Brumfitt Atkinson was an Addingham man who joined the British Army on 12th September 1898, serving in the Boer War in South Africa - Transvaal, Mafeking, and The Orange Free State. In May 1915, during The Great War, now a corporal - Brumfitt was posted to France with the 19th Siege Battery the Royal Garrison Artillery His diary a pocket-tattered notebook written in now-fading pencil, records 15 months of experiences, and sudden deaths, on The Western Front, mostly in the Bethune/Loos areas. The diary ends abruptly on 15th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme... The Royal Garrison Artillery were large field guns employed in the bombardment of trenches and fortifications, these heavy guns were directed by aircraft spotter planes and were up four miles behind the lines. Unfortunately this was far from safe as they were the targets for large calibre artillery as well.

The diary was transposed by Mr Leslie Syree. He is no relation but became involved because of his interest in the Great War.

26 May 1915-Wed: Left BRISTOL for FRANCE and arrived at BOULOGNE early 27 May and went to the rest camp to await the arrival of the (traction) engines (for pulling the guns).

31 May 1915-Mon: Arrived at St.OMER and got orders to proceed to HAZEBROUCK next day. Sent away two letters. Went to AIRE instead of Hazebrouck.

02Jun 1915 - Wed: Arrived at BETHUNE and proceeded to GORRE and took up position.

03 Jun 1915 - Thu: We were under shell fire in the morning and in the afternoon fired three rounds per gun.

04 Jun 1915 - Fri: Quiet morning. Fired ten rounds into LA BASSEE at dusk.

05 Jun 1915 - Sat: All quiet. Fired eight rounds registering at SALOME.

06 Jun 1915 - Sun: Quite a lively day. Destroyed the railway triangle (near LA BASSEE). Fired ten rounds. Fired again in the evening and made a bulls-eye; destroyed a tower and factory. (Our gun) fired six rounds. (German) shells came very near, splinters flying all over the orchard. Got to know later that (our) firing had been very effective, blown down an observation tower and set fire to a factory. (Our) major congratulated the detachment and ordered (the results) to be recorded in the progress report.

07Jun 1915-Mon: Everything quiet, nothing doing. Put guns on platform during the night.

08 Jun 1915-Tue: Quiet day, nothing doing. The usual (German) shells falling very near the battery, doing no damage.

09 Jun 1915-Wed: Fired 21 rounds registering again, otherwise all quiet.

l0Jun 1915-Thu: All quiet again. Rain stopped observation.

11 & 12 Jun 1915-Sat: Nothing doing, all quiet.

13 Jun 1915 - Sun: A heavy bombardment started just after daybreak and (we) heard the rifle fire from the trenches. Continued all morning, expected a big battle. Bombardment continued until early next morning.

14 Jun 1915-Mon: Section was on the guns at 4am and came into action about 10.30am. Fired ten rounds. Thought to have achieved their objective. Shifted a battery of German guns. Action continued into the afternoon.

15 Jun 1915-Tue: Action continued, blazing away as hard as they could, angle and elevation varying. Very little heard. They had made good shooting in the morning and must be doing a lot of damage. It still continues after 6pm, blazing away, battery time five seconds intervals. (I) have given over writing down the number of shells fired. Saw a lot of wounded come walking down the road from the trenches, mostly belonging to the East Yorkshire Regiment, who told us they had had a bad time. Reports say they have captured three lines of trenches. Firing still continues but our guns have given over. They have fired nearly one hundred rounds and they have only two guns at the right-half of the battery. The others are at St.OMER waiting for ammunition, the right-half having taken all the ammunition. The noise was deafening and the rifle and machine gun fire has been continuous. Went on guard until early next morning. (German) trenches were taken (but our men) had to evacuate again. The 7th Division on the left were able to hold what they had taken and gained a lot of ground. Men coming from the trenches said that it was as bad as the engagement at YPRES.

l6Jun 1915-Wed: Were on the guns at 3am but all was quiet up to 9am. Finished the day off with firing a few rounds at a (German) trench and achieved our object. Told that the firing was very good. Registered the last round.

17 Jun 1915 - Thu: Quiet morning, opened with a few rounds. Just by the angle it looked as if the target was LA BASSEE. The target was a row of houses in which were some machine guns that had stopped the advance of our men. The houses were completely destroyed. Later in the day a note was received from the GOC RA that the Field Marshal C-in-C had personally been to see him and had complimented him on the work being done by the heavy artillery of the 10th brigade, the message to be conveyed to all ranks.

18 Jun 1915 - Fri: Quiet day. Calm after the storm.

19 Jun 1915-Sat: Early morning a (German) bombardment commenced, continued for nearly one hour and died away as suddenly as it had commenced. Quiet afternoon.

20 Jun 1915 - Sun: Morning opened very quiet. Easy day.

21 Jun 1915 - Mon: Easy morning. Went out in the afternoon to lay telegraph cables to GIVENCHY A few (German) shells and bullets came near us, but everything passed off all right.

22 Jun 1915 - Tue: Did a bit of drilling. Just fancy - on active service - to give us something to do!

23, 24, 25, 26 & 27 Jun 1915 - Sun: Quiet days.

28Jun 1915-Mon: A few (German) shells fell away to the left of the battery and a great feature of the firing was the number of blind shells - seven or eight in succession.

29,20 Jun, 01, 02 and 03Jul 1915 - Sat: Quiet days.

04Jul15 - Sun: ADDINGHAM FEAST; all quiet here.

