MARCH 1916 - ON THE MARCH

Wednesday 1st

Promotions out today. I get another rise. L/Sgt now. Parade again after dinner under the S.M. Got our stripes up today & so escape going on guard. Got a jolly decent billet. The old man where we live showed us over the factory where he worked. It is a string, cord & rope factory. Very large place. Very interesting. It is surprising what processing it has to go through before it becomes a finished product.

Thursday 2nd

Extended order drill today. Encore this afternoon under the tudorship of the S.M. Had some good meals today. Our first experience of a Sgts mess. In the dark going after some supper I went sprawling over a heap of mud lying in the road. Needless to say I returned without the supper.

Friday 3rd

Still on extended order. Same after dinner only a bit stiffer. Doubling over ploughed fields. Sgt Wright got reduced to Cpl today. Another payday. Pretty frequent lately.

Paid 30 francs – St Ouen

Saturday 4th

More extended drill. Had an afternoon off this afternoon. Went round to Beache’s show & played solo in the evening. Paid a visit to the factory but got turned out as we had no permission. Had our Photo’s taken together.

Sunday 5th

Church Parade at 10 o’clock. Had a bath after dinner in our diggings. Spent the evening round the fire.

Monday 6th

Batt route march. Set out at 9 o’clock. On the way we did blobbing. Blobbed 4 times. Over ploughed fields. No bon in full pack. Orders to night that we have got to sleep in the billets with the men. So good bye to bed.

Tuesday 7th (Shrove Tuesday)

B.O.S to day. So I miss all parades. Had to take the defaulters this afternoon. Two hrs route march. Then had to be outside the Or Room for them to answer to me. So I got fairly stung. Forgot all about our pancakes.

Wednesday 8th

More extended Order drill. Picked up plenty of mud. At it again after dinner. Rehearsing for the morrow. A Coy stick it well. Still sleeping on the hard hard floor.

Thursday 9th

Made two practice attacks this morning. Covered ourselves in mud but not much glory. Had the afternoon off so we went for our Photos. Found that they had come out rotten so we sit again. Where we have our mess they made some pancakes today so they gave us some. So we kept up the old custom if it was a day or so late.







Friday 10th

Woke up to find snow on the ground. Usual game. Another practice attack, but no lying down this time. S.M’s parade this afternoon. Got paid again to night.

Paid 20 francs – St Ouen

Saturday 11th

The Capt got the S.M to drill us this morning so we spent all the morning on drill instead of doing a 2 hrs route march as arranged. Had the afternoon off. Busy in the evening as we are shifting to-morrow. I went to see Grandma & she bid me adieu in French Fashion.

Sunday 12th

Up at 5 AM. Busy getting packed up. Bid adieu to our French Hosts. They were quite affected. Almost to tears. On the move at 9 AM. Through Canaples. Up hills. What a march. It was quite a Spring day. Billeted in a large farm. Resting 4 days here. The name if this place is Beauval.

Monday 13th

Soon made a start on drill. Out this morning at 9 until 12 o’clock. Extended order. Getting up and down practice. Lovely day. Quite like Spring.

Tuesday 14th

Up early this morning, packing up getting ready for another move. What a march. 14 miles & to finish up with we had to go up a fairly steep hill. With the Officer walking by the side shouting left right. Got on our nerves. We got to our fresh billets somewhere about 3 o’clock. It is only a little Hamlet set out of sight amongst the trees. No shops.

Wednesday 15th

Turned us into road sweepers to day, Shifting all the mud and digging drains. Had the afternoon off. Had a lovely walk after tea. I quite enjoyed it. We went into Rebreuviette to get some Quaker Oats. It is a lovely sight round here. We are having Spring weather now.

Thursday 16th

Should have done a route march but orders came through for a working party to dig some bombing trenches at Rebreuviette. Lovely day. Did 4 hrs work. Had the afternoon off.

Friday 17th

N.C.Os parade this morning. Working party this afternoon. Same job. Another new draft joined us today. Some of the old chaps returned. The R.S.M. partook of some of my biscuits from Deganwy

Saturday 18th

Went to an exhibition this morning. A demonstration of a German fire attack. It was a very interesting. The machine was one captured from the Germans at Hooge. After-dinner we did some more extended order attacking. Finished up in the rain. Got paid after tea.

Paid 25 francs - Canottement

Sunday 19th

Church Parade at 11 o'clock. After dinner I & Charlie White went out on pass. We went to Frevent. Had a nice time. Nice walk about 5 miles. I bought a wristwatch 25 Frs. It has been a lovely day. Leave has started again.

Monday 20th

Tactical exercises today watched by the Brigadier. Covered about 3 miles across country in Full Pack. Very interesting. On Picquet to night.

Tuesday 21st

Full pack route march. Did about 9 miles. Took over Or. Sgt at 1 o’clock. Arthur Young goes on leave to morrow morning.

Wednesday 22nd

What a lark. Arthur Young misses his train and has to stay a day in Frevent. No S.M’s Parade. Rather damp.

Thursday 23rd

Batt Route march. The same journey as the other day only reversed. But this time we lost ourselves & therefore we were out until 1 o’clock. No further Parades. A bit colder.

Friday 24th

Woke up this morning and found about 3” of snow on the ground. But it did not put a stop to our tactical exercises. Still in extended order work. More sliding down deep ravines.

Saturday 25th

What a joke. What a scream. Have been wandering round this bit of France with a gun on our shoulders. Like a lot of Cook’s tourist. You will notice this etc. Afternoon off.

Sunday 26th

Church Parade in our barn owing to the wet. I got told off by the Captain for not telling him the alteration of orders. Our Coy played the champion Coy of the Brig cup the 7 M/sex Semi final. Unfortunately we lost 3 to 2. Good game.

Paid 20 francs - Canottement

Monday 27th

More tactical exercises. To day more interesting. C-Coy were the enemy. We the attackers. Of course we won. To night when taking orders my name was read out for leave. What a shock. Am going on Wednesday all being well. Wet day.

Tuesday 28th

Special operation orders to day. Each company had to meet at a certain village (Magnicourt) at a certain time. Coy Commander had to arrange his own time for starting. As usual we had a good trot round. S.Ms parade after dinner. I handed over Or Sgt to J Norman & jolly glad too.

Wednesday 29th

The S.M took the company this morning. N.C.Os in the afternoon. I should have gone on leave to night, but am disappointed. The port keeps being closed.

Thursday 30th

Easy morning this morning. I have got a guard on this afternoon. On Brigade dump way down Rebreuviette. I don’t know what they want to send me for. It is nothing. Only minding ration waggons in the road. Have heard that I am going on leave to morrow night.

Friday 31st

Managed to get a few hours kip. Lovely morning. Missed the Brigade attack. Off at last. No turning back this time. Got to Frevent about 9.15. Put up in a hut for the night.

APRIL 1916 - BLIGHTY AND BACK

Saturday 1st 

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.