July 1917

Cloudy.

DOMINION DAY. – This fact was duly impressed on Fritz at noon by three salvoes from all batteries on the Corps frontage. Not much pep to-day – Spent a quiet aft in the hut with "Dear Enemy". My mail consisted of one letter – Weltons bill – Eight quid odd. My June pay isn't going to help swell the little heap I managed to leave in the bank. – Two notices of cuts from the Pay office since I got back. – I need that other pip badly together with the dollar a day that goes with it. Still pounding away around LENS. – Quite a strafe early this morning. –

Clear - cool.

Foreman-of-Works – Quarter-master-serg't Grant went on leave to-day. – Naturally losing a man with a title like that means more work for the O.C & little Willie, but that won't kill us. – Borrowed a horse from the 215th & rode over to the DOMINION DAY sports at Corps with Stoneham & Salmond. – Some fair boxing after which Wells gave a three round exhibition with his sparring partner. A letter from Mrs. Scott enclosing snap taken at Crowborough three weeks ago. Shouldn't mind being back there.

Warm-close.

Nothing much doing all day. – Jack Oliver was around to get some stuff. – McCallum has taken Jeff McPhail's place at C.R.E.’s while Jeff is on leave. – When he gets back Mac is going to the 4th Co'y. – Mac has always been a damn good friend of mine otherwise I'd hate him like sin, or maybe worse. – Ed Garrow dropped in during the aft & asked me to dine with them at Mt. St. Eloi. – Sent a side-car round for me about 7.30 & gave me a very good dinner. – Col. Bell was down there from Corps. – & Major Critchley (10th – just a year ago I visited him in a 4' x 4' in SANCTUARY WOOD) – Maj. Gordon (O.C 4 A.S.P) – Maj. Webster – Durham & Duchesnay – Seven card stud & W.P. – Passed a very pleasant evening. – The Russians have come to life again & taken upwards of 10,000 prisoners, according to the "Daily Mail" – CAN MAIL in, – but not much – Temp a little higher

+65 (+230)

Dull – close – showery.

After being shipped home in the side car from #4 A.S.P. about day-light I managed to get some sleep in spite of various bands, pipe, brass & bugle that have their lairs in the chateau.

Nothing particular stirring round the yard. – The G.O.C.'s chairs are causing some trouble. – Trying to salvage some old web equipment for straps. Went down to "Cup" Yard this aft. to look over their stock. – Borrowed Peake's horse. – Had a few sets of Tennis with Junkin, Haigh & McCurdy. – They have a fine hard-cinder court. 250 Chinamen working down there make fine roustabouts. Maj. Trotter of the 12th F.C. has gone back to Canada – Bull Boswell should get his place. – Am going up to Aux Rietz with Peake demain matin to see the Co’y + have a talk with Pep.

Cool.

Went out with Peake in the side-car to Aux Rietz via Ablain & Souchez. – Tested hydrants at Ecurie, a busy spot now that rail-head is up there. – Saw Pep but didn't have much of a talk with him. – I don't know if it's any use trying to go back or not. – They are short handed just now as McKenzie got wounded about a week ago. – Boswell has some-thing up his sleeve. –

We came back to Aix-Noulette & Bouvigny. Fellowes is talking about getting leave the middle of the month so I may find some work on my hands if Grant is not back by then. Letter & cheque from Binns. We got the 215th inveigled into a wild game of "Sevens Up" tonight.

Warm.

NOTHING

A dud day.

Warm.

Nothing Particular. – A little letter-writing done. – Dunc Dewar & McCuaig were visitors to the yard. – Went over to Chateau La Haie & had tea with La Scott. – Saw the 116th lick the 43rd & that's all. – Just killed a skeeter. – Proofs from Lafayette's.

Showery.

Nothing particular stirring. – Visited 11th Co'y & had dinner. – 5th A.T. Co'y arr'd at VERDREL. Vince in command.

Warm.

Maj. Vince called in A.M. – Also Bob Hill. – Bruce Ross came in after lunch – Went back to 9th with him & had tea. – Most of the 5th A.T. Coy people were there. – Dawson, McCullagh, Adams. Went over to 11th after dinner & played "7's up" with Bob, Strong & Timmins. The kind was expected around this way to-day but didn't turn up.

Cool.

