The Diary of Gunner Frederick Doonan

36th (Australian) Heavy Artillery Brigade
26th February 1917 - 4th February 1919

This is an edited* transcript of the hand written diary of the World War 1 experiences of an Australian Artilleryman in 1917-18, No 77 Gunner Frederick Doonan 36th (Australian) Heavy Artillery Brigade.

The diary was transcribed by Glen McIntyre.

36th Heavy Artillery Brigade was a unit raised from the Permanent Military Forces (PMF) consisting of 54th & 55th Siege Batteries & as such went overseas to the war, being designated AIF, and the batteries later renumbered 1st and 2nd Australian Seige Batteries (36th Heavy Artillery Brigade is often referred to as 36th Heavy Artillery Group).

Gunner Doonan was designated AIF from 5 June 1915 (his PMF enlistment details have not been determined), departed from Melbourne 17 July 1915 & returned to Australia 19 April 1919.

This diary was kept in a leather bound quarto size "Army Book 152 Correspondence Book (Field Service)". The cover is deeply marked "77 F Doonan 54 SB RAA" (denoting 54 Seige Battery). Its first entry was written in France on 26th February 1917, the book being meticulously kept until filled (217 pages) on 4th February 1919 while still on active service in France.

Doonan and his signaller mates were also bandsmen from pre-war days.

* As noted above, Gunner Doonan was very fastidious in the recording of his experiences. With rare gaps whilst on leave and in a few other (unexplained) instances, he recorded a diary entry every day between February 1917 and February 1919. Accordingly, there are many days when there were few events of note. An example would be the following entry for Friday 6 July 1917:

Rolled out about 9AM. On duty at 3PM. Spent a quiet day playing cards most of the time. Not on duty till 6AM to-morrow.

For the sake of presenting the diary in a state that will be more readable to users of the website, days where Gunner Doonan's activities fell within the "90 percent boredom" class often ascribed to wartime experiences have been, in most cases, not included in this edited version. A sample of such days have been included in order to provide the reader with an appreciation of the overall experience of serving in an artillery battery on the Western Front during 1917 and 1918.

The edited text follows -

Monday 26th February 1917
The Battery still in position in rear of Contalmaison, not much work doing. I am having a few hours rest after a strenuous day yesterday (cook's mate). Changed my clarionette mouthpiece & about to have a quiet half hours practice. Had a good practice, 1 hour. Went to new position in afternoon & needed about a mile of wire, got back early. After tea visited Har. George, Harry & I made menus for my Birthday Dinner, had supper consisting of cocoa without milk or sugar & bread & marmalade, retired early 9.30PM.

Tuesday 27th February 1917
Strong rumours that we are moving anytime. So all our arrangements for our champagne dinner are hit out. Paybook arrived but I could not have it owing to a mistake at HQ London. I go on duty at 3PM on Battery. Drew last shift & had to sleep in the telephone room, everything went OK. Made arrangements with Har to go to Albert tomorrow. (28/2/17) Come off duty 9AM. First party went up to Courcellette to dig new position.

Wednesday 28th February 1917
Harry Hogetts & I left Battery for Albert at 11AM, we walked to Bapaume Road & caught a lorry right in, done a fair heap of shopping then started for home. Lorries had stopped running so we had to walk all the way back arriving at 2.30PM. Bill Crosby & I started cooking. We sat down to dinner at 5PM. The menu consisted of tomato soup, curried fowl, plum duff, pears & custard & champagne. George Purdue, Bill Purcell, Harry Hogetts, Bill Crosby & I. Everything went tip top, we finished up at about 10.30 and turned in.

Thursday 1st March 1917
It was up to me to get breakfast. It consisted of bread, tea & bully beef. Two of our caterpillars
arrived at 7AM and they started to pull the guns out but the mud made things very awkward. We heard that our Infantry were advancing and that the Light Horse were coming up in large numbers (good news). All our guns are pulled out on the road, enroute for the gun park so it is likely we will have a rest for a few weeks. It has turned out a fine day, it is quite a treat to see a bit of sunshine. "Bombardier Crosby" has just started out to collect more wire. I have to go & fix up all our DIII phones. Finished the phones, cool breeze springing up. Made a fire in our dugout & had a quiet read. A couple of Bosche planes came over, had a scrap with a few of ours & one of ours was driven down, later a couple of our fighters drove them back. 4PM, Bosche plane set fire to one of our balloons which fell in flames. Spent a quiet evening, made a drop of cocoa and retired by 9PM.

Sunday 4th March 1917
Had to get up at 5.30AM on digging party laying light rail in front of Grandecourt. Any amount of dead laying about, British as well as German. I assisted to bury an unknown British Tommy . We finished at 4 and started for home, got there at 6AM feeling very tired, but after a good tea I felt bon. Received a letter from Rose Condon but none from Stell. Spent a quiet evening and turned in early.

Monday 5th March 1917
I drew 40 Fr = £1-8s-8d . On the same job again, did not feel too fresh. Snowing pretty heavy but it is too crook for Fritz to observe. One of the RGA chaps in 56 Battery was fooling about with an old German bomb and it went off wounding one chap pretty bad. We finished our job at 3.30AM & proceeded home again, very hard walking, owing to the snow having thawed, got home at tea time feeling "Boko Fatigue". Received a letter from Mark but still none from Stell. Har is having a game of patience and George is going strong on the gobstick. I am just going to have a read, book entitled "The Golden Chance", some book. Had cocoa & biscuits at 9, very nice too. Have to go out tomorrow & lay a line to our new position in Martinpuich also look for a new "Ome". Retired early.

Friday 9th March 1917
Woke at 9AM but never got out till the OP party arrived. Had switchboard & vibrator fixed up. I took the first wind report about 1.30 in this possie . Fired the first shot here at 3.12PM on Loupart Wood. Our rations have not turned up yet. All we had for our tea was an argument. Har went for water. The rest of the signallers arrived at 8.30PM with a lorry load of stores & kits, finished unloading at 11PM. We all had cocoa & a snack. All made themselves comfortable and turned in. I am on duty till 3AM. I spent a quiet 4 hours. Tried to read but it made me too sleepy so I gave it up & amused myself keeping the fire alight. Just 3AM, going to wake Har & turn in.

Saturday 10th March 1917
Battery started bombardment on Loupart Wood 4.45AM. Har woke me up at 6AM to look after phone, line disconnected. Har & George returned at 7AM. Line had been badly knocked about by 71 Siege . I came off duty at 9 & went to old position to change switchboards. Had dinner there & brought back Ted Nicksons's flute & piccolo. Sent Mark's mail on to him. Returned to Martinpuich & dug out a German stretcher then had tea and turned in early feeling very tired.

Sunday 11th March 1917
Up at 5AM on duty (phone). Things fairly quiet. Came off duty at 9 started to fix up steps in dugout. Party wanted for laying line to OP in front of Loupart Wood. Finished up and got through OK. On our way back we saw a German plane brought down. It fell from about 3,000ft. Arrived back at 1.30PM. Fixed up a few shelves in our "ome", then had a read & sleep till tea time. M&V ration & spuds for tea. Retired to my bunk once more to wait till rum comes on. Had my rum also a good read. Rod Milne came up . Went to bye bye at 9.30PM.

Monday 12th March 1917
Rolled out at 7.30AM. Went on duty at 9AM with Bill Purcell. Battery firing pretty well at day. Fritz dropped a few shell close to us, one a dud hit No.1 gun pit, no damage done. Started raining towards dinner time looks like setting in, showery. Received news of Britain troops occupying Baghdad on 11/5/17. Finished my shift at 7.30PM & sat up waiting for our ration & rum which never turned up so we made some coffee. Turned in at 10.30PM.

Wednesday 14th March 1917
Turned out at 8AM. Very dull morning with light showers. I went for a stroll with some of the boys through the village (Martinpuich). Found a reel of Bosche wire. Reeled 1/2 mile of metallic with Bill Crosby & George Purdue. Left the Battery at 1.10PM to go to old position with Bill Purcell, got my boots from the bookmaker. Saw some of the goods that Stella packed in the comforts. Brought back our rations & duff, had a bit of a practice on my gobstick, turned in 10.30PM.

Saturday 17th March 1917
St Patrick's Day and nothing to drink. Arose 8AM. The only green I could get to wear was the paper off a Three Castles cigarette tin and it acted well on a party laying line to new position at Warlencourt which we finished fairly early and got through to Battery. Saw good many Light Horsemen (patrols) going out. Our Infantry occupied Bapaume. Germans evacuated & set fire to all their dumps before leaving. George Perdue & I walked through the village of Warlencourt which was badly knocked about. Then we had a look at the But-de-Warlencourt which was also badly bent. Plenty of dead lying about. We saw Bapaume burning in the distance. Walked back along the Bapaume - Albert road which was very crowded with all kinds of traffic. Engineers erecting new lines & stores of all sorts going up. We then went to the soup kitchen but had bad luck (no soup). Returned to Battery at 3PM. Front very quiet, only one Mark VII firing. Party of us went & had a look over one of our fighting planes that fell at 11AM with (engine trouble), landed safely. Had tea "stew". 5th Brigade Band playing up the road. Went to Villa Station on light railway & brought back boko water, played cards. Had a blow, Bill Cros & I. Four big fires raging, must be the Hun clearing out. Had light supper (drink of water & a smoke) then turned in & had a read.

Sunday 18th March 1917
Turned out at 8, nothing doing. Huns still retreating. Went for a stroll with Cros & Cliff round Martinpuich. Saw German 8.2 Howitzer badly knocked about, also 5.9 which was properly smashed. We had some good fun bombing rats. On our way back we saw some RFC men working on the plane near our Battery. After dinner went collecting wire & then more bombing. Got paid when we returned, 40 Fr = £1-8s-8d. After tea played cards & won 50 Fr. Had some soup & turned in at 11PM.

Monday 19th March 1917
Rolled out at 7.30. Collected 4 reels of wire before dinner & again after dinner. Received letter from Millie Leach & answered it. After tea played cards. Received news of British advance on Somme and Mesopotamia. Went on duty at 8.30 instead of 5. Received news of Germans retreating on 80 mile front, 80 villages captured, 1 town with a population of 10,000 & 770 square miles of French territory captured. Also 3 Divisions of Turks in flight in Mesopotamia. Nothing doing our way at all, everything very quiet. Bill Purcell turned in at 11.30PM. Adjutant wanted an officer on the phone at 12.30AM. Guns to move out tomorrow & be parked in Albert. Called my relief Clifford & turned in.

