tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34121010618260845692024-02-18T21:01:05.429-08:00The Great PromiseA compelling war journal fuels a grandson's mission to finish an unfulfilled promiseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-28197489209699387252015-05-06T18:29:00.002-07:002015-05-06T18:29:16.255-07:00Grandfather's journal May 1 - 4th 1915<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">May 1st to 4th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were still in same position. The hostile shelling never ceases, day or night.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We fire mostly by aeroplane wireless - attacks and counter attacks twice daily.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Batteries on our left seem to get it jolly hot, but in spite of the gases and their preponderance of artillery, we are informed that we have stopped the march on CALAIS.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were ordered to move with Lahore Division, (which was now sadly depleted in numbers) to move on the night of the 4th.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I was billeting and Mr Donahue and I left about 5 pm, and eventually, after a hard ride, found billets some 1.5 miles from Ypres in a village I never knew the name of. I left at midnight to conduct the Battery.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was raining all night and I tied my horse to the railings of a churchyard, determined to get a drink somewhere and something to eat. After a while I came on an establishment and vigorously knocked, which was opened by a Staff Officer. I told him I wanted something to eat and drink. He was very good and took me inside and fixed me up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I left refreshed, While it was still raining and cold; I eventually met the Battery about 6 o'clock.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I got some breakfast from the Officer's cooks of the Ammunition Column and then had a sleep about 10 am. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-28879319531959385272015-04-27T21:02:00.001-07:002015-04-27T21:02:09.992-07:00Grandfather's journal April 28 - 30th 1915<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We went back, while shells of large caliber were continually passing right over the guns, but only one burst near, about 20 yards from where I had made my dugout at the foot of a large tree - it did no harm.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The night passed uneventfully, except for the continual shelling, and during the night, two batteries of French 7.5's took up position about 50 yards in our rear.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 29th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Was impossible to fire from observation, as we could not get to the observing point and the wire was broken in many places by the continual shelling. We fired by map and wireless from aeroplane.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Hostile aeroplanes were very active and one must have spotted us, for they gave it to us warm in the afternoon and evening.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The officers had made a bivouac beneath a large tree, a few yards on my left.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A few shells, and they were real coal-boxes, burst very near. They moved over to the left and lucky they did, for a few minutes later a shell hit the tree and snapped it off like a match. Other shells followed and we had to leave the guns for a while. When it was over we went back; the officer's huts had been blown to pieces. Two coats that hung on a tree were absolutely in ribbons; almost everything there was irrevocably ruined. One of them had been sitting on a box of biscuits; this box was blown yards away and not even a biscuit that was inside remained. The tin box was like a piece of twisted tin. Everything was almost unrecognizable.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dowling, one of the servants got both arms badly splintered. They were continually shelling roads to our rear and right all night.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 30th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We fired in the morning by wireless, bombardment to support attack by the French, which was said to be successful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In the afternoon, we were again heavily shelled as we expected.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The 57th got it worse than us, about 50 yards on our right. One shell pitched into a dugout, killed 4 telephonists and several men were wounded.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">They got it so fiercely that they were compelled, as we were yesterday, to desert their guns, but they were soon back again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One 17" dropped by the French guns and they nipped (as per usual). Several fell in front of us and one 30 yards to, and in direct line with, our left gun, just where I was.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It is impossible to describe these monsters coming through the air. The nearest it is like an express train going through a tunnel and the burst is like a terrific clap of thunder.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The earth sways as if it were an earthquake. We measured this hole at night and it was 25 foot deep and 43 foot across; great lumps of earth, like rocks, had been scattered many yards. It seems impossible, even to one who understands artillery that this great eruption could have been made by a shell. We picked up several splinters going anything from a few ounces to several pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The attack was repulsed and towards dark it became a little more quiet, just the usual nightly dozen per hour. The 17" must have put the wind up the Frenchies, for they had moved during the night and never came back.</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-17134807345403036592015-04-21T13:28:00.001-07:002015-04-21T13:28:29.196-07:00Grandfather's journal April 27, 1915<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 27th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Our Captain was a perfect brick and stuck it grandly, his hat being carried away once by a shrapnel burst.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">He had just left the house and was running to the fire trench when a 17" came right into the house. It threw it almost bodily into the air - after the smoke cleared off, the house was a pile of wreckage. Several natives had been killed, Lt Donahue having a lucky escape - three natives were horribly wounded and pinned down under the wreckage. An officer mercifully shot them to put them out of their misery.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We kept up fire by map all day. Several shells burst upon us and one pitched right against the trail of Jerry's wagon, and funny enough hurt nobody.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The thought struck me in the afternoon that it was my birthday - Gee! It was a very grim and bloody one.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Old George and Collins had an exciting afternoon. While going along the wire, they had to take refuge in a shell hole, They had to stay in it for a long while, and they eventually got back alright.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">About midnight we got orders to move at once, for the position was absolutely suicidal to hold. The battery got away alright; I remained with my horse holder to wait for George and Collins, who were with the Infantry Head Quarters. They were reeling in what remained of our wire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Shelling was still going on, and the burst of shells, firing of our own guns, and the rockets from both side's trenches always lights up the Heavens like a gigantic firework display.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I waited a long time behind the shelter of a building for them to come, and I thought that they must have got knocked over. I resolved to go and look for them; it was a nasty job for the road and the village of ST JEAN was still being heavily shelled. The road was deserted as I crept from tree to tree. But every here and there were dead horses and occasionally a dead man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As I got to the village, two infantry chaps were coming down from the end of the village. I asked them if they had seen anything of my chums, but they told me they had not seen anybody, and advised me to go no further, if I wanted to live.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So I returned to where I had left the horses, thinking that George and Collins were 'goners'. I was greatly relieved when I got there to find them back. They had come back a different way, as it was too hot through the village and road.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I had hardly been back 10 minutes when a shell struck the roof of the building, or rather, shed. We were inside and tiles and bricks fell in a shower on top of us. Collins got a whack in the shoulder, but it was not serious. Another shell followed; 19 burst all within 40 yards of us and not one of the four was touched. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-51142755780626895082015-04-17T17:46:00.001-07:002015-04-17T17:46:16.220-07:00Grandfather's journal - end April 26th beginning of 27th 1915<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A couple of days previous the Canadian Scottish were ordered to retire, but refused to do so. They charged the enemy on their own. It was a mad thing to do and they lost over 500 men, but captured some trenches and captured 100 prisoners or more; not one of these prisoners were brought down.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were fighting as they - no quarter, and the Canadians gave none. Just in the rear of our guns, there was a Prussian Guardsman (a fine fellow, fully 6' 3" in height and big with it) pinned to a tree with a bayonet. He had a post card stuck on his forehead with the words, 'Canada does not forget.'<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The byword of the Canadians were, 'we'll give'em crucify.' The happenings around of this period would fill a book with horrors of this description.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Word spread of the splendid fighting of the Canadians and the Indian troops who were with us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Truly enough the Canadians had served Ypres, as did the 7th, 5th, and 1st Divisions in November.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 27th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Much the same as yesterday - continual shelling and firing, the enemy also sending over their great 17' Howitzer shell (the real ones) into YPRES (a mile in our rear), as well as at artillery and the trenches.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The enemy must have been preparing for this for months, for their ammunition expenditure was enormous and unceasing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We found another observing post near ST JULIEN, a wrecked house about 200 yards in rear of our trenches, but it was almost useless as the wire was continually getting broken, and it was impossible to signal. