June 4: Enemy plane flew over our lines dropping bombs, one of which landed 50 yards from my dugout.
June 8: Big raid by 3rd and 4th Canadian Division on enemy trenches which was very successful our objectives reached on time.
June 12: Major General Sir A.W. Currie KCMG, CB, takes over command of Canadian Corps.
June 14: I visited the town of Arras today. Everything has been smashed by the bombardment. The beautiful Cathedral and all the important buildings are a mass of ruins. On my way back to our billets I lost my way and landed in Petite Vimy.
June 17: Got letters from Home today. I learned foe first time that Jack Huron had died of wounds, May 9th.
June 26: 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions gained all their objectives in a raid on the enemy trenches. Our battalion working in conjunction had a man killed.
George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers.
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Monday 18 January 2010
Found! Pte. Archibald Jefferies (1895-1918)
I'm taking a detour from Jack to talk about another relative of mine. I discovered him a few days ago, by chance, while researching my great-grandmother, Edith Jefferies Coxwell. This was her older brother, Archibald James Jefferies, who fought and died with the Australian Imperial Force on the Western Front.
Archibald Jefferies was born in London England in 1895 to Thomas Edwin and Liz Jefferies. A trained Butcher, Archibald immigrated to Sydney Australia in 1913 and eventually settled in Walaroy, Kelso, New South Wales. On January 22 1916, feeling loyal to the country of his birth and his adopted one, Archibald enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.
On April 14 1916, Archibald embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic. Arriving in England in June, Archibald was admitted to the hospital due to illness. In September 1916, Archibald was assigned to the Headquarters of the AIF depot, where a month latter he was again sent to hospital for illness.
On February 25, 1917, Archibald was charged with absenting himself without leave from 12-2-1917 to 20-2-1917. He was sentenced to 18 days Field Punishment #2 and forefiture of 21 days pay. F.P. #2 was similar to F.P. #1, except the soldier was not attached to a fixed object, just shackled.
After months of more training another stint in the hospital (with scabies) Archibald was eventually assigned to the 45th Battalion and posted to France in March 1918. During this time period the AIF was engaged fighting off the German offensive of that Spring. Archibald and the 45th Battalion stayed in the Somme region through the late Spring and early Summer.
On June 16 1918, the 45th Battalion was in the lines near Daours. That afternoon a German barrage shelled the trenches were C Company was located. 10 soldiers were wounded, 1, Archibald, was killed. He was buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 40.)
Pte. Archibald Jefferies, 45th Battalion AIF, found after 92 years.
Service Record courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Archibald Jefferies was born in London England in 1895 to Thomas Edwin and Liz Jefferies. A trained Butcher, Archibald immigrated to Sydney Australia in 1913 and eventually settled in Walaroy, Kelso, New South Wales. On January 22 1916, feeling loyal to the country of his birth and his adopted one, Archibald enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.
On April 14 1916, Archibald embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic. Arriving in England in June, Archibald was admitted to the hospital due to illness. In September 1916, Archibald was assigned to the Headquarters of the AIF depot, where a month latter he was again sent to hospital for illness.
On February 25, 1917, Archibald was charged with absenting himself without leave from 12-2-1917 to 20-2-1917. He was sentenced to 18 days Field Punishment #2 and forefiture of 21 days pay. F.P. #2 was similar to F.P. #1, except the soldier was not attached to a fixed object, just shackled.
After months of more training another stint in the hospital (with scabies) Archibald was eventually assigned to the 45th Battalion and posted to France in March 1918. During this time period the AIF was engaged fighting off the German offensive of that Spring. Archibald and the 45th Battalion stayed in the Somme region through the late Spring and early Summer.
On June 16 1918, the 45th Battalion was in the lines near Daours. That afternoon a German barrage shelled the trenches were C Company was located. 10 soldiers were wounded, 1, Archibald, was killed. He was buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 40.)
Pte. Archibald Jefferies, 45th Battalion AIF, found after 92 years.
Service Record courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Friday 1 January 2010
Some Found Pictures
Jack with my Grandad, 1920. Compare this picture with the one taken in 1915, Jack looks like over 10 years older then he should.
Jack, later in life, with 48th Highlanders of Canada RSM
May 1917: The Diary of George Edmund Thorpe
May 1st: Some excitement today caused by the explosion of an old French ammunition dump in our lines.
May 2nd: Seen aeroplane flew over our lines today and dropped several bombs. There were several causalities.
May 3rd: Enemy plan flew over lines very low, but was driven off by our a.a and M.G. fore.
May 15th: Was in the 20th lines tonight. Met Bill Long and had quite a chat with him. The weather continues fine.
May 20th: Heard today that Troopship "Camerinia" which we came over from Canada had been sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
May 31st: Moved from Maision Blanche to a point near Nerville St Vaas.
George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers.
May 2nd: Seen aeroplane flew over our lines today and dropped several bombs. There were several causalities.
May 3rd: Enemy plan flew over lines very low, but was driven off by our a.a and M.G. fore.
May 15th: Was in the 20th lines tonight. Met Bill Long and had quite a chat with him. The weather continues fine.
May 20th: Heard today that Troopship "Camerinia" which we came over from Canada had been sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
May 31st: Moved from Maision Blanche to a point near Nerville St Vaas.
George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers.
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