Tuesday January 1st 1918
In billets at Chau. De la Haie.
Went to house of French family at Estrée Cauchée for dinner & supper.
January 2nd
Made breakfast.
Drill parade in afternoon for half hour.
Went to picture show in evening with Tubby & Sam.
January 3rd
Paid in morning.
Short lecture by Mr. Chipman in afternoon.
Went to picture show with Brewer & Sam in evening.
January 4th
Signal Parade in morning 9:30 - 11:30.
Went to picture show in evening.
Bought fountain pen 10fr.
January 5th
Signal parade in morning 10:00 - 11:30.
Received ciggs. from Don.
January 6th
Did nothing in particular. .
January 7th
Moved from Chau. De la Haie to Bruay.
Was guide to Bde. party.
Arrived Bruay at 1:30 p.m.
January 8th
Nothing of any importance.
White returned from leave.
January 9th
Reported sick at 22 CCS in morning & evening. Laryngitis.
L/Cpl. Weller returned from leave.
January 10th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
Went to 1st Can div concert in evening.
L. & C. Meacher & Simpson returned from leave.
January 11th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
Went to 1st Can Div concert party in evening.
Cpl. Ferguson left for England for commission.
January 12th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
Went to French picture show in evening with Les, Don & Sam.
January 13th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
January 14th
Went to 22 CCS in afternoon & 1st Div Concert Party in evening.
January 15th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & afternoon.
January 16th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
January 17th
Reported to CCS in morning & evening.
Received delayed parcel addressed to Training depot from home.
January 18th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
Took tunic to 16th Batt. tailors to get fixed up.
January 19th
Reported to 22 CCS in morning & evening.
Got tunic from tailors & went to mines [?] for a bath.
January 20th
Packed spare kit etc.
Went to Houdain for leave checque & back to Bruay.
Walked to Calonne-Ricouart & took train for Boulogne.
Arrived there in evening & went to rest billet for the night.
January 21st
Moved to another rest billet in Boulogne & then to boat about 3 p.m.
Arrived at Folkestone at about 5:30 p.m. & London at about 8:45 p.m.
Went to Pay Office at Millbank & then to Union Jack Club where I stayed the night.
January 22nd
Had breakfast at Union Jack Club & took 10:00 a.m. train at Liverpool St. station.
Arrived home about 11:30 a.m.
January 29th
Went to Chatham with George.
January 30th
Came home from Chatham.
January 31st
Went to Hilliard in Chelmsford &
Comerford & Co., 1 Totenhouse Bldgs., Threadneedle St., London.
Friday February 1st
Started an account at Barclay's Bank & also an account at Post Office.
February 2nd
Made Will at Hilliard, Chelmsford.
Took War Bonds £20.
February 3rd
Went to London by 6:29 p.m. at Chelmsford.
Stayed at Union Jack Club for the night.
February 4th
Went to Victoria at 6:00 a.m. & took train to Folkestone where we stayed in rest billet until 10:00 a.m..
Arrived at Boulogne about 1:00 p.m. & went up to St. Martin's Plain Camp for night.
At concert in evening at YMCA.
February 5th
Left Boulogne about 5:00 a.m. & arrived at Culonne Ricouart at 10:00 a.m.
Had dinner in Bruay & arrived at Advanced Bde H.Q. on Loos front about 7:00 p.m.
February 6th
Reported to Staff Capt. in morning & went up the line with him in afternoon.
Took report to H.Q. in evening.
February 7th
Went to left forward O.P. with L/Cpl. Weller in morning.
Fixed direction board in Rear O.P. in afternoon.
February 8th
Went to Right forward O.P. in morning & around trenches.
February 9th
Went around trenches with Capt. Chipman in morning 5:00 a.m.
February 10th
Went to Left Bde O.P., Left Battn. O.P. & old Left Bde. O.P. to find suitable position for Artillery Observers.
February 11th
Made Rear O.P. Log Book up to date.
February 12th
Went around trenches in morning.
On duty at night on rear O.P.
February 13th
On rear O.P. on duty at 12:15 a.m. to 4:15 a.m. observing raid on enemy lines Hill 70 at 3:00 a.m.
February 14th
Went up to O.P.'s with 1st Bde. Scouts.
