May 1917

Fine & warm Labyrinth

Up with the birdies to get the gang busy on the HQ huts. – Rushed the work all day to find out on completion that they are not going to occupy them. – Divn will be relieved in a couple of days. – C.R.E. is satisfied Fritz has been busy all day, dropping incendiary shells around the dumps at Thelus. – Set off a good deal of Ammunition but the gunners were letting him know this evening that we still had lots left. – Sounded like a counter attack. Lots of excitement to-day. – Someone built an incinerator on an old French bomb store near the caves. – It went up. – Mt. St. Eloi was shelled with heavy stuff this A.M. – Thought they were too far back. – They will be soon.

+30 (-55)

Fine & warm Labyrinth

Nothing particular stirring. – Took a walk up to AUSBURGER to see Capt. Lynn. – 1st Bde. going after FRESNOY to-morrow morning. – Ben Bate, Pennock, Holloway & Staples all in for the show. – Seems like damn foolish to risk so many sappers in the attack when they're bound to need them later. Went over to the 3rd & took in the Y.M. show with Major Pep. – Had dinner with the bunch. – Fritz had a plane around trying to bomb HQ without much luck. Seems to have been a party on during my absence.

Hot C.R.E. – Labyrinth

1st Bde went over at 3.45 A.M. & took FRESNOY objectives as per schedule. – IIDiv held up till 3 P.M. on left & on the right the Il Imp. Div are still trying to get OPPY. – The G.O.C. is as pleased as can be & good reason. – We are the only Divn in France that has taken their objectives right thro' without a hitch. – Lynn is coming in for a lot of publicity owing to the fine disposition reports the boys up forward are sending down. – Theirs were the first reports in & Divn sent them straight to Corps. – Lesson for the day - "When doing anything for Hdqrs, be liberal with the eyewash." –

Pennock wounded. – Leg broken.

Posted to PB unit but no one knows where it is.

+80 (+25)

Hot & close Labyrinth

1st co'y moved to MAISNIL BOUCHE. Lunch at "B" mess with Wilkes.

Spent the day marking maps. 2nd Coy moved back to Labyrinth. Heavy counter attacks on FRESNOY last night. Further progress N.W. of St Quentin.

Hot & Close – Showers & stormy at night. Laby.

Div. moved to BRUAY – Wasn't wise or I would have gone with them instead of sticking with #2 & going to MAISNIL BOUCHE – Suppose I'll shift along anyhow as soon as Divn gets settled again. – Cut down kit some more. – Am ditching the Wolesely in favor of the Kapok cover. The valise was the heaviest part of the kit. – Went for a long walk to-day revisiting scenes of childhood in the SOUCHEZ sector. - Very few land-marks remain. – The French must have lost heavily taking this ground – The evidence is still lying strewn around Saw McNab at 2nd Heavies. Lord Curzon says the end of the war is not yet in sight. – We should worry we have them moving. – Sounds like there is something doing up there now especially round ACHEVILLE 3rd Coy – Eng. shelters to MAIS. BOUCHE Had a poor evening, must visit the 1st Co'y tomorrow night.

-132 (-102)

Cooler. Labyrinth to MAISNIL BOUCHE More or less nobodys darling to-day. – Got packed up & hiked it cross-country for the want of a nag. – This business of not belonging to anyone has its disadvantages. – However it was a nice morning for a walk & I blew in to the 3rd about noon. – Boswell had seen Fellowes at Gouy & told me that was the place for me to go. – Decided to visit the 3rd for a day but feel like a tramp wandering from one co'y to another. Rode over to 4th Divl Engrs with Cummings this aft. Nothing stirring this eve'g till Hertzy came in about 11 & insisted on starting a game. – I quit at 1.00 - went to bed.

Fine. MAISNIL BOUCHE

Made a couple of fruitless attempts to see Fellowes at Gouy. Great event of the day. – We played a ball-game with the 4th Div. people and by some miracle licked them.

Binns & Bate formed a battery that they couldn't fool with. – Thank goodness there were no hits to right field where I was turned loose but all the same I managed to star by over-running bases – Bert Sargent was around there for a while.

