Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I
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Start survey with Prismatic Compass -- much trouble with 1st Bde sentries. Tonight the Germans shell one of our aeroplanes -- an entire shrapnel casing landing with a terrible whizz 100' from our dugout, burying 18" in the ground. Some of the new draft ultra cautious -- using periscopes thru. loophole slits Col. Remie of the 3rd phones headquarters about us Get trenches 125 to 127 done. --fine view from ruined upperstorey of Lone Ho.--but risky-- Pitted by bullet holes & roof blown in by shell. | Start survey with Prismatic Compass -- much trouble with 1st Bde sentries. Tonight the Germans shell one of our aeroplanes -- an entire shrapnel casing landing with a terrible whizz 100' from our dugout, burying 18" in the ground. Some of the new draft ultra cautious -- using periscopes thru. loophole slits Col. Remie of the 3rd phones headquarters about us Get trenches 125 to 127 done. --fine view from ruined upperstorey of Lone Ho.--but risky-- Pitted by bullet holes & roof blown in by shell. | ||
FRIDAY 23 | FRIDAY 23 | ||
| − | Work up to "Seaforth Farm"--sketching in traverses & getting courses by very rapid sights -- trenches ankle deep in mud in places -- showery weather. Three German barricades across Messines Road visible-nearest | + | Work up to "Seaforth Farm"--sketching in traverses & getting courses by very rapid sights -- trenches ankle deep in mud in places -- showery weather. Three German barricades across Messines Road visible-nearest 250 yards -- Mine blows up on our left -- Much rifle fire to right & usual evening shells into Chateau de la Hutte -- a piece of masonry of the Tower being used for artillery observation by us -- Officer lying on a blanket & Sergeant below with telephone |
| + | SATURDAY 24 | ||
| + | Go to Neuve Eglise -- See new draft. Sent to Bde HQs -- Nearly make Signal Sgt faint by asking to see General --Have very encouraging talk with Brig. Gen.Turner -- Get a pass from him and also from 1st Bed. -- Granted holiday for afternoon -- go to Steenwerck & sup with the Oliviers -- Accompanied back home in the trenches 8 pm Tow of Ploegsteert badly mauled with shell fire and still shelled occasionally. | ||
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| + | BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1/Volume 4 FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS, Diary and enclosures, 1915. | ||
Revision as of Jun 5, 2016, 5:53:18 PM
St Yvon - en face de Messines 62 JULY, 1915 Trench Surveys 126-132 "Plug St" THURSDAY 22 Start survey with Prismatic Compass -- much trouble with 1st Bde sentries. Tonight the Germans shell one of our aeroplanes -- an entire shrapnel casing landing with a terrible whizz 100' from our dugout, burying 18" in the ground. Some of the new draft ultra cautious -- using periscopes thru. loophole slits Col. Remie of the 3rd phones headquarters about us Get trenches 125 to 127 done. --fine view from ruined upperstorey of Lone Ho.--but risky-- Pitted by bullet holes & roof blown in by shell. FRIDAY 23 Work up to "Seaforth Farm"--sketching in traverses & getting courses by very rapid sights -- trenches ankle deep in mud in places -- showery weather. Three German barricades across Messines Road visible-nearest 250 yards -- Mine blows up on our left -- Much rifle fire to right & usual evening shells into Chateau de la Hutte -- a piece of masonry of the Tower being used for artillery observation by us -- Officer lying on a blanket & Sergeant below with telephone SATURDAY 24 Go to Neuve Eglise -- See new draft. Sent to Bde HQs -- Nearly make Signal Sgt faint by asking to see General --Have very encouraging talk with Brig. Gen.Turner -- Get a pass from him and also from 1st Bed. -- Granted holiday for afternoon -- go to Steenwerck & sup with the Oliviers -- Accompanied back home in the trenches 8 pm Tow of Ploegsteert badly mauled with shell fire and still shelled occasionally.
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1/Volume 4 FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS, Diary and enclosures, 1915.