February 16th
Went to O.P.'s & handed over to 1st Bde. Scouts.
Went to Les Brebis.
February 17th
Changed billets.
Went to N.C.O.'s Mess.
February 19th
Paid in afternoon.
Went to Bracquemont in morning.
February 21st
4 men up the line to look over.
February 23rd
Walked up to Cité St. Pierre in afternoon with Speakman.
February 24th
Went to Cité St. Pierre with advance party 6 men.
O.P. in Fossell de Lens.
February 25th
Went around trenches with 2nd Bde. Scout Sgt.
February 26th
Went around trenches.
February 27th
Went around trenches.
February 28th
Went to Support Bn. H.Q.
March 3rd
Went to various H.Q.'s with Capt. Chipman & Lieut. Hardy
March 4th
Went to Strand O.P. Lievin & connected up wire with Test Box in afternoon with two Linesmen.
March 6th
Went to O.P.'s in Catapult Tr. & Nestor Alley & then to Battn. H.Q. in Natal Tr. with Capt. Chipman & 4 Div Offs.
Went to Lievin in morning.
March 7th
Went to Left & Right Battn. H.Q.'s with Lieut. Hardy.
March 8th
Went to Strand O.P. in morning, back in time for breakfast.
Enemy put gas shells into St.Pierre & caught some Americans.
March 11th
Went to Left & Right Battn. H.Q.'s with Capt. Chipman in afternoon.
March 12th
Went to Lievin with 12th Bde. Cpl. & three men.
March 13th
Went out in evening to Aix Noulette by train & walked from there to Coupigny Chateau.
March 14th
Changed billets for section & found cookhouse.
March 15th
Paid in afternoon.
Went to Hersin in evening.
German planes came over & dropped bombs at night.
No casualties & no damage.
March 17th
Church parade to Hersin YMCA hut.
Hut was full so we returned to billet.
March 18th
Bde. manoeuvres in conjunction with tanks & aeroplanes at Noulette.
March 20th
Took section to Les Brebis to Bde. Support billets.
March 22nd
Played football for N.C.O.'s against Intelligence.
Intelligence won 3 - 1.
March 28th
Left Chau de la Haie at 3:15 a.m. in buses.
Arrived at Merieux at about 9:30 a.m.
Walked to Humbercourt (15 k), arrived there 3:15 p.m.
Left Humbercourt at 6:30 p.m. in buses for Agnez-Les-Duisans.
March 29th
Arrived at Agnez-Les-Duisans at 3:15 a.m.
Walked there from Wanquetin (7 k) where we got off bus 1:10 a.m.
Moved off to Arras (8 k) at 7:30 a.m.
4 men up to Telegraph Hill to reconnoitre & went up line with remainder to look over.
March 30th
6 men up line reconnoitring routes & bridges.
Went up with Major Conroy to 10-11-12th Bde. H.Q. Imps.[?]
Got wet through.
March 31st
Started reconnaisance on tunnels & caves.
Monday April 1st
Reconnaisance of tunnels & caves in & about Arras.
Went up to Telegraph Hill with Capt. Chipman.
April 2nd
Rec. of tunnels & caves finished.
Went up line with Lieut. Follows & Capt. Chipman to locate emergency O.P.'s.
April 3rd
Went up line with whole section to emergency O.P.'s in morning.
Went to 4 batt. H.Q. with Capt. Chipman in afternoon.
April 4th
Went up to Telegraph Hill O.P. with L. Meacher to look over.
April 5th
Went up to Rear O.P. with L/Cpl. Weller & Weller went up with 2 men in evening to man O.P.
April 6th
Went up to Suppt. Bn. H.Q. with Imperial Colonel.
Two linesmen went to O.P. from 13th to stay there.
April 7th
Left Arras in evening for Dainville.
Left 2 men on O.P. & 1 man at H.Q.
Relieved by 6th Div. [looks like originally 56 with 5 crossed out]
Went around line with Imperial BM.
April 8th
Moved to H.Q. in railway Y [or V] near Blangy in evening.
Went in buses to Blangy & I guided H.Q. on from there to dugout.
Took over O.P.
4 men went up early with Major Conroy.
April 10th
H.Q. moved to Arras.