Rain to fine. MAISNIL to GOUY

Good heavy spring shower last night and this morning is bringing things on fine. – Made the shift today and am very fed up. – Located Fellowes at last & moved over to GOUY park this aft. – Don't know why it should bother me so much to shift. – Goodness knows I've been moving around enough lately to get used to it. – It wouldn't be so bad if there was congenial gang to mess with. – Have no mess of our own + are hashing with an R.E. – A.T. Co'y. – Consists of the O.C. – a capt. (don't think he is a pukka R.E. but he sort of makes out he is) a very talkative "‘terp." – 3 one-pippers. – One a decidedly garrulous chap, one a quiet but cheerful sort + the other quite a decent sort too. – The whole bunch may be O.K. when you get to know them, but tonight I guess I'm just plain home-sick. – Parting with Mclement was the cruelest wrench of all. – Especially when he told me the section had been hoping I was coming back to them.

Fine. GOUY - SERVINS

Took over the arduous duties of 2nd in command. – Consisted chiefly of censoring & walking out to CARENCY & back with S.H. – That itself was a good day's work. – Bill Lindsay was around the yard this aft. with the C.E. of the Portuguese army. – Told him I'd soon be ready to go back to the Field Co'y & I will. – Went home to dinner & spent the evening helping entertain #2 Co'y.

– The Bosche retook Fresnoy early yesterday A.M. & it's a damn shame. – He's making a stiff fight to hang on to the hinge of his retirement & if that goes he will too, for a good bit N. of LENS.

Quite a strafe on tonight, around SOUCHEZ it seems.

-55 (-157)

Warm. – GOUY

Nothing doing. – The 15th are next door to us here so went & had lunch at #2 Co'y with Reeves. – Maj. Grant, Brown, Cosby. – Saw Morton, Mike Turnbull – Robertson – Worthington. They have a tennis court in full swing. Lay around & watched them play most of the aft. – Then came back & loafed in my little Armstrong. – Cooper has the place fitted up beautifully. – He'd be an ideal batman if he were not quite so gifted in the conversational line. No particular war news in to-day. – Did hear that FRESNOY had been retaken. – Some people are very windy regarding the possibility of Russia backing out & Fritz being able to bring more troops to the Western front. – Personally I don't think he has such a deuce of a lot in the East altho’ it is a long line. Was going to Maisnil after dinner but it looked rather showery so stayed in the mess & played solitaire. – I'll go off my nut if those REs don't stop talking about valves & tanks. – The "shop" is awful.

Hot. Gouy

No excitement. – Took Peake & Tenou over to MAISNIL to see a ball game that didn't materialize. – Jeff McPhail came in to lunch. – Was telling us how easy it is to get Paris leave. – Have been figuring that the chances of Blitey leave are rather slim, so put it up to Joe Harryat this aft. "should we pass ourselves on Paris" – He's on, providing we can get away together. – Not much fun setting out alone to a strange place. Exciting ball game between 13th & 15th offrs. this eve’g. This business of dinner at 8 or later gets my goat. Bill was suggesting that we run a mess of our own, but am afraid it is hardly feasable[sic] for two.

Hot & close. Gouy

Boswell was over this morning. – Great preparations being made for the dinner they are going to give the G.O.C. after the inspection on Monday. – Slept most of the aft. –

Went over home for dinner & had a small game in the #1 Co'y mess. Bolton went away to PERNES to-day. – Corps school Nice evening now tho’ a bit close.

Wrote Welton & Head to ship out my glad rags.

+7(-150)

Hot & close

Nothing stirring. – Walked over to MAISNIL BOUCHE thi aft & then on down to Corps. H.Q. – Saw Jeff McP. & got the correct line of dope for applying. – Came back to #1 Co'y. stayed to dinner & spent what turned out to be a most enjoyable evening.

Joe had a letter from Lofty, who has made Blitey – It sure makes me sore to think I chose the wrong time to go to hospital. – Still I should worry, I'm saving coin here (?) maybe. & I have a soft job. – Jack Calvin's Capt'cy gazetted so that leaves me 5th on the list. – If I stick around a year or so may put up another pip myself.

+155 (+5)

Cooler – showers

Last night's rain cooled things off a bit. Went over and sat under a tree with the glasses, watching the G.O.C. inspect three Fld Coy's – He seemed a bit more cheerful than he was at Watten last August – He has every reason to be. – Visited #1 Co'y again this ev'g. The bunch in the mess are improving decidedly upon acquaintance.

+65 (+70)

Fine.

