Up about 7.30. On parade in the morning and put up marquee. Had a bath, took clothes to wash, had hair cut. Dismissed parade in the afternoon. 5 men gone on leave and other five leaves through. Had walk at night and turned in early.
12 November 1918; Tuesday
Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Walked round village in the morning and paraded for cocoa† in the afternoon. Went to concert given by the Gloucesters at night. Terms of armistice announced. Steve Bott, John Dory and Snyder performing. Returned about 8 o’clock. Had porridge and went to bed early. Fine night.
11 November 1918; Monday
Up about 8 o’clock. On fatigue from 9.30. Heard shortly after 10 that Hostilities were to cease at 11 o’clock. A good deal of excitement in the village.
Armistice Day.
10 November 1918; Sunday
Up about 7 o’clock and moved off at about 9.30. Arrived at Bettrechies1 about noon. A D S people and most of the bearers arrived shortly afterwards. Heard that peace was imminent and that the German navy was in a state of mutiny. Had long walk round about village at night with Harvey and sleep† with Billy Truman. Received letter from home at night.
Bettrechies (B): halfway between Houdain-lez-Bavay (A) and Bry; i.e. now moving W. after the long march E. ↩
9 November 1918; Saturday
Up at about 6.30. Moved off to Houdin1 at 8.30 and arrived about 11 o’clock. Fitted up sick room. We left the few bearers behind with six days’ rations. Our bearers left new† position and moved up the line again. A rumour of big victories and peace.
8 November 1918; Friday
Called up at 1 o’clock to go on night duty. Shaved about 2 o’clock and stayed up all night. Rather sleepy. Got breakfasts for patients. Fell in about 8.30 and arrived at Pry1 at about 10 o’clock. Opened up hospital. A few of our bearers down with sore feet. Carter ruptured himself and went down. A few of our bearers including John Dory came down slightly sick.
Pry: probably Bry (B), 3km E. of Jenlain (A) – there is a Prouvy, but this is 13km away to the W. ↩
7 November 1918; Thursday
Up at 5 o’clock. Finished guard at 9 and lay down until mid-day. On fatigue for a short time in the afternoon. Did a bit French. Mick Oliver back from leave. Communiqué says that two German delegations have crossed over to the 24th Division to discuss things, and many wild rumours. Lay down at about 8 o’clock and up shortly after mid-night.
6 November 1918; Wednesday
Up at about 5.30. Wet morning. Heavy barrage. Marched off at 8 o’clock. Rained heavily and <wet> bed sheets. Went across country part of the way. Arrived at Jenlain1 about mid-day. Put on guard at night and did 9 – 1 and 5 – 9. Went round to church in the afternoon, with Wood, Jones and Tresand and party of 57th men. Rained all the while. Heard that the Americans and French are doing well.
5 November 1918; Tuesday
Up about 7.30. Wet morning. Did practically nothing all day. Looked up a bit French. Heard that Austria had actually thrown it in1. Got down to it at about 9.30. Told at about midnight that we should be moving away at 8 to-morrow.
See note on 31 October. ↩
4 November 1918; Monday
Up shortly after 7. Packed up ready to move. Heard that the Germans had retired and our people advanced to the position which they were going to attack this morning. Also rumour that leave will open shortly. Wrote letter to Mother and talked about pre-war work and turned in about 9.20. Read scraps from Everyman1. Moved to Vendegies2.
See Everyman and all posts tagged Everyman. ↩
Vendegies: probably Vendegies-sur-Écaillon (B), 6km ENE. from Montrécourt (A), ie still moving steadily NE. from Cambrai; but there is also a Vendegies-au-Bois (C), some 11km further S.; both in Michelin square N6. ↩