Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Sidney F. E. Liebert field diary, 1918
MLMSS 8223 / Box 1 / Item 2

[Page 27]
[Previous printed pages not transcribed]

Tuesday 1 Jan.
New Years Day once more. This time in Steenwerck on the stables. Up at 6.30 morning stables at 7 finish about 7-45. Parade 9-15 – Grooming. Afternoon on at 2. Harness cleaning & preparing for move. Evening writing & study. Weather exceptional cold. Billet over Estaminet near YMCA. & mess at Sergts mess.

[Page 28]
Wednesday 2 Jan.
Up & about as usual. Weather much milder & thaw has set in. Collecting washing & writing at night.

[Page 29]
Thursday 3 Jan.
Moving day. Up usual time & did morning stables quickly. Breakfast early. Cogged horses hoofs. Ready in good time. Moved off about 10 a.m. to Steenje. Stabled horses etc. One man with two horses missing so with Frank Huston set out to find him. In vain. Camped in an old farm building with bunks arranged in two tiers. Our stables not too bad.

[Page 30]
Friday 4 Jan.
Morning stables as usual. On parade detailed to run line with Lieut Stanbury. Left about 10. Ran out of poles so dropped drum & went to [Menis?] Divn. Had dinner at Sergts Mess.

Collected mail & rations & then returned home about 5 p.m. Finished up with 23 letters which I could not read in one night.

[Page 31]
Saturday 5 Jan.
Up on stables as usual then out on the line. Completed line to Divn. by about 11.30. Returned to Outtersteen & altered line to D.A.C. Returned home. Dinner.

Evening reading remainder of letters. Billet too inconvenient for writing etc.

[Page 32]
Sunday 6 Jan.
Work at home today. Advised by Lieut Stanbury that I had been awarded Meritorious Service Medal.

Began inventory of wagon equipment. Afternoon football & writing. Evening writing in bed, not too successful.

Met Bob Peebles. Artillery in same camp.

[Page 33]
Monday 7 Jan.
Stables etc as usual watering just before artillery. Finished wagon. Prepared to write in bed but played cards with Joe Frost.

[Page 34]
Tuesday 8 Jan.
Stables etc as usual. Evening solid writing in bed. Very cold.

[Page 35]
Wednesday 9 Jan.
Stables as usual. Detailed to alter line laid the other day & reel up about 1 mile of it.
Home again about 1.30 p.m. after snowing. Writing in bed at night.

[Page 36]
Thursday 10 Jan.
Work about as usual. Respirators inspected & instructed in fitting new containers.

Receive official notification of award of M.S.M. Colour received.

Afternoon to Bailleul for a bath – no luck. Evening playing cards.

[Page 27]
Friday 11 Jan.
Dull day. Rained slightly. Grooming etc as usual. Replacing containers both morning & afternoon. Evening cards & writing.

[Page 38]
Saturday 12 Jan.
Mucky day. Morning grooming & cleaning. Afternoon medical inspection etc. Evening cards & writing.

[Page 39]
Sunday 13 Jan.
Fine day. Morning grooming etc. Afternoon, ride with Joe Frost to try & see Bert Pretty or Norm Opie. Visited Berthon & Dranoutre. Evening writing cards after posting picket.

[Page 40]
Monday 14 Jan.
Morning work as usual. Report two of picket for being late. Lightly dealt with. Afternoon as usual.

[Page 41]
Tuesday 15 Jan.
Early morning parade as usual only cocoa was served. Weather very wet & stormy lightning. Evening writing.

[Page 42]
Wednesday 16 Jan.
Up as usual. Roads & ground about flooded. Grooming morning. Afternoon navigated the roads on horseback chasing up Millikent wagons. Arrived Westhof O.K. returned via Bailleul.

[Page 43]
Thursday 17 Jan.
Things as usual. Floods not quite subsided. Grooming & saddle cleaning. Australian mail.

[Page 44]
Friday 18 Jan.
Trip during morning to Menis. Afternoon to saddlery. Evening writing a little.

[Page 45]
Saturday 19 Jan.
Inspection of saddlery & harness. My detachment was well praised. Afternoon off on account of harness excellence. Evening writing & to a bit of a shown in marque.

[Page 46]
Sunday 20 Jan.
Church parade in marque. Grooming etc afterwards. Afternoon Anzac Coves very good. Evening writing heavily.

[Page 47]
Monday 21 Jan.
Inspection of harness in wagons. Condemned wholesale & absurd remarks passed. Evening writing.

[Page 48]
Tuesday 22 Jan.
Morning as usual. Afternoon exercise towards Meteren. Evening writing.

[Page 49]
Wednesday 23 Jan.
Afternoon off to see Archies. Evening card party with Joe Hoppy [Chanc.?]. To bed late.

[Page 50]
Thursday 24 Jan.
Walked in Baillieul for a bath. Afternoon cleaning saddlery & Gas inspection. Evening knocking about. Weather warm.

[Page 51]
Friday 25 Jan.
Work during morning as usual. Afternoon exercise on the new horse. Not too bad. Received parcel from home.

[Page 52]
Saturday 26 Jan.
Exercise again in afternoon with Sergt Mosk. Cards evening.

[Page 53]
Sunday 27 Jan.
Work during morning.

Afternoon rode into Bailleul to play football for D.A. sigs against DA. Harry Richards & George Leverett also came in. Chaps very good to us. Had a good game but got beaten by about 17 points.

Had tea returned home & was advised about going forward tomorrow. Spend evening packing & arranging.

[Page 55]
Tuesday 29 Jan.
Up about 8.30 am & cooked bacon which I of course burnt.

Rearranged linesmans lines including a visit to SN, BG 7 RD2. Completed the lines during afternoon.

[Page 56]
Wednesday 30 Jan.
Up again but managed breakfast OK. Cut wood during morning. Day quiet.

[Page 57]
Thursday 31 Jan.
Cook for breakfast again. Went with Arthur Hibbert to Gunners Farm to find grave of a friend of his. Entertained him to tea. Reading.

[Page 58]
Friday 1 Feb.
Breakfast as usual. Visited Bn & checked book.

[Page 59]
Saturday 2 Feb.
Up & breakfasted as usual. Visited LH, & SN. Cards evening.

[Page 60]
Sunday 3 Feb.
Up and acted cook. Walked towards Plogsteert. Day uneventful.

[Page 61]
Monday 4 Feb.
Changed over of Bn in line 39 out 37 in. So good aeroplane & big gun work evidently being done today. Evening had a visit from Sergt. Coppelman 40th an old Armentieres chap. 37th Sig de La Perelle took up unoccupied bed.

[Page 63]
Wednesday 6 Feb.
With Cpl Marks went toWent to U.S. on the testing of US route. Visited Y & [crater?]. Afternoon easy.

Evening took list of lines to be put through & tested tomorrow.

[Page 64]
Thursday 7 Feb.
Pay here by Mr. Stanbury & Miller. 9 Lines put through or tested. Finished well before 12. Replaced D3 cables with lead finished just before tea. Evening installing H.P. exchange & fixing up Line difficulties.

[Page 65]
Friday 8 Feb.
Completed fixing up H.P. exchange. Just settling down to a rest when advice received of RD2 [indecipherable] being [dis.?]. With J. Frost visited RD2 & saw that a shell 5-9 had landed right on to position of test board leaving a big shell hole. Cables knocked out.

[Page 66]
Saturday 9 Feb.
Out with Mr. Stanbury
Chapman at HP
O’Brien at SN.

Testing through to U.R. Testing through to S.N. Put thro. 9 lines. Place well blown in. Arranged for tomorrows work.

[Page 67]
Sunday 10 Feb.
Out to RD2 to test thro. Y route. Could not get Y so walked there. Finally bunched each cable & test with galvo at Y. Got no loops. So Y route is blown out. Returned to RD2 & fixed up UR, SN lot walking to U.R. Finally put thro 9 pair.

Raid on at 10 p.m. Very successful.

[Page 68]
Monday 11 Feb.
With 4 cyclists went out to RD2 to locate fault. Found it early and going to Y for test. Go sleeves from H.P. & jointed cables identifying them later.

Home very tired indeed receiving kind treatment from chaps here. Arranging at night to meet M. wagon at 7-15 a.m.

[Page 69]
Tuesday 12 Feb.
Up to meet wagon which did not come. Met Mr Stanbury with jointing material & sou westers. Went out on job after getting petrol but could not work from 4R owing to crowd. Tested thro. Y route. Returned home. Lamp defective so jointing was not done.

[Page 70]
Wednesday 13 Feb.
Out with Lilburn Chapman & Statton. UR people could not find place so had to direct them. Tested thro. & connected UR. Y route. Home about 2 – 3 p.m.

[Page 71]
Thursday 14 Feb.
Frost & O’Brien out to see how the joints were. O.K.

Day in. Writing evening.

[Page 72]
Friday 15 Feb.
Joe & O’Brien fixed joints after difficulty owing to blackness of flame of lamp. Visited E.F. for a bath going by the little train & returning via motor wagon.

Evening writing.

[Page 73]
Saturday 16 Feb.
Fine day. Visited PM to check line book. Study at night.

[Page 74]
Sunday 17 Feb.
Fine Day. Morning visited LH & BG etc. Visited Y in afternoon and saw shooting. Had look around Bn H.Q.

[Page 75]
Monday 18 Feb.
Easy morning blowing about. Visited by Mr. Stan. Fountain. Afternoon carried drum lead cable to Y. & ran cables from board to SE36. Tiring work.

[Page 76]
Tuesday 19 Feb.
Out with W. Miller on [bury?] at BN. Up at 6 am to meet wagon at 7 am. Turned up 8.20. Put in 20 cables into BN joined up outside & put in 20 cables out. Good days work.

