Item 01: Clifford M. Geddes diary, 31 March-1 August 1918 - Page 33
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[Page 33]
killed a farmer & his two horses. His body was brought in to the town in a cart. Talk about the irony of fate, the aviator who had to descend, was himself struck in the leg by a fragment & wounded, but the guard round his 'plane weren't hurt. French soldiers took our place in Vignacourt today, when we left & I heard a lot of them were killed & wounded by bombs, but it may not be true. The French are taking over the part defending Amiens with the Australians – our chaps never yield any ground, but the Tommies seem to be letting Fritz through badly lately. At night, it was clear & starlight, & aeroplanes were humming overhead, but no bombs dropped in Berteaucourt, thank goodness. Slept quite warmly in the straw tonight.
Saty. 13 April It is 5 years today since Father died, how the years go by! Wish we were driving the Germans back instead, & the war was about ending. Got up at 6.30, & attended to brigade sick parade, the same malingerers seem to attend each morning. Had a stroll round the town in morning, soldiers are billeted in every barn & the place is full of Australians. I saw a little stone building, evidently a shrine, it was locked up, but through the bars could be seen an altar & a