The war diary of Ron Bevitt's Grandad - Corporal W. Cain ['Talker' Cain]=====================================================

[On opening inside page]

Corporal W. Cain5419 C. Coy.10th Lancashire Fusiliers.Attach 21 Section188 A. Coy. R. E.

[Another name on flyleaf -] Mrs Fiford, No.2 Grove Crescent, Wimborne, Dorset. [where he was billeted]

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Enlisted in 10th Lancashire Fusiliers Sept 5th 1914. Proceeded from Bury to Bovington Camp (Dorset) for training. Left Bovington for Wimborne Nov 30th 1914. Left Wimborne for Bovington to fire April 17th. Left Bovington for Hunsley Park near Winchester (Hampshire) 27th May. Proceeding to Wareham 20th June to finish firing. Left Wareham for Hunsley Park to finish training 29th June.

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July 15th 1915

10th Lancashire Fusiliers. 52nd Brigade.17 Division.Left Hunsley Park near Winchester Hampshire England via Folkestone to join British Expeditionary Force Frid July 10 th [16th?] . Arrived Boulogne at 1-30 am and proceeded to a Base Camp outside of the town where we had a few hours rest before proceeding further up. After further up in cattle-trucks to town ________ and arriving there at 4pm and rested in billets.

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Sat July 17th

Left town ________ 8am and proceeded near to firing line arriving at town __________ at 8pm .... slept in billets for the night.

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Sun July 18th

Left town __________ and marched to ______ 12 mile from firing line. Rested in barn.

- - - - - - - - Mon 19th.Inspection by General Smith-Dorrien at village.

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Tues 20th

Resting in village and expect to leave tonight to __________ nearer firing line. Can hear the sound of big guns here.

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Wed 21st

Left __________ and arrived at 4 mile from firing line.

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Thurs 22nd.

Resting here. Can see Aeroplanes quite plain getting shelled.

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Sat [crossed out] 23rd Friday

Left for trenches at 6pm. Within 40 yards of Germans here. First time under fire. In for only 24 hours with (4th R. F.). Our brigade are going to take this part of the line over.

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Sat 24th

Come out of the trenches at 8pm and went behind firing line to some huts. The Germans are sending a few shells over, but no damage getting done.

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Sun 25th

Went up to La-Creek to dig trenches at dark and finished at dawn.

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Mon 26th

Things are fairly quiet around here at present. We are mostly doing fatigue work etc.

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Tues 27th. Quiet.

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Wed 28st Sept

French digging about a mile behind firing line plenty of shelling tonight.

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Thurs 29th,

Germans use liquid fire (first time) and capture 2 lines of our trenches. We (52nd Brigade) were hurried up in reserve but were not required as Notts & Derbys. Reg. recapture trenches. At night our artillery were very active.

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Frid 30th.

Expect Germans to counter attack still kept in reserve. Germans sending plenty of shells over, but not much damage done. Plenty aeroplanes about 1 German Aeroplane brought down. Looked like dropping behind our lines.

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Sat 1st August

In reserve but expect to shift to the right of Hooge (La Creek.) tonight. Leave at 8pm and proceed to trenches to relieve 4th Bat. (Royal. Fus.).

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Sun 2nd

In trenches. Fairly quiet here except the guns are sending a few over to each other. Plenty of rifle fires at night.

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Mon 3rd

Trenches fairly quiet today but the Germans are sending a few over to a village behind the lines called (Dixchbuish). They shell this place nearly every day. We call the shells (Dixchbuish Express).

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Tues 4th. Trenches. The Germans are trying to be smart today sending shells & Grenades over but our artillery send a few over, and keep them quiet. - - - - - - - - - Wed 5th. Trenches Quiet today, but tonight Germans have got wind up and are sending shells over but are just beginning to quiet down. - - - - - - - - - - Thurs 6th. Trenches. Plenty of rain today but we are fairly comfortable here as the trenches are very good. - - - - - - - - - - -.Fri 7th. Trenches. Kept busy today & filling sandbags.Aeroplane fight today. British Aeroplane brought down but dropped behind our own lines. - - - - - - - - -- - -Sat 8th. Trenches. Very quiet today. We believe the Saxons occupy the trenches opposite us but think they got relieved tonight by the Prussian Guards as there is a big difference in the rifle fire. They have got X wind up, and are opening rapid fire now & again & sending plenty of star shells up (looks like Rushen Abbey Fireworks

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Sun 9th Trenches. Quiet today, in fact it is always quiet in the day time here except for an odd shell or so which the guns fling at one another, in fact you wouldn't think there was a war on some parts of the day.

