5 – 12 September (except part of 8 and 11 Sept.) written in ink with very thick nib; thus (with ruled lines only 4mm apart) exceptionally cramped and difficult to decipher.
4 September 1918; Wednesday
Up at 7 o’clock and on parade and duty at 8 o’clock. Heard that Walsh, Stothard & Gilmour were killed1 and Whittaker badly wounded. Fine day. Good news from all the battle front. John Dory went on leave.
341610 Private John Edward Walsh, 76886 Private William Stothard and 46674 Private Dennis Gilmour (the prior three links are to records on the Commonweath War Graves Commission site), all of the 58th Field Ambulance, had apparently been killed on 3 September.
Privates Stothard and Gilmour are also listed on Lives of the First World War; Private Walsh is not. ↩
3 September 1918; Tuesday
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.
2 September 1918; Monday
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.
1 September 1918; Sunday
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.
31 August 1918; Saturday
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. ↩
30 August 1918; Friday
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.
29 August 1918; Thursday
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.
28 August 1918; Wednesday
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.
27 August 1918; Tuesday
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. ↩