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-11304391502050241252015-04-09T19:54:00.003-07:002015-04-09T19:54:33.499-07:00Grandfather's journal April 1915<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were shelled for quite an hour, 13 to the dozen; it was awful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Just a few yards from us was an artilleryman and his horse lying dead. A motor ambulance smashed, the driver was killed and burned to a cinder by the petrol which ignited.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A nigger was lying dead in the ditch, and round the end of the building were several others.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">After a time it abated a little and we started again. I met George, he had been in a much-like stew as I. We went through the village and it was terrible. I managed to get a drink of water and after a while I decided to go back to the guns, if I could get there.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I hadn't gone far when they started again, and we ran for our previous little shelter, and gained it just in time. Shells burst very near, and I said to Collins, 'What a stink, and strange smell.' My eyes were watering and we all three began coughing and decided to chance it anywhere else. After an exciting half-hour we got to the guns. I felt bad and sick.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We learned from an officer that it was due to the gas shells the Germans were using. It was very lucky we decided to get out of it or undoubtedly the three of us would have been gassed properly, instead of partially, but it was bad enough, sufficient to stop me eating anything for three days. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 26th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The guns were getting it pretty warm, but we started firing in good style.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The wire broke three times, but by arrangements we raised the range, while out of communication.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Twice during the afternoon I went through ST JEAN and each time thought I should never get back. I felt quite alright and thought I was bound to meet it somewhere, so I took it easy, but at nightfall I thought I must have been very lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The enemy kept up hard shelling everywhere; it was one continual roar, shells frequently bursting over us and bullets and splinters knocking lumps off my dugout. I really thought it was the finishing touch, for of all the places I had been through in the campaign, this was by far the worst; it seemed impossible for one to live long in it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I had a few hours sleep, awakening now and again when a large shell burst somewhere near. At daylight we were at it again; the first thing that met my gaze was a shell dropped just the other side of the hedge. It fell among what was left of a Canadian Battery Wagon Line, (most of the men had been killed when the Germans broke through the previous week). They bayoneted them whilst they slept and hung the Ferrier to a tree. Then they crucified a Sergeant of the Canadian Scottish to a barn door with bayonets. This wagon line had about a dozen horses left of 200 - the guns were captured by the enemy, but were afterwards regained by a magnificent charge by the Canadian infantry.</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-79367690714207007072015-04-05T10:48:00.002-07:002015-04-05T10:48:24.860-07:00Grandfather's journal April 26 1915 Part 2<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We found a likely position, where some old trenches and dugouts were, about ½ mile in rear of ST JEAN. Shells were bursting right over, but everywhere seemed to be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Captain didn't like it, for there was practically no cover, so we went a little more near the town. A Canadian officer asked what we were wanting, and when we told him that we thought of bringing the battery into position there, he said - ' For God's sakes, don't bring them here, this corner is Hell itself. Get out of it as quick as you can.'<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Shells were dropping all around and it seems marvelous that none of us have got hit. I afterwards learned that this part was called 'Dead Man's Corner', and it deserved the name, for many dead were thereabouts. We had just left and decided it would have to do, for all places seemed alike.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While the battery was coming up, we started to lay out a wire to a likely spot to observe. George took a couple of men to start from the place they found, and I took Collins and Billison with me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We ran a wire from the position through the village of ST JEAN.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We reached the village alright, and as everywhere else, it was being shelled. As I jumped a small stream by the church, a large shell burst almost on us, so we took shelter behind a building. We could not move for shrapnel bullets. </span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-25224464859990890522015-04-02T16:50:00.005-07:002015-04-02T16:50:56.461-07:00Grandfather's journal April 26, 1915 Part 1<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 26th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Marched about 8:30 am with Battery and halted outside Vlamertinghe.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">George, Collins and I went with CO to Ypres to reconnoiter a position for the battery. As we neared Ypres, we could see the hellish bombardment going on.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">On all sides of the road were dead horses, overturned lorries and discarded equipment. Hundreds of wounded were being carried down, or hobbling along the best way they could.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As we galloped through the town, some awful sights met our eyes, men and horses blown to pieces. Every few yards along the road was something dead, and bits of men and horses were everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We found the Artillery Head Quarters and the Captain went for orders.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The shells were absolutely falling everywhere - it was an inferno. Every second man we met was wounded, and we said to each other, 'I reckon we're on the last lap this journey.' </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-14984765123181267632015-03-29T16:33:00.002-07:002015-03-29T16:33:38.940-07:00Grandfather's journal April 5th 1915<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span></div>
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April 5th - 23rd<br />
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Remained in this position firing on enemy's trenches and guns, but aeroplanes were very active and often stop us from firing. Very little night doings. Our observation station in the brewery was a veritable trap, for it was continually shelled.<br />
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In spite of this we stuck it for four days, until one shell hit direct on the little cellar, wounding Grogan and Smith, (the two telephonists on duty). Lt Richie had a marvelous escape, but poor Grogan died afterwards, and Smith was so shook up, he was sent away. We now used the remnants of a house, which we called the green house, for the observation post. It was shelled often, but we had no further casualties and nothing out of the ordinary happening; just the usual give and take.<br />
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The batteries in rear were shelled occasionally, but nothing came within harming distance of our guns.<br />
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Can hear sounds of continual heavy fighting far away to our left towards YPRES and on our right by LA BASSEE; some pretty hard scrapping was in progress on the French front,</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-78438052708380979782015-03-24T21:29:00.002-07:002015-03-24T21:29:32.942-07:00Grandfather's journal April 4th 1915<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">April 4th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Collins and I proceeded to CROIX BARBETTE to take over wires and communications of 35th Battery, which we were to relieve. We arrived about midday, and went along observing line to the observation station, which was what little that remained of the brewery in Neuve Chapelle.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was interesting to go over all the ground that we had won in the big scrap on the 10th March. Everywhere was hapless ruin and the old German trenches were in a very battered condition.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One could not walk for shell holes and graves; many of the graves had been ploughed up by shell and the remains re-buried. There were still scores of dead Germans between the trenches, and the smell was not pleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The church and churchyard was utterly destroyed, but strangely enough, a large crucifix was standing intact and apparently untouched, while everything else within a mile from it had been battered to pieces. In the whole village, there was not a house standing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Rifle bullets were plentiful as we wired, at times in full view of the enemy trenches. However we fixed up the line without mishap and on the way back we came across the grave of a telephonist of the 35th that had been killed. We felt sorry for we knew him quite well, and worse still he had been killed by one of our own 6" shells which fell short. A 6' Howitzer had also blown up in a field in front of the battery, killing 3 and wounding several.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were told that it was not so quiet here, as it was when we were here before. From the sights around, it was quite evident, but still the little farm was still intact.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">All the inhabitants of the village in the rear had been cleared out. I got a woollen mattress, which made a grand bed, and was much preferable to the straw we got; it was firm and warm. The battery came in rather late, and things seemed a little noisy in front, but it was only a 'wind' attack from the batteries in our rear firing slowly all night on barring. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-21156574762367320922015-03-18T20:08:00.001-07:002015-03-18T20:09:57.150-07:00Grandfather's journal March 18 1915<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">March 18th to April 3rd<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
period was very quiet. We were firing for registration only, by observation and
by aeroplane. I find this very interesting, signaling to the aeroplane by means
of a very powerful light. We were credited with doing damage to German gun
targets.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hostile
aeroplanes were very active, but invariably our 13" pounder anti-aircraft
guns gave them a warm reception. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Germans brought down one of our aeroplanes, which fell between our fire
trenches and theirs. We destroyed it with our guns to prevent the enemy getting
any of the remnants. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
enemy aeroplanes frequently drop bombs on ESTAIRS, some 5 miles from us. Almost
every day they drop a few shells in LAVENTIE. As in every place, the church, a
beautiful old structure, is utterly destroyed. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
came through the town one day at a stretch gallop, as it was being shelled.