[Page 77]
Wednesday 20 Feb.
Out at 10 am jointing cables at breastworks. Progress slow so took Joe out in afternoon. Finished in good time.

[Page 78]
Thursday 21 Feb.
Pay at 10 am G. W. Stanbury.

Visited joint GR & bury. Returned via BN & fixed up re gas doors being done by Spr Worthington.

Afternoon out to joint in paddock. Obtained pump but finally fished out cable and jointed.

Fine day. Evening bit crook & had Alex Lilburn down for an occasion.

[Page 79]
Friday 22 Feb.
Joe out in morning. O’Brien Chapman to fill in holes. Afternoon putting in supports. Gloucester House

[Page 80]
Saturday 23 Feb.
Out at 10 a.m. jointing 7 pm. cables near G.R. & fixing up cables in G.R. Home by 2.30 & cooked tea. Harry Chadwick Joe Worthington in for tea, Harry stopping here.

[Page 81]
Sunday 24 Feb.
Jointed cables past G.R. & progressed with installing the board at G.R.

[Page 82]
Monday 25 Feb.
Put BN route on the board at G.R. Finished off joints. Home about 1.30. Afternoon easy.

[Page 83]
Tuesday 26 Feb.
Joe to BN to test lines OK. Bath afternoon. Things easier

[Page 84]
Wednesday 27 Feb.
To RD2 with Lilburn identifying extra lines Sn – RD2 then to RD, spoke over line to H.P. Good walk around. Home afternoon.

[Page 85]
Thursday 28 Feb.
Mr. Stanbury & Fountain up. Visited SN. BN Chateau & G.R. returned with wood by myself.

Afternoon out with Joe & [indecipherable] to test to L.S. but joints not finished. Tested to hole.

[Page 86]
Friday 1 March
Out to UL [Chappy?] to clear the trouble & found all 42 straps shorting. Renewed straps. Returned about 2.30 p.m. Evening very busy on phone.

[Page 87]
Saturday 2 March
Out to test LS – GR. very disappointing only 22 pairs obtained. Cold day with snow. Busy again on phone.

[Page 88]
Sunday 3 March
Up to get Brown phone from W/T. Chaddy out & found that some BN LS route on BN board.

Joe & Oly stripped at BN.

[Page 89]
Monday 4 March
Out to fix up GR – LS but found trouble owing to BN & LS ranks becoming mixed. Finally made some order & put BN on boards also part of LS. Home late. Joe finished stripping at BN. Harry commenced SN.

[Page 90]
Tuesday 5 March
Out early & finally cleared up GR – LS after much working out etc. Finished late. Joe installed boards at BN. Harry progressed well at SN. Everything looking all right. O’Brien – Mitchell go to Corps. Evening cards.

[Page 91]
Wednesday 6 March
Steve up to pay and we went out to BN. SN & HU. Harry & Joe finished HU & SN. I put tested GR – BN route and put on BN board. Harry tested SN.

[Page 92]
Thursday 7 March
Finished BN off & Harry finished marking route by 11 am. Packed up for return & finally moved off in G.S. arriving Ravelsberg about 6 pm. Tea there, finally bunked on floor.

[Page 93]
Friday 8 March
Up early & awaited detachment from Tahuna. Received mount & moved off via. Baillieul to Arques. Parked wagons in square & picketed horses behind. Tea with Hoppy & Andy in Estaminet. Turned in with Hoppy on floor.

[Page 94]
Saturday 9 March
Left Arques about 9.30 & proceeded via Setques Lumbres to Nielles-‘lez-Blequin & then to Vaudrighem [Vaudringhem]. Stabled in old farm house. Chancellor & I billeted in officers billet at same place as Sergts billet. Extremely nice.

[Page 95]
Sunday 10 March
Up too late for stables. Hasty breakfast and on parade just in time. Summer time adopted. Groomed horse. Afternoon football & bath. Evening talking etc. Jimmy Letcher Harry Chadwick promoted Sergts.

[Page 96]
Monday 11 March
Called for first parade and on a bit late.

Out at 9.30 to lay a line to 11th Bde. Velinghem. Beautiful day so had a great job but cable ran out about 2 miles from end. Got home about 6.30 after a very pleasant days hard work. Evening disappeared before I knew I was home.

[Page 97]
Tuesday 12 March
Out again to finish line and arrived out on job about 11 am. Finished about 1.30 pm. Home in good time. Excellent day. Writing night.

[Page 98]
Wednesday 13 March
Joe went on leave so escorted him to Lumbres. Off OK about 1.30. Had dinner, made some purchases & returned home about 4 p.m. Football after tea. Evening went quickly.

[Page 99]
Tuesday 14 March
On to saddlery solid and cleaned up saddles. Raining early but dull all day.

[Page 100]
Friday 15 March
Fine again. Buzzed about on odd jobs & stacked wagon afternoon. Evening prepared for tomorrow.

[Page 101]
Saturday 16 March
Moved off to Nielles for Boulogne but was advised that I was not to go to B. but was due for Blighty tomorrow.

Returned to Vaudringhem & arranged things but on returning to Nielles was advised that I would not go until day after tomorrow.

Writing evening [Chanc?] Jack King in Boulogne.

[Page 102]
Sunday 17 March
Up on work as usual for morning. To Nielles in afternoon and after much waiting completed everything. Evening writing & final.

[Page 103]
Monday 18 March
Left Vaudringhem on horseback with Chanc about 10.45 but at Nielles lez Blequin Page changed with Chanc. Arrived Lumbres good time had egg dinner & caught 1 pm train for St Omar with W/T chap. Trip very slow & delays long. At Arques changed on to ROD train which was passing us. Arrived just too late for leave train so caught another ROD train for Calais. Fairly fast trip this time, long walk to rest camp. Had tea, drew blankets etc and got to bed fairly late. Trip up extremely slow.

[Page 104]
Tuesday 19 March
Up at 6.30, breakfast immediately. Fell in about 9-30 & though my pass was not marked for the early boat I schemed through where I should have waited. Marched to boat with many productions of passes & packed below. Went up on deck just before leaving. Fine weather.

Left Calais about 11 am & arrived Dover about 11.15 (Clock 1 hr different). Managed to scramble into first train & arrived London about 2.40 p.m. 20 Horseferry Rd & fixed up bath, change etc.

Met Norm. Richardson. Rang Will up & arranged to meet for tea. Got paid etc. Had tea with Will went to Chu Chin Chow. Good seats great show. Stopped with Will at a neighbouring soldiers home.

[Page 105]
Wednesday 20 March
Visited hairdressers, visited bank & looked around in morning. Visited Opera Marriage of Figaro. Very good. Had company of elderly Capt. Very good.

Met Will had tea & then to the Better ‘Ole. Met Roy Ewart & Nick there. Show not too bad. Slept at Horseferry Rd.

Arranged to go to Scotland with Will tomorrow night.

[Page 106]
Thursday 21 March
Morning at Grafton Galleries War Pictures. Extremely good & interesting. After Hyde Pk. Met another chap & spend afternoon interestingly. Instead of meeting Bert Will only met Bert also on leave. All off to Scotland.

Got new tunic – fixed colours had tea, visited Ciro’s. Then off to Kings Cross being warned of an air raid on the way.

Got good seats, left for Edinburgh about 10.30. Pretty crook with biliousness. Met mate of [Korah?] Les & Will in carriage.

[Page 107]
Friday 22 March
Passed thro York & Newcastle & had a decent sleep as time went on.

Arrived Edinburgh about 8.30 am. Introduced to Cockburn Hotel by the cobber of [Korahs?]. Took up position at the Hotel. Very nice. At breakfast met Korah. Afterwards along Princes St, then to Holyrood (closed) so visited Castle.

Afternoon could not get accommodation to go to Forth Bdge so had photos taken. Visited Portobella. Not much impressed. Walked along beach.

Evening on walk & to [Granton?]. Very enjoyable.

[Page 108]
Saturday 23 March
To Holyrood. Good look round & interesting yarns.

Afternoon no bus available for Forth Bridge so took taxi. Then to HMAS Australia by launch. Met Frank Rogerson’s brother who showed us about. Home by about 6.30 by bus.

Evening visited [Carlton?] Gardens & strolled about.

[Page 109]
Sunday 24 March
To Church in morning out West End way. Disappointed with singing. Coming home met some young ladies.

Afternoon showed around Braid Hills & Evening walked out towards Zoo. Very enjoyable once again.

[Page 110]
Monday 25 March
Astir early & caught train to Glasgow.

Walked about until struck Overseas Club. Book beds etc. Visited North [indecipherable] Engine Works. [Note at bottom of page] Saw 6", 8" shells, aeroplane engines being machined. Afternoon walked about again & finally finished up by having a swim.

Evening to Opera. Carl Rosa Coy. Madame Butterfly. Not too bad.

[Page 111]
Tuesday 26 March
Up early for 8.40 train to Balloch then boat up to Loch Lomond calling at various little villages until Inversnaid. A couple of hours to spare so climbed hills instead of having dinner. Great fine views. Good trip but slightly cold. Met Australian Civilian whose views of us were interesting.

Home by about 6 p.m. & after much coaxing etc. visited Whist Drive & Dance at Blackfriars Church. Fine gathering. Won the Drive; Prize fountain pen. Thanked people.

[Page 112]
Wednesday 27 March
Around streets in morning. Wharves shops etc. Afternoon to [indecipherable]. Saw nose caps being made 15" shells being machined. Practically all girl workers even in 15" room.

Evening met last nights friends & landed in pictures. Home early & a good bye.

[Page 113]
Thursday 28 March
Up early – caught 7 am train to Aberdeen via Sterling, Perth. Saw Wallace Monument. Arrived about 12-30.

