A.G. Richardson’s Diary July 1916
HEDAUVILLE.
Saturday 1st July 1916: Rose at 8 am. Terrible artillery bombardment. Lovely day – great aerial activity. Bombardment ceases 7.30. Infantry action later. Plenty of wounded & prisoners.
Sunday 2nd July 1916: Saw tons of prisoners. Got a few souvenirs. Good deal of wounded, though only slightly, come down. Terrific bombardment at night.
HEDAUVILLE.
Monday 3rd July 1916: Terrific artillery work – plenty of amm going up. Hard at it all day. Quieter towards night.
Tuesday 4th July 1916: Quiet day. Infantry actions. Stuck at Thiepval Wood. 49th win still to their glorious name.
HEDAUVILLE.
Wednesday 5th July 1916: Wet day – nothing much doing. Inside all day. Up till 12 midnight.
Thursday 6th July 1916: Slight rain. Went to WARLOY for some beer. Got 4 helmets, sniper’s telescopic sights, belts daggers, all sorts of souvenirs at night.
HEDAUVILLE.
Friday 7th July 1916: Artillery again at it. Tremendous din. Quieter towards noon. Went near Thiepval at night & saw the front line.
Saturday 8th July 1916: Heavy artillery placed near us – 15” Naval guns. Much quieter than usual.
HEDAUVILLE.
Sunday 9th July 1916: “T” Sect in reserve to 248 Bde in readiness to “go over” following the cavalry. Not required.
Monday 10th July 1916: Great artillery work towards night. Jack Currie killed & Joe Webster wounded.
HEDAUVILLE.
Tuesday 11th July 1916: Rose at 7 am. Fine day – aeroplanes in dozens. Busy until 11.30 pm.
Wednesday 12th July 1916: Watched our heavies firing near Thiepval. Englebelmer heavily shelled by the Bosches with “Universal”.
HEDAUVILLE – AMIENS.
Thursday 13th July 1916: Rose at 7.30 am. Filled up with amm. 684 A. & 228. A.X. Busy until midnight. Great heavy artillery work near Thiepval Wood.
Friday 14th July 1916: Set off with Sergt Hutson on bikes at 8 am & arrived AMIENS 10.45. Lovely day. “FETE Nationale” throughout France. Grand displays in Amiens. Crowds & crowds of people. Came back in R.N.A.S. car. Back at 8.30 pm.
HEDAUVILLE.
Saturday 15th July 1916: Rose at 8 am. Fine day. Nothing much doing. Pozieres captured by us!! (Official).
Sunday 16th July 1916: Great artillery work. Beaucoup aeroplanes around scouting.
The diary has no further location headings until1 September.
Monday 17th July 1916: 10.45 am A AX
A/248 157
12.15 pm B/248 114
5.10 A/247 413 10
Tuesday 18th July 1916: 10 am A/248 19
11 am C/155 (K) 76
9.50 pm B/248 76
Wednesday 19th July 1916: 6 pm B/245 608 —
Thursday 20th July 1916: 7.30 am A/248 228 76
7.20 am C/248 228 76
7.30 am A/245 228 76
Friday 21st July 1916: No entry.
Saturday 22nd July 1916: 1.15 pm. B/245 304
Sunday 23rd July 1916: 9.15 am B/245 380 76
Monday 24th July 1916: No entry.
Tuesday 25th July 1916: 10 am B/245 380 76
3.20 pm C/246 142
Wednesday 26th July 1916: No entry.
Thursday 27th July 1916: No entry.
Friday 28th July 1916: No entry.
Saturday 29th July 1916: No entry.
Sunday 30th July 1916: 8.30 am A/247 456 152
Monday 31st July 1916: No entry.