I stayed with 7 men.
Went to Blangy with flares with Speakman.
April 11th
13 Enemy triplanes came over & attacked 1 R.E.8 which escaped.
April 12th
Went forward with Major Conroy & located another O.P.
Went up to O.P. with Cpl. Weller & 6 men.
Returned to billet with Brewer.
Caught in MG fire at Athies.
April 13th
Handed over to 2nd C.I.B. & went out at night to Victory Camp at Écurie.
April 16th
Meacher Bros., Owens, Knowles went up to look up transport routes for Capt. Barry.
Bath parade in afternoon.
April 17th
Went around Ridge & Railway Posts with Owens.
Remainder of section on Ridge Line & St. Catherine's Switch.
April 18th
Went to Souchy with lorries with Speakman & White.
Remainder of section on Ridge Line & St. Catherine's Switch.
Saw 1 of our R.E.8's brought down.
April 19th
Cleaned periscopes & telescope & checked up compasses.
April 20th
Went up to O.P. with L/Cpl. Weller to look over.
April 21st
3 men went to O.P. in afternoon & 5 men & L/Cpl. Weller went up in evening.
Went to 13th & 15th Bns. to draw kilts etc.
April 22nd
Went to Batt. H.Q. with Simpson & to O.P.
April 24th
Went around trenches with Brewer.
April 25th
Went around trenches with Imrie also Weller O.P.
April 26th
Went to O.P. with Knowles.
Changed S.O.S.
Wrote to Fergy.
April 28th
14th & 16th Bns. raided enemy lines at Gauselle [?].
Captured 54 prisoners, 5 MG's, 1 L.T.M.
Friday May 3rd
Went up line with G.O.C., Capt. Chipman & an American Off.
May 4th
Went to O.P. in morning with Field of Vision map.
May 5th
Went to O.P. with rations in evening.
May 6th
Went up line with 45th Bde. Int. Off.
Men came down from O.P.
Bde. Moved to ARRAS.
L/Cpl. Weller stayed on O.P. with 2 men.
May 7th
Moved into ARRAS with Owen & Escott in morning.
Moved out with Bde. to Etrun in afternoon.
L/Cpl. Weller, Pte.'s Fraser & Speakman.
May 8th
Left Arras for Y [or V] Camp ‘Etrun'.
May 9th
Paid.
May 10th
Muster Parade.
All villages put "Out of Bounds".
May 15th
Bde. sports.
May 17th
Parade.
Signalling & Map Locations.
May 18th
Parade.
Panoramics.
May 19th
Left Etrun for IZEL-Les-Hameau.
May 20th
Practised for Barrage at manoeuvres. 4 mins. to 100 yds.
May 21st
Went to LIENCOURT for manoeuvres.
Acted as Barrage for Bde. in attack.
Stayed night in Bois de Faye.
May 22nd
Manouvres.
Went back to IZEL afternoon.
May 23rd
Parade.
Traversing & plan sketching.
May 24th
Parade.
Traversing & Plan sketching.
May 25th
Left IZEL-les-Hameau for La Thieuloye.
May 26th
Church Parade with 15th Bn.
March Past.
Gen. McDonell.
Bde. H.Q. played 15th Bn. Baseball.
Lost 8 - 2.
May 27th
Parade in morning.
Traversing & Plan sketching.
Bde. H.Q. played 15th Bn. Football.
Lost 2 - 1.
Wrote Fergy.
May 28th
Parade in morning.
Traversing & Plan Sketching.
May 29th
Parades.
May 30th
Parades.
May 31st
Parades.
Saturday June 1st
Bath parade.
June 2nd
Church parade.
June 3rd
Parade.
June 4th
Parade.
June 5th
Put up Marquees for Officers Garden Party.
Used good flour to mark out tennis court.
John Russon has swollen jaw (toothache).
Baseball in afternoon.
June 6th
Parade in morning.
Indoor ball in afternoon.
Dog found tied up in sack with large rock on it. Starved.
June 7th
Parade in morning.
June 8th
Parade in morning to Rocourt for bath.
June 9th
Nothing in particular.
15th Batt. played 1st Fld. Amb. baseball.
15th - 6 Amb. - 5
June 10th
Parade in morning.
