July 1918

DOMINION DAY.

A great day. – Everything on the field went off fine. – Only thing that marred the day was the scramble at the luncheon tent where the E.F.C. fell down badly. – John Black, Melville & I had to turn to in the kitchen & act as waiters to see that the nurses got fed.

All Currie’s distinguished guests from the Duke down seemed greatly pleased with the show. Borden will have some great yarns to take back.

To say that I’m tired tonight hardly expresses it.

Have to leave some of the stuff up for a “Highland gathering” to be run by 3rd Bde on Sat.

Hot.

Slept in.

Took a run down to the sports grounds this aft & found that in spite of the 3rd Bde guard, such stuff as canvas & ropes was disappearing.

Warm.

Got the gang started on wrecking & then went off for a trip with Stevenson & a couple of other chaps. – Lunched at Frévent & then went on to Auxi to do some shopping. – Sank 6 golden guineas in a new pair of field boots, to be made by Hayden.

Had dinner at the Squadron & saw a movie show after.

Warm.

Spent the day at Tincques. – The 3rd Bde want a lot of help with their show & I’m hanged if I feel like working on it. – I’m fed up with shows.

Melville came down to tea, says the G.O.C. is asking us to dinner to-morrow, as he was so pleased with the show on Monday.

– The 215th came over to dinner to-night & we have invented “Mass Tennis”

Warm.

Down on the Field most of the day. –

The Corps Commander’s dinner was jake. – The best part of it was the fact that it wasn’t a function. – Just a quiet dinner in his mess. – Much more personal. – Had quite a chat with him after. – He hasn’t forgotten the inspection at Watten.

Warm.

The “Heathen” gathering was a great success. – Met a bunch of old timers but all the old crowd are Majors and Captains now.

Hot.

Slept in, – as much as is possible down here.

Did some letter writing in the morning.

Borrowed Peake’s horse & went for a ride with Rigby & Cockram. – Visited 3rd C.T.M.B. 14th Bn. – 1st C.D.P.B. & T.U. & “A” Co’y, 1st C.E. Battn.

Miller came down to see me, very worried about Fox getting Murray from 1st Bn to be orderly room clerk.

– Don’t know just what to do about it as the boy is keen on the job.

Corps goes in again soon.

Hot & Sticky Showery

Final clean up. – Everything cleared but the score-board, arch & tennis back-stops.

– Smee Bull was over at the yard this aft – Discussed prospects of next leave & a visit to the fleet.

Fed up.

Fine to showery

Got parties shipped back to their units.

Went down to BOULOGNE with Antliff & a couple of other chaps from V Sqdn. – Gus came along too. – Hadn’t realized till then how much I wanted leave –

Did a bit of shopping & had a look round. – Waacs are very much in evidence. – Expect I notice it more not having been down that way for over a year. – Left about 8 P.M. coming back. – Had dinner in Hesdin at Hotel de France & struck Savy about 12.

Showery.

Spent the day round the park hoping to get a lorry home.

Finally went over to 215th & borrowed Venus.

– The C.R.E. – Maj. North, & Rolston were over to dinner.

Fair.

Binns came round about 9.30 A. to take me down to GOUVES to look over new billets. – Picked up Col. McKenzie on the way. – Found the place full already. – Came back to Div. & had lunch at “B” Mess. – That old chateau at Villers-Chatel is a ripping place.

Showery

The fleet set sail from Gauchin at 9.00 A.M. – All safely at anchor in GOUVES by 2.00 P.M.

– The village is nothing to shout about as a place to billet.

Don Rogers (Q.M.) & Murdoch (T.O.) of the 3rd are messing us.

Hot & Sticky

Pringle Seath and the rest of the 23rd Battery came in on top of me this morning & rather crowded the lines. – Harry Beatly & Jake Wilson are with the same crowd. – Monty’s outfit also pushed in on us. – This is a fine place for a billeting mix-up. – The old town major is hopeless.

Hot & Sticky

Very heavy thunderstorms last night. – Flooded the courtyard of the men’s billet & some of them got pretty well drenched where the roof leaked. – 18 inches of water in the cook-house.

– The gunners who were bivvying under the wagons had a poor time of it.

Binns came round & said he would get us moved so we shift in the morning to LOUEZ

Fritz has started another drive between Ch. Thierry & Rheims.

Had dinner with Spink at the Tanks mess.

Hot & sticky Clear

Moved from GOUVES to LOUEZ. If we were crowded before we are packed now – No billets or covered standing. – All three bn. transports take up most of the room. – However they all help out – Lynn lent us a tent & an orderly room. – Bryant & Riley are messing us. – The troops are in bivvys & under the tarps.

Botting, Serple & Wall have their commissions.

One of the hottest stickiest days yet & I’m gol durn tired.

Continued strafing south.

Hot.

Nothing particular. – Got a bunch of stuff from Maroiel with a view of fixing up covered standings, but as their is a rumour floating round of a possible move I shan’t hurry. – Will get a feed-shack, harness shack & pain shed fixed up anyway. – Got the troops in under cover in the Sucrerie as “b” coy of the 2nd moved up.

Hot. Clear

Went back to SAVY with Bryant in the box-car. – Had lunch there & went over to the C.E. M.T. Co’y & saw my new “Triumph” – Going down to learn the working on Sunday.

– Our R.G.A. neighbours got the dope by wireless that Foch had come back at the boche & bagged about 15000 prisoners & a flock of guns. 200

– Saw the Canadian press representatives being conducted round by the Corps commander & his gang this morning.

Collected 20 L.D. mules from D.A.C.

Showery – Thunder

Got a paint-shed rigged up with the big tarp, also a harness room.

Having the extra mules kept everybody pretty busy.

Have been over in the R.G.A. mess waiting for the midnight wireless. – Still going strong down south. – Prisoners taken by the French now 20,000 & 400 guns.

Hot Clear Went back to the C.E.M.T. Coy with Binns & Dawson to learn how to run our new buses. – Took them down to the field at Tincques & ran round the track. – Got on very well.

The R.G.A. licked us again at indoor ball.

Started in to do some letter writing but the odd hun overhead made me douse the glim, also McPhillips came in & stayed for half an hour eating cake so didn’t get much done.

Hot. Showery

Not an awful lot doing. – Can’t get the proper paint for the wagons at the parks. – Talk of another shift too. – All wagons out to-night with the exception of the two in dry-dock.

– Rolston told me had applied for me as a Co’y Commander but that someone from Blitey was being wished on him as a “probationer” – Just the same it should stand me in good with the chief to have had Rolly apply for me. – Ran back to Tincques & Savvy with Bryant after dinner.

Rain Overcast

Nothing particular to report. Pretty wet all day.

– Battalions are shifting round a bit but don’t think the transport lines will move.

Took a run up to Arras with Rolly this aft to visit his H.Q.

Had dinner with Curly Brydon.

Hot.

Went down to Tincques to bring back the motor-bike. – Hit a man on the way back + got spilled – No damage but a few bruises + some skin off. – Shifted over to gun Bn mess.

Stiff + sore.

– Col. Mack. + Binns came around.

Hot.

Sick.

The CRE came round this morning + told us we were due to shift. – Light & fast.

– Took a run back to V Sqdn + had dinner. – Borrowed a tender from Steve to go down to Auxi to-morrow. – Called at Savy + ran back in the dark without mishap.

Warm.

Went back to Savy for lunch. – Tender came round at 1.30 + ran us down to Auxi. – Gus, Rigby & Hutton came along.

Got boots + had tea there.

Back home in time for dinner.

Warm.

Out billeting with O’Leary. – We will locate at SARS-LES-BOIS.