38th CEF War Diary

War Diary – April Appendix

Battle Reports sent in by Capt T.W. MacDowell D.C.C. 60

Dugout approximately Junction of CYRUS and CLUTCH 8 a.m. 9.4.17

C.C. 38th Battalion

Objective reached but I am afraid is not fully consolidated. The mud is very bad and our machine guns are filled with mud. I have about 15 men near here and can see others around and am getting them in hand slowly. Could “D” Company come up in support if they have stopped in the front line. The runner with your message for “A” Company has just come in and says he cannot find any of “A” Coy. officers. I don’t know where my officers and men are but I am getting them together. There is not an N.C.O. here I have one machine gunner here but he has lost his cocking piece off the gun and the gun is covered with mud.

The men’s riffles are a mass of mud and they are cleaning them. My three runners and I came to what I had selected previously as my Company Headquarters. We chucked a few bombs down and then came down. The dug out is 75 feet down and is very large. We explored it and sent out 75 prisoners and two Officers. This is not exaggerated as I counted them myself. We had to send them out in batches of 12 so they would not see how few we were. I am afraid a few of them got back as I caught one man shooting one of our men after he had given himself up. He did not last long, and I am afraid we could not take any back except a few who were good to dgers as the men chased them back with rifle shots. The dug out is a very large one and will hold a couple of hundred. The men were 11th Regiment R.I.R. I cannot give an estimate of our casualties but believe they are severe. Will send one back as soon as possible. There is a field of fire of 400 yards or more and if there were a couple of Brigade Machine Guns we could keep them back easily as the ground is almost impassable – horrible mess. There are lots of dead Bosche, and he evidently help well. I can see 72nd men on our left. The 78th have gone through after we reached here. The barrage was good, but men did not keep close to it enough and held back. There are no shovels here found yet so we will just get our rifles ready. No wire is here and cannot spare men to send out. The line is obliterated. Nothing but shell holes, so wire would not be of much use. Men are pretty well under at present. There are no artillery officers here. His fire is very weak and suppose he is going back. This is all I can think of at present. Please excuse writing.

(Signed) T. W. MacDowell, Captain 38th Battalion