[1]

Walter Eggertson diaries
Transcribed by Christine Bone, University of Manitoba Libraries
Text in square brackets is supplied by the transcriber.
[???] replaces a word which was too unclear to make a guess
[?] appears after a word which is not clear, but the transcriber has made a best guess.
Non-standard spelling, capitalization anomalies, etc. are maintained in the transcription. The transcriber
provides the standard spelling in square brackets, so that it is searchable.
The town of Folkestone is mentioned throughout the first diary. In earlier entries, the author spells it
Folkstone, but because it occurs so frequently in the text, the author’s spelling is maintained without
providing the standard spelling each time.
Diary 1 – 1917
Friday May 25th
Drilled in morning to 10.00 oclock. We then moved to 11th Reserve quarters on St. Martins Plains. In
afternoon were detailed to fatigue duty on our old camp & left there at 5.15 p.m. Had supper at 5.45 up
in our quarters. and Immediately after eating there happened something I will never forget as long as I
live. We were on blanket parade and had just reached the quartermaster’s stand when I heard a sound,
similar to that of a sky rocket, followed by a great clash. However, I did not pay much heed to it. Then a
minute later I heard a repetition of this and saw mud & stones flying, and realized what the trouble
actually was. Looking up in the air I noticed at first three or four silvery white aeroplanes, which are
known as the Kaiser’s white wings or Taubes. Then of a sudden it seemed as if the heavens were filled
with these little devils, and I counted no less than 17 of them. Bomb after bomb was dropped and one of
these dropp fell about 50 feet from me. Blowing up one hut completely and partly demolishing 2 others.
There were many more huts struck also. After the smoke had cleared away no less than 10 soldiers were
carried away dead and 19 injured. 7.223 men were among the latter. The toll of the disaster was 74
killed, 176 wounded. Folkstone being the chief victims. From 6.15 p.m.
Sat. May 26/17
Parade & muster in morning to ascertain how many were killed & injured. Half-holiday in afternoon;
wrote 3 letters.
Sunday May 27
Church parade in morning. Holiday remainder of day.

 [2]
Monday 28
Parade in morning. Military funeral in afternoon & also half-holiday, Whit Sunday.
Tues. May 29
Musketing all day. Went to hospital on beach at night to see O. Bardal but found he had left there in
afternoon. Appeared a couple minutes late for fire piquet for which the next day I received a crime &
penatly [penalty] of 1 day’s pay & 2 days CB.
[Transcriber’s note: CB = Confined to Barracks]
Wed. 30
Musketing all day. Warned in evening of an impending air raid, but nothing developed. Only a [???] to C.
Brid. as a riot took place in Folkstone between civilian population & German inhabitants.
Thurs. 31
Musketing all day with the usual period of bayonet fighting.
Fri. June 1st
Musketing all day as usual. Received first letter from Wpg from Hilda, written on May 12th.
Sat. June 2
Company crime for not folding blanket correctly. 1 day CB. Half-holiday in afternoon. Wrote many
letters, had bath etc.
Sund. June 3
Church parade at 8.30 followed by pay parade. Received £4.10s. Visited Folkstone in afternoon & night.
Attended open air memorial service for killed & wounded in recent air raid attack, held in park. All the
town in mourning.
Monday 4th
Left on Shore Leave at 9 a.m. Arrived in London at 11 a.m. Sightseeing in afternoon & saw Gaby Deslys at
Globe Theater. Walked around the Strand, Picadilly [Piccadilly] etc at night. Ate at Union Jack Club,
which certainly is well fitted up. The best of everything. Left London at 11.30 p.m. and travelled all night
with very little sleep.
Tues. June 4 [5th]
Arrived in Carlisle at 7 a.m. Had breakfast & remained there till 8.30. Then travelled remaining way first
class to Edinburgh, reaching it at 12 noon. Put up at Rosebery Hotel. Visited Edinburgh Castle in
afternoon & walked around viewing the different streets in afternoon. Retired at 11 o’clock.

 [3]
Wed. June 6th
Arose at 10 o’clock. Breakfast 11. Then in turn visited John Knox’s House, Hollyrood [Holyrood] Palace,
Arthurs Seat. Came to a genuine Scotch lassie here & engaged her in conversation; escorted her home.
Carlton Hill & Lord Nelson’s Monument. Met Miss Annie Peters & escorted her home. Were chatting for
3 hours on her door steps. A girl not easily forgotten. Was of Russian English descent & born in Scotland.
A virgin. But almost willing to fall.
Thurs. June 7th
2.30 a.m. when I left Miss Peters. Too late for hotel so I spent night in Y.M.C.A. Visited National Galleries
in morning & Forth Bridge in afternoon. A marvellous engineering feat. In evening met Connie Smith &
had a close call. Then met Signaller in Y.M.C.A. who gave me O.C. address of C.E.F.D.
Frid. June 8th
Arose 10 a.m. Visited Scottish Museum & St. Giles Cathedral. Would require about 4 days to see these
places properly. Met Jean. Left Edinburgh at 12 midnight as we missed the 10.oclock train. Very
favorably impressed with Edinburgh & its hospitable people & very sorry to leave as enjoyed my stay
there immensely.
Sat. June 9th
Arrived in London at 10.45 a.m. & went to Union Jack Club for dinner, bath etc. In afternoon visited
Madam Tussaud’s wax works and considered it quite & remarkable exhibition. Also went to St. Paul’s
Cathedral & Westminster Abbey. Walked around the Strand & Picadilly [Piccadilly] at night. Left London
at 10 p.m.
Sunday June 10
Arrived in Camp at 1.30 a.m. & turned in passes. Church parade as usual in morning. Wrote many letters
in afternoon and evening. Retired at 9.30.
Mon. June 11th
On dental parade all day. Wrote letters also in afternoon.
Tues. June 12th
Musketing all day. Met Don Pritchard in Lord Roberts Club in evening. Saw 16 mos. service in France.
Had two fingers severed.
Wed. June 13
Musketing all day. Warning of air raid at 11 a.m. & were placed in trenches for 2 hrs. No developments,
however London suffered heavily. 91 killed & 439 wounded.

 [4]
Thurs. June 14
Musketing all day. Another warning of air raid at 12.40 & remained in trenches till 4 p.m. No
developments. Pay parade in evening. Received 10 shillings.
Back to Wed. June 13
Attended Ball Game of 11th no 8 Res at 7 p.m. Met Laurie Cuthbert who was pitching. Just returned
from France.
Friday June 15
Musketing in morning & gas chamber in afternoon. Air raid warning at night. Nothing happened.
Sat.
Musketing in morning. Usual half-holiday in afternoon. Went to Folkstone. To dance, pavilion etc.
Sunday
Paraded Sick Med. & duty. Left for ranges at 1.30 p.m. Dropped out from heat prostration at end of 3
miles. Rode rest on buss [bus]. Arrived at Lyddon Spout Ranges at 5.30. Retired early.
Mon. J. 18
Reveille 4 a.m. Fall in 4.45. Breakfast at 6.30. Ranges all day. Did good shooting.
Tues. June 19
Reveille 4. Same events as previous day.
Wed. June 20
Same as usual. Completed classification shooting. Played ball at night.
Thurs.
Same as previous day.
Friday June 22
Sham battle in morning and practiced extended order drill from trench to objective. Then remained in a
drenching rain till noon. Marched back to camp in afternoon in pouring rain. Changed clothes at night.
June 23
Route march in morning. Went to Folkstone in afternoon with Charlie Campian.