Friday 23rd March 1917
Left Rubempry at 10.30. Turned out a nice day for marching, arrived at Beauval at 3PM feeling a bit tired. Billeted in a very draughty old building, looked like a Town Hall. Went down to the village with Cros to get a feed & succeeded in getting eggs & chips - felt much better after it. Bill went for a shave & I had a look at the church (fine place). Met George Perdue & Har Hodgetts. Went to a butchers shop & bought boko beefsteak - had it cooked at a cafe & had another feed. Had a walk round the town, few drinks & got back to billet at 9PM. Turned in.

Saturday 24th March 1917
Left Beauval at 10.30, bosker day. Passed through Doullens at 11.45. Arrived at Boquemaison at 1 & had a rest in a little patch off the road waiting for billets. Marched down to our billets about 3. Fairly comfortable in an old barn with plenty of straw. Went out as usual to look for a feed but all we could get was uncooked eggs. We got an old lady to cook them for us then Alf Boughin, Bill Cros & I polished off 6 each. Then we made tracks to an estaminet and had a couple of glasses of stout and 4 more eggs. Then returned to our billet & turned in at 8.

Wednesday 28th March 1917
Rolled out early to fall in at 8AM. Went to new position & made a dugout for the signallers. Finished at 4PM & had to wait for the lorry to take us back to Birles, which never left the position till about 9PM. Arrived back at billet at 11 to find nothing to eat & we all went very crook; but managed to rake up a couple of tins of bully and had a snack & turned in about 12.

Thursday 29th March 1917
Up early again. Packed all kit to move up to the Battery to live. Raining pretty heavy. Never caught a lorry till 12 & got to the possie about 2. Still raining, everything in a bad state, our dugout fairly dry. We got to work & fixed up bunks for ourselves. Fritz dropped a few shells on a ridge behind our Battery, no damage done. We finished our beds, made them very comfy, made some cocoa and turned in. I have to do my first shift on Battery; go on at 12.

Friday 30th March 1917
Went on duty at midnight and did a freeze for three hours. Everything fairly quiet, turned in at 3.30AM. Went on duty again at 8.30. Still very cold & quiet. Fixed three phones with new cells. Came off duty at 12. Had to lay a mile or two of metallic in afternoon to OP. Saw Hun plane come down. Returned to Battery in time for tea. Found my kitbag & our stove. Fixed the stove in, had a few tunes on the old gobstick with Cros, made some cocoa and turned in at 9.30. Wrote a stand easy card to Stell.

Sunday 1st April 1917
Got out at 8.30. Spent the morning making staples. Saw a German aeroplane shot down with a direct hit on the wing. Helped to build a dugout for the rest of the Sigs. Had a new respirator issued. Received a paper from Stella. Have to go on Battery at 3AM tomorrow morning so I turned in early.

Tuesday 3rd April 1917
Turned out at 8.30. Had to patrol our OP line as far as "B" test with Curly Weaver. Found it broken in one place, returned at 11.30. Spent quiet afternoon reading. Two new guns arrived so we had to lay a line to a new position in St Cathrine, returned at 9PM. I turned in and had a read.

Thursday 5th April 1917
Rolled out at 7.30 to do Cook's Mate, but had to go on the phone till nearly 9. Carried on with CM till tea time. Fritz shelled St Cathrine and hit an ammunition dump & set fire to a cartridge recess. 7 men were burnt to death. I got my paybook back, made the coffee as usual and turned in fairly early.

Friday 6th April 1917
Turned out at breakfast time, had a quiet morning. Sat by the fire & read, relieved Bill Purcell for dinner. Went on duty at 3PM. Got paid 40 Fr & came off duty at 9. Had a bit of a snack & turned in, go on duty at 12 again. Received news of French troops being in St Quentin.

Saturday 7th April 1917
Had a bit of a sleep in for a change. Spent a very quiet day. Went down to Louez with Jack White to buy some eggs. Succeeded in getting 4 doz & some Hot X Buns. NTB had an easy time till about 7.30PM then George Purdue & I went along OP line and found OK. Saw one of our balloons brought down by a German aeroplane, fine sight. New position line dis , party out OK-ing it. I turned in at 8.45PM.

Sunday 8th April 1917
Turned out early to go on Battery but lost the toss & don't go on till 3PM. Done all my washing, went on duty at 3PM on No.3 gun. Finished at 6.30, very heavy bombardment going on. Received letter from Mr Bondon. Drew last shift 6 to 9 tomorrow morning. Fritz sent over a few shrap near the 12-inch How.

Monday 9th April 1917
Infantry went over at 5.30AM and took first line after a bit of a struggle at 6.15. I came off duty at 9 and went out to Bethune Road and had a look at the strafe with Har Hogetts, a great sight. Prisoners coming in, in great numbers. Spent a very quiet day. Our guns were out of range at 4.30. Most of the 6-inch & 60-pounders have moved up. I turned in early & had the usual read. Our infantry advanced about 5 miles, number of prisoners not known. I wrote to Bill Brennan.

Tuesday 10th April 1917
Rolled out at 8.30, very cold morning. Snowed pretty heavily during the night. Nothing doing. Bread issue. Went down for water with Har Hodgetts. Started snowing again. We made pancakes all the afternoon out of issue biscuits & they turned out bon. Snowing again. Played bridge till about 9 then George Perdue made some tea & we turned in. Still snowing.

Wednesday 11th April 1917
No Rooty. Rolled out early to get ready to go on Battery but had to go to OP instead. Went to Eourie, everything very quiet. Finished our shoot at 12 then went to 55 OP along the Lille road. Saw about 20 dead Jocks laid out ready for burying. Got back to Battery at 1PM in the afternoon. I went to Arras with George Perdue. It was badly knocked about. We called in to see 55 Battery. Saw Fred & Bill Vercoe & Tom Nickson, all well. I saw an 8-inch How that had a premature in the bore & blew the gun to pieces killing 1 man & wounding 6 others. We got back to our Battery at tea time, wringing wet but had a good tea & soon got dry. Had a few hands of bridge after tea, made some coffee & turned in at 10PM.

Saturday 21st April 1917
Rolled out at 6.30AM. Had to lay a line to 20 Battery, finished about 9.30. Then Clifford & I went for a ramble. Saw a tank that had been hit, had a good look over it. On our way back to our Battery we had a look through the cemetery & saw several vaults that had been knocked in. After dinner I got to work on our new home, built two bunks and made it look a bit decent. Fritz shelling a good deal, several falling round our position. Spent a quiet evening, finished my book (Rainbow Island) had a drop of tea that Mark made then turned in.

Sunday 22nd April 1917
Turned out at 5AM to go on duty. Found EX line "dis" so Alf Boughin & I had to go out and mend it. Fritz dropped a shell into a star shell dump & made a great flare up. We found the break and fixed it up, returned to Battery, bosker morning. After dinner Fritz very active. He dropped a few shells into our Battery killing Cpl Hope & wounding Bdr Bourke, Bdr Bouchier & Gnr Rolfe also making the mob very windy. Fairly heavy bombardment going on. Infantry going over in the morning. Har made some porridge & we turned in about 10.30.

Monday 23rd April 1917
Had to turn out at 5AM to go out and mend our OP line. Found it badly bent. Fritz shelling very heavy with HE, shrap & gas shells. Bill Scotcher passed us going to 20 Battery. We got through to OP at 10AM & had to stand by in case our line went, but it kept OK. German prisoners carrying our wounded past our Battery. O-Pippers returned about 5, Bill Scotcher & Holmes not back. George & I went to the dressing stations enquiring after them but without success. We returned home and were told they had both got killed. We made some tea about 9. Heavy bombardment going on. I turned in & had a read.

Tuesday 24th April 1917
Never turned out till 8.30. Fine summer morning. Still pretty heavy bombardment going on. Party went out to bring Bill Scotcher & Holmes bodies in, arriving back at 11.30. We packed Bill's kit and handed it in. Fell in for funeral at 1PM. They were buried in the Siege & Heavy Artillery Cemetery at St Nicholas. We got back to Battery and had to lay another OP line but never had enough wire to finish it, so we returned for tea which we enjoyed. Rest of the Sigs arrived from rear position. Har made Fiorce & we had the usual supperino and turned in feeling very tired.

Thursday 26th April 1917
Rolled out at 8. Beautiful morning. All hands having an easy day. I went to Arras with Mark, Cliff & Cyril, had a good look round. Saw a Boche aeroplane come right over and bring one of our balloons down. We purchased some eggs and made tracks home. Fritz bombarding one of our dumps, set fire to it, great clouds of smoke going up. We went bombing fish in afternoon but had no luck. Gnr Bull was wounded. I go on duty tonight & have to sleep in telephone room. I will have a bit of a snack & get to work.

Friday 27th April 1917
Had to turn out at 4.30AM, line to EX dis. 5.9 shell lobbed at exchange door and cut all the group lines.- OK at 6AM. Fritz very active last night - dropped a few near Battery. I had a spell after break. Had a collision with I/C (George Perdue's) tin hat & cut my dial. Went on duty again at 2PM. Fritz very playful, sending over boko HE & shrap. We are moving up again tomorrow about a mile. 3 guns went up this afternoon. 55 Battery shelled very heavy, they had a good number of casualties. It is rumoured that they had 4 killed & 13 wounded. I came off duty at 8PM & retired to my flat & had some custard & fiorce which Har had made for supper. We turned in early.

Saturday 28th April 1917
Rolled out early. Had to go to a new possie with Clifford. Heavy bombardment going on. Our Infantry went over at 5AM, few wounded coming past our Battery. We arrived at new Battery at 9.30, everything OK. Spent quite a day. After tea we drew for shifts, I drew last. We all turned in at 7PM. Bombardment still going on.

Sunday 29th April 1917
I rolled out at 5AM. Relieved Har, line held well. Nice morning, very quiet, we spent a very quiet day & got relieved at 5.30PM. Got back to Blangy and had a good brush up & haircut. We were having a sing song round a campfire when Fritz sent one over which ended our harmony, we all ducked. After that we thought it time to retire so we all turned in.

