Back to the Passchendaele trenches

  • 12th Oct
    Marched out of Brake Camp to Reigersberg Camp
    Cold miserable night under bivouacs and tarpaulin sheets and muddy
  • 13th Oct
    Battalion in good spirits in spite
    Major Hunt in command
    Made way to the front line via trench boards known as Alberta Track (NW of Passchendaele)
    On arrival at the line (about 11pm) the men who we were to relieve has, when they saw us in the distance, cleared out, making the task of taking over as we had to find the front line for ourselves, a rather difficult matter owing to the terrible muddy state of the shell-pocked country. Relief complete at 11.30pm.
    Remaining 10 days were written up from diary supplied from company’s at Coudekerque-Branche
  • 14th Oct
    “C” Coy finally got in to position and as a result :-

    The Battalion was now holding about 1000yds of the Front Line of the famous Ypres Salient. The night of the 13th is looked upon by the 2 companies in the front line as one of the stiffest nights they have ever spent. The Duck Board Track ends about 600 yds from the line & the remaining distance seemed like a horrible nightmare. The mud was simply appalling. Men would get stuck fast & 2 or 3 of their comrades would have to stop & pull them out. This caused the line to break & often connection was lost altogether. However, the dogged determination of the men to get there eventually got us into the line & the enemy assisted us greatly in our relief by keeping the artillery & machine guns quiet. The day passed quietly enough though good sport was had us sniping the enemy. In this respect he was fairly active but fortunately he never hit a target.

  • 15th Oct

    Sniping fairly lively . The enemy failed to score. One of our men hit a man who was up a tree & was sure he had killed and enemy Intelligence Officer or an F.O.O. [Forward Observation Officer] nothing less!

  • 16th Oct
    Two guides per platoon reporting to Batt H.Q. daily (at Hübner Farm)  for the purpose of ensuring a good relief.
    12 noon orders received that the battalion would be relieved by 1st SAI.
    Enemy spasmodic bursts of fire.
    8pm relieved by 1st SAI
    Made way down the duck boards to California Trench
    Battalion H.Q. moved to Cheddar Villa
  • 17th Oct
    Acting adjutant replaced due to being gassed at Hübner Farm and sent to hospital.
  • 18th Oct
    Brigade H.Q. moved to Cheddar Villa. So Batt H.Q. had to move to California Drive.
    New H.Q. shelled heavily day & night. It was thought advisable to move again.
  • 19th Oct
    Brigadier & Major Hunt went reconnoitring and decided to move to California Trench & Calaban Trench
    “A” & “B” Coys proceeded to Irish Farm
    All others to previous named trenches
    Stayed there because the enemy left them alone.
    7pm Relieved by 11th Royal Scots
    Made tracks to Reigersberg Camp

    Hot food served to the men who were soon asleep glad to able to take their boots off & get a good sleep after a nearly a week in the most muddy part of the whole British Line.

  • 20th Oct
    Rain making the muddy camp into a horrible mess.
  • 21st Oct
    Working party to Irish Farm to work for the artillery.
  • 22nd Oct
    Working party to St. Julien to carry Stokes Mortar Ammunition to the front line.
    This party was subject to heavy barrage.
    Returned at 1am.
  • 23rd Oct
    Working party to St. Julien to work on new Duck Board Track