 [5]
Sunday June 24th
Church parade as usual. Re-arranged squad. Visited Ob Fruman in afternoon.
Monday
Parade all day. Bombing, entrenching etc.
Tues.
Marched 4 miles full back to trenches; practised trench manoeuvering all day. All in on return. Name
came out in orders. Transferred to Base Signallers.
Wed.
First Day with Signallers. Many old boys in it. Moved over to the 14th Res. Very favorably impressed with
new work.
Thurs.
No signalling. Various parades M.O. & pay parades etc. Folkstone at night.
Fri. June 29
On so-called mess fatigue all day. Wrote letters all day and slept most of day. Very easy day.
Sat. June 30
Lecture in morning & some buzzer practice. Afternoon holiday. Went to theatre in afternoon & night.
Sunday July 1st
Hut Orderly in morning. Went over to 11th and received 2 letters. One from C. Wharton & 1 from pa.
Wrote letters in afternoon.
Monday July 2nd
Dominion Day Holiday all day. Spent the day over at the 11th Reserve. Broke & unable to go town [???].
July 3rd
Parade all day. Had test of lamp shutter & buzzer in morning. Passed O.K. Flag drill & station work in
afternoon. Air R. Warning in morn. nothing hap.
July 4th
Americas Day. Flag & station work. Also a couple of lectures by Lt. Melvin. Very good day’s work.
Progressing very rapidly. Air/R.W./no Devil.

 [6]
July 5th
Reported Sick in morning. Was sent down to Mobile Laboratory for vaccine preparation. Received same.
Remained off parade remainder of day. Was troubled with boil on back of left hand.
July 6th
Reported Sick again. A hot poultice was applied to hand but of no avail. Hand continued to grow worse
and at 3 p.m. visited the Senior Med Officer who immediately diagnosed it as infection or slight blood
poisoning of left arm. Was sent to Bgde. hospital. Evidently dirt had accumulated in the open sore
before it was dressed.
Sat. July 7th
The last two nights I spent practically without sleep, a splitting headache & my whole arm aching. At 9
a.m. the Doctor visited me and treated the sore. Cut it open very deeply with a knife & p extracted all
the poisonous substance. Extremely painful for about 5 min. Had hand in hot water practically all day &
redressed 3 times. An air warning was sounded in the morning.
Sunday July 8th
Still in hospital. Feeling fine. Went out in afternoon. Spent a quiet day on the whole.
July 9th
In hospital but continuing to improve. Went to Folkstone in afternoon. Saw a blind and crippled man
along with his wife, herself half blind & deaf. Both hobbling down street with the woman attempting to
sing for pennies. Most pitiable spectacle that I have seen. Noticed by papers of trouble in German
Reichstag.
July 10th
Could not feel better. Received my hospital discharge and returned to hut; excused from duty.
Wed. July 11th
No parade all day. Read newspapers & slept.
Thursday 12
Same as previous day. Attended a fine impromptu concert at 11th. Many 223rd boys taking part.
Fri. July 13th
On parade again. Practise one air jump & lecture in afternoon. Lt. Melvin. Pay day. Lost my book & did
not receive any money.

 [7]
Sat. July 14
Route march in morning. Full order. 9 miles. Exhausted for remainder of day. Air raid warning at night.
Sunday 15
Church parade & kit inspection. Spent day quietly writing letters etc.
Mon. July 16
Syllabus of Signalling all day.
Tues.
Hut orderly all day.
Wed.
Sig. all day with usual lectures by Lt. Melvin in afternoon.
Thurs.
General mobilization in morning with full marching order. Inspected by staff officers. Usual Syllabus in
afternoon.
Fri.
First test in Signalling.
Sat. July 21
Route march in morning. Only marched about 3 miles. Usual half-holidays in afternoon. Went to movie
& around Folkstone generally.
Sunday July 22
Church parade in morning. Just as services were about to commence, word received of air raid. Under
shelter for 1½ hrs. No developments. Spent remainder day quietly.
Mon. July 23
3 mos. since leaving Winnipeg. Usual syllabus of Signalling. Fine London Party concert in evening.
Tues. July 24
Hut orderly.
Wed. July 25
Usual. Sig. all day.

 [8]
Thurs.
Same as previous day.
Friday
Pay parade in morning. Sig. in afternoon.
July 28
Route March in morning. Slept in afternoon. Went to Hythe in afternoon. Received rather surprising
letter from Hilda.
Sunday
Rain interfered with church parade. Folkstone at night to Church. Walked home. Saw O. Fruman.
Monday 30
Parade as usual. Commenced to rain at 8 p.m.
Tues.
Rain all day. Parade as usual.
Wed.
Hut orderly. Rain all day.
Thurs. Aug. 2
Still raining without a stop. No parade. Given concert at night.
Friday Aug. 3
Rain continues. Buzzer & lectures all day. Remained in.
Sat.
Still Raining. Signal Test. Passed successfully. Heavy bombardment in Flanders the cause of sustained
rain. Toward evening, clouds began to break.
Sunday Aug. 5th
Yesterday 3rd year anniversary of declaration of war. Day broke with splendid weather. First time sun
had been out for 7 days. Special service Bgde attending. Military honors awarded. Down town in
afternoon and night.

 [9]
Mon. Aug. 6
Parade as usual. Dance at Pleasure Gardens in evening.
Tue. Aug. 7th
Same as previous day.
Aug 8
Parade in morning. First of series of Wed. half-holidays in afternoon. Sports. 19[?] vs 145[?] Sig Base.
Thurs. Aug. 9th
Parade as per.
Friday Aug. 10
Parade.
Sat. Aug. 11
Left to London on Week End pass. Arrived in London at 9.45. Roamed the streets and did considerable
shopping. Went to “Seven Days” leave in afternoon at Lyceum. One of first plays I have ever seen.
Seeing London by night after supper.
[Inserted into the diary are two newspaper clippings. One is a notice of the death of Corporal J.P.
Roberts. The other is a story about a man who claims to have seen clouds forming into clear pictures.]
Sund. Aug. 12
Slept at Maple Leaf Club previous night. Rose at 9.30. Attended services at Westminster Abbey St. Pauls
Cathedral in morning. Dined at Union Jack. Went down the Thames to Richmond summer resort in
afternoon. American dancing. Returned by electric in 18 minutes. 2½ hrs. on boat. Left London at 9.30
p.m. During the day air raid warning sounded in London. Women & children rushing to tube stations.
Raiders were driven back from London. A Riot at Folkstone between MP’s & soldiers. Result many MPs
severely injured. MP (Military Police)
Monday 13
Parade. The riot act read on parade & everybody CB. CB lifted at 1.30 as it developed infantry took no
part in rioting. Hythe dance.
Tues. Aug. 14
Parade all day. Pleasure Gardens dance.

 [10]
Wed. Aug. 15
Morning parade. Wed. half-holiday in afternoon. Slept and wrote letters. Folkstone at night.
Thurs. Aug. 16
Parade as usual. Retired early.
Friday Aug. 17
Examinations all day. Pleasure Gardens at night.
Sat.
Fell in at 9.45. O.C. Lt. Turner read sections of army act in K.R. & R. & also repeated the riot act. After
which we had a 4 mile route march. Very easy morning. Afternoon holiday as usual. Slept. Went to the
11th after supper & went down town with Charlie Campian.
Sunday
Hut Orderly. Wrote letters and did considerable washing. Very good days work.
Mon. Aug. 20
Passed up into semi qualified class. First day on long distance phone. Afternoon lecture on map reading.
Stayed home at night.
Tues.
Station work, buzzer & lecture. P. Gardens D. at night.
Wed. Aug. 20 [22nd]
Usual parade in morning. Half holiday in afternoon. Raid in morning at 10.30. Did damage at Ramsgate.
Were hitting for camp but were driven off by British planes & anti-air craft guns.
Thurs.
Parade all day.
Fri.
Hut Orderly. Wrote many letters etc.
Friday Sat.
Route march in morning. Went to movie in afternoon. Pavilion at night.