Monday 30th April 1917
I had a good sleep in. Rolled out about 9. Fine morning, nothing doing till after dinner. I went and got the mail and got a letter with photos enclosed from Stella & 1 from Lucy Williams. Wrote Stell, Lucy & Mrs Condon. Went collecting wire with Bill Purcell, Mull & Clifford, came back early. After tea Har fired a few rounds of .303 at a German plane. Fritz sent over a few high velocity shells and made us all duck. I go on duty at 8PM till 12. Gunner Woodward killed in action.

Wednesday 2nd May 1917
Turned our early, had breakfast and got ready for OP. Very nice morning. Started for OP at 8.30 with Mr Hendry. Line OK to new possie and OP. Spent a very quiet day. Fritz only sent 5 anyway close to us, our artillery bombarding a good deal. Our Battery did a shoot on a German HQ which made them duck in all directions. We left OP for home at 5. Fritz dropped two 5.9s in front of our Battery and knocked a few horses and wounded the drivers. Har & I got back, had a wash and a good feed. Bill Purcell & Jack White arrived from Arras with some champagne which we soon made short work of, then we had a chat and departed. Just before we turned in a Boche plane started playing his machine gun on the road near us and after we turned in a 4-gun salvo fell in our garden which put the wind up us a bit. Then we both started to read funny yarns to try & forget about it.

Thursday 3rd May 1917
Our bombardment started at 4AM, one of the heaviest we have had up to date. Fritz was sending a good many over, firing very wild. He plonked another very sudden one in our garden while we were having breakfast. Our Infantry seem to have a tough job on, there are a good many wounded coming back. We got paid after dinner. I got the usual 40 Francs. The advance seems to be a bit of a failure, but the Boche is getting cut up in his counter attacks. We have not had much news as yet. Har & I spent a very quiet day laying in the sun when Fritz would let us. His rubber gun was very active and some of his shells were coming uncomfortably close. Har, Clifford & I on a new possie so we will have to pack.

Tuesday 8th May 1917
I rolled out at 7AM to get breakfast. Raining pretty solid. Spent a quiet morning. I turned in and had a read, Har snoring. We had a great dinner, steak and "pudney kiddin" & peas. Fritz dropping 5.9s behind us again but none near us. I turned in again after dinner. After tea Mark, Cyril & I went to Arras with the intention of seeing a vaudeville show but there were too many waiting so we adjourned to an estaminet and had a couple of bottles of beer. Then we tried the pictures and managed to get a seat. It was one of the theatres of the town, just as it was left by the French. The pictures were not too good but it was a nice change. We managed to catch a lorry nearly all the way home and I never took too long to turn in.

Wednesday 9th May 1917
I had to roll out at 7AM, stand by for OP. I did a bit of pottering about, Mull & I/C messing around making a general nuisance of themselves. Young Cyril is still in bed (the noo). It turned out a bon day. George is looking over his photos in our back yard at the table. Har went away to get his ankle done up gain. No OP so far. After dinner I wrote a letter to Stell & Miss Mulligan. George & I had a couple of rounds wrestling. We all went for a bit of a walk & saw the graves of 55 Battery men. Getting home we had some pears & cake and that finished our eating for today. Infantry going in, our planes coming home for the night. We blocked George's doorway up and retired to our house and turned in.

Friday 11th May 1917
I rolled out early. Standing by for OP. Left Battery at 10AM, line knocked about a good bit - we had to join 1/4 mile on, we got to OP safely, things fairly quiet. Dinner time Fritz started to register on our trench so we had to do a duck. Party arrived back from rest at 5PM. So I had to come in from the OP to get ready for the rest. We left Battery about 8PM bound for Birles. Arrived about 10.30, got a decent billet & turned in.

Sunday 13th May 1917
I rolled out and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Har had a sleep, never got out till 10.30. Then we had a walk to the Yorkshire Hussars Canteen and had several pots and left there in a very playful state. On the way home I had and argument with a goat. After tea a party of us went to Savvy and had boko music. Left there at 8PM. Made tracks to our billet & turned in.

Monday 14th May 1917
Har & I turned out and went up for breakfast. Then we returned to the billet and had a few hands of bridge till 12. Then we adjourned to the Yorkshire canteen again to spend all our superfluous francs which we did very easy. We left there at 2PM, and had to get back to catch the lorry for home. Arrived at Battery about 6PM after a very exciting ride on the roof. I managed to lose my cup on the way. George Hill, Har & I had to go on duty at the Battery. I received a letter from Stell. All sigs issued with blue strips to be sewn on our shoulder straps. I struck first shift 9 to 12 & spent a quiet time. Woke Har at 12 and turned in.

Wednesday 16th May 1917
We never turned out till about 10AM & spent the best part of the day playing cricket. Parade at 2PM to have orders read out to us. (NO PAY) So it made us feel very much down hearted. Had a walk just before tea & viewed the country (very nice). After tea it started to rain so we decided to stop in tonight and play cards. Har & I went for a stroll after tea then we returned to billet and turned in. It is very cold. The boys returned after 8PM and started a concert which finished about 12.

Sunday 20th May 1917
Still in Tincques. 3 of the Sigs on the peg for making an attack on the inn, being repulsed with heavy losses. We fell in at 12.30 with all our kit and went to Savvey, loaded our guns on the train and went aboard our cattle trucks at 9PM. We had a sing song, finishing up about 12 and had a bit of a sleep.

Monday 21st May 1917
Arrived Hazebrouck for breakfast & left again about 10.30. Arrived at Abeele at 12. We all got off the train & started to unload our guns which was some job. We then had to march to a reinforcement camp which was we found a very slow place but a concert livened things up. A bit after tea one sub went up to the position. We had to have lights out at 9PM & we all went to bye bye, first time in Belgium.

Wednesday 23rd May 1917
We were all woke up by an officer in camp at 9AM who was going very crook because we were not up. We fell in at 10AM for a route march & went about 4 kilos to a quiet little estaminet and had a few glasses of stout which went down very nice. At 2.30PM we fell in with our packs in marching order to proceed to the Battery position in lorries and it turned out a bon trip. We passed through Poperinghe a fine big town and arrived at the position at 5PM. Any amount of people living in the place. We went to an estaminet in front of where our guns are going and had a few beers then returned and fixed up our home. Har got his leave warrant, I had to go on duty IGM and our store lorry has not yet arrived. All the spare Sigs had to help pull the guns in then unload the stores. We finished up at 3.30AM then I went on duty till 8AM. Har got away at 6.45AM to catch the ration lorry.

Monday 28th May 1917
I went on duty at 2AM. We were all kept awake nearly all night with gas alarms. Fritz was sending over any amount of HE & gas shells, it was very uncomfortable. I came off duty at 8AM and went to have a look at our OP line which we found in a bad state. Fritz got several OKs on it. Came back to Battery and had an easy day. After tea a small party of us went to the closest estaminet and had a few beers. We then laid a line to Battery, came home again and had a good practice till about 11PM, then turned in. Fritz very active again.

Thursday 7th June 1917
Attack started at daybreak. We were all woke up by the noise of shrap bursting, machine-guns firing and bombs going off and discovered that it was one of our planes coming home rather late (that was after he was brought down). One of the observers was wounded this morning over Fritz lines but he got home alright. Planes were kept busy all day, 2 were brought down by Fritz and 3 observers wounded. I went for a walk with Brock after tea down to our lorry park and got caught in a storm, got back to camp about 9 and turned in. Our infantry gained all their objectives with prisoners.

Friday 8th June 1917
One pound nine & fourpence pay. I was up at 6, bon morning. Spent another day taking signals and finished at 5PM. Put a pass in to go to Battery and went up in ration lorry. Got my pay & book, saw all the boys, Har back off leave. Received parcel, letters & photos from Lucy. Got back to the aerodrome at 10.40.

Tuesday 19th June 1917
Got paid one pound nine & fourpence - 40 Fr. Had a good day at Le Panne.

Wednesday 20th June 1917
Woke up at a very early hour by the rain so I got up and walked about till breakfast time. Spent a quiet day at Oostedunkirque -la-Mer. Party left for Battery position 8PM.

Thursday 21st June 1917
We all stood by for a move, fell in at 3.30 and marched down to the seaside to billets, still raining.

Friday 22nd June 1917
Spent another quiet day & had our first salt water swim, it was great.

Saturday 23rd June 1917
Noting doing. We spent a quiet day. Fell in at 9.30 and cleaned up the camp. Big Aust mail arrived. I received a letter from Stell with Frank's & Mum's photos, and 2 PCs from Mrs Leach. Fell in to go up to Battery at 7.30PM. Position just outside Nieuport, our dugouts very comfortable. I had a spring bed and had a very good nights rest.

Tuesday 26th June 1917
Turned out at 8.30 & had breakfast, then got ready for 9.30 parade. Built up our tent. Fell in again at 2PM and got dismissed. Then went for a walk along the beach. Fritz shelled the beach but done no damage. After tea we listened to the Welch band on the beach then we had a little exercise, a drop of supper & turned in.

Thursday 28th June 1917
I turned in at 12.30 and just got to sleep an SOS was sent up, the batteries around were firing like Hell and Cliff was waking all hands up. (getting our Bty in action). Fritz was strafing pretty heavily but it didn't last long. I never woke again till near 9AM. Then I turned out & spent a quiet morning doing nothing. After dinner we played cards, same again after tea. I went on duty at 12, things pretty quiet. I read bit part of a yarn up to 3AM then called my relief & turned in.

Friday 29th June 1917
Never turned out till dinner time. Spent the day doing very little. After tea we rolled our blankets and got ready to go back to the rear position. We were told that poor old Percy Garrett was killed at the crossroads. A shell fell under his back wheel & killed him outright. We got to the rear possie about 10 and wasted no time turning in.

Saturday 30th June 1917
I never rolled out till near 9 & went on 9.30 parade. Spent the rest of the morning playing cards. We fell in at 3PM for the funeral. Ted Sheppard, George Gordon, Cyril Alker & I were pallbearers. Old Jim was buried at a cemetery between Idesbald & Coxside. We got back just before tea. We played cards till 8PM then a couple of us went for a walk along the beach, a fairly rough surf on the go. We got back and turned in.

Friday 6th July 1917
Rolled out about 9AM. On duty at 3PM. Spent a quiet day playing cards most of the time. Not on duty till 6AM to-morrow.

Sunday 8th July 1917
Got paid 40 Fr (£1/9/4) and went to Dunkerque and had some time. Had a night in a feather bed with boko beer.

