MAY 1916 - DEATH AND CAPTAIN CHRISTMAS

Monday 1st 

Another early route march. Jolly hot. Should have been parade this afternoon but was cancelled. Blankets & Waterproof capes had to be given in. A sure sign of summer. J Norman goes on leave tonight. I had to go with 4 men & take charge of Blanket waggons to the laundry. Walked all the way but rode back. Got back about 8 o’clock. 

Tuesday 2nd 

B.O.S to day. Drilling defaulters this afternoon while the birds are singing lovely. Thunderstorm somewhere. But we did not get much of it. Played the privates of our Coy at football after duties mounted & we lost by 2 to none. Exciting game. Busy getting ready for tomorrow. 

Wednesday 3rd 

Up at 4.30 A.M. Shifted off at 7 A.M. Not too bad marching. Not quite as hot. Halted at mid-day at 10.30. Should have started again at 12.30 but the road is under observation so we had to remain in the wood until dark. Lovely spot where we stopped. After dinner the band played to us. We had a game of cards. It is more like a picnic at home. On the move again at 7.30. Reached our destination at 10.30 & glad to get there. Resting for the night in canvas huts. Rather cold sleeping.

Thursday 4th 

 Up at 6.30, & cleaned up ready for moving up to the trenches at 9 o’clock. Platoon Sgts have got to take over all stores. Another lovely morning. Hear the guns going plainly now. On the way up we stop at the Ex Force Canteen. Quite a decent step up. Reached the trenches about 11.30. It seems a decent show. The village has not been knocked about much. Plenty of fruit trees about. If we work it the same as the reg we relieve we shall have a desent time. Busy all afternoon taking over stores. The coy came in about 5 o’clock. Between 7.30 & 8 they started throwing those big bombs on our left. I was on duty from 8 to 10. Then packed down in the sig dugout. Hebuterne village where our trenches are.

 

Friday 5th 

A burning shame. Our chaps have to stick in the trenches day & night & cannot go back into the houses during the day time. So really they have no where to sleep comfortably. I was on duty from 4 A.M to 8 A.M. Then had a kip in the sig dug out until dinner time. In the Sigs Dug Out is a cat with 4 kittens. It gets looked after alright & seems quite at home. Artillery has been a bit active this afternoon. It looks like rain. I do the last patrol so turn in after stand down. 

Saturday 6th 

Up at 2 A.M. & found that we had had some rain. But was beginning to clear up. Feels rather colder. Rather windy. Had hopes of being relieved tonight, but were doomed to disappointment. Instead of going out we went up into the front line. Nearly all the Batt is in now. A Coy stands the zig again. On duty from 10 to 12. Pretty quiet day. Rained again after dark. 

Sunday 7th 

This morning went down to the cooker for breakfast. Quite a treat. The boys are busy in the front line scraping the bricks. The Huns did quite a lot of strafing this afternoon. I suppose it was Sunday with them. A heavy bombardment took place on our right to night. Lasted a few hours. Pat Dwyer goes out on patrol & has a thrilling time according to his reports ! 

Monday 8th 

Quite cold this morning. Very windy & rainy. We are being relieved this afternoon by the 7th M/sex. We are going to Bayencourt. Relief came in at ¼ to 3 & we lost no time in getting out. Had a hail storm on the way out. Took us about 2 hrs to reach our billets. Found a big draft awaiting us. So that made us busy allotting them to the different platoons. Made ourselves look a bit respectable. 

Tuesday 9th 

Draft only on Parade this morning but they could not do much owing to it raining. Tried again after dinner but did not keep it up long. Sgt of the Picquet to night. But did not mount ceremonial owing to the rain. Paid out to night so that spoiled another evening. Paid 20 francs - Bayencourt 

Wednesday 10th 

Turned out better to day. 9 to 12 Coy drill. No parade in the afternoon. Working party to night up the front line. Left here at 7 o’clock. Working in Tommy trench cleaning the dirt from the top prior to deepening it. Very quiet night. Back to Billet about 2.30. Bed at dawn. 

Thursday 11th 

Up at 8 o’clock. On parade at 11 AM. Coy orders from 12 to 1.45. All Sgts on the peg again. Highly amusing. Missed our dinner over it. Had to hurry on the S.Ms Parade. Night ops to night. Patrol work. 

Friday 12th 

Is there a war on ? I am in charge of a party cleaning up the road & digging channels. Like a District Council roadganger. And we are only about 3 miles from the firing line. All the Coy was on the job from 7 to 8. Lovely day. Owing to this fatigue party I did not go on the S.Ms parade. Working party to night started earlier. Working on the communication trench leading to an advance trench. Up to 11 o’clock it was very quiet. Just after 11 several shells came over & quite upset the apple cart. I had a close shave. Got out of the trench a few minutes previous & laid in a shell hole during the time. The chap I had been standing next to was killed. I stayed behind to collect tools & rifles. 

