Joseph B. Clearihue diary 2, 1917-1919: typescript, page 1 Public
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- DIARY BY JOSEPH B. CLKARIHUE, LIEUT. CANADIAN FIELD ARTILLERY
August 15th. 1917. Having been warned for France now almost a week ago this diary will endeavour to record my doings while in the great campaign. Early the morning of Aug. 6th I left with the 14th Brigade less the 66th Bty. and a section of the 57th Bty. on a four day scheme of open warfare. We were accompanied by 13th Infantry Brigade and I was acting as O.C. Mobile Troops or O.C. Cavalry. My Cavalry consisted of 12 gunners and 18 horses together with 22 Engineer cyclists, and a mounted machine gun crew, who were mounted on cycles. We marched all day to Cowdray Park at Midhurst where we encamped or rather bivouaced. It was a bank holiday and glorious weather with the inevitable result that all Midhurst turned out to see us. The various bands gave us some music and the evening passed pleasantly. Cowdray Park is a lovely place and contains a beautiful house together with a large old castle ruins. This we did not see at close quarters. Deer roam around you and are tame enough to disport themselves even in the horse lines.
1 was attached to Infantry headquarters and dined at the mess with the general and other staff officers. I was exceedingly busy and had little time to waste. My bivouac and base lines lay under some beautiful old trees well protected from sight from above and the rain that might have been expected.
We rose next morning at 3 a.m. and got away at dawn (at 4 a.m.). My scouts soon cleared the country and brought back news in ample time. The battle waged all morning until the enemy was driven from Telegraph Hill and we started again on our trip in the direction of Liphook.
Being scouts we had to proceed in the front of the column and scout the country for the enemy. We had Just got nicely encamped on Wheatsheaf Common when I was informed that the word had arrived that the artillery was to be mobilised and we must return that night at 10 p.m.
Promptly at that moment we drew out and moved along the Portsmouth road towards camp. It was a long and tiresome journey especially to those who had ridden all Monday and scouted from 4 a.m. Tuesday. But at last it ended and about 3.30 a.m. we rolled into bed tired out and thankful.
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