and warm.

Nov 10

Harnessed up at 8.30 and stood fast until 2.30 when we had to leave hurriedly for LOCRE where we arrived about 6.30 p.m. the weather being very rough.

Nov 13

Standing fast raining hard all day making the ground very muddy and uncomfortable to get about on.

Nov 14

Left LOCRE at 7.15 to replenish ammunition at RENINGELST where we stayed all day being under continual shell fire for 7 hours the Germans evidently being informed by spies that we were there but fortunately for us their range was about 200 yards too long. We returned to our billet at LOCRE about 6 p.m..

Nov 15

Again we had a run to RENINGELST where the Germans very nearly caught us with a “coal box” while we were at water which seemed very suspicious owing to the fact that we had only been there about ten minutes and it dropped in the same place that we watered the previous day. Well the day passed without anything further happening but it was snowing and bitter cold which made it very uncomfortable for us. At 5 p.m. we returned again to our billet.

Nov 16

Again we turned out at 7.15 for a run to RENINGELST it was again very cold and to make us happy the rain came down in torrents. Nothing unusual occurred during the day and we returned to our billet at night; by the by our bed consisted of straw in a loft.

Nov 17

Again we went to RENINGELST – nothing of any importance occurred during the day, but instead of going back to LOCRE at night we went to RENINGELST where we were not so fortunate as regards our billet, the reason for not going to LOCRE was that they had mounted several of our big guns which we named “Little Willies“, just behind the farm that we were billeting in.

Nov 18

Standing fast all day, moved off at 4 p.m. and proceeded to a farm at BAILLEUL where we had previously been.

Nov 19

This was a day of rest for us and by jingo wasn’t it cold, snowing and freezing all day, at 3.30 p.m. my team had to turn out to go to BAILLEUL to draw stores and my word it was a trip, snowing all the time and when we reached the town our coats were just like a piece of ice. The distance was about a mile but owing to so many troops being on the road it took us just 2 hours to get there and I can tell you we were very happy and comfortable.

Nov 20–24

From November 20th to the 24th we stood in readiness to move at any moment. It was snowing and freezing the whole of the time. Very heavy firing was heard all the time but it seemed very distant.

On the 22nd five German aeroplanes who were observing our positions were brought down and captured by our guns, this was the means of saving some very important news regarding our positions reaching the German Headquarters.

Nov 22

We harnessed up at 8.30 a.m. but did not move until 2.30 p.m. we then proceeded to CAESTRE where we stayed at a Mill called the Moulin St. Joseph until Dec.29th – the First Army Corps having the first and much needed rest since the War started.

During our stay here we built stables of poles, with a straw roof and sacks sewn together for the sides. No doubt one would think that this made a very peculiar stable, but it was very warm and cosy after having our horses out in the open.

My chum and I made several friends in the town – one place we used to go to every night where we enjoyed a pork chop or liver for supper always including coffee. Another was a boot makers here they made us very welcome and were very homely people.

Dec 4

On December 4th we had a visit from the King who in my estimation looked years older than when I last saw him at Aldershot; the Prince of Wales of course by this time was no stranger to us.

Well Christmas was drawing very near and we were all wondering how we were going to spend it and after a sort of a meeting we decided to pay so much each and leave it in the hands of our Officers and Quarter Master Sergeant but little did we expect such a time as we got.

Dec 25

December 25th was what I called a typical Xmas morning – the sun shining brightly on the snow covered ground and it was freezing very hard. In the first place we were allowed to have an extra half hour (I can’t say in bed) but asleep; as soon as we were up we were served out with coffee and rum if required. The next item on the programme was half an hour’s exercise for the horses water and food, after which we cleaned ourselves up and prepared ourselves for breakfast which was ready at 8.30 and consisted of cold ham, bread and butter, cake and tea. Breakfast over we had all the morning to ourselves; my chum and I very easily passed this away in visiting our friends in the town.

At 12 o’clock our horses had to be attended to after which we proceeded to consume our dinner which, by the way, was the first substantial dinner we had had since landing in France. It consisted of roast pork and chicken, potatoes and cabbage, Xmas pudding and custard, bread and cheese and fruit for dessert also including beer for those that required it, the poor teetotallers being forgotten. In the afternoon we had a very exciting football match when we beat the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters Staff by 4 goals to 1.

