Up about 7 o’clock and on parade at 8 o’clock. Heard that we were moving tomorrow. Kept fairly busy all day. Went to the pictures at night and they were pretty awful. Enjoyed them in spite of their poorness. Splendid news from the front.
18 July 1918; Thursday
Up rather later than usual and didn’t parade. Temperature down and felt better. Lay down during afternoon and looked up a bit French.
17 July 1918; Wednesday
Up about 6.30. Felt a bit groggy all day and ran a temperature of 102.4 at night. Turned in at 6 o’clock. Talked with Billy and Exley until about 9 and then took some aspirin and went to sleep. News that the Germans have advanced a little in the Champagne region and also had losses. Thunder at night. Read two good sermons in the “Great Commonwealth”1.
The Great Commonwealth: Possibly a Christian magazine or periodical taking its name from a passage in 2 Maccabees which describes how Judas Maccabeus led a small army to victory against a superior foe by entrusting the outcome to God. This seems to have been a popular theme among preachers of the time. See also 8 April 1917. ↩
16 July 1918; Tuesday
Up about 6.30. Not much Plenty to do. Finished at 8 o’clock. Had short walk. Bought some cherries and turned in. Jerry attacking down south again. Advancing very slowly.
15 July 1918; Monday
Up about 7 o’clock. On parade at 8 o’clock and on duty. Half day off. Had look round one of the pit heads and it was very interesting.
14 July 1918; Sunday
Up at about 7 o’clock. A fair number of civilians in and we gave them a rough house by cutting bowels etcetera. Fine day.
13 July 1918; Saturday
Up about 7 o’clock. Busy until 6 o’clock at night. Walked round town and round pit head. Saw the engine room, the winding gear and watched men and tubs going up and down. Watched the girls sorting at the screening place. Very interesting. Had a drink of coffee with Steve Bott and Edgar, Billy and Steve. The news pretty good. Received letter from Ernie and one from Ranald MacDonald. Jerry over at night but dropped nothing very close.
12 July 1918; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock and paraded at 8. On duty in the hospital which is in the Hotel de Ville. Worked all day until 8 at night. Wrote letter home. Put in charge of civilian patients. Fine day. Good news. Moved up to town hall to sleep.
11 July 1918; Thursday
Up at 4.30 am. Paraded at 6 o’clock. Got in the buses at the top of the hill and rode to Auchel1, a mining town near Lillers etcetera. Rotten billet in the top of a house, next to the roof. Took out a pan-tile to make light. Went to a concert at night given by a concert party, Camouflage, and it was splendid. The best I have seen in France. They sent an invitation for 100 of us and we were marched up. Turned in and slept well.
10 July 1918; Wednesday
Up at 7 o’clock. Packed up things and struck tents. Cleared out all patients. Did some French.