S Bland - WWI war diary transcription

Guardsman Sidney Bland
1st Battalion Welsh Guards
Regimental Number 1093
Aug 17th 1915
We leave Wellington Bks. About midnight, entrain at Waterloo for
Southampton. After a pleasant journey we arrive at the docks about 8am.
Tue 18th Aug
We have to wait about the docks until 4pm without food, when we embark on
“Palm Beach” a cattle boat. We sail about 4.30pm
Wed 19th Aug
After a fairly comfy passage we arrive at La Harve, about 3am we disembark,
at 7am then we march to a rest camp, about 3 kil, where we stay until
Thu 20th Aug
We leave camp about noon and march to station, and entrain for St. Omer.
Fri 21st Aug
After rather an interesting journey, as regards mode of travelling and speed,
we arrive at St. Omer about 10am We march to Arques about 3 kil away, and
are put up in “billets” which are stables, barns and any old sheds. We are lucky
we get a decent stable. Well it appears we have come for a long stay here so
we settle down to make ourselves comfortable. We have plenty of rough work
today and for a few days. But nothing frantic happens until
Wed 1st Sep
When we have stiff route march 25 miles for brigade inspection, I had tender
feet after that lot.
Sep 9th
We start out on a march expecting to go to firing line but after a circular route
has been covered we find ourselves in Arques again. Nothing important
happens again until
Fri 17th Sep
When we parade at 8.45am for a Bgde inspection by P of W. [Edward, Prince
of Wales - later King Edward VIII], Lord Cavan [1st Commander Guards
Division] and several other high personages. We are the 3rd Bgde - 1st & 4th
Batts Grenadier Guards, 1st Batt Welsh Guards & 2nd Batt Scotch (sic) Gds.
Tue 21st Sep
Reveille 5am We have a route march about 7 miles.
Wed 22nd Sep
We hear we are leaving Arques for good tonight. We leave at 7pm and march
about 8 miles to Lingue and rest for night.
Thu 23rd Sep
We rest all day and leave Ling at 6pm and march to Fontes arrive at 11.30pm.
Sat 25th Sep
We leave Fontes at 7.30am march to Ames where we have dinner. Leave
again at 1.30pm and are marching until 2am on Sun. It was a wet day and a
miserable journey. I met a young chap from Cov. We sleep in open tonight.
Sun 26th Sep
We await orders. Which we get at 3pm to move off again, this is the last lap to
the firing line. Which we reach about 10pm and hear a violent artillery duel
fought. We sleep in open again.
Mon 27th Sep
We are waiting to go into action, shells are dropping all round us but not near.
The batt are warned that they are to make an attack at Hill 70 and we start to
advance about 2pm We go about a 11/2 miles by road. When we get halted
for an hr while our boys go in the trenches. In the meantime we watch an
artillery duel, until we get our first baptism of fire, a shell drops near us, on
the road. It appears the Germans have transferred their fire to the road. And
we are ordered to dash through. I have to go behind the first limber and he
gallops at full speed. I hang on for a bit when he goes over a dead horse and I
go flying in the road just where they are shelling. Well I am only on the
ground a few seconds when the next limber comes dashing along and off
comes No2 at the same spot and also No3. The result was we lost the
1
transport and our way. After about 3 hrs search we found them at the far end
of Loos, and soon after we come back again to Vermelles.
Tue 28th Sep
We have to go over the same ground again at night but it’s a bit better on the
road. But there was plenty of snipers in the village. We get back at 4am.
Wed 29th Sep
It is wet all day so we find an empty house a bit wrecked of course and we
make ourselves as cosy as we can until 6pm when we go back up the road
again. We get shelled a bit but arrive back safe again about 5 o’clock.
Thu 30th Sep
Batt come out of trenches and we go in billets at La Bourse. I say billets.
Fri 1st Oct
Our billets are passable but the people round are very mean.