 [11]
Sunday
Church parade in morning. 11th afternoon. Commenced raining at 7 oclock. Attended Y.M.C.A. Service
in evening.
Monday
Took house fatigue. Met O. Bardal who was at Manitoba Regimental Dept. Still raining heavily & very
windy. Retired early.
Tues. Aug. 28
Parade as per. Dance at night.
Wed.
Parade. Still bad weather. Cinema at night.
Thurs.
Parade. Out on an all day scheme. Took dinner, but had big dinner at a pub (tavern), played piano &
sang for a couple of hours. Had a fine outing, more in the nature of a picnic than parade.
Friday
Tests. Dance in evening.
Sat.
Route march in morning & rained all afternoon. Folkstone at night.
Sunday Sept. 2
My 21rst birthday, one of the most important events in my life. Received congratulations on all sides.
Spent day quietly. Church in morning. Slept in afternoon & joy-rided around Folkstone with Jimmy
Creighton in evening. He just arrived from London. Also celebrated with a big feed down at the Maple
Leaf Club. Another fine full moon. Air Raid at 11.15 by a single aeroplane near Dover. No casualties.
Mon. Sept. 3
Parade. Scheme in morning. Y.M.C.A. at night. Another full moon air raid, heavy casualties at Chatam
[Chatham]. 170 sailors killed while sleeping in barracks. Raiders made good their escape. Shrapnel was
plainly visible over the channel.
Tues. Sept. 4
Hut Orderly. Did some washing etc. Into town at night. Still another moonlight raid. Bombs were heard
dropping & anti-air craft guns in operation.

 [12]
Wed. Sept. 5
Parade in morning. Usual half-holiday afternoon. Air raid for the 4th successive night. No damage
around our area. Hythe at night.
Thurs.
Parade all day. Went to 11th to bid all the boys goodbye.
Friday
Brigade competition in morning. Draft for the 27th left at 2 oclock. Large no. of the 223 boys on it.
Sat.
Route March in morning. Folkstone Remainder of day.
Sunday
Church parade. 11th in afternoon. Another air raid warning. Went to church at night & retired early.
Mon. 10
Parade as per. Wrote letters etc. at Y.M. at night.
Tues.
Out on all day scheme.
Wed. 12
Parade in morning. Usual half holiday in afternoon.
Thursday
Parade as per.
Friday
Examination. Dance at night.
Sat.
Brigade presentation of medals by Gen. Steele. Up down[?] afternoon & night.
Sunday.
Church parade as per.

 [13]
Mon. Sept. 17
In first class. Lectures etc.
Tues.
Hut Orderly. Mr. Watson called to France. Lose one of our best officers in him.
Wed.
Called on operating duty at the 8 Res Bn. Started same night 6-12. Very pleased with new job &
surroundings.
[Transcriber’s note: ‘Bn’ = Battalion]
Thurs. Sept. 20
Day free. Slept for greater part & visited dentist in afternoon.
Friday
Dentist again. Down town in evening. Received number of letters. Swapped shifts with another operator
& was on duty from midnight to 6 a.m. next morning. Had not slept for 24 hrs.
Sat. Sept. 22
Nursing a bad cold. On C.B. shift.
Sunday
Change of shifts for new week. On meal Relief. Went to Christ Church in Folkestone in evening.
Monday
Received warning in afternoon to go on bgde scheme. Made preparations. Leas Pavilion theatre at night
with Torrence.
Tues.
Went on ZB in morning. Nothing special in afternoon. Every[?] paraded after supper & assigned to our
companies as we were to carry on on the scheme. Air Raid. No Damages in Folkestone.
Wed. Sept. 26
Reveille 5 a.m. Fell in at 6.45. Left grounds at 7.30. Marched all day till we reached Gilberts Park at 4.00
oclock in afternoon. 18 miles hike. Had supper & prepared our beds, one blanket & sky for our roof.
After supper 3 of us went up track to scare up something to eat. Went to a private house where we
were treated to 3 whole pies & 2 pots of tea. They refused to accept a penny. Very hospitable people.
Spent a brutally cold night with little sleep.

 [14]
Thurs.
Reveille 5.30. Very easy day. In reserve & not supposed to manoeuvre. Bivouaced closer to camp.
Fri. Sept. 28
Manoeuvered in morning until 10 oclock. Returned home after that, arriving in camp at 4.30. Air raid at
night.
Sat. Sept. 29
Back on ZK 8th Bn afternoon shift. Another big air raid at night. Did considerable damage to London.
Shrapnel of one [of] our own anti-air craft guns falling all around us in the trenches.
Sun. Sept. 30
On morning shift. Afternoon quiet. Air raid at night. Terrific firing. But no damage in our vicinity. London
being their objective every night. Full moon to-night. The night they were going to destroy all England.
Mon. Oct. 1
On duty in morning. Got my pay in afternoon. Air raid as usual at night. Moon still bright.
Tues. Oct. 2
Morn. Duty. Folkestone afternoon movies. In Leas when air raid warning was sounded. A quiet raid.
Wed.
Morn. Duty. Afternoon down town. Commenced to rain. Raid warning but no developments.
Thurs. Oct. 4
Morning Duty as per usual. Slept in afternoon. Went to Pleasure Gardens at night & saw the “Misleading
Lady.” Very good. No raid on account of clouds.
Frid. 5
Morn. Duty. Slept & wrote etc. afternoon. Dance at night. No raid, still cloudy, moon rising late &
waning.
Sat. Oct. 6
Morn. Duty. Very cold day. Went down town with C. Baldwin. Returned early.
Sunday 7
On meal Relief this week. Very cold day. Y.M.C.A. Service at night. Topic “Just being everyday ordinarily
good.”

 [15]
Mon. Oct. 8
Slept most of day. Y.M.C.A. concert party at night.
Tues. Oct. 9
Same Relief. Afternoon went out to Bombing area 20 to relieve Ford. Returned at 7 oclock. Received a
box from home.
Wed.
Put on new station. Bdr School, ZN. Day shifts only. Very slow station. Morning from 8-12.30. Afternoon
invited to Pleasure Gardens by 14th Br. Dady [Daddy] Longlegs.
Thurs 11 Oct.
Morning slept. Afternoon shift 12.30-6.30. Movie at night.
Friday
Duty in morning. Final Dance at Courts. Met George [???] there.
Sat. Oct. 13
Afternoon shift. 11th moved over to 14th. Whole Res. now known as 11th. Vaudeville & pictures at
night.
Sunday Oct. 14
Duty in morning. A very fine day, sun shining brightly. Up town in afternoon & church at night. Then
went to a musicale concert at the Leas shelter.
Monday 15
Once more on a new station. Now at the 11th, back on Dibgate. Well pleased. Am on 6-12 midnight shift
for first week.
Tues.
August Collins, Pat Clarke & myself on new job. Slept most of day etc. Duty at night.
Wed.
Same as previous day.
Thurs. 17 [18th]
Nothing new.

 [16]
Fri. 18 [19th]
Big zeppelin raid at night. Did not come near camp but got London. French pulled down 8. On duty
during raid, all lights off, resorted to candle.
Sat. 19 [20th]
Another raid same as previous night. No casualties & no bombs dropped, a false alarm.
Sunday
New week on morning duty. Slept in afternoon & church at night. Another air raid warning sounded but
no developments.
Mon. 22 Oct.
Duty in morning. Out for walk in woods in afternoon. Bade good-bye to Oli[?] Bardal in night. had a long
talk with him on old times.
Tue. Oct. 23
Duty as per. Afternoon for a walk. Y.M.C.A. in evening. Very cold.
Wed. Oct. 24
Duty - morning. Received $5.00 money order from home. Clarke & I up town in afternoon & night.
Visited home of Mrs. Falls of Maple Leaf Club. Also vaudeville.
Thurs.
Duty in morning. Very cold day. Slept all afternoon. Y.M.C.A. Religious service & wrote pa long letter at
night. Retired early.
Friday Oct. 26
Morning Duty. Afternoon slept. Y.M.C.A. concert in afternoon. Very good, Col. Leckie entertaining.
Sat. Oct. 27th/17
Morning on duty as per. Afternoon uptown to Playhouse.
Sunday 28th
Went on duty again at midnight. New week commencing. 12 midnight to 6.a.m. Slept from 6 am to 1
pm. Went to church at night. First Baptist. A very good sermon by Army Chaplain.

