Up at 7 o’clock and on duty at 8 o’clock. Didn’t get much done all day. Had walk at night with John Dory and Charlie† Harvey. Gave article to Steve Bott.
Heard that we were advancing down south again. The Canadian and British troops have broken the German line in front of Douai.
Up at 7 o’clock. Application for Paris leave gone in. 40 bearers ordered up the line last thing at night. Had walk at night.
Up about 7 o’clock. Glorious day. Heard that we have now captured Kemmel and that the Germans are in the old pre-Messines stand† line. Had short walk at night.
Up at 7 o’clock and on parade at 8 o’clock. Not much to do. Sick parade as usual. Received letter from home and pc1 from Ernie to say he is getting on well.
Heard that we have captured Baileul2 & Dranoutre3.
“pc”: Presumably post card. ↩
Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. ↩
Dranoutre: NE. of Bailleul, near Kemmel and Locre – no doubt overrun in the March offensive (see 21 March); Michelin square I3. ↩
Up about 6.30. Not much to do all day. Finished shortly after 6 o’clock. Had short walk by myself at night. Did some French and finished letter to Franchie Inwood.
British still progressing. Noyon, Nesle, Bapaume etcetera in our hands.
Up at about 7 o’clock and on parade. Received postcard from Ernie to say that he is in hospital with diarrhoea. Also a long letter from Charlie in reply to my long letters. Had walk at night with Harvey and long talk.
Up at 6.30. Parade at 8 o’clock and on duty in the dressing room. Very little to do. Did some French in the afternoon and evening†. Wet night. Had walk with Harvey at night.
On duty at 9 o’clock. Not much to do. Lay down for an hour about 4.30. Relieved at 9 o’clock. Had a short lie in bed and then relieved from headquarters. Walked down to headquarters at Gonnehem1 and arrived in time for dinner. Billet in a hut with proper beds and bedclothes. Slept most of afternoon. Had walk after tea with Harvey and Billy Truman and slept with Billy in a real bed. Slept well. Heard from Ranald MacDonald that his brother Kenneth is missing.
Gonnehem (B): 4km N. of Choques (A); Michelin square H4. ↩
Didn’t have anything to do. Sat reading and writing. I wrote article for magazine on subject of French lessons. Relieved after breakfast. Lay in bed all day but couldn’t sleep. On duty at 9 o’clock.
Didn’t feel too clever in the room and stayed outside a good bit. A fair amount of gunfire during the night. Wrote letter home and one to Charlie. Did a scrap of French but felt very tired. Relieved at about 8 o’clock. Got down to it at 9 and slept until mid-day. Got up after 7 o’clock and on duty at 9 again.