Fixed up at Hotel & then to Beach & Don Bridge. [Note at bottom of page] (Photo taken & spend a pleasant ½ hour there)

Evening along Princes Union St & visited Beach again.

[Page 114]
Friday 29 March
Shop mostly open. Very surprised. Raining.

Visited Dee Bridge, then the Docks. After dinner took the longest tram ride out past Deeside. On return ascertained photos O.K. Arranged evening & Had good time.

Leave going splendidly.

[Page 115]
Saturday 30 March
Away early via Dundee Tay & Forth Bridges to Edinburgh. Enjoyable trip. Found Will at the Hotel. Very wet. Afternoon in rain to Nelson Monument. Met friends at 6 p.m. Visited Royal. Another good day though weather bad.

[Page 116]
Sunday 31 March
To Central Hall. Meth. Church. Anniversary service but not much different from the ordinary.
Met Frank Rogerson. Had great sing.

Afternoon visited Braid Hills again. Very misty.

Evening strolled about & finally turned up at Station in time for 10 p.m. train. Left Will who could not travel until tomorrow. Farewelled Edinburgh people in Sure Scotch style.

Frank Rogerson in same carriage. Good sleep.

[Page 117]
Monday 1 April
After comfortable trip arrived London about 8.20 a.m. Had breakfast, obtained seats for Opera. Finished morning at tailors getting tunic altered.

Afternoon with Bert to Hampstead Heath where the Cockneys had their Easter Monday ‘alf ‘oliday. Very funny & peculiar. Weather wet &. many of the holiday makers returned early.

Tea at Central Hall, Then to Opera Aida. Simply glorious. Absolutely the best I have ever heard.

Home late.

[Page 118]
Tuesday 2 April
Up at 6 a.m. breakfasted & off for Victoria Stn.

Caught train for Dover. Marched to House billet, had dinner, marched to boat & across to Calais. Marched to various camps until finally lodged.

Had tea late. Turned in early.

[Page 119]
Wednesday 3 April
Up at 6 am with nothing to do.

Met Korah who has been hung up here. Had bath, & strolled about camp. Changed to tents. Afternoon parade & on fatigue to docks. Had good look around.

Evening walk about Calais shopping.

[Page 120]
Thursday 4 April
Up at 7 a.m. and put in morning reading writing. Met Sandy in afternoon & out in evening. Met couple Waacs & walked about the town.

[Page 121]
Friday 5 April
Up at 7 am with warning of leaving early.

Schemed out to writing room with blankets & wrote more.

Afternoon pictures at Y.M. Evening out about Calais shopping.

[Page 122]
Saturday 6 April
Parade 7.45 & marched off to [East?] Camp. Issued dinner & tea tickets.

Marched Fontinettes Station drew dinner & tea after great push boarded train thro. window. Left about 12 & went via Boulogne Abbeville to Canaples. 6.30 p.m. Marched in rain to Corps H.Q. well lost & stop in duty stable wet through.

[Page 123]
Sunday 7 April
Could not slept owing to the cold. Someone built fire & so we warmed at it & then went away for a few minutes sleep. Managed during whole of night about an hour.

Up at daylight and dug up Corp H.Q. Met Joe Smith, obtained location of Divn. & marched off immediately. Had couple eggs in a village.

Arrived Divn. about 8.30 am. Received mail gear etc etc. & carried on with work. Boys have been very busy. Walk with Hoppy. Good sleep.

[Page 124]
Monday 8 April
Up at first parade back to the usual thing.

Horse lines very muddy. Heard experiences of chaps during retreat. Papers not quite accurate. Wagons been very busy.

Writing evening.

[Page 125]
Tuesday 9 April
About stables as of old Mustard now used as a draught. Evening writing solid.

[Page 126]
Wednesday 10 April
Still on stables. Plenty of cable work doing on other detachments.

Evening a little writing & good sing song.

[Page 127]
Thursday 11 April
Finer than in the past few days. On stales as usual. Finished mail.

[Page 128]
Friday 12 April
Very fine day. Stables. Good game football evening.

[Page 129]
Saturday 13 April
Out with wagon to Lahausye?, laid 2 twins to wood mile away. Home by 12.30 p.m.

Evening cards. Handed in 1 blanket. Cold sleep.

[Page 130]
Sunday 14 April
Slightly off colour. Afternoon exercise. Raced [Modesty?] twice. Won twice.

Evening to bed early. Very cold.

[Page 131]
Monday 15 April
Somewhat cold. Nothing much doing. Chanc Corporal. Exercise afternoon. Remained homes. Evening little writing. Bed early.

[Page 132]
Tuesday 16 April
Dull day. All horses out in afternoon to usual place near Frechencourt. Evening game football. Evening writing & study.

[Page 133]
Wednesday 17 April
Out staying 7 pair cable to Quineau. Finished about 3.30 pm. Afternoon raining. Evening little writing.

[Page 134]
Thursday 18 April
Very cold & wintery. Knocking about as usual. Sing song tonight but crowd not as large as usual.

Mail (10) 17/2/ arrived.

[Page 135]
Friday 19 April
Cold again nothing special. Evening writing & study.

[Page 136]
Saturday 20 April
Fine morning sunny & warm. Midday raining. Evening writing.

[Page 137]
Sunday 21 April
Fair day. Afternoon off – taking things easy. Writing again.

[Page 138]
Monday 22 April
Eight Hours Day. Fine. Afternoon football match. Officers NCO V Men. Men won easily.
Bath evening. Photos arrived from Aberdeen. Very good. Finished mail.

[Page 139]
Tuesday 23 April
Fine day. Things as usual. Cards evening. Also packed photos. Fine evening plenty bombing.

[Page 140]
Wednesday 24 April
Shelling close early in morning. Heavy barrage heard about 3.30 – 5.30 a.m. Fair day. Things as usual. Attack attempted. Result unknown. Writing evening.

[Page 141]
Thursday 25 April
Weather good. Nothing doing. Evening writing & talking until late.

[Page 142]
Friday 26 April
Weather good. Things much as usual. Afternoon walked [Quineau?] for boot-polish. Evening cards & writing.

[Page 143]
Saturday 27 April
Fine day but nothing doing. Evening a little writing.

[Page 144]
Sunday 28 April
Out on limber to Franvellers, Heily [Heilly], Pont Noyelles & Quierrieu. Home late about 2 p.m. Afternoon off. Evening writing.

[Page 145]
Monday 29 April
Carried on in usual manner. Evening writing etc.

[Page 146]
Tuesday 30 April
Things as usual only too wet for grooming. Afternoon spent in billet. Evening playing auction bridge.

[Page 147]
Wednesday 1 May
Dull & cold but work as usual. Paid 60 fr. Study.

[Page 148]
Tuesday 2 May
Things much as usual only a marked improvement in weather. Out along Quierrieu Rd grazing horses. Very pleasant. Writing again.

[Page 149]
Friday 3 May
To baths at Quierrieu in morning. Fine bath & ride most of the way home. Afternoon easy. Evening swim near Frechencourt with Joe Frost. After that bath.

[Page 150]
Saturday 4 May
Wagon out – weather fine. With own sappers & Driver Duggan unusual to Lahoussye reeled up about 2 ½ miles cable. Evening writing again. Met (O.W.) Rowlands & saw Lieut Stafford at [indecipherable].

[Page 151]
Sunday 5 May
Rain during night. Drizzle practically all day. Afternoon cards bridge. Evening solid writing.

[Page 152]
Monday 6 May
Dull day – out with Drvr. Duggan with limber. To Frechincourt Behencourt & Franvellers. Back about 1.30.

[Page 153]
Tuesday 7 May
Wet – No parade at 9-15. Played cards. Afternoon better.

[Page 154]
Wednesday 8 May
Finer but during grazing had shower of rain during which some horses returned to stables. Relieved of Roster of limbers.

[Page 155]
Thursday 9 May
Lovely day. Grooming morning solid job. Afternoon tackled saddlery. Evening at ease reading & writing.

[Page 156]
Friday 10 May
Move on tomorrow. Things very easy. Met Bill Taylor of 2nd Div Sigs who took over. Also George Young. Both fine. Packed up & advised arranged for work tomorrow.

[Page 157]
Saturday 11 May
Up as usual packed up and luggage dumped.

Out at 8-30 to Lahoussye with wagon to reel up two spare lines to Behrencourt – Pont Noyelles Road. Had dinner. Picked up drum cable at 2nd Div.

Arrived home 3 p.m. at Allonville. Evening to Pierrots with Hoppy. Really enjoyable. Salved good book of Aussie.

Mod off evening hay.

[Page 158]
Sunday 12 May
Up & cleaned for presentation decoration parade. 8.30 fell in & finally in order on Aerodrome ground.

General Birdwood arranged arrived & church parade started. Medals presented & then ribbons. March past & rain hurried end. Afternoon at ease.

Evening Mod bad. Had to keep her on move as she could not keep still. Vets paid 2 visits. Getting worse. Finally shot about 10 p.m. after tiring evening.

[Page 159]
Monday 13 May
Buried Mod in morning. Not too pleasant job.

Afternoon writing & witnessed football match V Corps. Wet on & off all day.

[Page 160]
Tuesday 14 May
Instructed to move out with composite detachment to be attached to D.A. Drivers Hopkins etc. & my own sappers etc.

Fixed re pay etc. Moved off with No. 1 wagon to Longpre arriving 4.30. Parked wagon & spent evening cleaning up.

[Page 161]
Wednesday 15 May
Up early & on road for Epagne early. 8 a.m. Very fine day so trek pleasant. Arrived about 5 p.m. Parked & fixed up all right in a chateau grounds.

