64th Battalion C.E.X.
| May | June | July | August | September | October |
March 31st, 1916
Embarked on the RMS Adriatic. 73rd also on board, and No. 8
Field Ambulance and Cobourg Heavy Battery. Embarked about
noon and left free anchoring in centre of harbour about
6:30.
April 1st, 1916
Set sail. Caernarvon in the lead. Then Baltic, Adriatic, and Empress Of Britain. Sea calm but weather rather foggy.
April 2nd, 1916
Weather still foggy.
April 3rd
Weather still foggy. Ordered to wear life- belts for
remainder of voyage.
April 4th
Weather clearer. Sighted three - masted schooner on
starboard side.
April 5th to 7th
Weather clear but quite breezy. Boat pitches quite a little
and there is a little sea - sickness aboard. In night of 7
& 8 are met by destroyers.
April 8th
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon we sighted the coast of
Ireland.
April 9th
In morning coast of England visible. Boats take a very zig
- zag course. Arrive at Liverpool about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, entrain after supper for Bramshott Camp. Find
cars very uncomfortable.
April 10th
Arrive at Bramshott in morning and march to camp. Men are
fed by 41st. Officers mess with 54th for a few days.
April 11th
Men complain quite a lot over food on account of short
rations here. Understand that we have to leave our quarters
and move up to 15th Brigade.
April 12th
Expect to move at 3 o'clock but this does not come off.
Dull in morning. Roll call by staff officers at 3 o'clock.
I am detailed to take a guard of 50 men and 4 sergeants and
report to 15th Brigade Headquarters. Do so. Have to relieve
guard of 10th Brigade in huts which the 71st will occupy
sometime in the night. Also relieve quarter guard of the
11th Brigade. Next day learn that this guard was not to be
relieved. Am not certain whether the mistake is my own or
Headquarters. Mr. Acland, acting Brigade Captain orders me
to march guard back at 11:30 except quarter guard.
April 13th
Dull in morning. Inspected by G.O.C Lord Brooks and staff
at 11:00 a.m. Dull in afternoon. Dust terrible.
April 14th
Orderly Officer today, and have a fairly easy time.
April 15th
Dull in morning. Afternoon Keswick and I visit Tennyson's
old home. See poet's study, and have tea there. Dine at
Whitehorse Inn at Haslemere .
April 16th
Church service on brigade grounds at 8:30. Weather rainy in
afternoon. Place terribly monotonous.
April 21st
Good Friday. Week has been very uneventful. Except on
Monday April 17th . No 16 platoon refuses to go on parade.
Quite a noise over it but ends by men getting 10 days C.B.
all round. Sergt. Smart reduced to ranks. His punishment
out of all proportion to that of men. Today we had service
at 9:30, and lined the streets at 11:30 to receive George
Perley. Then officers all march in file up near
headquarters to shake hands with him.
May 1st
Move from Bramshott to Otterpool Camp near Westenhangar
Station. Camp on good spot with grassy parade ground.
May 2nd
Inspected by Colonel Ashton.
May 7th
Weather has been very warm. Today rains quite severely,
clearing up about 4:30 p.m.
May 14th
Am detailed to take three month course at Napier Barracks
Shorncliffe. Arrive at Barracks at about 6:30 p.m.
May 15th
Get located. In room with Gunn and Quinn and MacMillan of
the 78th. Course looks as if it would be very interesting.
Meet Roche of the 66th Halifax, also Capt. Woodbridge.
May 16th
Meet Lt. H. Clair Jones of the 40th. He is machine gun
instructor at the barracks here. Also Lieut. Howe of
R.C.R., The course is looking much better. Hours as follows
A.M.
7:00 - 8:00 Squad drill
9:15 - 10:15 Riding
11:30 - 12:30 Lectures
P.M.
2:00 - 5:00 Lectures
5:00 - 6:00 Squad drill
Enjoy riding immensely, and all the lectures are
interesting and instructive. The lecturers are all men who
have done their bit at the front, and consequently know
what they are talking about. Capt Collins especially is
very interesting. In riding school today one horse ran away
and carried one of the officers right into the stall.
