March 1917

ETAPLES – Le TOUQUET

Arrived ETAPLES about 2.30 A.M. – Long ambulance ride to come place with high ceilings, pretty lights, mirrors & paintings – Got nicely settled in to bed & asleep when I was chased off to have bath & then lie around to wait for brekker – Had a chance to look round & found out that the establishment was #1 B.R.C. Hospl. – The Duchess of Westminster’s. The M.O. didn’t have much to say but is going to x-ray me.

The Padre came around & told me I would be for Blitey. The Hospl. is not very full. – A good bunch of sports around. – Allen is in the same ward. (C.) – The fellow in the next bed is a Cavalry man. – VI D.G.s – out since Mons. – Broken ankle. – He gets out in a wheel chair. – Got fed up with bed by noon so hooked a bath robe + went for a stroll in the garden.

It’s a very pretty place.

Fine

Wondering all night what has been doing up the line + whether the Divn went over. Things are certainly stirring. 13 villages taken around BAPAUME + troops have gone beyond. – French have made a successful attack in the vicinity of ROYE & the OISE. – The usual rumour about that the cavalry have gone thro' (Indians this time) at BAPAUME – Don't think the time for that has arrived yet. Took Compton down on the front morning + aft. – Rugger match with Fluffy, Mantha + Riley. - Tea in C kitchen+ went to church. – Had a letter from the major. - He asked Div. to give me 10 days spcl. leave. Casey has gone over to Blitey as instructed at the C.E.T.D. – Seems I lost my chance.

Fair to drizzle.

We seem to be winning

Cold - Clear

Evacuated. – for "Base" duty. Left Hospital – 2.30 P.M. for Base Details Camp – ETAPLES. Entrained – 9.30 P.M. for LE HAVRE Got rather a jolt when the M.O told me I was going to-day. Poor old Compton was very fed up about it. – Got my first mail from home just before leaving – a parcel. Fine & cold for the trip down. – Neale (Capt. R.F.H.) the only man from Hospl. going down with me.

Arr'd ABBEVILLE 2.00 A.M. – left 8. Managed a cup of washy tea - a Romsct [Romescamp] about 9.00. Struck the outskirts of ROUEN at 2.00 P.M. + finally pulled out of ROUEN STN at 5.00 pm. Arr'd HARFLEUR 9.45 pm.

Camp Adjt. 10.30 P.M. Can. Base Camp 10.59 P.M. – Dead tired, cold, hungry & dry. – Felt ready for hospital again. Luckily got a bunk in a hut, with a couple of decent scouts. – Ellis, 2nd. & Chester, 15th. – Put Ellis to bed by way of introduction.

Met Kelly at brekker. – Just over with one or two others for the Pats. Seems to be nothing to do here but censor mail. Reported to the Adj. as "active" can't stick it here very long even if I do have to go sick as soon as I go up. Went into LE HAVRE with Ril, Jack Almon + McCourtney. – Met Alex, – Baker, out again as Capt. with 83rd Bty under Lancaster. Had "dinner" in town.

Kel & I went in town + bought some stuff at Ordinance. Tea & dinner at Tortonis Crutch Little, Ross Taylor + a bunch of others arr'd from St chiffes.

Practically the same round. – Blew in to town + took a walk along the waterfront. Soon got tired + took a car back. – Me + Kell + the bunch at Tortonis for dinner. Also Campbell, R.F.A.

[Written at the bottom of March 23, 24, 25] MY IMPRESSION OF THE CAN. B.D. – A rum place, at present inhabited by a rum crew, – Chief pastime: absorbing rum. One rises in the morning (if hungry & energetic) in time for breakfast. Otherwise one stays between the blankets (I only hope the last man to use mine wasn't crumby) until the enemy activity on the short rifle range calls for "Five Rounds, Rapid" several times. – One then rolls over a couple of times & finally emerges from the blankets to draw on a few clothes & be present at "Stand to" at 11.00am. – Providing that one has been energetic & risen early, the time between brekker & "Stand-to" is spent CENSORING. – If one is an old hand he probably slips out & leaves it to the greener hands who painstakingly plod thro' reams & reams of epistles in search of information that may be of use to the enemy. – Some of them seem to enjoy it. – "Stand down" at 12.00 is followed by preparation for the "assault". – The first sitting for lunch being at 12.30 & the train to town leaving at 1.45 PM everyone is keen on the first sitting. – If you miss the train there is a tram from Harfleur every 20 min. – Great fun riding on French trams. – You can travel 1st or 2nd class or stand on the platform. - There is very little to do in LE HAVRE. – Play billiards, go to the cinema. – Tea at Topsy's or Tortoni's. – Dinner & then it's time to catch the 10 P.M. tram. – Out to camp, sign in. – close the mess & go to bed.

Nothing to Report.

Went in town to tea at Topsy's with Alex + came out to dinner. Purchased some puttee

Spasms of rain.

Nothing to Report.

Played billiards all afternoon with Alex + Kennedy.

Tea at the Nurse's Home, #1 Can. Stationary. – Can. Sisters seem to have a much better time of it than the Imperials or Red X. – Col. Worthington was over there. He's a light-footed old sport when it comes to dancing. Had a bit of a game this ev’g with Ham Roberts, Curtis, Alex.

Nothing to Report

Warned to stand by for moving. That means liable to go sometime next week suppose. Went in on the train with Alex & Kennedy. – They went to the cinema while I got a hair-cut. Tea at Topsy's – Alex & I stayed to dinner & caught the 8.50 out. Met Lou Marsh in Tortoni's.

RAIN

Nothing to Report.

Dunc Dewar came in from hospital. Must have been a lot of shifts recently. Boney Matheson is back & running the 2nd. – Junkin has an A.T. Co'y. We went in to Ordinance again & did what I could to supplement my depleted kit. Missed the train so had to taxi out.

Showery

Up to go today. – Rather too bad as the C.O. had arranged for a bit of a dance this aft. and just as we pulled out a drove of his civvy friends blew in so I missed a chance for a few free French lessons. – Tramped over to the camp commandants, 4pm mostly in the rain & after waiting for a while they produced a bus to take us down to the harbor. – Mighty glad I escaped being made a conducting officer, as it's a long tramp down there. – A big bunch going up. – about 1800 all ranks to the corps. – The usual tangle with the RTO – An efficient RTO can ball things up as well as anyone I know. 1st Din people unlucky to have to go to the end of the train rode up last. ∴ we were in dirty 2nd class. – After shifting around several times Curtis (13th Bty) + I finally got settled in a carriage with Call (the pianist) & Airth. – The train trickled off about 9.15 P.M. – Stretched out on the seat + as I had brought a blanket along was not too uncomfortable at all.