John Elson Carpenter: Diary Transcription

Transcription of John Elson Carpenter's diary (where legible) for 1918.
The 7th Battalion diary has been obtained and this is in the process of being transcribed below.

Date	Day	John Elson Carpenter's Diary entries	7th Battalion Diary entries	Location provided in Battalion diary
01/01/1918	Tues	At - with 7th Somers [Somerset]
02/01/1918	Weds	left for 9th comp Re? Camp. Berthen. Saw Jessie Hill. Bailleul
03/01/1918	Thurs	Berthen Camp. Wrote to Charles. Church many PM
04/01/1918	Fri	Berthen Camp. Ca [church army] PM. St Vincent. Rose Hut No. 57
05/01/1918	Sat	Berthen Camp. Ca [church army] PM. Wrote to Gerty
06/01/1918	Sun	Berthen Camp. CA [church army] Evening Service. Wrote to May?
07/01/1918	Mon	Berthen. Very cold?
08/01/1918	Tues	Berthen. Wrote to Dad
09/01/1918	Weds	Berthen. Letter from Annie. Wrote to Mrs Franks
10/01/1918	Thurs	Berthen
11/01/1918	Fri	Berthen. Note to J Jones
12/01/1918	Sat	Berthen. Wrote to Harold and Amy
13/01/1918	Sun	Morn. Nom-dom service. Eve Ca service
14/01/1918	Mon	Berthen. Snow shifting
15/01/1918	Tues	Berthen. Route march. Very rough night on guard?
16/01/1918	Weds	Berthen.
17/01/1918	Thurs	Berthen. Card from Annie
18/01/1918	Fri	Berthen. also wrote to Mrs Franklin. Letter from Mrs Franklin
19/01/1918	Sat	Berthen
20/01/1918	Sun	Berthen. CoE Service. Bath?
21/01/1918	Mon	Lift Berthen for Batt. Reninghelst.  We at CA Hut 133. Letters. Mr Franks. A. Rose. Gerty, ????
22/01/1918	Tues	Batt. Wrote to family. 37  Ch??. Letters A. ???
23/01/1918	Weds	Wrote to mother. Letters A. May
24/01/1918	Thurs	Went into the lines on a working party. Returned I am. 25th sent Annie 10/- 30 fs [Francs]?
25/01/1918	Fri	Wrote to Mr Franks ???. Letters from A. Mr Franks. Louise. Charlie (card). Don?
26/01/1918	Sat	Books from ?? ??. Parcel from Pyle Street. Wrote to Mr Hawkins
27/01/1918	Sun	Wes Service Rev TLBW. Wrote to aunt liza and May
28/01/1918	Mon	Wrote to Rev Bateson [Rev Joseph Bateson. Secretary to the Forces Board?]
29/01/1918	Tues	Spoke at Wes Service. St. Patricks church?
30/01/1918	Weds	Left for front line. 1st Tunnels. Working Party at night
31/01/1918	Thurs	Tunnels
01/02/1918	Fri	Trenches (support)	Tunnel support	Canada Tunnels. Front line
02/02/1918	Sat	Ditto	Relieve 7th KOYLI in Front line. Battalion HQ at T20 to 25 80. C by centre, A left ###. D by right ###. B in support	Canada Tunnels. Front line
03/02/1918	Sun	Support trenches. Letter from Mr Broctor? Returned to Tunnels	Improving front line trenches. A patrol #### of 2nd Lieut Butler and 12 ## left centre position soon after midnight and found enemy position very strongly held. Patrol returned after throwing ##. No casualties.	Canada Tunnels. Front line
04/02/1918	Mon	Back to Reninghelst	Work continued on improvements. Dusk- Relieved by 12th Kings. Returned to support line Canada Tunnels	Canada Tunnels. Front line
05/02/1918	Tues	Wrote to Mr ????	Support. Dusk- Relieved by 7th DCLI Proceeded by Decauville [French narrow gauge portable railways) from Lambton Siding to Feuzeville, thence by route march to Chippewa Camp.	Chippewa Camp
06/02/1918	Weds	Wes Service Rev T. Westidd?	In Reserve. Kit inspections. Re-organisation, drill.	Chippewa Camp
07/02/1918	Thurs	Left for front line. Servant for Mr ???	In Reserve. General training. The following officers joined the battalion. Lieut H.G. Whitworth, 2nd Lts. T.W. Ellis, F.C. Larter. Footbal match. Officer v sergeants. Result: Officers 3 goals, sergeants 1 goal	Chippewa Camp
