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17th April 1917
Three transports sunk in the channel.
Gas in modern warfare was one aspect of our military training which had so far been neglected apart from one afternoon wholly spent in putting on the masks by numbers. The deficiency was hurriedly attended to.
Gathered together in a sealed off tunnel, the box gas respirators were adjusted as per instructions followed by an examination by the NCO in charge who undoubtedly took much pleasure in his assignment. Having made much play with the errors and the tragedies which would ensue in the event of faulty adjustment he proceeded to turn on the gas. For a few moments we breathed deeply and all was well then tragedy threatened one of our companions who was obviously in trouble. His frantic signals could only be interpreted as a matter of a leaky mask. Any moment we expected to see the poor fellow writhing in his death agonies on the floor. Everyone dashed out of the tunnel and the unlucky individual was relieved of his mask. The victim, pale and sweating and weeping copiously, soon recovered. The incident was, of course, staged by the NCO to be a lesson and for the benefit of our morale – with perhaps an element of vicious intent! The tear gas was quite harmless but he had tested our masks and his pupils.
At tea time we were warned for the draft to France on the following day.
We paraded at the E company office and were served out with a pay-book, “QWR” jack knife and field dressing with an iodine phial – causing a terrific wind-up.
* Ernest wrote up these original journal notes soon after his return to England. He completed the final journal that comprises the main part of this blog, and was based on these early notes, during his later years.
Gas in modern warfare was one aspect of our military training which had so far been neglected apart from one afternoon wholly spent in putting on the masks by numbers. The deficiency was hurriedly attended to.
Gathered together in a sealed off tunnel, the box gas respirators were adjusted as per instructions followed by an examination by the NCO in charge who undoubtedly took much pleasure in his assignment. Having made much play with the errors and the tragedies which would ensue in the event of faulty adjustment he proceeded to turn on the gas. For a few moments we breathed deeply and all was well then tragedy threatened one of our companions who was obviously in trouble. His frantic signals could only be interpreted as a matter of a leaky mask. Any moment we expected to see the poor fellow writhing in his death agonies on the floor. Everyone dashed out of the tunnel and the unlucky individual was relieved of his mask. The victim, pale and sweating and weeping copiously, soon recovered. The incident was, of course, staged by the NCO to be a lesson and for the benefit of our morale – with perhaps an element of vicious intent! The tear gas was quite harmless but he had tested our masks and his pupils.
At tea time we were warned for the draft to France on the following day.
We paraded at the E company office and were served out with a pay-book, “QWR” jack knife and field dressing with an iodine phial – causing a terrific wind-up.
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| Original diary entry |
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| Original journal notes * |
* Ernest wrote up these original journal notes soon after his return to England. He completed the final journal that comprises the main part of this blog, and was based on these early notes, during his later years.
16th April 1917
The draft paraded complete with overseas kit for inspection by General Monkman, GOC London District.
The purport of his speech apparently made no impact.
The purport of his speech apparently made no impact.
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| Original diary entry |
15th April 1917 (Sunday)
With the approach of the fateful day preoccupation with preparation for the coming journey resulted in a sparsity of entries in the diary.
It is recorded that church parade was held at St Matthews and also, for what it is worth, my good friends Smith and Offer entertained me to a farewell tea at ‘Tickners’.
It is recorded that church parade was held at St Matthews and also, for what it is worth, my good friends Smith and Offer entertained me to a farewell tea at ‘Tickners’.
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| Original diary entry |
13th April 1917
All day route march with packed rations. Not a good day – the o/c misjudged the direction at a cost to the weary of several miles and blistered feet.
It was Friday 13th!
It was Friday 13th!
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| Original diary entry |
12th April 1917
The issue of draft kit gave us the clue to our destination.
Not for us the khaki shorts, the pith helmets or the sands of the deserts. The long woolly pants, the thick shirts and the overcoats could only mean the Western Front and with the newspapers making the most of the victory of the Rimy Ridge we had no qualms – the war was nearly over. The embroidered QWR shoulder flashes, the insignia of the overseas man, were sewn on with schoolboyish enthusiasm. The stiff Broderick cap was converted into the overseas ‘soft’ variety by removing the stiff wire with less enthusiasm. The packet of first field dressing complete with iodine phial was stitched up in the small pocket at the bottom of the uniform jacket.
Not for us the khaki shorts, the pith helmets or the sands of the deserts. The long woolly pants, the thick shirts and the overcoats could only mean the Western Front and with the newspapers making the most of the victory of the Rimy Ridge we had no qualms – the war was nearly over. The embroidered QWR shoulder flashes, the insignia of the overseas man, were sewn on with schoolboyish enthusiasm. The stiff Broderick cap was converted into the overseas ‘soft’ variety by removing the stiff wire with less enthusiasm. The packet of first field dressing complete with iodine phial was stitched up in the small pocket at the bottom of the uniform jacket.
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| Original diary entry |
11th April 1917
Our allotted ‘six weeks’ were up and at the first parade came the anticipated preliminary warning.
Those who fell out for the overseas draft were in theory highly trained men, physically fit and in all respects qualified to do battle with the foe. We ourselves had no doubt on the question of health and strength (that much at least was owed to the army) and it may be assumed that our youthful exuberance refused to admit any deficiency in the military sphere. On dismissal little groups of excited men foregathered to discuss the one overriding question – not when but where? The scheduled night hops were cancelled for the overseas men and apart from the issue of another new rifle we were free to ponder upon the future and to stock up on the minor necessities for travel that were not provided by army issue.