1st Divl Engrs. Field Sports this aft. – Scott won individual champ'shp & #1& #2 tied for Co'y aggregate. – The dinner was a big success too. – Forty present. – Dragged a bit at the start but livened up later on. – Among those present – Genl. Lindsay, Col. McPhail – Sutherland, Brown, – Tommy Irving – Canon Scott – Maj. Rolston – Pat. Goldie – Padre McGrier – Maj. Bennet, O'connor, Wilgar, Dunbar, Fether, – Wilkes, Jeff McPhail – Maj. Foss & I starred as dancers. – Rolston was telling me of a vacancy on the C.E.'s staff & that he had spoken to the Gen'l about getting me down there – shouldn't mind a bit. Jim Stock had bad news from home – may have to go back. Cummings gave me a couple of blankets & bedded me down over there. The count is talking about going to Paris with us.

Chilly with rain.

Got back to the yard in time for brekker. – Felt more like sleeping than reading the boys' letters. – Nothing to report – It's turned rather cold again, + raining hard. – Was over at the Co'y this aft. for a while. – Visited the 3rd Tok Emmers Beers after dinner & had an awful time getting back it was so dark.

Dull & damp.

Nothing to report

C.R.E. went on leave.

Maj. Rolston was in to tea – Said no more about my going to Corps so expect it was a washout. – Sapho Hill has been evacuated to England – McCuaig is running the 3rd A.T. Co'y & as he is next on the list will probably get his step, – as Rex Calvin is still in England. – That leaves Fether top man & he should get his at corps so that if things work out right I should get a star the next time there is a vacancy in a company. Stock got away to Canada to-day so that just leaves Fether, Cassells, Page, Pope & myself out of the 12 of us that came out on 3/1/16 – Cassells is in England on command – Pope went to an Inf. Bgde 6 mos ago.

Fine.

Joe and I finally decided to make PARIS our destination and rode down to Corps this aft to put in my application. – Had it all written out and left it on McPhails desk when Maj. Rolston told us that Blitey leave was opening up. – That tore it. – We have decided to try + make that together. – Possibly Ireland as Joe has friends there. – 1st Bgde played ball with the 3rd Bde this aft + lost. – Poor exhibition. – Just a collection of [?] hats present. American destroyer fleet operating with the Grand Fleet now.

Warm

Phoned divn to enquire about Joe's chances for leave – They had no word of it opening. Went over to Maisnil Bouche + played with Boswell + Greening for a while. – Joe came back with me + we took in the 15th Bt show. Glad-rags arrived from England.

Hot.

Everyone taking it fairly easy to-day. – Told Joe last night that I'd ride into BRUAY with him this aft. – Sorry I was so rash, but went over to the billet. Called a conference with him + Bull. Finally compromised on BARLIN whither we proceeded forthwith. – It was lovely riding down thru the woods. – Could just imagine you were coming down old Mt. Royal. Staples got away on leave.

Cloudy

Couple of swallows siting a new home in the mess. – Luck for someone. Nothing particular stirring. – Demonstrated poker to Salmond all aft. – Bill Green blew in to tea & I went back to dinner with him. After dinner Mike + Bill wandered over to Maisnil with me. – Squire has them tent-pegging now. – He sure is a live wire. – Saw Wilson back from hospl. – The Maj. called me in for a bit of a confab. – Told me I was still on the strength of the Coy + he had put my name in for leave. – Reciprocated by telling him that if I was still on the strength it was time for me to come back as they are short handed now. – He advised me to make a bid for my Captcy & mentioned that Maj. Trotter of the 12th might be going to England. – Macdonald has turned down the command of the 12th so if T. goes it might mean a step for Boswell in which case there would be a vacancy for capt. in #3 but there – that's far enough.

RAIN.

Good heavy shower most of the night. C.E. has asked Fellowes whether I'm fit to go back to Field Co'y work yet or not. – Maj. Pep. says that there has been no capt. in #4 Co'y since Sandy McPhee left & that Stock was slated for it. – Now that he is gone it seems as tho’ I am it. – Don't like the idea of leaving the Div but you soon get used to anything in the Army. – Joe came over this aft & we tried to get hold of Wilkes by phone to find out about leave. – Couldn't catch him. – B–y is a poor place for an Adjt. – Joe seems to think that the Isle of Man is the place now. – Personally I'm game for anything. – I know we could have a good time at B’mouth but am afraid to risk it. – Have just been answering the letter that arr'd yesterday. – Imagine they have had a cold wave in MH – Must try + locate Ernie one of these days + get some gossip.