[Page 162]
Thursday 16 May
Up at 6.30 parade 7 a.m. Watered, blundered about re billeting. Obtained private mess jumped afterwards. Swim in Somme very good. Very fine day.

[Page 163]
Friday 17 May
Conducted parade 7 a.m. Grooming etc.

Off to Abbeville in afternoon with Whytecross & Robinson by motor wagon. Stopped but got through on a yarn.

Knocked about the town but afterwards called on Miss Priestman. Had tea very tediously. Left about 7.45 after further knocking about the streets. Very hot.

[Page 164]
Saturday 18 May
Fine day again. Things as usual. Horses looking well. Swim in afternoon. Harness improving. Weather holding well. Writing evening.

[Page 165]
Sunday 19 May
Easy today – with usual swim in afternoon. Hot.

[Page 166]
Monday 20 May
Things easy weather fine. King, Whytecross & Robinson on job Pont Remy. Afternoon swim.

[Page 167]
Tuesday 21 May
Morning grazing and things as usual.

King, Hopkins Whytecross & Robinson on job. Pont Remy. Swim in evening. Hot day.

Big air raid.

[Page 168]
Wednesday 22
Things as usual but a Up on racecourse to try Grey with Sapper Dodd up. I was on Hopkins Darky which cast a shoe. Milly too strong for Dodd. Had Darky reshod.

After to Races (8th Bde) & watched couple of races & met Jimmy Force. O.W.C. Then 4 p.m. to Abbeville & knocked about enjoyably.

Hot but thunderstorm about 6 p.m. Very heavy rain for ½ hr.

[Page 169]
Thursday 23
Harness inspected on horses by Cpt Ferguson. Very satisfactory.

After run with Milly on racecourse. Things fair. Afternoon writing. Overcast day.

[Page 170]
Friday 24 May
Day wet. Nothing much doing. Anticipating races.

[Page 171]
Saturday 25 May
Inspection of harness horses wagons by Capt Joycey. Everything good oh! Had interesting talk to Capt. Obtained clippers. Line to Racecourse Run by L/Cp King. Visited Abbeville with Vince Healy afternoon, evening.

[Page 172]
Sunday 26 May
Grazing along canal bank morning.

Afternoon races on flat up the hill. Very successful day. Arrangements good. Bookies in great form. Waacs nurses brass hats in good numbers. Had Millie in. Ran 6th. No luck.

Evening reading.

[Page 173]
Monday 27 May
Cool day. Had D.A horses up in our stables. Visited Pont Remy afternoon. Writing evening.

[Page 174]
Tuesday 28 May
Morning uneventful. Afternoon had ride along canal bank with McTier finally finishing in Abbeville. Nice afternoon. Home in time for watering.

[Page 175]
Wednesday 29 May
Trip int Arranged shoeing of horses with 31st Btn. Into Abbeville on my own later. Home uneventfully early.

[Page 176]
Thursday 30 May
Things much the same. Kit Inspection. Cleaning up etc. for move tomorrow.

"Snowy" lame on first watering parade & Farrier & vets puzzled. Shoe removed no trouble apparent. Reshod last thing.

[Page 177]
Friday 31 May
Up a trifle earlier than usual & moved off for Epagne about 10 am for Hangest by a very circuitous route. Snowy led. Arrived about 3 p.m. without dinner. Fixed up things. Strolled the village.

[Page 178]
Saturday 1 June
Up about 5.30 and moved about about 8.30 from Hangest sur Somme.

Arrived Longpres – or Amiens about 1.30 pm. Did not ride Snowy. Camped there for the night in the old position.

Inspection Respirators. Field Dressings & Steel Helmets 7 pm.

[Page 179]
Sunday 2 June
Up about 6.30 a.m. Watered up etc. & moved off from Longpre about 10.30 passing thro. Amiens arrived Glisy. [Rode?] Returned to Coy. Horse lines behind hill in wood. Had dinner then fixed things up.

Fixed tent in evening. Swim in lagoon.

[Page 180]
Monday 3 June
Parades as per old regime Rev. 6.30 7 a.m. first parade.

Had rivetting put up behind horses. Arranged [re?] stores rations etc.

Evening completed shakedown rather well.

[Page 181]
[Blank page]

[Page 182]
Tuesday 4 June
Things commenced as usual.

Just on feeding up evening large shell (9" – 11") landed near lines. Sid Monks mare killed, another horse wounded destroyed later. Alf House severely wounded losing his chin. Brooksby arm cut off. Dad Harris arm hit. All off to CC.S.

Cleared horses away to different place and about 7 p.m. moved to new lines toward Camon. Fixed tent, transferred gear etc. Bed very late.

[Page 183]
Wed 5 June
In new camp in hollow. Fixed things up & carried on as usual. Managed a little writing in evening.

Thursday 6th
Things the same. Swim in evening.

[Page 184]
Friday 7 June
Day passed with the ordinary grooming cleaning etc. Cricket match watched in evening. No. 4 Section beat HQ etc by 16 runs.

[Page 185]
Saturday 8 June
Things same as ever. Routine Grooming

Rev. 6 a.m. First 6.30 Water, grooming feed. 2nd 7.30 9-15 – 12 Grooming Harness etc. 3rd 2 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Grooming Harness

Evening writing solid.

[Page 186]
Sunday 9 June
Grooming etc, grazing in morning. Afternoon off. Watched cricket V. 27 Btn. Won easily. Evening completed mail.

[Page 187]
Monday 10 June
Light rain during morning. Afternoon in charge grazing up on rise. Evening cards with Hoppy Joe Frost & Andy.

[Page 188]
Tuesday 11 June
Fine day with things as usual. Fresher after yesterday. After ride on Snow to Blangy Tronville to see Norm Opie. Doing well – Had pleasant hour or so.

After tea had swim writing to later.

[Page 189]
Wednesday 12 June
Rifle inspection caused some angered remarks of Lt. [Houlihan?]. Daily inspns. threatened.

Paid in morning. Otherwise day uneventful.

[Page 190]
Thursday 13 June
Rifle inspection by Capt Buckland. Satisfactory.

With Spr Hewett told off to go to Corps. Field Punishment Compound near [Bourlainville?]. Went there with good ride picked up Dr. Huston & escorted him back to Orderly Room. Very pleasant ride. Xmas book fixed in pay book.

[Page 191]
Friday 14 June
Muggy, tiring day. Felt like the weather most of the day. Did a bit of study at night.

[Page 192]
Saturday 15 June
Things just the same.

Cricket in evening against 7th Art. On picket – falling in at 6 am & feeding up at 8.15. Slept in picket tent.

[Page 193]
Sunday 16 June
In bed for the first parade.

Horses loose all the morning. Some broke away but were finally caught.

Cricket afternoon. I was an umpire. We beat 27 Btn. by 21 runs.

Writing evening.

[Page 194]
Monday 17 June
Things as usual grooming morning, grazing afternoon.

Evening on picket for loosing horse inside the lines. Evening completed mail. Study.

[Page 195]
Tuesday 18 June
Morning up around Q.M. fixing matters up.

Afternoon knocked on the head with a stone & a cut was the result. Evening easy – French aeroplane landed close by engine trouble.

[Page 196]
Wednesday 19 June
Rainy so not much grooming. Head dressed. Hoppy reverted Sapper & posted 10th Bde kite suite.

Heavy rain dinner time swamped wet lower end of tent. Afternoon writing. Evening improved tent with covers from Richy.

[Page 197]
Thursday 20 June
Things much as usual. Grazing horses afternoon. Evening easy.

[Page 198]
Friday 21 June
Off after dinner to day to obtain oatmeal etc. with Dr. Nelson to Camon, through Amiens to Salieux to EFC Canteen. Good ride & great view of Amiens. Fairly knocked about but still looking well.

Evening picket.

[Page 199]
Saturday 22 June
As usual. Game of tennis evening.

[Page 200]
Sunday 23 June
Morning much as usual. Cricket match against Pioneers in evening afternoon. P. 78 Us 137 Vince Healy 54. Acted as scorer. Mail arrived.

[Page 201]
Monday 24 June
Grooming etc in morning. Afternoon grazing on paddock past the dump. Evening visit from Hoppy.

[Page 202]
Tuesday 25 June
Things easy. Afternoon around the village. Evening to La Motte to see show but it was off. Returned home & yarned the evening away.

[Page 203]
Wednesday 26 June
Things much the same. Evening wrote heavily & saw Major later on.

[Page 204]
Thursday 27 June
Fine. Alarm call out threatened & everything in readiness for rapid move. Concert on field other side of the Rly.

[Page 205]
Friday 28 June
Fine again. Detailed to remain behind with the B detachment on D.A. Buzzed about with preparations. Picket at night.

[Page 206]
Saturday 29 June
Up at 5.30 am. & plenty of work doing.

Finally stables moved out to Cosy but with B. Det. stopped behind with D.A. Moved horses to cookhouse site and set up camp thereabouts. Fodder ration small.

Arranged camp all day. Living separate from the others, cookhouse of our own.

All very good.

[Page 207]

Sunday 30 June
Stable routine much the same as usual. Marching order parade 9-15. Swim afternoon.

Evening engaged on fodder matter. 4 days ration 260 lbs oats & 1 bale of hay (11 horses). Report submitted.

Home very late amid air raid.

[Page 208]
Monday 1 July
Wagon out (Dr. Huston) but returned with broken wheel. Stables much as usual, free & easy. Swim in afternoon.

[Page 209]
Tuesday 2 July
Wagon to La Motte for a new wheel. Bungled up & no wheel drawn.

Afternoon Moroney & Whytecross up to lay our line. Very warm. Swim in afternoon. Bombed fish in Somme. Got one, one stolen on us.

[Page 210]
Wednesday 3 July
Fine again.

