November 1917

Chillsome

Following the style of the late Mr. Pepys. –

“I spent the entire day in the V Corps Park. – Having censored and franked the mail of the company I lunched with Messrs. Sewell, Bridges and Sam Soothill of the Chinese Labour Corps, after which Mr. Soothill returned the compliment by lunching with me in the mess. – A great deal of interest was taken in the ceremony of "Tapping the Keg" at which Mr. Winter officiated with great skill. – Owing to the thoughtlessness of a sapper sub of the 48th Div. who came looking for material (ruddy optimist) I was forced to return to the yard without my accustomed after luncheon nap. Mr. Redelsperger, of the French Mission was our guest at dinner tonight, after which we indulged in the old pastime known as "draw" – I will draw a curtain.

– Intelligence to-day give us the news that CANADIAN CORPS HAS TAKEN ALL OBJECTIVES ON THE PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE."

-35

Rain – Fair & cool.

Lunched with Redelsperger at the club. Read the riot act to one of Flux's men about contravention of censorship rules. Carless came down. – II Corps is moving on Fri. so he is coming to live with us.  – Intended to give my luck a rest to-night but was inveigled to play  – No more news from up north but looks like corps is coming back.

-4

Rain etc.

Once more spent the entire day in the yard. – The O.C. has informed me of his intention to put all yard work under my control from tomorrow. – Indeed a heavy task for my young shoulders. – The Chinese labour is becoming very poor – they are being spoiled. – The addition of the men from Gouy to the yard strength should be of great value, but I fear me it will be the reverse, if anything. – They have been having too easy a time of it. Received a bunch of "Daily”s from Harry Grimsdale to-day. – Campus news about the same as ever but the outside news! – Lord, what a split up the old crowd has had and the crowd that have gone west. Tradition makers everyone of them. – They have set standards that should stir up the Freshmen for years to come. Once more, after dinner was I tempted to count the chips + once more I was unsuccessful. & now the gentle Cooper having heated water, I shall bathe. – The French papers have it to-day that Russia has quit cold.

Raw – cold.

Tryon brought the Gds. Divn. Supply Officer in to brekker. – They are in Reserve somewhere near here.

Fine – Frosty

Just to vary the monotony Tryon & I jumped on the 2.10 and went as far as MAROEIL. – We walked back via ETRUN and the ARRAS - ST. POL Road. – Called on a friend of T's who runs the tyre press and watched them knock a few off.

– Capt. Laurie & Salmond came in to tea and stayed to dinner after which Murray performed some more of his wonderful card tricks.  – C.C.H.Q. should be back in a week.

Fine & crisp.

Nothing much doing to-day. – Big Bill & Rolston were at Camblain. – Somehow got to thinking I'd like a trip home to-day. – Don't know why – just got to thinking about it. – Almost continual strafing going on up front. – Fairly heavy about dusk – Either there is some activity or the people in the line are a windy lot – Murray expected a friend to dinner. (Tobin - R.T.O. - Aubigny) but as he didn't turn up they are playing bridge.

Fine.

Allen & Stockbridge – Gds. Div. S.C. in to lunch. – I like Allen. – He's a pukka English gentleman I should think. Sewell also came up to lunch. The O.C. & Murray went back to Aubigny with A&S. – Brought back a load, oysters & fish. – Took a run over to Camblain this aft. – more for the walk than anything. Saw Gus & went over his various jobs. Copious strafing going on all the time up front. – Also copious rumours. – Heavy casualties list in "CANADA" to-day. – Talbot Papineau killed. – Makes you fed up with the whole business when fellows like that go, and you think how they will be missed when it's over. Tommy Irving died of wounds. – He was a good sport & a man worth knowing. – Wonder who will get his place. – Dunbar or Bogart probably.

-15

Fine.

Very little doing. – A few cars in. Some chaps in from 16 squadron looking for material. – Don + Ferguson. – Drove me over to Viller + I walked back. – No mail. Tobin, R.T.O. Aubigny came down to dinner. – We made Murray change his seat to advantage. Winter went on leave.

-2

Fine.

Winter being away I didn't wake up too early. Wandered in the yard and listened to Bridges ravings till I got fed up so went over to the club with Murray. – Saw the cas. list in the times. – Bill Morris & Jack Almon both gone west. – McCartney wounded. – Pat's have evidently been knocked about. Bob McCaulay also among the wounded. Tyron & I took another trip to MAROEIL this aft & walked back. – Called at the field cashier's. Salmond in to tea. – No mail.

+8

Dull.

Allen & Stockridge in this morning. – Moving tomorrow. Bond. – #2 Forest Party also in.

Took Peake nag out for a bit of an exercise after lunch. – First time top side a horse in three months.

Capt. Laurie in to tea & dinner. – Also spent the evening & four francs. Cummings name in the Cas. list. – Letter from Pete says it is a Blitey. – Also said old Bowles died of wounds. I hope it is a mistake. Some of Murrays old crowd in this aft. –They are moving too. – Of course every outfit that moves these days is "bound for Italy". – The "Mail" puts the Bosche 15 miles from Venice so they had better hurry.

