Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Jan 1915

1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4^th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.

Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.

Sheffield.

Friday 1^st January 1915:          Signalling in morning.  ½ day holiday.

Saturday 2^nd January 1915:     Signalling.

Sunday 3^rd January 1915:        Church parade.

Monday 4^th January 1915:      Signalling.

Tuesday 5th January 1915:     Field day near Dore & Totleys.  Raining whole day.  Caught a chill.

Wednesday 6^th January 1915: Physical Drill & Signalling.

Thursday 7^th January 1915:     Started with a Bronchial Cold.  Went to bed at 6 pm.

Friday 8^th January 1915:         Saw Surgeon Lieut Wood.  Obtained medicine & went to bed.

Saturday 9^th January 1915:     Confined to bed.

Sunday 10^th January 1915:      In bed.

Monday 11^th January 1915:    In Bed.

Tuesday 12^th January 1915:    In bed.

Wednesday 13^th January 1915: In bed.  Got up a little & went out for 2 hours to get fresh air.

Thursday 14^th January 1915:   Still confined to bed.

Friday 15^th January 1915:       At last, able to go out.  Went a short walk in             morning & went on duty once more in the afternoon.

Saturday 16^th January 1915:   Signalling in the Drill Hall all morning.  Father & Mother, & Arnold (from Dorchester) over for ½ day.  Very happy day spent.  1^st fine day for a long time.

Sunday 17^th January 1915:      Church Parade at St Barnabas Ch.  Went walk in aft. with Eric Hampshire round Norfolk Park. Went to Cathedral at night & then walk by Cobner Rd. (Wood seats) & Derbyshire Lane.

Monday 18^th January 1915:    Signalling all day.  Went to “Robinson Crusoe.”

Tuesday 19^th January 1915:    Field Day near Dore & Totley.

Wednesday 20^th January 1915: Signalling.

Thursday 21^st January 1915:   Signalling.

Friday 22^nd January 1915:       Signalling.  Inoculated (1^st dose).  No effects except stiff arm.

Saturday 23^rd January 1915:   Signalling in morn.  Went to see Sheff Wed (2) v Liverpool (1).

N.B.  Inoculation is nothing as regards after effects.  Only felt a stiff shoulder & arm, 6 hours afterwards.

Sunday 24^th January 1915:      Stable Picket all day.

Monday 25^th January 1915:    Signalling.

Tuesday 26^th January 1915:    In bed, bad throat.

Wednesday 27^th January 1915: In bed, bad throat.

Thursday 28^th January 1915:   In bed bad throat.

Friday 29^th January 1915:       Signalling.

Saturday 30^th January 1915:   Went to Ben R for ½ day.  Left Sheff 1-52 arr Ben R 3- 43. Left Ben R 6-18 Sheff arr 8-53. Absolutely ripping to see home once more.  Had 3 good meals.  Saw all at home.

Salisbury Plain.

Sunday 31^st January 1915:      Ripping views of St Paul’s, Thames & Underground Rlys.  Travelled from Sheffield to Amesbury, Salisbury Plain, via London G.N.R.  9.45 – 9.15 pm.  Tramped 9 miles till 12-30.  mud awful.

H.E. WITTY Jan 16

18^th SIEGE BATTERY R.G.A.

1. Section

1^st January 1916.  Saturday.  OFF DAY.  Very wet – played footer in morning.  Reading ‘Les contes des collines’ and writing afternoon and evening.  Letter from R.  ANS.

Gormley’s court martial **holder before Major for shooting a dog in camp – got off with a rep.

2^nd January 1916.  Sunday.  At gun position on telephone in morning, afternoon and evening reading *** letters from Ma, Mrs. Bailey, Dorothy Marshall. ANS.  Much rain. DAVIES came in morning.

3^rd January 1916.  Monday.  Barleys shot G “inconnue femme” with revolver 1 am.  Bethune Hosp.  arrival of 52^nd Bty to relieve us.  Sent to Mauser Range to point out wire to new signallers (20 J. Gentlemen) 400 yds wire “wiped out”.  Returned after dinner to repair it.  Smith & I heavily shelled (Shrapnel).  Much damage in canteen *** of Garston and parc from BETHUNE.  PC from Kathie.  Letters Alice, Mr. Dundoon, Gilbert, Peg.  ANS.  Lovely day.  Met HUNSLEY.