Sun 3rd Oct
We leave La Bourse about 1.30 for the Loos front again and the batt goes
straight in trenches. We stay at Vormelles.
Mon 4th Oct
Heavy bombardment today I am on guard tonight.
th
Tue 5 Oct
Get dismissed guard at 5pm then we have to go to trenches to act as guides
to companies coming out of trenches.
Fri 8th Oct
Still at Vormelles. The Germans make an attack and one of the fiercest
bombardments of the war takes place. Shells are flying in every direction and
we are in a splendid position for watching and, we are safe, so we see a
perfect war scene. We see our ammunition wagons dashing in and out
amongst the guns and our guns seem to be as thick as trees. We can see
nothing but flashes and shells bursting. It was fine. In the end our guns
prevailed.
Sat 9th Oct
We are warned to be ready to carry gas to trenches at 3 o’clock but don’t go.
th
Sun 10 Oct
On guard today, we have a suspected spy in guard room. And many aircraft
get very busy lust over us. I expect we shall be shelled out of here now.
Mon 11th Oct
Just after daylight a German aeroplane appears over our lines and in a minute
or so we see three of ours on his track. Then we see some very fine flying,
during the fight. In the end amidst a lot of cheering we see the G begin to
drop, and then come right down. The pilots were captured. Then just after we
get some excitement for the Gs start shelling the transport and we have to
take cover. Then we see another air duel. And at night the burning of a village
some distance away.
Tue 12th Oct
We get shelled again. Evans Pioneer gets hit and another man killed about
3pm We quit this dangerous spot and go to La Bourse again.
Wed 13th Oct
We rest today. Batt go in trenches again tonight. We stay behind.
Thu 14th Oct
We move about 3 times today and then settle down in the place we first left.
Fri 15th Oct
We are still at La Bourse. Very quiet.
Tue 27th Oct
We have another eventful day. We wake with the noise of shells which are
dropping about 200 yds away from us then we hear the lovely sound of the
Grenadier Gds band. 1.30 we move off for a rest. We marched for 6 hrs then
we put up at Allouagne. We get to sleep. And are woke up to go and direct the
Batt at Chocques. They lost their way. We finish 3am.
Wed 28th Oct
We have our usual work to do on taking up new quarters digging and
navvying.
Thu 4th Nov
Still at Allouagne, very quiet. But we have a fine concert at night given by
Grenadier Guards band under Lt. Williams. They rendered a very fine
programme which cheered me immensely.
2
Sat 6th Nov
A very important event takes place today. We take a bath.
Tue 9th Nov
Allouagne 9am and march to Merville about 14 miles. We arrive about 3.30pm
and are billeted as usual in barns. We manage to get a stack of beans to sleep
on. They seem to be getting a habit of just showing the towns to us and
march us straight through to the dirty farms.
Sun 14th Nov
We leave Merville for trenches again. Arrive at Estaires about 3pm and billet
about 3 kil away near Laventie.
Tue 16th Nov
About 4.30pm we go in trenches near Aubers Bridge. And we stop at Batt Hd
qtrs but we have to haul timbers up to the line. The snipers had a good pot at
us but we get back safe.
Wed 17th Nov
We work hard all day repairing dugouts and at dark we go up the line again.
th
Thu 18 Nov
Work at dugouts all day. Come out for 2 days rest at 5 o’clock and go back to
old billets about 3 miles back.
Sun 21st Nov
We arrive back at the trenches and are working at headquarters all day. I fall
down 10ft gap.
Tue 23rd Nov
We come out for another 2 days rest and work.
th
Wed 24 Nov
We are told to be ready to move off at 10am We go back to trenches again
work all the time.
Fri 26th Nov
There is a lot of shelling going on today and they are coming very near to us.
We leave here Laventie for six days rest at La Gorgue. We get billeted in a
house.
