Monday January 1st, 1917

The first day of New Year. Still in Quarantine, football game in afternoon, At Biorns C + D. Renuer C + D - 3 O wins. Concert at night in Canteen. Feeling sick cold in kidneys. Mud still the prevailing feature of camp life.

Tuesday, January 2nd, 1917

Still sick but some better. But on range, in huts as marker rumoured that Batt is coming out of Quarantine on the morrow no mail of any kind this day.

Wednesday, January 3rd, 1917

Still in quarantine, but on range in hutt's came home at 3:00 oclock P.M. and were dismissed. Mail from Tols and Aunt M.A. Feeling fine today. No further cases of measles. Looking forward to coming out of Quarantine. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

Thursday, January 4th, 1917

But on Ranges in morning Afternoon. Bay over fighting and Bombing. Feeling fine but would like a trip into town. For a wonder we had a fine day.

Friday, January 5th, 1917

Training hard Physical + Bayonet fighting. ten mile route march in afternoon got parcel from Bert + Fern [?] some box.

Saturday, January 6th, 1917

Football game officers v Sergeants. Reseat Officers 2 0. Reforced game in afternoon got note my from Hoy Cake. Everybody being very good-to me.

Sunday, January 7th, 1917

Still in quarantine. Church parade in morning Voluntary service in afternoon about seventy people present. Subject, Bear ye one anothers burdens. We sure have got a good chaplain. Band concert at night.

Monday, January 8th, 1917

Terrible weather raining and snowing at intervals all day. The 137th Bn arrive in camp from Witley. Morning Physical drill, bayonet fighting and bombing, Canteen corporal all week, some job.

Tuesday, January 9th, 1917

My birthday 36 today. Great Event out of quarantine Hurrah!. Glorious spree supper at Y.M.C.A. visited Home Hut finished up with light refreshment at Methodist Rest Hut Visited by Mr Keen of 137th Bn.

Wednesday, January 10th, 1917

Route March in afternoon, feet very sore. Went to see Aladdin at night performed by London Regiments good time.

Thursday, January 11th, 1917

Demise of 175 Bn. Inspection at Brigade H.2. Went to class meeting at Methodist church, got a letter from home, Jeannie appears to feel blue, Wish I was home.

Friday, January 12th, 1917

Pay day. Orderly Corporal. Had dental inspection got to have four teeth pulled. Glorious prospect

Saturday, January 13th, 1917

Went to Seaford, supper at Y.M. C.A. Good concert at night. Snow in afternoon lots of mud.

Sunday, January 14th, 1917

Went to voluntary Church Parade in afternoon.

Monday, January 15th, 1917

Dental Parade in morning. Ditto in afternoon suffering mental agony in anticipation.

Tuesday, January 16th, 1917

Dental Parade in morning nothing doing. Dental Parade in afternoon four teeth extracted. Not half as bad as expected but suffered agonies all night. Got a bad cough feel real sick.

Wednesday, January 17th, 1917

Shooting on Range feel about half dead. Jaw badly swollen. Feel generally sick and discouraged. Got a nice letter from Fannie and kiddies.

Thursday, January 18th, 1917

Again shooting on Range down town at night. Jaw still very sore. Feeding on Bengers Food.

Friday, January 19th, 1917

On Sick Parade for first time since enlistment. Cleaning rifles, stayed home at night first time since quarantine feeling real sick cold seems to have hot a good grip on chest. Fine am. Draft marches away to tune of The long long rail god bless the boys Canadas best all my pals gone!!

Saturday, January 20th, 1917

On work cleaning rifles, Supper at Steyne Hall 2 eggs + bread + butter first eggs on view since I struck camp. Good concert at Y.M.C.A. Feeling some better but still weak.

Sunday, January 21st, 1917

Church parade at 8 30 am. off for the day. Sunday School at Baptist Church in afternoon. Promenade at night. Still coughing and jaw very sore.

Monday, January 22nd, 1917

In charge of fatigue party at Musketry range. Went into town at night. Got a very bad cough still.

Tuesday, January 23rd, 1917

B.G.C. for day. Took two parties to Dentist, attended Concert at YM.C.A. at night - Awake with cough all night. Had no mail For several days.

Wednesday, January 24th, 1917

In charge of fatigue party at Camp Post Office got jaw ache from stump left in by dentist.

Thursday, January 25th, 1917

On picket some job.

Friday, January 26th, 1917

With fatigue party at Seaford Station some old job.

Saturday, January 27th, 1917

On draft due to leave for France on Wednesday but order cancelled later. On parade for new spectacles all day but nothing doing.

Tuesday, January 30th, 1917

Spent all day getting eyes tested for glasses. This is pay day.

Wednesday, January 31st, 1917

Route march to Alfreston in afternoon. Got letter from Jeannie today.

Thursday, February 1st, 1917

Drilling all day. Nothing to report.

Friday, February 2nd, 1917

Pick + Shovel drill at Trenches.

Saturday, February 3rd, 1917

On Aircraft picket.

Sunday, February 4th, 1917

Church Parade in morning good address by Major Pringle. Bible class in afternoon at Home Hut conducted by Mins Allan. Night S.A. from 6 to 7 P.M. Lantern service at Home Hut from 7 to 8-15. Put in easy day.