4^th January 1916.  Tuesday.  Packing up for departure.  Left B. at5.30 pm arrived HAZEBRUCK 10. pm.  Slept in vans.  Letters from Norman and A. Houshan

5^th January 1916.  Wednesday.  Stayed Hazebrouck until 2 pm.  Went into H with Bush and saw Willie F.  Gormley left behind.  Arrive at Steenwerk 3 pm and N. Eglise 5 pm travelling along old Farm route.  2 engines needed for running gun up ANS.  N.T.H

.

6^th January 1916.  Thursday.  Slept last night in truck.  Full day unpacking stores running up gun positions (1 ½ miles) on a trolley – place full of Canadians.  Examined lines in morning & next 22 Siege.  Settled in huts for night.

7^th January 1916.  Friday.  At Canadian concert last night.  On fatigues building huts, drawing water etc.  Much rain.  Mail up but no letters.  On night fatigues emptying motor lorries of wood, trench wire, corrugated iron, bulk rests for mud etc.  Listening to R.A. Band in Y.M.C.A. hut.

8^th January 1916.  Saturday.  On hut erection – off colour today with diarrhoea.  Fetching water.  Letter from Hilda J.B. (W.B. and O.H.).  cigarettes from the mum.  Old Scholars.  Wrote N.T. Municipal & R.

9^th January 1916.  Sunday.  Inspection of Gas helmets Iodine ampoules & dressings.  Spent morning digging drains, erecting latrines etc.  in afternoon on fatigues with trench cart at Y.M.C.A.

10^th January 1916.  Monday.  On telephone duty with Bottrill Pcd & letter from R.  Letter from Scott.  J.B. from Carter.  ANS.  Knight’s departure also Brown & Gale.

11^th January 1916.  Tuesday.  Turned out 6 am.  Left 7 am for LE AIZET in car passing thro’ ARMENTIERS en route.  In church tower with Hughes, Mallins & Humfries till 5 pm – 21^st good shoot – observation of shelling of HOPLINES CH. Battery etc.  crossed LYS – much flooded country.  Letters from R. & N.T. Katherine.

12^th January 1916.  Wednesday.  Despatch riding on Triumph to BAILLEUL.  Vile roads – T clutchless – breakdown coming back with belt.  Letters N.T. & paper from Scott.  ANS yesterday post also wrote Frank.  New Green Envelope order in Force.

13^th January 1916.  Thursday.  On telephone duty at NO 2 GUN not in action as wind was too strong.  Letters from Gilbert and Alice Ans.  Friday Y.M.C.A. occupied by Canadian XMAS SUPPER.

14^th January 1916.  Friday.  On telephone exchange.  In action on Pottery Farm 10 rounds – Good shoot by No 2 Gun.  On night duty.  Read ”Game” and part of musketeers.  Letters Dorothy & West (Pcl). Ans.

15^th January 1916.  Saturday.  Came off duty 9 am.  Repaired Rudge multi and brought back Triumph broken down on roadside.  Gill trying to go to B-L.  went on multi.  At  Y.M.C.A. in afternoon.  Letters F (pcl) R. Gladys.  ANS.  Sent remittances to FRANK & R.

16^th January 1916.  Sunday.  Assisting wireless operator – also on duty at Exchange.  NO mail – at Y.M.C.A. reading EVERYMAN.  Very fine and warm.

17^th January 1916.  Monday.  On line visited N. Eglise the MOUND and 22 Siege Bty (12” caterpillar).  Had a bath with 8^th Canadians.  Letter from R. J.B. (cater)  ANS.  Also wrote Herin, sent Silk cards and P.C.s to Home N.S. (Trio) & R.

18^th January 1916.  Tuesday.  On telephone exchange – line laid to Tocquet O.P.  Rain.  NO mail.

19^th January 1916.  Wednesday.   .  In action on Tocquet – 29 rounds – British Gas attack – Big bomb – preparation.  Letters Scott, Frank – Miss Road – Gilbert.  Very fine day.

20^th January 1916.  Thursday.  On telephone exchange in morning – After dinner went to TOCQUET O.P. to get wire in 25 yds from Germans.  Shrapnel – maxims rifles bombardment.  Trenches in good condition.  Case of shelled dug out and the “buried leg”!  Letters F. Ma, NT. Mrs S.  ANS.

21^st January 1916.  Friday.  OFF DUTY – Bottrill and I walked into BAILLEUL – stayed for dinner & returned to camp for tea.  No letters.  Brought a few pcs and envelopes.  Had a good dinner for 1/2.  spent evening reading.  New order re telephone room.

22^nd January 1916.  Saturday.  On “all day” plate laying, shifting “bearings” of line for Monday’s big shoots.  Letters R. Gilbert, James Humbertal.  ANS.  Bottrill comes into our hut.

