Up early this morning. Had café & eggs in the Hotel du nord. Entrained at 6 o’clock. Started at 6.30. The train journey was like the usual run of train journeys. Got to Le Havre at 10 o’clock. Was not long in getting on the boat. I slept through the voyage. Pretty smooth I believe.
Sunday 2nd
Blighty at last. In dock about 7.30. Had a good run up to town. Got home about 11.30. Wasn’t they all surprised. After dinner, I, Mother & Ethel went down to Ern’s & spent the rest of the day there. Coming back we heard bombs, but saw no Zepps.
Monday 3rd
Paid a visit to the Army Pay Office. Then went to the Coliseum. In the evening called on Charlie. He was in the midst of moving.
Tuesday 4th
Caught the 10 A.M train for Romiley. Got to Chinley & found no connection for Romiley until 5PM. So went on to M/chester & caught the train from London Rd. Got to Romiley about 5PM. Had one of the usual old times walks.
Wednesday 5th
Should have gone to see Tom but I missed the train. So called on Mr Thompson & Mr Townsend. After dinner went to Handforth to see Ben, but he had gone to Alderley Edge. So we went in vain. Tea at Stockport & went to pictures.
Thursday 6th
Went & saw Tom this morning. He looks pretty bad. Ben got the afternoon off so was able to see him. Missed my train so came on the midnight mail.
Friday 7th
Arrived in St Pancras about 6.45. Got home at 7.30. Wet morning but turned out nice later on. Had dinner at Aunt Emily’s, then went down to Ern’s, but found Flo out. Had tea round at Mrs Markwells. I gave Bundy a look up.
Saturday 8th
Went & saw Wally Vine this morning at his office. Returned & did not go out any more. Ern & Flo came over & stayed the night.
Sunday 9th
My last Sunday in Angleterre. Time soon goes. Busy packing up. Left home at 2.30. Ern & Flo & Ethel & Lottie came & see me off. Left Waterloo at 4 o’clock. Got to S/ton about 6.30. Went straight on the boat. A fine big boat. Left at 7.30. When we got out of the Solent I turned down below for a sleep. We all had to wear life belts.
Monday 10th
Le Havre at 2 o’clock. Then entrained & left there at 5.30. Lovely morning. We are all much quieter going back than when we were coming. Arrived in Frévent at 8.45. Spent the night in the rest camp. Soon went off to sleep.
Tuesday 11th
Up at 6.45. Had breakfast in the Café du Nord. Fried Eggs. Rejoined the Batt at 10.30. The others gave me a warm welcome. Found that J. Norman had sprained his ankle. Lecture by the R.S.M on how to keep an Orderly Book. Wet day.
Wednesday 12th
On Gymnastic instruction this morning. Rained nearly all day. Spent the afternoon writing & the evening playing cards.
Thursday 13th
On Gymnastic instruction again this morning. Busy dodging in and out of the canteen owing to the rain. Arrival of the draft to day.
Friday 14th
Same routine this morning. Very interesting. S.M parade after dinner until 3 P.M. Stayed in after tea. Draft on Parade on their own under the S.M.
Saturday 15th
B.O.S to day. Spent the morning visiting billets & looking at dinners. Played the R.F.A at football this afternoon. Lost by 3 to 1. Good game.
Paid 20 francs - Canottement
Sunday 16th
Church Parade at 11 o’clock. Drums turn out for the first time. Made the affair quite swanky. Our coy is playing the rest of the Batt at football this afternoon. I cry off and proceed to Frévent with Charlie White. Nearly spent out.
Monday 17th
Woke up and found it raining heavily. Gym class postponed. Went on the S.Ms parade in loose order ready for gym inst but got ticked off. Went to practice bayonet sticking but the weather was against us.
Tuesday 18th
Gym Inst in the canteen owing to the wet. The others went on a route march in it. I take over Or Sgt & had a long string of defaulters.
Wednesday 19th
Rained practically all day but it did not stop the run in the morning. Bayonet fighting in the rain & slush. Nothing doing this afternoon. Had the drill Instructor to dinner. Provided him with chicken etc.
Thursday 20th
Spent the morning on the range. I had a pot but did not do much. Very showery. Draft on parade on their own this afternoon.
Friday 21st (Good Friday)
Only did an hours drill this morning. Church parade in the afternoon. Draft was inspected by the G.O.C. Turned out very wet after Church Parade so duties mounted under Coy arrangements.
Saturday 22nd
Rained practically all day long. Road cleaning again this morning. Most of the Coy went to the baths but I could not go.
Sunday 23rd (Easter Sunday & St George’s Day)
Church Parade & a short route march as well. We had the drums leading, so we did it in style. The flutes led the singing. Turned out a lovely day.
Monday 24th
Lovely warm day. Spent our Easter Monday morning doing a route march. N.C.Os parade for a dress rehearsal of falling in with the drums. A most note worthy day. Duties mounted with the drums. And then the drums marched the duties round the village. The fame of our S.M will surely spread all over France. I suppose that soon we shall do everything to the sound of the rat tat & roll. Night operations from 8 to 9. Not much done.
Tuesday 25th
In charge of a fatigue party. Lovely warm day. The heat made me feel very tired. On the S.M parade. I handed over Or Sgt at dinner time and not sorry. Night Ops again. S.M gone on leave.
Wednesday 26th
Still keeps very warm. A bit of all sorts this morning. Went down to the baths this afternoon. No night ops to night. Instead a lecture a lecture on an interesting stunt we are doing to morrow.
Thursday 27th
Up at 5 o’clock & on the road at 7 AM. Today our interesting stunt comes off. A prize is offered to the best Coy. Our Coy is last and by the time we had done our 900 yds we were like a grease spot. It was hot & full pack as well. However we did not do so bad, but did not win the prize. Night ops to night. I don’t feel up to the mark to night. Went in the woods & tried to loose ourselves but it did not come off.
Friday 28th
Busy on the range to-day. At 7 o’clock practised the fall in by the drum under the S.M. On the range after dinner as well. Finished with a competition in rapid firing. I did not do so bad. 27 rounds I got off & registered 25 hits in two minutes. Night ops again to night.
Saturday 29th
On Brigade Dump Guard this afternoon so strike oil and miss the Batt route march this morning. Still glorious weather. Bivouac out tonight. Get a good fire going so was jolly cosy. Got paid before leaving for guard. Kept awake by reading a novel.
Paid 20 francs - Canottement
Sunday 30th
Had a few winks from 1.30 to 6. Then packed up and had a wash. Heard the cuckoo this morning for the first time. It is lovely out. I & Jim had a stroll down to Frévent after dinner. Had a nice time down there.
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