Dyddiadur y Corporal Thomas Griffiths o fis Ebrill 1917

Disgrifiad

Cyn y rhyfel roedd Thomas Griffiths o Fangor (a anwyd ym 1881) yn gweithio fel saer maen. Fe gytunodd i wasanaethu yn y fyddin ym mis Tachwedd 1915, er na chafodd ei alw i wasanaethu tan 13 Tachwedd 1916. Gwasanaethodd gyda'r 250th Railway Company Royal Engineers, gan dreulio amser yn Ffrainc. Cafodd ei ryddhau o'r fyddin ar 2 Mai 1919. Mae ei ddyddiadur o 1917 mewn ffurf llythyr estynedig i'w wraig, Margaret. Dyma'r tudalennau sy'n adrodd ei hanes ym mis Ebrill. Adysgrif: Sunday 1.4.17 My first parade was at 9.00 a.m. police duty. So I made a fire and boiled my clothes and had them washed and its drying a little today. We are having half a day holiday today. Off at 12.00. Dinner at 1.00, bully stew and no tea. Parcel arrived in today's mail. The afternoon I spent in writing to you. Its cloudy again. Tea at 4.00 p.m. rations toady third of a loaf, no biscuits. Tea at 4.30. We are having a treat today - cakes from you and Mrs Ruddles and gray fish. Our rations for tomorrow are third of a loaf, cheese and bully. Its turned out wet again, no chance to dry clothes outside. rest of day we spend camp fir fashion. Goodnight dearest one. Monday 2.4.17 Pay 5 Francs The night was a quiet one, heavy rain and no gun firing. Bacon and tea at 6,30. Frost and cold bitter wind. We took what little bread was left of a third of a loaf and cheese. We went to the pumping station 4 miles away and there we worked until 3.30 p.m. and walked back in blinding snow storm. When we reached camp it was four inches deep and we were wet through and no dinner tonight and nothing to eat. Thanks for parcel of yours dearie as I came in so hungry. Tonight pay parade on in the snow at 5.00 p.m. Am applying for my credit of £5.00 tomorrow to send home. Rations for tomorrow third of a loaf, biscuit and cheese. Now my dearie I must try and dry my clothes from knees down are dripping. Tuesday 3.4.17 A heavy gale of bitter wind and snow through the night. 6.30 a.m. boiled bacon and tea. Parade at 7.15 in blinding snow and ever so cold wind. They send four of us to the pumping station which is in a lovely valley but primroses are not in bloom yet. It so reminded me of you and dear Aber and home. Dinner we had at 12.00, dry bread and cheese. Back in camp at 5.00, dinner at 5.30. Lovely roast beef and peas, tea and one of your lovely cakes. At 6.30 we are to put in our pay books for credit. Our rations for tomorrow are third a loaf and cheese no biscuits. At 7.00 p.m. we were served with pudding rollie pollie of raisins, but it was only half cooked, sticking to your mouth. Anyway it had to go down, it filled a vacant place which are many these days. Goodnight dearie, 9.00 p.m. Wednesday 4.4.17 Another night of rain, no firing. Boiled bacon and tea at 6.30. Today is making a drain around tank. Snow and rain all morning. Mid day meal at 12.00. Afternoon the weather was a little better but wet through from knees down. Dinner at 5.00, roast beef and cauliflower and tea but so little of it. Rations for tomorrow are third of a loaf, sardines cheese and jam. Our loaf is in bits which is often the case. Rain tonight. Goodnight dear ones. Thursday 5.4.17 After a quiet and peaceful night we had boiled bacon and tea at 6.30 and then told off for the pipe track. Up to our knees in mud and water again. Its a beautiful fine day and aeroplanes are like birds in the air. What little crust and sardines we had in the field by our drain at 12.00. In the afternoon the sun was boiling hot. Dinner at 5.00, rations for tomorrow are third of a loaf and cheese, that's all, we are short this week. Goodnight love. Good Friday 6.4.17 A quiet night and a beautiful morn. We are at breakfast 6.30 bacon and tea. My daily toil is concreting for signal post. Mid day meal is at 12.00. In the afternoon we got heavy rain. This day is no different to others. We worked till 5.15 to finish this job. How this hot day makes me think of home but no use thinking of my dear ones and happy home but pray for the future meeting and welcome look in my little wife's eyes. How I am longing for that welcome look. Well our rations for tomorrow are full, 1/2 loaf, jam cheese and sardines. We also had a good dinned at 5.30, roast