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Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I

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Trench 128                                         
 
near Seaforth Ave    Ploegsteert
 
19th, Mn's first qu.
 
9.9 p.m.]
 
JULY, 1915.  [23rd, Sun rises 4h. [?]
 
  
SUNDAY 18 [199-166]  7th after Trinity
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Trench 128 near Seaforth Ave
Blazing hot in daytime and plagued by hordes of 'bluebottles"
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I am cook and obtain marvellous results by combining
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Ploegsteert
MONDAY 19 [200-165]
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"Maconochie" (M. + V. Ration) "Bully Beef" & Pea-soup Tablets with Oxo thrown in for luck.  Order comes to cut-out niches for rifles - I get jumped on for telling Lieutenant that rifles - bayonets fixed, in niches will be dangerous in case a wiring party has to suddenly retire over the parapet - am told " Wiring parties have proper means of entrance" - Common-sense + shrapnel to the contrary.  
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JULY, 1915.
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Blazing hot in daytime and plagued by hordes of 'bluebottles" I am cook and obtain marvellous results by combining "Maconochie" (M. & V. Ration) "Bully Beef" & Pea-soup Tablets with Oxo thrown in for luck.  Order comes to cut out niches for rifles - I get jumped on for telling Lieutenant that rifles-bayonets fixed, in niches will be dangerous in case a wiring party has to suddenly retire over the parapet - am told "Wiring parties have proper means of entrance" - Common-sense & shrapnel to the contrary.
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Jack and I go rustling & steal boards from the engineers for firewood
 
Jack and I go rustling & steal boards from the engineers for firewood
  
TUESDAY 20 [ 201-164]
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Pretty jaded & tired on account of insufficient sleep - & can't sleep well when off guard in the daytime on account of heat & flies. Germans throw 4 shrapnel 250' to our left - Get one of our company - thru the knee - am on water fatigue & meet the stretcher-bearers parking him out. Very cheerful - "Got a Blightie one"  Much fusillading on our left & right tonight.
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Relieved today by 1st Brigade, and batt. put in canvas huts near Neuve Eglise. Am instructed by Maj. Peck & Capt. Morison to survey trenches - choose Baxster as assistant - Move down to dugout near Prouse Pt & draw rations from Red Cross 3rd Batt.
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Get a bullet thru the hair while standing "sizing up" on the Messines Road - arrested as German spies & haled before Col. of the 8th - Insult to injury!  Rustle up 6 tins "Maconochie" - Fine dugout, with a table and gunny sack doors.
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BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.

Revision as of Feb 22, 2016, 11:33:06 AM

61

Trench 128 near Seaforth Ave

Ploegsteert

JULY, 1915.


Blazing hot in daytime and plagued by hordes of 'bluebottles" I am cook and obtain marvellous results by combining "Maconochie" (M. & V. Ration) "Bully Beef" & Pea-soup Tablets with Oxo thrown in for luck. Order comes to cut out niches for rifles - I get jumped on for telling Lieutenant that rifles-bayonets fixed, in niches will be dangerous in case a wiring party has to suddenly retire over the parapet - am told "Wiring parties have proper means of entrance" - Common-sense & shrapnel to the contrary.

Jack and I go rustling & steal boards from the engineers for firewood

Pretty jaded & tired on account of insufficient sleep - & can't sleep well when off guard in the daytime on account of heat & flies. Germans throw 4 shrapnel 250' to our left - Get one of our company - thru the knee - am on water fatigue & meet the stretcher-bearers parking him out. Very cheerful - "Got a Blightie one" Much fusillading on our left & right tonight.

Relieved today by 1st Brigade, and batt. put in canvas huts near Neuve Eglise. Am instructed by Maj. Peck & Capt. Morison to survey trenches - choose Baxster as assistant - Move down to dugout near Prouse Pt & draw rations from Red Cross 3rd Batt.

Get a bullet thru the hair while standing "sizing up" on the Messines Road - arrested as German spies & haled before Col. of the 8th - Insult to injury! Rustle up 6 tins "Maconochie" - Fine dugout, with a table and gunny sack doors.

BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.