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Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I

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Trenches 134-142
 
Trenches 134-142
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Sets 6h. 57m.]. AUGUST, 1915.  [Day 13h. 51m. long
 
  
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THURSDAY 26. [238-127]
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August 1915
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Half-day in trenches - Spent afternoon plotting in the General's bedroom -- 2 6" HE. shells come over at 2 pm. -- one landing directly in front & other directly behind battery 150 yds back of La Petite Mungue where we are.-- Splinters drop all around but nobody hurt-- the 3rd shot, if it had come, would have got the battery sure.     The court-martial in the garden beat a hurried and undignified retreat for shelter.
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Half-day in trenches - Spent afternoon plotting in the General's bedroom - 2 6" HE. shells come over at 2 pm. - one landing directly in front & other directly behind battery 150 yds back of La Petite Munque where we are. Splinters drop all around but nobody hurt - the 3rd shot, if it had come, would have got the battery sure. The court-martial in the garden beat a hurried and undignified retreat for shelter.
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Baxter & I in trenches all day - Exceedingly hot work - Start chained compass traverse, throwing tape over traverse or chaining in rear of firing trench 'at the double'. Manage to get 100 foot chords in most places - Pretty risky chaining down ditch of Messines Road, as raked by fire of two German high-command trenches.
  
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FRIDAY 27. [239-126]
 
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Baxter & I in trenches all day -- Exceedingly hot work -- Start chained compass traverse, throwing tape over traverse or chaining in rear of firing trench 'at the double'. Manage to get 100 foot chords in most places -- Pretty risky chaining down ditch of Messiness Road, as raked by fire of tho German high-command trenches
 
 
Gen. Leckie very appreciative of the work Canon Scott tells us of his visit to Ypres and how a shell crashed through roof of crypt killing 60 soldiers sheltering there.
 
Gen. Leckie very appreciative of the work Canon Scott tells us of his visit to Ypres and how a shell crashed through roof of crypt killing 60 soldiers sheltering there.
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SATURDAY 28 [240-125] 35th Week
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Half day in trenches surveying Dragoon Alley get deliberately sniped at several time -- Now expert at bobbing up & reading prismatic like greased <strike> likely</strike> lightning.  Under cover I get dial approx. bearing--then Baxter holds bayonet above parapet ahead & I bob up & clamp exact bearing.  Baxter takes some awful risks dashing across with the chain. Germans shelling Ploegstreet today.  Start plotting map --  Make Gen Leckie sketch proposed new trench.   Palethorpe of the 30th killed near me at Nellis Walk -- Got through the head by a sniper. Sniper at Romarin chez Flore -- shown draft of letter to Ade "Pour la fête de baptême ils avaient une bouteille du vin de Malage ce qu'ils boivent très rârement.
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Half day in trenches surveying Dragoon Alley get deliberately sniped at several times - Now expert at bobbing up & reading prismatic like greased lightning.  Under cover I get dial approx. bearing - then Baxter holds bayonet above parapet ahead & I bob up & clamp exact bearing.  Baxter takes some awful risks dashing across with the chain. Germans shelling Ploegsteert today.  Start plotting map - Make Gen Leckie sketch proposed new trench.
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Palethorpe of the 30th killed near me at Nellis Walk - Got through the head by a sniper. Sniper at Romarin chez Flore - shown draft of letter to Ada "Pour la fête de baptême ils avaient une bouteille du vin de Malage ce qu'ils boivent très rârement. Dereumaux
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Pailthorpe killed
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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, 10:30:08 AM

Trenches 134-142

August 1915

Half-day in trenches - Spent afternoon plotting in the General's bedroom - 2 6" HE. shells come over at 2 pm. - one landing directly in front & other directly behind battery 150 yds back of La Petite Munque where we are. Splinters drop all around but nobody hurt - the 3rd shot, if it had come, would have got the battery sure. The court-martial in the garden beat a hurried and undignified retreat for shelter.

Baxter & I in trenches all day - Exceedingly hot work - Start chained compass traverse, throwing tape over traverse or chaining in rear of firing trench 'at the double'. Manage to get 100 foot chords in most places - Pretty risky chaining down ditch of Messines Road, as raked by fire of two German high-command trenches.

Gen. Leckie very appreciative of the work Canon Scott tells us of his visit to Ypres and how a shell crashed through roof of crypt killing 60 soldiers sheltering there.

Half day in trenches surveying Dragoon Alley get deliberately sniped at several times - Now expert at bobbing up & reading prismatic like greased lightning. Under cover I get dial approx. bearing - then Baxter holds bayonet above parapet ahead & I bob up & clamp exact bearing. Baxter takes some awful risks dashing across with the chain. Germans shelling Ploegsteert today. Start plotting map - Make Gen Leckie sketch proposed new trench.

Palethorpe of the 30th killed near me at Nellis Walk - Got through the head by a sniper. Sniper at Romarin chez Flore - shown draft of letter to Ada "Pour la fête de baptême ils avaient une bouteille du vin de Malage ce qu'ils boivent très rârement. Dereumaux

Pailthorpe killed

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