Stopped a little way outside and watched the fire, which always seems to have a
fascination for me. They did some grand shooting and repeatedly hit the church,
one shell clearing off clean the one of the four pinnacles that remained. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
learned that the 37th Brigade, including my old battery, the 55th, were in
action near us. After a deal of scouting and a ride on my old charger, I almost
rode up to the trenches, when I was chased back by the infantry. Eventually
found them and spent a pleasant afternoon. All my old comrades were Sergeants;
Sergeant Majors and two others had got their commissions, for great changes had
taken place during the last 3 years. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All
the old officers, excepting one, had gone. I learned that several of my old
chums had been killed and felt very sorry about one of my old friends named
Hayman. The last time I met him was on Christmas Eve 1913, when I was shopping
with my dear wife. I little thought then that the next time I heard of him he
would be 'blown to bits, as we only found his legs'. He married a girl living
in Battersea, only two weeks before the war. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On
Good Friday I was interviewed by my CO. he told me he would forward a strong
recommendation for old George and I, that we both should be granted commissions
and advised us to take promotion which we had previously refused. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
had several rides to wagon line through ESTAIRS and LAVENTIE and enjoyed this
period of what was practically inactivity; during the whole time only two
shells came near the guns. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
bombardment of AUBERSs was postponed and we received orders to take up an old
position at, CROIX BARBETTE. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-60813631762458209382015-03-12T19:22:00.002-07:002015-03-12T19:22:11.830-07:00Grandfather's journal March 13 -17 1915<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: .4in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon Available in US, UK, EU</span><br />
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<i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">March 13<sup>th</sup> to 15<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>[It was] rather quiet, done little firing. Collins had a squeak on 14<sup>th</sup> whilst going along [the] wire, a shell bursting near missed him, but caught a Garhwal, and cut him clean in two.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>I went into RICHEBOURG to have a look round; I went all over the deserted and desolate piles of ruins that had a little time before [been] a pretty little town.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The church had suffered severely, only parts of the walls and tower remaining. The churchyard was pitiful to look at, graves and tombs absolutely heaved up skulls and bones lying about everywhere. The top of the steeple had been caught fair by a shell and had fallen off and the top stuck firmly in the ground just by the door. It was as if it had been planted there. Everywhere was a hopeless mass of wreckage, which can hardly be described and wants seeing to actually believe.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Marched to PAQAULT and billeted, orders to move before dawn.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span><a href="file:///D:/Backup/Docs/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/7122014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.doc#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Marched and dropped into action near LAVENTIE. This town was deserted and partially in ruins. Were busy all day laying our line to a ruined house in rear of our trenches, from where we could observe the German lines and AUBERS, a town in their possession. Whilst doing this, we went into an establishment, which was not damaged, and had only been abandoned the day before. It was beautifully furnished and in the attic were [an] abundance of women’s clothes. We secured plates and cooking utensils, several things that would be handy to us, and took [them] back to the guns.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> In a field near the establishment were a good number of graves of our chaps, quite a miniature cemetery, and every grave head a cross and name upon it, etc.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span> It was fenced in. I thought it will [be] a consolation one day perhaps, for some woman to visit the spot where someone dear to them was laid. This was a very unhappy day for me, for my thoughts were far away, and I slept but little at night, more due to my thoughts than the cold.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-54144022337549000252015-03-05T13:53:00.002-08:002015-03-05T13:53:52.569-08:00Grandfather's journal March 12, 1915 Part I<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kindle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon</span><br />
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<i>[We] kept up steady rate of fire throughout the night, raising a little at dawn, and throughout the morning [we] engaged various targets. The enemy commenced to bombard RICHEBOURG (which was about 400 yards to our left) with salvos from their 8.2 Howitzers (nicknamed coal-boxes or Jack Johnsons).<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the afternoon my communication broke down; consequently the battery had to stop firing. I went along the line and whilst crossing a main road, shell[s] were falling pretty thick, although the majority were going into the village. I found the break in the wire; a shell had hit it square and chopped a piece out. I took our now favorite cover and got in the hole made by the shell. [I] repaired the line, [then] tapped in and found everything alright. Another line running in the same direction was also broken like mine, so I repaired it, tapped the line and asked who they were, it was the 9<sup>th</sup> Brigade. They were profuse in their thanks for it had saved them an uncomfortable job.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Was still pretty hot when I reached the battery; the guns were very lucky for nothing fell between us and the village.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>They were bombarding the poor old church fiercely. Three of us (two telephonists and myself) were watching the effect of the fire and speculating which would be the next to go in the air. </i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-20355160483298292952015-02-26T18:37:00.000-08:002015-02-26T18:37:07.524-08:00Grandfather's journal March 1915 Part II<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kendle or paperback "The Great Promise" on Amazon</span><br />
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<i>We opened at dawn on the BOIS-DU-BEIZ, which was still held by enemy. We learned that the 7<sup>th</sup> Division had advanced as far as possible on our left, but had failed to take the AUBERS RIDGE. So to cooperate, our Division (Lahore) was ordered to consolidate the position we had won, and to hold it, which we did in spite of numerous counter attacks.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>It was awful to see the Germans mowed down by our guns, for they made attack after attack in close formation, and were literally blown to pieces. Every attack, leaving the ground in front of our trenches more thickly covered with bodies.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A column of their reinforcements were caught plumb by our 15’ Howitzer. One round made a gap in the column of about 60 yards – men, horses and vehicles going in the air. In a confused mass, this our most mighty gun, did some terrific work.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>My line, marvel of marvels, still held, only being broken once by shell fire. The day was much the same as yesterday – continual firing.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A stream of wounded and prisoners, as one batch, was coming through the RUE-DE-BOIS. Three of their own shell[s] came long into them, [which] killed or wounded about 20 of the prisoners. Strangely enough [they] never touched any of the natives who were escorting them. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Our artillery observers in the vicinity [said that] it was funny to see the niggers laughing at the Germans, the thought of them being outed by their own chaps seem to amuse them greatly. They made the Germans walk slowly and keep to the road, for it was evident the scared prisoners would have liked to have run across country.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>[We] kept up steady rate of fire throughout the night, raising a little at dawn, and throughout the morning [we] engaged various targets. The enemy commenced to bombard RICHEBOURG (which was about 400 yards to our left) with salvos from their 8.2 Howitzers (nicknamed coal-boxes or Jack Johnsons).<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the afternoon my communication broke down; consequently the battery had to stop firing. I went along the line and whilst crossing a main road, shell[s] were falling pretty thick, although the majority were going into the village. I found the break in the wire; a shell had hit it square and chopped a piece out. I took our now favorite cover and got in the hole made by the shell. [I] repaired the line, [then] tapped in and found everything alright. Another line running in the same direction was also broken like mine, so I repaired it, tapped the line and asked who they were, it was the 9<sup>th</sup> Brigade. They were profuse in their thanks for it had saved them an uncomfortable job.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Was still pretty hot when I reached the battery; the guns were very lucky for nothing fell between us and the village.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>They were bombarding the poor old church fiercely. Three of us (two telephonists and myself) were watching the effect of the fire and speculating which would be the next to go in the air. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Several splinters [were] whizzing over our heads at every salvo, but we took no notice, until one small piece hit me in the muscle of my right arm, but [it] did not penetrate.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The next salvo, a good sized piece, just grazed my cheek and went about 2 inches into the ground at my feet.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span> I scratched it out, [but] had it been a couple of inches more near, it would doubtless have given me a nasty knock. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We thought we had watched the fun long enough, so we went into our little house and had ‘ tea’ – nothing short of an earthquake would make us miss that at this time, for some cows near bye [sic] kindly supplied us with milk, and milk in tea is ‘ bon’ .<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the evening the Manchesters caught 5 spies in RICHEBOURG. They were found in underground cellars and must have been there months. They received scant ceremony, and no doubt were soon put out of the world quickly. For spies, either man or woman, were promptly dealt with, especially by the French.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The night was rather more quiet, only doing little firing; we had gained and consolidated our objective and the Germans seemed glad to keep quiet, as long as we would let them.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-54579323807751259712015-02-19T12:43:00.002-08:002015-02-19T12:43:36.452-08:00Grandfather's Journal March 1915 Part I<br />
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His entries in March are many and therefore I decided to start early and continue through March.<br />
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March 4th – 9th<br />
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Preparing for the big bombardment, Batteries were everywhere. Under almost every tree there was a gun, and our giant 15’ Howitzer was to make her debut, as well as quite a few of our new 9.2’ Hows.<br />
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We laid out double lines to our observing station, as well as lines to various parts of the trenches. [Supply] dumped a large amount of ammunition [so that] every preparation was made to give the Germans the biggest shock they had yet received at our hands.<br />
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March 10th<br />
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The bombardment of NEUVE CHAPELLE commenced at 7:30 am. It was horrific to hear the tons of metal going through the air; in all we had 476 guns on about a four mile front. The 18 pounders were cutting the enemy’s wire embankment. <br />
The heavy artillery were all concentrated on the enemy’s line of trenches and the fierce fire was kept up for ¾ hour.<br />
<br />
We then lifted to the BOIS-DU-BEIZ to enable our infantry to attack. Our trenches were lined with Garhwals , Purchase, and several other regts of native troops. The Leicesters made the first charge, taking the German trenches in grand style but were held on the edge of an orchard outside NEUVE CHAPELLE. A regiment of Territorials came to their assistance. A terrific hand-to-hand fight ensued, especially at a spot we called, ‘ The Street of Hell’ . Eventually, after fighting that can hardly be described, we gained the village about midday. Many prisoners were captured. They were brought in batches and they all seemed terrified and glad to be captured.<br />