May 20th
Week has been quite monotonous , and uneventful. Today had
examinations from 9 until 12. In the afternoon went down to
Hythe Golf Club with Murray, Gunn and Gordon. First time I
have played golf. Got over the 18 holes with 168. Had
dinner at club and got back about 11:00. Set clock ahead to
12 o'clock according to Daylight Saving Act.
May 21st
Gunn has been sick for several days, and today is
pronounced measly. He is removed to hospital. MacMillan is
in London and may escape quarantine but Gunn and I are
quarantined for fair.
May 22nd
Gunn, MacMillan and myself are quarantined in tents outside
Barracks. Our batman Pearce is also quarantined with us.
Had a little trouble getting our meals at first but M.O.
has since fixed that up alright for us.
May 28th
Sunday, still in quarantine and getting more disgusted
every day. About 10:30 saw 14 aeroplanes making for sea.
Must be something doing in that direction. My marks for
last week's exams were:
| Engineering | 100 |
| Law | 100 |
| Topography | 73 |
| Organization | 75 |
| Administration | 100 |
| Tactics | 92 |
| Total | 540 |
| Average | 90 |
June 6th
Still in quarantine but expect to get out either today or
tomorrow. All the subalterns of the 8th and 9th classes as
well as any Captains who are willing to go as subs are
leaving for the front tomorrow to replace casualties in the
3rd Canadian Division. This looks as if we may expect our
turn to come soon. Wish I was going with the crowd that are
leaving tomorrow. Understand that the 69th has already sent
away about 500 men on different drafts. Well I trust they
will give a good account of themselves. Anyway I feel
confident they will do so.
June 11th
Got out of quarantine on the 7th and back to work with the
10th class. Expect, however to go into the 11th class
tomorrow. Murray, O'Leary, Guildford, Russel, Winslow, and
Campbell leave for the front tomorrow. Was over to
Otterpool yesterday. The battalion was leaving for Lydd
this morning at 4:00 a.m. Was down to the 40th camp Friday.
MacIntosh MacLeod was over here this morning to say "Good -
Bye". He is going to the front also.
June 14th
Called to Orderly. Told I am to go to the 13th Batt. and to
report to my unit at once.
June 16th
Spent last night at camp at Otterpool. Went to Folkestone
this afternoon. Arrived back about 10:30 pm. to learn that
I am to report to Embarkation Officer at Folkestone Pier
next morning at 10:45 a.m.
June 17th
Report at Folkestone at 10:00 a.m., sail at 12:15 arriving
at Boulogne. Put up at Loune.[sp?]
June 18th
Leave Boulogne at 7:30 p.m.
June 19th
Arrive at Poperinge. Put up at Talbot house.
June 20th
Go out to camp. They are back in billets. Everything is
fairly quiet for the next few days.
June 23rd
Preparing today for going into trenches in the evening.
June 24th
Left camp at 8:30. I am in command of No 10 platoon.
Entrain at Brandhoek and detrain at Zillebeke Salt. March
from there on foot. Going is rather bad and have difficulty
keeping line intact.
June 25th
Arrive in trenches about 1:30 a.m. Have only 9 men and and
2 srgts. MacDonald and King have fallen out leaving only 7
men. MacDonald reports later and King turns up on front
line trench. I am in support trench. Take over trench from
7th Batt. It is in a terrible condition. They have not even
buried the CMR's and Germans who had been killed about two
weeks before. Sent Corporal Bentley to company headquarters
to report. Later I am reinforced by 1 sergeant and 8 men
from No 9 platoon. Stand to at 3:30 a.m. Major McCraig
comes around later. After stand - down I try to get a
little sleep. Am awakened by Colonel Buchanan. So far it
has been pretty quiet with only a little artillery
action.
June 26th
About 1:00a.m. brisk bombardment commenced along the line
by our artillery. Fritz did not reply. About 7:00 a.m. a
German plane was brought down behind our lines by our
aeroplanes. Very quiet during the day. Work on trench. At
8:15 p.m. one of our planes brings down 3 of the 4 captive
balloons in front of our trench by means of incendiary
bombs.