05 to 14Jul 1915 - Wed: All quiet Capt Davis complimented Cpl Harding on his fifth round falling straight into the German trenches. There were 30 direct hits on the (German) trenches in the afternoon. Action lasted until late at night.

15Jul 1915 - Thu: Spent a day in BETHUNE on pass.

16&l7thJul 1915-Sat: All quiet.

18 Jul 1915-Sun: Broke the silence after a month, and fired on LA BASSEE (railway) STATION but there was a ground mist and the shot was unobserved so turned our attention to two (German) batteries and compelled them to shift on, and destroyed them. Was told that the shooting was very good.

l9Jul 1915-Mon: In action again, fired a few rounds. The enemy answered, fired a lot of rounds at BETHUNE doing a bit of damage in the town near the (railway) station, killing two little children. Towards nightfall (the Germans) fired a lot of rounds in our direction in a rapid manner, but all were falling short in the wood to the left of LA BASSEE CANAL. The last round fired from No.1 gun at 45 degrees elevation. Have not heard the result.

20&21 Jul 1915-Wed: Quiet days.

22Jul 1915 - Thu: (We) fired a few rounds at LA BASSEE which it seems they are reducing to ruins, and also a few at SALOME. At night a heavy cannonade was heard on our right; must have been the French.

23Jul 1915-Fri: Quiet day until the evening, when No1 gun opened fire, destroyed part of a railway, caused a series of explosions. By the angle it seemed as if LA BASSEE was the target. The major complimented the detachment on their smartness and accuracy. Heard from good authority the target was a goods yard at LA BASSEE and there were 18 direct hits, the shells dropping in a radius of 25 yards, destroying a battery of (German) guns that were inside the shed on trucks that were run out, fired and (run) back (inside the shed) again. This was the (enemy) battery that had shelled BETHUNE a few days before. Some 20 to 25 rounds were fired (by us) - "good shooting".

24 Jul 1915 - Sat: Quiet day.

25Jul 1915 - Sun: Morning was quiet and in the afternoon (our guns) opened fire, presumably at LA BASSEE again, firing about twenty rounds. Airman's report, Capt Barrett, says several direct hits on gun battery target. Also a large explosion of ammunition was observed. (German) guns were firing in the morning and were put out of action in the afternoon.

26Jul 1915-Mon: The morning seems to be a quiet time as we did not get into action until well into the afternoon, when (we) engaged a hostile battery, and the airman's report said that there were nine direct hits out of 13 rounds. The airman made a mistake in his observation, taking German shots for ours, causing the captain to think that the (gun) platform was at fault - so we had to re-lay the platform again, taking us until 11pm to finish it; and when the report came in they found out that good shooting had been the result and (we had done the re-laying) work for nothing!

27 Jul 1915 - Tue: Nothing doing.

28Jul 1915 - Wed: Everything was quiet until the evening.

29Jul 1915 - Thu: A few rounds were fired in the evening.

30Jul 1915 - Fri: Everything passed off quietly; heard a rumour that there would be a big action on the anniversary of the war (4th August 1914).

31 Jul 1915 - Sat Quiet

0l Aug 1915 - Sun: Germans shelled a farm just to our right, blowing the building, putting about 80 to 85 rounds into it. A field battery occupied this position and had one killed and two injured.

02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 & 08 Aug 1915 - Sun: All quiet.

09 Aug 1915-Mon: A few rounds fired early in the day, otherwise all passed off quietly with us, but heavy firing and fighting was heard on our left, and a few hundred yards of trenches were taken.

10 Aug 1915 - Tue: Quiet.

11 Aug 1915 - Wed: Came into action in the afternoon and secured two direct hits on two aircraft guns. Later came into action again and the airman signalled "OK, the first two rounds" - the last one was not observed. Have not heard what damage was done or what the target was.

12 Aug 1915-Thu: Fired a few rounds towards evening. Did not hear the result.

13 Aug 1915 - Fri: Quiet

14 Aug 1915-Sat:Came into action in the evening and fired 21 rounds. The airman's report said there were six (?), all the shells falling in a radius of 25 yards of the target. This was the best series that had been fired and was very quick, all going very smoothly on No.1 gun; No.2 gun jammed their shell and did not fire again. The target was two (German) batteries and must have done a lot of damage.

15 & 16 Aug 1915 - Mon: Quiet days.

17Aug 1915: From this day up to 26 Aug nothing occurred except we got orders to move.

27Aug 1915-Fri: Left GORRE for our new position leaving there at 7.30 in the evening, arriving at BULLY VOl LAINES at 12.3Oam.

28 Aug 1915-Sat: Moved off at night again for BULLY GRENAY to take up the new position in an old sandpit.

29, 30 & 31 Aug 1915 - Sat: Still working on the position.

0l Sep 1915-Wed: Gunners DEVINE and BRADLEY were buried in their dug-out through the face of the pit giving way. They were dug out and artificial respiration tried with them but both died and (they) were buried in the cemetery close by, they being the first two casualties of the battery.

Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery (general view, and graves of Devine & Bradley).
(Photos by Leslie Syree, 06/08/03).

02 Sep 19 15-Thu: Still digging-in the position. Rumours about that there is to be a big bombardment on Monday, but don't know how far they are true. We are on the right of the British lines and the troops are mostly French. There are a good number of huge batteries here and it looks like business.

03Sep 1915 - Fri: The Germans shell the villages of LABOURSE, BULLY GRENAY AND MAZINGARBE every day and as soon as the guns of the French and English open fire here they retaliate on the villages.