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The natives advanced on the right and captured the trenches in front, but were held up by machine guns in a redoubt by the left edge of the BOIS-DU-BIEZ.<br />
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The Gurkhas did grand work, especially with their wicked little knives, which accounting for many German heads. As the Germans ran from the trenches, the little Gurkhas were after them, and many of the little chaps clambered on the backs of the big Germans [with] the knack [of] Sweeney Todd for throat cutting.<br />
<br />
The Seaforths were brought to assist the natives at this point, and in a splendid charge, (which according to our officers and many old campaigners who were observing with us), was the finest sight they had ever witnessed. They went into the murderous fire as if they were going on a picnic. In spite of the enormous losses they incurred, the[y] captured the redoubt and its contents of Germans and machine guns. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All his journal entries are in my book "World War 1 - An Unkept Promise" on Kendle</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-82655000983328988382015-02-09T17:36:00.003-08:002015-02-09T17:36:51.707-08:00Western Front Feb 1915 Part II<br />
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<i>The complete journal is in my book </i><br />
<h2>
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<i> Had a day on my own strolling about, waiting for the Battery to come – they arrived about 6 pm. As we could not bring the guns into action until after dusk, on account of aeroplanes observation, the 56<sup>th</sup> Battery went out of position and moved towards RICHEBOURG. We took up the position of their guns, also the farm, and it was about the most comfortable billet we had ever had, as regards accommodation, for the building had escaped shell fire, which was strange, considering the village at the back had been ‘ through it’ as had those on the left and right.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Feb. 9<sup>th</sup> – 17<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>One day whilst in front, the Leicester’s found the bodies of two young girls in a nude condition, underneath some straw, just in front of the trenches. They had evidently been violated and murdered some long time before, for the bodies were decomposing – just two more innocent victims and proof of the way the blaggards fight.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> <a href="file:///D:/Backup/Docs/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%20unkept%20promise%201182013%20(Repaired).docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></b></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> During this time it was very quiet; we did little firing. It was the nicest position we had ever been in.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i> It was a change, except for Collins having a couple of squeaks while repairing the line. Nothing worth recording happened, for nothing in the nature of a shell came near us, and we did very little night firing – we called it rest.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-34865647910804990982015-01-27T14:13:00.003-08:002015-01-27T14:13:44.701-08:00Western Front Feb 1915 - Part 1<h2>
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 29th to Feb. 5th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A rather quiet period, the enemy seemed to have undecipherable off a little, for at times they never replied to our fire, and the attacks of the previous week seemed to have quieted them considerably.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Feb 6th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We bombarded the Germans front line trenches from BRICKFIELD to RAILWAY TRIANGLE. The fire was so effective; the Guards advanced and captured the trenches without losing a man. The Artillery there, were afterwards highly praised in a letter for the splendid work; special inference was given to the way communications were kept by telephone. Undoubtedly which was for our Battery, for at one time I was receiving and sending orders for the firing of three batteries, besides our own, with all their lines being broken by shell-fire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Battery received orders to move to relieve 55th Battery R.F.A. next day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Feb. 7th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I proceeded with the Captain to CROIX BARBETTE, to take over the wires and communications of 56th Btty. Arriving there about midday, one of the telephonists took me along the observing wire to the trenches. It was rather quiet, save for occasional bullets; - the chap with me was rather merry. He advised me to crawl on hands and knees across a point of ground just in rear of the trenches, as we would get sniped. I followed a little way, but on seeing an R.E. fellow walking about unconcerned, I thought, if it's safe enough for you, it is for me. I walked across much to the other fellow's disgust. He got wild when I insisted upon him helping me to mend a broken wire and prop it up on some trees. He was very angry and crawled back, but it was quite unnecessary, for I walked back and nothing came near me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We went along some reserve trenches - a few light shell were bursting a little beyond - I traced a wire into a redoubt and dodged inside as one whizzed over.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There was an Infantry telephonist inside, he said, 'Just in time mate, three of ours were put out just outside a few minutes ago.' He was working away quite unconcerned. I had a chat for a few minutes and started back, I think much to the relief of the chap with me. On the way back, the enemy were shelling RICHEBOURG Church with 'coal-boxes'. I stood on the road and watched about 20 go over, but they failed to reach it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I went into the village at night and had a few drinks of rotten trench beer, came back to the 56th Btty and slept in a loft of the farm, and had the best night' s un broken sleep that I had had since we were at rest, seven weeks before. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-15211857458103317472014-12-31T20:57:00.002-08:002014-12-31T20:57:29.401-08:00January 1915<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PHF752O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0"><span style="font-size: large;">Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles of WWI</span></a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan. 1st<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I was hard out, and handed over the instruments to Collins. I went in a stable and slept throughout the day - a little shelling took place, but I slept through it all.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan. 2nd to 23rd<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">During this period it was the usual give and take. We fired every day at any targets that presented themselves, and were occasionally shelled, very often at night.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The REDOUBT was retaken and lost many times, each attack meaning a fierce couple of hours work, till at length it was undecipherable 'no man's land' for neither side could hold it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Rifle bullets at night made it rather uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The weather was very cold and wet, a few heavy snowstorms. I sometimes had a fever in a bucket.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Night attacks were very frequent - we were lucky in having only a very few casualties, or wounded, although quite a few went away sick.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One day during this period, I went to Bethune and had a much needed bath and change of underclothing. It was a relief for I, as most, was overstocked with 'livestock'.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 24th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">During the day the enemy bombarded the lock of the canal and railway line (by our observing station) with their 8' Howitzers. Sending over 129 shells, which did no material damage, one shell fell plumb on the railway line and flung a piece of the rail (about 4 foot) right over our guns fully a thousand yards, and fell a few yards from where I stood, I thought it was a shell coming over.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We afterwards read in the papers of this incident and smiled to read the lot they made of it, whereas when it happened, we took little notice. We were rather more interested watching the effect of their fire on the lock, which they failed to hit.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 25th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The night passed rather quiet, rather less than the usual amount of shooting taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">About 7:15 am I received a message from 25th Brigade R.F.A. that information had been given them by a German deserter that a big attack on our front at GIVENCHY and CUINCHY was to take place at 7:30, preceded by a heavy bombardment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I sent the message to the observing station, and hurriedly rousted the gun detachments and the officers. When it started, it was horrific, and we replied with rapid gun fire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The enemy captured our first line trenches and our infantry fell back to our observing station.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Two out of my three lines got cut by shells, and while I attended to the instruments, Collins ran a line to the left Section.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">He was knocked in the knee, the same shell wounding two men and fatally wounding Mr. Watkins, a young officer that had only joined us 8 days previous. I sent two of my chaps along the observing line, and then the line to the 25th Battery got broken.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I hastily got Collins, who was limping, to attend to the phones and I went along the line to the 25th.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was warm for we were heavily shelled, but I found a couple of yards of the line had been cut out by shrapnel, where the wire ran along the top of a wall. I climbed on the wall and dropped very quickly, for a shell seemed to whiz inches by my head, bursting a little way behind. I got a piece of wire that had been holding up a vine of some description, and managed to fire up the line. I was very glad when I reached the 25th to find that communication was through.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I stopped a little while to recover my breath. On my return to the Battery I had a very close shave from a splinter from a shell, which burst directly in front of me. I fell on the ground, I think just in time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Reached the battery without mishap - just as I reached them, another big shell burst right in the farm, about 20 yards from where my little shed was, luckily doing no damage except to the building.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Just opposite, a shell came right into the shelter where the telephones for the left Section was, severely wounding one man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was in all a horrific morning, our infantry had been forced to retire right back, and we thought it was all up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We were the foremost Battery, and knew if our infantry lost the small ridge in front of us, it was the finish of us and our guns. Luckily the third line stood, and we kept up firing at ground range, and were credited with doing great execution among the masses of advancing Germans.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Guards Brigade, consisting of the London Scottish, Seaforths, Camerons and Guards were brought up as reinforcements, and stopped the German advance, by entrenching themselves behind our original line. In spite of all attacks the Germans held on to the ground they had gained by overwhelming odds.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 26th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">At 7am our troops made a counter- attack on the lost ground. After a fierce bombardment, of about 3 hours, the Guards regained a little, but failed to get our six fire trenches, which was the objective. We fired feverously and were shelled in return. One 6' going right into the cellar of the farm by the left Section, quite a few near the guns, but only two men were wounded.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The fight went on more or less all day, but we failed to get any further forward, but repulsed an attack from the Germans in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The 1st Siege Battery, on our left rear, got it hot, shell going right into the farm where they were in action. It was very soon ablaze - but in spite of the heavy shelling, I watched the gunners pluckily go to and from the farm, moving the wounded. After a while they managed to put out the fire in spite of the persistent shelling. It was grand to watch them, although at times they were obscured from view by smoke from the shells and fire. But they stuck it grandly and after putting the fire out, they started shooting again, as if it were to get their own back.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">During this time some shells fell very near us, but did no damage.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 27 and 28th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In two days of attacks and counter attacks, very fierce and severe scrapping, we regained all the lost ground, and numbers of prisoners were taken.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">No further casualties at the guns, which was lucky considering the shell fire they put over at intervals.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Germans did a great deal of entrenching during the night's and we had some good targets to shoot at during the day. Our guns were dandy, for considering the enormous amount of shooting they had done throughout this campaign, they were still perfectly accurate and our lyddlite accounted for many things.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></i><i style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Jan 29th to Feb. 5th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A rather quiet period, the enemy seemed to have undecipherable off a little, for at times they never replied to our fire, and the attacks of the previous week seemed to have quieted them considerably. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-16454435801350280192014-11-29T10:02:00.002-08:002014-11-29T10:02:26.840-08:00Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles<br />
