March 1915

Sports all day - 1st session

Great news tonight. –Going to put on speed, leave the others behind & meet a new escort tomorrow. – Should be in Liverpool Thursday A.M. – Was promoted from Kindergarten in signaling today. – The preliminary events of the inter-battery sports were pulled off this afternoon. – Ham & I were eliminated from the 3-legged race. Tomorrow we will lose the wheelbarrow.

News by wireless that British have taken the Dardanelles.

Calm – intermittent fog. – Ship W. bound – starboard.

8.30 A.M. just been bringing the log up to date. – Foggy this morning. Monty is developing a peach of a grouch these days. – We have not passed the Vaderland yet & are going no faster. – All life boats uncovered & ready. – 2nd Inoculation 11 A.M. Arm pretty sore this aft. – Roamed at large on 1st class deck all aft. – Some good boxing. – “B” sub well to the fore. – Pete Cornell won his bout. & Monty (Art) layed low a big bruiser in the column. – 6:30 P.M. – Ham just picked up a message from the Essex. – Sight Ireland tomorrow – passing convoy tonight. – 9:30 – slipping through water to beat all. – Had a game of 500 in dining room & tables were almost jumping. – Very foggy. – Vaderland looks like a shadow. Rumor that we parade in full marching order tomorrow.

Getting exciting. – Some sleep on deck with lifebelts. – Major told us on parade that we are due to land Queenstown, Ireland, tomorrow A.M. – Probably means garrison duty. Pulled away from Vaderland & Essex 5 P.M. – Miss. with us. Going to beat the band tonight. – Peach of a clear night too.

Queens Town – noon

Came into harbor on the nell rear early this A.M. – Rumors of treacherous signaling, German sub, etc. – Beautiful harbor. – Vaderland & Essex offshore. – Docked 8 A.M. – Surprise to citizens. – Paraded in marching order. – Sent below again. – May go on to L-pool. – No leave but managed to set foot in Irish soil by helping with gang plank. – Very interesting old town rather quaint. – Seems to be big naval base. – Saw some torpedo boats & a dreadnought. – Sent off some mail. Played 500 all evening. – Most of the fellows are on deck serenading the town folk.

Still at the dock when we woke up. – Moved out into the harbor & anchored. – Signaling practice all day. Fine clear day. – Great view of forts at harbor mouth. – About 5 P.M. two destroyers “Loyal” & “Legion” came alongside + to our joy we were off again. – First time I had seen a destroyer they are grim looking little things. – We are racing along again to beat all. – It was very pretty sailing out through the harbor mouth, just at sunset.

Foggy + rainy. – In the Irish Sea, but no sign of the German blockade. – Arr’d L’pool 11 A.M. docked at Riverside Stn. – Friend of Charlie’s came on board to see me. – Disembarked direct to trains 2 P.M. – Cars marked Shorncliffe. Very interesting trip. – Bought refreshments at Crewe + Rugby. – Passed through outskirts of London. – Arr’d Shorncliffe 10:30 P.M. – March in the dark to barracks. – Found fires lit, supper & beds ready. OK.

They let us sleep till 9AM & we needed it. Had a stroll around the camp & came back to find out we had to move again, but only just across the street where we have a fine house with a good crowd in it. Eleven of us all told. Monty, Ham, Mackay, Seath, Mac, Redwood, Cornell, Pryme, Moss & I with Montgomery as Corpl. In charge. Spent the day wasting floors. The other fellows got away to town for a meal & I was not ready so did not go along. Have not had my longed for steak yet. Feeling lonely - took a walk - everything very dark. Came home & wrote Squibb. Wired Charley. Saw several planes heading for France this aft.

Up at 6.30 -

Things will be getting in shape now. Had a foot drill on the common all morning. Chilly and flurries of SNOW all day. The weather man must be trying to make us feel at home. Spent the aft. outside of stores waiting to get the rest of my kit. Mail arrived from home for me (via Charley) just before I left for Folkestone to get my first decent meal. Letters are great things. So are meals. Some steak - some pastry. Met the "STAR" rep. who came with 1st cont. Says Can. Artillery were in action last week. Heard that 21st [?] were all shot up. Had to run to get back before Last Post.

More SNOW.

Had a route march I thought we started out for Shorncliff but we landed in Folkestone. The roads twist around here so much you never know where you are at. Signalling all aft. Had a letter from Charley saying he would be down tomorrow so put in for a pass out of quarters. Took a run into Folkestone to tea again. Must have have[sic.] one good meal a day while the money lasts tho' our rations are not bad. Got back to camp in fairly decent time. Mother's letter had an enclosure of one from R.V. Mac. Feb. 7. Expecting to move any time. Gave an account of a party they had. Poor Mac. They are having no parties now. Hope they are O.K.

Workout down on the shore at Sandgate 9-11 A.M. Charley struck here just after we got back. Brought letters (applause) + magazines (cheers). "Life" was almost lost in the rush. The "Post" has been in constant use. Charley took me in to Folkestone to lunch. Some feed. Beef & Yorkshire pudding. Took a stroll on the "Leas" + went to Dover. Everything is Naval there. All very interesting. Saw an armored car. Naval dockyards. R.N.A.S. Garage. They have some fine cars. Foggy. Had tea in a swell little tea-room, inhabited chiefly by 2nd Lieuts. with downy mustaches. Took in a punk show & came back to Shorncliffe at 6.30. Ch. went right back to town & I came out to camp.

Up at 6 instead of 6.30 + an hours physical drill. Lots of bacon for breakfast. Foot drill & signalling on top of the cliff. - S.A. inspection 3 P.M. - Spurs & medical kit issued from stores, together with another muffler, pr. Wristlets + 3 prs. sox. Stayed in & read the "Post" & wrote letters all evening. "An evening at home".