04 Sep 1915 - Sat: Our two days off, the other sections still working on the position.

05, 06&07 Sep 1915-Tue: Nearly ready; our officers told us that we should fire more rounds in the next few days than we had every fired before and that the bombardment would be the biggest ever known.

08 Sep 1915-Wed: Had to go out to fosse (a slag heap of a coal mine) to dig a trench to lay the telephone cables in. The place is bristling with guns all getting ready for the big bombardment. Everyone seems to be the same - dig and dig. The villages about here are all in ruins and are empty, except where soldiers are billeted.

09 Sep 1915 - Thu: Went out to fosse again, digging, and then went on the guns at night. The Germans knocking spots off the villages round about here again.

10 Sep 1915 - Fri: Opened fire with a few rounds on the (German) trenches, registering. Found out that we are the nearest of any of the heavy guns to the trenches.

11 Sep 1915 - Sat: Registered a few rounds in the afternoon, our gun being the ranging gun, and then the other three guns registered as well, ready for the big day. Came-off the guns to the billets.

12Sep 1915 - Sun: Seventeen years today since I first enlisted! Church parade for the C of E in a round house in front of our billet. Lovely weather, nice and warm in the daytime but cold at nights.

13 Sep 1915 - Mon: Quiet day, nothing doing. The other half of the Company fired a few rounds and did very good shooting. Came-on the guns at night. The Germans shelling the French battery in front of our billet, but have done no damage.

14 Sep 1915-Tue: On the guns. kept working on the shell cases which had broken down with the concussion from our own firing. Made a temporary repair of it owing to the lack of proper material. No.4 gun fired a few rounds in the afternoon but (we) did not hear any results. Towards the evening the Germans shelled us, the first few rounds falling well away to the left towards the village of BULLY GRENAY but gradually drawing nearer. One round fell just in front of No.2 and No.3 guns, but did no damage. We were all ordered under cover, the shelling is falling around us. Wonder if the dose will be repeated in the morning, which is the usual way (the Germans) have of doing things.The (German) shells (have) cut the electric wires, making it rather dangerous to move around in the dark. The batteries in front of us are blazing away again, which they do every night. Thought the Germans were searching for the armoured train which is in a cutting just behind us. It is a general idea that these always draw the fire, but (the train) moved away.

15 Sep 1915 - Wed: Quiet day.

16&17 Sep 1915-Fri: Both quiet days.Back on the guns at night.

18 Sep 1915 - Sat: A (German) aeroplane out to see if they could find our positions.Two anti-aircraft batteries blazing away at it, to drive it away, firing a lot of rounds but doing no damage. Came into action and fired a few rounds. Fired four rounds at a triangled trench, getting two hits.

19Sep 1915 - Sun: The Germans shelled the battery in front of our billets, firing a great number of rounds, and (at) the batteries in front of our positions as well. Our aeroplanes very active, one of them coming down in the field on the right of our position. The pilot was wounded whilst coming down, a great burst of rifle fire coming from the Germans, (but) the machine coming down safely. The machine was hit but the airman was safe. He had to come down for refuelling.

20 Sep 1915 - Mon: Quiet Day.

21 Sep 1915 - Tue: Heaving firing to the right front last night, and continued this morning.

22 Sep 1915-Wed: The bombardment continued this morning firing at the (German) trenches, and the other gun doing well. Expect to make an advance after it finished. The firing was all along the lines. The French were at it on our right. Have not heard any news lately, and have (had) no newspapers for about three weeks.

23 Sep 1915-Thu: The firing continued during the night, our guns taking it into the morning. Came into action early in the morning and were at it all day firing seventy-two rounds out of our gun. The firing all round was terrific and it must have been a case of "God help the Germans", or anyone else who were in the trenches. Reports coming in from the observers that they could see sandbags and all sorts flying in the air when the shelling hit the (German) trenches. Finished off firing three rounds per gun about midnight, at a good range.

24 Sep 1915-Fri: In action again just after daylight, keeping at it all day, and our gun firing one hundred and five rounds, firing some of the new shells for the first time. Working hard all day, getting well praised for our day's work. Towards the finish both the shell and cartridge cases falling in again causing us to have to work all night.

Cpl Atkinson was probably not aware that this was the start of what was to become known as "The Battle of Loos"

25 Sep 1915-Sat: The guns were in action again at 3am getting rid of 45 rounds before 7am. Heard that our troops had occupied enemy trenches. Things have quietened down a bit. The results have been that our troops advanced but in some places were unable to hold what they had. The (8th Brgd) Black Watch, the (7th Brgd) Seaforth (Highlanders) and (5th Brgd Cameronians) Scots fired? (and) instead of waiting, rushed on with the remainder and carried everything before them, suffering very heavily, very few answering to the roll-call. Great numbers of prisoners were taken; the wounded coming down the road in hundreds, and men were lying down on the side of the road waiting for the ambulances to take them away. Our two guns that have gone on were shelled and (had) gas shells fired at them, but no casualties occurred. The great struggle had been most round HILL 70, which we were firing at.

26 Sep 1915 - Sun: Fired again at HILL 70, and managed to knock out a (German) field battery that had advanced, and also some machine guns that had been rushed up. The report says that the French had made some notable advances and captured a lot of prisoners (12,500). Thought we were going to advance but got some more ammunition in late at night.