Moroney moved up to O.P. McTier 8th Bde visual Stradling McTier Whytecross local lines.

Afternoon bombed for fish – No luck.

[Page 211]
Thursday 4 July
Heavy barrage in morning and attack made by Austn. Divs. 1 ½ miles advance on 4 mile front 1,500 prisoners. Very satisfactory.

Whytecross relieved. Moroney forward. assistance of horses refused.

Wrote a little.

[Page 213]
Saturday 6 July
Parade 9-15 (Sergt Healy Grazing afternoon. Evening knocking about.

[Page 214]
Sunday 7 July
22nd Birthday.
Hot day. Regaled the boys on Cider on the occasion. Swim afternoon.

[Page 216]
Tuesday 9 July
Thunderstorms today. Biddy gave birth 4 pups all 5 drowned. Work as usual. 7th Bde show evening. Good Yarns told during the waiting by infantry chaps. Home in great spirits.

[Page 217]
Wednesday 10 July
Wet day at times. Plenty of work about camp. Grazing prevented by rain. Evening writing.

[Page 218]
Thursday 11 July
Capt. Ferguson on first parade and harness inspection promised for Saturday. Afternoon cleaning saddlery. Evening knocking about.

[Page 219]
Friday 12 July
"Rogerson" No. 100 missing first thing. Scoured countryside unsuccessfully. Report Capt who attended 9-15 parade. Picket to be instituted. Matter reported.

Cleaning saddlery afternoon. Writing evening.

[Page 220]
Saturday 13 July
Harness Insp. O.K. After ride after missing horse. Unsuccessful. Evening writing etc.

[Page 221]
Sunday 14 July
Unsuccessful search of horse continued. Move tomorrow.

Limber out all day. Home late but manure removed & wagon washed immediately. [Cards?] during the day. Arranged move tomorrow.

[Page 222]
Monday 15 July
Up at good time. Camp dismantled & packed. Limber returned by D.A. (went forward early) 9 a.m. packed also.

Swim after hot work of cleaning up. Light lunch about 11-15 finished & moved off from Glisy about 12.10 p.m. Arrived Buzzy 1-15 p.m. Arranged stables etc.

With the Coy again.

[Page 223]
Tuesday 16 July
Raining heavily early. Ordinary grooming etc. Evening picket. Day finer.

[Page 224]
Wednesday 17 July
Slept in (picket last night). Stables as usual.

Difficulty about tents. Finally had to hand in 2 bell tents & 2 covers. Acquired huge artillery cover and put up lean to. Had 6 chaps extra on a/c of rain.

[Page 225]
Thursday 18 July
Stables as usual. Intermittent raining. Out on horseback to look for lost horse. No luck. Writing evening.

[Page 226]
Friday 19 July
Work as usual. Afternoon [indecipherable] grazing on other side of the stream. Evening feeling off.

[Page 227]
Saturday 20 July
Slept in first parade. Felt a bit better but later rather crook. Visited AMO & had dose of oil. Laying about most of the day.

[Page 228]
Sunday 21 July
Fine day but Horse out in the paddocks all day. Cricket in afternoon. Teams picked up. Made 0 & 12.

Evening picket. Reading.

[Page 229]
Monday 22 July
Fine day. Horses out again all day. Saddlery cleaning. Writing evening.

[Page 230]
Tuesday 23 July
Damp in morning so horses in. Things as usual. Yanks attached to Coy for training. Pretty busy about the place.

[Page 231]
Wednesday 24 July
Good day. Things much the same. Horses out, rode with them both out & in. With the tent full to Cooees. Great evening. On picket later.

[Page 232]
Thursday 25 July
Fine day out with horses.

Whytecross off – horse missing until late in afternoon. Out to 9th Field Amb. making alterations to phone.

Home late – but played cricket after tea.

[Page 233]
Friday 26 July
Fair day, couple of showers.

Horses out again but in driving out got thrown clean over the horses head. No damage done. Rode in with them evening.

Later to Cooees. Extremely good. Had Cooee visitor to tent after show. Good.

[Page 234]
Saturday 27 July
Wet day. Horses did not go out. Ordinary.

[Page 235]
Sunday 28 July
Wet in morning.

Afternoon cricket V Cooees. Umpired. Won by a few runs. Very pleasant match.

Evening practising cricket & picket.

[Page 236]
Monday 29 July
Fair. Obtained piano from mess in morning installed in our tent. Horses out later. Singsong at dinner time.

To Cooees at night but hall full by the crowd rushing it. Played cricket & then another sing song under the cover stretched out.

[Page 237]
Tuesday 30 July
Fine day, horses out so things easy in consequence. Cricket match against 3rd B.A.C. Made a good duck. Read & singsong finally.

[Page 238]
Wednesday 31 July
Day as usual. On picket. Great sing song at night again.

[Page 239]
Thursday 1 August
Things much the same. Finished off with the singsong at night.

[Page 240]
Friday 2 August
Wet day. Nothing much doing

To dentist & had old stump extracted & filling of another commenced. Pretty rough time afterwards though actual work good. Afterwards all right.

[Page 241]
Saturday 3 August
Slightly wet. Grooming etc. as of old.

Good show at Cooees. Enjoyable. Good singsong afterwards until all hours.

[Page 242]
Sunday 4 August
Dull day but fine. Things just ordinary. Peaceful resting afternoon.

Good singsong again with many [indecipherable] chaps assisting. Everybody sung to a standstill.

[Page 243]
Monday 5 August
Dull in morning. Afternoon Glisy for a ride. Caught in rain returning but called in at a camp to shelter.

[Page 244]
Tuesday 6 August
Wet day – not too auspicious for the big stunt to come off shortly. Preparations marvellous & fast. Quiet evening, but singsong later.

In bed called out to go to [indecipherable] Chateau to maintain line to 11th Bde. (already disc). Left out 11 p.m. arrived 12-30. Road blocked with great traffic including tanks.

[Page 245]
Wednesday 7 August
Found 2 lineman out on line on arrival so turned in about 1 a.m. Up at 8 am. breakfasted etc. Afternoon out on line. Removed faults. Saw Norm Opie & George Suckling.

Plenty of tanks about. Preparations evidently completed, everybody waiting to jump. Detailed to H.A. with Lovekin. Packed and marched to H.A. in record time. (Maintaining armoured cable). Got a cramped position in a little hole & managed a little sleep.

[Page 246]
Thursday 8 August
Up at 4 a.m. and awaited the stunt. At 4-20 up she went & noise was terrific. Everything went well. Lines held. Artillery chased up infantry very quickly. Day foggy.

Out in morning around about. Plenty of prisoners. Casualities very slight. News better as day goes on. Out in afternoon looking about.

[Page 247]
Friday 9 August
Fine day – mist slightly.

11th Bde giving trouble. Finally put in a pole crossing instead of a bury & after trouble about the pair used had line working again.

[Page 248]
Saturday 10 August
Fine day.

11th Bde line still crook. After much investigating & annoyance ran D3 piece from pole crossing to Bde. OK.

Evening just on dark 23rd M.G. out. Nosing about until late but found M.G. moved up. Field Engrs & Pioneers took the line.

To bed late.

[Page 249]
Sunday 11 August
Fine day. Down to Vare for water in morning. Had a swim at the same time.

Then to 10th Bde line out 3.30. Walked & walked for miles past 10th Bde old position. Line under traffic everywhere. Finally got line thro. returned home dead beat 10.30 p.m. Must have walked about 13 miles.

[Page 250]
Monday 12 August
Fine day.

Busy in office in morning then line to 10th Bde out again. Long tramp to big valley, found ¾ miles cut out. Reeled up line round a big bend, took a short cut and restored the break. Wrong lines jointed – so swapped over.

Home about 5 p.m. Had dinner after bit of trouble. Fixed up lines, attended to office business until late.

Moving out tomorrow.

[Text along edge of page]
Evening roads full of transport.

[Page 251]
Tuesday 13 August
Up at 2 a.m. but lines fixed up.

Up at 7 am with 10th Bde out but did not go on it. Had breakfast & packed up, tramped to H.M. Picked up finally by box car to Bussy.

Afternoon swim. Evening at ease. Mail.

[Page 252]
Wednesday 14 August
Up on morning stables as of old. Morning fixed cable wagons etc. Afternoon fixed wagon swim and reading. Evening cricket.

[Page 253]
Thursday 15 August
Day spent in grooming & fixing things up. Evening played cricket but did badly again.

[Page 254]
Friday 16 August
Out with wagon reeling up cable. Got 4 drums in morning & 2 in afternoon. Evening writing & football.

[Page 255]
Saturday 17 August
Morning did some washing. Horses out in paddock. Writing at dinner time. Scrubbed saddlery in afternoon.

[Page 256]
Sunday 18 August
Fine day easy mornings grooming. Afternoon erected the tent in the old position on frame work. To Daours for sandbags. Knocking about in evening.

[Page 257]
Monday 19 August
Evening as usual & completed saddle. Move tomorrow arrangements made.

[Page 258]
Tuesday 20 August
After busied demolition of camp we moved off from Buzzy and arrived via Daours, Corbie Vaux near Sailly-le Sec. Fixed horse lines close to side of the main road. Had swim. Retire under the old cover. Road busy with tanks etc.

[Page 259]
Wednesday 21 August
At the usual stable routine.

Cable wagon out 11th Bde to a DS Sailly-les-Sec to Sailly Lauerete [Laurette?]. Extremely hot. Finished line in good time. Swim. Out again over line. Washed Snowy on return.

Great stock of fruit in.

[Page 260]
Thursday 22 August
Began ordinary routine but out on job to Div. with Pip Page & others. Running 14 [indecipherable] cable along water pipe trench. Extremely hot again. Mail Souveniring poles. Dug up 50 yds of trench.

