Estaires.
Church parade.
Rest.
Pratt.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Some of the heaviest cannonade by our artillery in history. I watched it from a distance.
Started to march but was turned back after 3 miles. Rest.
Casualties: Germans 20,000 British 18,000.
16 Tuesday
Left Estaires. Marched 9 miles. Outtersteene. Billeted in barns.
17 Wednesday
Outtersteene. Rest.
Spent most of my time with Pratt in village.
18 Thursday
Outtersteene.
March out 6 miles.
19 Friday
Outtersteene.
Stretcher Drill.
20 Saturday
Left Outtersteene arrived Armentières.
Staffords Brigade go into action for first time. Shelled by Germans.
Went out collecting for the first time.
Billet in a large hospital with regular RAMC. Had beer
Arrival in France
During the first few weeks of his time in Flanders, Frank acted as orderly to the Chaplain, the Reverend Arthur Morrell Pratt, who had been the vicar at Frank’s church, St Giles, in Willenhall, Staffordshire. It was not long before Frank’s RAMC duties took over all his time.
The Battle of Neuve Chappelle was the first one of the war to be deliberately planned. The objective was a strategic one, to hold German troops on the Western Front and relieve the pressure on the Russian Army in the East. The surprise attack began on 10th March 1915 with a heavy artillery bombardment followed by an infantry advance (or ‘charge’), a pattern which was repeated throughout the war.
Frank notes in his diary that the Staffordshire Brigade went into action for the first time on 20th March near Armentieres, France. It had been held in General Reserve during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. The ‘action’ meant going ‘up the line’, into the trenches, where there was constant shelling, bombing, and sniping between the German and British positions. It was at this time that Frank notes ‘went out collecting for the first time’. This meant collecting the casualties, giving them basic treatment where possible, and carrying them by stretcher if necessary to medical aid stations. After that baptism of fire, the beer must have been welcome
The Battle of Neuve Chappelle was the first one of the war to be deliberately planned. The objective was a strategic one, to hold German troops on the Western Front and relieve the pressure on the Russian Army in the East. The surprise attack began on 10th March 1915 with a heavy artillery bombardment followed by an infantry advance (or ‘charge’), a pattern which was repeated throughout the war.
Frank notes in his diary that the Staffordshire Brigade went into action for the first time on 20th March near Armentieres, France. It had been held in General Reserve during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. The ‘action’ meant going ‘up the line’, into the trenches, where there was constant shelling, bombing, and sniping between the German and British positions. It was at this time that Frank notes ‘went out collecting for the first time’. This meant collecting the casualties, giving them basic treatment where possible, and carrying them by stretcher if necessary to medical aid stations. After that baptism of fire, the beer must have been welcome
Friday, 25 July 2008
Transcript of above diaries
April 1915
24 Saturday
Neuve Eglise.
Mem: Trenches. Collecting wounded nightly.
25 Sunday
Neuve Eglise.
No Church Parade.
26 Monday - 27 Tuesday
Neuve Eglise.
Went on duty on a British Red Cross motor coffee stall. Served out over 2,000 cups in one night, waited for Staffords return from trenches, 1 o’clock until 3 o’clock serving, went to bed at 4 o’clock.
28 Wednesday
Aldershot camp on motor stall, 1000 cups.
Confirmation service - Bishop of Pretoria.
29 Thursday
Motor coffee stall.
30 Friday
Ditto.
May 1915
1 Saturday
Neuve Eglise.
2 Sunday
Neuve Eglise, no Church Parade.
3 Monday - 5 Wednesday
Neuve Eglise.
6 Thursday
Neuve Eglise.
Went up South Staffords collecting wounded under heavy rifle fire.
7 Friday
Went to Bailleul by motor to make gags or respirators; ten of us made 1000 each day. Worked along with French young ladies at a Nunnery.
8 Saturday
Went again on Saturday did likewise, visited likewise, visited our Hospital full of wounded, stayed along with Canadians.
8th parcel from Ada & Ruth.
May 7th Lusitania sunk by German sub 2.30pm in 15 minutes.
9 Sunday
A little rest for a change as the Ladies would not work on Sunday.
10 Monday
Bailleul, made 1500 respirators, help to carry and make comfortable 150 wounded from Ypres.
11 Tuesday
Ditto.
Stayed all night in Bailleul.
12 Wednesday
Ditto.
200 wounded came in our Hospital from St Julien.
13 Thursday
I worked cutting machine at rubber & corset factory cutting out waterproof bags on upright saw, worked by all French young women.
14 Friday
Making respirators 1500 and finished on that work, as they were beginning to make some in England.
15 Saturday
I was given a day’s rest by Capt Strange.
Sat and heard Staffs band play all afternoon.
16 Sunday
I work on incinerator all day for burning refuse.
17 Monday
Coffee stall with Brother Joyce. Served out 1,200 drinks, coffee, oxo, cocoa, all free, collecting box.
18 Tuesday
Coffee stall.
Served 1,200 hot drinks.
19 Wednesday
Ditto.
We carried about 60 gallons of water, supplied by me from water cart.
20 Thursday
Coffee stall.
Staffs came out of trenches. 1,300 drinks served out. I was up until 3.30 next morning. I went to Bailleul & walked 8 miles.
21 Friday
Coffee stall, served out 800 cups of lemonade to a digging party.
22 Saturday
Coffee stall.
Remaining two companies of Staffs came out of trenches.
800 drinks
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