Such a wet day. Poured all day without ceasing. Lovely day after the rain storm—much milder. They are issuing a second blanket per man, I am glad to say. No, I’m not made a Brigadier, nor any chance of it. I didn’t leave the R.A. [Royal Artillery] to become a General, but because I thought my duty lay with my own people.

A quiet day. Went round billets of two Coys. in a.m., and searched for bombing ground in p.m. Bombing is all the rage now; everything else is forgotten. Every man to be a bomber—drill pamphlets, instructors, etc., flood in every minute of the day. Every place a sea of mud after the rain. The men quite cheerful and washing their clothes. Some of the skin coats only issued last night were found full of lice.

The men have kept wonderfully clean so far. No illness among them, only a few sore feet, I suppose the open-air life, for their feet can never be dry. I’m rather dreading Adjutant’s departure. Suppose I am getting lazy. He has been excellent out here, in every way, keen energetic, and untiring, and he has a sound opinion. Berry, Fergie, and Padre sleep in one room, three little spring beds alongside one another. They are very cosy and have a fire. I’m glad to say I haven’t had a fire in my room since I came out. Consequently have been free from cold. ‘A’ Company returned at 2.00 a.m., after 24 hours hard work, all in the rain. They marched and unloaded for 18 hours out of 24, unloading guns and wagons out here. I think we shall remain here for a bit, possibly a month! Anyway we are starting reading room, company sgts. messes, and all the sanitary fads. Billets quite good except for a few. I believe we may get eight days leave after three months out, if we are not going into the trenches, or otherwise just then.

Yes. Some Huns shouted out to the Battalion next to us “you can have these _____ trenches, and the _____ Kaiser too, on 29^th.” I expect it only meant that lot were going to be relieved on 29^th.

A nice village. H.Q. in a Notary’s house, quite good, but cold; good kitchen, and beds for six of us; the best we have met with yet. Bitterly cold night and day; looks like more snow. This place was left filthy by a lot in New Div. just out from home. We are now getting it in order. The whole house, which you can see is new and spotless in peace time, was covered with dirt, tins, paper and filth—too bad! Madame the Notary came here today and was very distressed. We consoled her with assurances we were not like that! Windy day this. Sanitary work and settling down till tea. We had open air service this morning, and I insisted on reading Eccles, xii., as we couldn’t have Service last Sunday. A piercing N.E. [north east] wind has got up, looks like snow. Have to send a fatigue party of three officers and 100 men to be at railway—3½ miles from here, at 4.00 a.m.

[Bellancourt.]

Frosty and cold. Got in here at 2.30 p.m. after a 12 mile march. Cold, bright, hard frost, and roads like iron.

[Ribeaucourt.]

Lieutenant General Sir Walter Congreve VC

Got back here R_____ [Ribeaucourt] after 17 ½ mile march, about 3.00 p.m. Very cold with snow showers and bitter wind. Off again tomorrow to B_____ [Bellancourt], about 10 miles due west of this place. Redmond was only 1½ miles from us at M_____ _____ [Mailly-Maillet]. We were the Battalion he referred to next the Dublins.

Congreve, V.C., commands the XIII Corps. Fearful rush here arranging for move. I walked about 9 miles of the march today, it was so bitter riding. Yes, I fancy plenty of ammunition. Gunners blazing away all day. Snow boots doing well. Any working party at night is risky, as the opposite side invariably spray a bit with M.G. on the chance of catching some party working at something on top.

Footnote

John Redmond visited France in November 1915 and spent three days on a wide-ranging tour of various headquarters and units, including a number of Irish battalions. A diary of his visit may be found here.

[Puchevillers.]

Here we are at the end of our first march. We left at 9.00 a.m. and got in here at 1.00 p.m. Fine sunny day; roads very heavy; about 12 miles. Lambton came out to see us, and the Battalion looked well. The Qr. Mr. [Quartermaster] of the 1^st R.I.F. and Eric Fforde came out to see the Battalion pass. The Qr. Mr. (Bunting, a Portadown man,) was greatly struck with the Battalion, and said the ‘Baby’ was a very fine one. Half the 12^th R.I.R. is here also. They had a rotten time. Only in the line by Coys., remainder under canvas. This is the third time we have been here, P-v-s [Puchevillers] and a different billet each time. I’ll write a line to Miss Fforde to say I’ve seen her brother. He was looking well, transport officer and back well from the front line. We had all yesterday for baths and changing clothing, and the men turned out well today. Very cold here but splendid for marching. If it will only keep fine for tomorrow’s long march.

[Colincamps.]

Got back out of the trenches to this place from where we went in. Relief was not finished to 7.00 p.m., when Pratt, Adjutant and I were the last to leave. Walked to the village M_____ M_____. [Mailly-Maillet] Dined with Smyth, who gave us a splendid repast, and then walked on here arriving at 10.00 p.m. Fergie had been at work and got three rooms—a splendid billet, due to the goodness of the Gunners here. I am in a beautifully furnished room, with carpet! Such luxury after dugout. An easy day today, as the men are cleaning and bathing preparatory to move tomorrow, when we go back same way, and billets, we came here from to our old R_____. [ Ribeaucourt] Stay there a day or two to collect our things, and then on again, but where we don’t know. Each night in the trenches we had a Gunner officer with us, who fed with us and had a dug-out of his own. I can’t think why he was here. Two very nice subs [subalterns] came, and yesterday the Captain (Bittleton [sic]) arrived, about three hours before we left.

