Minimal editing was performed, except to change location spelling. For those not used to military jargon, or Australian slang, explanatory notes follow.
AWL |
Absent Without Leave |
Balloons |
Observation balloons |
Bangalore Torpedo |
Explosive device used for blowing up barb wire defences. |
Batteries |
Gun batteries |
Billet Sergeant |
In charge of camp |
Black Watch |
Famous British Military Unit |
Blighty |
England |
Bosche |
German soldiers |
Breeze |
Getting panicky |
DCM |
Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Drive |
Smaller tunnel going off the main tunnel |
Fritz |
German soldiers |
Going Over |
Leaving the trenches and attacking, hence the expression "going over the top". |
| Gotha bombing machine | German flying bomber |
HE |
high explosive |
Iron Crosses |
German Military Awards |
Jake |
If everything is Jake, it is going very well |
Jerry |
German soldiers |
Jock |
Scottish soldier |
Johnny |
German soldiers |
Joint |
Illegal join put in to run some power off |
Kaiser |
German King |
Minnies |
Large German mortar bombs |
NCO |
Non Commissioned Officer |
NME |
Non military employment |
Pill Box |
Fortified position (usually concrete) |
Pommie |
English person |
QM |
Quartermaster |
RE |
Royal Engineer |
Red Caps |
Military Police |
Sussex & Glosters |
British Army Units |
Tommy |
English soldier |
Very Light |
A flare |
Windy |
To be "windy" is to be very frightened |
Some places Hughie mentions include
Abele |
In Belgium, on the border, 5 km from Poperinghe |
Ambleteuse |
12 km N of Boulogne |
Auchel |
8 km E by S of Bethune |
Audreselles |
On coast, 2 km N from Ambleteuse |
Annequin |
8 km ESE of Bethune |
Assinghem |
Within walking distance east of Lumbres. It was the site of a headquarters, but must have been no more than a small hamlet and not shown on maps and gazetters. |
Cambrin |
A village 8 km E of Bethune |
Cambrai |
A town occupied by the Germans until October 1918 |
Cassel |
11 km ENE of Hazebrouck |
Steenwoorde |
7 km E of Cassel |
Fruges |
About 40 km W of Bethune, i.e. well behind the lines |
Givench-lez-la-Bassee |
5 km E of Bethune - "lez" signifies "near", la Basee is 2 km E of Givenchy. The diary shows that until the Germans retreated about the beginning of October 1918 the front line had run between the two places (which, of course, is why the tunelling was were it was). |
Harlettes |
9 km W of Lumbres. |
Hallines |
About 7 km E of Lumbres |
Hulluch |
9 km ESE of Bethune. The gazetteer mentions brickworks here. Perhaps Brickstacks, Brickfields which are mentioned from time to time were in this neighbourhood. |
La Bassee |
7 km E of Bethune. Until early October 1918 this had been behind the German lines. |
Labuissiere |
4 km SW of Bethune |
Lumbres |
12 km SW of St Omer |
Maisnil-les-Ruitz |
6 km SW of Bethune |
Maroeuil |
8 km NE of Arras |
Montigny-en-Gohelle |
Not found on the map, but Gohelle is the name of the district to the south of Bethune |
Merville |
8 km N of Bethune |
Noeux-les-Mines |
6 km SSE of Bethune |
Poperinghe |
in Belgium, 13 km N of Bailleul. "Talbot House" was commonly known as "Toc H". It was run by an Anglican chaplain. After the war he founded an organisation, named Toc H, continuing the sort of work he’d been doing at Talbot House. |
Sailly Labourse |
5km SE of Bethune |
Salome |
9 km E of Bethune |
Steenwerck |
6 km SE of Bailleul |
Verquin |
2 km S of Bethune |
Vermelles |
9 km SE of Bethune |
Wimeraux |
6 km N of Boulogne |