+39

Fine.

Got off some much delayed mail home.

Visited the club with Murray & Eddy at noon. Junkin came in to lunch. – Took Peake's nag out again this aft. – Went over to BRAY & saw a rugger match. Sewell came over to dinner.

Dull.

Young Whiting was in the yard this A.M. – Confirmed report of Bowles death. – Co'y at ABLAIN – Must get over to see them. 215th played 172 Tun. Co'y this aft. near La Targette. – Rode Peake's nag up & P. drove Eddy in the side-car.

172 have a fine mess entertained us to tea & dinner. – Massey Baker is with them but was up forward. – A merry evening as they sport a piano & two gramaphones.

– Beat Peake home.  The O.C. payed the Co'y their xmas money to-day & they celebrated.

Dull.

Nothing much doing.

Tryon got orders to transfer to Noeux-les-Mines. – We're all damn fed up about that. Capt. Laurie came in to dinner & spent the evening. The chinks have about reached the limit as regards slacking. – They know they have a good thing and are playing it. – Sewell & bridges can do absolutely nothing.

Drizzly

Gus came in this morning with a yarn about several Divs. hopping the bags down Cambrai way, very successfully. Roston & Ormy Stitt blew in this aft. with a repetition of the yarn adding 400 tanks, – cavalry – and flocks of prisoners. Murray went out to dinner with his old crowd so the rest of us wrote letters this eve’g. Malcolm has come out as C.R.E. 4th.

Rain.

Tryon's successor arrived. – A very mild-mannered chap from up near Pop. Nothing much more about the 3rd Army show except that all goes well. – leave it to Byng for that. Big Bill payed the yard a visit to-day – Didn't see him. – Giving all my time to Conan Doyle and his history of the war. Eddy got away to-night after a heartbreaking farewell. Murray has brought up a pal. – Capt. Burt of the Civil Services Rifles to spend the night.

Nothing much doing.

Dunbar & Scotty were round this morning. Ed. Garrow drifted in this aft. from Auchel.

Fine.

Lots of Xmas mail going home.

Rode over to Ch. la Haie this aft. – Came back via Villers and looked round the old place. – Somehow or other Villers seems like an old home to me.  – Saw Wilkes & Hertzy at Div.  – We had to speak to Wheeler about the rations to-day. – I guess it was a mistake on Cooper's part that caused it. – Just the same W. is rather a frost after Eddy. – Peake suggested the old game of Pontoon as being suitable for four.

+9

Blustery.

F.W.Q.M.S. Grant shifted down from Gouy. Smeed Bull was down. Went for a short ride this aft but too windy to be decent. Sewell & Sam called for me and we breezed over to Acq. in a tender. Met a couple of their pals of the 19th Bn (Capt. Melanson & the M.O.) – The old lady made us omelettes so we stayed the evening. – Sam played & Mel sang. Called at the club on the way back it gets quite a lot of patronage. – Also called on Murray.

Wind & sleet.

Fine brisk morning. – Rushed the mail & took Venus out for a canter. Up round Mt. St. Eloi & back thru BRAY – Came up pretty stormy after lunch so the fire looked good to all of us. Spent the aft finishing of Conan Doyle's "History" – Laurie & Salmon came in to dinner so we initiated Salmon.

-6

Cold – Wind

Pretty near froze before Cooper got the fire lit this A.M. – Nothing much else to report. Went to MAROEIL with Murray & tramped back. No mail. – Held down a chair by the fire. Turning to rain to-night

Rain. – Blustery

Very little to report.

Wrote my Xmas letters home this aft. instead of going down to the yard. – Hard to write a letter full of Christmas spirit on a rainy day in Nov. Gus came down to tea & dinner. Murray's friend Burt blew in again with another chap in time for dinner & we are putting them up.

+19

Fine.

Nothing much doing. – Went out for a ride this aft. – Watching them stunting up at #8 Sqdn. – Monty came along. – Going on leave. – Brought him down & put him on the 3.20.

Got a deuce of a calling by mail this aft. – Only a card but quite suffish. – Hanged if I know how to answer it. – Seems like I might as well throw in my chips. – I hate to answer it the same for for it would arrive just about Xmas, & yet I can't take it & say nothing.

-25

Fine.

No papers to-day.

Rode up to the dentists (C.C. Dental Clinic) at Quatre Vents this aft. No one came in & met no one. Wheeler introduced a new game into the mess. – Attaque. – Not half bad.

+8

Rode out Berthonval way & in to Villers by the old overland route. – Called at Field Cashiers (II) being the last day of the month and Dec. liable to be an expensive one too.

Have just been figuring out probable expenses for the next couple of months to see if I could slip something into this war loan. I've missed them all up to date. – Don't suppose I'll get leave before I've paid it off, altho we are getting six a week this month. Capt. Watt (12th F.C.) came in with Laurie and stayed to dinner. – L. had his usual luck. – So did Murray. Watt says a lot of the 5th Div. people are coming out & exchanging with people out here. – Don't suppose it makes much diff to me

+35