Mild

Sunny in the morning. A bit cloudy & chilly in the afternoon. Bath parade to Folkestone 8.15 A.M. Took all morning. Felt 100% better afterwards. Inspection by Major General Babington at 2 P.M. Singalling for the rest of the afternoon. Went in town to tea with some of the fellows & to the "Pleasure Gardens" afterwards. We are living high these days, but will have to quit soon as money is running low and there is nothing but rumors as far as pay is concerned. Received calendars etc. from Charley.

Warm

Doing house kitchen fatigue with Pryme. We held up a milkman the other day & we have fine rich milk every morning now. Had an 8 mile route march out around the northwest part of the camp thro Hythe & Sandgate. Pretty hot by the time we got back. Poor Johnson cashed in this morning. Bronchitis. Nothing to do this aft. Did a little shopping & read all aft. Most of the fellows in town. Went in myself after tea + strolled round till about 8.30. Charley sent down a big map of Canada. The walls don't look quite so bare now.

Nothing but church parade. Lots of mail at the house when we got back. I rec'd 10 letters, so spent the aft. writing. It was such a nice day. Pete + I sat out on the hill overlooking the sea. It is very pretty around here. Ham + I went into town about 5 P.M. intending to go to church but had supper at Maestrini's which made us too late. Had quite a surprise when I saw Mel Knowles come in. He is a Lieut. in the 23rd Battn. Took a stroll on the Leas + then home.

Fairly warm.

Route march up on the Downs behind Caesar's camp. Some climb. My first pay parade this aft. I drew £2-18-8. Spurs issued also some more mufflers etc. + medical kit. Due to the fact that we were all flush and Monty is off Orderly Corp we had a little theatre party + had to take a taxi to get back in time for tatoo which is 9.30 now instead of 10. Very pleasant evening - with a few young yells + songs.

Tired. Had a 3rd Battery man to breakfast with us this A.M. - There are a bunch of 1st contingent men coming to Shorncliffe. - He did not know what to make of our quarters. Salisbury was simply hell. Was pulled out to detail the ceremonial to the firing party for Johnson's funeral this aft. - Poor fellow. It is too bad that a fellow after coming all this way could not croak with his boots on. - Knowles was over after parade. - Pryme can't stand prosperity.

Cold. My cough is bad + my head thick + throat sore. We went on sick parade + had to stand outside for an hour to get my pills. Feeling pretty punk.

Not so cold. - Turned out for parade. Got a parcel from home. - Books, spurs &c. + there is a lot of knitted stuff up in London for me. My cold is still pretty bad. It's the dust as much as anything that makes us cough so. We are having gun drill now - using the 18 pdrs. belonging to the depot batteries.

Foggy + rainy. - Lectures all morning. Saw two submarines off shore. They were slipping around all day as well as a couple of destroyers + cruisers. Don't know why. - Fuse setting this aft.

Beat it into town + got some stuff for my cough. Which is right as the deuce. - However it is not as bad as Salisbury cough. - Letter from R.V. Mac.

Warm & Bright. - Another route mch. They are alright when Chochrane is leading. - Had signalling on the downs back of the Sugar Loaf. - Stayed in all aft. + got shined up. - Ham's birthday so we had a little party at Maestrani. Still coughing.

Clear & warm. - Church parade 8.45. Had a letter from Hemming. - Thinks I could get a commission. - Spent the afternoon writing. - Took a run in to town to tea + walked back.

Bath parade at 7.15 - 10.30. Signalling. - Gun laying + signalling all aft. Got along pretty well with the laying. - Got a new pr. Of boots issued. - Beat it into town after supper + picked up a couple of pieces of hand painted china for mother + Hazel + also got a Ghurka tie for dad. + got them off on Can. mail - Should reach there for Easter.

Pay parade . - £3.0.0 - Hooray

Clear - warm

Received what I have been waiting for. - A corking fine photo of Hazel in a dandy little leather case. - Just fits my pocket. - Made me a little bit home-sick. - I wouldn't mind seeing the little girl herself + she looks as if she'd rather like to see me. I'd like to get a letter. There surely will be one soon. - Went in town + got buncoed. 12/00 for a suit of underwear. Had a bath + haircut.

Weather just as rotten to-day as it was nice yesterday. - Started in at foot drill but too wet. - Had lecture instead. Signalling on the beach this aft. + gun drill. I saw Marrill in a Highland officer's uniform. - Did not see me. - Stayed in all evening to polish up + write letters. Am thinking seriously of taking Hemmings advice + writing Col. English re a comm.

Foggy + cold

Kit inspection + vaccination. - Some Can. mail in camp but up to noon I have rec'd none. Should be some this aft. - It came O.K. + direct to camp - Two letters - One from each home.

Lectures + gun drill this aft. - Took some washing in to Folkestone. - Sat on Pete's bunk by the fire + talked for nearly an hour after lights out. Bought a clasp knife

Clear + cool - Route march - Roads heavy but pleasant withal - Went up on top of the Downs. - Could see the French coast quite plainly. More mail to-day. Poor Squibb. - Feeling a little blue because her dad has become too old for his job. Poor little girl. - I should be home to look after her somehow I hate to think of her having to get a position tho' I suppose she will be alright. - I'm mighty glad she + the folks pull so well. - I can tell they are fond of her.

Food drill + gun drill - Sammy on leave. - 2 aeroplanes + 2 destroyers. - Some sox from Mac's dad.

Long foot march. Went to the show with Art.

Dishwashing fatigue.

Walked out to Folkestone with Mac. - Went to the Baptist church.

Bunch of Can. mail.

Battery Parade. Went in town with Pete + Monty + Pring

Foot drills + signalling. Went down to Sandgate with Pring.

Laying. - Went over to the Palace in Cheriton with Moss.