The journal of Captain Fred G. Coxen is now available on Kindle <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PHF752O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0">Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles of WWI</a> the book also contains Captain Coxen's life before and after the war. The book contains many personal photos and images of original documents.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-12541177174088252312014-11-26T17:20:00.001-08:002014-11-26T17:20:49.915-08:00December 1914<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Field-Artillery-Early-Battles-ebook/dp/B00PHF752O" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles</a><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 13th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Marched
to PONT DE NEIPPE and billeted in a farm just outside the village. We could
hear the old familiar sounds in the distance, the rockets from the trenches.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec 14th<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Marched
through PLOEGSTRESTTE, and took up
position beside the 35th Battery, behind a ruined chateau, on the grounds of
which had once been a beautiful garden.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
ran our line beyond the chateau to some ruined houses, from where we had a good
view of the German trenches and MESSINES beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On
my way back, I went into a partly wrecked house and was surprised to find a
young woman and her brother, and her five little children. The baby I took from
its bed, for it reminded me of my own, she gave me some hot milk. As well as I
could I tried to induce her to go away to a safe place, but she would not. She
told me her husband a soldier, had been killed. I was rather upset I think over
the poor little kiddies - I gave them my peppermints and odd money and came
away. I never had time to go that way again, but I thought of the kiddies very
often. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 18th to 20th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Remained
in position for a bombardment of MESSINES. Did little firing until 20th, when
the bombardment took place - it was horrific, but we had nothing much at the
guns in return. The wagon line was shelled out in the morning, but fortunately
only one man was wounded. We left position at 5 o'clock and marched back to our
rest billet. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 21st to 23rd <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Remained
in rest billet until morning of 23rd, then marched to BETHUNE and billeted in a
school house. George and I having no blankets, resolved to find a bed
somewhere, and while asking a Frenchman in our best French, his daughter came
along and invited us to their house, which was only a little way down the
street. They were very poor, but treated us handsomely. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
mother, an elderly woman, doted on us, and gave us as much as we could possibly
eat and drink. She made us up a bed on the floor, she called us at 3:15 am and
had coffee ready for us. On leaving she was indignant when we went to make
payment. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
marched at 4:30 am towards LA BASSEE to take up position. It was Christmas Eve
- a very grim Christmas Eve, and my thoughts were far away. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 24th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
took up position at CAMBRIN, CUINCHY and GIVENCHY were just on our left; all
were in a state of ruin, for heavy scrapping had been recently taking place. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">George
and I took over the wires of the 47th Btty, and were very busy firing up our
communications. We had a grand observing station - a ruined brewery - It was
beautifully furnished - but everything was ruined, lovely carved furniture and
ornaments - in pieces - a piano, and large gramophone, everything had been left
as it stood. I secured plates, cups and an assortment of cooking utensils and
took them back to the guns.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Late
that night I had orders, to get into communication with 2nd Infantry Brigade.
It was uncomfortable laying the line on account of rifle bullets, but did the
job without mishap and got back to my dugout. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
thoughts of the previous Christmas Eve were with me, and I felt anything but
happy. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 25th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
forgot it was Christmas Day for I was busy firing up communications all day.
All was very quiet - it was a mutual truce. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
had a piece of bacon for dinner - one of the chaps secured a chicken and some
vegetables, and at night we had a feast. George came down from the observing
station, and with couple more, we went to a large house nearby and collared a
piano, and brought it to the guns. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
had a concert, it was not a great success - but we made the best of it. There
were many poor devils much more worse off than us. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec 26th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rather
quiet, occasional shelling. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
had a sorely needed wash, the first for four days. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
did little firing. The dugout was swamped, so we moved into a small shed at
rear of farm. It was very cold and drizzling rain. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec 27th - 28th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nothing
unusual, we fire at intervals, at working parties of Germans, and into
trenches. They search for us but all over, and save for a shell now and again,
nothing near us. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .3in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kept
up very slow fire at long intervals throughout nights. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Am
on duty day and night with phone, but am so used to it, that it takes little or
no effect, although I never have a complete night's rest when in action. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 29th and 30th <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Did
much firing - and were credited with smacking up a German Field Battery near LA
BASSEE. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dec. 31st <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
morning was rather quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
2:30 pm we were subjected to a fierce bombardment and a heavy attack. The enemy
capturing the KEEP, by the railway embankment, from the Kings Royal Rifles, who
then recaptured it again late in the afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">About
10pm the Germans again attacked and gained the KEEP and REDOUBT. We were firing
heavily all night, it was very cold. After two attacks we succeeded in again
retaking the lost ground about 3 am, but could not hold it, the KRR's being
'bombed' out soon after gaining possession. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Throughout
the night until about 8 am we kept up hot fire - the New Year had came in, in
real war like style. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-36740517524347105492014-11-14T17:06:00.001-08:002014-11-14T17:06:58.964-08:00Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Field-Artillery-Early-Battles-ebook/dp/B00PHF752O" target="_blank">Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles</a></span><br />
<br />
Captain Fred G. Coxen RFA served in the 40th Battery, which supported the 1st Division of I Coprs. They went to France with the BEF and fought in the early battles of the war - Mons to Second Ypres.<br />
<br />
I've written two books based on his journal, which have been received well, but some readers suggested I bring out a book that only contains the journal entries, which is now available on Kindle at Royal Field Artillery - The Early Battles of WWI.<br />
<br />
However, I did keep the brief battle descriptions to help readers understand how the journal entries relate to the overall battle. I also included Fred's personal story prior to and after the war.<br />
<br />
I hope everyone will enjoy the compelling journal entries as told through the sight of a Howitzer.<br />
<br />
More important to me is publishing this book as a remembrance to my grandfather, as well as those who gave their lives for what they believed in and their country.<br />
<br />
I wish I could have been in London on Remembrance Day to honor my grandfather and his contribution to the war and history.<br />
<br />
Frederick L Coxen Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-88177391263901003302014-11-11T07:05:00.002-08:002014-11-11T07:05:42.162-08:00Remembrance Day 2014 - Nov 1914<br />
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<h2>
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<i>From the journal of Captain Fred G. Coxen RFA</i></div>
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<i>[We] marched through the beautiful old town of YPRES, which contains some very fine buildings, notably the Cloth Hall and Cathedral.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>[We] took up a position of readiness outside the fortifications of the town, [where] we dropped into action in various places around, doing little firing.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The enemy commenced bombarding the town on Nov. 2<sup>nd</sup> with their great 17’ Howitzers. The noise of these shell[s] passing over our heads is almost indescribable.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>On Nov. 5<sup>th</sup> a few of us in the morning had made one of our famous ‘Bully stews’ and we were about to commence the feast, when we heard some of these monster shell[s] coming; they fell in the fields on our right and rear.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We had to move, [and] as we moved, we heard more coming. They dropped almost in the same place. One shell burst near a cow and threw it bodily about 30 yards. One came by the sound, directly for us, it was like an express train roaring through the air.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>We crouched behind one of the ammunition wagons, the shell landed about 15 yds and exactly in line on our front. The concussion was terrific, and the wagon rocked as if it were near a minimum earthquake. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We afterwards measured the hole; it was gigantic, 23 foot deep and 20 foot in diameter – fully three to four times as big again as the often met ‘Jack Johnson’s’. I afterwards found out that these shell[s] were 11.2” and not 17” as we thought.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We moved by the river, and although very cold, I had a plunge – the first since the time of the retreat. It’s a very common thing to go a week or even more without having a wash. Since the time of the Aisne, food is a little plentiful.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>[The] weather very wet, and the whole country is a veritable sea of mud.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The enemy seemed to shell everywhere haphazard, especially at night.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>On the morning of 6th we were read an appeal from Gen. French urging us to hold on despite the overwhelming masses of the enemy, until reinforcements could be brought up.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Attacks were ‘twice daily’ and were nightly occurrences.