Terrell, Frederick Leopold – March 1917

2 March
A lovely day, but still the mud is terrible…

4 February  [sic]
Had sports here today, which were provided by the bombing school which is established in this town The Australians ran away with all the prizes but one, namely the, French Mortar Bomb relay race which was won by the Tommies…

5 March
… had a fall of 4 inches of snow…

6 March
A very cold day and everywhere is slush and mud as the temperature rose very quick…

7 March
…received two letters from Clara…

8 March
… it was an exceedingly cold night last night with a frosty wind blowing which froze all the mud up hard Had another fall of snow before dinner, but has almost vanished again now. Received orders to move up to firing line tomorrow morning at 8.a.m.

9 March
… Had rough trip for it snowed all the way, altogether we trekked 28 Kilometers arriving at destination at 3 P.M worn out tired, sore footed and cold…

12 March
Had the day out at relay station which was situated on a sunken road and a very warm corner just to the right of Walencourt.[Warlencourt] During the night after our heavy Barage, Fritz evacuated his position the real extent of evacuation not yet known but we vaguely know they are 2000 yds away

13 March
Spent a very busy day trying to locate Fritz, and have at last come in touch… continually following him up and half the time not knowing where he is Received two letters from Clara and one from Mother…

15 March
Turned out early and ran Group H.Q. line, did practically nothing until, 5.30 P.M when Sgt Ladd & myself set out to pick up line again, Which proved a rotten job in the dark over such roughly cut up country as there is barely a square inch that has not been torn and shattered for acres…

17 March
After dinner yesterday we moved up from old position, to a position at rear of Le Barque…Got well fixed up and slept the night in what was a German Gun Pit, it was not the best of positions as we were in a Whiz-Bang Barage. Woke up this morning none the worse for the night of lively experiences

18 March
Last night the sky was illuminated by reflections of towns alight all along our front held by the Germans…

19 March
We are completely out of the German barage, though we have not moved our position but Fritz has gone back that far and the extent of his evacuation is not yet known

20 March
Went into Bapuame this morning and it is one heap ruins, the places that they had not time to blow down, they set fire to, and his evacuation has been that thorough, that out past Bapuame he has not left any contraband of war and also has cut all trees down that lined the road to help his airmen…

25 March
Turned out at 6.30 a m and moved the Battery… before sundown and was ready for the stunt which is to take place on Lagnicourt at 4 a m…

26 March
Early this morning our artillery put up a heavy bombardment on Larincourt and continued periodically through out the rest of the day. Towards the close of day this town came into our hands It has been a very cold miserable day

27 March
Considerable artillery fire went on during last night and the early hours of the morning, but things are fairly quiet now

28 March
Am feeling very miserable as I have boils all over my neck…

29 March
Turned out at 1.10 a.m. this morning to mend a line which was broken between Battery and H.Q It was awful, for it had been snowing all night and had gradually turned into a sleety rain which made things exceedingly uncomfortable

31 March
…Today a very quiet day, had nothing much to do but are expecting a stunt in the morning. Yesterday a well in the town near our position blew resulting in a few casualties

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