27 Sep 1915-Mon: Waiting for our orders to fire. The Guards Brigade have occupied the trenches and it is expected that the Hill will be taken finally. Came into action in the afternoon and our target was a house filled with machine (guns) and got an "OK" at the fourth round when the order was given "Gun, fire, and fire another ten rounds". The Guards were going to charge after our cease fire was given. News came through late at night that HILL 70 had been taken and that LA BASSEE was surrounded. The wet weather (seems) to be coming. It rains often and harder and the days are becoming shorter.

28 Sep 1915-Tue: A French battery came into position in front of our billet and opened fire, having a premature (explosion) in the chamber; bursting the gun and badly injuring five of the detachment.

29 Sep 1915-Wed: Heavy bombardment of the villages by the Germans, who seem to have got some more heavy guns up. All quiet with us Heard that our troops had occupied another village in front of HILL 70 and that the French had another success. Another wet day. The wet weather seems to have properly set in. Good news tonight, great success in CHAMPAGNE. They broke through the German line and killed, wounded (or) captured 120,000 officers and men, and the situation was very good in the SOUCHEZ district.

30 Sep 1915-Thu: Quiet morning. Still working on the shell and cartridge cases. The morning was fine, a change from the last four days. One of the caterpillar men was killed yesterday and another wounded by shrapnel, and the (traction) engine damaged.

0l Oct 1915 - Fri: Quiet day.

02 Oct 1915 - Sat: Came into action and fired 26 rounds, scoring 18 "OK" and learnt after that we had knocked out of action five heavy guns. Saw a grand sight as we fell-in to come to the battery: a fleet of aeroplanes, 14 in number, going over the German lines.

03 Oct 1915 - Sun: Quiet day; towards night the Germans opened fire on MAZINGARBE killing some of the Guards Brigade and some civilians. The villages were full of French troops reinforcing our men, in LA BASSEE in particular being packed. During the night a shell fell to the right of our billet. A few more yards to the right and up would have gone the house and all that was in it.

04Oct 1915 - Mon: Quiet day again; towards night the battery opened fire at three houses at the back of FOSSE 8, but (we) did not hear what the damage was. Two court-martialled prisoners' (sentences) were read out today - one getting three months, and the other getting six months - for being drunk!

05 Oct 1915 - Tue: Miserable wet day, nothing doing

06 Oct 1915-Wed:The major told us that one day in particular our fire had been very effective, the shells falling amongst the German reserves who were being brought as reinforcements, and the havoc amongst them was terrific and also preventing some (German) field batteries coming into action. The GOC 15th Division sent a letter to the OC Royal Artillery, 16th Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery, thanking him for the great assistance that the batteries had given to the Division, and (that) their services had been invaluable. Also letters from the General Commanding Royal Signals, 10th Division, for the way in which they had done their job.

07 Oct 1915 - Thu: Quiet day.

08 Oct 1915-Fri: Got a line of fire, and the section commander told us that the word had come the Germans were going to mount a counter attack. (The Germans) commenced firing on the villages, some of the rounds falling just in front of our billets, knocking the top off a telegraph pole between the billets. The attack took place, and according to what we heard (the Germans) suffered very heavily, the French tricking them at a place known as the CHALK PITS, and inflicting on them enormous losses. The (German) bombardment continued until long after dark, and some of (their) shells falling very near (to our) battery, splinters falling all round the guns. Had to get ammunition in at night;half-past two before we had finished. The carriages of the French armoured train caught fire and were burnt out, leaving only the ironwork. We were lucky again they had no casualties.

09 Oct 1915 - Sat: Calm after the storm.

10 Oct 1915 - Sun: (We) came into action again in the evening and fired a round.The French in front of us commencing a furious bombardment which continued well into the night, but did not not hear any result.

11 Oct 1915 - Mon: The weather continues fine and get up nice and warm in the daytime, but get chilly towards the night. Beautiful weather for the time of the year. The French in front of us again opened fire, a furious bombardment which continued until dark; the number of rounds fired must have been enormous as the (French) 75's (field guns) can get through a great amount of ammunition in little time.Three (German) aeroplanes were brought down in this district today, one of them coming down so low over the battery that it was thought that he had discovered our position, and (he) was circling round when some of our aeroplanes came on him from all sides and succeeded in taking the aviators prisoners and capturing the machine. If this had not been done it would have been all up with our battery, but our usual luck stuck to us and we were safe again.If we had been found out (the Germans) would have rained shells into our position as we had seen them do to other batteries who had been found out.

12 Oct 1915 - Tues: Beautiful morning. Got orders to go to BASSEE to prepare a new position instead of coming on to the guns again. Went instead past FOSSE 3 on to the old first line of German trenches, cutting a trench for laying telephone cables. Had a look in some of the German dug-outs, which were marvellous, some of them being about 30 or 40 feet deep, dug through solid rock and all timbered up. We saw evidence of plenty of bread, jam, butter and some sausages which were left in the dug-outs. They didn't look as if they were starving, which we were led to believe. The (German) bodies were still lying about on the ground and entangled in the barbed wire and had not been buried. equipment and rifles were lying all over the place. Arrived back to our billet at 2am in the morning.

13 Oct 1915 - Wed: (Our) battery was again in action, firing a good number of rounds. Our infantry took a good few (German) trenches. Towards nightfall a counter-attack was made by the Germans and we opened fire again in the dark, firing about forty rounds of gun fire. The (German) attack was at CITE St.ELIE. The attack was beaten off and the trenches held.

14 & 15 Oct 1915 - Fri: Both quiet days.

16 Oct 1915 - Sat: Moved with No.2 gun to a new position behind FOSSE 3 50 that we can reach a target they have found for us; a good position right behind the refuse heap of a mine and we can only fire at a good elevation.