08/02/1918	Fri	In Pill Box	In Reserve. 2nd Lieut H.E. Cottes to Corps Reis: Camp. Moved to forward area ## light railway from Fuseville to Lambton, and then	Front line. Menin Road
09/02/1918	Sat	In Pill Box	Front line boys came under fairly heavy fire from TM Batteries resulting in 3 casualties	Menin Road
10/02/1918	Sun	Pill Box. Mrs Franks. Toaks  Chapel	Resumption of TR? Fire from enemy batteries. Casualties- 1 killed, 1 wounded	Menin Road
11/02/1918	Mon	Pill Box.  To Tunnel	Quieter. Work on improvements resumed. Relieved by 7th DCLI. Moved to support line at Canada Tunnels.	Menin Road
12/02/1918	Tues	Tunnels. Parcel from Amy	As support. Working parties carrying to front line. 2 casualties	Canada Tunnels
13/02/1918	Weds	Front line	Support. Relieved by 12th Kings and moved up to front line. Tower Hamlets sector	Tower Hamlets
14/02/1918	Thurs	Front line	?	Tower Hamlets
15/02/1918	Fri	Left for rest camp (Maida Camp)	Relieved in front line by 8th Battalion Somerset LI. Marched to Lambton and proceeded by light railway to Maida Camp.	Tower Hamlets
16/02/1918	Sat	Ebblinghem at Farm House	Moved from Camp to Dickebusch by march route, thence by trains to Ebblinghem and by march route to billets at Campagne.	Maida Camp
17/02/1918	Sun	Farm House. Wrote to house? Rose. Amy	Kit inspections, reorganisation of platoons	Campagne
18/02/1918	Mon	Farm house. Wrote to Mr and Mrs Franks	Training	Campagne
19/02/1918	Tues	Farm house.	Training	Campagne
20/02/1918	Weds	Farm house	Training. Lt Col T.J. Troyte Bullock DSO resumed command of battalion	Campagne
21/02/1918	Thurs	Left for Freniches. March 11 miles?	Inspection by Commanding officer	Campagne
22/02/1918	Fri	Travelling all day	Battalion marched out of Campagne at 6.15am to Steenbeque and  those untrained for Nesle arriving at midnight. Thence by route march to Freniches. Quartered is billets.	Campagne
23/02/1918	Sat	Arrived early morn after very long march. Freniches.	Rest and recuperation	Campagne
24/02/1918	Sun	Freniches. Letter from Mrs Franks	Parade for address by Brigadier Gen. W.E. Banbury CMG	Campagne
25/02/1918	Mon	Freniches. Letter from Aunt Liza	General training	Campagne
26/02/1918	Tues	Transferred to Annie from credit	General training	Campagne
27/02/1918	Weds	Sent Annie 50 Francs	Route march. Capt P.E.E. Chappell DCM takes command of the battalion during temporary absence of the commanding officer	Campagne
28/02/1918	Thurs	Freniches. 45 Kilos from St Quentin	General training. Lt. Col. C.J. Troyte-Bullock DSO resumed command of the Battalion	Freniches
01/03/1918	Fri	[Blank]	Battalion training under Cop Commanders	Freniches
02/03/1918	Sat	[Blank]	Battalion training Cop Commanders reconnoitred Battalion positions at St. Simon. Shooting competition (rifle) on range	Freniches
03/03/1918	Sun	Wes Service and Holy Communion	Voluntary church parade. shooting competition (rifle) the range and Battalion rugby match. Lieut A.E. Ewens rejoined from hospital	Freniches
04/03/1918	Mon	Wrote to Louise?	Battalion training under commanding officer (Battalion no attack). Lecture to all officers and NCO by commanding officer in evening	Freniches
05/03/1918	Tues	[Blank]	Battalion training. Companies in the attack. Lecture by Commanding officer to officers NCO in evening. Nine officers to Ham for lecture on 'salvage work and reusable?'	Freniches
06/03/1918	Weds	???? Wrote to Mrs Hawkins	Battalion training, and lecture by commanding officer in evening	Freniches