Monday 9th July 1917
Arrived at billet at 12 noon. Nothing doing, packed up ready to go to Battery. Fall in at 7.30PM. fell in a bit late, traffic held up on the roads. We arrived up near Bty and were told that we were being shelled. As soon as we got here we all had to go out mending our lines (all dis). We managed to get through to 219 SB about 12 midnight then I turned in. Bombardier Barker wounded.

Tuesday 10th July 1917
Rolled out at 8AM. Shells falling round us pretty heavy. After breakfast George & I started to mend OP line and Fritz started to send over salvoes so we ducked under cover. At 9.30 we were told that one of the section dugouts had been knocked in and Gunner Boardman had been buried and was dead before he could be dug out. Our DRs motor bike was blown to pieces and AP shell started to fall round us at 10AM and our dugout rocking like a boat at nearly all our cartridges were burning and Jock Aiken and two other chaps were wounded. 3PM shells falling just as thick, two of our guns firing.

Tuesday 10th July 1917
Gnrs Byrne & Smith were wounded on the gun. 6PM Bdr McKenzie & Gnr Bailey wounded. Road covered with trees and shells still falling as thick. Gas shells started coming over, then phosphorus & our gas helmets were no good against it and the fumes nearly smothered us so we started fanning the place with anything we could get hold of. About 11.30PM a company of infantry came into our dugout for shelter. One chap got wounded while standing at the doorway and the fumes of the burst got inside and we couldn't get it out so Desmond & I made a run for it. Just as we got outside Fritz started again and we wasted no time getting under cover in George Purdue's dugout. We just got nicely settled when we had to get our gas helmets on quickly but it didn't last long. I don't know what time it is but Paddy is asleep & shells are falling thick & fast all round us.

Wednesday 11th July 1917
Bombardment eased off about daylight. All our boys are looking done up but still the guns have to keep firing. Hun aeroplanes over our position all day playing machine guns on the men. We mended all our lines when we got a chance and they held till about 5PM when he started dropping 11.2 on No.4 gun. Then 1 fell into No. 3 pit while the gun was in action killing Dan Carey & Claude Bouchier & wounding about 4 others and knocking the gun out of action. Our relief arrived at 8.30 just in time to catch a gas cloud. We arrived at our billets about 11PM all feeling done up.

Thursday 12th July 1917
Never rolled out till 8AM (CM ) today. All hands available to go to the funeral. I went with ration lorry to get coal & water. After tea we went for a walk and I met Bert Torzillo at "Idisbald". We heard the Div Band play on the beach. After that we retired to bed at 11PM. Dan Carey, Claude Bouchier & Boardman were buried at Coxyde at 10.30AM.

Friday 13th July 1917
Rolled out at 8AM and got ready for parade. Heard that Sgt Johnson was recommended for the VC and George Purdue DCM also several other men of the Battery. At 2PM parade Major McDonald said a few words to us them we broke off to stand by to go up to the position & get our
guns out but we were not wanted. Mull came back from Bty suffering from gas. We all went and heard the Jocks' Band play a programme then returned to bed. Big strafe going on round Nieuport.

Sunday 15th July 1917
Rolled out early and had to go on the same job again carting stores to the new possie. Got back to billets at about 5PM & had tea. Then went for a walk to the Jock Band. Went to bed at nearly 10PM. Received news of Jim Byrne being dead.

Monday 16th July 1917
Turned out early and fell in at 8.30AM to go to new position and build phone room. Started to dig in the side of a hill. Worked till about 9PM and had a good place to sleep in. Turned in at 10.30PM. Received news of Bill Bailey being dead.

Sunday 22nd July 1917
Never turned out till breakfast was up. Then I rolled my kit and got ready to go up to take over my job as storeman. Arrived at Bty at 9.30AM and left my kit then returned to the billets again for some stores got back to Bty for tea. Shifted the exchange after tea and squared up the storeroom then retired. Fritz attacked about 11PM. I have no gas helmet, I left it in the QM stores at the billets.

Sunday 29th July 1917
We were all woke up at 2.20AM. GAS ATTACK. We never got to sleep again, but in our dugout we never got it too strong but it made us feel very uncomfortable. Nothing too much doing all day, all Sigs living at Battery. After tea we had a game of cards, then turned in early. Still no mail.

Monday 30th July 1917
Had to get up early to fix up OP phones. Nothing doing much, Fritz dropped a few shells just behind us. Small Aust mail arrived. I got a letter from Miss Nickson, Eileen Falvey & Marcelle & Miss Mulligan. Wright & Parkinson went to hospital, gassed. The new half Battery moved their guns into the wood. OP party had to get out of MR OP on account of Fritz. I wrote to Stell, Lena, Marcelle & Mrs Leach, then turned in. (Received Lena's photo)

Wednesday 8th August 1917
Spent a fairly quiet day. Battery firing nearly all day. I made a case for our clock. OP party on OP all night. We got paid £1/9/4. After tea we got our supply of beer and spent a quiet might with a drop of music which made time pass very lively. We turned in pretty late. Cliff is giving us a recitation (The Wreck of the Hesperus).

Saturday 18th August 1917
Never rolled out till near breakfast time. Spent a fairly quiet morning squaring up the store room. John Breakspear came to me to find out what way I signed my name. Something doing? After dinner I spent an hour writing out a list of stores. After tea we had the usual game of cards and then turned in. No mail again.

Tuesday 21st August 1917
Spent a fairly quiet day. Got paid 40 Fr (one pound nine & fourpence). Fritz dropped a few shells round the Battery but did no damage. We had rather a lively evening and finished up getting very nearly full. No mail again. Issued with tan boots & leggings.

Wednesday 22nd August 1917
Got up rather early feeling very "malade". Nothing much doing so I had a good rest. OP party arrived rather late. We all turned in fairly early, no mail. Fritz started sending over a few shells just down from our "ome". It is OK as long as he don't shorten.

Friday 24th August 1917
Turned out early and spent a fairly quiet day. It turned out very stormy. Fritz was very busy shelling 61 Siege Battery and the splinters were falling fairly thick round our place so we had to keep under cover. I received a letter from Lucy but none from (Aust). Two of our Sigs went to 36 HA , Hill & Cooper and we got Costello & Foster in their place. Bill Scott got his leave warrant and goes tomorrow. We had a quiet game of cards and turned in early.

Monday 27th August 1917
Rolled out early. No OP wanted today. Everything very quiet. After breakfast we got orders to pack up our gear and stand by for a move. I packed all the telephone stores and moved as many of the phones as possible then spent the rest of the day fairly quiet. No mail for me again. We are not moving till tomorrow now, so I made down my bed and turned in. It is still raining.

Tuesday 28th August 1917
Still standing by for a move. Wind is blowing very solid and the sand is "horful". We got all our stores down to the road and stood by for a lorry from 4 till 8PM. We had dinner and tea combined at 4PM, and the caterpillars arrived about 11. While we were waiting for them Rod & I had a bit of a blow. All guns were pulled out at 12 then we got aboard a lorry and went to St Idesbald. Arrived there and turned in at about 1AM feeling fairly tired and cold.

Wednesday 5th September 1917
Rolled out early. After breakfast we had orders to stand by, but after all was cancelled so we played cards till dinner time. Then Harry Hogetts, Bill Purcell & I went down to the village and spent a very lively time with boko beer & music returned to billets and turned in rather late.

Saturday 8th September 1917
Rolled out early. Had to pack all the gear and get ready to move at any time. So we spent most of the day playing cards. Cliff came back off leave. We got orders to fall in at 5PM, got on the lorries and moved off. Arrived at Reninghelst at 6.30 and had to pitch a tent for the sigs after we had a drop of tea we got things squared up a bit. I received a letter from Rose Condon.

Sunday 9th September 1917
Had to roll out at 6AM and get ready to fall in at 6.45 to go to Battery position and build our dugouts. Things were fairly quiet except for a few German planes coming over and dropping a few bombs round us. We nearly finished our dugouts. Left at 7.30PM and got back to our camp and had a good feed then made arrangements to turn in. Bill Scott came back off leave.

Tuesday 11th September 1917
4 of our guns pulled in last night. Rolled out at 8AM, fine morning. Spent fairly cold night. Spent most of the day overhauling the phones. Hun planes very active all day. Relief arrived at 8PM. Boko field gun ammunition going up. We heard that the strafe starts on the 14th and by the look of things it is going to be some go.

Wednesday 12th September 1917
Rolled out at 8AM and spent the morning doing odd jobs. Bill & George went for a walk along the group line and got back on dinner time. After dinner the official photographer took photos of our guns and George & Bill & I were taken also. Nothing much doing. After tea I cooked a few chips then wrote a letter to Mrs Scotcher. Then made arrangements to turn in.

Saturday 15th September 1917
Rolled out & had breakfast. Not much doing. Spent the morning mending watches. At dinner time a large number of Hun planes dropped bombs all round us doing a good deal of damage and killing a good many. Bombardment started at 4PM, every gun round this way firing for all they are worth. Relief arrived early. After tea the phone in the exchange went crook so we had to put in a new one. Then I sat down to write a few letters, one to Stella & one to Millie. Then turned in but was only in bed a few minutes when George & I had to turn out and lay a line and put a phone on the officers' mess, finally getting to bed at 10.30PM.

Wednesday 19th September 1917
Rolled out early. No hop over to now, OP party went out early. Bill & I spent a quiet morning. After dinner George came in and told us the infantry go over in the morning so we had to have everything ready. The other relief arrived at 4.30. George & Mr Hendry called at the Bty for the rest of the party. Bill Purcell, Harry Hogetts, Bill Scott, Curly Weaver & Hind. Heavy bombardment started at 6.30PM. OP party never got back till 7.30 after a very rough day. I took the signalling lamp back to 121 Battery. Got back and made a drop of coffee then had a yarn for a while and turned in and had a read.

Thursday 20th September 1917
Woke up early by the noise of our barrage which started at 5.40AM. Infantry went over at about 7.30. Curly Weavers got back at 8.15 wounded in the arm. Harry Hogetts was wounded in the leg, nice Blighty. Rumours about that Mr Hendry is missing. Up till 1PM 6,000 prisoners had been taken and the majority of them looked worn out. After tea Ramsden & I walked along to the dressing station and saw some very bad cases, both our own & Huns. We heard that our Sigs were doing very good work with an Australian battalion. Fritz artillery very quiet. After tea had a game of cards for a while then turned in.