 [17]
Monday
Duty at midnight as per. Slept next morning. Pay parade. Dance to Leas Pavilion. Orchestra there very
fine, plays twice daily. Pte. A. Fischer soloist. A bear[?]. Singing Al Jolson latest hits; Air Raid.
Tues.
Duty as per. Belgian Orchestra at Y.M.C.A. at night. Very High class.
Wed. Oct. 31
Halloween. Not celebrated in Eng. to any extent. Raid at 4.30 a.m. morning. No Damage. Leas Pavilion
again. Fine Program of music. One of the most determined Air Raids on England. But still little damage. A
continual bombardment for 4 hrs.
Thurs.
On duty at midnight, the raid still in progress & raiders hovering very close to camp. They received a very
hot reception from our anti-air craft guns. All clear sounded at 3.20 a.m. Nothing of import and during
day. Y.M.C.A. Concert Party at night. “Mammy[‘s] Little Coal Black Rose” sung here for first time, but the
---------Annie Peters
35 Jeffery St.
Edinburg[h]
---------Eng. unable to put it over.
Friday
Raining & foggy. Mid. duty as usual. Leas shelter orchestra.
Sat.
Still raining.
Sunday
On meal Relief shift for new week. Spent quiet day.
Monday
Raining all day. Received parcel & letters etc.
[Inserted into the diary is a newspaper article with headline “’Help Smash the Hun,’ Message of Harry
Lauder to Philadelphia.”]

 [18]
Tues.
Rumors of draft.
Tues. Night
Quite probable that I will leave for France shortly.
(over)
Keep this Proof. Do not lose it.
(over)
These notes are recopied in a great hurry. There are many other jottings which I would like to put in but
for obvious reasons suppress them. Take Good care of this diary.
---------Elma Stephens
93 Norgate Rd.
Southend-on-Sea
----------If at any time in the future a repetition of these events should occur, the results are apt to be more
serious than one might conjecture.
-----------No. 1 Squadron
“A” Flight
No. 1 RFC Cadet Wing
St. Leonards on Sea
Sussex
[The rest of 1917 has been written at the end of Diary 2. Go to Nov. 14 on page [44] to continue 1917,
then come back here to start 1918]

 [19]
Diary 2 – 1918

Winnie Douglas
261 Bell Ave, Wpg
C. Wharton
[address faded]
[2 more faded names and addresses]
Miss Annie Gay
86 Bowman St.
Cross Hills, Glasgow
Sally Spearpont [Spearpoint?]
38 Great Fenchurch St.
K. Johansson
294049
No. 3 SMA
Heliopolis
Patake Hotel
Cairo, Egypt

[The dates in this diary are printed on the top each page, rather than written in by the author himself]

Tue. Jan. 1
Parade till 10.30 oclock. Still in Rely. Arr. Here 18 Dec., had Christ. dinner in aerodrome on 28 December.
Wed. Jan. 2
Inspect & parades etc.
Thu. Jan. 3
Same.
Fri. Jan. 4
ditto. Sig. aft.

 [20]
Sat. Jan. 5
Parade.
Sun. Jan. 6
Church parade.
Mon. Jan. 7
Manoeuvres etc. Very slushy day.
Tue. Jan. 8
Left 7.30 for ranges. Were suddenly met by snowstorm & forced to turn back. Sig. aft.
Wed. Jan. 9
Usual Inspection & carry on with Sig.
Thu. Jan. 10
Same as previous day.
Fri. Jan 11 - Tue. Jan. 15
[blank]
Wed. Jan. 16
Bath at Lillers
Thu. Jan. 17
Awaiting an inspection by Bdr. general. Never materialized.
Fri. Jan. 18
Left Rely & landed in Auchelle [Auchel] at 1.00 oclock. Play in evening.
Sat. Jan. 19
Left Auchelle [Auchel]. Landed in Camblain L’abbé at 4 oclock. Y.M.C.A. Cinderella at night. Very good.
Sun Jan. 20
Left C. L’abbé. Arrived in Hills Camp at 4.30.

 [21]
Mon. Jan. 21
Nothing doing in day. Working party at night.
Tue. Jan. 22
Nothing doing all day.
Wed. Jan. 23
Parade in morning. W. Part. night.
Thu. Jan. 24
Moved to Villers Au Bois.
Fri. Jan. 25
Dental Parade. No Parade in afternoon.
Sat. Jan. 26
Ranges in morning. Bath parade in afternoon.
Sun. Jan. 27
Church parade. Wrote letters all afternoon.
Mon. Jan. 28
Left at 12 noon for line. Relieved the bn therein at 7 oclock. First experience at standing to.
Tue. Jan. 29
First day spent in funk hole. Were relieved same night by C. Coy. Spent night in dug-out in close
supports.
[Transcriber’s note: ‘coy’ = company]
Wed. Jan. 30
Wed. night back in line.
Thu. Jan. 31
In line. A small gas attack.
Fri. Feb. 1
Last night in line.

 [22]
Sat. Feb. 2
Relieved at 7 oclock & went back to bgde supports on water control job for 4 days. Very nice job. 8 hrs a
day.
Sun. Feb. 3
Water control.
Mon. Feb. 4
Same as previous day.
Tue. Feb. 5
Same.
Wed. Feb. 6
Ditto.
Thu. Feb. 7
Relieved from job at noon. Up to close supports for 4 days on water parties etc., also one night on patrol
(3 hrs laying motionless in wet grass)
Fri. Feb. 8
Ditto.
Sat. Feb. 9
Ditto.
Sun. Feb. 10
Ditto.
Mon. Feb. 11
Bgde supports for 5 days. Working party at night.
Tue. Feb. 12
Back on water control job.
Wed. Feb. 13
Ditto.

 [23]
Thu. Feb. 14
Ditto.
Fri. Feb. 15
Ditto.
Sat. Feb. 16
Moved up the line again on a 4 day trip, with listening post every night.
Sun. Feb. 17
Ditto. Slept in cellar during day.
Mon. Feb. 18
Raid pulled of [off] by us, very successful. Under first barrage. In funk hole with BM.
Tue. Feb. 19
Passed uneventful although always expecting a counter raid.
Wed. Feb. 20
Relieved at 8.30. Walked back to Hills Camp. Reaching there all on at 1.30 after tramping in drenching
rain.
Thu. Feb. 21
Moved again up to Villers Au Bois Petit Sercus.
Fri. Feb. 22
Bath parade in morning. Y.M. at night.
Sat. Feb. 23
Shortage parade.
Sun. Feb. 24
Church parade followed by pay parade.
Mon. Feb. 25
Rain, no parade, Sig. pract.

 [24]
Tue. Feb. 26
On Dental parade to 4 Winds.
Wed. Feb. 27
Moved again to Chateau De L’Haig. Working party at night, got home at 4 bells.
Thu. Feb. 28
Sig. pract. C “2”s at night, fine revue.
Fri. Mar. 1
Sig. pract. Dental parade. Social evening of Bible Class at Y.M.
Sat. Mar. 2
Transf. as Sig. to 16 plt. “D” Coy
Sun. Mar. 3
Church parade at 1.45, also service at night & bible study.
Mon. Mar. 4
Excus. From Wkg. parties. Carry on phone work in morning. Saw C ‘2’s at night in revue.
Tue. Mar. 5
Same as prev.
Wed. Mar. 6
Ditto. Moved up to Lievin front. in Bde supp. 3 days in town. Sig. quts. quite good. good rations.
Thu. Mar. 7 - Fri. Mar. 8
[blank]
Sat. Mar. 9
Left for front line. Good dug out. all ok.
Sun. Mar. 10
[blank]

 [25]
Mon. Mar. 11
A little activity during day. Dropped a few shells about coy. hq.
Tue. Mar. 12
Relieved by 102. Mitch Harny[?]. Just as we were being relieved Fritz comm. a bombard. 1 div. went
over. About 2 cas.
[Transcriber’s note: Fritz is a slang term for Germans]
Wed. Mar. 13
Reached Chateau about 12.15 a.m. had supp., rum & mail. Retired.
Thu. Mar. 14
Away again at 10 a.m. Marched all day to Camb. Chatelain [Camblain-Chatelain]. Reach 5.30. Fine town.
Fri. Mar. 15
Bath parade in aft.
Sat. Mar. 16
No parade. Baseball.
Sun. Mar. 17
Church parade on grounds. Pay parade after dinner. Mitchell & I out at night.
Mon. Mar. 18
Continuation of Sig. Lectures by Divisional Men 9-12.30.
Tue. Mar. 19
Ditto. Received parcel from Annie.
Wed. Mar. 20
Same as prev. day with usual work lamp and flapper. Fine day for stn. work. Parcel from Mrs. Wharton.
Thu. Mar. 21
P.I.[?] 7.15-8.00. Lect. 9 to 12. Sig. Sect. to have group pict. taken. Commencement of Germ. attack on
50 mi front.

