“It is to be Some Stunt Here” Hillside Camp, Neuve Eglise, Belgium, June 1917

For this one, we’ll let Bert speak for himself. 

4 June 1917 - 9.30pm - We are camped on top of a small hill about 1-1/2 miles from our line. ...The guns have gradually got fiercer since we lobbed and are putting in a good run now. ...It is to be some stunt here. More guns than Somme.

6 June - 8pm - ...Fritz belted the village this evening on this end. Nearest to us was 200 yards and pieces flew among our tents. He wounded several including one civilian. It is wonderful how some of them stick to their homes even so close to the line. Of course up til now it has been very quiet. We are now on the eve of a big battle. Perhaps the biggest on the W front. Guns of all calibres have been massed here until they are almost two deep & ammunition dumps abound everywhere. Nobody knows when the balloon goes up but I feel sure it is extremely near now. Perhaps tomorrow. It is an absolute secret. Pray god we win & well. I think & feel we will...

10pm - It is very quiet & ominous now. The guns are resting. It is calm before the storm. Have had the dinkum oil [honest truth]. Mines go up & a half hours barrage starts at 3.15am followed by the “hop-over” when the barrage lifts to the back. The second attack starts at 1.30pm. We are in support to 52nd & leave here at 3.30 tomorrow. Our Bde is attacking in the second stunt.

7 June - 7.30am - 2nd Anzac’s attack on Messines Ridge began at 3.15am. Something woke me at that time & I felt the ground shake. Fitz says he saw five columns of smoke go up. The mines were four miles off. Heaviest barrage I have heard started also. I pulled on my boots & went up to the “OP” [observation post]. It was an awesome sight. As far as I could see, from Hill 163 to past Armentieres was lit up by bursting HE [high explosive] and shrapnel on Fritzes line, and guns could be seen firing everywhere behind ours. 

Fritz was sending up SOS signals of red & green and also yellow; in addition to the ordinary star shells. I watched for a few minutes ...& then came back to bed. I dozed off at 4am & got up at six again. Guns were still going strong then. 

About 300 Hun prisoners have gone along this road & is reported we have captured thousands. They say they have just come from Arras for a rest here and were also changing over. Poor unlucky devils. I pity them. They have gone thro something & look it. 

By Shannon Lovelady
Story from A Signaller’s Story Exhibit