07/03/1918	Thurs	Wrote Charlie and Marg?	Battalion training. Cross country race competition in afternoon and mounted paper chase for officers.	Freniches
08/03/1918	Fri	Day ???	Route march- distance 14½ miles. Lecture in evening by Brigade major to all officers and NCOs	Freniches
09/03/1918	Sat	[Blank]	Battalion training in morning and divisional race meeting in afternoon.	Freniches
10/03/1918	Sun	Sent Annie 20 francs?	Voluntary church parade. Battalion football match in afternoon v 7th Division?	Freniches
11/03/1918	Mon	[Blank]	Battalion took over work from the 7th Division at Curchy and Voyenne. Proceeded by route march, Bn HQ and 3 Cop at Curchy and 'D' Coy at Voyenne. Runners? on road	Freniches
12/03/1918	Tues	Curchy. Long march		Freniches
13/03/1918	Weds	As for 12th March	Two companies on work and one cop training at Curchy. Three platoon on work and one platoon training at Voyennes. Lieut T. Mitchell rejoined from leave.	Curchy
14/03/1918	Thurs	Working on railway	Work and training as on 13th. Captain of Shark? Me to England for 6 months tour of duty	Curchy
15/03/1918	Fri	Sent A. 20 francs?	Work and training as 14th. Commanding officer visited 'D' company at Voyenne	Curchy
16/03/1918	Sat	Railway	Work and training as before all available officers under commanding officer for tactical scheme. Draft of 3b OR ###.	Curchy
17/03/1918	Sun	Wes. Service at Curchy 6pm	Church parade service. ### competition on range in afternoon.	Curchy
18/03/1918	Mon	[Blank]	Work and training as before all available officers under commanding officer for tactical scheme.	Curchy
19/03/1918	Tues	Suggested day for commencing study. Chaslila? Book by Glover [William Glover; author of The Building of the Bible 1851]. Service ??? On goodness 6pm	Work and training as before. Tactical scheme for officers at Voyenne under commanding officer	Curchy
20/03/1918	Weds	Stand to heavy bombardment	Standing to- first day of German offensive on Somme	Curchy
21/03/1918	Thurs	By motor to St. Simon. Card to Dad	Bussed from Curchy to St. Simon and took up battle positions.	Curchy
22/03/1918	Fri	Trenches	Took up fresh position south side of Canal de St. Quentin, south of St. Simon. Enemy entered latter town on morning on morning of 22nd	Curchy
23/03/1918	Sat	We fear surrounded?	Enemy crossed canal below our right flank, capturing Jussy and Flavy which forced us to return to in Ollezy- Annois. Commanding officer Liet Col. C. J. Troyte- Bullock DSO was severely wounded, the acting adjutant, Lieut. S.G. Berry- killed, 2 Lieut. P. Schambre, wounded and the following officers missing:- Capts G.E.L. Willsteed, 2nd Lieuts M.H.H. Hayward, F. Palmer, W.J. Major A. Anderson, H. Cope, H.J. Duncan and T.W. Ellis. 2nd Lieuts H.W. Gurnett, and W.A.W. Price, together with 8 YORs (details) formed division as reinforcements.	Curchy
24/03/1918	Sun	Blank	Enemy captured Ham, causing a general retirement until the 30th March 1918, the survivors of the Battalion held on to the Hangard bridgehead. The following officers became casualties- wounded- Lt. E.P. Jones, attached 61st Brigade staff. Missing: Captain H.A. Foley Lieut H.C. Whitworth 2nd Lieut R.S. Butler- M.M. 2nd Lieut T. Mitchell 2nd Lieut H.M. Squibb 2nd Lieut W.G. Powell- attached T.M. Battery (61st) Total casualties during these operations: Killed Wounded Missing Totals Officers 1 3 15 19 Men 10 57 390 457
25/03/1918	Mon	Blank
26/03/1918	Tues	Blank