beef, peas and carrots, rice and figs, also tea. It's now 7.30 and I am in my corner just finished a letter for you. Received yours and Chronicle today and Mail. So now Good Friday 1917 has passed away. Goodnight love. Easter Saturday 7.4.17 Rained nearly all night and guns were fairly shaking our camp. 6.30 boiled bacon and tea. Our work - just the four of us - was with the signal post. It was bitterly cold and snowing all morning. Mid day meal at 12.00. The rest of the day was sunny but cold. Dinner at 5.00, bully stew and tea. There is a terrible bombardment on today at Arras front and thousands of troops passing along pass our camp. How my thoughts are with your garden these planting days, never felt so lonely and homesick as these days. There is no hope from my point of view that we shall be home this winter in any case. I have spent every night this week in writing to you. Fortnight since I went out of camp. Everything is so dear to buy here. The only thing I indulge in is chocolate that I find does me good. Our rations for tomorrow are 1/2 loaf, jam, cheese, orange - not bad this time. Goodnight lovie 7.30 p.m. Easter Sunday 8.4.17 Send away GE no.11 The night was frosty and heavy firing. Bacon and tea at 6.30. Two of us from whole company went to holy communion at 7.00 a.m. in RAMC tent. Work toady was with plate layers at Waslingcourt. Our day was over at 12.00 and dinner at 12.30, bully stew. Well dearie you ought to see your boy now, he is already ragged and dirty, toil strain but thank God in good health. The day is lovely and bright. A German plane or Taube was over our camp and heavy firing at it. Anyway it got away. Our aeroplanes are like birds above us today. Now dearie I am going for a ramble to the aerodrome. Will you come love? How happy I should be if you were near. Tonight to crown this sunshine our rations for tomorrow third of a loaf, jam, cheese biscuit - down again. We had a lovely walk as far as the aeroplane shed, grand sight it was too. Goodnight little girl. Easter Monday 9.4.17 Raining all night and all morning also a heavy fall of snow. 6.30 bacon tea then to work on signal foundation in pouring snow and rain. Mid day meal 12.00. Afternoon cold wind and sunny. There has been terrible fighting at Arras. We lost 20,000 men on Saturday there, but today we have resisted them and took 4,000 prisoners and still advancing. Dinner we had at 5.00, roast mutton, peas and boiled current pudding but no sugar in it. Rations for tomorrow all iron bully an biscuits and jam - 6 to a tin. Goodnight love. Tuesday 10.4.17 A quiet night. 6.30 bacon and biscuits and tea. The ground was covered with snow and bitterly cold. We were working on signal post French Line. There are thousands of prisoners passing us today. Mid day meal biscuit, bully and cocoa. This afternoon another heavy snow storm and sunny at times. They are loading hundreds of wounded close to us, both German and British. Some very bad cases. Day's toil was over at 4.30 and tea cheese and biscuits at 5.00. Iron rations for tomorrow, no bread. Goodnight love (Sent first field card home 10.4.17) Wednesday 11.4.17 A cold night and no gun firing much. 6.30 a.m. bacon, biscuits and tea. The day is bitterly cold, we are on signal post. They are loading trains of ambulances close by, thousands of cases here these days, some awful sights before our eyes all day. Mid day meal biscuit and cheese and tea. The afternoon we had an awful snow storm lasting for hours and so cold. French engine ran to the ambulance train at 4.30 and it was full of wounded, hard lines on poor fellows. Dinner at 5.00 bully stew all iron rations these days and tomorrow's are iron stations jam. Its still snowing at 8.00 p.m. Had a line from H.Owen 269 Company tonight, he is under heavy shell fire somewhere. Us to. Goodnight lovie. Thursday 12.4.17 Quiet night. 