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Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I

Diaries of Frank Cyril Swannell Learn more.

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BC Archives MS-0392 - Box 1, Volume 4-5

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.

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49

Givenchy & Billets Essars-Lez-Bethune

At dawn I spot a German lifting a sandbag - Hit the top of the bag & throw dust a yard high -- Get him 3rd button down -- This is from the spot where I have been sniped at for 2 days -- They never got the loophole but the bullets thudded into the surrounding sandbags

Considerable artillery fire over our heads & incessant, futile sniping -- Stench very bad today -- Lad in next Traverse loses his nerve entirely -- Pitiable Tosce -- starts violently at every shot. Relieved at 9 pm -- Morley loses his way & we wander for three hours in the labyrinth of trenches -- Pouring rain, black dark-mud. A tangle of telephone wires -- Finally get out along to Windy corner & along canal to the filthy old Essars-Les-Bethune billet -- Dog tired & soaking wet -- lose my cap & am mad enough to ditch the shovel as many do -- Arrive at dawn --

Sleep late -- This billet the worst yet -- straw filthy & pounded to chaff -- Two cesspools in courtyard -- unknown depth. Hear from Jack Mitchell. Johnson dead -- who was so particular about his toast at Shorncliffe. Metcalfe & another hit in the communication trench when I got the spent shrapnel ball on the head also dead -- Metcalf only lived 5 hrs -- brain exposed

Small route march & foot inspection & in the afternoon forced parade with side arms to aquatic sports on the Aire Canal -- Beautiful martinets we have, but poor handlers of men -- Saw a poor lad tied to a post on the main road in the hot sun, so he could neither sit nor stand -- In front of Provost-Marshals

Met Water Campbell "Field Punishment No 1" & Pete (McDonald) Killed Sept. 1916

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

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