17Oct 1915 - Sun: Working on the position. It is wonderful what they can find for us (to do) when we move into a fresh position.

18 Oct 1915 - Mon: Fired one round but could not get the low elevation to reach the target, so gave over. At dusk had to take some of the top of the hill away, and build a dug-out to take shelter in, in case of being shelled.

19 Oct 1915 - Tue: Quiet day. Came into action in the afternoon, but could not fire at the (German) aeroplane. Could not observe owing to the mist. A lively action commenced at about dusk, the field artillery pounding away and the flashes could be seen, and we heard shells coming over from the other three guns of our battery in the sand pit.

20 & 21 Oct 1915-Wed: Both quiet days, the weather being misty; no observations being possible; very few rounds fired.

22 Oct 1915-Fri: The names came through who were for the draft for England and in the evening about 60 of them marched away for BETHUNE to entrain. Got orders to proceed with the party, to join the company again being posted to Three Section.

23 Oct 1915 - Sat: The battery has been in action again in the morning; got orders to be ready for 30 rounds of gun fire in the afternoon.

24Oct 1915 - Sun: On guard. The battery fired about 90 rounds but do not know what the target was.

25 Oct 1915-Mon: Rained nearly all day. Fired again in the afternoon under bad conditions, the platform buckling up. Had to work on it after finishing firing, also to get ammunition.

26 Oct 1915-Tue: A grand bright day, but rather cool. The guns in action again and the enemy aeroplanes being very busy. Had to keep covering (our gun).

27 Oct 1915-Wed: Fired again. Was escort for Cpl Oxley, who was remanded for a Field Court Martial.

28 Oct 1915-Thu: Wet again, no firing up until present. Came into action towards the evening.

29 0ct 1915-Fri: Fired again - the usual 30 rounds. The Germans shelled LES BREBIS again.

30 Oct 1915 - Sat: Fired a few rounds in the morning for the Russian and Japanese military attaches, who were there to see our guns. Came into action again in the afternoon and fired over 30 rounds at various targets. The Germans have just dropped a shell into LES BREBIS as I am writing.

31 Oct 1915 - Sun: Fired the usual number of rounds.

0l Nov 1915-Mon: Still raining, conditions getting bad for the working of the gun. The platform is under water. Fired in the afternoon and again after dark, all the guns coming into action at once and firing for a few minutes, then ceasing, repeating the same again about half an hour later.

02 Nov 1915-Tue: Still raining. Fired again.

03 Nov 1915-Wed: A bit better day. The same routine every day. Fired about 30 rounds per day and then give over. Got up in the night time or early morning and fired a few rounds just to surprise the Germans, to catch them napping.

04 Nov 1915-Thu: Fired 26 rounds at the (German) trenches; must have done very well as the range and deflection changed very little for a good number of rounds, then we got a few switches onto different targets. A nice fine day.

05 Nov 1915 - Fri: The morning opened a bit dull, looked like more rain but kept fine. Fired again.

06 Nov 1915-Sat: The usual routine. Fired about 30 rounds at various targets.

07 Nov 1915-Sun: Very foggy. Only No.1 gun fired. The others were quiet and they only sent a few round over.

08 Nov 1915-Mon: In action again, firing at the (German) trenches and different targets. Got a big switch but could not get on target in time for the (enemy) aeroplane, after it went away.

09 Nov 1915 - Tue: The Germans shelled a cottage to our right rear, bursting the boilers and doing part damage. We took on a target and fired ten rounds in the morning. Fired again in the afternoon.

10 Nov 1915-Wed: Pursued an unusual course as regard the firing. Kept coming into action and firing three rounds, then cover up and waiting 20 minutes, then ceasing for a bit more. Came into action about seven times altogether. The platform was very wet and greasy owing to the rain and caused us a lot of trouble.

11 Nov 1915-Thu: Two (of our) guns were in action early, No.1 gun fired the most, firing altogether 59 rounds; our gun firing none at all.

12 Nov 1915-Fri: Got orders to move our section, taking No.2 gun into position at FOSSE 3; they taking over our gun and moving to their old position at GORRE.

13 Nov 1915-Sat: Got No.1 gun out after a great struggle, one wheel over the top of an old dug-out. Had all the three caterpillars hung at once and all the men. No.3 gun also getting (stuck) far worse than the other at the top of the road, and (we) had a job getting it out.

14 Nov 1915 - Sun: Spent a day on fatigues, getting the platforms up, and taking them down to Vine House, and getting the ammunition down to the end of the road ready to load into the lorries. Left after tea to proceed on leave to ENGLAND.

15 Nov 1915 - Mon: Travelling all day in train to LE HAVRE, where we embarked.

16 Nov 1915-Tue: Arrived at SOUTHAMPTON early; arrived home in the afternoon, about 3pm.

No entries for the leave period

25 Nov 1915 - Thu: Arrived back at BETHUNE at about I .30am, slept in the barracks there; proceeded to FOSSE 3 getting there at 5pm, taking over No.1 gun of the section. Did not do much that day.

26 Nov 1915 - Fri: Came into action. Our target was a row of houses occupied by some German reinforcements, who had been observed in them for a day or two. Some very good shooting was done, the last round fired knocked down the one remaining house, all the row being demolished and great damage must have been done.

27 Nov 1915 - Sat: Fired again but do not know what the target was. The weather has been cold, freezing all day, and it begins to feel like winter.