Captain C M Johnston

We got out of the trenches with no casualties. I am so pleased. One or two narrow shaves. A shell near C. Johnston, and rifle sight shot off, and a bayonet hit with a bullet. The 1^st R.I.F. [Royal Irish Fusiliers] on our left had a man killed, and some wounded in the three days they were in. The 18^th on our left [sic, right] had some casualties. The 9^th R.I.R. [Royal Irish Rifles] had three men badly hit at a working party the night before we left. ‘Downs’ had four and 12^th R.I.R. three, I think. I hear the new XIII Corps is to consist of 7^th, 30^th, 32^nd and 36^th Divisions, and is to concentrate near Abbeville. Fergie had a long talk with Hull, the Brigadier. In recounting it to me “Brigadier said ‘You’re a well-officered Battalion. Your Colonel is a nut, and a Brazil nut to boot.’ ” You should have heard Fergie rolling it out. Am writing in R.A. [Royal Artillery] mess, which is comfy.

The men were splendid the whole week. Never a complaint, tho’ very uncomfortable and in some cases worse. We had one case of frost bite. The sentries in sap-heads were standing over their ankles in cold slush, for two hours at a time with no means of keeping their feet dry. Lutton did excellently with the telephone arrangements; never a hitch; everything working smoothly and quickly, tho’ the lines wanted constant watching for breakages, due to trenches falling in. Young Anson is A_D_C_ [Aide-de-Camp] to Lambton.

I think I told you about the march. Men did splendidly, and all came in with Battalion. You know Adjt. has had a lot to do with efficiency of Battalion. Most of the C.O.’s are equally good or bad, but few have decent Adjts.; and Adjutant is excellent. Afraid C. Shillington was killed.

Busy arranging reliefs. No casualties so far. Thick frosty fog.

Fine day, but foggy and very raw. Brigadier Gen. round this a.m. and Lambton, who commands this Div., turned up about lunch time and we gave him lunch. I walked with him to the confines of the trenches afterwards. I suppose this was his inspection, on which he will found his report. Not much value, I fear. There was a certain amount of bomb [grenade] throwing by the Huns last night, on our right at a patrol of the 8^th R.I.R. [Royal Irish Rifles] No damage, I believe, otherwise very quiet night. A sniper has established himself in front, about 200 yards from us, we think, but we cannot locate him. I paid a visit to 1^st Battalion this p.m. They are on our left. Found the Adjt. and another Sub. [subaltern] in; paid my respects to them on behalf of the 9^th Battalion and had a talk. We go out tomorrow evening to some billets, and then off on a ‘long trek’ again; where to I know not. Our fire absolutely refuses to burn, in spite of all our efforts. Had a very comfy night. Went round trenches about 9.00–11.00, and had a long doss. Have walked a lot today, and am feeling very tired. A M.G. [machine gun] strafe beginning now.

Such crowded hovels A and B Coys.’ officers and men are in, it’s hard to use anything. Weather still fine, I’m glad to say, but this p.m. is dark and looks like snow. The trenches are depressing, badly made in the first instance, and this snow and rain has brought a lot of the parapet down, and made it bulge everywhere. The whole parapet has to be demolished and built up again. In addition the floor of all the Trenches has to be scraped and cleaned every day. Tho’ men are working day and night, nothing seems to be done. We have about 1,000 yards of front; a 2^nd line, which is badly fallen in, and two long communication trenches to keep up. Three men’s dug-outs, each holding a platoon, at each end of the line. I mean that there are six of these dug-outs altogether, and each group of three holds a platoon. These are very good, the others very bad: small, dilapidated, leaky and wretched. We are all covered with mud, but I insist on the men shaving, and they do.

Our guns strafed the Huns severely this a.m. No reply. and our M.G. harried the village and their transport, and made it shift, and the drivers shout and curse, last night. They fire a few whizz-bangs over bits of our line every day. No damage so far. I don’t think they are a very enterprising lot opposite here. There are various places they might harry us. Don’t send any more mitts, either to me or for men till I let you know. No, they’ve decided on reducing the cheese ration.

I do not think much of the discipline of the regulars in these parts. Many drunk in the town nightly, and their sanitary discipline nil. The 1^st R.I.F. [Royal Irish Fusiliers] are now in the line next to us, with 18^th R. Irish on the other side. Lambton, the 4^th Div. Gen. has not been near us so far. Hull, the Brig. [Brigadier General] of the 10^th Brig. [Brigade] to whom we were attached till they were relieved from the trenches yesterday, was very nice. We’re all right for food, and doing well here in the way of food. Our store is in the dug-out. Will not change today. It is rather chilly.