June 11th
Bde. played 13th Batt. baseball.
Bde. - 10 13th - 5
16th played 15th football.
16th - 2 15th - 2
16th played 15th baseball.
16th - 3 15th - 6
June 12th
Parade in morning.
June 13th
Bde. played 15th baseball.
Bde. - 2 15th - 23
1 hr parade.
June 14th
Parade in morning.
June 15th
Parade in morning.
Bath parade in afternoon.
Paid in evening.
Made arrangements in evening with O.C. No. 2 Coy. 15th Bn. for tea on march for next day.
June 16th
Marched from La Thieuloye to St. Aubin (17 miles).
Had considerable trouble finding billets for N.C.O.'s.
June 17th
Parade in morning (Signalling).
Divisional Sports at Tincques.
Wrote to Fergie.
June 18th
Parade in morning.
Morse signalling.
June 19th
Parade in morning.
Morse signalling.
Semaphore signalling in afternoon.
June 20th
Parade in morning.
Semaphore.
Morse in afternoon.
June 21st
26th Birthday.
Parade in morning.
Semaphore signalling.
Morse signalling in afternoon.
June 22nd
Parade in morning.
Semaphore signalling.
Parcel from home.
June 23rd
Church parade but I did not attend.
June 24th
Parade in morning.
Musketry & Signalling.
Sig. in afternoon. (Morse).
June 25th
Parades.
Musketry in morning & Semaphore.
Morse in afternoon.
June 26th
Parades.
Musketry in morning & Semaphore.
Morse in afternoon.
June 27th
Parades.
Musketry & semaphore in morning.
Morse in afternoon.
June 28th
Musketry in morning & semaphore.
Morse in afternoon.
June 29th
Musketry & Semaphore in morning.
June 30th
Move to Chelers.
July 1st
Corps. Sports at Tincques.
Went down for 1 hr.
Too big a crowd.
July 2nd
Bde. inspected by Sir R. Borden at Bethonsart.
Went up in morning with B.M., Capt. Chipman & 2 men to lay out field.
Did not go on inspection.
July 3rd
Pay Day.
July 4th
Went to meeting of officers at Tincques to decide about decorations for the 6th.
Started on decorations in afternoon.
Meacher C. went to Caucourt for clothing.
July 5th
Decorating all day with section.
White went to Frevillers to see paymaster.
Received "gat" from Fergie.
July 6th
Highland Gathering. Was down in morning with section to finish off decorations.
July 7th
Nothing doing.
Pte. Brewer went to Frevillers to see paymaster & to Monchy Breton to find out about moving Simpson.
White went to Bethonsart for clothing.
Sold my other "gat" to Brewer.
July 8th
Pte. Simpson went to Hospital with arch of foot breaking down.
July 9th
Went to near Caucourt to arrange Batt. Intelligence Competition.
Took all section.
July 10th
Batt. Sniping Competition 16th,15th, 13th, 14th.
Went to Caucourt with 3 men to correct locations of various objects.
Knowles had pass to Fresnicourt [?].
July 11th
Payday.
Went to 14th Bn. manoeuvres to represent M.G.'s.
July 12th
Went to near Caucourt to put on show for Batt. Intelligence Competition.
July 13th
Relieved by 153 Bde. 51st Div.
Moved to Louez.
July 14th
Church parade.
July 15th
Sig. parade & lecture on reporting.
July 16th
Bde. Review by Maj. Gen. Mewburn [or Meluburn] & Ballantyne. Went down to Div. H.Q. with Dimps at Etrun & took papers for application for a commission in the Flying Corps.
July 17th
Went to No. 2 Fld. Amb. for inspection (medical) for Flying Corps. passed O.K.
July 18th
Moved into ARRAS & took over from 4th C.I.B.
Went to look over O.P.'s.
Man went to Le Hameau with letter from Capt. Chipman.
July 19th
Took section up line & placed them.
Brought down report at night.
July 20th
Went up line with Capt. Conroy, 2 Canadian journalists & an officer from Div.
Brought down report from O.P. at night.
July 21st
Went up with Capt. Conroy & Art. Off. to KING O.P.
Brought down report at night.
July 22nd
Gas alarm at night. Gas sent over on R. Bde. Front, 9th C.I.B.