Saturday 13th 

Jolly tired when I got in this morning, wet through. What a state I was in. I didn’t need any rocking. Up at 9 o’clock. Wet morning. No morning parade. Lecture after dinner. Night Ops cancelled owing to rain. So was glad to get to bed early. 

Sunday 14th 

Gas helmet practice this morning from 9 to 12. Voluntary Church parade this morning in the Cinema. We had a full house. And it was very good. Had an old time Sunday afternoon 40 winks. Working party again to night. Hope it is not like the last one. Had a quiet night & a easy job. Were finished by 11.30. The rain kept off. 

Monday 15th 

Rev at 8. Kit inspection this morning. Wet morning. S.M’s parade after dinner. Cannot let us alone. Had a game of solo after tea. Before retiring had a few harmonious selections. Bombardment going on on our left. 

Tuesday 16th 

Was awakened just before 1 o’clock by a terrific bombardment that was going on. It seemed to have got down to our Sector. Had to stand to & pack up. Got the cooks to make some tea. Stood down again at 3 0’clock & went to sleep again. Off up to the line at 9.30. Advance party to take over. Expected to find the village smashed about more, but it had not been touched. We are in the village first. I am staying at the Chateau. Aeroplanes very active. Had some time fuses drop very close. Lovely day. Had to stand to in a trench from 8 to 9. Then went & had a kip. 

Wednesday 17th 

Stand to at 2.30 to 3.30 A.M. Breakfast at 5 A.M. Then continued my sleep. Went to the baths but when we got there we found that the pump had broken down, so came away unwashed. Another sleep after dinner. Owing to the fact of being Or. Sgt I miss the working party tonight. The Huns have got a new patent idea for bringing down aeroplanes. They look like silver bullets chasing one another up. They are fired from a pom pom I should think & no doubt are of an inflamable nature. The idea being to set the plane afire. 

Thursday 18th 

Very misty this morning at Stand too. Did very well for sleep to day. Working party to-night up the front line. Started at 8 o’clock. Pretty lively. Cpt Christmas captures 2 Huns, but in so doing got wounded himself. Went out with the SM. Looking for Cabbages. Found plenty of gooseberrys & currants. Someone got the wind up about mid night & made everybody stand to including all the working party. 

Friday 19th 

Had to work until 2 o’clock. Then we packed up & had to stand too. Breakfasted & packed down for a sleep. Take over the front line after dinner. Arrive there alright. Extremely quiet. Hope it keeps so while we are in. Very warm. The weather is too good for this game. Heard that Cpt Christmas has pegged out. Very sorry to hear it. I am the engineering Sgt to night. Have to repair all the parapets. Very busy. At it all night. A little bit of excitement amongst the patrols to night. 

Follow the link to view the Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorative certificate for Captain Bernard Lovell Christmas Captain Bernard Lovell Christmas | War Casualty Details 278270 | CWGC 

Saturday 20th 

Finished my job at Stand down & got congratulated for the work done. Go & get my breakfast, & then turn in to kip. Sleep until about 12 o’clock. Then dinner & on with work again. On duty from 9 to 12. Trench packed with chaps working. What a hullaballo at times. Sgt Norman went out on patrol & nearly got discovered. Very quiet night. Still keeps very hot. Various rumours floating through the air. 

Sunday 21st 

On duty from 6 to 9. Managed to get ½ hours sleep after breakfast. Managed a shave & a wash with the shaving brush this morning. Were relieved about 5.30PM by the L.R.B. We had just got clear of Tommy St when a coal box demolished a house stand at the top of the trench. I collected the Platoon & cleared off, in case there was any more knocking about. The band joined us on the road & livened us up a bit. 

Monday 22nd 

No stand to this morning. So laid in until 7AM. Only a clean fatigue parade & a kit inspection. I am busy being Or.Sgt. Lovely day. Very hot. We are all getting wind up over the rumours about digging a new advanced trench at Hebuterne. 

Tuesday 23rd 

Road cleaners again from 7 to 8. Had to listen whilst Army Act No 44 was read out. Nearly drove me to sleep. Paying out after dinner. This afternoon went & inspected a 9.2 Gun. It was very interesting. What a shell they fire. I should not like one to hit me, or to be near one when it fell. Sudden order for night Ops came in at 5PM. Full dress rehearsal for the digging affair. Of course we had a good march. We did it very well. Shan’t mind if we do as well on the night. Got back about 10.30. 