 [26]
Fri. Mar. 22
Received warning to proceed up line the next morning. Visual pract. Rumors begin.
Sat. Mar. 23
Left full marching order at 8.30. Had dinner on way & arrived at Estree Couchy [Cauchy] at 4 oclock, had
clean up & supper & then further orders to move. Left at 8.30 in buses to Villers Au Bois. arr. 10 oclock.
Sun. Mar. 24
Parade in morning. Ball game in afternoon. Wild rumors about Ger. attacks. Unable to get any official
information. Wrote mother. Y.M. Serv. at night.
Mon. Mar. 25
Parade in morn. Still further rumors about our moving etc. Y.M.C.A. service at night. Working 3 Div.
concert Party (Dumb Bells) at night in a delightful revue. Working party at 11 to 8 oclock in morning;
notice of stand to; expecting Fritz over; all ok.
Tue. Mar. 26
Slept all day. Orders to move. Left with full pack at 11 oclock. Marched all night till 8 oclock next
morning. Hardest & longest march, forced 18 miles.
Wed. Mar. 27
Arriving in B__? at 8 oclock, had breakfast & allotted billets. Innis & I bunking in. Still wild rumors. Great
Activity all behind lines.
Thu. Mar. 28
Parade in morning. Everything in state of uncertainty. On Inlying picquet.
Fri. Mar. 29
Moved out at 2 to next town. After pitching tents, got orders to pack up & move again. Left at 7.30 &
marched about 8 miles to rear lines trench. Slept in funk holes etc. for remainder of night. 12 kilos.
Sat. Mar. 30
Working party at 7.30 to 2.30. Made ourselves as comfortable as possible. Remained here again over
night. Raining.
Sun. Mar. 31
Work pty. till 11.30. Moved at 5 oclock to billets back in town. Good night’s rest.

 [27]
Mon. Apr. 1
No Parades. Couple of accidents due to explos. rifle & machine gun. Work pty. from 12-3.30.
Tue. Apr. 2
Nothing doing. Moved up line to bde. supports at 7.30. Built in as well as possible.
Wed. Apr. 3
Estab. phone commun. Raining.
Thu. Apr. 4
Nothing to report. Grub very scarce.
Fri. Apr. 5
Moved at 4 a.m. further upline. Raining heavily. Everyone drenched. Forced to make funk holes. Estab.
camp communication. Remained over night.
Sat. Apr. 6
Sunny early part of day. Comm. to rain at 5 oclock. Orders to move up to front line at 7.30. Was left out
with 3 others from plt. Went back to horse lines, arriving there wet & hungry at 10.30 p.m. Good billets.
Sun. Apr. 7
Scouted town in morning in search of eats. Noth. doing. Church service in barn at 2 oclock. Y.M. opened
up. Got reg. letter. Made many purch.
Mon. Apr. 8
Parade in morn. Buzz. pract. till 12.30. Still raining. Lull in battle.
Tue. Apr. 9
Went on sick parade. Left to join Bn. at 4.30. At Wailly 8 oclock. Troops arr. 12.30.
Wed. Apr. 10
No parades. Resting up. beaucoup letters & parcels, papers in afternoon.
Thu. Apr. 11
No parades.
Fri. Apr. 12
No parades. Up the f. line at 8 bells. arr. 11.30. Shelling over hq. very poor shelter.

 [28]
Sat. Apr. 13
Mitchell wounded by fish-tail. Carried out on stretcher. Remain of day fairly quiet. Parcel & eats.
Sun. Apr. 14
Also quite quiet.
Mon. Apr. 15
Intermittent Shelling. Skuli Lindal killed while on wiring party, hit through head by a machine gun bullet.
Death instantaneous.
[https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/35995/lindal,-skuli-g./]
Tue. Apr. 16
Again cloudy & dull day. passed quietly. Air guns active. Relieved at 10 oclock. Arrived at purple trench
at 12.15 establishing commun. very quickly.
Wed. Apr. 17
Slept in morning. Also a general wash up. Duty afternoon. Rash comm.
Thu. Apr. 18
Same as prev. Rain.
Fri. Apr. 19
Ditto. We opened up heavy bombard. 7-8.30.
Sat. Apr. 20
Weather fine. Moved back to Wailly 9.30. Arr. 11 bells. had supper & turned in.
Sun. Apr. 21
Bath parade to next town. Bill Black & I scouted around for grub. A fine day.
Mon. Apr. 22
Parade in morning. Inspect. Battle pract.
Tue. Apr. 23
Same parades as yesterday. Ball game night. 27 vs. F. Emmas.[?].

 [29]
Wed. Apr. 24
No parades. Rested up in day. Moved up to front line at 7. Arr. 9. Line out for 3 hours. Heath & I worked
on same. Repaired at 5 a.m. Commun. OK.
Thu. Apr. 25
Line broke down at 1 p.m. Repaired again after dusk. During this trip Fargey & I worked at night. Couple
letters from Hilda.
Fri. Apr. 26
New Lateral line installed. No more wire trouble. Though main line continually down. Fine Sig. & coy
hqs. here.
Sat. Apr. 27
Sat. All Well & casually in D Coy. Some shelling around our Hq but generally during trip quiet. Heine pulls
off daylight raid on 19th capturing 3 pris. asleep in dugout; he gets away with it.
[Transcriber’s note: Heine or Heinie is a slang term for Germans]
Sun. Apr. 28
Last day in front line. Relieved by B. Comp. at 11 bells. Moved back to supports. Arr. 12.30. Line OK. poor
Sig. hq, no protection.
Mon. Apr. 29
We pulled off successful raid at 2 bells in morning. 23 min. bombard. Result 8 pris. 2 mach guns. Pretty
fair day. Comm. to rain afternoon. A Real sing song by Runners[?] & Sigs at night.
Tue. Apr. 30
A quiet day. Weather fair. No shelling. Fairly busy. Our accommodation very poor.
Wed. May 1
Quiet again, nothing to report. Heath, Fargey[?], Smafe[?] & myself out for this whole trip. Incidentally I
am in charge. Things going OK with some wire trouble.
Thu. May 2
Phones up. (Fritz) shelled very heavily at night both by explosives & gas. On duty with mask on for a total
of 3 hrs. Under heaviest shell fire yet while actually on duty. Another Hun got wise to relief from 19th
pris[?]. relief [???] was cancelled.

 [30]
Fri. May 3
Another raid pulled off at 3 p.m., quite successful. Our last day on line. Shells dropping around at regular
intervals. Relieved at 10.45 & hiked back to Bretincourt [Bertincourt], hrs then 12.45 a.m.
Sat. May 4
Received 45 francs pay in morning. Billets crowded.
Sun. May 5
Church parade in morning in Corps Theatre. Bath and shortage parade afternoon.
Mon. May 6
Parade in morning, dismissed at 11.30. Amateur performance put on by Y.M. at Corps Theatre, quite
fair.
Tue. May 7
Inspection perf. in Sig. hut. Lecture morning. On aeroplanes. Signalling afternoon, interesting stuff.
Another concert at night. Real Good.
Wed. May 8
On Dental parade. Met Herb Jackson with 2nd Div. Machine Gunners. First performance of cinema.
Thu. May 9
Tests on Visual in morning. Bad visibility. Up to purple line at 8.30 p.m. A real homer.
Fri. May 10
First day passes, quite uneventful. Business very quiet.
Sat. May 11
Again quiet. Rather a [???] day. Fargey[?] made an unfortunate error & got sack.
Sun. May 12
Uneventful.
Mon. May 13
[blank]
Tue. May 14
Went to Y.M. at Wailly.

