Frank gets a lift on a London Bus from Doullens, part of the way back to camp.See diary 21st & 22nd May.May 1916
June 1916
1st Thursday/10th Saturday
Night Duty.
11th Sunday
Gaudiempre
.
15th Thursday
Gaudiempre. Hospital night duty.
Operation to toe rt foot.
19th Monday
Gaudiempre.
Moved from tent Hospital to new huts, which are being completed, B Sect in bivouacs, A & C tent Sub Div in bell tents, remainder run line.
23rd Friday
No duty.
Heavy storm, watched kite balloon break loose and disappear.
Bgde working party out up trenches in advanced trench, whizz-banged by Germans 150 casualties, came through our Hospital Gaudiempre.
24th Saturday
Gaudiempre.
Made Motor Orderly.
Went up the line at night at Foncquevillers.
Heavy bombardment by our Artillery.
[The opening bombardments of the First Battle of the Somme were reportedly audible on Hampstead Heath, London.]
25th Sunday
Gaudiempre.
Went with Car to CCS Doullens.
[CCS - Casualty Clearing Station]
26th Monday
The Car goes to Savy 25 miles each way.
27th Tuesday
Doullens by car, taking wounded to CCS.
30th Friday
Return to my Sect for duties while the Charge is in progress.
Hospital duties.
Allies make combined offensives on this front.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
1st July 1916- First Day of the First Battle of the Somme
1st Saturday
Staffs Infantry lead Charge and go over top at 7.30am.
46 Division make a Charge at Foncquevillers and Staffs Bgde reach Germans where from which they are forced to return, being greatly outnumbered, the German shell fire was deadly and terrific casualties numbering 2000 for Div.
Notts & Derbys make an advance, British advance at several points.
[On this the first day of the first Battle of the Somme, British Army casualties were approximately 21000 killed and 25000 wounded.]
2nd Sunday
I am on Hospital duty during Charge, at Gaudiempre, wounded continue to come in convoys. Colley, B Sect killed on 1/7/16 and several Notts & Derbys. British continue to bombard on a long front and infantry attacks and successes at many points.
Bearers return from trenches.
46 Div come out of action.
2nd Sunday
I am on hospital duty during Charge, at Gaudiempre,wounded continue to come in convoys. Colley,B Sect killed on 1-7-16 and several Notts & Derbys. British continue to bombard on a long front and infantry attacks and successes at many points. Bearers return from trenches.46 Div come out of action.
3rd Monday
Advance party of B Sect leave Gaudiempre and march to Bailleulval and take over dressing station 1 1/2 miles in rear of line. Quiet time.
Motor orderly.
4th Tuesday
Bailleulval.
Motor orderly.
Travelling to La Herlière Headquarters and Hospital.
Aft. Berles and La Herlière.
9th Sunday
From Bailleulval to La Herlière.
No. 18 car finished first week up line.
10th Monday
Car returns to La Herlière and journeys to Couturelle and Doullens, Avesnes and Frevent.
12th Wednesday
Went to Bailleulval to baths, and on to ADMS.
Return to Hospital La Herlière and from there to Berles.
13th Thursday/14th Friday
Car goes to 2nd NMFA and 1st NMFA with dental cases. At night all Cars are sent up to Berles at 10pm o’clock in readiness for casualties from our bombing attack. Terrific bombarding by our artillery for some hours. Cars return to La Herlière at 5.30am o’clock.
15th Saturday
Doullens by Car, taking eye cases.
17th Monday
Motor Orderly.
Berles.
21st Friday
New General inspects the Unit and Cars, all is satisfactory.
22nd Saturday
Motor orderly.
Car staying at Head Quarters La Herlière
Went to Doullens and Frévent 60 miles in all.
26th Wednesday
Doullens by Car, and Bavincourt.
28th Friday
Left La Herlière for Berles to work the line, constantly taking sick and wounded from Dressing Station to Hospital La Herlière.
29th Saturday
Called up at 3am o’clock to take wounded man to Hospital La Herlière, again at 2pm and 10pm.
Heavy bombardments.
30th Sunday
Journeyed to Hospital at 2am, B Sect relieved from lines and take over Hospital at La Herlière, A Sect coming up the line.
31st Monday
Returned for duty to B Sect, who are running Hospital at Berles, at which I am put on Orderly Duty No. 1 ward, hours 7am to 7pm, all beds full.
Monday, 14 February 2011
[Frank's younger brother Fred enlists in the Royal Engineer's and arrives in France for the first time, he sends this card from Rouen to Frank. Fred write's that he had sea sickness crossing the channel but was feeling better now, he also said I guess I will not be in Rouen long.
See diary entry for 8th August]
August 1916
4th Friday
Many casualties from Working Party, who were out in front of our line.
6th Sunday
Hospital Duty.
Many accidental wounds admitted.
7th Monday
Hospital Day Duty.
Lovely weather prevails.
8th Tuesday
Hospital Duty.
Fred lands at Rouen.
(Fred is Franks’ younger brother)
Good progress is being made on all fronts.
Hospital Day Duty Ward no 1, only one orderly. Wet weather prevails.
9th- 19th Saturday
Hospital Day Duty.
C and part of B Sect return from the line.
Lovely weather prevails.
26th Friday
Romania declares war on Austria, Germany’s Declaration on Romania.
Hospital Day Duty.
September 1916
2nd Saturday
Hospital.
Changed from Day Duty to Night after 1 month on days.
Sept 191Hospital Night Duty.
(written in a French hand) -
Lucie Branle
La Herlière
Par L’Arbret
Pas de Calais
11th Monday
Part of B Sect are sent up the line nightly in readiness for our Gas attack.
12th Tuesday
written in a French hand -
Madame Branle Dubois
La Herlière
Par L’Arbret
Pas de Calais
13th Wednesday
Night Hospital Duty.
Very cold.
15th Friday
Bombing party of 12 Germans attack 5 N Staffs, and are taken prisoner, the wounded Germans coming into our Hospital 6 am o’clock.
16th Saturday
Great British advance.
Flers, Martinpuich, and Courcelette captured, Foureaux & Bouleaux Woods
also won 2300 Prisoners. For the first time new kind of Armored Car is used, Caterpillar.
October 1916
2nd Monday
Changed from Night to Day Duty, No 1 ward.
14th Saturday
Berles heavily shelled by Germans. Horace Harding killed, Wolverhampton Bty.
17th Tuesday
Left Hospital La Herlière and marched to Berles to work the line, relieving C Sect.
I took up Night Duty in Dressing Station, which was situated in cellar.
18th Wednesday
Berles.
Night Duty.
Wet weather.
Bombing raid by Leicesters. German officer killed.
22nd Sunday
Heavy bombarding by both artilleries.
24th Tuesday
Changed from Night to Day Duty, Dressing Station next door to Signals, at which J.E. was on duty.
25th Wednesday
Berles-au-Bois.
Day Duty Dressing Station. 6th S Staffs make bombing raid, a party of 120, a great success, 6 unwounded prisoners taken.
26th Thursday
Berles-au-Bois.
Day Hospital Duty.
At night went up with Infantry as a Stretcher Bearer, as Gas was being taken up.
27th Friday
Hospital Day Duty. Received many birthday cards, and spent a good day at Dressing Station,
29th Sunday
Day Duty at Dressing Station. Relieved by another Field Ambulance and marched back to La Herlière arriving at 6.30pm o’clock. Had a good time with M.
30th Monday
Marched away from La Herlière at 11am o’clock in pouring rain, and reached Brévillers at 3pm o’clock a distance of 12 miles. B and C Sect billeted in one large room.
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