28 Nov 1915 - Sun: Great activity was observed with the German aeroplanes and they hindered us from firing until the afternoon. We came into action many times, but then had to give up owing to an (enemy) aeroplane circling over us, until afternoon when we fired ten rounds, then we had to cover up again.Still freezing, and the ground is getting very hard. Had great trouble starting the gun owing to frost, but once we got it started everything went well, worked nice and easy and (we) got the rounds off in good time.

29 Nov 1915-Mon: Wild wet day, very little was done. Fired about 12 rounds at registered targets.

30 Nov 1915 - Tue: A very fair day. Fired about 30 rounds at different targets, mostly by aerial observation; the enemy aeroplanes being very active again, making it very difficult for us to get on our targets. Everything is very nasty underfoot and mud is greatly in evidence after the frost. Got our second blanket issued, which we greatly needed.The leave has been stopped again owing to (German) submarines being in the (English) channel - so the report says. Glad to have had mine!

0l Dec 1915-Wed: Came into action and opened fire on a tower at WINGLES, which was manned by the Germans as an observation tower. It was a narrow tower about 300 feet high and was used for observation for all the surrounding district. The major told us that if we could put it out of action we should earn the gratitude of the whole army, as the fire of all the (German) guns round about us were directed from there. He had told the general (that) if he was allowed to fire at it, he could hit it. After about four rounds we were switched on to another target when all the other guns were firing at once. Then we switched onto the tower again, and after a few more rounds the major told us that it was on fire. We put a few salvoes into it and after cease-fire had been given, went to the top of the fosse and saw it blazing merrily. It was still blazing at 9pm.

02 Dec 1915 - Thu: Fired again at the (German) trenches at a place known as "the dog's nose". Fired a good few rounds then the Germans put a few rounds into the fosse, and we were ordered into the engineers' dug-outs at the back of the fosse. As we were running down, a shell fell within fifteen yards of us and we were lucky to get away without any casualties.

03 Dec 1915 - Fri: A dull wet day, not much doing. Fired a few rounds in retaliation and at night helped No.2 gun into position. Everything is in an awful state, over the shoe-tops in the mud. Often wonder how the poor fellows in the trenches get along - it must be awful.

04 Dec 1915 - Sat: Quiet day. Did nothing. Rained nearly all day.

05Dec 1915 - Sun: Another fairly quiet day. Fired a few rounds at the (German) trenches. The 15th Siege Battery was shelled and (we) heard that they had suffered heavily but do not know how true it is.

06 Dec 1915- Mon: Fired a few rounds, otherwise a quiet day.

07 Dec 1915-Tue: Opened a fine day but came on to rain later. Not much doing; fired about a dozen rounds. A wild night. On guard.

08, 09 & 10 Dec 1915-Fri: Quiet days.

11 Dec 1915-Sat: Came into action again and towards dusk the Germans must have picked up the flash of our guns as they sent over a few shells, one falling on top of the fosse right in front of our No.4 gun. A little bit more elevation and it would have hit one of the guns, the splinters falling all about us, but no one was hurt.

12 Dec 1915 - Sun: Fired 21 rounds at the (German) communication trenches and made good shooting, a good number of rounds falling fairly into the trenches and would do a lot of damage. There was supposed to be an attack, but (we) did not hear how it had gone on.

13 Dec1915 - Mon: Had quite an experience today. The Germans opened fire on the fosse and shells dropped between our position and that of the 113th Heavy; two shells in particular falling near our gun. One fell about ten yards short and the other about twenty feet over our gun. It's a good job the detachment had been withdrawn to the RE dug-outs at the other end of the fosse. If we had been in action the detachment would have been completely destroyed. There were no casualties, but the captured (German) trench mortar that was brought down from QUALITY STREET was badly damaged, one splinter going nearly through the barrel of the gun and it was hit all over. No damage was done to our gun, which was a wonder, considering how close the shells fell to the gun. (The Germans) fired about fifty rounds altogether all round the fosse and some fairly large shells were used. It was thought that some of them were eight-inch (shells). One fell into the field just the other side of the wall and made a very large hole.

14 Dec 1915 - Tue: A quiet day.

15 Dec 1915-Wed: Fired about twenty five rounds, some at DOUVRIN and then a few rounds at the (German) trenches.

16 Dec 1915-Thu: A quiet day.

17 Dec 1915-Fri: Nothing doing. Went into BETHUNE and bought some Christmas presents and other things to send home.

18 Dec to 25 Dec 1915 - Sat: Nothing occurred of any importance up to day - which is Christmas Day. We had a fair good dinner considering the circumstances we were placed in. Turkey and plum pudding, and things passed off fairly quiet. A few (men) were drunk but otherwise all was quiet.

26, 27, 28 & 29 Dec  1915 - Wed: Quiet days.

30 Dec 1915-Thu: Fired a few rounds. The Germans made an attack, which was repulsed.

31 Dec 1915-Fri: Finished off the year with a bit of firing. The target was a (German) battery, but (we)did not hear what the result was. Fired about 50 rounds.

0l Jan 19l6 Sat to 20Jan 1916-Tue: The day opened up wild, otherwise all was quiet. Nothing occurred between (01 Jan) and today worth recording which is 20 January, 50 have not made any entry in between. Quiet times.followed until 27 January (Thu). Nothing much occurred - the Germans sending shells into the villages about here; and something (has been) expected as it is the Kaiser's birthday, but nothing out of the way occurred. We are doing very little firing. A great feature is that at certain times all the heavy guns open-fire and fire one round, then cease this occurring several times a day, sometimes in the early morning and other times late at night. Heard that the Germans made three attacks during the night, but do not know whether it is correct or not. The weather has been beautiful lately and is putting the winter nicely. Hope it will continue as it must be awful in the trenches when there is so much rain. The cavalry are in the trenches and are close by here. Must go and see if there's anyone I know.