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Mon 10th Trenches. Quiet again, but we get plenty of fatigue work to do (trench digging etc.)

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Tues 11th. Trenches. Quiet in day time but we start bombarding at night, don't know exact reason, but we think it is to fool the Germans, so as they think there is going to be an attack here, and so take their reserve away from Ypres, where the British are going to make one.

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Wed 12th. Trenches. Our Artillery still active, Germans are replying but we are sending a dozen over for their one, which looks as if we have plenty of shells.

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Thurs 13th Trenches. No shelling today on either side.

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Frid,14th. In Field Hospital.

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Sat 15th. do [ditto]

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Sun 16th. Trenches. Its very quiet today as regards artillery, but there are plenty of aeroplanes about.

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Mon 17th. Trenches. The Germans are busy with Rifle Grenades today but they are sending them too far.

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Tues 18th. Trenches Guns quiet, but we are doing plenty of fatigue work etc.

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Wed 19th. Trenches. Germans shelling today. they are always fairly busy on Wed. & Sun.

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Thurs 20th. Two out of C.Coy. go out & fetch in Bavarian flag. (Pte J Routhlidge & Sergt Rigby)

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Frid 21st. Trenches. Plenty shelling on both sides today got to keep under cover

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Sat 22nd. Come out of trenches for a rest went back behind “Dixchbuish” to “Canadian huts” four mile behind firing line.

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Sun 23rd. Rest Camp. Doing Physical drill, & Company drill, I suppose it is to keep fit.

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Mon 24th. Suppose to be resting, but are up digging trenches.

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Tues 25th. do

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Wed 26th do

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Thurs 27th Back at trenches again. In wood Holding Eastern Redoubt about 300 yds behind firing line. Germans are shelling the wood often.

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Frid.28th. Eastern. Redoubt. Quiet today, Pretty lively at night-time.

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Sat. 29th. Eastern Rt.do

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Sun.30th

do- - - - - - - - -

Mon 31st

do

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Tues 1st Sept. In Front line trenches to relieve Northumberland Fus. Germans are sending plenty of Rifle Grenades over. and North. Fus had a few casualties before we come in

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Wed 2nd. Trenches Artillery busy today and Grenade fighting.

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Thurs 3rd. Trenches plenty of rain today very quiet.

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Frid. 4th. Trenches. Artillery fighting.

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Sat 5th. do

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Sun 6th do

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Mon.7th. Trenches. Germans shell our reserve 47 Ai Coy. Casualties with one shell, which went in barn

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Tues. 8th. Transferred to R.E (Gas Section) to train in the use of gas Cylinders. Left trenches for Haulfort about 5 mile from St. Ormer.

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Wed. 9th.

Arrived at Haulfort and posted to 189 Coy. [Company] R.E.[Royal Engineers].

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Thurs. 10th.

Learning how to attach pipes to Gas Cylinders, expect to use Gas for the first time in a few weeks.

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Frid 11th do [ditto]Sat 12th doSun 13th doMon 14th doTues 15th doWed 16th doThurs 17th doFrid 18th doSat 19th doSun 20th doMon 21st doTues 22nd doWed 23rd Shifted up to Masingarbe about 4 mile from firing line.

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Thurs 24th Getting pipes etc ready, expect an attack to come tonight. Leave at 6pm for trenches at Loos.

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Frid 25th. Big British Advance. Gas used for the first time. After a bombardment lasting nearly 4 days the British had the German trenches flattened out. They advanced about 1400 yds around Loos & Hill 70. 9th Black Watch & County of London Reg. lead the attack appostite [opposite?] Loos. A lot of Germans captured besides Machine Guns and Big Guns.

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Sat 26th Battle still going on.

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Sun 27th Getting the Gas Cylinders out of the trenches.

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Mon 28th do. Germans are sending plenty of shells over.

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Tues 29th _ do [ditto].Wed 30th _doThurs Oct 1st _doFrid 2nd._ do.

