Dec 31st
Relieved by K.R.R’s and marched back to 49th Division Camp at Vlmertinghe arriving about 12.30am 1-1-16 absolutely knocked up, so we saw in the new year marching along a Belgium road in a pretty exhausted condition, but we managed to welcome it with a song or two nevertheless.
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**********End this diary/blog where it began.....20 blog pages ago....marching al
Dec 27th
Should have been going to St. Omer today instead of which we move up the line to the Canal bank. Stayed here for four days doing fatigues and carrying rations to the front line. We had a Gas alarm here, which, however, proved to be only a Gas shell dropped close by.
Dec 26th
What a sell! Just heard that the divisional move has been indefinitely postponed. Jolly rough luck after making up our minds that we were destined for a warmer clime. Well! It looks like Belgium and mud for duration now.
Dec 19th
Had a very easy time upto now, doing nothing but short route marches, about three to four miles each day; (getting ready for Egypt.)
Early this morning we were wakened by very heavy artillery fire and the smell of Gas. It happened that our Smoke Helmets had been taken in the day before and stored in anticipation of our going away and it took about an hour to get them reissued. So fortunately for us the Gas was not very strong.
We afterwards learned that the Germans had made a Ga
Dec 10th
Took over firing line (B & C). Trenches in a terrible state; no more than a line of funk holes, fields round about absolutely under water. Shelled pretty heavily here but not much damage done.
Dec 8th
Collecting bricks from ruined houses to make paths by side of Canal. Moved further along the Canal in the evening to take over other dug-outs. Stayed here two days going up at night to work in front line trenches.
Dec 7th
Stayed at Transport Lines all day and hear that our division is likely to be leaving the country: Eqypt being mentioned as our probable destination.
Left during the afternoon with rations to join battalion on the Canal bank. Hear that Capt. Millward was seriously wounded previous day and later that he had died.
December 5th 1915
Returned from leave. Left Victoria about 1.30pm, arrived Boulogne 9pm and found that there was no train running up country. Taken by motor to Ostrohove Camp. St Martins Hill where we stayed the night.
Nov 25th
The work can be done here during the day, I had been digging from about 5.30pm to 10pm and was going to make some tea when the Sgt Mjr shouted for me to get packed up in a quarter of an hour and go back to C Company ready to go and leave on the 27th. Stayed on the canal bank for the night.
Nov 24th
Moved up to firing line; what a state these trenches are in; full of water and fallen in; we are trying to get them into something like habitable order again. It is very quiet here. The Germans are something like three quarters of a mile away, as a matter of fact we cant see their trenches.
Nov 19th
Left the School and proceeded by bus to Poperinghe, found the Battn. back at Proven(?), and my Company just leaving camp as I entered it, so had to march back straightaway with them to Kat Farm just east of Vlamertinghe, stayed here until the 22nd.
Oct 25th
Orders at 9am to pack up and be in Poperinghe Square at 10.30 with Cpl. Walker of B Company to catch a bus and proceed to 2nd Army NCO’s school of Instruction at Zuytpeene. Arrived at about 1pm. Stayed here undergoing a course until Nov 19th. Walked into Cassel the first Sunday and to Arneke the second and third Sundays. On Oct 27th we were marched into Bavinghove and lined up beside the road to see the King go by. Had quite a decent time here,plenty of work, but a bit of a rest from
Oct 19th
Had to parade at 6am to take Whittall down to Div. Hd Qts to see the ADMS. Got back about 2pm had to come via Bridan(?) as the Ypres Road was being shelled. Orders for firing line again tonight. I had to go early with advance party 4.30pm. Railway Wood again – where the mine exploded on the 17th.
