Army Form C. 2118.
| Place |
Date & Hour |
Summary of Events and Information |
| RENINGHELST |
May
1 |
Gas alert, heavy bombardment and gas attack KEMMEL. "Stood Too" from
12.30 A.M. until 10.30 A.M. Limbers loaded and horses harnessed. Parade
11 A.M. Inspection of Rifles and Gas Helmets. Gas alert 10 P.M. VIERSTRAAT
SOUTH. Orders to move camp. Eight Colt Machine Guns sent to Brigade Armourer
to fit new Barrels and Trips. |
|
2 |
Weather fine. Moved camp for 3rd time. Tents struck 11.30 A.M. New
Camp 200 yards SE of windmill. New camp erected 4.30 P.M. Lt. EASTHAM goes
to VOORMEZEELE to arrange releifs with 5th CDN INF BDG MACH GUN COY. Thunder
storm and Heavy Rains. Usual aerial duels. |
|
3 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. Orders to move into line. Moved off 7.30
P.M. Releived 5th CDN INF BDG MACH GUN COY. Releifs completed by 12.30
A.M. with eight guns 5th CDN INF BDG MACH GUN COY held in reserve. |
| VOORMEZEELE |
4 |
Weather fine. Enemy planes active. Building operations on dugouts at
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE FARM and SPOIL BANK commenced. Positions visited at
right. |
|
5 |
Weather fine. Hun quiet. Signallers dugout at HEADQUARTERS fired up.
Other work commenced. Enemy machine guns active. One presumably in PICCADILLY
FARM. Other presumably in BOIS QUARANTE. Intermittent shelling during day.
Night quiet. 2 O.R. proceeded on leave. |
|
6 |
Weather cooler. Planes active. Enemy quiet. Lt EASTHAM and Sgt Major
visited Left Sector and examined work being done. Great possibilities but
very short handed. Two O.R. reported for duty from CANADIAN BASE DEPOT. |
|
7 |
Fine but dull. VOORMEZEELE and Headquarters shelled with 5.9 and 4.15
about 6 P.M. Light fire. Undercut fire carried out from SUNKEN ROAD by
MIDDLE FARM on DAMME STRAINE (O.1A 1.3½) |
|
8 |
Weather wet. Intermitted shelling vicinity of VOOMEZELLE. Nothing else
to report. |
| RENINGHELST |
9 |
Weather very wet. 6 guns releived by 5th Can. Inf. Bdg. Mach. Gun Coy.
and 6 moved into reserve trenches at VOORMEZEELE. |
|
10 |
Weather still unsettled. No parades. Men resting. |
|
11 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. rifles and gas helmets inspected. Machine
guns inspected by Brigade Armourer Sgt. Major. Lieut EASTHAM proceeding
on leave. Lieut BASEVI assumed Command. Inspection of Transport by General
TURNER. |
|
12 |
Weather very fine. Machine guns tested. 2 O.R. proceeded leave. Usual
aerial activity. |
|
13 |
Weather still fine. Nothing to report. |
|
14 |
Weather still fine. Parade 10 A.M. Rifles & Gas helmets inspected.
Route March. "Base ball practice". Usual aerial activity. |
|
15 |
Weather inclined to be damp. Heavy aerial duels in morning. 6 Guns
left in Reserve at VOORMEZELLE were releived. |
|
16 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. rifles & gas helmets inspected. Cleaning
guns and ammunition. Base Ball match in afternoon. |
|
17 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. Route march. Afternoon men resting Gas
Alarm during night of 17th - 18th. |
|
18 |
Weather fine. Heavy aerial duels in Early morning. Parade and Route
March 10 A.M. - 12 noon. Afternoon "Base Ball" match. Heard bombs dropping
in vicinity of RENINGHELST no damage reported. |
|
19 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. Route march until 1.30 P.M. Afternoon
Cricket Match v. 31st Canadian Battalion. Enemy Aeroplanes very active. |
|
20 |
Weather fine. Parade 10 A.M. Rifles & Gas helmets inspected. Crews
Cleaning & Testing Guns and Ammunition. |
|
21 |
Weather very bright & warm. Church parade 10 A.M. Lieut. EASTHAM
returned from leave and assumed command. Usual aerial activity. |
|
22 |
Weather stormy. Parade 10 A.M. for pay. Received orders to take up
positions in the line, heavy rain during evening. |
|
23 |
Weather fine. Left for VOORMEZELLE with 16 guns and crews complete
with Transport at 7.10 P.M. and proceeded to releive 5th Cdn. Inf. Bdg.
Mach. Gun Coy. Releif completed by 1.30 A.M. May 24th 1916 |
|
24 |
Weather fine. Slight shelling in vicinity of VOORMEZELLE. Lt. EASTHAM
visited positions at TRENCHES 15 and 16 also position at BUS HO. |
VOORMEZELLE
H.36 d.8.2½ |
25 |
Weather showering. Changed guns in positions V4 and NEW TRENCH to ARUNDEL
HOUSE and S P BURNHAM. Guns from last named position move to TRENCHES 22
and 27. 31st Cdn. Inf. Batt. Mach. Guns taking over positions in V4 and
NEW TRENCH. Shelling in vicinity of VEERSTRAAT and portions of FRONT LINE.
Enemy Machine Guns busy right, especially along St ELOI ROAD. Lt. GALBRAITH
visited positions at TRENCHES 15 and 16 and BUS HO. |
|
26 |
Weather showering. Usual aerial activity. 31st Batt. Guns in V4 and
NEW TRENCH releived by guns of 5th Cdn. Inf. Bdg. M.G. Coy. Shelling in
vicinity of Scottish Wood. Enemy Machine Guns along St Eloi Road and vicinity
of BUS HO. Lt. EASTHAM and GALBRAITH visited our gun positions on Right
Sector. |
|
27 |
Weather fine. Enemy quite. Usual aerial activity. Few shells dropped
in vicinity of SCOTTISH WOOD and back Country. Lt EASTHAM visited Divisional
Headquarters at RENELIGHST. Lts. GALBRAITH and CUMMINGS visited positions
at TRENCH 15 & 16 and BUS HO. |
|
28 |
Weather fine. Enemy planes very active. Intermitted shelling in vicinity
of VOORMEZELLE. One O.R. wounded at S.P. BURNHAM. Indirect fire conducted
from MOATED GRANGE on Roads in rear of Craters 2 & 3. Lt CUMMINGS and
GALBRAITH visited Front Line trenches and endeavour to ascertain the effects
of our indirect fire. |
|
29 |
Weather fine. Staff Officer and Lt. EASTHAM visited Gun positions.
Usual aerial activity. British plane shot down. Carried out indirect fire
on roads in rear of craters two and three. Usual aerial activity. |
|
30 |
Weather fine but somewhat cooler. Staff Officer and Lt Eastham visited
lines. Planes were very active. One O.R. wounded TRENCH W.28. Lt EASTHAM
and CUMMINGS visited Left Sector. |
|
31 |
Weather fine. Intermitted shelling vicinity of VOORMEZELLE, CAFÉ
BELGE and back Country. Enemy machine guns active. Releif commenced by
5th Bde M G Coy. |
[Signed] W.? EASTHAM Lt.
6th Cdn. Inf. Bdg., Mach. Gun Coy.