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Sat 3rd. After we get back from trenches Germans shelled our billets.7 killed & 8 wounded. R.E's.

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Sun 4th Getting new pipes ready for another attack expected to come of shortly (La Bas).

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Mon 5th do [ditto]Tues 6th doWed 7th doThurs 8th doFrid 9th doSat 10th doSun 11th do Mon 12th do

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Tues 13th Another attack by Gas. Terrific bombardment by Germans. Oppose Hulloch. 1st Black Watch & 8th Royal Bedfordshires lead the attack. British capture 1 line of trenches. (In memory of Gordon my chum who was killed that day. Willie Punch Castletown B. Watch (killed.

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Wed. 14th Still in the trenches. The Germans are shelling heavy.

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Thurs 15th. Our chaps have lost the line of trenches they captured owing to the enemies shell fire. and have retired back again to their own line.

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Oct 10. We are up in the first line getting the cylinders out. Both are having heavy artillery duels Oct 17 do. Oct 18 “ Oct 19 “Oct 20 “Oct 21 “Oct 22 “Oct 23 “Oct 24 “Oct 25 “Oct 26 “Oct 27 Reported Sick Booz.Oct 28 In Bethune Hos.Oct 29 Left “ “Oct 30 Travelling by Hospital Train Rouen.

Nov. 1st. Admitted into Rouen Hospital (No. 11 Station Hospital).Dec 2nd Went under operation “Ingrown Toenails”. In bed 3 wk.Dec 21. Up for a day, but we are worst than German Prisoners here. This hospital has got rules of its own. We are only allowed to smoke half an hour after meals (I think German Prisoners have better privileges than those. We have got to do the R.A.M.C. Orderlies’ work here, scrubbing floors etc. I think they could send some of these young fellows up the line, and let some of the old men out of Infty Regiments who are up there come down and replace them. Especially when there is an attack on, you never see any R.A.M.C. men in the trenches (or a lot more lives would probably be saved) our own few stretcher bearers have to do the work, and the R.A.M.C who are about 20 miles behind get the credit. We have a very nice sister here in fact, she is that nice looking, we call here Rat-trap face and one of the (Jocks) said he had seen better looking German Prisoners. She said she had four sisters

as goodlooking as herself. I don’t know what the bad-looking must be like. She come in one morning, in bad trim, and we were having a game of cards around the fire, when she took the cards and flung them in the stove, so I didn’t think much of her. I will now turn to the No 2. sister. She was a very nice sister, the very opposite to No 1. She come from Ireland, but I believe the (Miss Law) doctor was pulling up to her, he always seemed to be doing his rounds when she happened to be in, and I would of done the same.

We used to get out meals in the dining hall. We never had a table cloth on our table, but we had our photographs taken one day, there was a table cloth on, the bread was cut up, and Ticklers Jam left on a plate, I suppose that photograph was for the Sketch (Tommy enjoys himself in hospital) I don’t think not in that hospital anyhow. I got discharged on Dec. 10th, and the Operation marks weren’t healed up but I was glad to get out and then my troubles weren’t over as the O.M.S. tried to impose a tunic on me which I couldn’t button, but after a lot of grumbling he give me a new one. I think he was trying to make a bit on his own, so I wasn’t sorry to get out of that place. I would rather be amongst Bursting Shrapnel, that be admitted to No.11 Stationary again.

Dec 11th Went to Con. Camp. The Colonel of the Hospital told me I would be four or five days there, but four or five hours was enough there. I was put in charge of the Guard there, first night, and there were all fatigues next day so I told the Doctor to mark me out Active, which he did. I left there on Dec 13 for Clearing Base Rouen.

Dec 14. Left clearing base for 17 Division Base (Lancs Fus) don’t know exactly which Reg I belong to Lancs Fus or Engineers and I don’t Care.Dec 15. Arrived at Etaples morning and proceeded to 17 Div Infty Base Depot (Lancs Fus.) Reported. C.O. and Doctor as fit, and taken on strength.

Dec 16. We do a lot of training here (recruits drill etc) This base receives all the drafts from Eng that keep feeding the Battalions up in the trenches.