28 Jan 1916-Fri: Have to go up the fosse in the morning at 3am to observe the flashes (of the enemy guns), if there are any. Can get a good view if the weather is clear, but it is very foggy so cannot observe much.

29 Jan 1916 - Sat: Went on the ammunition column at MARLES (Mades-les-Mines) about 15 miles away, and stopped there for seven days. Came back on the following Saturday.

No entries for seven days

05 Feb 1916-Sat: Things were very quiet when we landed back although the Germans shelled a battery on our right, putting about 200 shells over, but did not hear if they had done any damage or not.

06 Feb 1916-Sun: Nothing doing with us, but the Huns are spreading a few of their gifts about again. A few shells are falling in PHILISOPHE in front of the fosse.

07 Feb 1916 Mon: On guard. A quiet day.

08 Feb 1916-Tue: In the afternoon a smart cannonade was heard away on our right, probably the French, by the sound of the guns. The Germans shelled CITE DU MAROC heavily, using gas shells, and we were ordered to keep our smoke helmets ready, but we did not feel any affects of it. Our aeroplanes were active and a lot of (German) shells fired at them failed to explode until they struck the ground, bursting in front of the dug-outs, but doing no damage. After this date nothing much occurred until the:

21 Feb 1916-Mon: when a terrific bombardment occurred from both sides and the noise was deafening. I went on pass to BETHUNE and the noise could be heard plainly. One of our planes was brought down over by CITE DU MAROC; the observer was wounded but the pilot was unhurt. Things quietened about 8pm when we had ammunition to get in as we had used up all our stock. The amount of shells sent over by the Germans was very great and does not agree with the tale that they are short of ammunition. A notice was posted that the Germans had made an attack which was refuted.

22 Feb 1916-Tue: Up early in the morning and came into action firing a few rounds at eight-minute intervals. It came to snow later on and the ground is covered. The major told us later that the Germans had taken a trench from the French after all. The remainder of the day passed quietly.

23 Feb 1916-Wed: Fired again early in the morning, two rounds per gun. A cold morning and looks like some more snow or rain. Came on to snow later and very little was done. Only fired single rounds and the day passed quietly.

24 Feb 1916-Thu: A misty morning, nothing doing; the Germans fired a few rounds but our guns were quiet - perhaps owing to the frost getting into the buffers and freezing them. From 25th February to 29th February nothing was done by our guns and all was quiet. A letter was received from the GOC the French on our right to the C in C RA 4th Army Corps thanking the heavy artillery for the support that they had given him when the Germans attacked on 21st February.

01, O2&03 Feb 1916-Sat: Some mines were blown-up around HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT (A German defensive position near to Fosse 8) and there was hand-fighting for the craters; we came into action and fired a few rounds.

05 Mar 16-Sun: More snow - white all over again - and still snowing, but it does not last very long when the sun gets out. Fired about 24 rounds, did some good shooting but do not know what the target was.

06 Mar 1916-Mon: A lot more snow again, but it is gradually going. Quiet until the evening when we opened fire in the direction of FOSSE 8, where some more ammo had been fired. Expect the Germans would be trying to get possession of the craters.

07 Mar 1916-Tue: Quiet day, towards nightfall it came on to snow and it was falling fast. Nothing doing, everything was quiet until:

18 Mar 1916-Sat: The Germans bombarded us severely, killing one of the brothers DE MATOSE in the right half (of the battery).

There is a break in the diary From this date until 1st June1916, probably because the battery would be re-deploying for the Battle of the Somme

0l Jun 1916-Thu: Have not kept up diary for a good time but am starting again. We moved into position behind BULLY nearly a fortnight since and have just got settled down a bit. We had a warm time of it the first day we were in action, the Germans using gas, and taking 1,500 yards of trenches on the Vimy Ridge.

The enemy fired a barrage on all the roads and batteries about here.Our position is a funny one, lying between two roads and as (the Germans) fire on these we come in for all the spare shells that fire a bit wide, and they were in good number.

The position is a very open one behind stacks of unburned bricks but we have made a tunnel that we can get into when they commence shelling us heavily.Today our people tried a new system; all the heavy guns in the district opened fire at a certain time, firing on (German) batteries and in all it was said that there were seventy-odd guns firing all at once.

It was a novel way but it must have been a good one as there was no reply from the Germans. They have been very quick in returning our fire before, but there was no answer at all until late at night when one heavy (German) gun opened up and fired a few rounds on our right, and a few shrapnel (shells) came over on the road to try to catch anything that was about. Had talk with some infantry and they said that our people were going to try to take the double crossing and straighten out the line and that it would be a hard job too.

There are great rumours that the Germans have been greatly reinforced on our front and were going to try and break through, in fact, to make another "Verdun" of the place, but we have seen no signs of it yet.

During our stay at FOSSE 3 we have had some lively times, especially the last month, and if it had not been for the position, which was a good one, we would have had many casualties. But we were very lucky and only had one in the left-half battery. In the right half they have had five or six (casualties). The wall behind the guns saved us a great deal, shells bursting fully 200 yards behind us, the splinters knocking pieces out of the wall, and if it had not been for that we should have suffered heavily. A battery on our right had two guns put out of action and two men killed.