6.30 boiled bacon and biscuit and tea. Snow was 3" to 4" deep and so cold but thaw soon set in so we are over our boots in mud and water. We are laying pipes in drains. Midday meal at 12.00, biscuit and tea. This afternoon we had another fall of rain for a change. Dinner at 5.00 bully stew, tea. Rations for tomorrow are iron rations. Goodnight lovie. Friday 13.4.17 A quiet night. The last advance has taken the sound of guns far from us. Frosty morn. Breakfast at 6.30 biscuits and tea. I was sent with lorry for concrete to Moulincourt, 6 miles away. Back to camp for 12.00, biscuit, bully and tea. Lovely afternoon. Dinner at 5.00, half tin of bully biscuit and tea and rice with no sugar. rations for tomorrow are biscuits and bully again and jam. Had a walk tonight and managed to buy some biscuits but they are very dear to buy but what will you do. Thanks to your cocoa we are able to have some supper. Goodnight. Saturday 14.4.17 A quiet night and beautiful morning. 6.30 breakfast biscuit, boiled bacon and tea. our work was with the cement. German Taube was dropping bombs near us at 8.00 a.m., for all firing at him he made away safe. Mid day meal 12.00 biscuit, cheese and tea. In the afternoon hundreds of German prisoners passed through. Dinner at 5.00 bully and biscuit and tea. Rations tomorrow are biscuits and bully no jam and no cheese. Goodnight dearie. Sunday 15.4.17 Pay 5 Francs A quiet night and pouring rain to greet us. 6.30 biscuit and tea, no bacon. We are excused parade so far. Its now 9.00 a.m. and rain is fairly coming down. No parade today so am washing my clothes in blacksmith shop in a biscuit tin. Tea and biscuits at 12.00. Afternoon drying the wash. Still raining. 4.30 more tea and biscuit. A parcel of bara brith would be welcome these days. Rations tomorrow are biscuits and bully jam and cheese. Goodnight dear one 8.30. Monday 16.4.17 Terrible bombardment since 5.00p.m. last night and today. Breakfast 6.30 biscuit, jam and tea. Our work was with concrete on French lines. Weather cold but dry. Mid day meal biscuit, tea and cheese. Thousands of troops passing today and big guns. Dinner at 5.00 biscuit, tea and bully. Rations for tomorrow biscuits and bully tin again. Its pouring with rain. Goodnight dear one. Tuesday 17.4.17 Rained heavily throughout the night. Tea and biscuits were served at 6.30 and tin of maconichee to four men. Work at 7.15 in pouring rain with cement on French signal. Midday meal biscuit, jam "peach" and tea. Tonight am on guard so am off 2.30 to drill the guard, put them through it all right. Different men every time. Now its 4.30 and awaiting dinner. Its poor rations now love, cant do much on iron biscuits so go often hungry these days and would so welcome parcel form home but am not going to ask for anything. Its so expensive to post and then they will be useful to build our home with and then both of us can share it then and Tom intends to bare all now and enjoy that coming time. I only draw 3/6 a fortnight, that is here 5 Francs and then don't spend that. Now dear dinner is coming, consists of bully stew - very thin and broken biscuits in it. They get very tough when moisten in anything and tea we had. Tomorrow's ration is iron biscuits and cheese, tin jam to 6 men. Gums are very sore after nine days of these biscuits. We put guard on at 6.00 p.m.. Its clearing up after heavy snow storm. 9.00 p.m. our supper comes in tea biscuits iron and cheese. Now I must ring lights out. Terrible bombardment on tonight. The sky is alight with flames of firing. Frost has set in. Now its 12 midnight , am trying to steal some sleep. Am sorry to say my chum Ruddle is leaving me tomorrow for Beaumetz. Its now 6.00 a.m. and guard is over. Good morning. Wednesday 18.4.17 This morning we are greeted with a fall of snow then turned to rain. Breakfast 6.30 biscuits tea and maconichie. Ruddle and party left us at 7.15. My duty today is camp police. Start 9.00a.m. Is raining all day. Midday meal is tea, cheese and biscuits. Dinner at 5.00 bully stew and tea. Rations for tomorrow are biscuits, bully and jam. Goodnight love. Thursday 19.4.17 Bombardment throughout the night and rain to greet us in the morn. Breakfast 6.30 maconichie. Work on the French line. Midday meal biscuit and bully. Thanks to your welcome parcel of yesterday. Day over 4.30, biscuits and bully, tea 5.00. Then I washed my feet and felt much easier. Rations for tomorrow bread at last, four to a loaf and cheese, no jam. Sunday we are to move. Goodnight lovie. Friday 20.4.17 Heavy bombardment all night. 