Sunday 23rd September 1917
Rolled out early and packed all our stores and left Lock 8 for new position outside Zillebeck. We went up through Ypres and had a fairly quiet trip till we started to go down the road to the Battery, then Fritz gave us a few 5.9s which made us nip. We got our stores unloaded then started to look for a place to roost. But owing to the 4.5 Hows not going to move we had a loose and had to sleep in an old trench. Fritz made it very lively nearly all night but none of us got damaged. Shell fell near our dugout & killed 5 horses & 1 man of the 4.5 Battery.

Tuesday 25th September 1917
We were woke up very early by Fritz. He put up a very heavy barrage and he sent some uncomfortably close to our dugout and round the guns, wounding 4 of our chaps, Cavanagh, Anderson, Gilmore & Kassabaum. He kept us moving all day. George & Bill had to go out on the OP line again and had a rough time. Our artillery were fairly active all day. The relief arrived at dusk, then we fixed our beds & turned in.

Wednesday 26th September 1917
Woke fairly early. George's brother slept in our home, he had to get up at 5.15AM. Barrage started about 5.30. Fritz artillery fairly quiet. After we had breakfast I went down to our old position, then on to group to get a Lucas lamp. Had a fairly rough passage on my way there & back. Fair number of prisoners coming in. Artillery very active all day. When I got back I set to work & made some flapjacks which went OK. Our infantry sent up SOS at 6PM. After we had tea we sat out in our dining hall & had a view of the war, then made arrangements to turn in. A couple of HV shells fell in front of the Battery and wounded 7 of our chaps. Sgt Johnson, Blow, Godbold, Fowler, Sullivan, Prouss, Johnson W. Sgt Johnson remained on duty and the remainder went way. The same shell killed an Aussie QM and gunner in a 4.5 Battery and killed a few horses and burned a limber.

Thursday 27th September 1917
Rolled out at 8 after a fairly good night's rest. After breakfast we had to reel a bit of wire. Bill Purcell went down to the billets. I made a place for the phones and spare kits. We spent a fairly quiet day, Fritz fairly quiet. Bill got back before tea with a few papers & greenies. The horses near us are starting to hum. "Horful" boko field ammunition going up. 13 prisoners passed the Battery looking fed up. Front fairly quiet in the evening. We turned in fairly early.

Saturday 29th September 1917
Rolled out extra late after spending a fairly quiet night. Fritz sent over a few gas shells but did no damage to us. I spent the morning fixing a few phones, while Bill & George looked along the line. For dinner I made a few rissoles out of bully beef, then we got orders to pack all stores ready for another shift. Had everything ready at 3PM. About 14 Boche planes came over and bombed Ypres. Tea time and we are still waiting for our lorries. Relief arrived. Fritz has been shelling a couple of batteries in front of us nearly all day and splinters are falling all round us but nobody got hurt. George & Bill made applications for staff jobs in Blighty. 5.30PM and still no lorries.

Sunday 30th September 1917
Verbrandenmolen - No sign of the lorries at 12 midnight, so George commandeered one that was standing on the road and we loaded our stores into it. We just got them loaded when a Fritz plane came overhead and started playing a machine gun on us so we ducked under cover. Green & I were on the phone till 36 Battery took over, then we got on a lorry and went to the new position at Johnsons Dump. After we had a bit of breakfast I had to go to the billets and bring the rest of the Sigs up to dig in. Everything was quiet till dinner time and just as we got our tea Fritz started wit 4.2s. Bill Scott was killed at 1.10PM by a 4.2 then 11.2s, 8" & 5.9s started to fall thick & heavy and all men had orders to go for their lives but before they could get away Pearce was killed and Smith was seriously wounded. I got back to the billets at tea time and by that time nearly all the Battery chaps were down. George, Bill, Cyril & Dodge were there all night. At 6PM the relief fell in and went up again, but got shelled out again and Russell was killed and Bob Druitt wounded, so they came home again. Hind, Marroitt, Burgoyne & Foyne were sent away with shell shock & gassed. I slept at the billets.

Thursday 4th October 1917
Woke up early. Fritz's rubber gun very active sprinkling a good many round us. George & I took a party up to Bty for our stores. We got back about 11 passed a good few prisoners on the way. We heard that the infantry had taken all objectives. After dinner Rod & I went for a walk to the dressing station. Some very bad cases both German & our chaps. All day prisoners were coming in. We heard that 2nd Army had taken had taken 2000. After tea a few of us had a bit of a sing song.

Monday 15th October 1917
I rolled out at 8AM after spending a good night's rest. Fritz kept fairly busy all night, sent a good few round us but did no damage to us. Breakie & I spent the morning doing odd jobs. After dinner I went into the canteen and gave Charlie Dodge a bit of assistance. When the ration lorry arrived I gave them a hand unloading it. Then sorted the mail, none for me, then we retired. Hun aeroplanes over in dozens. All the searchlights in the district were on them. They dropped a good many bombs. Received a letter from Lucy.

Thursday 18th October 1917
We arrived back at billets at about 6PM. Fritz had just finished strafing round about the canal and knocked a dugout. After we had a snack we heard the usual three whistles, Huns up! They dropped a good many bombs but none right close to us. Alf Boughin, Claude Powter, Breakie & I had a bit of a sing song in the office & gave the chaps on Bty a tune over the phone. Fritz started again just before we turned in at 10PM.

Tuesday 23rd October 1917
Rest of the men returned at midnight. I had to turn out early to fix OP party, raining steadily. Woke Powter up to go with Bill Lapoust to OP but they never went so they turned in again. We spent a very quiet day. Heavy bombardment going on all day on both sides. Gunners Fwamby, Richards, Jarry, White, Fordham & Robinson were wounded at Battery. After tea Powt & I were invited out to a send off to Dick Deane & we had some night. Got home about 10.30, had a drop of rum & milk then turned in.

Wednesday 24th October 1917
I never rolled out till breakfast was ready. Steve being cooks mate, he brought mine in. About 9AM we got word that Bombardier McKenzie had been killed leaving the Battery. Raining nearly all day, things fairly quiet round this way. After tea we waited for the ration lorry which never arrived till late. 5.30 I got word that Cyril was wounded and saw him later at the QM's store, he was very happy (nice Blighty ). After tea Steve and I had a quiet yarn over cocoa & rum till 9PM a message came through for an officer and it had to be delivered. We turned in at 9.45.

Friday 26th October 1917
I turned out early, nothing much doing here. Infantry went over at 6.20AM, doing well up to 7AM. I never heard how they were doing till George & Steve got back. Then we were told that our infantry were in the same place as they started from with terrible casualties. I spent a quiet day. No pay, hoping to get some Australian mail tonight, but never got any. Turned in early.

Wednesday 7th November 1917
I rolled out at 4.30AM to fix up wire for OP party, then I lit a fire and made some cocoa for George & Steve & turned in again and had a read. Everything fairly quiet. Our chaps at the 12-inch Bty had a premature this morning, & Rolley was killed, Sgt Jones seriously wounded & Dudley slightly wounded. Steve went with canteen lorry. I had a very quiet day. After tea I helped unload ration lorry. No mail again so I got a few candles & retired to my mansion to write a few letters to Stell & Harry Hodgetts & cards to Eileen, Stella & Lena. Then I had a read waiting for canteen lorry to return.

Tuesday 13th November 1917
I had to roll out early at 4.30 to fix OP party. After breakfast George & I laid a line to the proposed new position and got through to Bty OK. Fritz started to send 5.9s into the possie so we had to get, so we came back to billets and had dinner. Then we went up again and were shelled out again and spent all the afternoon waiting about & did nothing. I got home at tea time. After tea I waited for the ration lorry. Big Aussie mail in and I never got a mention so I retired & had a read and waited for the DR to return to see if he had any leave warrants. One of our medical orderlies was killed at Battery (Rainbow).

Wednesday 14th November 1917
I rolled out for breakfast. Spent a quiet time till 10.30 then George & I went to Bty and fixed a vibrator. On our way back we mended the Battery - billet line. After dinner I fixed my fireplace, then I sat easy till tea time. After tea I had a read. Rumours going round that we will have peace 96 hours. I turned in at 10PM.

Friday 16th November 1917
I rolled out early, nothing much doing. I am cook's mate. Jack White went on leave. After dinner Steve & I got a good heap of wood. After tea we started to do a few photos which turned out bon. My leave warrant came through so I had a good bath and got things ready then turned in.

BLIGHTY 14 DAYS LEAVE

Saturday 17th November 1917
I left Battery at 9AM to proceed to Bailleul.

14 days leave in Britain


Monday 24th December 1917
Court Dreve Farm.
Out early and rolled blankets ready to go. We had to stand by after loading to fall in any time. We moved off at 2PM. Passed through Hazebrouck & had tea at Bailleul. Arrived at our new home about 10PM. Had to scrounge round for a place to camp. Only a few Sigs arrived with us, the rest got lost at Malinghem and arrived here about 4AM.

Tuesday 25th December 1917
We never fell in till 9.30AM. Then I had to fix up our communications. Finished up at 7.30PM. Received letters from Stell, Grace & Lucy. Snowing fairly heavy all day. I turned in about 9PM.

Monday 31st December 1917
I never got out till near dinner time. Most of our chaps getting rather boozed and very happy. Bill Purcell & Joe Loas was having a rather interesting argument. After dinner we were having a bit of a meeting and Bill went out to see McMaster and he fell down a cellar & was knocked out and taken away to hospital. Bill Crosby arrived back off leave and came to live with us. After tea we had a mothers' meeting around the fire & turned in about 10.20PM.

Monday 7th January 1918
I spent the morning with Bill Cros & Monty, labelling our lines in the phone room which was a very cold job. After we finished we got round our fire and soon got warm. After dinner I started on a few more watches and the afternoon soon went past. Then I drew the rum & candles & had tea. No mail again. Just as we were going to turn in we got a message from the phone room to say that 25,000 Germans had run amok behind the line and were making a great disturbance. Turned in 11PM. General Coxen visited Battery. Clifford came back.

Saturday 19th January 1918
We all rolled out fairly early to get ready for parade. Fell in at 9.40AM, had to wait till 12 then we were inspected by General Birdwood & Coxen. After dinner we spent a quiet time. After tea John Bull came to see us and we had a good yarn about old times. Turned in 11PM. We became First Australian Siege Battery.