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Our losses were very great, but despite the fact of our trenches being so thinly manned, and our guns so few, our line was formed and maintained. As the enemy were stopped in France, so were they in Belgium. </i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b>[ii]</b></span></span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i>Thanks to the splendid leadership of our little army, and our chaps…[sic]… love for dangerous scraps, and [to] the splendid Infantry in the trenches who suffered infinitely more than us, in every way</i><i>.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 7<sup>th</sup> – 12<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>[We were] in various positions in front of YPRES – these days with Head ‘ Q[uarters] 25<sup>th</sup> [Brigade].</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>The Battery returned each night to a field off the main road, things were very quiet, but for occasional shelling.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>On the night of 10<sup>th</sup>, I waited at the 25<sup>th</sup> [Brigade], for my horse to be brought over. After some time, George came and told me it was impossible to get over with horses, [so] we walked across to where the horses were, and [then] started to find the Battery. After travelling some good way we knew we were lost, it was very dark, and the road was being shelled. On coming to a deserted farm, where some Infantry were, we decided to anchor till morning - by a friendly straw stack. We got some food and tea from the infantry - with some straw from the stack and blanket from our horse, we had the best bed we had</i><i> </i><i>had for some time. We found the Battery next morning and there had been the usual speculation that we had got nipped</i><i>.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When dawn arrived on 11 November it greeted the BEF’s 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> Divisions with a heavy downpour, which set the stage for what the Official History described as ‘the most terrific fire the British had yet experienced’. The German artillery concentrated its fire on I Corps and on Wing’s ‘division’ of II Corps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>On the night of 12<sup>th</sup> we came through the most severe storm I have ever experienced. I was simply blinded by the fierce rain and wind, [and I] had no cap. We were simply like drowned rats, [and] we had an awful march in the pitch darkness.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> [In the] storm I could not open my eyes, [so] I simply held on the saddle and let my old charger follow the rest. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We were too wet to sleep in mud and rain that night, and after a deal of skirmishing, George, Collins and I got into a deserted estaminet<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a> and remained there till morning.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></b></span></a></span> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It was a horrible night and the shelter we got was acceptable. It took me two days to get dry – I would have given a deal to had [sic] sit before a fire in dry clothes.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 13<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>One section of the Btty [Battery] was in action near ZONNEBEKE<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></b></span></span></a>, I went with [the] other two Sections to a position by a small wood<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></b></span></span></a> –<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>about 3 or 4 miles NE of YPRES.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We did a little firing, and towards evening I ran a line to K Battery R.H.A. to get into communication with the trenches. It was very wet, and everywhere was bog and mud.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I was beside a railway embankment [and] the CO K Battery and I had high words about the communication. He promised to get me 5 years or shot – I told him to get on with it, etc.; he treated me quite differently next morning.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Another night in the rain, could not lie down, had a wet ‘standing up sleep’ by the embankment.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 14<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Went with left Section and positioned beside 51<sup>st</sup> Battery, [which was] on a ridge a thousand yards in rear of the trenches. We could see the German fire trench - and watch our own lyddite<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></b></span></span></a> burst. [It was] a very near position and we had hardly began to fire when they had us spotted.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>That day the Prussian Guard made a big attack, [but] our guns with the 51<sup>st</sup> did great slaughter, and from the trenches, the ground was covered with dead Germans and many of our chaps.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>During the morning they peppered us, but we kept on replying, and the 51<sup>st</sup> with the quick-firing 18 pounder did grand work keeping up a wall of fire on the German foremost trench. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Early in the afternoon we had to desert our guns, for it was suicide to stay. We took cover in some small trenches about 30 yards behind the guns. About every twenty minutes, [we would] run up to the guns, loosed off a couple of rounds gun fire, and back to cover. The 51<sup>st</sup> rushed up and let go six rounds gun fire in grand style, and ran back to cover.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I was with the 51<sup>st</sup> at this period, [and] we had been two days almost without a drink of any description and my thirst was troubling me more than the shell and bullets. When running from the guns, I came across the Officers’ cook in a dugout, about 50 yds in rear of the guns, and he gave me a mug of rather dirty water, but it tasted grand.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I went back to the guns with the Sergt Major of the 51<sup>st</sup>, and a shell dropped within 10 yards of us. The concussion rather shook us and we immediately fell down and dodged splinters. On getting up we were both surprised to find that the other was not hurt - the shell cut down a tree, which fell across my overcoat, which was lying close by.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We kept up firing until dark.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>George, Collins and I were beside a wagon getting something to eat, when the enemy’s infantry attacked, and the bullets rained over. We ran to the guns for shelter of the shield when Collins pushed me a little aside, a few seconds later [he] got a bullet in the foot – the thick boot, luckily diverting its course. Had he not pushed me, I should have caught it, and with perhaps not such lucky result.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>After a while George and I managed to get into a small trench, he had dug during the day.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The attack dropped off, but they shelled us throughout the night. We had a good sleep [even though] it was cold and wet, but we were strictly exhausted and slept.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></b></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the morning the ground all around was peppered with shell-holes and we were indeed fortunate that one did not drop in our little trench, for quite a few were very near</i><i>.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 15<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>The section continued firing during the morning – we were shelled a little, but nothing in comparison with previous day - I went over to the 51<sup>st</sup> Btty, to get my telephone, which I had left in a dugout the day before when we had to leave the guns - but found that a shell had dropped plumb into the dugout and destroyed the instrument - there was two other telephonists with me the previous day and had we not run when we did - undoubtedly we should have all shared the fate of our instruments.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>I went back to the Section and about noon we had orders to take up position with our right Section - [while] the 51<sup>st</sup> Bty remained and had it as bad, or even worse than the previous days. Two guns were put out of action, and their casualties were heavy. One shell killed five and while they were being buried, another dropped among the burial party killing four more.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>We reached our right Section in the afternoon and I remained with the wagon line, and was in PIEGUAT – very wet and cold, shelling all night.</i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i>I removed some wagons into an adjacent wood for aeroplane cover.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>While going to a ruined farm nearby, a bullet hit a wooden gate post as I was passing. I dodged behind the post, for I thought a sniper had me, but it must have been a spare bullet, for nothing else came near me. During my look round the farm - I got some water, a few potatoes, and a couple of onions. On returning to the wagon line, [upon] getting a tin of ‘bully’ prepared a dinner, which I had not had for a considerable time.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I had just got it nicely on the go, when I was sent for from the guns, and was ordered to run a line to the reserve trenches.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> George and I ran the line and I remained with a borrowed instrument from a Sergeant of the R.E’s in a dugout with a Gordon named Bruce (whom I afterwards learned was the famous runner).</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>I was warned by him to keep low, as snipers were pretty busy – and almost as he spoke a fellow coming towards me got a bullet in the chest - the bullet just missed me, so I took his word and kept low.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It was terribly cold – he gave me some bread and cheese, which I gratefully took. I sent the orders to the guns until after midnight, and things seem to quite down.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> I pitied Bruce in his bare legs and kilt, but he slept sound, but I could not sleep a minute for the cold, and was glad</i><i> </i><i>when morning came. I was stiff with cold, and dared the snipers in running up and down for a few minutes to [undecipherable] warm myself.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 17<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>I was under the direction of Major Baird,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></b></span></span></a> Gordon Highlanders, to send the orders for our guns to cover the trenches, as much as possible.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Shortly after dawn, the enemy made a big attack and considering the small number of men in the trenches, it was marvelous that the enemy didn’t break through. About 9 o’clock they started to shell us. The first shell went into a dugout a few yards in front of me and killed a Lieut. Colonel and his servant, [while] another fell 10 yards to my right, and killed or wounded 3 officers, who were buried – they were hastily dug out, and presented a pitiful sight. Many were wounded during these first few minutes.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> An Artillery Officer and a man rode up and dismounted. The man jumped into my dugout, hitching the two horses to a tree about one yard away. Almost immediately a shell burst right over - [and] killed the two horses, one of whom fell dead, right on top of the dugout - the blood running in.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Then the shells came in terrific force – all the Gordons had to run, for it was murderous – I felt like running – but could not leave my instrument, as the guns would not be firing.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>So I stuck [while] they all ran, bar Bruce. He asked me if I was going to stop, I said yes, and he answered – ‘If it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough for me’ as he stopped with me. In the run, a chap passing got a splinter in the leg and a bullet in the arm. I dragged him in and we bandaged him up; he was with us throughout the day.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Two more attacks took place, and every available man was pressed forward – and that was very few.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>During the day Bruce was telling me that of the 1400 hundred in the regiment who left Plymouth in September – all that remained of the number was 34, and he was one of them. They had had some terrible times, he said, but this is worse than any of them. I fully believed him, for I was sick with the smell of powder and blood. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Bruce very pluckily ran to and from where Major Baird and the rest were in trenches outside the wood, to take messages from me, and to bring the orders for the guns.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>All day the enemy kept up the fierce bombardment. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Old George came and relieved me that night, for I was fairly done and felt bad, [because] four nights out of six I had had no sleep and very little food. I was absolutely more like a sponge than a man, and on reaching the guns, Collins took on the instrument and I got my two blankets. They were wet – it was snowing and freezing hard, but I slept like a top, and in the morning [I] felt a little better and quite able to carry on with the business.