| Description | This volume, marked "Log VIII", describes Cruickshank's service in Flanders as Medical Officer with the 41st Battalion Machine Gun Corps.
On his return from leave on 23 March 1918, Cruickshank finds that the 11tn Battalion West Kents has been disbanded. After some days in a transit camp he joins the 41st Battalion Machine Gun Corps in the line at Steenvoorde. The diary describes the German spring offensive in April 1918, with a description of the heavy bombardments and details of the new British positions and posts on 13 April around Wieltje after the German advance (p. 17 f.). On 27 April he again describes their positions around Ypres (p. 25). There are further accounts of heavy fighting at intervals through the summer; the entry of 14 October (p. 60 ff.) describes the Allied offensive beginning on 28 September.
There are reoeated descriptions of casualties. On p. 8 ff. Cruickshank describes the effect of enemy shelling and his own work in recovering casualties, including digging out both living and dead men. Heavy shelling and casualties are again mentioned in the entry of on pages 25 - 29, and the next entry, made on 3 May, gives a long and dramatic account of an incident on 28 April when the hut in which Cruickshank and his colleagues were sleeping was shelled and both his medical orderlies were killed (p. 38 ff.). The entry of 2 June mentions the death of General Duncan MacInnes, which Cruickshank has learned of in a letter from the General's cousin (p. 41). On 30 August (p. 52) he hears that his own cousin Ernest A.W. Cruickshank, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action on 2 August.
On page 61 f, there is a description of how Cruickshank and his companions "had the unique experience of being under machine gun fire at close range from 6 of our own aircraft, who were diving after a 7th who they as well as we supposed to be a Hun." It was in fact an unmarked British plane carrying officers; the men on the ground took cover in "very wet shell holes", but one soldier on the road was wounded in the leg.
The volume also contains general comments on the progress of the war, descriptions of a mess dinner, and news of various friends and fellow officers. Cruickshank is back on leave in Aberdeen on 11 October. The final entry on 14 October gives a further list of casualties.
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Enclosures in this volume:
(Mostly pasted in; loose enclosures marked *)
Six photographs from Egypt (one now loose) with note by Cruickshank "photos received from Martin [his twin brother] 3.V.18" (pages 1 - 2)They are:
Large photograph of Martin Cruickshank (centre) and two other officers perched on camels, with Sphinx and pyramid behind them. Notes on back, including "We did the inside of the Great Pyramid after being took. My camel seems to have got the hump and seems to have got two."
Small photographs, all annotated, showing stone steps (this photograph now loose), Queen Hatshepsut's temple (x2), Martin Cruickshank with guide on top of one of the submerged temples at Philae, and Martin Cruickshank in front of the Savoy Hotel, Luxor.
Message from Pigeon Service sent by carrier pigeon, describing how the service works, dated 23/7/18 (p.3)
Newspaper cutting "Casualties in the medical services" undated [March 1918]; deaths of Lieutenant-Colonel James Robertson R.A.M.C. and Captain Bernard Gordon Beveridge R.A.M.C. ., both graduates of Aberdeen University. (p. 7)
Newspaper cutting "Prisoners of war in German hands", undated. Two officers of the Royal West Kents and one of the Queen's Royal Regiment are marked. (Tipped in p.9)
* Leaf from calendar: Saturday 11 May, with religious text (between pages 18 and 19)
* Leaf from calendar: Friday 10 May, with religious text (between pages 22 and 23)
* In Memoriam card for Lance-Corporal Fred Gentry M.M., killed in action on 28 April 1918 (Cruickshank's orderly; the events of his death are described on p. 38 ff.) (between pages 30 and 21)
Press cutting: "Fallen officers. 'The Times' list of casualties", undated,with obituary of General MacInnes (p.38) *Cf. text p. 41)
Eight short press cuttings, some only tipped in, five reporting medals awarded to R.A.M.C. officers, two listing newly-published medical books, and one longer cutting on the Aberdeen surgeon Colonel Henry McIlltree Williamson Gray, who has taken over a post with the Director of Military Othopaedics. (p. 46)
* Photograph of soldier in shorts, shirt, and carrying solar topi, with pencil note on back "Poor chap he doesn't look very well" (between pages 46 and 47)
Three short cuttings: two awards to R.A.M.C. officers and one correction to a death report, again R.A.M.C. (p. 48)
Cutting reporting the death of Captain William Howard Lister R.A.M.C. in Italy on 9 August (tipped in p. 51)
Ccutting (annotated in pencil "Times Sept 4th 1918") listing casualties killed, including Cruickshank's.'s cousin E.A.W. Cruickshank, Royal Field Artillery (p. 52)
Letter from Cruickshank's mother, dated 73 Gray Street Aberdeen August 24th 1918, telling him of the death of his cousin Ernest A. (tipped in p. 53)
*Letter from Major R. Scott, 48th Battery R.F.A., to Cruickshank, 17.9.18, giving details of his cousin's death (between pages 52 and 53)
Army telegram, Second Army evening report 27 August detailing events of the day, to 41st Battalion Machine Gun Corps (p. 53)
* Operational Order, typescript, 28 June 1918 from the C.O. of the 41st Battalion M.G.C. (between pages 52 and 53)
Three nwspaper cuttings (between pages 52 and 53):
- * Daily Mail 28 August [1918] advertisement by the Merchant Seamen's League calling for a boycott of Germans after the war
- * [The Times?] Report by Special Correspondent with the Canadian forces, 20 August [1918]
- *The Times, 27 August 1917: map of the Arras-Aisne Front
* Italian military voucher (buon di cassa) for 1 lira (between pages 52 and 53)
Two press cuttings reporting deaths in action of Major John Proctor R.A.M.C. and Captain Joseph Jaffé R.A.M.C., both graduates of Aberdeen University
(p. 57)
Newspaper cutting: Evening News Special report on the 51st Division, headed in pencil "top of German Black List" with annotations by Cruickshank (p. 58)
Newspaper cuttings of medals awarded to two R.A.M.C. officers (p. 58)
Newspaper cutting: In memoriam to three sons of Colonel and Mrs Sullivan, Woking, all killed in action (p. 65)
Marriage announcement: Major W. Scott-Watson and Miss Gladys Mary Hobbs (p. 65)
Photograph annotated by Cruickshank: "Pte. Wells, H.Q. 41st M.G.C. Late 'B' Coy. R.W. Kent Regt where he was batman to Capt Rowney M.C. He is now my batman in the Machine Gunners" (p. 65)
Newspaper map, undated: front between Soissons and Epernay (p. 60)
Newspaper cutting, undated: "The ordering of decorations", decision by the Army Council (p. 66)
Newpaper cutting, untitled, on principles of dealing with wounds at Casualty Clearing Stations (p.67)
Newspaper cutting: notice of second edition of Bayliss's Principles of General Physiology (p. 67)
* Studio photograph of officer in uniform, with riding breeches, spurs (between pages 66 and 67). |