 [31]
Wed. May 15
The past six days were real quiet. A Req. rest. Moved up to Front line at 9 p.m. Relief made successfully.
Thu. May 16
Poor hq. Shelling fairly active throughout day.
Fri. May 17
Nothing to Report.
Sat. May 18
Fairly quiet. Rations good on this trip. Can. mail in.
Sun. May 19
[blank]
Mon. May 20
This is completion of 6th front line trip. 2 on Vimy front. Marches in out worse part of trip.
Tue. May 21
Sixth day in line. “D” coy 7 cas. Jones, Ottenson[?] wounded.
Wed. May 22
Two raids pulled off at 1 & 3 oclock. No cas. in D. Heavy bombard. all night, hq shelled heavily. Relieved
same night at 11.30.
Thu. May 23
A Hike of 7 kilos to billets. Damn Tired. Fine Loc. in woods. Rest & clean up. first day. Pay parade.
Fri. May 24
Bath parade.
Sat. May 25
Bde. Sports Day. 27th second. Fine Day.
Sun. May 26
Church parade in morning. Rcd. 2 days CB for unpol. buttons.

 [32]
Mon. May 27
Inspect. in morning. Sig. pract. Went to C‘2’ at Bn concert in evening. Fair show.
Tue. May 28
Parade till 11. Detailed for horse lines & left with party at 7 p.m. Arr. at 9. Fine billet.
Wed. May 29
Skeleton order inspection at 8.30 to 9. Carry on with specialists training after. Same syllabus for
remaining days at horse lines. Afternoons lecture from 2-3, map reading etc.
Thu. May 30
Ditto as prev. day. Played ball at night & visited concert party at Y.M. Eggs & fresh milk in abundance in
town.
Fri. May 31
Same. Read & ball in aft. Movies at night. Letter from Mairs of Man.
Sat. June 1
Ditto. Heard lecture by American on Cap[?] vs. Labour at Y.
Sun. June 2
Tom Mairs’ fatigue. Very soft. Y.M. service at night.
Mon. June 3
Inspect. & training. On Transport officers’ fatigue digging trenches from 2.30-4 p.m. Movies at night.
Tue. June 4
Same as prev. Fine concert party at night. Aspernes[?] 4th Ambulaners[?]. Very clever.
Wed. June 5
Ditto with same fatigue.
Thu. June 6 - Fri. June 7
[blank]
Sat. June 8
Fall in for inspect. break off. very little doing in morning. Afternoon got 2 parcels, moved off & formed
bn at Bellacourt [Bellicourt], good billet.

 [33]
Sun. June 9
Bath parade first thing followed by pay parade. Hung around billets.
Mon. June 10
F. order inspect. in morning. Followed by Sig. practise. Played indoor ball afternoon.
Tue. June 11
Inspect. & Sig. pract. We won Bn foot ball afternoon at [???].
Wed. June 12
Same as prev. morn. Baseball, 27 vs. 29 afternoon. Won 8-5. Made 30 francs. Very tense game.
Beaucoup letters.
Thu. June 13
Inspect. as per & usual pract. Played indoor ball af. Wrote letters etc. Shortage par. New issue[?].
Fri. June 14
Rest & Tailor parade. Ball afternoon.
Sat. June 15
Inspect. Horse Lines details leave at 9. We break off. 27 won f.b. in morning, lost ball afternoon to 2 Div.
M.G.[?]. Played game of Indoor. Warned for advance party dep the line, left at 7.30. Arr. at Bn hq 9.45
p.m. 7 in Dugout on Hq. linemen this trip. First night passed without trouble. Chettle gets parcel.
Sun. June 16
No trouble, only up in front line. Fine day. Received 2nd parcel of April 23rd that night. Chettle & I out
on left line to D Coy. All Ok. Little trouble at 2.30 a.m.
Mon. June 17
Break at 2.30 a.m. as result of work party. Phil & Purdy. Quiet day. Some small trouble later on. Purdy &
Phil both get parcels. Overrun[?] with parcels[?] & grub.
Tue. June 18
Slept morn, felt sick about noon. gradually become worse & unable to eat.
Wed. June 19
High fever, report sick, temp 102. Lolled around in bed all day & night. Ate nothing.

 [34]
Thu. June 20
Went sick again, temp 101. Put to bed in R.A.P. & given med. Later moved back to Agny.
Fri. June 21
Still Feeling bad though temperature down considerably. Feel pains intermittently.
Sat. June 22
About same as yesterday.
Sun. June 23
Remained in Agny supports till Fri. June 28. Had a very quiet time. No line trouble.
Mon. June 24 - Fri. June 28
[blank]
Sat. June 29
Arrived at Izel Les Hameau at 2.30. Nice little village. Get cleaned up & scout around.
Sun. June 30
Church parade in morning. Played ball later in day. Pay parade at 9.30 p.m. 25 frcs.
Mon. July 1
Big Canadian Corps Sports meet at Tinques. Met many boys there. Everything decorated. L. George, Sir
R. Borden, Cunis & many others there. 2nd Div. tied for sev. place. 27th quite successful. Fine concert at
night. Had equipment stolen there.
Tue. July 2
Bde. Inspect. By Borden. [???] & other Cdn M.P. repres. Address by Prem. Usual Line of talk. Very hot
day. Drank 7 glasses of beer on return. Played Bath parade 4.30. Played 31 Sigs. at night.
Wed. July 3
Pd. inspect. & usual visual in morning. Ball afternoon. Y.M. band concert at night.
Thu. July 4
Ditto.
Fri. July 5
On sick parade. Bad boil on leg. Light Duty.

 [35]
Sat. July 6
Ditto. Light Duty.
Sun. July 7
Church Par. Light Duty again. Visited Aerodrome With Merriam. Inspect machines etc.
Mon. July 8
Usual morning routine. Afternoon as usual to ourselves.
Tue. July 9
Light Duty again. Bn plays 8th Bn at Tinques. Win both in ball & football.
Wed. July 10
Usual Routine. Concert by Band night.
Thu. July 11
Ditto. Ball afternoon.
Fri. July 12
Ditto. Amateur concert by Bn talent at Y.M.
Sat. July 13
Ditto. Same as prev. My 31 sat. bn.
Sun. July 14
Ranges all morning. First Batt. party. Fair shooting. Comm. raining. Ball game with scouts.
Mon. July 15
Left Izel & arrived in Dainville at 3 pm. Fair place. Clean up.
Tue. July 16
Usual Training. Very Hot Day.
Wed. July 17
Working party in morning.

 [36]
Thu. July 18 - Sat. July 20
[blank]
Sun. July 21
Commenced Shelling Town. Hit billet but was a dud. Close call. Rolled[?] [???].
Mon. July 22
Slept in funk holes farther up. Shelled town intermittently, a couple casualties.
Tue. July 23
Moved off & arr. at Grand Rullecourt at 3.30. Marched through drenching rain.
Wed. July 24
Slept in.
Thu. July 25
Parade as per. Pay par.
Fri. July 26
Visual.
Sat. July 27
Buzzes in morning. Visited Avesnes Le Comte in afternoon. Good sized town.
Sun. July 28
Bath parade. Sports after noon. Ball with Yanks. They won. Concert in aerodrome at night.
Mon. July 29
Received orders at 2.45 a.m. to move at 7 a.m. to Belgium. Moved off to Tinques & entrained. Arriving
at point 3½ miles from Belgian Borders after 6 miles hike from train at 9.30 p.m. Bivouaced over night.
Tue. July 30
Rested up during day. Played Ball game.
Wed. July 31
Recd orders to move up line. Left at 5 p.m. with C. coy. In Reserve all night in house. Pretty heavy
shelling.

