The War Diaries of Francis James Whiting

May 26 (24)
Anniversary of day I left home. Up to orderly room this morning. Received
one extra guard for losing cap and appearing on parade before breakfast
without it. Fatigue tonight.
May 25
Moved to Belgian chateau. On fatigue digging ditch for cables.
May 26
Got wet last night. Rheumatism today but went out tonight notwithstanding.
May 27
Moved back to F. Camp. On guard tomorrow. Extra fatigue tonight.
May 28
Sunday. On gas guard today. Wrote a number of letters. Frequent
aeroplane fights.
May 29
Wrote letters. No fatigue for me tonight.
May 30
Met Harry Hudson the other day. He and [J.C.] Dryden are over in the
next field. They are attached to the 9 th Field Engineers. [G.L.] Malcolm is
in their bunch but is at present in Shorncliffe, quarantined for measles.
May 31
Left camp for trenches. 130 No 5 platoon is in the Appendix, 6, 7, 8 behind in
trench 63. No. 1 Co. on our right up to the Loop. No. 2 Section, with me in
charge as senior on the extreme left of our line. 131 Between our post and
130 The PPCLI trenches were in Sanctuary Wood. On the front line, to the right, was No. 1
Company, to the left, No 2 Company, to which Frank belonged. Right behind them in Support
were No. 3 on the right and No. 4 on the left. To the right of the PPCLI companies on the south,
were the 1 st CMR (Canadian Mounted Rifles) of the 8 th Brigade, holding the frontlines southwest
from Sanctuary Wood to Tor Top (Hill 62) and Observatory Ridge. To the right of 1 st CMR, the 4 th
CMR occupied the frontline trenches on the flat knoll of Mount Sorrel in front of Armagh Wood.
The 5 th CMR were in Support behind 1 st and 4 th CMR at Maple Copse, which was below
Observatory Ridge. To the left of the PPCLI trenches on the north, an open space separated
Sanctuary Wood from the Hooge sector, where the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) held the
front lines. “The Gap” was a section of that open space closest to Sanctuary Wood.
131 Frank was in the 5 th Platoon, which was in the Appendix, an outpost position attached to
Trench 66 on the front line. Evidently the platoon had been divided into sections, and No. 2
section with Frank in charge was on the extreme left of the line. The other three platoons were in
Trench 63 behind them with Capt. H.W. Niven, commanding officer, in the centre position.