Warm.

Went over & watched Byng inspect the three Field Co'ys – He didn't miss anything & called them on their Inf. drill. – Stayed to lunch at #3. Mentioned to the Maj. the possibility of there being a vacancy for capt. in the Co'y if Bull gets a step. – He's always said he'd like to have me back so told him I shouldn't mind missing my turn if I thought I would stay in the Divn. – Haryett's leave will not come thro' for a while yet as his special counts. – Half decided to go to PARIS again, but if there is any chance of getting to England I should take it & get that lodge stuff fixed up. –

Hot.

VICTORIA DAY.

Nothing stirring. – Went over to #1 for tea & played ball till Binns wallopped me in the eye with one then I quit. – Visited Reeves at #2 Co'y. 15th. – Had a bit of a game with Futcher Cosby et al.

-30 (+40)

Hot.

Wakened up at 4.30 by the Archies chasing away a bosche plane, directly over-head & the off shrapnel case could be heard dropping fairly ajacent. (that's wrong, I know it) – They bombed around Cup last night & shot up the Arras-Bethune road with M.G.'s – They will be back too as the moon gets brighter. – Only hope they don't blow the barbed pile thro’ the hut. – That's the worst of a bomb-proof job you've no nice dug-out to run to. Feeling frightfully energetic to-day. – Studied F.S. Pkt book all morning. – By way of Exercise Peake taught me to play cribbage & then we went out & tossed horse-shoes. Went over to the Co'y for a while this eve’g. – Did a bit of jumping & tried my hand at spearing the elusive tent-peg without much luck.

Hot.

Nothing stirring all day. – Winter 1st A.T. co'y was in to lunch. – Law around all aft. Went over to #3 for dinner & riding class after. – Had a few jumps & managed to hit a peg to-night. Langford's M.C, came thro. Had a bit of a game in #1& they got back at me a bit. – Air raid in England by planes yesterday. – Outside of that the war seems to be mostly on the Italian front. – A lot of Br. guns down there. – The O.C. tells me my captcy is coming thro'. – So did Lynn.

-45 (-5)

Hot.

Tenau & I started our P.T. course this A.M. Goodness knows I need it. – Soft as putty from the waist up. – A bit of padding would help that. Walked over to Chateau la Haie this aft. to see Cockerell. – Had tea with Underhill & Bressey at Bgde. – Didn't go over for Maj. MacIntosh's class tonight. – They've started having dinner at a respectable hour here so stayed in. – Went over later to spear the peg & poke the pictures. – A great stir has been caused by the Corps Sen'ry list is to be replaced by one in which date of sailing from Can. will be the datum line.

+45 (+40)

Cool & showery.

Nothing much doing. – Geo. McCallum & Ormie Stitt dropped in about 11am. – Rolston & McPhail also were around. – McP said leave would be thro' about the 4th. Corps massed pipe-bands – 300 strong played at Corps HQ for the C-in-C. after retreat. – The ground in front of the Chateau was use & was admirably suited for such a spectacle. – We all went over & consequently were late for dinner again. – Trekked over to #1 & am evidently unlucky in love from the way they were running to-night.

+135 (+175)

Warm.

Was figuring on taking a trip up forward to try & locate Ernie, till Joe blew over & suggested a hike to Béthune. – We hit out about 10.30 & got back in time for a late tea. – Travelling on a varied assortment of cars & lorries. – Very dusty. Joe Stayed to dinner & I went with him afterwards to let them get back at me. – Still running strong – Positively cruel out but I hadn't the heart to go after them & I played like a fish. Fellowes was over & as Hertzy is back with the Co'y it developed into a bit of a party. – Hertz kept rubbing in the 2nd Div. stuff so I guess it is an established fact that I'm going to the 4th.

-10 (+165)

Warm.

Nothing particular on. – Stayed in all day thinking Cockerell might be over. Squire was over for a while this aft & Béthune – 2 H.B. was around too. – Went over to Maisnil thinking to have a farewell dinner with the Co'y & found them all preparing to give Maj. Mcintosh a parting "bon". – Quite a nice little party. But thank goodness the Divn is going back in the line & I won't have any friends to ruin my health with high living.