Thu 2nd Dec
We leave La Gorgue for trenches again, but get billeted about 2½ miles back
for a day or two near Laventie but we are only in billet half hour when we are
warned to ready in S.M.O. at once for guard at Cosy Corner about ¾ mile
from front line. We are on guard for 48 hrs.
Sat 4th Dec
We go in trenches again for 2 days. Our work was repairing dugouts.
th
Mon 6 Dec
th
We come out for 2 days rest.
Tue 7 Dec
We are getting shelled severely now. Its just dinner time and we are under
cover now waiting for the shelling to stop. They are dropping all about us and
on the road.
Wed 8th Dec
Back to the trenches again for two days
Fri 10th Dec
Out for two days rest again.
th
Sun 12 Dec
Back to the line again. We have a turn at tree felling, for firewood. The
weather is frosty. We also do up the grave of one of our men, a chum of mine
E. Owen (Gdsn 1292).
Tue 14th Dec
We go to La Gorgue for 6 days.
Mon 20th Dec
We go in reserve at Laventie and billeted in a school that has been shelled a
bit.
Wed 22nd Dec
There is a rumour that we are to make an attack tonight.
Fri 24th Dec
Stand to at 3.45am in readiness for an attack. Which was to be preceded by
gas but on account of the wind changing all was cancelled. But our artillery
bombarded their trenches.
Sat Xmas Day
We start work at 8am finish about 11am We have a bit of pudding as a
reminder of the day. Our artillery have been busy since last night.
3
Sun Boxing Day
We go in trenches again and find that our Hdqtrs has been shelled and we
have to move to new Qtrs.
Tue 28th Dec
Out for 2 days again for rest.
th
Thu 30 Dec
Back again to trenches. Very quiet time.
Sat 1st Jan 1916
We hear the old year pass out by the striking of 12 o’clock on an old can. A
strange quietness has prevailed all day. About 2pm not a sound of war to be
heard. We leave for La Gorgue for 12 days rest again.
Thu 6th Jan
We have our Xmas dinner today. It was a very good affair for active service.
th
Thu 12 Jan
After 12 days rest and amusement including concerts by the G Guard. We
leave for trenches again and are in reserve at Laventie.
Sat 15th Jan
We go in first line today.
th
Mon 17 Jan
Out for two days at Laventie.
Wed 19th Jan
Back to the line again. It’s a very monotonous game this 2 in a 2 out, but we
have a lively tonight. We make a feint attack. What a noise.
Fri 21st Jan
Back to Laventie, we get shelled here this time.
Sun 23rd Jan
Back to the line, And we get shelled every day this time in. Things are livening
up.
Wed 26th Jan
We go to La Gorgue for 6 days rest.
Thu 27th Jan
We are warned to be ready to move up at any time, but the order is cancelled,
so we finish the 6 days. We have a football match with the G Gd and a concert
by the G G band. They also play on the square TWICE.
Tue 1st Feb
Back to the trenches today.
nd
Wed 2
Feb
We are in reserve at Laventie.
Thu 3rd Feb
We go in first line. There is a lot of bombarding on both days.
Sat 5th Feb
Back to Laventie.
Mon 7th Feb
Back to the line.
th
Out for 2 or 2 days at Laventie.
th
Back to the front line.
Wed 9 Feb
Sat 12 Feb
th
Tue 15 Feb
We leave the trenches. Stay at Estaires tonight.
Wed 16th Feb
We leave Estaires 10 pm for Lestrum where we entrain for Calais. We arrive at
Calais about 6am on Thur and march to camp about 1½ out.
Thu 21st Feb
We leave Calais after a week’s stay at 1.30pm and entrain at Fontinet for
Cassel where we arrive about 7 pm and then march to Wormhoudt about 8
miles in a snow storm. It was a very tiring march. We arrive at our billets
about 12 midnight dead beat.
Wed 1st Mar
We have a day off today to celebrate the anniversary of the forming of the W
G’s. It is also market day at Wormhoudt. There is also a football match
between officers and Staff Sergts. Altogether we have a decent day.
