The War Diaries of Francis James Whiting

in the village [La Clyte] near here. Some of our men killed and wounded. 60
Capt. Stewart caught 4 spies signalling from the windmill up on the hill. 61
When out digging tonight, 3 machine guns opened up. Jim Mawdsley
caught in the mouth. He was the only casualty as they opened fire. I
dropped like a shot into the mud. 62
December 31
Moved back to Fletre. Took a short cut. Billeted in our old barn. 63
1916
[January 1]
[The War Diary of the PPCLI, 1 January 1916, reads, “The Battalion now
forms part of the 7 th Canadian Brigade commanded by Brigadier General
A.C. Macdonell D.S.O. The following units form the 7 th C.I.B. Royal
Canadian Regiment, 42 nd Battalion, 49 th Battalion, & P.P.C.L.I. The 7 th
Canadian Infantry Brigade forms part of the 3 rd Canadian Division
commanded by Major General M.S. Mercer O.C.B.” 64 ].
January 2
Sunday. No pay today. Wrote to [C.R. or R.M.] Hopper, Miss Spackman,
Hilda A.R., Frank Bingham and Mrs. Pulman. Also home.
January 3
Letter from home. Devil of a route march today. Cough bad, roads bad, all
bad!
January 4
Pack drill in forenoon. Wrote home in afternoon.
60 According to the PPCLI’s War Diary, only three of the battalion’s men were wounded in the
attack on the village of La Clyte. Adamson reported 30 men wounded and 2 killed in the attack
on the village. Letters of Agar Adamson 1914 to 1919, 120.
61 Adamson wrote that it was Major Gray of No. 4 Company who caught the spies. “Gray and his
Company had arrested two women and two men the day before who were acting in a peculiar
way near a windmill. When they were spoken to, they said they did not care for the English and
hoped they would soon be under the Germans. They fought very hard when arrested and a shot
was fired at a distance of 50 yards, but they were unable to find out where the shot came from.”
Letters of Agar Adamson 1914 to 1919, 120.
62 There is no reference in the PPCLI’s War Diary to this incident involving Pte. J.B. Mawdsley.
63 This was the same barn in which the company was billeted on November 25.
64 See Frank’s reference on 19 December 1915.