June 27th
At 4:00 a.m. Fritz commences a hellish bombardment along
our front. My dugout is blown to pieces when I am but 4
feet from it. E. H. Clark, D. MacDonald, King and Stephens
are wounded from No 10 platoon and 3 from No 9. No. 12
platoon has 6 killed, No 11 has 1 killed. After bombardment
Fritz makes an attack but is driven back by our bombers in
front. His losses are considerable. Among the killed are
Major Smith and Lieutenant Roche, the latter was buried by
a shell with Lt Browne, Browne was dug out alive but Roche
was suffocated. A sergeant who was buried on top of Browne
probably saved his life.
June 28th
During night had 3 short bombardments, silenced each time
by our artillery. I spent night at company
headquarters.
June 29th
Spent night at front line. This is the best place to stay.
Night was quiet, however.
June 30th
Are relieved by 10th Battalion. I take out 10, 11 and 12
platoons. Leave at 12:00 and arrive in billets about 4 and
go to bed. In afternoon go to Poperinge with [? ]
July 1st
Do very little today. Go to ball game in afternoon.
July 2nd
Do very little today. Attend church parade in morning,. In
afternoon go into Poperinge with Gunn and have a bath. Then
have dinner.
July 3rd
Taking a bathing party into Poperinge at 8:00 a.m. Censor
letters all afternoon. Am orderly officer today but have
little to do.
July 9th
Battalion has been having a rest but go up to railway
dugouts tonight in Brigade reserve. Gunn and I go down to
the grenade school for a course.
July 15th
Finish course this morning and come back to transport line
in afternoon. Leave at 7:00 p.m. for front line. The
Battalion had gone in the night before. Arrive at company
headquarters at 10:30 p.m. First words of greeting from
Capt Rust was "Thank God" I had met Bryson going out as I
came in. Capt Rust took me around and showed me all the
trenches. They had had quite a strafing during the day. One
of our trench mortars fell short and killed one man and
wounded 9 more in No 9.
July 16th
Had quite a bombardment this morning. Mostly minenwerfers.
In the evening hear considerable bombing on right.
July 17th
Mr. Higinbolham goes out to take a course. One of my men
Sutherland is killed by machine gun while on sentry
duty.
July 18th
Fairly quiet during the day but about 7:00p.m. strafing
starts. Mostly on left where 15th is. Germans enter their
front line [?] as they had all retired into support
trenches. Our bombers on left of No. 1 company stop them
coming over into our line. One of our patrols goes along
about 200 yards of the 16th front but find no 16th there.
Captain Rust is wounded by a minenwerfer and dies in the
morning. Cameron and I are left to handle company. Have to
sent a party of 20 men to help No 1 company rebuild their
trenches. I go over to No. 2 company's Headquarters to see
how they are getting along. [?] from No. 4 comes over to
help us out.
July 19th
Have a quiet day. Come out at night to Devonshire line. We
are relieved by the 8th Battalion.
July 20th
After a sleep we clean up. Go to Capt. Rust's funeral in
the afternoon. I am one of the pallbearers.
July 21st
Carl C. Green is appointed O.C. No. 3 Coy. I take a party
to Reninghelst for a bath this afternoon.
July 22nd
Battalion goes over to Gas School for inspection of helmets
and gas demonstration. Officers and N.C.O.'s go to
Connaught lines for a lecture on aeroplanes in the
afternoon. Later ball game with 15th in which they win.
July 23rd
Attend services at 10:00a.m.
July 27th
Things have been quiet during the last few days. Inspected
by General Currie this morning.
August 1st
I go up to Bat[ter....?] farm in afternoon to take over
from 1st Battalion. No. 1 Coy.[???] under Capt Nellis. They
move out at dark, and there is a little [???? ?? ??]
relief.
August 2nd
Quiet today. Green has working party tonight.
August 4th
Quiet again today. Bryson and I toss for working party. He
loses.
August 5th
Quiet again to-day. I am ordered out in the evening to take
a Lewis gun course.
August 6th
Go out on P.P.C.L.V. transport. Stay at transport during
day, and go down to Ab[?] in the evening.
August 7th
Spend day on Lewis gun.
August 8th
Am ordered back to unit. Here find that we are not to go
back to unit until later. Return to Ab[??] in the morning.
