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.