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.

JUNE 1916 - PREPARING FOR THE BIG PUSH

Thursday 1st

Had 2 hrs drill this morning. Same old thing. Rifle exercises by numbers. Had the afternoon off. Another roll to day. Played the men at football this evening and reversed the result. We won by 1 to 0. Had a cold bath after. It was fine.

Friday 2nd

Spent an easy day to day. I had no working parties or parades to do. So had a short country ramble. Sgt Hawke rejoined us this afternoon & has been posted to No 3 Platoon. Had a good supper to night of rabbit & peaches & custard.

Saturday 3rd

Another working party this morning. Near Souastre digging a trench for telephone wires. I attend. Afternoon free except for a rifle inspection & a bit more about smoke helmets. Played the transport at football after tea & beat them by 3 to 1. Not much of a game. I played left back. Start cleaning up for guard on the morrow.

Sunday 4th

On Guard to day at Henu. Left St Amand at 9 o’clock & reached Henu at 9.45. Relieved Johnny Fox. Some guard judging by the noise. Am guarding the General of the division & the chateau where he hangs out. Cushy guard. Nothing doing. Very windy in the night.

Monday 5th

Dawn broke very cloudy & later on it commenced to rain but cleared up before I was relieved. Sgt West relieved me. He arrived before I was ready. But I soon got ready and we changed in style. Were paid after dinner & we celebrated it by a good supper. Sausages & tomatoe sauce & mashed potatoes. Peaches & Custard & Vin Blanc. Played the Privates of our Coy at football after tea. After an hours played the score was 1 each. We played an extra ½ hour but could not alter the score.

Tuesday 6th

Working party up the quarries at Henu. All day affair. When we got there it started raining so we sheltered. We made several attempts to start work by owing to the rain we had to pack up at dinner time. Cleared up after dinner. Played the Sigs after tea. A good game. We lost by 2 to 1. Only had 9 men first half. I played back.

Wednesday 7th

Working party on the cable trench this morning. Rather dull day. About 12.30 down came the soup so we packed up. Fine again by the time we got back. At 5.30 the batt. Paraded to see the presentation of cards to those men who distinguished themselves on the working party. Cpl Beach was the only one in A Coy. Had a bath to night.

Thursday 8th

Visit the Quarries to day to a little work. Had a stroll round and found a lovely little glade. Like the Goyt valley. Rather showery.

Friday 9th

Again visit the Quarries. Had a stroll round the woods & got lost, were away 1 ½ hrs. Went out to dinner. Had hot rolls, fried eggs & coffee. Played C Coy at football to night. Very unsatisfactory game. We lost 3 to 1. I again played back.

Saturday 10th

No working party to day. We go out to night instead. So one or two paltry parades arranged. But Bridge came over to inspect Gas Helmets & it raining heavily parades got cancelled. Cleared up a bit before we went out on the working party. To the left of the Corderoy track where we are working Cable track. Very quiet & Got slightly wet.

Sunday 11th

Had breakfast in bed ! this morning. Got up at 11.30 then the S.M had to lecture us at 12 o’clock. That lasted an hour then we got the news to be on parade at 1.30. Had to rush about to gratify the whim of a pompous monied Ld Mayor of London. After standing on parade for 3 hrs & he not turning up we chucked the game up. Off out again to night at 6.30. Same place. Very quiet.

Monday 12th

Got in at 2AM. Had some custard & tea. Roused up at 8AM for rolls draw rations etc. Those that have not been out do not care a scrap about the sleep of those that have. What a Whit Monday to be remembered. Rained nearly all day. Started raining again when we started on our working party. About 11 o’clock it was a soaker. Packed up at 11.30. What a game coming home. Could hardly keep our feet. The worst working party I have been on.

Tuesday 13th

Got back about 2AM drenched. But the worse the conditions are the better the spirit of the men. We were singing all the way home. And it was raining hard & pitch dark. When we got in we heard that we are out again to night. We had been dwelling on false hopes. Could not get up until 10.30 as we were having our clothes dried. Kit inspection at 2 o’clock. I touched lucky and did not go out on working party to night. Plenty of rain to day.

Wednesday 14th

Nothing to do until 2.30 PM. Then I took 80 men down to the baths at Sailly. When we got their found that they had shifted but eventually found the place. Got back in time for pay. Then went and had supper at an estamient. No working party at all to night. At 11 o’clock the time was advanced one hour.

Thursday 15th

We have been done out of an hours sleep. Got up at ½ past 5 & really it was ½ past 4. All on a working party to day at Sailly. Making a cutting for a light railway. The rain keeps off. Knocked off at 3 o’clock. Got back about 5PM. At 6.30 feet & Gas Helmet inspection. It seems funny going to bed while it is still light. The boys are not used to it yet. They kept roaming about after 9 o’clock.

