France September 1917

What did you do in the War Poppa??

I only know one story of Bernie in France. It was night time and he was on guard duty. Wherever it was he was standing on duckboards. He could see,hear and feel a barrage of guns flashing and pounding the earth. A British Officer walked over and stood near him. After a while the Officer asked Bernie a few friendly questions, like "where are you from?" that sort of thing. Eventually he asked Bernie "How often does this go on for?" Bernie answered "It never stops".

There was a long silence between the two men as they watched the night sky pulse with light and the earth shake with the thunder of guns. Over and above the sound Bernie could hear a regular rat,ta,tat,tat. It took him a while to realize that it was the Officer's boot involuntary tapping on the duckboards. The poor bloke was shaking with fear.

He probably had every reason to shake with fear. A Junior Officer like himself had a life span measured in days once they were in the front line.

Bernie himself would have had enough to fear himself. The battle of Menin Road, constantly shelled by the Germans needed regular repairs. This meant supply wagons bringing up supplies of railway sleepers to repair the road. It was an extremely dangerous task. I recall snippets of stories about Bernie driving wagons under fire.

Claire recalled similar stories from her father.  He told her of lining up supply wagons to go "down the road" . Shell fire would hit wagons in front and behind him. Wagons were filled with food, wire, ammunition and anything needed at the front. It was extremely hazardous work.

What the Records Say.

I came across a mention of 15th Supply Company mentioned in a War Diary of the time which states that the 15th DUS was stationed at Les Fontinettes, a suburb of Calais,  guarding the fuel depot. The 15th DUS was attached to the British Expeditionary Force Base Supply in Calais.







I found reports reports of German Aircraft targeting fuel dumps. There is no indication that Bernie had found a safe place to be.  The records contradicts the vague memories I have of Bernie driving wagons under fire and of him working with horses. The depot's duties were protecting and distributing the fuel to trucks and cars.

However, that does not mean Bernie was standing on guard all the time. Working parties would be ordered to take supplies forward as needed.

Timeline 

Reading through the  Unit Diary  there are several mentions of Bernie,

• 5/9/17 - Arriving as a supernumerary
• 18/5/18 -To No. 30 General Hospital - with the flu
• 13/5/18 - to Convalescent Hospital - Havre
• 24/9/18 - granted Leave to UK (14 days)
• 8/10/18 - Return from Leave.

In his Service record it states

• 15/5/18 discharged to Base Depot
• 22/6/18 returned to 15th DUS
• 26/4/19 transferred to 12th DUS
• 26/4/19 promoted to temporary Corporal
• 4/6/19 to England
• 4/9/19 Disembarked AMT Takada
• 12/10/19 Discharged

Moses in the Bulrushes

The HMAT Takada solved one mystery for me, this ship sailed through the Suez Canal as it bought home troops to Australia in 1919. So the story of Moses in the Bulrushes could be quite true. It could be Bernie's story after all.

Nurses touring Egypt.