Allsop Diary

[top left] July & Aug. [top right] 7th & 8th Months 1916

[centred] 31 Monday

About 6 am took serious case down - man shot through head after sniping a few Germans. Afterwards died. Sergeant also shot in head but not serious. About 6 cases altogether. Big naval gun behind us booms out with an awful thud and shakes the earth. One of Fritz's big guns knocked yesterday. Order burnt at Elbow Farm. Rather a happy evening followed by good sleep but or Gas Alarm. [centred] 1 Tuesday [centred] AUSTRALIAN DIARIES FOR 1917 PUBLISHED THIS DAY. Cook brought us breakfast in bed - cocoa & ham. Trip up to Fleurbaix with patient - Shells dropping everywhere Back to Wye Farm at night

[centred] 2 Wednesday

Up about 10 am. Took sick man back to Brewery. Germans shelling both sides of road. Amb. packed up. C Section moved. Lucky to be up for the day - Fritz was shelling our supports some landing near our dugout. Back to Farm in ration car at night.

[top left] 1916 31 Days [top right] August

[centred] 3 Thursday Roused out to take serious case at 5.20 am, man shot through head. Anxious day - Germans still on our supports. Our Aid Post in danger 3rd shift at R. A. Post - A night of anxious terror. Didn't sleep. Sat up all night. At midnight we opened up a terrific bombardment of German trenches. [centred] 4 Friday

Last night Fritz got a good introduction to the 3rd year of the war but we got no rest. 4 casualties in morning Few more shells lobbed near us. 8th Field Amb. moved from Brewery to unknown place & we are left isolated. No news of relief. Lay awake for hours in the night troubled by mosquitoes guns and machine guns [centred] 5 Saturday

Few more cases today. Man hit by explosive bullet. Artillery fury. One of our planes brought down. Infantry relieved but we have to remain. 2 shells into farm other side of Fleurbaix wounding 20. Quite close to us. Elbow Farm at night. Had a look at Fleurbaix Church. Drunken case at midnight. [centred] 6 Sunday - 7th after Trinity

The Drunk gave trouble all night so we didn't get up till 11 am. Quiet day except for aeroplanes. At night on returning to Wye Farm things were terrific to our left. Guns made a fierce chaos. The scene was awful No sleep till about 3 o'clock in morning

[Top Left] August [top Right] 8th Month 1916

[Centre] 7 Monday Went to Elbow Farm for rations & mail. Fritzt shelling the batteries behind us also Fleurbaix which is already in ruins. Numbers wounded British squadron of planes passed over. Fritzy didn't hit any of the 8. No doubt we have the superiority here in aeroplanes. Mick Love Capt of 54th. [Centre] 8 Tuesday Case at about 5 am. Back to bed and slept till 11. Not much doing except for aeroplanes and artillery In afternoon another turn at the Aid Post. Light Horse coming in to reinforce the infantry.

[Centre] 9 Wednesday

No cases to carry down. Left about 3.30 having been relieved by another party from the Ambulance. About time after 18 days out. Fleurbaix shelled. Guns knocked out of position & roads cut up. Walked to Ft Rompur, had tea of eggs. Continued on to Donlien. Stopped by Div. Staff & marched back o Headquarters then allowed to go on. Arrived in camp at about 11 o'clock. Slept in tent.

[Top Left] 1916 31 Days [Top Right] August

[Centre] 10 Thursday

Not asked to do any work. Church in this town burnt by Germans. They threw petroleum on their dead inside. Good feed of Eggs.

[Centre] 11 Friday

On Piquet and wandering around town. Stan Wilson got shell shock. Reg. Aid Post was blown in. Shortly will be moving from this camp.

[centre] 12 Saturday

Digging grass from round wards in morning. In afternoon marched to Sailly for bath, ride back in waggons.

[Centre] 18 Sunday - 8th after Trinity

O Piquet Water Went with Malcolm Gillies to a village behind Doolien & again in the afternoon to Estaines Old water pump system to be found in all these villages.

[Top Left] August [Top Right] 8th Month 1916

[Centre] 14 Monday

Last night orders read out re remount in morning at 6.30. T. W. Howard Awarded Military Medal for conduct at the attack one month ago. Congratulated by Colonel & cheered by the boys. Marched out near Laventie & waited for hours to see the King but he went another way. Some of the boys saw him. Back along the roadto Estaines & quartered in building used as a school for little girls in centre of town [Centre] 15 Tuesday Fun when the Sister rang the bell. Boys [Illegible] racecourse. Kids in school. In evening leave till 9 pm. Saw inside church. Beautiful place. Fleurbaix shelled

Squad drill morning & afternoon & cleaning books etc. like barracks Tommy Artillery going Armentiers way Order re assisting in harvesting. [Centre] 16 Wednesday In morning marched to Baths. Afterwards squad drill . Afternoon Route March to Sailly and pay on return. In evening talking to French People from Lille ho own big store. One son wounded & returned telling us his experiences. French did not like Indians. In fact Soldiers of any Kind are [not liked]