The Gorey Family At War, Part 3

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SNFEATURE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2008

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From the diary of Corporal William Evans Gorey, 21st Btn A William (Bill) Gorey (below) visited the great 15-inch gun with his brother James in September.

pril 12th: Move off with full gear per boot to Calais where we entrain for the front. After travelling for about 12 hours we detrain and march four kilometres to billets where we arrive about midnight. We stay here two days.

20th: We again go forward following up Fritz who is evacuating, an advance of three km for no losses.

15th: Another short move to Bertincourt seven km, where we stay for three days, do a little drill while here.

31st: Move off at 9 am and march 10 km crossing the Somme River by a temporary footbridge where we halt for dinner, then move up close to the line, taking shelter in a cutting until dark when we go forward for the night.

18th: Off again marching for the front and after doing 15 km it is raining. During the journey we spend the night in tents; this being a reinforcement camp. 20th: Still on the road and join the battalion at Albert, a journey of 10 km, arriving at the outposts at 10 pm where I put in two days and nights, hard to take after my six months in Blighty. 23rd: Fritz gives us a heavy bombardment with gas shells for three hours in the early morning so the troops get very little sleep for that first night. 24th The day passes fairly quietly with the exception of the usual shelling on both sides. At 9 pm I go along with 40 others on fatigue at nights digging a trench from supply line to the outposts. Have a good spin tonight, only an odd shell dropping around. 27th: Weather is fairly good, but we are like rabbits and keep under cover all day through being in a dangerous position. We can be seen by the enemy during daylight; all work has to be done at night. Accommodation is very bad. We only have our waterproofs to keep out any bad weather. 28th: Another day arrives still crouched in our little home, but we have blankets, so manage to sleep during the day. 29th: Another fine day, thank God, but what a life!

M

ay 1st: Get relieved by Tommy division at 10 pm and tramp back 10 km where we billet for the night. 7th: Back towards the line again and arrive at Ribmont where we billet in cellars. This place is shelled day and night not a healthy place by any means! We have to stick this for a week; also do fatigue work during the nights. 16th: Move up to the line and relieve the 22nd Battalion. We do outposts again until the 21st when they put us over the top. A very successful stunt, capturing a large number of prisoners, also machine guns, etc. Our casualties were fairly light. 23rd: Get relieved by the 27th Battalion and go back to trench, but get no rest. On fatigue every night burying ca-

18th: We are off again for the front per motor. After travelling for about three hours we get down and tramp a few km and put the night in an old 1914 trench.

ing quite a number of casualties.

bles; the weather being splendid.

A

J

ugust 6th: Our work cuts out and we return to detail camp, the battalion being in the line. Later we join them.

une 2: Go back to front line where we relieve the 26th Battalion where we stay seven days and nights and have a rough time. Fritz tried to raid us, but he got the worst of the deal. We captured 22 prisoners out of the rise-up. 9th: Get relieved and go back to trench where we stay for six days doing fatigues to the front line. 15th: Get relieved by the 53 rd Battalion, 5th Divy and go back to trench again for the night. 16th: Off again and tramp to (unreadable location) where we camp in tents in a lovely wood where we have 12 days wellearned rest. We have sports while here, swimming, etc.

J

uly 2nd: Move up the line and relieve the 17th Battalion and put in a very cold night, the weather having turned very chilly. 3rd: The day passes quietly, but still cold; going to do another stunt this time in. 4th (Hamel Stunt): At three in the morning we prepare to take up our position on the (unreadable) remaining there for an hour in the bitter cold, waiting for the word go to do our allotted task. At 4 am the guns open up with a bluff barrage for a few minutes, which drew a few shells in return from Fritz. At 4.15 am the guns open up as one. Such a salvo of shells was deafening, but made a beautiful sight, all the various lights. After dwelling a few minutes we

go to do our job. By this time the tanks are in sight which added to the roar; this being our first time to have tanks accompanying us and they proved of great assistance. Our objective was gained an hour after starting, getting a large number of prisoners, machine guns, also one field gun. Next performance we dig in. This was soon completed, the ground being in good condition for digging. About 10 am out comes about 50 of Fritz’s aeroplanes to try and locate us, which he did and well we knew it for we had to put up with a good deal of shell fire until relieved on the night of the 6th by the 19th Battalion when we move back to reserve trenches about 6km back for a short rest. 8th: I’m sent in charge of party of 20 on fatigue building dugouts close to Villers Bretonneux where we remain for a month during which time Fritz gas shells us pretty frequently, caus-

8th (Our Day): At five in the morning opens up the greatest configuration of guns of all calibre ever heard by any of us, with tanks all around us and the heavens full of aeroplanes making an awful din. Away we go after Fritz. Once started, going is good, no opposition, nothing but (unreadable) on all sides of us. We keep advancing for two hours, artillery following in the rear. When the 5th Divy go through us and take up the chase we settle down to reorganise for a further part to play in the great hunt. Never before have I seen such a stream of prisoners going to the rear, guns of all descriptions in scores, machine guns, trench mortars, etc and the dead Fritz were terrible to gaze on.The greatest sight I ever witness, or ever likely to, was when the Cavalry and armoured cars went through and took up the chase. What a great cheer there was. Next comes guns of all description, motor lorries, horse (unreadable) all going forward made a great sight. One forgets the horrors of war for a time. 9th: We again take over from the 5th Divy, but the Cavalry and armoured cars in front left nothing for us to do but go ahead. Our casualties up to this time have been exceedingly light. Another day ended and we have advanced 12km in enemy country. Night of the 10th we are relieved by the 5th Divy and go back by motor lorry where we have a good rest for a short period.

S

eptember 1st: At 5am the 24th and 23rd Battalions have a try for Mont St Quentin, but are held up on the left flank so we have to reinforce them. At 9 am in the broad daylight we move up in artillery formation in full view of the enemy to our allotted position, with very few casualties. At 1 pm after a short bombardment by our artillery away we go to the place alive with machine guns. In less than hour the hill was won, taking a large number of prisoners and a score or more of machine guns. 3rd: We get relieved by the 5th Divy and march back weary. We remain here until the 26th, during which time, along with my brother Jim (James), we visit the great 15-inch gun. We also hold brigade and divisional sports while here, also company football matches. 26th: I get 10 days’ leave to Paris where I have an enjoyable time.

O

ctober 5: Three years since leaving my native land. This time leaving Paris for Rouen where we stay two days in the rest camp. 7th: Leave rest camp at 5 pm, march to Rouen and after a long, cold wait the train moves. Find all the Australians have been withdrawn from the line, relieved by Yanks. Stay at the corps rest camp for the night. October 25: Go to Rue to attend trench mortar school for 16 days. This place is on the sea coast. It rains a good deal while here.

N

ovember 10: School breaks up and we return to unit. It being a cold and frosty night get a drink of coffee and march out to battalion where we arrive just on daylight. 11th: The great day we have been waiting for for so long, the signing of the Armistice. The excitement! All the bells ringing and flags flying from almost every house.