Whiz Bangs & Woolly Bears, Walter Estabrooks First World War Diary, Part 1 of 4 This collection of stories from my grandfather, Walter Ray Estabrooks concerns his service overseas during the Great War. (Estabrooks Family Photo) Walter Ray Estabrooks, Royal Canadian Artillery ca. 1916. Old Hands “I have seen troops coming out of the line … Read more
Whiz Bangs & Woolly Bears, Walter Estabrooks First World War Diary, Part 2 of 4 August 25th Went into position, front of Maroc among the slagheaps and right rear Hill 70. Wagon lines at Boueffles. Gun crew: Corporal Rothwell, Bdr. Grant, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Davies and limber gunner Estabrooks. Position shelled off and on day and … Read more
Whiz Bangs & Woolly Bears, Walter Estabrooks First World War Diary, Part 3 of 4 Walter’s comments on this period are recorded as follows: August 13th Guns move forward in direction of Vipers wood. August 14th To Marquivillers to ammunition dump. Aug 15th Ammunition very scarce. Sent on Chubby to watch for the arrival of … Read more
Whiz Bangs & Woolly Bears, Walter Estabrooks First World War Diary, Part 4 of 4 Detailed to advanceparty from Jamappes. Rode through the city of Mons. Flags flying. Peoplewaving, shouting Vive le Canadiennes. A Provost Captain halted us with theinformation that the stretch was being cleared for General Currie and staff’s triumphant entry into the … Read more
This is a story about a soldier of the Great War and his experiences as an artillery gunner in France. One example: “Passchendaele was just one glorious mudhole. We were there 42 days. Kept 24 men on the guns and lost 42 in the time, an average of one a day.”