At 4 p.m. we had to once again see to our horses after which we adjourned for tea which consisted of tea, bread and butter, jam, cake and dried fruits. In the evening we had a sing song which was well attended by civilians and although they could not understand a word of what was said and sung they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and went away with a little idea of how the English spend their Xmas. There was plenty of eatables on the board including biscuits, cakes, nuts, figs, apples, etc. with a few cigars thrown in. It came as quite a pleasing surprise to everybody when the Bill came in at only amounting to 3½ francs per man (2/11d.) this also included the hire of plates, cutlery, glasses, etc.

Dec 26

Boxing Day passed very similar except that we did not get another good spread, but we played a football match in the morning and again in the afternoon. The weather was fairly cold with plenty of rain to damp our feelings in the evening.

Dec 28

Having finished work for the day on Dec.28th my chum and I went to the town to supper when at about 8 p.m. we were all startled by what we thought was an explosion but it turned out to be a roof blown off by a storm that had blown over during the evening and my goodness it was a storm too. There wasn’t a house in the town that had not got something short in the morning, but the greatest surprise for us was when we got back to our billet. Here we found our much praised stable blown down to the ground, and the horses all over the place, the worst of it was that we were for Inspection the following morning.

Dec 29

Stables at 7 a.m. – General Inspection at 9 a.m. was our orders and my word what a time we had tramping about in a foot of mud; first finding our horses and what a state they were in, you could hardly tell whether they were horses or pieces of mud. the next thing was to find our nosebags and covers among the ruins. That done, after a long search, we watered and fed our heaps of mud. Then for our breakfast which had to be eaten as quick as possible, the next thing was a search for our harnesses. It was then 8.30 and the General came along very punctual to time and what a turn out it was: horses, men and harness covered in mud.

After inspection the General ordered us to leave in half an hour. Another scramble to get our blankets, at first we did not care about leaving the Mill as we thought we should face worse as regards billets but we soon altered our tune when we arrived at EECKE where we got stables for our horses and the civilians were only too pleased to accommodate us with beds, myself obtaining a bed in an Estaminet [a small café serving alcohol] with 2 chums where the old woman was just like a mother to us getting us supper ready every night and bringing us hot coffee when she called us in the morning.

Our routine here was just the same as at CAESTRE with the exception of taking the wagons out twice a week. During our stay here I paid several visits to CAESTRE which was easy walking distance also to HAZEBROUCK to see Mac which was rather a long walk about 4 miles.

1915

Jan 25

We were ordered to move which of course did not quite please us as we were so comfortable, but after packing up everything we only went on a marching order parade just to keep us in time and returned at 11.00 very much to our surprise. Nothing of any note occurred until March 10th.

Mar 10

We were ordered to stand to owing to a very heavy attack which broke through our lines in two places in the neighbourhood of Ypres. Our Batteries and Cavalry went out on patrol duty but it was found that they would not be needed in the firing line but at the same time they had to stand by.

Mar 12

On Friday March 12th my team and wagon was ordered to turn out in full marching order at 8.30: what for we did not know but we were informed that we should be away for some days, our journey took us to the following places, vis FLETRE, METEREN, BAILLEUL, STRAZEELE and CAESTRE and we went to all the Headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division to collect all spare munition, grenades and bombs to return to the ordnance stores.

When we arrived at the 5 D.G. we were told that we should return to EECKE at night owing to us not having to go to ST. JANS CAPPEL we eventually returned at 5 p.m. We maintained standing fast until Wednesday March 17th.

Mar 17

The order was cancelled and we proceeded with our usual routine which being the same, day after day, grew monotonous but it was no use grumbling.

Mar 21

On Sunday (21st) a German aeroplane passed right over my head during the time I was grooming my horses which were in a stable on their own, and not one minute after I heard a report which turned out to be the report of a bomb he had dropped and intended for the railway station but it missed it by 25 yards. The only damage done was one French corporal killed; had it dropped on hard ground the damage would have been much greater. However the airmen got their deserts being brought down a few minutes afterwards, one was killed and the other mortally wounded.