Mail in later. Great swim with new spring board.

[Page 261]
Friday 23 August
Morning easy, but wagon required at the hut in the afternoon. Laid line D8 two pairs one for each wagon. Pip Page. from near Div to [10th?] Bde. Returned at great pace & a wheel came off.

Home late in evening.

[Page 262]
Saturday 24 August
Things as usual – busy cleaning saddlery –

Called out about 7 p.m. with wagon – Two wagons mine – Chancellors. Up along main road & a fair way up one of the wheels of my wagon stuck – Could not repair. Shelled rather heavily. Horses withdrawn. Finally removed wagon to side of the road & took stores on cable card. Laid line. 10th Bde – 291 QFA.

[Page 263]
Sunday 25 August
Mr Cook did not turn up so as place shelled began line without proper direction. Nearly finished when I met Mr Cook. Finished all right – began to return home. Met Chanc. wagon. Returned together as relieving the congestion of 3 chaps to the cart. Home about 1.30 am.

Up at 6 am advised Sergt of wagon abandoned. Away about 8.15 a.m. with limber, 4 horses. Found screw washer had loosened and had tightened on wheel jamming it. Returned after repairing.

Afternoon spent completing repairs wagon. Running through cable at night very busy & tired.

[Page 264]
Monday 26 August
Up as usual but suddenly advised 8 am. that we were moving immediately.

Packed & moved out in no time via Sailly-le-Sec – Laurete, Chipilly to Etinehem. One Detachment left at behind.

Pulled into Div H.Q. three wagons ordered immediately. Was able to have dinner first. Ran line from 11 Bde to 10 Bde roads harassingly shelled so had to try a different route. Got to 10th alright at Rly Stn Bray. Line not O.K. Returned to 11th repaired incorrect joint.

Home to horselines on Chipilly Rd. Well tired. Got knocked on back of knucles only scratched.

[Page 265]
Tuesday 27 August
Put wagon in order & knocked about getting stores etc.

Afternoon out to Chipplly Ex., SAA, MDS, Div Train. Run out of cable 400 yds from Div Train. Returned Chipplly but could not obtain cable. Returned about 9 p.m.

Tired once more.

[Page 266]
Wednesday 28 August
[King?] back to finish Div Train line. Fixed up many matters and stood by.

Ordered out immediately about 5 pm just before tea. Out to 251 Bde R.F.A then to 10th Bde then to 7th A.F.A. & finally to Bray. Last section in pitch dark. Very hard.

Home about 12.30 a.m. Lines working well. Shelling heavy.

[Page 267]
Thursday 29 August
Had tea on arrival home. Slept in until about 10.30 am breakfast being brought into the tent. Had an easy morning.

Move ordered immediately after dinner for 2 pm. Move via Bray, Cappy to Suzanne & camped near Chateau. Made ourselves comfortable.

Then I went in box car to Curlu to take cable forward to Page. Shelling heavy. Great ride.

[Page 269]
Saturday 31 August
Things easy in morning & early afternoon.

Then suddenly ordered to move immediately to Curlu 2 Det. & 1 cablecart. Moved out before tea & made ourselves comfy.

Obtained accommodation in dugout.

[Page 270]
Sunday 1 Sept.
Wet in morning. Nothing much doing so watched prisoners & wounded coming in at Ambulance – very busy, & interesting. Saw several burials.

Afternoon finer. Writing in afternoon.

Prussian Guards (volunteered to stop us) amongst prisoners.

[Page 271]
Monday 2 Sept.
Still in same position. Things very easy – writing & looking about chiefly.

Afternoon suddenly recalled to Suzanne. Arrived, fixed up, busied Knocking about all the afternoon. Plenty of writing.

[Page 272]
Tuesday 3 Sept.
Things easy – Afternoon suddenly recalled to Suzanne. So packed up & off.

Arrived, fixed tent, cleaned busied to show opposite D.HQ. Saw Press Representatives, German Prisoners goose-stepped past HQ. Visited vault desecrated by Fritz.

Then to Cooees 7.30. Prisoners Pioneers busy all day on building.

[Page 273]
Wednesday 4 Sept.
Cleaning up all day. Evening to write but Hoppy arrived so visited Cooees with him. Home late again. Hoppy doing well.

[Page 274]
Thursday 5 Sept.
Cleaning up though warned about very rapid work. Congratulated etc by Capt Buckland on work.

Called out about 3 p.m. To Curlu laid line to Clery then to Ommiecourt les Clery. To lay another to 10th Bde but wagon missed me.

So home about 10.30. Camp swamped by rain.

[Page 275]
Friday 6 Sept.
Up early & moved off to Clery – raised to the ground – again with all gear. Fixed up & took things easy.

Managed a bit of writing later.

[Page 276]
Saturday 7 Sept.
Things easy for a while then moved off immediately to past Peronne which is knocked about thoroughly. Then ordered out on 11th Bde line to Tincourt. Went well until cable ran out.

Waited about for cable to arrive. Officers "forgot" it. Harrassingly shelled. Rough time. Finally cable arrived. Commenced work but shelling put us to flight. Henderson severely knocked.

Finally finished line returned home. Put up camp.

[Page 277]
Sunday 8 Sept.
Went out to the scene of yesterdays operations & found Milligans tunic. Picked up Hendersons plyers & knife. Henderson not too good according to reports. Returned Took private gear to Major.

Ordered back to Clery scrounging cable. Returned via Peronne. Made camp at old lines. Pleasant supper & to peace peacefully.

[Page 278]
Monday 9 Sept.
Up & out 9-30 to reel in cable. To Curlu to 74 Div. 2 ½ reels. Afternoon Div to 51 Bde. Only ½ drum left. Then returned to camp.

Evening talking etc.

[Page 279]
Tuesday 10 Sept.
Out all day from Div. to J18. Had lunch on Mount St Quentin. Reeled up 10 miles & returned home via Div. Dropped cable there. Up in evening getting orders until very late.

Wet & rainy.

[Page 280]
Wednesday 11 Sept.
Out again to Curlu to Vaux. Got 5 drums D8. Returned home. Other portion of camp removed up to Doingt.

Wet again. To rest tomorrow.

[Page 281]
Thursday 12 Sept.
Rested all day & had peaceful time.

Up to main road to ring up at night but had to climb pole & then could not locate line. Returned home without reporting.

[Page 282]
Friday 13 Sept.
All again as per usual. Reeled up two D8S from Susanne to Vaux Wood. Fine day for a pleasant change wrote at night.

[Page 283]
Saturday 14 Sept.
Out reeling in 2D8s from Vaux Wood towards Curlu. Reached Curlu village. Writing afternoon.

[Page 284]
Sunday 15 Sept.
Out again with 4 horses. [indecipherable] going into Div. to change his. Reeled up from Clery to Curlu. Then remainder of the two pair to Curlu.

Afternoon was bath & waiting up at road for W Sims.

Evening writing.

[Page 285]
Monday 16 Sept.
No drums so slept in late. Awakened by Mr Sims coming to pay us before we went out to work. What! To clean wagon today return tomorrow. Visited Div for tomorrows breakfast. Cleaned wagons.

Finished mail. Good day.

[Page 286]
Tuesday 17 Sept.
Moved off with whole show to Div. H.Q. Arrived well before dinner & settled down. Came by Peronne.

Everything well. Evening to Doingt to p.m.

[Page 287]
Wednesday 18 Sept.
At the old routine again. To bath in afternoon in Peronne. Evening knocking about CCS. Successful stunt during the day.

[Page 288]
Thursday 19 Sept.
Wagons saddlery looked after. Evening to Blue Gums. Not too good.

[Page 289]
Friday 20 Sept.
Fooled around all day, chiefly returning horses on to their correct grazing ground with Paddy the dog. Evening walk to Doingt. Saw train load of tank.

[Page 290]
Saturday 21 Sept.
Morning as usual. Afternoon 11th Bde sports close handy. Attended & enjoyed the fun. Good afternoon.

Evening – the whole tent visited the Cooees at Doingt. Had good time. Supper & then to bed.

[Page 291]
Sunday 22 Sept.
Afternoon played football against 11 Bde. Rained, cold wind so not too pleasant. Lost the match by 14 points. To bed early.

[Page 292]
Monday 23 Sept.
Morning usual after discussion re detachment personnel. Lost Stradling – acquired Taylor T.

Evening to Cooees. Good – Condensed. Silver King rendered. Very fine. Home to supper to bed.

[Page 293]
Tuesday 24 Sept.
Just the same all day. Evening walked to Doingt for papers. Returned with 3 papers & found the tent already full of them.

[Page 294]
Wednesday 25 Sept.
Very quiet & easy all day.

Evening walked to Peronne & around about. Very interesting.

[Page 295]
Thursday 26 Sept.
Things just as usual. Visited the Cooees in evening.

Boring for water & expect to go 200 ft.

Fair day.

[Page 296]
Friday 27 Sept.
Things just much the same until after dinner. Ordered forward.

Moved off about 2 pm to Roisel. Road on the way Shelled but we were OK. Camped in a valley but ordered out on job in darkness. From [cage?] to main route.

[Page 297]
Saturday 28 Sept.
Chaps breakfasted in bed. Things at ease in morning.

Out to 27th American Div, 9th Bde, 10 Bde. Some trouble with horses in front of heavy guns. Line was laid right beneath the muzzles.

Peaceful night after visit of a Fritz plane with bombs (very low).

[Page 298]
Sunday 29 Sept.
Called up at 2.30 a.m. & packed tent & moved out to Templaux then quite close to front line. Arrived Templaux, unpacked wagon, fed horses in wagon, barrage started 5.25 a.m. Then moved out to lay a line to Bony.