23^rd January 1916.  Sunday.  Laying wire to O.P. Le Tocquet – in reserve trenches – In trenches till 7.15 pm.  First experience of trench rats – Returned in car about 9 pm.  NO MAIL.  ANS yesterday’s post.  P.C.s Green and Robinson.

24^th January 1916.  Monday.  In action on The Brasserie – a “fort” in German trenches – at O.P., reporting observations – 40 rounds – Excellent shooting – Brasserie blown to pieces.  Letters Peg and Frank – JB (O.H.).

25^th January 1916.  Tuesday.  Standing by for O.P. Nothing doing.  Ans yesterdays post – NO MAIL.  At Y.M.C.A. in evening.

26^th January 1916.  Wednesday.  Aeroplane combat over camp – shells from anti-aircraft guns fall in village 50 yds from us.  On telephone exchange with KNOWLE.  In action – fired 5 rounds on BRASSERIE.  Letter from R.  Answered.  Rather foggy and inclined to rain.  On night duty.

27^th January 1916.  Thursday.  Off duty during the day.  Had a good bath in the shower baths.  Pcl from F.  letters from N.T. and Mrs. Philippson.  ANS.  Acknowledged Mrs Parker’s socks.  At Y.M.C.A. in evening.

28^th January 1916.  Friday.  Replacing wire to the gun – In action 6 rounds on Brasserie.  NO 3 reported short and dropping in our trenches.  Pay day.  Letter from Kathie. Ans.  Y.M.C.A. concert.

29^th January 1916.  Saturday.  On No 2 Gun – very warm & fine.  Hut inspection by “old man”.  Letter from R.  Ans.  Reported night Gas attack.  Stand by with helmets.  Y.M.C.A. concert postponed.

30^th January 1916.  Sunday.  Much work – took trolley to Steenwerck Station for a weigh – brought it back – Shunted many trucks to bring forward amn truck – Weighed 50 shells transferring when weighed to empty truck – Dinner (Macaroni) finished 2.0 pm – went off for a Douglas broken down on Baileul Rd.  returned for tea 4.20 pm.  At Y.M.C.A.  Letters Gilbert & Rowell.  ANS.

31^st January 1916.  Monday.  On the line – walked through Neuve Eglise to 22 Bty.  Line in good order – Huts lined partly with canvass – bon – letter from Frank.  Answered – very cold today.  Excellent concert at Y.M.C.A. Givenchy Canadian Division.

Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET

48 SIEGE BATTERY RGA

1^st Jan. Saturday.  Went over to the Docks by train; they had now started loading Tentage and there was nothing for us to do.  Meade King went up to Town for the night to see his wife.  I returned to Bristol soon after midday.  Went to the Pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” in the evening, a very good show, amusing and some of the scenes very pretty.

2^nd Jan. Sunday.  Went to church at 8.0.  Paid my bill at the Hotel and went to the Docks.  Meade King returned.  Went to the Rest Camp at 2.0 and marched our 15 men and the 30 for Malta down to the ship and embarked them.  Paraded them at 3.0 for inoculation against Cholera and I was vaccinated as well.  Meade King went off to his cousins at Stoke Druid for the night.  I slept on board.  Rain all evening & night.

3^rd Jan. Monday.  Cleared up about 9.0 and was a fine sunny day.  Meade King returned at 10.0.  Said we were both asked by his cousins for lunch, dinner and the night if not sailing.  I went into Bristol to see Mr. Meade King re a power of attorney for Mother and returned to Stoke Druid to lunch with his wife; into Bristol again after lunch to sign P of Att: then to tea at Stoke Druid.  M. K. and I then went out to the Docks to see if the ship would sail.  On finding that she wouldn’t we went to Stoke Druid for the night which was very pleasant.

4^th Jan. Tuesday.  Caught bus after breakfast and were at the Docks shortly after 10.0.  They finished loading by midday and we expected to sail between 4 and 8, no orders came however so we are here for the night.  Started raining in the afternoon and continued.  Sent a wire about 3.30 to say were off!!

5^th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine sunny day.  Took a walk round the Docks in the m’ning.  Cast off about 6.10 p.m. and anchored off Barry at 9.30 p.m. awaiting escorts.

6^th Jan. Thursday.  Left Barry Roads soon after midnight accompanied by our escort which was two armed trawlers whose speed was so slow that we had to reduce to half speed.  A fairly fine day but a bit thick.  A good many men were ill there being a fair amount of motion.  Meade King succumbed also.