Sunday 20th January 1918
I rolled out fairly early. Had a fairly quiet morning, fixed a few watches. After dinner Fritz dropped a few shells in front of us. Our Battery very active. I exchanged phones in Sgts Mess then I drew rum & candles. After tea we played bridge till 11PM then turned in.

Saturday 2nd February 1918
I never got out till after 8, feeling a bit crook. Spent morning pottering round. After dinner I drew rum etc then sat easy. After tea George Washington came into our dugout with his fiddle and we spent a very lively night. Got to bed very late.

Sunday 3rd February 1918
I never rolled out till midday. Claude came to see me. Fritz started crumping round the Battery. Bill Hawkins, Joe Milazzo & Bob Crozy wounded and Hudson killed. Bombardment kept up till dark, a good many of our lines cut. Claude got away very sudden. Cliff, Monty & I left home and paid a visit to Cliff's farm. Then Monty & I drew rum candles and we came home again. Fritz quietened down. Bill Purcell went to Paris in time to miss the stunt. We had a very lively night. Got to bed at a very early hour.

Sunday 10th February 1918
We all rolled out fairly early, nothing much doing. Claude came up. After dinner we were all dwelling on the mail and all had a miss. I drew rum etc. Board & Bet came up from 36 and I got patches on my shoulder. After tea we had the usual game of bridge. Then I had to go and fix the QM's phone. We got back and waited patiently for the bombardment to start which started at 9.35PM. We went out and had a look at the flashes, they were going like one thing. We turned in at 10.30PM.

Saturday 16th February 1918
We all rolled out fairly early. Spent a quiet day & night. Names came through of Paris party so I got all my gear ready and turned in early.

Sunday 17th February 1918
I rolled out at 4.30 and got ready to catch lorry. Had breakfast and caught lorry at 6AM. Arrived at Bailleul 7AM.

Paris Leave

Monday 25th February 1918
Arrived at Bailleul at 5.15PM. Met canteen lorry, so Dennie Cavanagh & I had knock round till 8PM. Arrived at Battery about 9PM. Had a drop of supper and had a yarn about my experiences in Paris. Turned in at 11PM.

Friday 8th March 1918
It returned out a bonza day so we spent most the morning pottering about in the sun. After dinner I sorted the mail. Then had a few minutes with the football. Then I drew candles. After tea we went for wood. Got back and played solo whist till 10PM. Then had supper & turned in.

Note : Cros went to Paris 11/3/18
Sgt Pamphillion left Battery 12/3/18

Friday 22nd March 1918
I turned out early and went with Bob for breakfast. Bet went to 36 on wireless. I spent a quiet morning. After dinner Major McDonald was seriously wounded and two or three NCOs of our column killed & wounded. After tea Cliff & I went to Romarin to the 24th Battalion concert party. I played with the band. Got home at 9.30 & found Allen & Monty at home. Just before we turned in I heard that Major McDonald's funeral takes place tomorrow so I turned in at 11PM.

Sunday 24th March 1918
Had to roll out early and get ready to fall in with funeral party. Had to march to English Farm to catch ferry. Just as we got through Neuve Eglise, Fritz started shelling. We went through Bailleul which was badly knocked about & we just got out of there in time. The funeral was at Goddesyelt at the CCS. It was a very quiet affair. Coming back we had to take a round about trip and got home at 2PM. Monty & I had a look over the new billets, so we got to work and shifted lower down Pettit Pont Road. Got things fixed and had a good rest at new home.

Monday 25th March 1918
Turned out early. Bill Purcell came back from Calais on account of Fritz breaking through. We heard that Paris was being shelled with 11.2s every 15 minutes so things don't look too good. I spent the morning shifting all the stores to the store room then fixed my bunk up and had a quiet afternoon. After tea we had a few hands of Auction then had supper and turned in.

Tuesday 26th March 1918
Turned out early. After breakfast Cros & I went to Battery Exchange. Very cold wind blowing, I fixed phone in A Section dugout. Then had a look at phone in mess. Then we went home did some washing, had a read, then had dinner. Received letter from Commonwealth Bank to say that my SOS had not arrived. Gave Sgt Knight a lesson on gobstick then retired for tea. After tea had a go at the football then spent the evening with Cliff & a few cobbers. We heard that our troops were doing well against Fritz and that there was a gun shelling Paris, and the French had broken through and had a good chance of cutting off 2 Army Corps. (NTB)

Thursday 28th March 1918
Rolled out early. Spent very quiet morning. Very cold wind blowing. After dinner Cros & I went to 36 to draw stores. We met Ted Hassan and John Purdue, saw Mull , got home about 2.30. Heard that Fritz had taken Boulincourt and 43,000 prisoners & 943 guns and the Captain wants the name of a PIANO TUNER. After tea we had a game of cards. Very rough night so I got to work and made some burgoo. We turned in at 10PM.

Sunday 7th April 1918
Spent a quiet morning doing odd jobs. Got a pair of Jack boots off Cliff. After dinner I saw the mail sorted, none for me. After tea usual kick, played cards. After tea turned in early.

Monday 8th April 1918
Spent the morning doing a few odd jobs. After dinner sat easy, Cros had to go to OP. At night played cards till 11.30 then turned in.

Tuesday 9th April 1918
Rolled out early, CM. Went with Cliff and drew rations etc. Very heavy bombardment over Armentieres way. Cros had to go to OP at 1PM. We heard that Fritz had taken Flerbay and was advancing on Armentieres. OP party had to stop out all night. Nearly all the villages behind us being shelled. Turned in at 11.30.

Wednesday 10th April 1918
We were all woke up at 3.30AM and warned to stand by for gas, but luckily none came our way, so Cros & I went off to sleep again. At 7.30 we got another call and were told to pack our kits and stand by to dodge Fritz at a moment's notice. Fritz's barrage sneaking very close to us at 8AM and wounded infantry coming down the road in droves. We got the guns out in quick time but none too soon, just as our last gun got off the platform a shell lobbed in the pit and another on the phone room which wounded Mr McBride. Then the OC gave the order, every man for himself, so we soon made tracks back to Locre. Arrived there at 1PM and got nicely settled when we had to move again to another camp. We got settled down again and got orders to move again to Arques. So we started at about 9PM and travelled all night.

Thursday 11th April 1918
Arrived at Arques at 5AM. Cliff & I made a bit of a shake down in a brick yard and slept till about 9AM. When we woke up we discovered that the lorries had gone & left us. So we packed up and made tracks for St Omer, arrived there at 11AM. Went all over the place looking for our Column but couldn't find them, but we managed to strike the ration lorry coming back so we hopped on and got to the billets safely and in time for a feed. Had to load the lorries at 4PM and all get on board to move, but it was cancelled so we settled down for the night & had a good sleep.

Friday 12th April 1918
Rolled out at 6.30, have to fall in at 7.15 to move. Got on the lorries and waited till about 9AM then we started. We went through Cassel, Steenvoorde, Abeele and a few other small villages. Struck a moving picture machine on the road and he took a picture of us on the lorries. Arrived at a camp just outside Renninghelst and got nicely settled. Had a good feed and felt bon. We had a cup of tea at 8PM then turned in for a good night's rest.

Saturday 13th April 1918
We all had to get out early and pack again. Left Renninghelst at 9AM and started for a position outside Ouderdom. We laid a line to Group and got two platforms down, then got orders to move again. We went back through Abeele. Passed a Captain of the Church Army Huts dishing out comforts and the chaps made a raid. Got boko chocolate biscuits etc. We halted again near the border till the ration lorry came along. Then we turned round again and started towards Abeele again. Finished up at La Clyeet and settled down in a very rough camp. Fritz dropped a few shells near us during the night and killed a few refugees on the road.

Sunday 14th April 1918
Rolled out early and got ready to move again. Started at 9AM and made for Locre. Just settled down. Bob & I had a look round and got a few spuds. Then we got orders to move again closer up to Kemmel Hill. Put two guns in action. Settled down for the night, fired our first shot at 8PM. Very heavy bombardment going on. A few of the Sigs went out on a raid and came back with 6 fowls and a bag of spuds. We all set to and got them ready for dinner tomorrow. Turned in at 10.30.

Monday 15th April 1918
We never turned out till 9AM. One gun was pulled off the platform. I went to the cook house and started to do the chooks. We had a great feed at dinner time. Bill Purcell & Bet went to Kemmel Hill to register our Battery on Niuve Eglise. When the rations arrived I set to & got tea ready (stew). OP party got back just as tea was ready. We were all settling down for the night when Fritz opened a bombardment again. We heard that he was advancing very fast so we got orders to pull out toot sweet. So all hands had to stand to and get the guns out in double quick time. We got moving at 8PM but never got too far in the lorries owing to the state of the roads. So Dad, Bet, Paddy & I started to walk. We arrived at Westoutre about 11PM, found the billets and wasted no time turning in.

Tuesday 16th April 1918
Turned out at 9AM. Rations never arrived till 10, then we had a snack. Two guns in action again outside the village. Any amount of French troops and artillery reinforcing ours. Cros had to go to OP for visual signalling. I saw Mull & a few more HQ chaps laying a line to Corps. Our Battery shelling Bailleul. Things fairly quiet, any amount of refugees on the road. OP party sent back word to say that we had retaken Metren and the French were making a big counter tonight.

Wednesday 17th April 1918
After breakfast we got orders to pack again in case of a move. Fritz put a very heavy barrage on the ridge in front of us and in the valley. Refugees going all roads, and most of our chaps were preparing poultry for cooking and going through the deserted houses. Any amount of champagne and wine of all sorts about. Cpl Hobby & Flood were wounded at Group. We had a fairly quiet time but the Battery were kept very busy. Turned in fairly early.

Saturday 20th April 1918
Nothing much doing this morning. Fritz very quiet. I think he is getting ready for a big push. All turned in about 11.

Sunday 21st April 1918
Nothing to report today, only Fritz plane brought down near Westoutre. Party had to take in OP line. Two Fritz planes came down very low and drove one of our observing planes to earth. We cooked chips for supper then retired.

Monday 22nd April 1918
Cros & I had a run to Group on the bikes, got back and cleaned them up. A new line to be laid to Mont De Catt about 5 miles. When we got back had a feed and turned in.