Getting a line on yard stock & system in case the skipper goes away. – Sandwiching in a little K.R. & O. by way of light summer fiction. – English mail only to-day. – Letter with enclosure from G. Turner. I wish it was a month ago. Had a Rugby ball out for awhile to-night – My wind is absolutely Napoo. – Fritz is putting over some big stuff again to-night.

Bosche pulled off an attack on Belgian front near the coast. – Took 1,200 prisoners + pushed the line back 600 yds. on 1,400 yd. Front. – K.R.R.'s lost heavily.

Cool.

Broke up the day by going over to Chateau La Haie to see the King & then missed him but it's his own fault as he didn't turn up on time. – Saw Billy Nick & Len Rainboth. – Skipper & I had lunch with Dunbar & Scotty. – Called on 8th F.C. on the way back. – Weighed in to-night after Teneau & I had our work-out. – Surprised to find I am only 136 - Thought sure I was over 140. Another big flock of prisoners taken on the Russian front. – Rumours say that everything is ready for another wallop up north. – The Navy will have a hand in it. The "Mail" hits at internal trouble in Germany. – The war may be over inside five years after all.

Warm.

Very little to report. – A chap down to the 215th to-day says that 10 days prelim. bombardment will start about 15th. – He is working round St. Jean.

Fritz brought down the CARENCY balloon this aft. + has been shelling round the next one all evening. The skipper has a rumour that Fritz took the initiative up north & has pushed us back to the YSER.

Warm.

Too fed up to write.

– The skipper's rumour proved true.

Hot & close

Slept mostly –

Salmond woke me up in time to have breakfast at a decent hour & I haven't got over it all day. We all attended the opening of the GOUY Theatre this evening. – Brig. Gen. Odlum officiated

Jolly good show. – Came back to the mess & played "sevens up".

Cool.

Alexander came over to lunch. – Afterwards borrowed Salmond's horse & went out. – Called on Maj. Vince at 5th A.T. & on down to BARLIN for tea. – Anna has gone & got married since we were down there last.

– The war is still in progress – RED Div'n on the move – Shifting over to left of Corps. – Corps H.Q. shifting to Ch'au Vick. – More parcels from home.

Warm.

Everything pretty dead. – No mail. Walked up on the Ridge this evening but there was nothing to see.

Warm.

Nothing stirring. – No mail.

In a nail-chewing mood.

– Took Salmond out for a walk after dinner & went over to the 11th. – Everyone getting inoculated.

Heavy showers all day.

Another "milestone" and all that sort of rot. – Take it all round it hasn't been such a bad year. – Two gold stripes & a bit of blue & white ribbon. – Each one was a surprise when it came. – Another star would have been acceptable but it is the things you're not expecting that you get. – I'm not expecting anything now, & the outlook isn't particularly bright. – Still, you never can tell from where you sit. – The chief came around this aft. with Col. Hughes – As usual played the wrong card. I probably don't know when I'm well off but I had a far rosier (tho' considerably more doubtful) outlook on life a year ago to-night, sitting behind the barricade in the cutting with my head in a sling. – Poor Drake, and little Cuzner – They didn't last so very long after that.

Neck – 36¼ cm (14.5")

Shoulders – 107 cm (42.8")

Chest – 90 cm (36) Exp'n 9¾ cm (3.9")

Waist – 74 cm (29.4")

Biceps – 30.5 cm (12.5")

F.Arm R. – 28.0 cm (11.2")

L – 27.0 cm (10.8 )

Wrist R. – 17.5 cm (7")

L. – 17¼ cm (6.9)

Thighs – 55 cm (22)

Calf – 34.5 cm (13.7")

Height – 1m71cm (5'8.4")

Weight – 60.5kg - 136 Ibs

Warm.

Nothing stirring. – Was expecting Bob Hill & Strong over to dinner but they didn't turn up. Had to amuse myself all day with the "Manual of Mil. Law" and Walker's book on Gas & Oil Engines.

Warm.

Nothing much doing all morning. – Borrowed Salmond's "Grace" to ride over to BARLIN this aft. – Got photos & finding that the 2nd were at "Fosse 7" proceeded thither. – Found Alex in bed with a twisted knee. – Had dinner with them. – Maj. Spence, Strachan, – Capt. Sills & two or three others. – Got back around 9. – Also met young Dave Black. – Has been with 2nd on H.Q. staff for a year. – A letter from home but one measly card was all that turned up from Hazel. – Guess I'm turned loose.

