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
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48
Givenchy
June 1915
To Vendin church for mass. To church at Choques with Green. Leave in afternoon for trenches along Aire Canal - horribly hot -arrive 8 pm
Givenchy Trenches
In sandbag trench here 100 yds from Germans - Their trench black, white bags with iron plate loopholes - Only 7 in our section & the Major, Tucker & I in a 20' length between Traverse - Every other man on guard all night & one per length during the day - This meant we got 4 hrs on & 2 off at night & 2 on & 4 off all day. All hands in addition standing too 8 to 9 & 3 to 4 am. Have one small dugout into which two could hardly crawl. Considerable sniping, but Germans afraid to shell our trench. Flares all night & trench bombs.
Awfully hot day & short of water - Our artillery shelling over out heads just missing our parapet - One of our shrapnel bursts short & kill a 13th Sergt of Machine Gun. Regular labyrinth of trenches here - High grass between us & the Germans. 40 foot shaft & tunnel being run towards the Germans
All but sentries sent back to next line & our artillery badly burst up the German trench - Kennie & I in a communication trench - Terribly hot & no water for 14 hrs - Our fellows firing incessantly all night to keep the Germans from fixing their wire
I am on fatigue 8 pm - 12 - digging firing trench across salient of our line which it is feared the Germans have mined - German trench bomb bursts 12 feet from me & we get sniped at.
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.