6.30 tea, maconichie and bread. Work on the French line, its a lovely day. Many aeroplanes about today, am glad to leave this place as there is awful scenes, dead bodies from hospitals before your eyes daily. Midday meal bully, bread and pickles, tea. Dinner bully, warm tea and fig boiled pudding. Rations for tomorrow are 1/2 of a loaf, jam to 6 men and an orange. Goodnight lovie am off for a walk. Saturday 21.4.17 Terrible bombardment this night, the weather ws calm and dull. Bacon , tea and bread 6.30. The day is fine. Mid-day meal at 12, cheese and cheese. Dinner at 5.0, mutton, potatoes and tea. Rations for tomorrow was 1/2 loaf, cheese & jam, so we are doing well today. Goodnight lovie. Sunday 22.4.17 Terrible bombardment all night again today. 6.30 boiled bacon tea. It's a lovely morn. Parade clean 8.00 a.m. We are off duty today. 9.00 a.m. we are off to Goubremetz Village. Mid-day meal at 12.30, roast mutton, peas and figs. Afternoon had a nap. It's a beautiful day and heavy firing on. Tea at 4.0, tea , jam and bread. Rations for tomorrow are 1/2 loaf, jam, no cheese. We ha a ramble tonight and went to a farm, had eggs, bread and coffee. Guns are awful tonight. Goodnight lovie. Monday 23.4.17 Heavy bombardment throughout the night. Today is lovely weather. 6.30 we had bacon, tea & bread. Work on the pipe track. Mid-day meal at 12.00, cheese bread and tea. There are awful scenes tody, hundreds of wounded are going past us. Hospital near us is full. Dinner at 5.00, mutton, peas and tea. There are three German airoplanes above our camp tonight but thank God no damage done. Tomorrow's rations are 1/2 loaf, cheese & jam, so we are going well these days. Goodnight lovie. Tuesday 24.4.17 Heavy firing throughout the night. Morn fine and sunny. Bacon & tea 6.30. Work on pipe track. Meal at 12.30, cheese, jam & tea. Hundreds of wounded pass by. Today have an awful headache. Dinner at 5.0, roast beef & potatoes & tea. Working tonight till 8.0 p.m. rations tomorrow third of a loaf, buly biscuits. Goodnight lovie. Wednesday 25.4.17 Heavy night of gun firing. Morning fine but dull. Boiled bacon 6.30. Work on pipe track. Mid-day meat at 12.00, tea, bully biscuits, pickles. Dinner 5.00, roast beef, peas & tea. Working till 6.00. rations tomorrow are 1/2 loaf, cheese & jam and margarine. Goodnight loved one. Thursday 26.4.17 Big guns going all night. Morning dull but dry. Bacon & tea at 6.30. Work on French line signal. Dinner at 5.00, roast mutton and potatoes and tea. Tonight are off for a ramble. Tomorrow's rations are thir of a loaf and bully jam and biscuits. Goodnight lovie. Friday 27.4.17 Heavy firing all night. 6.30 boiled bacon & tea. Thousand of German prisoners passed here yesterday and today and many wounded. Mid-day meal was biscuit, bully and a bit of bread left. Weather is cold today. Dinner at 4.45, roast mutton, peas & suet pudding & tea. Rations tomorrow are 1/2 loa, jam and cheese. Goodnight lovie. Saturday 28.4.17 A quiet night. Breakfast 6.30 bacon & tea. Work on French lines. It's a lovely day and many aeroplanes about. Dinner at 12.00. They gave us half a day off that I passed in writing a letter to you and a friend is going to post it in London. Dinner we had at 5.00, bully stew and tea for a change. Rations for tomorrow are 1/2 loaf, jam for 6 & bully. Now am off for a ramble. It's a lovely night. How I long to be near you and baby. Goodnight lovie. Sunday 29.4.17 Pay 20 francs A quiet night. We are having a day off from work. Breakfast at 8.00 a.m. Bacon, bread and tea. It's a beautiful summer's day. Camp parade at 10.00 a.m. and pay. Dinner rast mutton & potatoes & peas 12.30. Then I had a bath in shoemaker's hut and washed my clothes. Tea at 4.00, then we went for a ramble to the aerodrome station. Its getting very dusty here now. Rations for tomorrow are third of a loaf, sardines and jam. Goodnight lovie. Monday 30.4.17 Once again we had a night of firing. Am afraid our recent spring time advance was somewhat a failure worst luck. Breakfast 6.30, bacon, tea & bread. Daily work loading up tools. It's a beautiful summer's day and we are allowed to take our putties off. Mid-day bread, sardines & what little bread that was left. Day over 4.30, dinner 5.00, stewed rabbit - no one could touch it. Rations for tomorrow are a third of a loaf, biscuits, cheese & jam - our grub is going down again. Goodnight sweetheart mine.