Sun 5th Mar
We leave Wormhoudt about 8am and march about 11 miles to a camp just
outside Poperinghe. It’s a perfect swamp. This is our first time in Belgium. We
are billeted in huts and tents. We stay 10 days during which time we get some
very bad weather and finish up with spring like conditions.
4
Wed 15th Mar
We move today on our way to Ypres. We march to Vlamertinghe and stop the
night and next day until 5.30pm
Thu 16th Mar
When we leave for Ypres. We arrive in town about 7.30pm and sleep in cellars.
th
Fri 17 Mar
We are inside very near all day today owing to heavy shelling.
Sun 19th Mar
We venture out in small groups and do a bit of sight seeing. We go over the
Cloth Hall and Cathedral and as much of the town as we can. The Cloth Hall
was a massive old place but it is in ruins now with the rest of the town.
Mon 20th Mar
We go in the line tonight in the Salient. Headquarters are in dugouts. We are
not allowed to be seen out in the day. So we sleep by day and work at night.
It’s a very treacherous place owing to the shape of the line which is like a U.
We are in until Fri 24th when we are glad to go back to the ramparts on the
canal bank. We get down to it about 2am
Sat 25th Mar
We get shelled early this morn. We have an Irish Gd brought in to our dugout.
He had been hit in 2 places. We leave this place about 9pm and march to
Poperinge, where we are put in billets.
Sun 26th Mar
Quiet day today. We have a concert by the C. Gds Band it was a pleasant hour
after a week’s rest. We leave Pop.
Mon 3rd Apr
The Batt go in trenches. We stay at the transport about 2 miles out. I work as
a saddler on the transport.
Sat 29th Apr
Things have been very stale and quiet back here since we came, but tonight
there is a big bombardment, we are to stand to with Gas helmets on, we get
dismissed after about an hour.
Sun 30th Apr
We have a repetition of Sat’s performance with the same finish.
st
Mon 1 May
th
The Gs are shelling the roads around us today.
Thu 11 May
We get shelled today, and they drop very near us we have to clear away in
quick time. We are still with the transport near Poperinge. We have had quite
a lot of excitement lately we have had bombs, shells and shrapnel over. I don’t
like either.
Thu 18th May
We are busy preparing to move off. There is plenty of bombarding today most
round St. Elal.
Fri 19th May
We leave camp about 7am and meet the Batt at Poperinge and march to
Wormhoudt and a severe march it was it was very hot and we marched at a
fast pace I should think about 80 men fell out exhausted it was most cruel to
bring us in the middle of day. We were a sorry crowd that marched in to the
square at Wormhoudt. The civis were very kind to us.
Fri 26th May
Headqtrs hold sports day we have a very enjoyable afternoon.
st
Thu 1 Jun
We leave Wormhoudt about 8am and march to the camp near Poperinge. The
weather is lovly. We managed the marching very well. I was very sorry to
leave Wormhoudt, I think I spent the happiest 12 days there, since we came
to France.
Sun 4th Jun
We hear of the naval fight. [Battle of Jutland]
Thu 8th Jun
We leave camp at 10.30am for an unknown destination, to the men anyhow.
But we arrive at Wormhoudt again and go in the same billets that we had on
our last visit. So I anticipate a decent time again.
Thu 15th Jun
After a week’s rest which did not turn out quite so enjoyable as the last visit
on account of bad weather, we leave for the line and stay in camp at Waton
5
for 2 days. The Batt leave for the trenches on Sat night 17th we leave on
Sunday for transport lines near Poperinge. We go up the line tonight to work
on a railway we arrive back in camp about 5.30am
Wed 21st Jun
st
It has been very quiet on our part of the line for the last 3 days.