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></b></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I remained with the guns and George with the Gordons. We did considerable firing, but [with only] an occasional shell coming over, it was peace compared with the previous 17<sup>th</sup>.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>We were informed that we were to [be] relieved by the French. [We] were to be withdrawn and to have a rest, to refit and get made up in horses and men.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> I was also told that the Centre Section had had a warm time. Hodges<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></b></span></span></a>, my lube offman, was killed. Taylor<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></b></span></span></a>, Farmer and several others wounded.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We were elated at the idea of a rest, and a change from the ceaseless scrapping of the last weeks – and we sadly needed a rest.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Left our position at dawn and marched to YPRES, the whole country was in a terrible condition, not a farm was standing – and the town itself was ruined. The beautiful buildings destroyed, how different when we marched through less than a month before. We got safely through the town and marched all day. It was very cold, [and] I walked most of the time, for my old charger could not keep his legs on the slippery roads.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> We arrived at night and billeted at a farm a few miles from MERRISS, where we were to stop and rest. How strange it seemed to be away from the ceaseless roar of gun fire, etc. The sheds, barns, cow-houses in which we slept seemed to us like mansions. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[x]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>This, our period of rest, was greatly appreciated for a time, but soon became monotonous.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i> Our Officers had short leaves, and I was fortunate, through the good graces of Major Madocks, to obtain 48 hours to BOULOGNE. He kindly gave my dear wife instructions on his arrival in England, how to get to BOULOGNE, time etc.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>I left camp on the evening of the 1<sup>st</sup> Dec and rode into HAZEBROUCK. [I] arrived by train at BOULOGNE 7 o’clock next morning, [and] I expected to meet my wife at 5 o’clock. [I] was delighted to see her at 11 o’clock – our stay together was short, the shortest 28 hours of my life, and to leave her next day was the hardest thing for me through the campaign.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> I arrived back in camp next day – and we were all getting impatient to get to business again. [We] were pleased to hear on the 11<sup>th</sup> that we were [leaving] for the firing line next day.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> Estaminet: a small and simple café, bar, or bistro.</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> The Battle of Nonne Boschen – ‘Nun’s Wood’ began on 10 November with an attack on the French positions north-east of Ypres. The attack convinced the French generals – incorrectly – the new German attack would fall on the lines between Bixschoote and Zonnebeke. Neillands, Robin, <u>The Old Contemptibles – The British Expeditionary Force, 1914</u> location 5848</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> The small woods may have been Polygon Wood</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lyddite:<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">British explosive used for filling artillery shells in World War One. Actually molten and cast picric acid</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title="">[5]</a> <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Corporal George James HODGE 42275 43rd Brigade, 40th Bty</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title="">[6]</a> <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Corporal Frank W Taylor 54212 rpt wounded 8/12/14 – killed in action</span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[ii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[iii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[iv]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[v]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[vi]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[vii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <span style="color: #4a4634;"> </span><span class="ng"><b>Alexander Walter Frederick</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ns"><b>Baird</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was born on 2 October 1876<span style="color: #4a4634;"> - </span>He fought in the First World War, where he was mentioned in despatches nine times and gained the rank of temporary Brigadier General of the Gordon Highlanders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[viii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[ix]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/Current%20Captain%20Frederick%20G%20WW1%201%2012%201914%20unkept%20promise.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[x]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ibid<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-22531440277147942572014-10-11T15:03:00.002-07:002014-10-11T15:03:25.140-07:001914 October 9th - 13th<br />
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">October 9<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Was [going to] be [a] well remembered day of this period.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">During the morning things were a little more quiet than usual, we were sitting around the guns. I left my telephone, which was beneath [a] gun limber. We were having a feast of Bully Beef <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Ricks%20Journal/New%20Rewrite/My%20Grandfather's%20journal%20Chapter%201.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a>and potatoes - (potatoes did not come our way often), [when] a battery of German artillery found us with shrapnel. The first round burst directly over our No 3 gun, which was just by me, we [all] scattered. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> Poor old Bramwell, who was by my side, ducked, and got it in the head. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I dived under the limber to phone my chum Collins, [while] two more gunners dragged Bramwell to the limber, for what shelter it gave. [Then] the two gunners were hit. Collins and I did what we could to poor Bramwell, but it was useless.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">The [shell] bullets<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Ricks%20Journal/New%20Rewrite/My%20Grandfather's%20journal%20Chapter%201.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[2]</span></b></span></span></a> simply hailed on the limber, and we expected to be hit every second, but it saved us. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">After the shower stopped, we removed poor Bramwell, it was an unpleasant sight to see a chums brains by ones [sic] side.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">A shell case was stuck in the ground 2 yards from where I lay – lucky it didn’t splinter for Collins and I. would have been bowled over.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Everything seemed to bear marks of that lively hour excepting we two. We dug a hole that night and many times while there the hole saved us, for when it was most quiet, inevitably they would switch over on to us.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Several were wounded at different times when it was least expected, and about this time, night attacks were very frequent and severe, often 3 attacks during the night.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">My wire often got broken by shell fire, through a wood of the observation point, in spite of a double line and was unhealthy at times to repair. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">On the morning of the 8<sup>th</sup> October a ‘ coal-box’ dropped by No 5 gun – killing one gunner and wounding four. We were shelled in the afternoon [and] they flung no fewer than 40 ‘Dud’ shell [sic] over us in an hour. It was amusing to feel the thud when they struck the earth, and no explosion ensuing.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We lost several horses and a couple wounded in Wagon Line.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">A party was sent out to prepare a new position, but [they] were shelled out. The Major asked us at night would we prefer to move as the position was warm, but we decided at once to stop, for our place was as good as another.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">October 12<sup>th</sup>, was the anniversary of my wedding and the thoughts of my dear wife and child, were more to me than the scrap that day. [I] had a long chat that night, with Lieut Marshall on the duration of the war – we thought ‘about Xmas’.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">October 13<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I went with two Sections of guns to position on BEAULINE RIDGE. We arrived about midnight, [it was] pitch dark and heavy going. [We] could not use lights or even smoke, owing to close proximity of enemy. We got into position without mishap, at dawn next morning; it was a sight almost indescribable, [for] one could not walk for three yards unless he was in a great shell hole.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We had trenches dug by the side – the guns we relieved must have had a terrible time – this place was called by us ‘ Pepper Hill’ and the infantry called it ‘ The Devil’s Own’ .<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Collins and I worked like niggers and dug a small cavity under the bank and felt quite at home, we were in fact like rabbits when not firing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We remained in this position until the night of the 16<sup>th</sup>, while leaving, a terrific night attack was in progress – we were relieved by the French.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-75253560478565666022014-09-17T17:12:00.002-07:002014-09-17T17:12:39.929-07:001914 September 11-20<br />
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 12<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advanced to MONT NOTRE DAME and came into action with French Artillery on hill overlooking River VESLE. From [our spot we could see] wounded coming down, [so] things were warm<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Ricks%20Journal/New%20Rewrite/My%20Grandfather's%20journal%20Dbl%20spaced.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a> in front.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everywhere are signs of the Germans flight, dead men and horses discarded equipment, overturned motors etc.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everywhere the houses have been looted and the inhabitants seem overjoyed to see us, for they have suffered bitterly at the hands of the enemy.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 13<sup>th</sup> (Battle of the Aisne)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[We] marched at dawn [in the] pouring rain, no food, or time to get any. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Took up position near PAISSY, from there [we marched] to CHIVY VALLEY to meet a German counter attack.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our infantry suffered heavily, many wounded being near me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The battery dropped into action, and we found an observing point on a high hill, directly in front. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In running our wire, old George and I were very lucky to escape the bullets, for we were in full view of the enemy – they all but got us once, a bullet coming between our noses as we were deciding the best way to run our wire. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We laid down, for they were shelling very heavy all around. This was in the afternoon and the sun was very warm. I couldn’t move, I must have been tired for I actually went to sleep, [until] a Staff-Officer later was talking near by [sic] he must have thought I got bowled over</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We made our observing station under the shelter of a small rock, which undoubtedly saved us from getting completely wiped out of existence.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We fired heavy all day, and in the night the Battery moved a little to the right.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I remained on the hill on guard, and posted double sentries with order to shoot anybody, who approached without giving prompt reply to challenge. Towards </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">dawn I lost two sentries and had very uncomfortable time searching for them, for the enemy was again very active.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sept 14<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[There was] heavy fighting all day. Our little rock proved a haven of refuge, all day we were heavily shelled by ‘coal-boxes<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span>.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Major Johnson was killed near by [sic] and Major Madocks slightly wounded.