August 9th
Spend day on instruction in Stokes gun. Dine at Ab[??] in
the evening.
August 10th
Return to unit. Visiting 25th during the day. Gunn and I
visit 25th and 26th at night. See Major Mott. He arrived on
August 5th.
August 11th
Leave at 6:30 and march about 5 miles, about 1 mile past
Ab[??]. Billet here for the night.
August 12th
Reveille at 11:30p.m. yesterday. Breakfast at 12:00p.m.
Leave at 1:30. March through Steenvoorde and Cassel. Billet
beyond Nordpeene. Distance about 12 miles. I am in charge
of the stragglers, and have a fairly hard day. Arrive about
11:00a.m.
August 13th
Leave at 3:15a.m. Arrive at destination fairly early as we
have only 5 miles to go. Have some difficulty in locating
billets, but manage after a little looking around.
August 14th
Drill from 9:00 to 11:00 this morning, and have kit
inspection in the afternoon.
August 19th
Have been working hard marching out to Ballingham nearly
every day for drill. Yesterday we were received by Major
General [?] Hughes on the way out and practised an attack
with the whole brigade. It rained in the afternoon. Today
we practised advanced guards and it began to rain
immediately we arrived at Ballingham. We came back at once,
and arrived about 2:00 p.m.
Aug 20th
Vist St. Omer this afternoon with McAulay and Gunn.
Aug 27th
Leave Eperlecques in the evening and move to St. Omer.
Entrain here for Conteville going by Boulogne. Splendid to
see the channel once again. We almost persuaded ourselves
that we were on our way to England. Detrain at last at
Conteville and march out to our billets about three or four
miles. This is the evening of the 28th.
Aug 29th
Leave early in the morning and march about thirteen miles
to [left blank] and put up for the night. Mr.
Haldane proved himself very valuable in looking around for
a meal.
Aug 30th
March to Ferme De [R??l] Arrive there just in time to
escape a rain storm. Nos. 1 and 3 company officers are
billeted in a farm where we cause the lady who owned it
much annoyance. She retaliated and caused us some trouble
to the tune of 20 francs.
Aug 31st
March to Harponville. Passed through where the Australians
are billeted. They appear a dirty undisciplined crowd and
impress us very unfavourably.
Sept 1st
March to a field just outside Albert and encamp in the
open. On the way we pass an internment camp for German
prisoners. Prepare for night by stretching a rubber sheet
over my bed and tying the edges down. Then digging a trench
around. It looked like rain but fortunately didn't.
Sept 2nd
March up to La Boisselle in the evening and encamp in mine
craters here. This is the start of the offensive.
The officers sleep in a German dugout. All the ground from
here [back?] is ploughed up about three feet deep by
shells.
Sept 3rd
Move up further in the early afternoon and about three
o'clock company goes up into support in Park [Lane?]. We
are shelled here the rest of the afternoon and night. We
have a great many casualties. Major Peterman, Bryson,
Haldane, and myself are the four officers to go in with the
company.
Haldane goes out with shell shock. All the batmen including
the Sergeant - Major's are casualties. Also Sgts Naylor and
Wood. Wood comes back a few nights later.
Sept 4th
About 4 o'clock in the morning Bryson took 9 and 10
platoons up to the front to dig in across the open. He gets
9 to work all right. But it is breaking day when 10 gets
up, and they have to go out in shell holes in front in the
daylight, and have a large number of casualties. Cpl
Rodgers is wounded. Cpl Miller and Mathews killed. Before
this Sgt Fraser had been wounded. A shell burst in the
midst of the platoon when going thru the quarry. Fowlie,
[Paul?], and Collier are missing and I feel sure they were
killed here. I remain in Park [Lane?] all day. Sergeant
Marriott is killed and I'll have about eleven other
casualties. In the afternoon I got orders from Major
Peterman to have both platoons ready to march off at dusk.