 [37]
Thu. Aug. 1
Moved up to front line at 9.30 p.m. Arr. at 1 a.m.
Fri. Aug. 2
Worst front yet. Our funk hole a gutter, with sewer pipe in it. Terrible stench. A few 6.9 just missed us.
Hit Rifle on roof. Icelandic Day. Recd. Good news of Being relieved following night.
Sat. Aug. 3
Rather quiet Day. Went out on advance. Just reached Bn hq when [???] shelled very heavily. all [???]. a
few casualties resulting. Walked out.
Sun. Aug. 4
Reached busses at 2 a.m. & left on them at 2.30. Reached Cassel at 5 a.m. Breakfasted & cleaned up.
Turned in Bivouacs.
Mon. Aug. 5
Left Cassell [Cassel] at 3.15. Embussed for St. Omer, passed Lillers & many other large towns. Arr. at 5.45
a.m. Hot cocoa served By Australian Comforts. Comm. Moved at 7.30 a.m. Passed through many
important points including Etaples, Bulongue [Boulogne] etc along coast. Again served with cocoa at
2.30 By same committee. Arr. at Saleux near Amiens at 6.30 p.m. Billeted there over night.
Tue. Aug. 6
[blank, due to previous entry spanning the 5th and 6th]
Wed. Aug. 7
Rested up all day & moved up line at night. Whole corps present. Arr. in line 9 kilos behind front line at 2
a.m. Made ourselves comfortable & turned in. Moved up line at 11 p.m.
Thu. Aug. 8
Moved into jumping off trench at 12.30 a.m. zero[?] at 4 a.m. Very heavy Barrage. Then came wonderful
sight of hundreds of tanks and thousands of cavalry, artillery etc. We followed at 6 a.m. Marched some
14 kilos with little resistance & few casualties. Fritz retreating at top speed.
Fri. Aug. 9
At 11 we commenced advancing & continued about 4 kilos about 4th wave. Rather heavy M-9 hostile
fire & also some artillery. Guerten[?] wounded Along side me. Halted almost 8 p.m. Had big feed of
Fritzes bully cocoa etc found in dugout. plenty of souvenirs but unable to carry any.

 [38]
Sat. Aug. 10
A very eventful Day. At 5 p.m. C & B coy ordered to advance. In first wave. Commenced to move at 5.30
a.m., adv. 200 yds. without any resist. Then Heine comm. to open up on us. With MG & HE. Many
narrow escapes. But obtained our obj. with about 25 cas. Fell back at 11.30 a.m. 85 Bn went through us.
Sun. Aug. 11 - Thu. Aug. 22
[blank]
Fri. Aug. 23
No parades. Went back to Dainville for our packs. Moved billets again. Movie at night.
Sat. Aug. 24
Lighty [sic] Duty. Orders to move forward on evacuation party. Cancelled & we remained here overnight.
Sun. Aug. 25
Optional Comp.[?] E. parade. Rested up during last 3 days. Orders to join bn. Moved at 4 p.m. Arr at Bn.
Hq. 7.30 p.m. Moved to jumping off position.
Mon. Aug. 26
Arr. at jumping off pos. at 1.30 a.m. Barrage opened up at 3 a.m. Dandy. B Hq. remained here till
morning. Hundreds of prisoners come through. Our objectives all gained early with Light cas. Continued
adv. all Day. We were salvaging wire etc.
Tue. Aug. 27
Moved forward again. Very little rest for these three days. Either on Visual or salv. wire etc. Pickering
killed.
[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/32905/PICKERING,%20TOM%20HAYDN]
Wed. Aug. 28
Remained in positions after morning turn today. Bn went over top 3 times this trip. Total cas. 122. 17
killed.
Thu. Aug. 29
Orders to move back at 1.00 a.m. 6 kilos back. had hot meal & turned in till 11 a.m. Dinner & prepared
to move again. Leaving at 4 p.m. Arr Wailly Huts at 7 p.m. Supper & bed.
Fri. Aug. 30
Light Duty. Sores on Leg.

 [39]
Sat. Aug. 31
M & D on account of smiling. Pract. advancing with visual. Indoor ball & band. Cold night.
Sun. Sep. 1
Light Duty. Band concert by 28th Bn. Met Hank Einarson etc.
Mon. Sep. 2
22 years old today. Very cold day. Still L. Duty. Orders to move. Left Wailly at 3.30 p.m. Arr. at
Intermediate Line at 5.45 p.m. Remain here for night.
Tue. Sep. 3
Moved forward at 10.30 a.m. Rested & had dinner 1-3.30. Continued forward to point 5 kilos from front
line & remained overnight. Heine bombed this area very heavily all night.
Wed. Sep. 4
Moved a short distance at 6 a.m. had breakfast & made ourselves as comfortable as possible.
Established commun. wire. With Don[?] coy this trip. Shelled in afternoon. Remained in rear, other 2
coys moving to front lines. We standing to in case situation demands our presence forward.
Thu. Sep. 5
Same position. Moved forward at night. Heavily gassed and shelled during trip. Reached our destin.
without any casualties. Comm. to dig in. Shelled here & gassed us all night. 5 casualties.
Fri. Sep. 6
Remained here all day. Shelled heavily again at night. A few more cas.
Sat. Sep. 7
Rained & hailed during afternoon, completely flooded out. Baled water out and improved our funk hole
considerably. Orders to move. Left for front line. Relief complete 10.15 p.m. Rel. 31st Bn.
Sun. Sep. 8
Gassed Front line very heavily. Coy hq very good in cellar. No shells within 200 yds. Breakfast up in barn
& wash. Casualties commenced at night. Ration party caught.
Mon. Sep. 9
Quiet day. But more cas. Plenty gas at night.

 [40]
Tue. Sep. 10
Comm. shelling around hq. some very close. Relieved at night by D Coy 31st again. 3 cas. but remained,
got away o.k. Very glad to get out of this area. Arr. at Buissy switch at 11.30 p.m.
Wed. Sep. 11
Pretty fair dugout. slept all morning.
Thu. Sep. 12
Relieved at 9.30 p.m. & moved back in pouring rain to Cerisy. No accomadation [accommodation] open
& soaken wet shell holes. Spent a hell of a night.
Fri. Sep. 13
Set about looking for a place. Set up a bivouac with Fawkes. Rested throughout day.
Sat. Sep. 14
For remainder of time here on Exc. & light Duty. Ulcers on left leg.
Sun. Sep. 15
Many of our balloons brought down.
Mon. Sep. 16
Mr Gardner of Wpg (Old f. K&S) greeting the boys.
Tue. Sep. 17
Many rumors of move both forward & back.
Wed. Sep. 18
Bath in morn. Moved off at 4 p.m. & entrained at 6. Arr. at Aix[?] at 11 p.m. Walked to Haute Avenes
[Avesnes]. Hot meal & rum.
Thu. Sep. 19
Very fine billets. An old C.C.S. Clean. Went Sick again & for remaining 6 succeeding days.
[Transcriber’s note: C.C.S. = Casualty Clearing Station]
Fri. Sep. 20
L. Duty. 3rd Bn concert party at Y.M. in evening. Very good.

 [41]
Sat. Sep. 21
31st Band Concert. nigger lead band.
Sun. Sep. 22
Spent quietly.
Mon. Sep. 23
Still on L.D. & acting as Mess Orderly. Debate: Sigs vers. B coy. Sigs. victorious. Res: That war is of benefit
to humanity. Sigs. neg.
Tue. Sep. 24
Light D. again. Band Concert.
Wed. Sep. 25
M.O. sent me to 2nd Div. Rest Stn at Arras[?]. Fine place. Beaucoup grub. had a look arround [around]
town.
Thu. Sep. 26
Moved to C.C.S. at Agnez Les Duissans [Duisans]. Marked Evac. Sitting. Remained waiting for time. Poor
grub.
Fri. Sep. 27
Still waiting till 2 p.m. Then boarded Hosp. coach. Fine outfit. Reached Camiers near Etaples at 12 mid.
had supper & turned in sheets etc.
Sat. Sep. 28
Bath & Blues[?]. M.D. inspect. Got Blighty ticket. From Sat. morn till following Wed. night. hanging
around
Sun. Sep. 29
[continued from previous entry]
as name was always passed up. Poor grub & spent very anxious time for fear of being changed to Cle[?]
Mon. Sep. 30
Many Cas. coming in among Can. from Cambrai.