Warm.

Nothing much doing so went down to ARRAS with Sutherland to get some stuff for the gardens. – French Mission have the old gardens in fine shape down there. Had a gorge of cherries and brought back a thousand assorted leeks, letting & cabbage. –Bummed our lunch from the 352 E. & M. Co’y. – Came back via ECURIE. – They have a very neat little station in the old distillery there. – Ingersoll-Rand compressor for air-lift in deep well. No mail.

Fine.

Nothing doing

Had a letter from Ted Smyth & a stale one from home. – Meant to do some writing but didn't get to it. – Had a couple of sets of tennis with Capt Stoneham. – The O.C. was over at the 8th playing golf so wandered over there after dinner. – Len Smith was down from Pop. – They are running lines up around the Bluff now.

Another strafe tonight. – Fritz has been drifting the odd shell into the back country all day. Back as far as Aire they say.

Warm.

Must have been something on last night. – A few prisoners came down this A.M.

Played a couple of sets with Carless. – In my usual form. – Doc. Rankin was around, large as life.

Warm & sticky.

Very little stirring. – Went around to see Doc. Rankin this aft. – Sat and drank orangeade under his vine & fig tree. – Later we wandered out to Ablain & visited Fred Sinclair who is out there I/C 4th Div. San. Sec.

Thunderstorms.

Spent the morning mapping.

P.M. – Borrowed Grace & road down to Cup. – Bull Boswell has taken over there but is in hospl at FRESNICOURT with fever.

Fine.

Gus is very busy designing a monument to be erected on the Ridge in memory of the 9th. – He is now generally spoken of as "the tombstone maker." Went over to #12 Fld. Amb. with Doc. Rankin & had tea. – Met Col. Bell & Foxy Reid. We attended the movies in Gouy Hippodrome. GR Div. going in FR. BL Div. out. Russians still retreating.

Hot & close.

A couple of sets of tennis with Gus before lunch. Walked over to FRESNICOURT to see Bull. – Rather warm. – Found him a trifle fed up & discussing ways & means with McDiarmid (13th). – Had tea with them. – Bull suggested my transferring to the 2nd A.T. which has been rather in my mind too. – Still I don't know that he would press it with the Col. – He's in about the same position re promotion as l am. Came back via Verdrel & the 5th A.T. Co'y. – Vince dined me well & shipped me home in a side car.

Hot & Close

Went over to #12 Fld. Amb. & had Capt. Walt fill the big one & three others. – Decided it was two hot to go out to Ablain to see Sinclair. – Lay around the hut all aft. & tried to keep cool while Sutherland discussed what he was going to do on leave. News of a new job to-night. – To be attached to 2nd A.T. Co'y & look after horse-standings. – Don't know anything further but it listens well.

Showery.

Feeling rotten. – Bilious. – Brick sent a side-car up for me so went down after lunch. – Went around to the C.R.E.'s and got the dope on the new work

Dull - Drizzly

Nothing doing till Brick sent the side-car around for me after lunch. – Ran down to Fresnicourt to see Bull but as he had gone out for a walk I caught him at the 5th A.T. – We discussed plans for making the new mess a live one.

– Calling at the Town Major's office, BARLIN, & not finding him in, made up my work for the day – save that I went around by the C.R.E.'s & got a couple of maps from Jeff. – Dined at Cup

Considerable strafing going on all day. – Rumours that the show up north has started. – Evidently from what the papers say the artillery fire is getting pretty heavy.

Fair, to rain at night.

Spent the morning going round BARLIN. Lunched at the new camp. – Spent most of the aft in McCurdy's hut reading a book of his till he drove me back here in time for tea. Trying to hit up the 350th for a water-supply direct to the camp. – Going to move tomorrow so spent the eve’g clearing up arrears of correspondence.

Everyone seems pretty certain that the war is on up north & going satisfactorily.

Comm'que 2.8.17 "In conjunction with the Fr. trps. operating on our left we attacked at 3.50 this morning. – N. of R. Lys."

"Ops. successfully pursued all day in spite of bad weather. – advanced our line on 15 mile front" STEENSTRAET, BIXSCHOOTE, HOLLEBEKE and HOOGE taken.