Tuesday 23rd April 1918
All hands up early. OP party went out for two days. Fritz opened a very heavy barrage on the ridge and kept it up all day. Houses on fire everywhere. After tea we got orders to pack ready for a move any minute. Fritz put a gun fire stunt on the crossroads near the kitchen. HE & gas shell and we had to get out of the road. We got moving at about 8 and were billeted in a paddock on the Abeele road. Aeroplanes came over & dropped bombs very close to us. We built a very rough house and turned in.

i>Wednesday 24th April 1918
We never turned out till breakfast was ready. Spent the day building a shack for all the Sigs off duty. Finished up at 10PM & turned in. Fritz made another attack but lost very heavily.

Thursday 25th April 1918
Fritz opened up a very heavy barrage on our trenches and artillery at 2.30AM, and made things very awkward for us. The Battery was shelled and Gunners Barton, Gornall & Howell were killed & Sgt McKinlay, Bombardier Davis & Orchard were wounded and a few gassed, nearly all hands were down from Battery. Things quietened after dinner and Bty went into action again.

Monday 29th April 1918
Fritz started another bombardment on us again and knocked Westoutre to the ground and Gnr McLister was killed and a few more wounded. SM Nicholls, Bdr Rolley, Grant, Milazzo, Barron & Widdicombe. We got orders to move our billets again to the Poperhinge road. I went and marked out a claim for the Sigs new home. Built a rough sort of shack because we might have to move again, but orders came through that we had to stay here so we settled down. After tea a fire broke out in an Officers' mess. So a few of us went up and started to fight it. We got it out about 12 o'clock. Then turned in.

Thursday 2nd May 1918
Cliff & I spent the day making a tent. Party arrived back from Arques and Cros, Bet and two other Sigs went. Nothing much doing round the front. We finished our tent at 8.30 then had a snack and retired.

Friday 3rd May 1918
Cliff & I spent the morning erecting our tent. After dinner we fixed a few beds and moved all our kit, made ourselves very comfortable. After tea Bill & I went to 36 and collected a few stores. Then we made a drop of burgoo and retired. Very heavy bombardment going on. Saw one of the French planes come down in flames.

Saturday 4th May 1918
We rolled out and found that the French had commandeered our paddock for horse wagon lines. Party went out and took in OP line from Boschere. Rumours that we are moving from here Ypres again. We all spent a quiet afternoon. After tea we had a game of baseball then retired. Heavy bombardment going on round Kemmel.

Sunday 5th May 1918
Turned out at 7.30. Nothing much doing. Bob & I took a stroll over to the dump for a few pair of slacks. Had a yarn with a few Americans on the way back. I spent the rest of the day writing letters. After tea played cards till 10 then retired.

Monday 6th May 1918
I spent the morning going up to the salvage dump with Dad & Bob, and fixing up a vibrator. After dinner Cros and the rest of leave party returned. Then we built another little store & dining tent. After tea we had a game of cards for a while then one of the Frenchies started playing a mandolin outside our tent. We listened to him till we retired.

Wednesday 8th May 1918
All out early, heavy bombardment started about 3.30 or 4AM on Kemmel. I spent the morning fixing up our phones. We got paid. After dinner there was crown & anchor boards and cards everywhere. I lost all my money. After tea they got going again. I was playing jackpots for Bill & went broke. Cros started to take a French bomb to pieces and the detonator went off & wounded a Frenchie, Robertson & Cros. They were sent to hospital.

Thursday 9th May 1918
Bill & I got out early and went to Battery to put a new switchboard in. We got back and started to make the roulette board. Finished it before dinner and started to run it. Finished up before dinner winning 20 Fr. After dinner started again and went broke. At night Cliff & I went for a stroll & had a few drinks. Got home about 9.30 and turned in.

Pledge
I Gunner Doonan do this day declare that henceforth I am
Total abstainer from the evils of Rum.
Signed : F Doonan
Witness : Lester J.R. Clifford
Witness : M. Ray
Dated this 9th day of our Lord February 1918.

Friday 10th May 1918
Rolled out for breakfast. Spent a quiet morning. Very cold & cloudy day. Had a go at Harry Black's accordion. After dinner we had a few odd jobs to do. Still a good many of our chaps down with fever. Harry Crosby, Cook, Foster & Robertson names came out for MMs also Bdr Fordham, Lewis & Gnr Farrier & Sgt O'Brien for Croix de Guerre. After tea we had the accordion outside our tent, dinkum Aussie style. Bombardment started over Kemmel Hill way but soon finished. We turned in at 10.30.

Sunday 12th May 1918
Rotten sort of a morning, cold & rainy. Nothing much doing, Bill Haydon & Taylor returned to duty. Percy Smith got storeman's job. After tea Cliff & I went for a walk with Bet & Paddy. Got home fairly early & had a sing song. Fritz had 19 sausages up in our part of the front and had a long range gun firing at our balloons. Corporal of the caterpillars was killed near Battery.

Monday 20th May 1918
We started a section cricket match. After dinner the Sigs played No.2 Section and lost by 1 run.

Thursday 23rd May 1918
No. 6 Section won the match and our picked team beat No.2 Battery. Then Aussie CCS beat our team. We had to parade at 10AM to be inspected by the Army Commander. We had to march 10 kilos, got back at 1.30. After tea a party of us went down to Zeggers Cappel and had a sing song. Got home at 9 and were having a bit of a dance till Johnson stepped in and made himself a nuisance. So we dipped him in a pond then turned in. Bill Purcell & Claude Powter received news that they had received the DCM.

Thursday 30th May 1918
We never turned out too early. Very nice morning parade at 9.30 and Sigs had a bit of station work with the Lucas lamps. After dinner we had a gas mask parade, finished at 3PM. I was promoted to acting "Bombo" . After tea Bill & I went for a walk to an RGA canteen and had a drop of good ale, returned early and turned in.

Friday 7th June 1918
Spent morning signalling. After dinner had all the Sigs on cleaning up stores, then finished for the day. Our cricket team played the RHA and had a good win. Dad & Bet & Bob got back from Boulogne at 11.45 in a healthy state.

Saturday 15th June 1918
We got orders to have our kits packed and ready to move at 10AM. Arrived at our new resting ground Heuringhen at 2.30PM and got settled down again. Spent a very quiet evening & turned in early.

Monday 17th June 1918
All sorts of rumours going round that we are moving. I went & saw the doc, I have a poisoned finger. All our stores were loaded and sent up to the possie. After dinner I wrote a few letters then sat waiting for orders.

Thursday 27th June 1918
We were woke up very early (about 1AM) by Fritz aeroplanes dropping bombs near us but they soon went again. So we got to sleep & woke up again at 7.30. Our troops attacked this morning at 4.30AM and succeeded in reaching their objectives & 30 prisoners. Spent a quiet day. Received a letter from the bank, no SOS arrived yet. After tea a small party of Sigs went for a stroll. I won a few francs on the Crown & Anchor (3 crowns turned up and I collected 13 francs). We got home early and retired.

Friday 5th July 1918
Spent a quiet morning. Fritz did a bit of strafing at forward possie just after the reliefs changed and Gnr Triggs was killed & Bdr Toyne wounded, Cpl Druitt & Mason shock. I spent a few hours looking for Jack & Hec & got to La Belle Hotesse just after they left. So I had to walk to Steinbeck, had a feed and on my way back saw the party send the paper balloons over to Fritz. Got home in time for tea. After that Cliff & I went for a walk, purchased a few eggs 6c each. Got back, had supper then went after our vegetables in the old school house.

Saturday 6th July 1918
Out early, Captain wanted me about a phone on forward Battery so spent morning fixing one up for it. Funeral at 3PM but I couldn't go owing to the Battery - billet line being dis. Fixed the line and returned for tea, then sat easy. When the canteen lorry returned we had a drop of ale and retired feeling very satisfied.

Wednesday 10th July 1918
Spent a fairly quiet day. Cliff & I left here at 3.30 and went down to Vallan Cappell to see Jack Daly & Hec Mood. We got there and walked all over the place but couldn't find them so we went into an estaminet for a refresher. There was a piano going so I started on my clarinet and shortly after Jack & Hec strolled in so we packed up and went with them & spent a very nice evening with violin, cornet and my gobstick. Started for home at 11PM.

Sunday 21st July 1918
I spent busy morning in my workshop. Very good news about the French taking 24,000 prisoners & 400 guns and still advancing. Bill Purcell had dinner with us then went to OP. After dinner I set to work & made a switch for the forward possie. Then drew the fags & greenies. Turned in fairly early. No mail again.

Wednesday 31st July 1918
Jack White & I rolled out early and tidied things up a bit. Then I packed up my gear ready to move to rear Battery. So I got all the stores on the ration lorry and went up after dinner. Had tea then set to & had a good practice. Had a snack & turned in. Cliff went to hospital to get his toe off.

Thursday 1st August 1918
Bill & I went to forward possie & fixed up all the phones. Then came back to rear possie in the light car. Then I mended Mac's watch. After dinner I repaired a few phones, got paid. We all went to billets and had a refresher. Coming home we met Bill Haydon & George Wash & started on white Armentieres wine. Finished fairly lively. Got home & found Mr McMillan moving the guns to forward possie. I played cards all night. No mail again.

Sunday 4th August 1918
First day of the fifth year of the war. Looks like being a very wet day. Everything is working well so I had a quiet day, plenty of practice on my clarionette. After dinner we had a game of cards. Fritz started strafing all back areas and made things very lively round our billets, nobody injured. I turned in rather late. No mail again.

Saturday 10th August 1918
Bill went on leave yesterday. We got word through about the Canadians taking 20,000 prisoners and 150 guns. I went to forward and fixed a new head set & transmitter in the exchange. Then got home for dinner. Left section pulling out tonight. I went down to billets after tea & had to make arrangements for laying lines at the new possie at Fletre. I had to walk back to rear possie & take a bottle of whiskey for Darkie Dwyer. I opened it before getting home & got pretty well oiled. Darkie went a bit crook.

Sunday 11th August 1918
I had to roll out at 5AM and walk to billets to catch the lorry. Arrived at Fletre and found the position. 36 Bde had laid the line. We spent a very quiet day, guns not pulling out tonight. We had a decent bit of a sing song then turned in. Fritz dropping a few shell round us nearby all night, but we never got damaged.

Wednesday 14th August 1918
I had a bit of a sleep in and spent a quiet day. Any amount of "Fife & Drum" knocking about but I am not touching any. Very good news in the paper. We spent a quiet day. I had a good practice on my instrument. No mail again.

