Travelled all day until about 2 o’clock when we arrived at Pernes1. Marched to the reception camp at Floringhem2 and put up for the night. Saw Piggy Wood and Don Gordon. A lot of Americans there – hefty fellows. Poor billet.
Tag Archives: Pernes
16 March 1917; Friday
[This entry written on page for 15 March, “15” altered to “16”.]
Up at 6.30. Fell in at 9.15. Marched off with the band. Had good march and arrived at Lespesses1 about noon. Walked into St Hilaire at night2 with Bernard Stanton and spent a few minutes in a canteen. Returned home about 8 o’clock. Finished reading They & I by Jerome3. Billeted in an outhouse near a barn.
10 kilos.
Lespesses (B): 10km N. of Pernes (A) and 4km W. of Lillers; Michelin square G4. ↩
St Hilaire: St-Hilaire-Cottes (C), 1km NW. of Lespesses; also Michelin square G4. ↩
They and I by Jerome K. Jerome, most famous for Three Men in a Boat, is apparently one of his lesser known works. It is a first person narrative concerning the remodelling of a house, and the interactions of the narrator with his children during this process. See also They and I and Arthur Linfoot’s library. ↩
15 March 1917; Thursday
[This entry written on page for 16 March, “16” altered to “15”.]
Up at 8 o’clock and rested all day. Spent the forenoon in the village. After dinner cleaned waggons and then went to the Canadian camp and listened to the Divisional band and watched two football matches. After tea went round the village with Stanton. Called in the church and stayed a few minutes to a service and heard the organ. Turned in pretty early.
14 March 1917; Wednesday
Up at 7 o’clock. Marched off at 9.15. Had good march mostly on the main road. Our section leading. Had rain part of the way. Arrived at Pernes1 about 2 o’clock. Went into the village at night and wrote two letters at the Y M hall. Quite a big place with a market place. Billeted in a loft above a house.
17 kilos.