 [42]
Tue. Oct. 1
[blank]
Wed. Oct. 2
Lined up all men who had been waiting for Blighty.
Thu. Oct. 3
Rooted out of bed at 12.30 a.m. & hung around till 6 a.m. before we left on bus to Etaples. Left there by
Train, arr. Calais 1 p.m. Dinner on board & sailed at 4 p.m., arr. Dover 4.20 p.m. Stand time. Entrained &
arr Chatham 7 p.m. Good meal & to bed.
Fri. Oct. 4
Breakf. 7.30. M.D. Inspec. 9. Marked Spec. at first then V.A.D. Dressed. New clothes. Down around
Chatham, nice place, Chas. Dickens’ home. Warned to proceed next morn. to Glens South End on Sea
[Glen Southend-on-Sea].
Sat. Oct. 5
Left in red cross wagon to steamship at 9.30. reached South O.S. at 12.30 p.m. In autos to hosp. had
dinner, assigned beds and had bath. Doc. ordered me to bed. Fine place. Nice nurses.
Sun. Oct. 6
Breakfast 7.15. 4 dressings throughout day. Swell dinner. Wrote letters and read during, after dinner.
Phonograph at night.
Mon. Oct. 7
Rather dull day. Red Cross [???] by lady repres. Lacked[?] kit gift all Y.M. capt visits. Wrote more letters.
Still in bed.
Tue. Oct. 8
Allowed up latter part of day. Germany still proposes peace.
Wed. Oct. 9
N.p. Better news every day from the front. Got a letter from [???]. Raining.
Thu Oct. 10
Read all morning. Canadians take Cambrai. Picture of all boys in ward.

 [43]
Fri. Oct. 11
Went out to movie in bath chair to Stand. Slight drizzle.
Sat. Oct. 12
Raining. Had bath, clean change.
Sun. Oct. 13
During early morning my leg began to swell up & very painful. Put in bed again. Temper. 103. Nurse
Patey attending. Hot water bottle, hot milk etc. Spent rather useless night.
Mon. Oct. 14
Feeling better. 3 hot fomentations on swelling per day. Lymphatic.
Tue. Oct. 15
Swelling comm. to go out down.
Wed. Oct. 16
3 foments still. Big rumour of Germ. surrender. Name in miss Pateys album.
Thu. Oct. 17
Swelling practically down.
Fri. Oct. 18
Bandage taken off of thigh. Fine day.
Sat. Oct. 19
Allowed up. Out in sun.
Sun. Oct. 20
Raining all day.
Mon. Oct. 21
In all day.
Tue. Oct. 22
Reg. letter from dad. Out afternoon to movies.

 [44]
Wed. Oct. 23
[blank]
Thu. Oct. 24
Parcel from mother.
Fri. Oct. 25
Allowed out. Nurse Rea made ward coffee from washers[?]
Sat. Oct. 26
Whist drive at Primrose League. Won cons. prize for highest points. Cocoa at night by nurse Patey
Sun. Oct. 27
Dull as usual on Sunday. Walked about afternoon. Service at 5.30.
Mon. Oct. 28
Germany asks for terms. Moved up to Annex. Letters from J. Johnson & Wally R. Band playing again from
9.30-10. End of Perf. Day. Lead Kindly L. Mad Arm, Etc.
Tue. Oct. 29 - Tue. Nov. 13, 1918
[blank]
---------------------------From here on refers to year 1917.
Wed. Nov. 14, 1917
Received my pass, but was unable to catch train.
Thu. Nov. 15
Caught the 7.20 for London with Jim Coey. Spent day in London. Left at 11.30 for Glasgow.
Fri. Nov. 16
Arrived in Glasgow 9.30 a.m. Visited different points of interest throughout the day. Went to Alhambra
Vaudeville at night. Put up at Grand Hotel.
Sat. Nov. 17
Rose 9.45 a.m. Visited art galleries, Bostock animals etc. Attended performance at the large music hall in
afternoon. Entertainment at Winden hotel at night.

 [45]
Sun. Nov. 18
In morning I took a trip on streetcar into the country. Afternoon visited various places including Rouken
Glen with a Scotch lassie.
Mon. Nov. 19
Made purchases in morning and travelled around all day. At night went to a movie. The finest picture
show I have ever seen. 50 piece orchestra.
Tue. Nov. 20
Left for London at 9.15 a.m. Arrived there at 7.45 p.m. My extension granted but unable to get hold of
same on account of P. Off. being closed. Left London 10.20 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 21
Arrived in Shorncliffe at 1.10 a.m. Nothing doing all day.
Thu. Nov. 22
Placed on draft of six Signallers.
Fri. Nov. 23
Started in on various trainings.
Sat. Nov. 24
Morn. Gas.
Sun. Nov. 25
Church parade. Big storm broke out at noon; first snow storm of season.
Mon. Nov. 26
Inspections, also a parade. Went to P. Gard. Martin Harvey in “David Garrick.” Very good.
Tue. Nov. 27
Shortages.
Wed. Nov. 28
Inspect or some parade.

 [46]
Thu. Nov. 29
Warned to go next day. Saw M. Harvey again in “Romance of a Cigarette Maker.” Not as good as his
previous play.
Thu. Nov. 29 [continued]
Warned for draft the following day.
Fri. Nov. 30
Left Eng. for France early in morning. 2/3 of troops sea sick, a very small boat & rough voyage. I barely
escaped same fate. Arrived in Boulogne & from there to Camp in trucks.
Sat. Dec. 1
Medical inspections and other inspections in morning. Gas practice in afternoon. Y.M. at night.
Sun. Dec. 2
Left for Bull Ring early in morning. Gas practise all day. Returned to camp at 3.30, supper at 4. Y.M.C.A.
at night. Retired early.
Mon. Dec. 3
Left Etaples 7.30 a.m. Riding in box cars & packed in very closely. Had lunch in cars. Arrived at Laconne
Ricquart [Calonne-Ricouart] at 2.30 p.m. Billeted in houses over night. Allowed out on streets.
Tue. Dec. 4
Remained in Laconne Ricquart [Calonne-Ricouart] in morning. No parades. Visited various French
homes.
Wed. Dec. 5
Left Laconne Ricquart [Calonne-Ricouart] at 9.30. Marched to Training School at Fauchenham
[Fauquembergues?]. Arriving there at 1.30 p.m.
Thu. Dec. 6
Shortage & Medical Parades. Visited Bill Goodman in Hospital.
Fri. Dec. 7
Fatigue Party.
Sat. Dec. 8
Fatigue Party.

 [47]
Sun. Dec. 9
Went to Ranges in morning.
Mon. Dec. 10
No Parade.
Tue. Dec. 11
Left for Bn in afternoon. Arrived at 12.30 p.m. & marched 6 miles to billets.
Wed. Dec. 12
Placed as Sig to “A” Comp no. 1 platoons.
Thu. Dec. 13
A little Buzzer practise.
Fri. Dec. 14
Light Fatigue.
[Sat.] Dec. 15
Same Fatigue. perm. with Frenchy.
[Sun.] Dec. 16
Fatigue, Salvaging etc.
[Mon.] Dec. 17
Parade in morn, up the line. Work p. at night.
[Tue.] Dec. 18
Moved to Villers Du Bois [Villers Au Bois]
[Wed.] Dec. 19
Remained V.D.B. [V.A.B.]. Parade morn.
[Thu.] Dec. 20
Left by bus for Rely. Very poor place.

 [48]
Fri. Dec. 21
No Parade.
Sat. Dec. 22
Pay Parade.
Sun. Dec. 23
Went to line.
Mon. Dec. 24
Some P.T.
Tue. Dec. 25
Holiday.
Wed. Dec. 26
Parade.
[Thu.] Dec. 27
Parade, Inspect. etc. Aft. off.
[Fri.] Dec. 28
Same. Christ. Dinner at night.
Sat. Dec. 29
Parade in morn.
Sun. Dec. 30
Church parade in morning. Foot wash in afternoon.
Mon. Dec. 31
Walked to Lillers 9 Kilo for bath.

[return to page [19] to begin 1918]