Later I get further orders to take No. 11 up to join [Mr
B....] at dusk. Do so. Find where No. 9 platoon is without
a guide and start No. 11 digging in line with them, as
directed by Sergeant Finch with whom Bryson had left
instructions. Then Mr. Bryson comes along and we collect
the remnants of No. 10 out of the shell holes and start
them digging on the left of No. 11, thus getting a complete
line across. Unfortunately Fritz begins shelling us and we
have part of the line cleared out. Sergeant Crowe is
killed, also Pte. Hooper. Cpl MacLeod is wounded. And the
two Hill boys both go out with shell shock. However, we get
holes dug for most of the men and get them partly
connected. I discover four more men of No. 10 under Cpl.
Bentley between 11 and 9.
Sergeant - Major Spencer brings No. 12 up on the left of
No. 10, extending over almost to machine gun position at
end of trench 77.
Sept 5th
Everything fairly quiet all day except for the continual
shelling. I rest a little in the quarry but there are so
many stretcher cases there that it is impossible to sleep.
See the German stretcher bearers out gathering in their
wounded under a red cross flag. One takes his stand on a
very high position where he can look over all our lines. He
did this every morning. I have since been very sorry that I
did not shoot him down. About 10 o'clock I hear someone
calling for stretcher bearers out in front. Send out three
men with a red cross flag and they bring in Australian who
had been out there wounded for four days. Have changed my
opinion of the Australians. Individually the men are
splendid and if given a job to do they carry it out. Much
better than a great many of the Canadians do. In fact we
had brought in several Australians under the same
conditions. Also two Germans. At night we continue digging
trench but the work is very hard and it is slow work. Lose
a few more men during the night.
Sept 6th
Dig until morning then rest during the day except for the
bombardment which continued. At night continue digging.
Machine guns on left do a lot of firing, claiming that they
saw Germans coming over. I put out a post of three men from
No. 12, but I don't think they went out far enough to do
any good.
Sept 7th
Towards morning word comes up that the Germans had got into
trench on our left. I immediately went down and got two
bombs and two bombers from Cpl Pratt section, and started
down the trench. I soon found the Sergeant - Major coming
after me with fixed bayonet. We went right through the
machine gunners, and found that Private Wentzall of the
machine gun crew had put the run to them with bombs. Early
in the morning I see two Fritz's coming in left of our line
and discover that Fritz has a stronghold about 200 yards
behind our line. Cpl Pratt and I do some sniping, and Pratt
gets one German. His comrades carry him out under a Red
Cross flag. We continue sniping at them all day, and I hit
a box of flares and raise quite a commotion. They start
sniping back but don't get anyone although they put a
bullet through one man's collar.
At night we are relieved by the 8th Battalion. 10, 11 and
12 are relieved well but the platoon to relieve No. 9 gets
lost up [Toms Cut?] and they are relieved about 2 o'clock
in the morning. The other platoons get a hot meal at La
Boisselle. They are kept there by Major McC[???] waiting
for the other platoon until about 1 o'clock. Then we march
to Albert and billet for the night.
Sept 8th
Stay at Albert all day. I learn that G[avin?] [H???] had
been killed. Also Jacques of our battalion while Lovett,
Mc[?ean] & Mont[??] are wounded, and Higinbotham &
Chisholm go out with shell shock.
Sept 9th
Leave Albert at 9 o'clock in the morning and march to
Worloy [probably Worloy Baillon] where we billet for
the day & night.
Sept 10th
March from Worloy to Hérissart & billet there.
Sept 11th
March from Hérissart to Mont[??] and billet there for
several days.
Sept 15th
Are ordered to stand in readiness. March to vicinity of Le
Val de Maison and billet in tents.
Sept 16th
March to Harponville and billet there. At Monta[?] Mr.
Mingo came back from England and took over second in
command as Capt Green had been made adjutant. Then Major
[?] takes Major [?? Coady's?] place. At Harponville Bryson
goes to [??] as second in command. This leaves Mr Mingo in
command of No. 3 and myself second in command.
Sept 18th
Leave Harponville in afternoon and march to B[???????] near
Albert where we encamp in fields. It rained all day, but
cleared up a little towards evening.
Sept 19th
Rain continues at intervals. Fixed up shelters with
bo[ards?] and tarpaulins and gradually improved them.
