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Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I

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Surveyed Dragoon Alley + Boyles Farm -- Lunch with Pete [MacDonald] -- Jacket all bloodstained -- Had carried the body of Maj. Marcom To Ration Farm -- Both officers shot To pieces almost. --    While sheltering at Boyles Farm met Lieut. Fisher of the "Buffs" -- Very effable, much To the surprise of his Tommies -- Gave us afternoon Tea. -- His men called me "sir" for the rest of the day. At noon exactly the Germans on the Messines slope started hurrahing --    German snipers in our salient in front of Trench 142. -- only 120 yds from our occupied line.   Much shooting at Aeroplanes -- several fragments of shell fall very close to me.   Had a strong premonition  I would be hit today -- Resolve that forebodings are just a mental state. 15th Batt. didnt get settled down until 930pm -- -- Many dugouts flooded. Dragoon Alley liquid mud over the boottops -- Boys have no blankets yet. Only desultory shelling -- into Hill 63+ Chateau at 630 Germans throw a few "Coal Boxes" along Chateau Ridge + set a building on fire at Neuve Eglise.  40
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Friday August 20th
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Surveyed Dragoon Alley & Boyles Farm - Lunch with Pete [MacDonald] - Jacket all bloodstained - Had carried the body of Maj. Marcom to Ration Farm - Both officers shot to pieces almost. While sheltering at Boyles Farm met Lieut. Fisher of the "Buffs" Very effable, much to the surprise of his Tommies - Gave us afternoon tea. His men called me "sir" for the rest of the day.
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At noon exactly the Germans on the Messines slope started hurrahing - German snipers in our salient in front of Trench 142. - only 120 yds from our occupied line. Much shooting at aeroplanes - several fragments of shell fall very close to me. Had a strong premonition  I would be hit today - resolve that forebodings are just a mental state.
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15th Batt. didnt get settled down until 930pm Many dugouts flooded. Dragoon Alley liquid mud over the boot tops - Boys have no blankets yet. Only desultory shelling - into Hill 63 & Chateau at 630 Germans throw a few "Coal Boxes" along Chateau Ridge & set a building on fire at Neuve Eglise.   
  
 
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.
 
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.

Revision as of Feb 22, 2016, 10:05:15 AM

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Friday August 20th

Surveyed Dragoon Alley & Boyles Farm - Lunch with Pete [MacDonald] - Jacket all bloodstained - Had carried the body of Maj. Marcom to Ration Farm - Both officers shot to pieces almost. While sheltering at Boyles Farm met Lieut. Fisher of the "Buffs" Very effable, much to the surprise of his Tommies - Gave us afternoon tea. His men called me "sir" for the rest of the day.

At noon exactly the Germans on the Messines slope started hurrahing - German snipers in our salient in front of Trench 142. - only 120 yds from our occupied line. Much shooting at aeroplanes - several fragments of shell fall very close to me. Had a strong premonition I would be hit today - resolve that forebodings are just a mental state.

15th Batt. didnt get settled down until 930pm Many dugouts flooded. Dragoon Alley liquid mud over the boot tops - Boys have no blankets yet. Only desultory shelling - into Hill 63 & Chateau at 630 Germans throw a few "Coal Boxes" along Chateau Ridge & set a building on fire at Neuve Eglise.

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