July 23rd
Patrol of 16th Bn. ran into & killed 1, wounded 1 & took 1 prisoner of German patrol.
July 24th
Went up line with Sig. Off. & Capt. Chipman 16th H.Q., 14th H.Q. KING O.P.
Supposed French prisoner escaped to 14th Bn. lines was taken prisoner on June 10th at Noyon.
July 25th
Went to KIDY O.P.
Supt. & R. Batt. H.Q. & around trenches with Capt. Chipman, B.M. & Arty. Off.
July 26th
Went to Col. O.P. with Capt. Chipman in morning & up to KIDY O.P. for report at night.
2nd Bde. made raid on left.
7 prisoners, 1 MG.
July 27th
Payday.
Raining all day.
Did not go up line.
July 28th
Raid on enemy by 16th Bn.
1 M.G. & 1 dead German.
Went up to KIDY in afternoon.
July 29th
Went to 13th, 15th & 16th Bns. with Capt. Chipman & 1 American Off.
Also KING.
13th Colonel was out so left commission papers there to be signed.
July 30th
Went up to KIDY O.P. in afternoon by myself.
July 31st
Went up to KING & KIDY O.P.'s with Sgt. Fullarton & Cpl. Leavitt [?].
August 1st
Went around O.P.'s with Sgt. Roberts of 56 Div. Observers who relieved us & went out to Dainville at night.
Arr. D. at 10:30 p.m.
August 2nd
Left Dainville at 9:00 a.m. in train (light railway) for Fosseux.
Went 4 Kilos. too far & had to walk back.
Wet through with rain.
August 3rd
Left Fosseux.
Breakfast at 3:00 a.m. & moved off at 1:00 p.m. on buses to Frevent & train from there at 5:30 p.m.
August 4th
Arrived Vieux Rouen at 5:00 a.m.
Went to Belloy St. Leonards (walking) 18 Kilos.
Arrived there at 2:00 p.m.
August 5th
Stayed at Belloy St. Leonards one night & moved on to Boves.
Walking to Hornoy & then bus to near Fuchieux then walking to Boves.
Arr. there next day.
August 6th
Arr. at Boves & stayed there all night.
Town crowded with traffic all day & night.
Inf. Art. Tanks Amm. Cols. Engs. Etc.
[Infantry, Artillery, Tanks, Ammunition, Cols. [?], Engineers etc]
Left Boves at 11:30 p.m.
Wagon & 2 men.
August 7th
4 left at 2:00 a.m. with myself & went to position near Gentilles.
6 men left for 15 Bn. at 5:00 p.m. to lay tapes for tanks.
I went to H.Q. near line with Officers.
Went down for rations with men from rear.
No rations.
August 8th
Cdn. Corps. attacked.
3rd C.I.B. in line.
Went into No mans land with Capts. Chipman & O'Leary before Zero & watched tanks and battns. go over.
Went up line later with Capt. Chipman & 6 men to locate Bde. H.Q.
Finally settled on Ring Copse & Bde. came up later.
August 9th
Left Ring Copse in morning & took section to R.C. & on to Beaucourt Wood in evening.
Bombing planes (hostile) active.
Moved on to hospital in evening.
August 10th
Moved to Warvillers in afternoon.
4th CID went over in morning on our front.
August 11th
Slept in trench at night because of bombing planes.
Started O.P. duty on tower 90 ft. high.
August 12th
Went up line to 42nd Bn. to reconnoitre route etc with Brewer.
Found position of line.
6 other men out.
August 13th
Went to P.P.C.L.I. H.Q. with Capt. Chipman & Brewer.
3 other men out.
August 14th
Started using Shear telescope on O.P.
Went around 7th Bde. front with Weller & Brewer to look over.
August 15th
Went up to 7th Bde. H.Q. at 6:00 p.m. & took over O.P. from them in evening.
Handed over Tower O.P. to 2nd Bde. at 6:00 p.m.
August 16th
Carried on O.P.
Went up line with Haggan.
Met Frenchy when we were coming back.
August 17th
Started O.P. L2263545 in morning.
Went up with men in morning.
Moved up to adv. R.C. [?]
H.Q. moved up later.