Monday, February 5th, 1917

Cinched hut orderly job. Anything to get off form fours. Concert at Y.M.C.A. Letter from J. Green at Base in France.

Tuesday, February 6th, 1917

Drilling hard, now in A. Co. dont like it one bit. Fitted out with Wet equipment Went to Cheeryo's concert at Queens Hall. Sutton Avenue out of bounds. Soon nowhere on earth left to go.

Wednesday, February 7th, 1917

Concert at Y.M.C.A. Prairie Ladies Concert Party, cracking good concert

Thursday, February 8th, 1917

Reveille at 5:30 a.m. Drill commences at 7-30 am Entrenching work today cinched hut orderly job. Walked round that most dismal of all places Seaford.

Friday, February 9th, 1917

Drilling hard all day. Route march to Alfreston where King Alfred burnt the cakes, Started at six oclock and arrived back at 9-30 P.M. Such is the life of a soldier

Saturday, February 10th, 1917

Got called down for having shaved over night instead of in the morning. Miserable beyond description. Concert at Y.M.C.A. at night.

Sunday, February 11th, 1917

Went to service at Alfreston Congregational Church in afternoon. English Church at night. Quaint old Church built in year 1300. It was here that King Alfed burnt the cakes. Monument on main Street to commemorate the visit of Alfred

Monday, February 12th, 1917

Drilling all day. Life made miserable by 13 N.C.O.s no wonder Mac deserted got a lovely letter from Fannie, I am sure blessed with a good wife.

Tuesday, February 13th, 1917

Entrenching + bombing trenches. Concert at Y.M.C.A. at night. Miss Kathleen Veys concert Party.

Wednesday, February 14th, 1917

Drilling hard all day. P.S.M. a miserable little Jew. Being treated like dogs, Canada for mine if I ever get back. Concert party from Brighton at Y.M.C.A. at night.

Thursday, February 15th, 1917

Lecture at Y.M.C.A. Rise of Prussian Eagle

Friday, February 16th, 1917

Route march at night. Palmer collapses. Short cut home and up steep bank. About half dead by time we reach town.

Saturday, February 17th, 1917

Out with Pte Henderson to cheeryos at Queens Hall. Good program

Sunday, February 18th, 1917

Bible class at Home Hut about fifteen present good time. Down at Seaford in Grening

Monday, February 19th, 1917

Drilling all day feeling very sick. Took Miss Allen the old lady bible student from Home Hut part way home and got lost.

Tuesday, February 20th, 1917

Sick with stomach trouble went on Sick Parade, Dr Wood assistant on deck. Good fellow and gave me real good attention. Went to hear Capt John McNeill lecture on Napoleon. Best lecture I ever heard.

Wednesday, February 21st, 1017

On Guard, Inspection at Brigade H2. Some time

Thursday, February 22nd, 1917

On guard till 5 P.M. Stayed in hut at night relieved Hughes orderly corporal at night.

Friday, February 23rd, 1917

Went to Cheeryos at night not too bad

Saturday, February 24th, 1917

Raining heavy drilling in Hut. Getting stiffened up with Sciatica. Went to concert at Y.M.C.A.

Sunday, February 25th, 1917

Went to Miss Allans Bible Class in afternoon and round Seaford at night.

Monday, February 26th, 1917

Phone operator on Range. Prairie Ladies Concert party at night. Best concert party that comes to Seaford

Tuesday, February 27th, 1917

Marker on Ranges all day. Went to cheeryos at night.

Wednesday, February 28th, 1917

On draft for France once again. Think I shall get away this time. Got a good long letter from Jeannie, also from Ralph.

Thursday, March 1st, 1917

Nothing to report today

Friday, March 2nd, 1917

Went to cheeryos with Northerns. Inspection of draft

Saturday, March 3rd, 1917

Inspection of draft. Visited Movies in afternoon concert at Congregational Church at night.

Sunday, March 4th, 1917

Draft put on C.B. all day. Broke barracks and visited Alfreston, Lullington, Wilmington + Berwick. Saw smallest church in England, seats 17 people. Got a letter from Fannie. Got government glasses today

Monday, March 5th, 1917

Inspection in morning. Raining all day. Supper at S.A. at night. No word as to when we depart.

Wednesday, March 7th, 1917

Inspection by Brig General. Bombing in afternoon at trenches. Terribly cold & windy, Miss Kathleen Veys and party at Y.M.C.A. Wrote to Fannie.

Thursday, March 8th, 1917

Batt moves to Bramshott. We get sudden orders for France. Leave Seaford 10 P.M. change at Lewes.

Friday, March 9th, 1917

Arrived at Shornecliffe 4 a.m, Marched to Folkestone. Apparently about 3,000 troops here waiting to move out. Out round town from 2:30 to 9:30 PM Fine town best I have seen since coming over. Supper at Town Hall

Saturday, March 10th, 1917

Too foggy to cross channel so have to stay for another day. Wish it would stay like this for a week. Round town again visited Canadian exhibition of war pictures. Home at 9-30 P.M.