Got going well when tanks were observed only a few yards ahead. Stopped, ascertained situation & had to wait until advance recontinued. Moved forward after seeing a tank top the ridge in front. Found 10 Bde had taken position about 1 mile behind their subjective position.

Moved up with

[Page 299]
wagon & laid line to Bde amidst machine gun fire. Had a lucky escape from Mills bomb which exploded 3 yds in front of me. Horse wounded 2 places, King & Maroney got pieces also. Returned to safe place with all hacks but Maroney got a piece shell in the ear, burst a bit in front & he got another piece in the leg. Waited hours & hours for orders to go forward again but finally ordered home about 5 p.m. Nothing to eat (no breakfast) until 4 p.m.

Advance not too good today mainly on account of Yanks not mopping up & Fritz working through tunnels not mopped up. Hard luck. Wagon did very good – getting very far forward. My horse Maroney evacuated. King back to Roisel for a rest. Camp prepared by Chancellor.

[Page 300]
Monday 30th
Cold day – Up & walked horse Had horses fed & watered as possible during the day. No trips. Living in a tent 7 of us abreast in a 10 yds space.

Tuesday 1st October
Walked horses about – fed & watered.

After dinner ordered out with full gear. Packed up & with Mr Fountain moved out to 10th Bde again. Still pretty rough, took shelter behind a tank. After waiting about 1 hour, further work found impracticible. Returned home none too sorry.

[Page 301]
Wednesday 2 October
Morning easy
Morning out to try to get Bony at last. Got the wagon to 10th Bde then along road to near junction road & Bony. Pulled cable up the hill to 11 Bde leaving wagon in cutting. Heavy harrassing fire. Finally finished & returned via Hargicourt.

Afternoon easy.

[Page 302]
Thursday 3 October
Packed up & returned to Doingt. Very glad indeed to be relieved. Feeling tired etc. Fixed up cover in same position. Feeling very comfortable after the work.

[Page 303]
Friday 4 October
Cleaned wagons. Walked Doingt, reserved seats for Cooees.

Camp declared "closed" after work. However got permission for leave visit show. O.K.

Rumours of move back tomorrow.

[Page 304]
Saturday 5 October
Up & preparing for move off. Packed up & ready to move early but delay to wait. Finally had dinner & moved off 12.30.

Moved to near Halle & had to wait for 9th Bde transport. Detailed for billeting party so rode forward with officer 6 others to Marcourt. Division of transport on rode.

Very longer. Fixed up gully at Marcourt. Colum arrived about 9-30.

[Page 305]
Sunday 6 October
Away again on billeting. Left Marcourt & arrived Saint Saveun. No accommodation, so went to Argreuves. Fixed up & column arrived about 5 pm. Passed through Amiens visited Cathedral.

[Page 306]
Monday 7 October
With column from Argreuves to Hallencourt. Arrived after little rain about 5 p.m. Fixed up & slept under wagons. Arranged private mess. Horses in stables.

[Page 307]
Tuesday 8 October
Up & at things as usual. Get things fixed up. Obtained a billet for the lot in afternoon.
Wet.

[Page 308]
Wednesday 9 October
Commenced mess. Good. Things quiet. Rather windy & cold.

[Page 309]
Thursday 10 October
Things very easy. Wintry weather. Piano obtained in big billet. Acquired a billet with Jack Ferguson. Not too bad. Singing up in big billet during evening.

[Page 310]
Friday 11 October
Still wintry day. Knocked about. Fergy pretty crook. Taken in hand by the Madame. Very kind & attentive. Writing heavily.

[Page 311]
Saturday 12 October
Things good & easy. Lodged cable home "Splendid". Easy again today though weather wintry.

[Page 312]
Sunday 13 October
Up with a bad headache. Carried on as usual but after a route march visited Carroll who consigned me to bed. Had Madame looking after me. Influenza.

[Page 313]
Monday 14 October
Feeling relieved toward morning but failed to improve. Remained in bed all day. Madame very kind. Got some additional medicine in evening. Carroll being away all day.

[Page 314]
Tuesday 15 October
Not too good but got up a bit & sat near the fire. In bed early in afternoon.

[Page 315]
Wednesday 16 October
Got a dose of salts & felt a bit better. Evening went round to the Mess for tea after being paid. Very cold for me.

[Page 316]
Thursday 17 October
Had breakfast in bed but dinner & tea at the mess. Much better, but need to be very careful of the cold.

[Page 317]
Friday 18 October
Breakfast in bed in again & round to mess for dinner & tea. Pleasant day – had a couple of walks about. In next door in evening.

[Page 318]
Saturday 19 October
On duty again so up at 6 am as usual. Things much the same as old.

Visited Longpre to enquire to re I.O.M. but it had moved to Hallencourt. Had pleasant ride with Shonner.

[Page 319]
Sunday 20 October
On duty again but spent a pleasant easy day reading "The Scapegoat". Read so persistently that I finished at about 7.30 & then wrote home.

[Page 320]
Monday 21 October
Muster parade with sickening B.S. Afterwards lot of chaps went off to Abbeville. Very easy indeed.

In evening to concert with Cooees orchestra Lena Ashly party. Good.

[Page 321]
Tuesday 22 October
Took wagon around to I.O.M. where it was condemned. So in afternoon took it to Longpre accompanied by Sid Monk. Got rid of wagon O.K.

During return fixed up to have the new dark Horse. Took it over on return.

[Page 322]
Wednesday 23 October
Brushed up the horse & named him temporarily "Toby". Things very easy.

A night trip undertaken with much [lementing?] & little success. Finished up with a feed of fried potatoes very late.

[Page 323]
Thursday 24 October
Grooming etc during the morning. Afternoon free except for the parade. Evening reading calling in at recreation room later.

[Page 324]
Friday 25 October
Just hanging about all the morning. Afternoon reading. Evening [indecipherable] again.

[Page 325]
Saturday 26 October
Day as usual except a little exercise & grazing in afternoon. Applied myself well to a little study in evening. Billet very comfortable.

[Page 326]
Sunday 27 October
Route march after parade, then on church parade Major Gault. After that issue of paybooks & blanket. Football in afternoon & writing at night.

[Page 327]
Monday 28 October
Very fine day.

As usual in morning Major inspected the crowd.

Afternoon journeyed to [indecipherable] & saw Geoff Stillman. Then to Marieul saw Bill Morgan & Korah Wills. Had tea with Bill & a long yarn with Korah.

Came home in the dark but managed well.

[Page 328]
Tuesday 29 October
Another fine day. Morning grooming & exercising. Afternoon yarning with the people inside. Evening singsong & easy.

[Page 329]
Wednesday 30 October
Detailed to be I/C limber on Transport Competition. Made preliminary arrangements. Bath afternoon. Evening visited [Mac’s?] Den. Wet slightly.

[Page 330]
Thursday 31 October
Commenced cleaning wagon after erecting shelter. Trouble about [wrestling?] on horseback so Rough time predicted for the troops.

Evening writing & yarning next door.

[Page 331]
Friday 1 Nov.
Cleaning wagons in morning. Afternoon knocking about. Busy with [wrestling?]. Evening to Cooees. Very enjoyable & amusing.

News very good & men in great glee. Talked at mess until late.

[Page 333]
Sunday 3 Nov.
On the wagons. Afternoon in luxurious ease on the bed with books. Evening to Cooee Orchestral Concert. Very good solid music.

[Page 334]
Monday 4 Nov.
On the wagons again. No paint in spite of "magnificent" promises. Reported Major & go things moving otherwise.

Afternoon football practice in togs. Good. Evening to be pretty early.

[Page 335]
Tuesday 5 Nov.
Paint arrived so got to work about 10.30. Finished in early afternoon after hard work. Afterwards took things easy. Competition on Thursday. To Pictures YMCA in evening. Very poor.

[Page 336]
Wednesday 6 Nov.
Fixed wagon up all ready in morning. Football for afternoon postponed about noon. Raining all day. Bath at baths in afternoon. Competition tomorrow postponed. Very miserable day so in evening sat reading in kitchen.

[Page 337]
Thursday 7 Nov.
Tinkered about wagon. Arranged for [ashes?] for stable. Fixed up a few matters. Afternoon at ease.

Evening again to pictures (fair) then to the farm, then in kitchen & finally read on until 12-30 a.m.

[Page 338]
Friday 8 Nov.
On horses etc in morning. Afternoon any how. Evening writing etc. Very easy.

[Page 339]
Saturday 9 Nov.
Morning completed wagon etc.

Afternoon football V 35 Bn. Won by 28 goals to 2 points after a bad game. Bath.

Evening took buzzing things easy re show tomorrow. Heard of Shonan’s death.

[Page 340]
Sunday 10 Nov.
To show. Togged about pretty well. Did not get a place. Maltese got third. Afternoon remained at home, read, & wrote. Evening Cooees. A bit flat.

[Page 341]
Monday 11 Nov.
Work as usual Word communicated that armistice signed. Therefore no work doing. Excitement great.

Afternoon to Abbeville to bury Shonan. Madame made boquet of flowers. After wait at hospital march behind Shonan through the happy streets to cemetry. Ted Briggs, Ted Bennar also dead.

Evening at farm.

[Page 342]
Tuesday 12 Nov.
To customary duty again. Things very easy. Evening to pictures. Very poor. Madame away at tea time so we cooked up a great feed.

[Page 343]
Wednesday 13 Nov.
Paid. Sports in afternoon. Nothing very exciting. Put in most of the evening at the mess.

[Page 344]
Thursday 14 Nov.
Weather getting very cold lately. Work as usual. Goldsmith reported dead.

