Up at 8 o’clock and breakfast 8.30. Parade at 10 o’clock. I was told off with Harvey to re-pack the limber, but went on waggon washing instead and let Ike Taylor do the packing. Walked up again in the afternoon to wash the motor ambulance. Had a walk down the road at night with Harry Bascombe.
Category Archives: March 1917
11 March 1917; Sunday
Up at 6 o’clock. Packed up things and parade 7.45. I was told off as waggon orderly, so took my pack off the strappings. Had a lot of trouble on the way with the waggons sticking on the hill near Doullens and on the bad road in Bouquet Maison1, Reached our destination about midday – a farm about 4 kilos beyond Bouquet Maison. Rested in the afternoon. Had a shave, wash and brush up and tea at the farm house with Piggy Wood, Ernie Castle, Barber, Truman, and Ike.
Had a good tea. Went to bed early.
10 kilos.
10 March 1917; Saturday
Up at 7 o’clock. Paraded 9 o’clock. Waggon orderly so had my pack carried. Got very muddy on the way. Reached Brettle(?)1 about 2 o’clock, after a breakdown on the bank near Doullens. Walked into Doullens at night with Ike Taylor. Had a tea of 4 eggs and coffee and bread, and then went to the pictures. Arrived home about 8 o’clock. The billet warden drunk and I nearly got across his path by saying he polluted my water bottle through drinking out of it. Had some amusement out of him and got down about 10 o’clock.
18 kilos.
9 March 1917; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock as usual. Fell in 9.45 after usual fatigues and marched off about 10. Arrived Louvencourt 1about 12 o’clock after a fairly pleasant march. Band has improved very much. Decent billets. Helped Ike Taylor to fasten the sheet on his limber waggon. Warned by sergeant-major to go on the ambulance waggon tomorrow. Had short walk round town in the afternoon. Bought a few things. Went to the Church Army hut at night and listened to the Divisional band playing. 7 kilos [kilometres].
8 March 1917; Thursday
Busy with wounded until about 2 am. Got down to bed at 3 and lay in until 7. Lay down most of the day but didn’t sleep. Parade at 3.30 for inspection, full marching order. Went to pictures at night with Ross and John Dory. Enjoyed them very much. Saw a Charlie Chaplin picture and a few more. Went to bed about 9 o’clock and slept well.
Sergeant Macdonell went down to C C S1. Ike Taylor got his job.
“C C S”: Casualty Clearing Station. ↩
7 March 1917; Wednesday
Sat up until 4 o’clock. Turned in until 7. Wrote letter home as I sat up. No cases in. Spent morning in bed. Pretty tired. Went on duty at 8 o’clock. Sergeant Macdonell drunk. He was very funny and the C O found him out. Put him under open arrest. Macdonell tried to poison himself outside with some hypo superchlorate†. We brought him in on a stretcher. Captain McClachlan injected morphia to quieten him. Had to watch him all night.
Had rissoles in the morning – supper delayed through the carry-on with Sergeant Macdonell.
6 March 1917; Tuesday
Turned in about 2 o’clock. Felt pretty sleepy. No cases in. Up at 7 o’clock. Lay in bed most of the day. Went on duty at 8 o’clock. Had rissoles for supper and sat up.
5 March 1917; Monday
Fine and covering of snow when we got up. On parade as usual. Clearing away snow all day. Went for night duty in the dressing room. Turned on duty at 8 o’clock. Had supper – porridge – and sat up talking.
4 March 1917; Sunday
On parade in the morning. Put on with Simmons picking up papers and things. Messed about on fatigues all day. Finished at 3 o’clock. Went to the Church Army hall with Corporal Mather at night. C of E service and enjoyed it pretty well.
3 March 1917; Saturday
On parade at 9 o’clock Orderly man for first time since I have been in France. Messed on with the fire a lot. Wrote letter home.