Sat 1 Jul
Everything has been quiet since we came up here, but the feeling of big things
coming seems very prevalent amongst all the troops around here. No 4 Compy
go over tonight and capture a house and trench in between the lines. They
lost rather heavy. But it was a fine bat and I hear there is a few honours to be
given to officers and men.
Fri 14th Jul
Our Batt go in the line tonight. The Germans have been shelling Popinghe for
3 days now. A few shells dropped near our camp but did no damage but
Popinghe is being blown down gradually.
Wed 19th Jul
The Batt is in the line yet it is rather quiet on the transport lines. Nothing has
happened since last Friday when our gunners put the battery that was shelling
Popinghe out of action.
Thu 27th Jul
We leave this front “Ypres” at 10am today, again we are in the dark as to
where we are going. Anyway after some stiff marching we arrive at
Wormhoudt, but to our dismay we march through the town. It is then we learn
we have completed half the journey the end of which proves to be the nice
little town of Watten. We march about 30 miles in all. I have felt worse after a
shorter march we were with transport. We were told that the march sets up a
record for our Batt for a days march, about 40 men completed it.
Sat 29th Jul
After two very nice days, which were made all the more pleasant by the
attitude of the civilians towards us, we leave this nicely situated little town at
9.30pm for Cassel where we entrain 14 miles for the ? at 6.30am.
Sat Jul 29th Lil’s Birthday (Sid’s 1st wife – Lily Ethel Bland nee Owen)
Sun 30th Jul
10am we are in the station of St. Pol. We arrive at Trevent at 10.30am. Then
we start on another long march about 12 miles. It was very hot and the
countryside round here is very hilly. We arrived at Aaby about 7pm very tired
and glad to have a nights rest.
Tue 1st Aug
We march off at 6am. Arrive at Bus les Artois about 10.30am. The weather is
very hot now. The distance was about 7 miles. About 64 miles since we left
Ypres.
Fri 4th Aug
We are in camp outside Bus. Routine barrack life. The weather is very hot.
th
Sun 6 Aug
We leave camp at Bus at 9.45am and march to Arqueves about 4 miles. This is
the third village in the Somme district that we have been in. They are very
poor places, mostly built of mud and wood. And very few civilians are left. And
we cannot buy very much in the food line. And water is scarce.
Wed 9th Aug
We leave Arqueves at 5pm and march to Bus again. The Batt go in reserve.
th
Thu 10 Aug
We have a journey back to Arqueves loading timber back to Bus tonight. I
sleep in a bivouac. In fact we all are camping in a wood.
Tue 15th Aug
We are still in the wood. It is a very quiet life. Just work and sleep. It looks like
rain. We shall have a lovely time if it rains much.
Sun 20th Aug
After having a very wet week we move today to Vauchelles about 6 miles.
st
Mon 21 Aug
We stay here today and get plenty of work.
Tue 22nd Aug
We march to Gezaincourt about 6 miles.
6
Wed 23rd Aug
We have a half day off to go to Doullens which is about 2 miles away. Had a
very decent time.
Thu 24th Aug
We leave Gezaincourt today at 8.15am and march to Vignacourt. Stop the
night. I am marching with a sprained ankle.
Fri 25th Aug
We leave Vignacourt at 6am. March to Mericourt about 25 miles. We arrive at
5pm. The scenery along the route was lovely.
Tue 29th Aug
Go to Heilly to see the pictures of the Somme battle. They were very fine
indeed.
Wed 30th Aug
We have had some very hot weather since we came here but today was
brightened up for us by a visit of the Irish Gds band.
Wed 6th Sep
We might move off today. We have been standing to now for 2 days. We
prepare to go at 2.30pm but order is cancelled.
Thu 7th Sep
There has been a fierce bombardment on now since 6pm last night. We move
today at 7.30pm. We march about 2 miles and are halted on a hill waiting
further orders. After about an hour we march to Ville-sous-Corbie.