Friday 16th

Working party today in F.S.M.O. I touch lucky being B.O.S. But spend a busy morning inspecting billets. We leave St Amand at 2 o’clock. Lovely wooded country we march through. Arrive at St Halloy about 5 o’clock. Billeted in huts. Some of the others arrive at 7 o’clock & some at 8 o’clock. Got to bed at 10PM. Cold sleeping.

Saturday 17th

Florrie’s Birthday. Spent to day inspecting models of the German line about Hebuterne. Also took the platoon over them. That kept us occupied until 6PM. Then had tea & visited the canteen. Uproar in the middle of the night. A few of the CSM & 2 M Sgts got well oiled and came in our hut. Our Quarter slung one of them out. At the finish we had to fetch our Officers to them. So did not get much sleep.

Sunday 18th

Still doing working parties. Start out at 7.30 for Pas. F.S.M.O without packs. Lovely little town is Pas. Right in the middle of a forest & down in a valley. Loading up logs. Had a few drinks after tea. About 8 PM we saw an aeroplane fight. Very exciting. We brought him down.

Monday 19th

I have a days holiday to day. So lay in until 9.30. After dinner we had to go to the baths at Pas. Jolly fine bath. The band played us back. Got back about 6 PM.

Tuesday 20th

Another holiday to day. Rev at 5AM. But we don’t get up until 7AM. At 10 we have to over the trenches again. Pay after dinner. Then I cleaned up for Guard. Had to turn out once to the smouldering ruins, but soon settled that.

Wednesday 21st

Had a fire going all night so did not worry about the cold. The Coy moved off at 6AM. I follow at 2 PM. Another moving day. Dismissed the Guard at 2PM. Then I took my men on to Maunolicourt where the Coy was unloading trains. Immense RE stores there. Had a high tea Lettuce, Peaches & Cherries & biscuits. Left there about 6PM reaching Henu at 7.30. But were not allowed to go into the village.

Thursday 22nd

Had a longer lay in this morning getting up at about 8.30 instead of 6.30. Lovely warm day. Had a stroll down to the village before dinner. On the move again before 4 o’clock. Marched to Sailly. Reached there about 7PM. Billeted there for the night.

Friday 23rd

Very Hot first thing. Aeroplanes very active. This afternoon we had a heavy thunder storm. It came down in sheets. The thunder was continuous. Never heard anything like it before. Cleared up by tea time. Nothing doing to night, so had a bit of a sing song. Rained again in the night & wakened me by dripping on me. So I had to shift my bed.

Saturday 24th

The Guns woke me up a bit earlier this morning. Mixed weather we are having to day. Sunshine & rain. Judging by the row I should think that they have started the bombardment. Had a game of cards this afternoon. Aeroplanes have been busy in the fine intervals. Expect Charlie White is enjoying himself down in Rouen by now. Still Strafeing Hard.

Sunday 25th

During the night our billet was shelled. It caused a commotion in the dark. Unfortunately poor old No 3 Platoon got all the casualties. 2 killed & 3 Wounded. Sgt Hawke wounded. This morning we shifted our billets to higher up the road, & later on the boys left the billet for the trench where they intend to stop. Working party to night, but I did not go out Up the line somewhere.

Monday 26th

Sgt Dwyer left us this morning. Got a Police job I believe. It is not too bad where we are now, but the boys still prefer the trench. Had to do 20 minutes rifle drill after dinner in the orchard. The cooker left us to night but they left the Dicksee’s behind. Bad headache to night. Rained heavily.

Tuesday 27th

Still putting up with the row. We made a feint smoke attack this morning. After dinner had to go up to the front line on a working party. Didn’t fancy going over the Corderoy track, but we managed it alright. Cleaning out the Communication trenches. Some of them were knee deep in water. Coming back our guns weren’t half speaking. I was glad to get back to Sailly. Wasn’t half in a state.

Wednesday 28th

More rain. We paraded at 2 o’clock ready to proceed to Hebuterne, but the order came up telling us to stand by. Postponed for 24 hrs I believe owing to the wet. Later on we get orders for a working party. 2 Sgts wanted. I am unlucky for I click. Cleaning up communication trenches. Work from 10 to 2. Our guns were busy during the night. The Huns did not reply much. Got back about 4AM. Wet feet.

Thursday 29th

Did not get up until 11 o’clock. More working parties but I get let off to night. Not Sorry either. Some of our bombers go out on a bombing raid. Two out of my platoon do not return. 1 gets wounded the other is missing. It was a lovely night up the line I believe.

Friday 30th

Same old row continues. I write home & send some money to Mother. Working party ordered, the next minute it is cancelled. On parade at 5 PM ready to move up to Hebuterne. Turned out lovely after dinner. We had another Gas Helmet inspection. Left Sailly about 7 PM & occupied trenches at Hebuterne just behind the road. Busy drawing extra ammo etc & dishing some out. Could not sleep as we did not have our coats with us.