Poperinghe (Pop)

1916

• 12 April 1916… cigars. - They are nice clean people. - The C.R.E. paid us a call. - Mac, Alex & I borrowed his car & drove to Poperinghe for supplies. After dinner, wrote letters.
• 6 May 1916… . – Called on Rankin in the 1st A.T. Co’y dugout & had some cocoa brewed. Fritz has dropped messages in Ypres & Pop saying all Br. troops will be out of the salient by the 9th. – No such luck.
• 15 May 1916Warm – Went in to Pop. on the lorry this aft. Good moonlight night for work. Came back thro’ Ypres with G.H.
• 2 June 1916Warm. Alex came up and we rode into Pop. – Met Norm McCaghey & Bill Abbot at lunch – Something stirring – Orderlies from the 43rd …
• 3 June 1916… n for me to go down & live with Cavalry for work on GHQ 2nd. – No word of stopping leave. Packed up & went into Pop in the side-car. Strings of heavies coming out – Hate to be leaving at this time – Got a …
• 11 July 1916… l probably get something for last month’s work. – I’ll be the only one in the Co’y without a decoration then. – Pop was being shelled this aft. – Quiet otherwise. – Mac suggest going down to fight for Mexi …
• 12 July 1916Cloudy. – Owing to the fact that most of the family are home we decided to have a young birthday. – Went into Pop with Scott & Pete. – Shelling being kept up. – High velocity stuff. Visited the E.F.C. + …
• 14 July 1916… hysical jerks & company drill Baseball and cricket goods arrived, the boys are as tickled as a bunch of kids. – Pop. still being shelled & quite a bunch of civies are moving out. – Some high velocity stuff …
• 15 July 1916… hy came around for some material & stayed to dinner. Had a strenuous game of football with the batmen. No mail. Pop. put out of bounds on account of shelling.
• 30 July 1916… orning with Cole and Anzac. – The latter was sent down the line today. – Said goodbye to the bunch + caught the Pop. express at 4.36. Warm ride. – Met a K.O.R.L.) chap & went over to the officer’s club for …