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some chaps dodged under our rock for shelter and gave us some tobacco; we were smokeless and foodless, my feast being that day a half biscuit, left from emergency ration.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 15<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Today was the] same as yesterday. The 113<sup>th</sup> and 46<sup>th</sup> Batteries on our left were heavily shelled [and had] many casualties, we were more fortunate.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[There was] very hard fighting all day – was by this time [I] quite used to the thunder like clap of the coal-boxes, and other a sundry missiles the Germans were flinging about wholesale.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Their artillery was superior, we had no heavy guns to compare to them, nor anything like their number – and we suffered greatly, for sometimes it was like Hell let loose.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 16<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heavy scrapping [all day].<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the afternoon we took up another position on top of MOUNT GOURTONNE, which commanded a good view of the enemies [sic] lines.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I galloped hard from our little rock and was sickened to see the dead horses lying around.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As soon as the guns left the old position the enemy peppered it with shell[s], for we had been spotted by aeroplane.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We took up position at night, [it] was raining hard [and I] was wet through, but had got used to that now. [I] slept under a gun limber [and] would have given anything for something hot to drink, and a good fire.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 17<sup>th</sup> – October 13<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have effectively formed our battle line known as the AISNE RIVER.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This long period of fighting all day and almost every night, seems to come to one as a second nature.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We fire an average of 250 rounds per day – it is really siege warfare.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Night attacks take place almost nightly [and] I have dug a hole at the back of a limber, as my home.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">All days seem to be alike [except that] some days the fighting is more severe than others. They shell us occasionally and it is never safe to move from one dugout or the shelter of the guns.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our wagon line are in the great caves, which are a wonderful work of nature, but even there we have had quite a few men wounded, and several horses killed.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At times when they shell us severely, we have had to desert the guns and take refuge in an adjacent cave, which undoubtedly has been the means of saving some lives.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I slept in this cave one night, and on going to the guns before dawn next morning [I] lost my way and wandered towards the enemy’s lines. When it became light, I was lost and in a valley between us and the Germans. I was confused, and hardly knew what to do.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I could hear rifle bullets whipping uncomfortably near. The ground was full of great holes caused by the German heavy artillery. I knew that when it became light, [I] would be [in] a veritable death trap.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was hopelessly lost and worse, unarmed, so I decided to take refuge in a shell hole and await throughout the day. [I would wait] until nightfall and try to make my way back. After a while, I decided I would chance it and rather get to our own lines or meet whatever came my way.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After a deal of wandering and exciting moments, I met an officer who was forward observing, and he directed me to where he thought our guns were.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I reached them without further mishap, and my off man and the others thought I had got swallowed, for nobody saw me go. Strangely the path I took from the cave, took me within 10 yds of the guns, by which I could see now daylight had well advanced – well! I laughed.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the 20<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I managed to get a bit drop of water to wash my face, for it had not seen water for 8 days and I had not shaved for over a fortnight. I looked at myself in somebody’s little pocket mirror – and thought what a picture I was.</span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-4405179222103585852014-09-08T19:33:00.003-07:002014-09-08T19:33:35.288-07:001914 September 7 - 9<br />
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 7<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Marched 3:45 a.m. joined [the] Advanced Guard to FALEYS.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> [On arriving we found that] engagement was in progress between our Cavalry and the enemy, but the enemy retreated before we could drop into action, [so we] continued [our] advance to JOUY-SUR-MORIN.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 8th<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[On our arrival at Jouy-Sur-Mor] fighting was in progress on our front. We turned to find a German [artillery] Battery [firing] at [us from] MONTSLAGIEL - [As the fighting continued], a thunderstorm [sprang up and] the Germans retreated.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[That night] we bivouacked in the rear of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. [There were] sounds of heavy fighting in front all night<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 9<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Marched at 4:00 a.m. with the Advanced Guard of 3rd Infantry Brigade to the river MARNE, and [the] Cavalry crossed the river. We finally stopped 2 ½ miles north of CHARLY.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Our advance resumed at daybreak on the 10th, and we were opposed by the enemy’s strong rearguard. We were able to drive the enemy northwards and in the process we obtained thirteen guns, seven machine guns, about 2,000 prisoners, and a quantity of transports. The enemy left many dead. <span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 10<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Marched at 6 am, at head of [the] main Body, and was soon in the thick of the fight [that afterwards would be] known as the Battle of the Marne. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We dropped into action in the open, my chum and I deciding to run our telephone wire, over a small ridge from our observing party to the Battery. [Doing so], a French Cavalryman galloped past me with blood running from himself and [his] horse.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I laid out my wire quickly to the guns, and as I was about to connect my instrument, [when] I heard a loud whining sound, [followed by] a horrific explosion, It was our christening of heavy artillery fire. [The bombardment continued] for two continual hours, it was Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I crouched beneath a gun limber, and thought each moment was my last. I was like a jelly man, and must confess my nerves were for the time gone. I wanted to run anywhere, and it was only by the greatest effort of will power, I stood to my work and yelled out the orders to the Battery Leader, for the firing of the guns.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">The Northampton and Sussex Regiments retired right through our guns, and drew the enemy’s fire on to us. Their retirement developed into a hopeless rabble and panic, our CRA Gen Finley and Colonel Sharpe with a few more Artillery Officers tried to stop them, and urge them to go forward, but it was no use.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">While trying to stop them the genl[sic] was killed and two officers wounded, and both regiments lost very heavily. Nothing was between us and the enemy. The infantry in their mad rush broke my telephone wire [and] I thought my chum at the other end had got knocked over, he thought the same of me. So the Battery for a few moments was out of action, but the orders were passed down by Semaphore<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/1%2012%202014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a> by two more chums, and we set out to mend our wire.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> [In the] mean time the 60<sup>th</sup> Rifles advanced where the Northampton’s and Sussex retired, and the enemy continued their retreat, how thankful we [were]. </span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412101061826084569.post-32737818037134371762014-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:002014-09-05T11:11:06.861-07:001914 September 1 - 6<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.4in 0in 1.5in;">
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<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G28SOB6" target="_blank">World War 1 - An Unkept Promise</a></span></i></h2>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 1<sup>st</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[We] marched at 5:30 a.m. and [it was a] long march to MAROLLE Bridge.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[We passed] COMPIEGNE [and found out later that] about a mile in our rear was attacked at dawn, L Battery H [indecipherable] getting knocked out. We moved just in time, but did not know how near we were to be out up, until later.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[Arrived] at 6:30 p.m. and I went to sleep by my saddle, [later] we were aroused by alarm at 11:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[We were asked] to move, for [the] Engineers were waiting to blow up the bridge. We got across, just in time and up went the bridge.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[The] German Cavalry were very close, [so] we marched through the night and halted on the roadside about 3:00 a.m. In less than a minute I was sound asleep on a friendly heap of stones.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Up again, marching again, how I longed for a sleep —anywhere. Continued retirement reached MEAUX at 5:30 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 2<sup>nd</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Marched via VARREDDES, GERMINGNY<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/1%2012%202014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a>, and bivouacked near JOUARRE, [it was a] long and weary march - very hot.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Halted nearly all day east of SAMMERON [where] the rear guard was slightly engaged – weather hot.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 4<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Marched to COULOMMIERS, [and] bivouacked early. [I was able to] washed my underclothing. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/1%2012%202014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[i]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">[I] thought we were going to have a day’s rest, but had to move quickly in the morning, and take up position SW of COULOMMIERS. We dug in and remained in action all night, leaving position at dawn; marched with Division to ROZNY</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">In position at ROZNY, [but] no contact with enemy. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We hear that the retreat is over, with the French we are to advance, how glad we were - anything but that continual marching</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">September 6<sup>th</sup></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">We were advancing, occupied a position east of [the town] of VOINSLES [so that we could] cover advance of [the] 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades. [We] moved forward and occupied [the] line [between] Le PLESSIS, and ANDNOY. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I dismounted behind the house and went inside, there I first saw house sacked by the Germans, [and] everything was destroyed. Outside I saw one of the Coldstream guards, killed by shrapnel, poor chap.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I thought then, I wondered if this means the breaking of a woman’s heart, or had he little children. It was my first close contact with a dead man, and it set me thinking. My thoughts were all with my dear ones at home. I shall always remember that hour, my real first initiation into the horrors of war. I cannot say I was afraid, it all seemed so strange, but we were advancing that was our cry we’ve got’em on the run, and we are going to have our own back. – bivouacked south of VOUDNOY.</span></i></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/1%2012%202014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[1]</span></span></span></a> Perhaps is now known as Germingny-sous-Coulombs</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Rickc/Documents/Journal%20Entries/Literary%20Agents/Reveille%20Press/1%2012%202014%20WWI%20Unkept%20Promise.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">[2]</span></span></span></a> Perhaps renamed Rosnay-sous-Bois</div>
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