Wednesday 24th 

Up at 7AM. Had a pow wow from 9 to 11 about the coming stunt. Rained after dinner. I had a sleep. Waited until 10 o’clock before we moved off to practice the coming stunt. Not so bad. Got back at 2AM. 

Thursday 25th 

Rev was at 7.30, but we made it at 8.30. Only an hours parade this morning. Very showery. Lecture on the forthcoming stunt after dinner. No night Ops to night. Jim has left with the covering party to take up his residence at Sailly for the next few days. Hope all goes well with him. Had a good supper of rabbit & apricots & vin rouge. 

Friday 26th 

Had an extra lay in this morning. The G.O.C gave us a speech this morning at 11.30. Busy all day running here & a lecture there. At last the hour arrives for the great adventure. We reach Hebuterne alright and wait in the Orchard. When our platoon got out in No Man’s Land we found we were not wanted in the front line so we went back & worked on the communicator. A few shells & minnie’s flying about otherwise rather quiet. Quieter than I expected. 

Saturday 27th 

We straggled along homeward bound & got to St Amand about 3.30. Had breakfast & went to bed. Up again about 12 o’clock. Everybody said we had done fine. Parade again at 4.30 for more digging. Support trenches to night. Met in the Orchard again. Didn’t take long to get to work & get down. More strafeing to night. But not as much as I expected. Rotten job getting out. Very slow. 

Sunday 28th 

A bit later getting back. A few more casualties last night. When we got back to billets we heard that Jim Norman has been hit & severely wounded. Am awfully sorry to hear that. Also hear that Daines has been wounded. I & Charlie & Arthur go to Souastre to Church after tea. On the way we make enquiries about Jim. We find him in the field ambulance & see him. He does look bad. It is awful to see him. He recognises me. Hope he will recover. Full house at Church to night. Artillery a bit lively during the night. 

Monday 29th 

Orders for a full pack inspection under Cot arrangements. That got altered and we had to become road sweepers again. About 11 o’clock we had news that poor old Jim was dead, also Daines. I feel awfully cut up about it. Burying poor old Jim in the cemetery at St Amand. So went & paid my last respects to his memory. I, Arthur, Charlie & Paddy carried his body to the grave. At 4PM we lowered him into the grave. The Batt was strongly represented. All the Officers were present. In the evening I, Charlie & Arthur went to Bow Bells to hear the Div Concert Party. It was extra. Full house. Good singing & plenty of mirth. Met Edgar Wilson. 

Follow the links to view the Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorative certificates for Serjeant James Frederick Norman Serjeant James Frederick Norman | War Casualty Details 278144 | CWGC  and Private Harry F Daines Private H F Daines | War Casualty Details 278043 | CWGC 

Sergeant Norman's parents James & Elizabeth were to suffer even greater sorrow in the years to come.

Their eldest son Gunner Sydney James Norman of 141 Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery was killed in action, 1st July 1917 and rests in the Hop Store Cemetery, Vlamertinghe in Belgium.

A younger brother, Rifleman William John Norman, King's Royal Rifle Corps (attached to the London Regiment, Queen Victoria's Rifles) was killed at the Gheluvelt Plateau, 10 August 1917 and he is commemorated on a tablet at the Tyne Cot Cemetery at Zonnebekke in Belgium.

A third son, Lance Corporal Frank Percy Norman, Railway Construcion Company, Royal Engineers died in the 2nd Australian Auxilliary Hospital at Southall, Middlesex, 19 March 1918.  Whether he died from wounding, accident or illness is unclear but it is both ironic and comforting that he would have been visited by his family who lived close by.

The fourth son who volunteered to fight, Colour Serjeant Horace Robert Norman, Royal Fusiliers, Machine Gun Corps survived the war and passed away in 1968.

Tuesday 30th 

About 1 AM orders came through to stand to. As soon as we had awakened the Platoons the orders came round to stand down. On working party all day. In the morning railway constructors. After dinner digging bomb trenches. I amused the Coy in general by giving them an exhibition of my patent bomb gun. After tea I & Charlie went & put an evergreen cross & flowers on Jim’s Grave. SM busy today making up the men’s kit. 

Wednesday 31st 

Another working party today. Shall be out all day. So we Sgts are going to make a pic-nic of it. We are going to the quarries near Henue. At the last minute Charlie & Welbourne get dismissed. So only I & Whyles go. What lovely country round here. It is a perfect day. Knocked off at 3.30. I plucked a wild rose. A nice perfume attached to it. Spent a quiet evening.