Saturday 17th August 1918
I had to turn out at 5.30 and go to forward possie. Arrived there at 6 and found things in a crook state. Our lines all mixed up and dead mules, horses & smashed limbers on the road near the BC post. I fixed everything up and got back to rear possie at 9.30. Then I got done up & went top billets. Had dinner & done the rounds on the ration lorry. Got home again for tea. Bill Crosley came back. We heard rumours that Fritz was evacuating from where we were. We turned in early. Claude Powter & Forster came back to Battery.

Wednesday 21st August 1918
Turned out at 8 & had bacon, tomatoes & mushrooms for breakfast. Spent a quiet morning. Had to go out on the line after dinner. Found a binder tangled up in it. After tea we got word that we had to lay a line to new possie on account of Fritz evacuating in front of us. All hands came in from the position at Caestre. We started out after tea with 3 1/2 miles of wire for the new possie. Arrived there at 7PM then started the job, so had to tap in on 100 SB . Arrived back at rear possie at 1.30AM.

Sunday 1st September 1918
We spent a very quiet day. Fritz still going back.

Tuesday 3rd September 1918
Jack & I left our dugout & went to billets then on to Steinbecque, spent a quiet day. Saw in the papers that the Aussies had taken Peronne. We got home in time for tea, baked rabbit & deer which went very well. After tea we cut the rear exchange out. Johnson came back with bad news that John Breakspear had died. He picked up a Hun rifle & it went off & shot him through the stomach.

Wednesday 4th September 1918
Jack & I spent the morning repairing billet line. All men off duty being inspected by General Birdwood. After dinner I cleaned up a few stores, then had a read. John Breakspear was buried. We turned in early.

Sunday 8th September 1918
Still in the railway goods shed at Castre. 36 went away this morn. We had a good sing song tonight. Turned in early.

Wednesday 11th September 1918
We left Castre at 9PM & arrived at Zeggers Cappell at 10.30.

Wednesday 18th September 1918
Turned out at 8, nothing doing. It is rumoured that Fritz has cleared out in front of us. Later on in the day we were told that our possie is not cancelled and that we have to do another 24 hours on account of billets moving. No rations arrived up till 2PM. A few of us went to a Belgian canteen & had a drop of wine. When we were coming back a Hun plane came over & brought down one of our balloons in flames & got away safe. Our rations arrived at 5PM, then we had dinner. After that we went looking for bread and managed to get a loaf off some Belgians. Got back & had our tea at 10PM & turned in. Artillery very active everywhere.

Friday 27th September 1918
Rolled out fairly early. Things very quiet. I spent the morning cleaning field glasses. After dinner Gil White & I went to Brigade, saw Bill Vercoe, Dub Quinn & a few others. Had to send more phones to Battery. We were having a quiet game of cards after tea & I got orders to have two men ready to go with Mr Russell at 5.30AM in the morning, and send two men to Battery tonight with Lucas lamps. The barrage starts at 2.30AM and I have to get up at 4.30 so I'll turn in.

Saturday 28th September 1918
Barrage started at 2.30AM and it was one of the finest sights I had seen for a long time. It eased off at 3.30 in places and started in earnest at 5.30 when infantry hopped. It started to rain shortly afterwards and kept on nearly all the morning but the attack went on just the same, and all objectives up to 11 had been taken. Three batches of 250 prisoners passed us and they all looked pretty fresh and had most of their kit with them. They never put up much of a fight in our sector. After dinner I went for a walk with a few of the Sigs and we went over a good lot of the evacuation ground and there was no signs of a battle at all. The only dead we saw were two Belgians. We got home in time for tea then got paid & spent a quiet night.

Tuesday 1st October 1918
Had another walk & laid a line to officers' mess. We heard official that Bulgaria had surrendered. I broke my clarionette & got terribly tight at night and coming home I fell over & hurt my leg. Had to have the doctor to see me.

Friday 4th October 1918
Party went up to Battery Position near Ploegsteert. I spent a quiet day & went to concert party at night. Rumours about that Fritz has evacuated Armentiers & Lille & that Turkey & Austria are suing for peace.

Sunday 5th October 1918
Had to roll out early & fall in at 8.30 to go to Battery. Went through Fletre, Metren, Bailleul & Nieve Eglise and they were all knocked about that much it was impossible to recognize any of them. The Battery position was between Hill 63 & Messines. Very rough place but it was fairly quiet. We spent a quiet day & never turned in till late.

Monday 7th October 1918
Never turned out till after breakfast, nothing much doing. After dinner we had to lay a line to Section. Fritz sent over a few 4.2s near cross road but did no damage. But later he sent two right into the Battery & one of them severely wounded 7 Tommies that were working on the road. One of the sections were evacuated suffering from effects of gas.

Saturday 12th October 1918
Turned out early sent relief to Battery. Then went looking for a dugout, all the good ones had been claimed. Rained all day. Turned in early.

Sunday 13th October 1918
Rolled early. Spent the day making our new home. Things fairly quiet.

Monday 14th October 1918
Turned out early & found Clifford & Hyne had returned. We spent the morning on our home and shifted in after dinner. Official news on the board that Germany had agreed to President Wilson's terms so it looks good. Cliff & I made a stove for our house. We turned in fairly late, nice & cosy.

Wednesday 16th October 1918
All a bit slow turning out, very dull morning. Very quiet round the front. Hayes went to hospital. We heard after dinner that Fritz had evacuated in front of us. Our guns are out of range. Boko field guns & ammunition going up. Robertson came back after tea & told us that our balloons were in Commines. We spent a very quiet night.

Thursday 17th October 1918
After breakfast I had to take a party to take in the line at 11.45 and came back to billets for dinner. After dinner party went to Battery again & Robie & I had to fix up an exchange at billets. First message we got was to say that French civvies from Lille entered our lines this morning & one of our planes had flown over Roubeax at 200ft and no anti-aircraft guns fired at him & civilians waved to him from the town. We spent a quiet night. Tomorrow our Battery have to supply a working party of 50 men & 1 officer for repairing bridges over the River Lys. I did first shift on duty 9 till 12.

Thursday 24th October 1918
I turned out early & cooked the steak for our mess. After parade we had a few hands of bridge, then we cooked spuds for dinner. We left billets at 1.30, Har, Jacks, Curly & I for Tourcoing & had to walk all the way 12 1/2 kilos, arrived there at 3.30. Spent a very lively night. Left there at *.30 in one of 29 Siege Battery's lorries. There were 63 of us aboard and we had a very rough ride, arrived at Wervicq at 9.45. Had a snack & turned in.

Saturday 26th October 1918
We all went on parade at 9.30. Route March. I took the mail round for censor, then went for a walk round the river, got home for dinner. Big mail in, none for me. I had to fall in at 1.30 with a party to bury horses near Roncq. We struck five, then Dick O'Brien & I inspected the road but found no more. On our way home we struck a cabbage patch and brought a good heap home. After tea we played cards for a while. Turned in early. Shifting billets tomorrow.

Monday 28th October 1918
Cros had to go to the possie with Mac. Working party went up to dig the gun pits.

Tuesday 29th October 1918
Party of Sigs had to go up to lay section line.

Thursday 31st October 1918
We heard that Italian troops broke through and cut the Austrian Army in two, capturing 33,000 prisoners and taking 300 villages & Turkey laid down her arms at noon today.

Tuesday 5th November 1918
We all turned out early after a very rough night. Any amount of kiddies about with coffee. It rained all day. We came off at 4PM. After tea I wrote a few letters then had some bully beef & jam & turned in.

Wednesday 6th November 1918
We spent the morning doing a bit of station work. Started to rain so we knocked off & came home. Har & I went for a walk after dinner & got very wet. Spent the rest of the afternoon with gramophone received from the Comforts Fund. After tea more gramophone, supper, then turned in.

Friday 8th November 1918
We had to turn out early and fix stores for the possie. A party of 9 Sigs went up. Wright & Hayes came back to Battery. After tea we went to the Diamond troupe. Very good show, we got home at 9. 7 more Sigs going up tomorrow. Great talk of Peace everywhere.

Monday 11th November 1918
We never turned out too early. The Armistice takes effect from 11AM today. Everybody in Tourcoing took it very quietly. Campbell took the message from 36 Brigade at 10.30 saying that hostilities will cease at 11AM. We went and saw the Gaiters Concert Party. The best we ever saw in France, got home & turned in.

Thursday 14th November 1918
We started a signal class. Spent the morning on tests. It started to snow a little. The rest of the Battery refused to work and broke off themselves, then refused to go on 2PM parade but eventually fell in at 3PM.

Sunday 1st December 1918
I had to get up to 36 before 9.30 to play at church. Everything went well. After dinner Har & I went to the match, our Combined Soccer team V French Civvies. Our team won, 3 - 1. At night I went with Boardie & Tom to a piano tuner's shop and had a very nice evening.

Saturday 28th December 1918
I got up and went up to practice for our turnout tonight. After dinner we had another practice. At night we all met at the club room and went round to the Hotel to have Christmas Dinner with the 36 Columns & give a concert after. We had a glorious dinner and the music and concert went very well. I got home at 11.30 & turned in sober.

Tuesday 31st December 1918
Spent all day practising. Got a string bass for Bill Vercoe. Practice again after tea & came home early. The Jocks in turn went mad visited our billet at 2.30AM with bagpipes & drums but we slept on.

Monday 27th January 1919
All out early to pack up again. Got moving at 11AM, arrived at Tourcoing at dinner time. Spent a quiet day.

Tuesday 28th January 1919
Harry & I went for a steam bath & met Mack at the square & he told me I would be leaving France in 8 days, so we had a few drinks on the strength of it & finished up very happy.

Wednesday 29th January 1919
I went up to rehearsal the same after dinner. We show in Lannoy again Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

Thursday 30th January 1919
I went out to Lannoy for the day, got everything ready for by 5PM. Everything went very well.

Sunday 2nd February 1919
Rehearsal at Municipal Theatre again. After dinner we got the piano down to our billet ready for the Smoke Concert tonight, which went off very well.

Monday 3rd February 1919
Another rehearsal at theatre. Show went very well, good house.

Tuesday 4th February 1919
I received a parcel from Stell in very good order. I played the show again which went very well.
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NOTE: Frederick Doonan's diary finished abruptly at this date. His return to Australia on the Nominal Roll of the AIF was 19th April 1919.