We came out of the trenches last night and while we were on our way out, our artillery started to bombard the German trenches and it lasted about 1 ½ hours during which time about 1500 shells were fired. We were ordered to have our respirators ready, as it was a gas attack by the Germans and that was what started the bombardment.

We came into the trenches last night and relieved the 17^th. Our platoon is in supports this time and we have to do the fatigues for the company.

Last night about 7.45 the Germans started a heavy bombardment on the trenches held by the 20^th Batt. On our right, which lasted about 2 hours and then they followed it up with an infantry attack on a part of their line but were repulsed. The 20^th lost heavily in the bombardment and a good bit of their trench was smashed up.

We were relieved last night again by the 17^th having done 10 days in the trenches.

There is plenty of work to be done now. New trenches are being dug in several places and the existing trenches strengthened. We are in such a position here that we could be cut off from either flank and preparations are being made to defend the place in case the enemy attack. This point of the line being further advanced than the rest of the line, it will be difficult to hold, if the Germans do take up the offensive.

We have had a couple of fires near here within the last few days, some buildings being set alight by German shells.

We came into the trenches again today. This time we are in local reserves, 3^rd line trench.

Things are getting a bit lively now and artillery bombardments by both sides are getting quite common. We have lost a few men out of the battalion since we came in this time, but so far none of our company have been hit.

We’re relieved again today by the 17^th Batt.

We still go out each night to work in the trenches. They are beginning to look very well and are quite different altogether to what they were when the Tommies left them. Last night when we got out we were told that the fatigue was off for the night and we stood to arms till daybreak, as the 7^th Brigade bombers were to go over and bomb the German trenches but it didn’t come off after all.

Our artillery opened up last night at 11.30 and shelled the German trenches for an hour doing some damage. We heard that a raiding party went over but with very little success.

Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State of War, has been drowned off Orkney Island by the sinking of H.M.S. Hampshire.

According to the papers the allies are doing some splendid work now and some terrific battles are raging with heavy losses on both sides. The Battle of Verdun (150 miles south of us) between French and Germans has been raging for 4 months and the result still hanging in the balance. The Russians on the Eastern front have been advancing and have driven the Austrians back through Galicia about 40 miles, on a front of 90 miles and have captured over 100,000 prisoners and are still advancing. The 3^rd Battle of Ypres has been in progress for 10 days now and the Canadians have suffered very heavy losses. Very little is heard of the Italians, but owing to the rough state of the country and the advantages being in favour of the Austrians, the Italians have been pushed back a bit.

We shifted into the trenches again last night and relieved the 17^th Batt.

Further success has been achieved by the Russians and they have captured about 152,000 Austrians now and a lot of guns and munitions captured. The Canadians have recaptured the trenches they had lost at Ypres. The Italians have again advanced with success. At Verdun the French have now taken up with the offensive and in German East Africa, the enemy have been driven back and are almost conquered.

We are to be relieved shortly by the 4^th Brigade (4^th Division) and will go for a short rest and then perhaps take over another part of the line. This, being a fairly quiet part of the line, is where new troops are usually brought first to get used to fire. At times it is lively enough and there are often artillery bombardments. Our artillery has been opening up a good deal lately at night and shell for about an hour and then sometimes it is followed up by a small raiding party who go over and get into the German trenches and bomb them out and usually capture some prisoners. The Germans took the bombardments quietly for a while but the last few nights our artillery opened up, Germany opened up too and sent them over thick and heavy so he has evidently had enough of it.

Constant artillery fire from both sides all afternoon.

Last night the 5^th Brigade raiding party raided the enemy trenches. The artillery and trench mortars opened up about 11.30pm and shelled the trenches opposite our brigade for about an hour and then the raiding party consisting of about 80 men went over. They came back with 3 prisoners. Our casualties were 1 killed and about 10 wounded.

We were relieved last night by the 14^th Batt and marched about 5 miles to a small village named Fort Rompu.

We are likely to leave here at any time now, but don’t know where we are bound for.

Back to Contents        Mon July 3rd