August 18th
Went up to O.P. in afternoon with Weller.
O.P. shelled at night.
August 19th
3 planes down in morning 1 Hun 2 French
Went up to O.P. with Capt. Chipman.
SOS at night.
August 20th
Went up to O.P. with Cpl. Russon [or Rasson].
French soldiers up looking over.
Our Aeroplane hit by large airburst, probably intended for ranging.
August 21st
Last day on front.
Relieved at night by 112th Bde. French.
Stayed at dugout till morning.
Brewer lost revolver & field glasses.
August 22nd
Went to Warvillers.
Left Warvillers in evening for Hangard Wood.
Went before G.O.C. about commission.
August 23rd
Arr. Hangard Wood 2:00 a.m.
Stayed there till afternoon & went in advance to Boves with wagon.
Paid in afternoon at Hangard Wood.
August 24th
Stayed in Boves.
Met Lt. Hornby.
August 25th
Left Boves in morning.
Walked to Saleux & took train to Aubigny.
Walked to Berles.
Left Boves 6:30 a.m.
Arr. Berles 8:00 p.m.
August 26th
Stayed Berles all day.
Left in evening for Arras by bus.
Gave letter with insurance papers to Laceby to register.
August 27th
Stayed in Arras expecting to move.
August 28th
Left Arras in morning for place near Wancourt & then on to 025c near Chérisy.
Relieved 5th & 6th C.I.B.'s.
August 29th
Manned O.P. at 0316 3.3
August 30th
1st Bde. went over 3rd Bde. & took Hill 75.
Continued manning O.P. at 0316 3.3
August 31st
Manned O.P. 0316 3.3
Enemy counter attacked & took back some ground including Hendecourt & Bullecourt.
Sunday September 1st
Bde. H.Q. moved up to Sun Quarry.
Batts. Moved up to jumping off position.
Went up to adv. R.C. in afternoon with Capt. Lesuer & Sigs.
Shelled with gas in evening.
All of us had headache next day.
September 2nd
Advanced started.
We moved up to Cagnicourt.
Batts. went up to Buissy Switch.
Held up by machine-gun fire.
September 3rd
Moved back to Bde. H.Q. in Drocourt-Queant line.
Slept with other N.C.O.'s in sap [?].
September 4th
Moved to Dainville.
Walked to Chérisy.
Took bus from there to Dainville.
September 5th
Stayed in Dainville.
Went to Div. H.Q. to see Gen. McDonell about commission.
Met Lt. Pick- formerly on Bde. Sigs. now in R.F.A.
He supplied 2 bottles whiskey.
September 7th
Paid.
Tuesday September 10th
Lamp with Sigs.
Took visual men in map reading etc.
September 11th
Lamp practice in morning.
September 12th
Gen. Currie distributed decorations to Batts.
September 13th
Signalling.
September 14th
Inspection by S.C.I. & signalling.
Bath parade in afternoon.
September 15th
Church parade.
Read out on parade about traitor of 18 Bn.
Paid.
September 16th
Parade.
September 17th
Parade.
September 18th
Parade.
September 19th
Went to Aubigny to see R.A.F. officer.
Passed O.K.
Moved from Dainville to Ronville.
September 20th
Went up line with B.M., Sig. Off. & Sgt. Fullarton.
September 21st
Went up line with Cptn. Lescuer [?] & Sig. Off. & 3 Sigs.
September 22nd
Stayed around Ronville.
September 23rd
Took 2 buses up line & left 2 men with 4th C.I.B. observers to obtain information.
Brought buses back to Ronville.
Owens returned from Paris leave.
The following entries are extremely badly written in pencil unlike the previous entries which are generally very well written in ink. Probably written left-handed after the incident of the 27th!
Tuesday September 24th
Went up line with Captain Leseur [?] & B.M.
I went to Cagnicourt to pick up 2 Eng. Offs. & took them up to 21 Bn. Hd.Qrs.
Bde moved up to Riencourt.
September 25th
Moved up to Cagnicourt in evening.
Sent two men up to man O.P. on rly. [?]
September 26th
Moved up to Forward H.Q.
Went up early for wire report.
September 27th
Hit in finger by MG bullet.
Sent to Queant to be inoculated.
Returned to Bde. again.