Dec 17. Marked for draft to go up the line to the 10th Lancs Fus. but get marked out again, as I really belong to the R. E.s. (Don’t know which B--- Reg I belong to).

Dec 18 Training 19 and doing 20 Ordnance 21 Fatigues. 22 etc. 23

Dec 24. Put in charge of Pump Guard (24 hours). come of on Christmas morning.

Dec 25th. (Christmas Day) Come of Guard in morning. Had a pass to Etaples at night.

Dec 26th. Ord Sgt for Lancs Fus & N. North Fus.

Dec 27. “ “ 28. “

“ 29. “ “ 30. “

Up line again Feb – 1916.

Ticket to Wiserge. Overslept. Went to Arks. Walked back to Halfort.

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[END OF DIARY]

=========================================================================[ SEE BELOW FOR OTHER ENTRIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS~]

[OTHER ENTRIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS~]

~ Ink drawing of stylised smiling face with curly hair and pointed beard.

~ Ink drawing of stylised smiling face with heavy joined up ‘seagull’ eyebrows and spiky ‘bottlebush’/hedgehog hair

~ Ink drawing of mournful looking man with pointed chin and curly hair – entitled ‘Corporal Westlake’ 66 Section.’

~ Ink drawing of similar-looking smiling man with curly hair.

~ Miss E. Stanford 48 Grovesend Rd. St Johns Wood London NW.

~ A copy of the crest of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

~ [Artillery notes]

682168 at 0 682291 at – 6 min

= 682291 – 682168 ----------- 10.128 -----------Rate of Wind 12.3 per hour.

Then artillery range/target diagrams.

A 27b.3-sevenths============= ~ EggsMay 6th 2 – 35 –May 7th 2 – 35 –May 8 1 – 9 1 – 10 1 – -- 1-- 5May 8 1 – May 10 1-5 9 1 – ‘35 10 1 – 1-4 11 1 – 3[?] 12 1 – ------------------- 8

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Judging Distance

Rifle RangesDistance 2800 – 2000 ydLong 2000 – 1400Effective 1400 – 600Close 600 & under

[plus diagram of right angled triangle ]

~ Range Card. For. Judging DistanceCpl. W. Cain.

[plus semicircular diagram of ranges and various local features ‘Tree’ ‘House’

~Pte T. Cubbon.RAMC.23rd M.A C.656 Coy [Company]Catford S.E.Eng.

Mr J. Kewleyc/o Mrs Crompton9 Cook St:PendletonSalford. Manchester.Lancs. England.

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Transferred R.E. Sept 8th 1915.Inoculation 2 doses Feb 1915. Wimborne Dorset.2 dose Inoculation Halfort. France1st dose March 17th 1916.2nd “ April 3rd 1916.

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LettersApril 13th Mrs T Cain 14th Mrs T Cubbon 15th Mr C J Cain 16th Miss F Cain 23rd Mr C J Cain 24th Mr J Cubbon 25th Miss L Cain 26th Mrs T Cain 27 Mr W Woods 28 Miss M Faragher 29 Miss L Cain 30 Mr C J Cain May 1st Wesleyan S. GuildMay 3rd Mrs Fiford.May 5th Miss T [F?] Cain 6th Mr W Woods May 9th . Mr C J Cain “ 10th Mrs T Cain “ 11th Mrs M Faragher “ 13th Miss F Cain. 14th Pte Geo Kelly. 15th Mr J Kewley

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Fuse. Det. Prima. Gun Cotton.Fire [?] Fuse 1 yd[?], -- 1 ½ minInstan “ 1 sec. 30 ft.

Cpl. C. W.

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Cain W Cpl.Pte Nixion [?] Y or [?] L “ Mc Nicol “ “ Macly. “ “ Bates. D of W. “ Flint. “ “ Ryan “---------------------------------------------- ~

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Vic Hanley.17 Davis St.Oldham Lancs.

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E. Cottrell.19 Duchess St.CresswellDerbyshire

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H. Chilton30 Bodmin Rd.Walton Liverpool.

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A. Nicholson223 Burnley Rd.Colne. Lancs.

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Mrs Fiford No.2 Grove CrescentWimborne Dorset.Billeted there 1914 – 15Also J. Watterson (killed in action).

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Hawkes ParadeMooney 8.45McConnell FatigueTownsend DressMorgan

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