I took the opportunity to clear up a little matter that had bothered me for several weeks past. Before joining up I had purchased a wristwatch – “one which would stand up to really rough treatment”. Unfortunately the glass was soon broken in the course of training. Behind the counter of a small watch repairer shop a very old man with a long grey beard made several attempts to fit a new glass but regretted he had not one in stock. If I would return next week he would “contact the wholesalers for the correct size”. The watch was returned to the makers to be delivered next week. By the time I was free to visit the old man again we had been warned for overseas draft on the following day but the watch “had not been returned from the makers, the war you know”. I had been slow on the uptake but at last the penny dropped. My immature appearance was perhaps mistaken and I had been subjected to gross trickery. The little bit of Irish came to the fore and I demanded my watch immediately or I would “fetch the Gang”. Without a word the old man opened a drawer and handed over my watch complete with fitted glass for which, incidentally, I refused to pay. I wonder how many Queen’s Westminster’s at Redhill went overseas never to return - with their watches still in the possession of that old man. I might perhaps add that my ‘Cyma’ with its solid steel case, now pitted with rust, gave sterling service and survived the mud of Flanders.
Warned for Draft. France or Mesopotamia? (1)
Gas drill all day.
New rifle D.P.
No night hops.
France.
(1) Wikipedia entry for Mesopotamia here
Those who fell out for the overseas draft were in theory highly trained men, physically fit and in all respects qualified to do battle with the foe. We ourselves had no doubt on the question of health and strength (that much at least was owed to the army) and it may be assumed that our youthful exuberance refused to admit any deficiency in the military sphere. On dismissal little groups of excited men foregathered to discuss the one overriding question – not when but where? The scheduled night hops were cancelled for the overseas men and apart from the issue of another new rifle we were free to ponder upon the future and to stock up on the minor necessities for travel that were not provided by army issue.
I took the opportunity to clear up a little matter that had bothered me for several weeks past. Before joining up I had purchased a wristwatch – “one which would stand up to really rough treatment”. Unfortunately the glass was soon broken in the course of training. Behind the counter of a small watch repairer shop a very old man with a long grey beard made several attempts to fit a new glass but regretted he had not one in stock. If I would return next week he would “contact the wholesalers for the correct size”. The watch was returned to the makers to be delivered next week. By the time I was free to visit the old man again we had been warned for overseas draft on the following day but the watch “had not been returned from the makers, the war you know”. I had been slow on the uptake but at last the penny dropped. My immature appearance was perhaps mistaken and I had been subjected to gross trickery. The little bit of Irish came to the fore and I demanded my watch immediately or I would “fetch the Gang”. Without a word the old man opened a drawer and handed over my watch complete with fitted glass for which, incidentally, I refused to pay. I wonder how many Queen’s Westminster’s at Redhill went overseas never to return - with their watches still in the possession of that old man. I might perhaps add that my ‘Cyma’ with its solid steel case, now pitted with rust, gave sterling service and survived the mud of Flanders.
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Warned for Draft. France or Mesopotamia? (1)
Gas drill all day.
New rifle D.P.
No night hops.
France.
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| Original diary entry |
10th April 1917
Dental parade all day. Two teeth extracted.
Rifle and sword No. 939.
Rifle and sword No. 939.
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| Original diary entry |
9th April 1917
Squad drill morning.
Afternoon free.
Offer and Smith.
Great advance - Vimy Ridge captured. 11,000 prisoners, 100 guns. (1)
(1) Wikipedia entry for Battle of Vimy Ridge here
Afternoon free.
Offer and Smith.
Great advance - Vimy Ridge captured. 11,000 prisoners, 100 guns. (1)
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| Original diary entry |
7th April 1917
Paraded full pack, etc.
"Lecture" from Captain Martin.
Transferred. E Company 18 Platoon.
Billet. Empty house. "Ellora", Devon Crescent.
Smith and Offer.
Google Maps entry for Devon Crescent here
"Lecture" from Captain Martin.
Transferred. E Company 18 Platoon.
Billet. Empty house. "Ellora", Devon Crescent.
Smith and Offer.
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| Original diary entry |
6th April 1917 (Good Friday)
Leave.
Back to Redhill.
8:05 from London Bridge.
Slept.
61 Frenches Road.
Back to Redhill.
8:05 from London Bridge.
Slept.
61 Frenches Road.
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| Original diary entry |
5th April 1917
Leave.
Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Ilford, Cranbrook Park, Forest Gate - Daisy's.
Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Ilford, Cranbrook Park, Forest Gate - Daisy's.
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| Original diary entry |
3rd April 1917
Leave.
Office.
To lunch with Rigden and Western.
Tea in Office.
Palladium.
Office.
To lunch with Rigden and Western.
Tea in Office.
Palladium.
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| Original diary entry |
31st March 1917
General Musketry Course finished.
Mad minute etc.
1st Class shot. 95 points.
Rifle 426.
3rd in Company.
Mad minute etc.
1st Class shot. 95 points.
Rifle 426.
3rd in Company.
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| Original diary entry |
29th March 1917
General Musketry Course
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General Musketry Course.
Beat Morgan and Reese.
First in D Company.
Classification began.
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| Original diary entry |
28th March 1917
General Musketry Course
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General Musketry Course.
Ahead in D Company.
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| Original diary entry |
27th March 1917
General Musketry Course
General Musketry Course.
Parcel from home.
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| Original diary entry |
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