Grim life in First World War trenches emerges in diary of 19-year-old soldier

  • 📰 VancouverSun
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 116 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 50%
  • Publisher: 61%

Canada Headlines News

Canada Latest News,Canada Headlines

Charles Deane Douglass turned 18 on Oct. 21, 1914. Just over three weeks later, he signed on to the Canadian Over\u002DSeas Expeditionary Force.

Oct. 6: Nothing particular happened today so far, we get relieved tonight, so they say. Just at 6 o’clock tonight a regular bombardment started, lasted for about 2 minutes, shrapnel bursting everywhere, but no damage was done. Came up to our rest camp at Locre, about 6 miles from firing line, came into some fairly comfortable huts. Lost all my private belongings, razor and everything, no chances of ever seeing anything again.

Oct. 10: Went down to Kemmel made two trips to the trenches. It’s about 4 miles to Kemmel from Locre then two miles from there to the trenches we carried corrugated sheet iron and trench floors each time. Had a man by the name of W. L Woods wounded in the thigh buy a stray bullet. Got back to rest camp 2:45am all very tired, nothing to do all day.

Oct. 14 : Very quiet today quite different from yesterday. Fatigue every night to the trenches taking rations up.Oct. 16: Very quiet all day still foggy. Oct. 24: Went on guard today to relive men who had not had a bath, got finished about noon, came back and got ready to come to the firing line for 6 days.

Oct. 28-30: Rained practically all the time, dugout fell in, very cold and everybody very miserable but no more bombs thank goodness. Nov. 7: Relieved the 28 last night trenches were in very poor shape didn’t get our own blanket last night. Had a good wash this morning in hot water, always have to do so on a Sunday morning just on principle anyway very foggy today. They are sending over a few rifle grenades and trench mortars.

Nov. 14: Many happy returns on the day; it is the anniversary today what a lot has happened in the last year. Nov. 16: Went to Bailleul, to a concert this evening the whole company went down… it wasn’t too bad something to break the monotony anyway.Nov. 18: Back in the firing line once again. Germans sent over lots of whiz-bangs today, most of them fell on the supports. It has started rain again, very cold rain.

Dec. 19: In the night some time began the fiercest bombardment we have yet experienced, just one roar it was so intense just north of us at Ypres. This lasted until about 7 o’clock, then just at breakfast time we all began to cough and … we got the tail end of the gas which the Germans sent over. It was very uncomfortable while it lasted a lot of the fellows had to put their gas goggles on it has been a very active day.

Dec 24 Xmas Eve: I can’t realize it. The only thing that makes one think at all about it are the Xmas parcels. No mail for 2 days. Rumour that the shrapnel is blocked with mines. Going on carrying party to the trenches tonight. Had a tremendous amount of rain last night; it came through the roof of this shack and drenched half of us.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 49. in CA

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

St. John's Players honouring First World War comedy troupe with new play | SaltWireST. JOHN'S, N.L. — St. John's Players are presenting a new play about a group of Canadian soldiers who created a much-loved comedy troupe during the horror ...
Source: SaltWire Network - 🏆 45. / 63 Read more »

Victoria musical performance inspired by Canadian soldier's letters from First World WarA group of aspiring musicians are preparing for a special performance to remember and honour soldiers who fought for our freedoms and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Source: CTVNewsVI - 🏆 28. / 68 Read more »

Justin Trudeau Becomes First World Leader To Appear on ‘Drag Race’ Franchise'Canada's Drag Race' is getting a visit from the prime minister. On Tuesday, the trailer dropped for the new season of the reality competition, dubbed 'Canada vs. the World', which features a very surprising appearance by Justin Trudeau. [readmore label='READ MORE: ' link='https://etcanada.com/news/940677/meghan-markle-recalls-being-giddy-like-schoolgirls-at-a-pool-party-with-dear-friend-sophie-trudeau-ive-gone-to-her-over-the-years-for-advice/' text='Meghan Markle Recalls Being ‘Giddy Like Schoolgirls’ At A Pool Party With…
Source: ETCanada - 🏆 67. / 51 Read more »

Trudeau will be first world leader to appear on TV's 'Drag Race'Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make an appearance on a new season of Drag Race, becoming the first world leader to do so on the popular television… This dood And he’s bringing a date Nice. Good for him.
Source: OttawaCitizen - 🏆 21. / 68 Read more »

Stittsville street named for veteran Roger GriffithsCTV's Dave Charbonneau reports on the honour for World War Two veteran Roger Griffiths.
Source: ctvottawa - 🏆 29. / 67 Read more »

Justin Trudeau to appear on ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ spinoff series - Terrace StandardPM the first world leader to visit the RuPaul-founded competition series
Source: TerraceStandard - 🏆 24. / 68 Read more »