The 1st of July was the 1st day of The Battle of The Somme. William Owen witnessed it first hand.
July 1st Saturday
Up Bethune Rd with water for the Gordans & A & IN they were readyfor a charge so we had to get out of the way as quick as possible officer killed shot through the head
July 2nd Sunday
Had a splendid view of the Battle at 12 midnight German trenches on fire after heavy shelling & British gass I could see in the clouds also Germans send few shells over But none found there object
Memo
A bullet just miss me on Sun 2nd hit the man next to me just on the side of the boot & went about 1 in to the ground
July 3rd Monday
Big Battle on Vemy Ridge which I had the pleasure of watching at a very close range just like fire display grand affair
July 4th Tuesday
Up C. Rouge taking stuff to the 2nd South Staff very quiet while up there But heavy Bombt followed about 12.30pm
July 5th Wednesday
C. Rouge rather quiet untill we got back then Bombt started
July 7th Friday
Went to Rugby with 23BT supply very quiet
July 8th Saturday
C. Rouge had the truck off the rail to start then the machine guns started I had to take cover few times 2 wounded one about left knee others head wounds glad to push out of it to warm for us
July 9th Sunday
B.Rd 116 Battery timber for new gun pits quiet night
July 10th Monday
Leeds with timber & sand bags very good night in quite early
July 11th Tuesday
C. Rouge with water worst night since I was on the lines in 1914 heavy shelling by the Huns for 40 min while in the open no one hurt to my knowledge Glad to get back from Hell
July 12th Wednesday
Took rails & slack to repair damage done last night as soon as we got there they spotted us & had a fine reception with H explosive shells aft? the job
July 13th Thursday
Shunting on the BE yard got back in good time
July 14th Friday
Bham with T. mortar bombs had 1 shell dropped close to us but machine guns very bad up this part of the line good cover but got to keep head down all the way
July 15th Saturday
On night duty
July 16th Sunday
A night in camp for a change
July 18th Tuesday
Left St Eloi to rejoin the column at Caucourt
July 21st Friday
Left Caucourt at 6am Entrain at Basis 10am arrived camp 12 midnight camping close to river Somme
July 22nd Saturday
Resting for all men & horses on side of the river Somme
July 23rd Sunday
Left at 2pm to join Advance SA Column for infantry arr at Morlancourt 9pm
July 24th Monday
Meaulte
Left camp at 5pm to follow the Infantry advance up arr Camp 9pm Heavy Bombmt all night
July 25th Tuesday
Few shells sent over close to our camp from the armoured train
July 26th Wednesday
Went up to Delville Wood with French reg had a very bad night sending gas & hear shells all round us had smoke helmet on all the time got back 3 am
July 28th Friday
Shifting the advance Dump from death valley towards Trones wood had a jolly warm time
July 29th Saturday
Shifting the 2nd Dump from arnoy through Death valley towards Fricourt this was the worst place up to now dead horses & broken waggons allover the place