7^th Jan. Friday.  A fair day, fresh breeze and some sun.  Most of the men were ill., Meade King in bed all day, the ship was rolling a lot.  Made the Wolf Lightship about 8.0 am and picked up a new escort, 2 armed trawlers which could steam at our full speed, they left us at about 9.0 p.m. when off Ushant, we passed about 60 miles off.

8^th Jan. Saturday.  Fine sunny day, light wind but a heavy swell.  Sunny.

9^th Jan. Sunday.  Fine day, dull.  Wind veered round to the E.  Bigend of H.P. Cyl[inder] began to knock about midday.  Hove to at 6.30 p.m. for engineers to repair it.  Under way again about 10.0 p.m. Abreast off Cape Finisterre, about 150 miles out, at about 5.0 p.m.

10^th Jan. Monday.  Lovely sunny day calm with an Easterly breeze.  Stopped in the forenoon for about 15 minutes to adjust Bigend.

11^th Jan. Tuesday.  Lovely sunny day calm with an Easterly breeze.  Altered course about 9.0 p.m. for the Straits of Gibraltar.

12^th Jan. Wednesday.  Lovely sunny day very calm Easterly breeze. Sighted land N. coast of Africa at 4.0 p.m.  Met Patrol boat outside Gibraltar about 9.0 p.m. and arrived in Examination Anchorage about 12.0.  Did not anchor.

13^th Jan. Thursday.  Lovely sunny day, very calm, practically no wind.  Left Gibraltar at 5.0 am.  Saw Sierra Nevada 11,000 ft. snow covered.

14^th Jan. Friday.  Fine sunny day, fresh breeze dying away in the evening.

15^th Jan. Saturday.  Fine sunny day wind went round to the North.  There was a swell which caused her to roll rather heavily.

16^th Jan. Sunday.  Fine sunny day.  Swell went down v. light wind.  Passed several ships, one a 4 funnel cruiser on the horizon.

17^th Jan. Monday.  Hot sunny day calm light breeze.  Arrived off Malta at 4.45 p.m. and were sent round to St. Paul’s Bay to anchor for the night.  Anchored at 7.30.

18^th Jan. Tuesday.  Weighed anchor at 6.30.a.m. and proceeded into the harbour, anchoring off the fish market about 8.30.  The 30 men for Malta were disembarked before noon.  Meade King and I went ashore in the afternoon, cabled home, did some shopping and walked about.  Fine sunny day.

19^th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine day but cloudy.  Meade King and I went to lunch with 3 Subs. of 603 Coy. M.T. A.S.C. at Mosta Cross Roads about 7 miles outside Valetta.  Did some shopping and posted letters.  30 men R.N.D. ratings joined on board.

20^th Jan. Thursday.  Fine sunny day.  Fresh breeze from N.  We left Malta at midday.

21^st Jan. Friday.  Warm sunny day no wind.  Clouded over in the evening.

22^nd Jan. Saturday.  Dull.  Rain on and off all day.

23^rd Jan. Sunday.  Dull and wet in the morning but cleared up in the afternoon.  Calm sea fresh breeze.

24^th Jan. Monday.  Arrived off Alexandria at daybreak and entered about 7.0 am.  We anchored out in the harbour.  Rather windy some showers but warm and pleasant in the sun.

25^th Jan. Tuesday.  N. W. gale all day.  No communication with the shore.  Some sunshine and heavy squalls.

26^th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine day fresh breeze.  Hill came on board in the m’ning and gave us news of the battery.  Pilot came on board after dinner and we berthed at No 44 at 2.45 and soon after cargo began to be discharged.  Meade King and I drove up to the town after tea and sent some cables.  30 R.N.D. ratings disembarked at 5.0.p.m.

27^th Jan. Thursday.  Fine day fairly sunny fresh breeze.  Continued to discharge tentage.  Harvey, Lane and White came down in the afternoon.  Langford and Hutchings in the m’ning.

28^th Jan. Friday.  Warm sunny day.  Began discharging lorries.  Sent a cable to Judith.

29^th Jan. Saturday.  Lovely hot sunny day.  Continued to unload lorries and tentage.  Received mail from home.

30^th Jan. Sunday.  Lovely hot sunny day.  Continued unloading all day.  Got 4 of the gun pieces out.

31^st Jan. Monday.  Fine sunny day.  Finished discharging the ship at 4.15p.m.  After tea on board we all left for the Camp after just a month on board.  Had a very comfortable happy time on board and a very pleasant voyage.  Dined at Camp, sharing a tent with Harvey.  Quite comfortable.