Sept 20th
Rain clears up a little today. Have one hours drill in the
afternoon, see 24th and 26th and I learn that Hot[??] &
Fairweather* have been killed, and Flowers & Wetmore
wounded. Am [?] to take 50 men on working party on Ou[??]
Courcellette road at 12:30 a.m. Sept 21st.
*possibly Capt. F.R. Fairweather of the 26th, killed on
Sept 17 at Courcellette
Sept 21st
Fall in working party and march out. 200 men from the
battalion under Major Gilroy. Arrive at working point all
right but there are no shovels to work with, should have
started work at 2 but only get shovels about 5. Work
throwing chalk out of pit and throwing on wagons until 8
a.m. Fall in and are brought back to Albert in lorries.
March out from Albert arriving about 10:00a.m. Sleep until
5:00p.m. Mingo and I visit artillery in evening. [??] Capt.
Churchill and [??] Mowatt. Meet Jimmy MacLean in Mowatt's
hut.
Sept 22nd
Company drill in morning. Attend lecture by Major Bertram
in afternoon 3:30 p.m. Receive orders to move [into?]
Albert. Do so, arriving about 7:00p.m.
Sept 23rd
Set out to relieve 2nd Battalion in front of Courcellette.
Meet guides at Contalmaison and all goes well until we are
going through Courcellette village a shell lands among No.
11 and 12 platoons. A large number are wounded and guide is
either lost or killed. No. 12 platoon is cut off from the
rest of the Company, I am in rear of company but go up and
take charge and lead the platoon along at last finding
Company headquarters when I get a guide to lead us over to
the platoon we are to relieve.
[Written on margin]
Everything quiet during 24th except for heavy shelling.
Sept 25th
Day passes fairly quietly. In the afternoon I am called to
H Q's and told to take charge of the machine guns as Mr
McCallum had gone out sick and Mr Chanter had been wounded
coming in. Cpl Krendel visits guns with No 1 & 4 Coys
and I go over to No. 2 Coy and bring in two guns that had
been left over there.
Sept 26th
All goes well. The 14th came in to take up their position
preparatory to attacking which they do in a grand style at
12:30p.m. Later reporting all objectives taken, the 18th
are also successful as are the British at [??]. The 31st on
right fall down completely however. Am ordered by C.O. to
send up [??] ammunition to 14th which I do. In the early
part of the night while I am sitting with No 9 platoon I
hear [runners?] calling for Mr [??] I accost him and learn
that there has been an explosion at [hill??] and Mr Mingo
has sent him to tell Mr [??] to take his platoon up. I [??]
Mr [??] and hustle the platoon up to [originally 'the
front line'. scratched out and replaced with HQ] Here
we find a large number of men unconscious and immediately
start pulling them out. The ration party fairly comes back
and gets in our way at first but we soon get them out of
the way. The doctor has been sent for and arrives with a
flash lamp after I had got our men out. I leave him working
and go around to the other entrance. Here I get six more
men out. By this time all the men had been removed and
among them Capt. Green's body and the bodies of six other
men. We then start to dig in where Col. Buchanan and Maj.
Peterman had been buried but find their dead bodies. They
must have died instantly. Apparently something must have
exploded the gasoline and the shock brought in the weakest
part of the dugout. Maj. McPherson takes command and the
next day Maj MacCuaig and Capt. Craig come in just back
from leave. We had expected to have been relieved but
relief did not turn up.
Sept 27th
Shelling less violent today. We are relieved by 22nd during
night and get out quite successfully.
Sept 28th
Arrive at billets in Albert. Get orders to move at 1:30
a.m. but later cancelled til 2:30a.m. Move out to Worloy
into billets.
Sept 29th
Rest today. Col. Buchanan and the other three officers had
been buried on the 28th.
Sept 30th
Are inspected by Gen Currie in the morning. Minor work in
afternoon.
Oct 1st
Church parade in morning.
Oct 2nd
Bath and pay parades in morning. Cannot work in afternoon
on account of rain.
On October 8, 1916 Lieutenant Harry McCleave was wounded in action at Regina Trench, Courcellette, France. He died on October 10th, and is buried in the Contay British Cemetary, Contay, France, in Plot 2, Row A, Grave 14.
comments or questions.