Mar 23

On Tuesday 23rd we were ordered to move at 10.30 a.m. which of course we did not much care about, neither did the people of EECKE who all turned out to see us off. Many of them being in tears, it was for all the world like leaving home, but however we did not go far. The Column being split up into five sub-sections each having a farm to its self and being some distance apart we saw but very little of one another. It was nothing out of the usual for it to rain for the first two days just to give us a little mud to go on with, and it came rather hard sleeping on straw after three months in a bed. At any rate we faired pretty well.

Apr 14

We were ordered further back and went to six farms at STAPLE, here some of us managed to get a good bed with very nice people.

Apr 23

We turned out in the morning on our usual parade but had only been out about half an hour when a messenger was sent after us to fetch us back, where we were told to stand fast. At any rate things quietened down somewhat and no particular notice was taken of the order until 11 o’clock when we had to turn out at once (what a bustle) but none the more for that we were packed up and out in half an hour leaving our dinner behind.

We went through ST. SILVESTRE CAPPEL, STEENVOORDE and POPERINGE and halted about one mile outside. Here we watered and fed our horses and was just looking around for a warm corner to sleep in when we got the order to saddle up (it seemed quite like old times). We were on the move in a very short time and traversed our way back through POPERINGE halting for the night about a mile the other side of the town.

Apr 24

Was a very exciting morning from our point of view – at about 8.00 a.m. the shells began to whiz through the air and drop on the town. The civilians were at once ordered to leave and as they passed us they formed a very pitiful sight but such happenings were not fresh to our eyes, we had seen worse during the retreat. By the way it is believed that our move was the beginning of the great advance which has been looked forward to for such a long time, but at the present we must wait and see. Here we stayed supplying ammunition to the Batteries as fast as we could night and day until midday of the 27th.

Apr 27

At midday we were ordered to move further up. We had just arrived in Camp north of POPERINGE when we were startled by a gun about 400 yards behind us and about 4 miles behind the British lines. How it got there is a mystery that perhaps will never be solved. However, it did not hit us but fired over our heads on to POPERINGE where it knocked down a house on one road and made a hole in the middle of another about big enough to get two motor lorries in easy. Now these two roads were the only way in which our rations and supplies could reach us so we got no rations that night. We were woken up rather in a hurry on the 28th.

Apr 28

We were ordered to move at once which of course made us very busy for about ten minutes. We proceeded about 5 miles to the N.W. of POPERINGE where the 1st Cavalry Div. had to concentrate. Here we stayed the night and left about 10.00 a.m. and proceeded to BAMBECQUEpassing through WATOU, HOUTKERQUE and HERZEEL where we stayed until 9.30 a.m.

May 1

We left for WORMHOUT arriving about 2.00 p.m. This was a very nice town but being under orders to move at any time we were not allowed out.

May 2

We left at 4.00 p.m. and went to La Bauche a very small village to the south of CASSEL leaving again at 2.00 p.m. on the 3rd.

May 3

Passing through ARNEKE and LE MENEGAT going into bivouac about 7.00 p.m. one mile west of STAPLE where we stayed until the 9th.

May 9

We were woken up at 5.00 a.m. and ordered to turn out at once. We proceeded to ST. SILVESTRE CAPPEL arriving at 8.00 a.m. and waited for further orders until 5.30 p.m. when we pulled into a field for the night and eventually stayed until the 12th.

May 12

We moved about 9.00 a.m. and proceeded to Point 135 on the map which lay between POPPERINGE and YPRES: here we stayed the night and moved off at 3.00 p.m. on the 13th which was a very wet day, to a field some two miles nearer the firing line. Here we stayed supplying ammunition until the 29th during which time there was a heavy bombardment every night making it difficult to sleep. On Whit Monday we got a dose of gas which nearly blinded us for about 2 hours.

May 29

On the 29th owing to our Cavalry getting cut up we were ordered out of action for a rest and to make up the Division so we proceeded to CASSEL where we got into a very nice field. During our stay here I had several trips up to the town which is situated on the top of a hill and from there on a clear day one can see with the naked eye Dunkerque, Paris and along the coast from Ostend to Boulogne. The scenery surrounding is most beautiful and at night it is a fine sight (although one knows what that sight means) to see the flashes of the guns along the firing line.

 

Part 2 (26 June 1915 – 24 November 1916)