Bde. went over Canal du Nord.
September 30th
Bde. moved up in evening & I and Knowles went ahead to locate O.P.
Tuesday October 1st
Bde. went over at Sancourt.
Went forward with Capt. Lesueur [?] & was hit in right shoulder by a piece of shell.
Eventually arrived at Queant.
October 2nd
Arrived 1 CCS near Arras where had shoulder dressed.
Shrap came out with dressing.
Boarded train for Etaples.
Arr there in evening.
Had a bath & feed.
October 3rd
Operated on in afternoon.
Woke up in time for tea.
October 4th
Doctor marked me for Blighty.
Left hospital at 10:00 p.m. & boarded train for Calais.
Saturday October 5th
Arr Calais & took boat for Dover.
Then train to Edmonton.
Was sent on by car to Northwood V.A. Hospital.
October 7th
Ethel [his sister Ethel Rose Cook] came to see me.
October 10th
ATS in arm.
October 13th
J.M.'s birthday.
October 17th
Dad came to see me.
October 23rd
Ethel came down.
October 24th
Got up in afternoon for first time.
October 26th
Aunt Harriet & Daisy came down.
Friday November 15th
Got up in morning for first time.
November 22nd
Went home for day.
Wednesday November 27th
Started orderly work in Balfour's place who left hospital.
November 28th
Went to London to Palace Theatre with Sister Morrison & 3 other fellows from McAlpine.
Saturday December 7th
Went to Northwood in Cinema in afternoon.
George arrived home from Chatham. [His brother George Norman Cook]
December 9th
Concert at High School for Girls at Northwood.
December 10th
Went home.
Saw George & Ciss [his sister Elizabeth] & kiddies [Florrie & Joan].
December 12th
Went to Concert at Girls High School Northwood.
December 13th
Went home to see George & Ciss & kiddies
December 15th
Wrote three letters.
December 16th
Had whist drive in Day Room.
Made 87 points 14 hands.
December 17th
Went home for day.
Saw George & Ciss.
December 18th
George went back to Chatham.
Had photo taken with Sproule, Perry & Millman outside Ripple tea rooms.
December 24th
Went to Pay Office London & two Picture Houses.
Had tea in Strand Corner House.
Wednesday December 25th
Had Service in Ward in morning & a good dinner.
Whist drive in evening.
Won 3rd prize - pocket wallet.
December 26th
Went for walk with Sisters Mavor & Morrison & Matron's son & Sproule, Baker & Millman.
Tea & entertainment in evening with returned prisoners & their wives & kiddies.
Made closing speech.
December 29th
Caught 12:20 p.m. train for home.
Pass till Wednesday 1st 9:00 p.m.
Arrived home about 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday December 31st
Had tea & supper at A. Churcher's house.
Notes made in the diary.
Cadet J. R. Ferguson
No. 2 Coy. C.I.S. (or C.T.S)
Bexhill on Sea
Sussex
Revolver No. 147067
Lt. J. R. Ferguson
20th Reserve
Bromshott
England
Miss R. P. Roodhouse
41 Maldon Road
Colchester
84 Butt Road
Colchester
S.S.M. Roodhouse
8th Hussars.
Brewer
C/o Mrs. J. Mitcham
The Cottage
Lambeth Road
West Croydon
Abbreviations
Art. or Arty. Off. = Artillery Officer
Bde. = Brigade
B.M. = Brigade Major
Bttn. or Bn. or Batt.= Battalion
Capt. or Cptn.= Captain
C.C.S. = Casualty Clearing Station
C.I.B. = Canadian Infantry Battalion
Coy. = Company
Cpl. = Corporal
Div. = Division
G.O.C. = General Officer Commanding
H.Q. = Head Quarters
L/Cpl. = Lance Corporal
Lieut. or Lt. = Lieutenant
L.T.M. = ? possibly Light something Machine?
M.G. = machine gun
N.C.O. = Non-Commissioned Officer
N.P. = Nothing Particular - Written throughout in pale blue ink in these curly letters
O.C. = Officer Commanding
O.P. = Observation Post
P.P.C.L.I. = Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Pte. = Private
S.C.I. = ?
Sgt. = Sergeant
Sig. Off. = Signals Officer