We came into action in the evening and continued at a slow rate of fire until midnight, firing in all 50 rounds per gun. The infantry attacked about 8.3Opm and got over all right, and we were firing on (the German) communication trenches to prevent reinforcements coming up. All (our) heavy guns were on the same job and the flashes could be seen all around us.

The Germans put a lot of shells around our position in the afternoon and early evening, some of them falling within 50 yards of the guns, but no damage was done, only knocking the Frenchman's potatoes and cabbages up!

12Jun 1916-Mon to 0l Jul 1916-Sat: Came off leave and arrived at BULLY in the evening and found that my section had moved to ALBERT (a town in the Somme distinct), and (I) followed a few days later. When we got there we found that great preparations had been made for a big bombardment.

Siege batteries had come from all over the British front and taken up position in the district. A few days were spent in finishing the position and then we commenced registering on our different targets. Enormous supplies of ammunition were ready - 2,000 rounds being in our position alone, and we kept getting more and more in as the bombardment went on. The noise was terrific, one great battle of guns, and the same up at the trenches showed what affect it had on the enemy. The ground was one great mass of shellholes and some were an enormous size, probably the 15th and the 12th, of which there were several in the district.

It was like a huge pepperbox. Several villages were taken and all the lines of trenches and woods were battered down, and only a few stumps left to show where the wood had been. The villages were levelled to the ground and at FRICOURT the one prominent thing left standing was the church, which showed up amounts the other ruins.

Wet weather hindered the operation but one good job was when it got fine it soon dried up. The infantry suffered through it all. But one thing that struck you was the good spirits that the men were in after coming out of the trenches. The success had cheered them up although they had suffered heavily.

The dead were lying about, belonging to both sides, and awaiting burial. One German machine gun was lying in the trench and had been hit with a shell and the gun men (the gun crew) were lying in the bottom of the trench.

A large number of prisoners were taken, and some of them testified the accuracy of our gunfire, and were glad to surrender.They were a lot of fine fellows but they looked as if they could have done with a good square meal. We have not moved yet although this is the:

09 Jul 1916-Sun: We have not moved yet and the fight has been going on for eight or nine days, perhaps we will be making a move before long. Some batteries have moved nearer to the line to take up firing as the Germans are driven back.

Our guns must have fired about 1000 rounds each since we have been here and the other batteries have done the same.The plans have been well throughout this affair and every little detail attended to. Nothing has been left to chance.

Ammunition and material and supplies of food have been brought in, horse and motor vehicles; and it has been one continuous line of traffic day and night, some men saying that the busiest street in London could not compare with the traffic that had passed one corner in ALBERT.

One feature about this is that we are not troubled by enemy aircraft. Very few have been over us since we came here and their artillery has been quiet or they have been in the trenches all the time, only one shell falling anywhere near our battery until today.

The field guns and the heavies are knocking away now in front and it sounds as if we should be getting action again.

12 July 1916 - Wed: Things have been a bit thick these last few days, but are beginning to quieten down. This afternoon we fired a good few rounds but all is quiet tonight and it looks as if we shall have a night in bed.

A few shells dropped in ALBERT whilst we were in action, but it has been a very quiet time for us, only one shell dropping anywhere near the battery since we have been here.

Heard last night that the 9th West Riding (The Duke of Wellington's Regiment) had had a rough time of it since the advance started and had gone back to be reinforced and for a rest. They had lost over 200 men in the attack.

15Jul 1916-Sat: Our troops are still making progress and we shall soon have to move forward as we are nearly out of range, and are expecting (to move) anytime now. A lot of batteries have already gone forward a few moves last night.

Prisoners are still coming in and there must have been a very good haul up to now. A telegram posted up in the battery yesterday said that we had done well and if we only kept on in the same spirit as we did on the first (day) of July our objective would be accomplished.

The cavalry had broken through and we were in pursuit of the demoralised enemy.

End of diary

Note: As the diary ends at this date - 15th July 1916 - one can assume that ft was at this stage of the war that Cpl Atkinson received injuries resulting in the loss of his left arm, subsequently being repatriated home. (Serious wounds were known to the troops as 'a bllghty' and some of the men hoped to be wounded seriously enough to be taken out of the war for good - although there is no suggestion that Cpl Atkinson had such a desire!)

A FEW NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS

Using modern motorways from the Calais car ferry - and also from the channel tunnel terminal - it is possible to drive to the area covered by the diary within one hour of arriving in France, and a journey through the battlefield areas may still be made, the places mentioned in the diary are all within easy reach.

Research has shown that Gunner John Burke Devine, who died as a result of his dug-out collapsing on top of him, was born at Easington, Durham, and resided at Haswell. Gunner John Bradley who died in The dug-out with him, was born at Waterfoot, Lancashire, and was the son of Mr M. Bradley of 2 St John Street, Boothfield, Manchester; At the time of his death, John Bradley was 18 years of age. Both these men remain buried in the Civilian Cemetery at Bully-Grenay

Albert George De Matose, killed when an enemy shell fell near his gun, he was 22 years of age, and was born at Colbury Hampshire, and enlisted at Southampton. Gnr De Matose was the son of George and Ellen De Matose of Hounsdown, Hampshire, and it is believed that relatives reside there still. He is buried at Vieille Chapalle New Military Cemetery La Coutre.

(Right) On the left is David Atkinson, with his Father William Bernard Atkinson who was the eldest son of Brumfitt Atkinson. He was named after his grandfather, also an Addingham man. Only two of Brumfitt's children are still alive (as at 2002), both living in Silsden.