Sat 9th Sep
The Batt go in the line today. All H2 stay behind.
th
Sun 10 Sep
We move today at 7am and march to transport lines near Fricourt. The scenes
en route were simply of a mammoth description – transport, well it would be
utterly impossible to try and describe the amount we saw.
Wed 13th Sep
We are still near Fricourt. Great excitement prevails amongst the troops now.
An engine of destruction which we are allowed to view and which is shortly to
be used against the Gs. I was greatly impressed by the look of it and predict
that it will change the face of the war altogether.
Fri 15th Sep
There was a heavy bombardment last night and great excitement is the order
all round. The talk is now how we will advance. We have an early reveille and
are ready to move off any moment. It is now 5pm and we are still waiting but
we hear rumours that our boys have done well. We are anxious to hear how
the “land crabs” worked.
Mon 18th Sep
We have heard very little news. Only the experience of the men that keep
coming from the line. We have been expecting to move since last Fri but are
still near Fricourt in bivouacs. The weather is very rough and wet now. We
have had no bread for a week now. I am tired of biscuits.
Fri 22nd Sep
I am still on biscuits and bully and we are still near Fricourt. We have had
some very bad weather but today it is very nice and quite warm. The Irish Gds
band are playing to us now. It is lovely to hear such music out here.
Fri 29th Sep
The Batt are out now at Carnoy after nearly 2 weeks in action with very little
rest. They have seen some very hard fighting which has led to the taking of
some good positions and villages including Courcelette and Fleris. There is a
heavy bombardment on now.
Sat 30th Sep
We leave camp and go over the valley to Batt.
st
Sun 1 Oct
We leave this part about 9am and march about 5 miles to the Bronne road,
where we board motor buses and ride through some fine country to a village
called Saint Maulvis. It was quite a change to travel by road. We reached our
destination at 7.30pm. En route we passed through Corbie and Amiens.
Mon 23rd Oct
Three weeks gone and we are still at St Maulvins. We had a very pleasant time
including concerts, boxing and the Irish Gds and have played to us. Today we
have had a Generals inspection which passed off very fair. There is no sign of
7
us moving from here yet. We are to see some picture tonight in the open. We
have already seen the Battle of the Somme twice in pictures and once in
reality so I hope there will be a change tonight.
Mon 30th Oct
st
We have a Brigade inspection to.
Tue 31 Oct
We have a Divisional rehearsal for an inspection by the Duke of Connaught
which is to take place tomorrow.
Wed 1st Nov
The inspection takes place today. The weather is fine and everything promises
to go well. We parade at 9am and march to the parade ground about 3 miles
out. Everything is in order by 10.30 and the Duke arrives about 11 o’clock. The
inspection takes place at once. After the inspection the troops march back to
Battalions. It was a great sight indeed.
Mon 6th Nov
We leave St Maulvins after a very pleasant stay of 5 weeks. We travel by
motor lorries. We leave the village about 8 and pass through Amiens and
Albert and arrive at our destination, a camp near Montauban de Picardie about
6 o’clock.
Tue 7th Nov
Very wet and cold today. After striking tents we prepare to move again. Order
to move is cancelled so we start to make things as comfortable as possible
here, although in places the mud is over our knees.
Wed 15th Nov
Batt left here for a camp near Trones Wood. 42 stay behind. Our band arrived
yesterday and this morn we have the good fortune to listen to them practice.
Tue 21st Nov
We leave the line and march to Meaulte about 4 miles. We stay in billets.
During our rest here we have two concerts by the Welsh Gds band which
passes off very well, also two football matches between the 1st Batt W Gds and
1st G Gds result 2-0 in favour of W G. And W G v 4th G G result W Gd 6 4th G G
0.
Sat 2nd Dec
We leave Meaulte at 10.30am and march to a camp on the left of Bray which
has just been left by the French troops. The weather is very cold.
Wed 6th Dec
Batt go in the line in front of Combles. I stay at transport lines.
END OF DIARY ENTRIES
8