| Diary for Pte Arthur Esdon
59302
21st Canadian Battalion
Even
though Pte Esdon enlisted in Kingston in November of 1914 and travelled to England and
then France in 1915, this diary begins January 1st, 1917
January
1917
January 1, 1917 |
On fire and gas guard last night. Seen the old year out and the new one in. In Bully Grenay.
Off duty today
|
January 2, 1917 |
In billets.
No parade today
|
January 3, 1917 |
Moved into the front line and relieved the 19th
Can Battn
|
January 4, 1917 |
In the line
|
January 5, 1917 |
In the line
|
January 6, 1917 |
In the line.
Stood to for early part of night. Fired
12 magazines from front line
|
January 7, 1917 |
Relieved by the 19th Bn and went
into reserve in Sogny(?) Post
|
January 8, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 9, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 10, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 11, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 12, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 13, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 14, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 15, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 16, 1917 |
In reserve in post
|
January 17, 1917 |
Made a raid on enemy trenches on 300 yd front. Penetrated to near 3rd line. 99 prisoners and one Officer also 2 Machine Guns
and Fish Tail machines. Prisoners mostly of
22nd German Bn. All emplacements and dugouts burned.
Transcriber's Note: This
was the Calonne Trench Raid which is documented in the files section of the 21sters
Discussion Group website
|
January 18, 1917 |
In reserve
|
January 19, 1917 |
In reserve
|
January 20, 1917 |
Moved into Calonne. Relieved by 15th and 16th
Canadians. Marched to Bully Grenay and stayed
there in billets overnight.
|
January 21, 1917 |
Moved to Ruitz for training
|
January 22, 1917 |
Cleaning up all day. Billets awful cold
|
January 23, 1917 |
In Billets.
Parades and Route marches today
|
January 24, 1917 |
Transferred from Bn MGs (Machine Guns) to No 1
Coy LGs (Lewis Guns). All the section broken
up
|
January 25, 1917 |
Drilling with No 1 Company
|
January 26, 1917 |
Drilling all day
|
January 27, 1917 |
Sent to dentist and got two teeth filled. Moved to new billets near Barlin in some mine
buildings
|
January 28, 1917 |
Church parade today
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January 29, 1917 |
Parade and Route marches today
|
January 30, 1917 |
Drilling all day. Moved to Marles Les Mines to billet here for rest
of training
|
January 31, 1917 |
Drilling all day from 8 am until 12.30 and 2
pm until 4 pm
|
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