Gas, Gas, Gas - The Huns At It Again

The Hun's at it again. I never thought I'd see that blasted gas so soon.

Yesterday we were in the support trenches and at about 2:30am a shout went up from the front lines that a gas cloud was coming in. We were some 400 yards behind the front lines so we were able to don our gas protection in good time and prepare ourselves.

I got my flanalette wadding and soaked it in some chemicals that had been given to us. I believe this was something called sodium thiosulphate. We were told it was quite effective. I was prepared to use anything so that I didn't have to suffer like last time.

With my flanalette fitted I found it hard to breathe but as the infernal gas came over us it seemed to work. I didn't get the horrible metal taste like last time. My eyes stung a bit and there was an unusual smell but that may have been the chemical I soaked the flanalette in.

The troops in the front trenches were the Kings Own. The concentration of gas on them was much stronger, in our area it had scattered and dispersed. The poor chaps succumbed to the effect of the gas. I'm not sure if they hadn't got the same protection as us or if the gas had overcome them too quickly for them to soak their flanalettes. Anyway just as it had happened with our battalion the men of the Kings Own were in a bit of dissaray. Some men were breaking for it and others were writhing about from the effects of the gas. Realising that the Hun would be following up the gas cloud we were ordered to advance to assist the Kings Own and to replace the ranks of their dead or departed.

A Company was sent up first. This was under Captain J Collision Browne. This was at about 3:50am. They came under withering fire from machine guns and rifles. Shell Trap Farm was in the hands of the Hun and he had setup his machine gunners there. Caption Browne got hit in the stomach and couldn't continue. About 120 men had gone forward and only 30 reached the front trenches. Most of the front trench line, especially close Shell Trap Farm, was in the hands of the Hun. The Kings Own had vacated these through the effects of the Gas, shelling and the Hun attack.

We learned of all this at 10:00am and the decision was made to send us up together, B,C, and D Companies, with the 1st Royal Warwickshire.

We moved off at 10:35 and immediately was hit with the full fury of the Hun. Bullets and shells were wizzing by and landing all around. I tried to make good movement but as soon as I stood up to run I felt a hail of bullets pinging all around me and whistling through the air close by me. Bloody hell I thought, I'm the duck at the fairground shoot! I dove to earth and flattened myself in a small shell hole. I again tried to move and the same happened again, I'd advanced about 5 yards.

The rest of the lads got no further. The whole of the advance of our battalion and that of the Warwick's was pinned down. After 20 minutes we had only advanced 30 yards, it was 400 to the front lines!

It was then decided to make a fresh attack at 2:00pm. We would all advance again but this time have two companies of the 1st/5th South Lancashires.

The result was the same. We hardly made any ground.

It was then decided we would attack after dark with 3 French Battalions in accompaniment. These never materialised so at 8:00pm it was decided to abandon the attack. Furthermore it was decided to withdraw to a new line. This was to a trench called the French Switch. The whole of the 12th Brigade was moving back to the 4th Divisions support line.

The 1st/5th South Lands were already in command of that line and were ordered to hold it all costs. Their commander was told he could have as many of our men as required. The rest of our regiment was to move back to the 4th Division reserve line. This bordered Irish Farm and was some 2,000 yards from the original front line at Shell Trap Farm and 2,000 yards from Ypres. The new front line that was the 4th Division Support line was 1,000 yards to the front.

So chums that's were I now find myself, in the French Switch. We've given up all that ground that we bitterly fought to keep during the gas attack of the 2nd of May. All those blokes who fought to keep it and now its been given up. I can't blame anyone its the infernal gas that the Hun is using. I must say the flanallete soaked in that chemical did OK but I was only exposed to a thin volume of gas. I'm not sure how it would have been if I'd have been in thick clouds of gas.

Anyway we have learnt our lessons. We must be better prepared against that infernal gas. We must have better protection for everyone.

So chums I'm sat in the trench wondering what's coming next. I've now been gassed twice. In Le Touquet I faced bombs, shells and rifle grenades. I've been on patrols in no man's land. I've help dig tunnels and lay explosives. I've done some bombing myself. I never imagined any of this when I set out from Blighty. I wonder how much more I'm going to do before I get back.

Its all for King and Country though!

So chums I'll bid my farewell again and write to you later in the week.

Bye for now,

Albert x