Up about 7.30. Washed and cleaned up. The bearers and an A D S party went up in the early afternoon. AB Wood, Cox, Tresand† and I left behind. Moved our billet digs in the village in the middle of the day. Wrote letters to Charlie and Ernie at night and did a little French. Had good sleep.
2 November 1918; Saturday
Up at 8 o’clock. Waited about for the horse ambulance. The boys marched off at 9 o’clock. Moved up shortly after dinner in cars and arrived at Montrecourt1 before tea. Played Black Lady at night and turned in about 9. News through that our sailors occupied the forts of the Dardanelles & the Bosphorus and that Germany may agree to our armistice before the end of next week.
1 November 1918; Friday
Had pretty good night and washed about 6 in the morning. Shaved by Billy Brooks. Received letter and parcel from home. Ambulance packing up to move up the line and we were moved over the way. Wrote letter home. Heard our terms to the Germans for an armistice. Harvey returned from leave.
31 October 1918; Thursday
Had rather bad night and a temperature of 102.2. Moved upstairs in the afternoon. Heard that Turkey and Austria had turned it in.
Austria1 & Turkey turn it in.
Armistice with Turkey to begin midday.2
The Armistice of Villa Giusti, signed on 3 November, officially ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front. On 31 October, Hungary ended the personal union with Austria, officially dissolving the Monarchy and making the Armistice inevitable. It was, perhaps, the imminent collapse of Austria-Hungary which led ALL to note that Austria had “turned it in”. ↩
The Armistice of Mudros concluded on 30 October 1918 and ended hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies at noon on the 31st. ↩
30 October 1918 Wednesday
Up about 7 o’clock and felt rather bad. Had a bad night. Worked in the hospital until about dinner time and then lay down. Temperature at night of 101 and went into the ward.
29 October 1918; Tuesday
Up at about 7.30. Nothing doing in the morning. Heard definitely that the Italians and French have attacked. Returned to headquarters at night to commence work in the ward with Edgar. Walked from Cauroir to Rieux. Vic Barber and Biggs to our place.
28 October 1918; Monday
Up at about 8 o’clock and had breakfast late. Walked out to find unit and ultimately found them in Rieux. Had dinner there and got some rations and walked back. Received letter from Charlie dated 10th inst. and glad to know he is all right. Went to the Follies at night with Brigade headquarters. They were not up to usual form.
27 October 1918; Sunday
Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Moved from Avesnes to Cauroir1 by lorry along with the bath people. Parade in cellars but worked hard all day and got a fire in there and made them comfortable by night. Walked out and tried to find the service but failed. Wrote letters.
26 October 1918; Saturday
Up at about 7. Packed up and set out for Avesnes les Aubert and arrived shortly after 9. Commenced duty in the baths. Messed about the baths all day. Walked to Rieux at night and played cards with the boys and walked up with Edgar Sims. Slept on the floor and was pretty cold. Received letter from home telling me that Mother is unwell again.
25 October 1918; Friday
Up about 7 and went to the baths all day. Pretty unsatisfactory job. Finished about 4 o’clock. Commenced to write letter to Ranald MacDonald and didn’t finish it. Heard that we have taken another 100 guns and advanced further. Guns sound a long way off.
Warned to go to Avesnes after I was in bed.