Coles
Acquaintance
Mentioned: 1917, 1918
Comrades in the field Representing the 1st A.T. Coy at Gouy in August 1917, and paying a visit that December. Called "Old Coles" when he comes to lunch in May 1918: the familiar tag fits a returning, already-known acquaintance, though the identification isn't certain. On September 9, 1918 the diary has "Fox & Cole" living in a bivvy when Robertson returns from leave; the unit's war diary names a Lieut. W.S. Coles, 2nd Battalion, Canadian Engineers, who took charge of the unit during his absence from August 20 and rejoined his own unit on September 10. The two Coleses are read as the same man, though the diary never says so.
Appears in the diary · 5 entries
1917
- 24 August 1917… indy. The O.C. got back about noon. – Peake & Winter came in to lunch & may shift down here permanently. – Coles is representing the 1st A.T. Coy at Gouy so I don't suppose I shall go back. Nothing furt …
- 10 December 1917Mild. Tried out Salmond's "Mealy Puddings" for brekker. – Rather flat tasting stuff. Coles came down to pay us a visit. Dismissed Rowley's case. – Got the rest of the crocks off. – …
1918
- 2 May 1918… e. Clear. A beautiful day. – Hodge gave me a dose of salts to cure my cough. – Am now afraid to cough. Old Coles came in to lunch. Bell & Keyt were in to tea also Monty & Jardine later. The odd hun over …
- 17 August 1918Hot Ormy Stitt buried to-day. – Another of God’s own gentlemen gone west. – Had tea with Coles & Botting. – Worked on War Diary.
- 9 September 1918… car who took me to Corps in time for tea and sent me on to the unit near L’Esperance corner. – Found Fox & Cole living in a bivvy in the side of a trench. – Crawled in with them. – It rained.