[Page 345]
Friday 15 Nov.
Obtained passes for [Kinga?], Richy’s & Joe to go into Abbeville by bike. Got in about 12 noon. Had a great time until about 8 p.m. Returned in moonlight. Pretty cold.

Visited mess on arrival. Got to bed late. Had a glorious day.

[Page 346]
Saturday 16 Nov.
Still fine but cold. Withdrawn from football competition. Very angry. Exercise afternoon. Evening at Bandicotts who narrowly escaped being counted out. Then to Blue Bird.

[Page 347]
Sunday 17 Nov.
Cold – freezing. Just knocking about. Got fire going in afternoon & wrote.

[Page 348]
Monday 18 Nov.
Girls went to Paris today.

Day very fine. Nothing much doing. Covering chaps hard at work.

[Page 349]
Tuesday 19 Nov.
Very quiet. Fine but very cold. [indecipherable] evening after witnessing chaps dancing.

[Page 350]
Wednesday 20 Nov.
Very misty. Things much the same. Football controversy in afternoon. Knocked about. Evening Lena Ashly’s party. Very good.

[Page 351]
Thursday 21 Nov.
Ordinary in morning. Afternoon ride out past [indecipherable]. Evening had bucks dance in the hall & had a go.

[Page 352]
Friday 22 Nov.
Things just the same all day. Writing in evening.

[Page 353]
Saturday 23 Nov.
Lieut Howie on stables.

Phillips returned from hospital & told us of Frank Maroney being in Abbeville. With Mac, O’Brien visited Abbeville. Dug Frank up & had pleasant afternoon & evening. Home very late & hungry. Attached bull on return.

[Page 354]
Sunday 24 Nov.
Things as usual. Afternoon attempted to write but was continually frustrated. Bucks dance in evening & afterwards to Blue Bird. Frank rejoined us. Slater posted to [det.?]

[Page 355]
Monday 25 Nov.
Wet day.
Afternoon visited Abbeville by boxcar fixing up for dances. Evening to concert in hall – "Dramatic". Very rough. Afterwards yarning inside & writing.

[Page 356]
Tuesday 26 Nov.
Managed a new pair breeches for dance. Afternoon cleaning up after bath. Left Hallencourt about 5.15 p.m. & arrived Abbeville just a bit late.

Waac Dance in Y.W.C.A. at No. 3 Camp. Plenty of Waacs. Had one dance (miserable failure. Afterwards looked after refreshments. Very successful evening.

[Page 358]
Tuesday 28 Nov.
Wet dismal day. Knocking about. In evening "silent" visit to Abbeville in box car with Mac, King, Frank & Joe. Visited Cooees. After reaching home great fun.

[Page 359]
Still wet. Fooling around. Received parcel. Rested evening.

[Page 360]
Saturday 30 Nov.
Morning as usual. Afternoon out on horse & saw football. 38 V Pioneers. Interesting match.

[Page 361]
Sunday 1 Dec.
Orderly corporal under new regime. Church parade in hall. Afternoon writing. Evening card party in bedroom.

[Page 362]
Monday 2 Dec.
Trying to get into Abbeville but failed. Evening Pictures. Cards again.

[Page 363]
Tuesday 3 Dec.
Leave parted to Abbeville but lorry did not turn up. Waited about all the morning. Afternoon training football in Gendarmie with medicine ball. Evening writing & amusement.

[Page 364]
Wednesday 4 Dec.
Instructed to be ready for transfer to Horseferry Rd today or tomorrow. Application for 3 days leave rendered unnecessary. Fussed about all the morning arranging for photo of the boys. Taken about 12.30. Packing up in afternoon. Evening had the boys home & made a bit of fun for a goodbye.

[Page 365]
Thursday 5 Dec.
Flew about fixing up pass etc until 10.30 when I hurriedly left the old boys in the box car.

Arrived Abbeville R.S. & caught civilian train to Boulogne arriving there about 2.30 p.m. Had dinner booked a bed at the Grand Louvre. Strolled about in afternoon visited the pictures & after more strolling finished up with a dinner.

Got to bed about 10 pm but slept a restless night.

[Page 366]
Friday 6 Dec.
Up at 7 & after breakfast down to the wharf. In spite of great scheming could not travel on morning boat.

So knocked about the town instead. After dinner visited the wharf & finally got aboard & said goodbye to France. Arrived Folkstone & then London all right. Dug up Will, & Bert & put the night up with him.

[Page 367]
Saturday 7 Dec.
Into town early & got paid, fixed up with clothing & interview Education Bn. Afternoon touring Albert Halls heard Clara Butt & [Bachman?] Evening to a Cantata given at a church by some friends of Wills & put in a pleasant social evening afterwards at Floyds.

[Page 368]
Sunday 8 Dec.
Into Westminster Wes. Church for morning service. Then visited Australia House & Queens Hall Concert. Church & a visit to Wills friends again.

[Page 369]
Monday 9 Dec.
Into town & interviewed re leave. Got 14 days from tomorrow. Hurried about all day fixing things up. Had a good look at Australia House searching for information. Left for Glasgow 11.30 pm.

[Page 370]
Tuesday 10 Dec.
Arrived 9.30 Glasgow after good trip. Stop Booked at Argyle Hotel. Knocked about all day. Visited Cummings in evening had a good evening.

[Page 371]
Wednesday 11 Dec.
Moved to Grand Hotel. Visited Art Galleries in morning & [Rucken Glen?] in afternoon. Weather not too good but fairly enjoyable. Evening met the two Cummings & went to Fergusons for the evening. Enjoyable also.

[Page 372]
Thursday 12 Dec.
Met Bob Patterson at breakfast & knocked about in morning. Afternoon visited Pictures & evening to Theatre Betty at Bay with Walked "home" & finally left about 1.30 a.m. Home to bed just on two.

[Page 373]
Friday 13 Dec.
Met Bob Patterson at breakfast then a couple of his friends. Visited Art Galleries again. Caught 4.15 pm train to Stranraer for Belfast. Arrived about 9 p.m. Tea & then a stroll around in the moonlight.

[Page 374]
Saturday 14 Dec.
Up at 6 a.m. & after breakfast caught boat to Larne. Train then to Belfast 11a.m. Went through city in jaunting car with a chap I had met. Afternoon went out for a tram ride & during evening knocked about with a couple of friends.

[Page 376]
Monday 16 Dec.
After two unsuccessful endeavours visited Harland & Wolffs. 12 ships under construction 18,000 tons the largest. Wet. Train ride. Then in evening to Laws. Played cards, yarned & suffered twice until 3.10 am.

[Page 377]
Tuesday 17 Dec.
Not up until near 11 a.m. Visited Allisons & arranged trip to Bangor. Left Belfast for Bangor 12.55 with [indecipherable] Law. Visited friends Bangor. Pleasant music & stroll about. Finally caught in bad rain & train 10 p.m. & taxi home to Adelaide. Home early myself.

[Page 378]
Wednesday 18 Dec.
Left Belfast – arrived Dublin 1.30. Walked about called on Mr. Malcolm & visited place in evening. Nice evening very quiet.

[Page 379]
Thursday 19 Dec.
Round Guinnesses brewery in morning. Lunch with Mr. Malcolm at St Andrews. Afternoon Museum. Evening Malcolms singing with Mrs. Dickenson.

[Page 380]
Friday 20 Dec.
Met first thing by Mrs. Dickenson George. Visited Phoenix Park then dined then to Kingstown. Afterwards to Malcolms singing & cards.

[Page 382]
Sunday 22 Dec.
Breakfast in bed but up 9.30 a.m. Met Miss Cumming at church & slightly late owing to Irish time being 20 min slow. Snowing.

To Cummings for dinner. Then to Wesleyan Bible Class Musical afternoon. Tea at Fergusons. Home in hurry. Goodbye to Cummings very hurriedly. Caught special tram home.

[Page 383]
Monday 23 Dec.
Called on Visited Cathedral in morning. Afternoon to pictures. Then visited out near Botanic Gardens. Had tea & caught the 9 pm train to London. Spent last 1/- on pillow & arrived London with 6 1/2d.

[Page 384]
Tuesday 24 Dec.
Arrived London 7 a.m. Out to Buxton. Had breakfast. Got some money. Visited town with Bert. Home & cleaned up in afternoon.

Caught 4.53 pm to Sutton as guest of a Mrs. C.H. Benmore. Nice place & turned in at Sutton after quiet evening.

[Page 385]
Wednesday 25 Dec.
Up about 10.30 then walked about with "Billy" to Epsom course. Afternoon lazed in drawing room. Evening Christmas Party after Christmas Dinner. Turkey Plum Pudding. Played games sang charades & etc. until early hours.

[Page 386]
Thursday 26 Dec. 14
Up late again. Walked Trained to Box Hill walked about the hills. The train to Wimbeldon. Lazed afternoon. Christmas Dinner & Party in evening. Slept at Amos place late.

[Page 387]
Friday 27 Dec.
Up about 7.45, breakfast at

Left early & got into town about 9.30. Started work at Records. Got rigged out. Evening out Hampstead & had a rollicking evening.

Wrights.

[Page 388]
Saturday 28 Dec.
Work as usual again at Records. O’Brien, Bodsworth & Schofield arrived. Afternoon knocking about. Evening writing & talking.

[Page 389]
Sunday 29 Dec.
In morning moved to digs in Charlwood Place near Victoria. Afternoon with boys around Hampstead Heath & Golders Green. Evening to Church & then to Floyds. Home late.

[Page 391]
Tuesday 31 Dec.
Work as usual all day.

Evening to Floyds to practice singing. Then to Guys Hospital. Saw the Old Year go. Bonfires etc. Rather quiet tho worked hard for fun.

[Transcribed by Sandra Mutton for the State Library of New South Wales]