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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Trench 128 & Lone Tree Triangulatin Sta.
Made sketch map in graph ink of the trenches - Germans shooting at aeroplane - over us - shell casing falls close by in the corn & a piece on the corrugated iron over our beds. Howitzer battery near us firing into La Douve Ferme. Receive news from Margaret of the birth of a baby boy on Aug 2nd. very much relieved to find everything has gone well. Go to 16th & rustle stationary. Strike off over 50 copies of the map. Capt. Woods shows me letter from Col. Armstrong stating no vacancy school at Shorncliffe. Am asked if I will take commission with the Imperials.
Go on pass, Baxter & I to Steenwerck & Bailleul to find what draughting supplies can be purchased - amusing interview with girls in stationery store - call on Oliviers & post office & Mme Chieux - indulge in a bottle of malaga in honour of the new arrival.
Trenches 121 - 127 - enemy were busy at work at La Petite Douve Fme - sounds of pumping & mixing cement being heard. Go on pass to Dieppe.
Officers at Bde HQ: Br. Gen. Leckie, Brig. Maj. Staff - Capt. Villiers, Clark-Kennedy - Aide-de-camp & Orderly Officer Cotton. Killed 1916.
Borrow 100' tape from Divisional Engineers and survey front line trench 138. Down by "Lone Tree" we just finish when a "Whizz-bang " (small field gun shell) lands exactly where we had been - cuts branch clean off the tree.
By the way our old Corporal Shaw (now degraded for drunkeness) is nick-named "Old Whizz-bang" - owing to his erratic habits & way of 'flying off the handle'.
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.