This Post Card dated 13 April 1917 was sent to Ethel from Frank
Monday 31 January 2011
May 1917
May 1917
4th Friday
Changed from Ward Duty, and went into Dressing Station.
18th Friday
Part of B Sect leave Aix-Noulette, and march to Lievin, myself going by Car.
19th Saturday
Day Stretcher Bearer.
Lens 2 miles.
26th Saturday/27th Sunday
At 12pm o’clock we left Lievin in small parties, and marched to Aix-Noulette. Germans shelled continually all the way and we arrived at the latter place at 3am o’clock 27th, and slept til 7am. At 8.30am marched away from Aix-Noulette for (blank, probably Labeuvrière) a 17 miles journey. The weather being extremely hot, we arrived at our destination at 4pm o’clock, all of us beat. Billeted at Hospital. C and part of B Sect run the Corps Rest Station, which is a lovely place. The village being nice country. The rest of the Unit work the line in front of Lens.
4th Friday
Changed from Ward Duty, and went into Dressing Station.
18th Friday
Part of B Sect leave Aix-Noulette, and march to Lievin, myself going by Car.
19th Saturday
Day Stretcher Bearer.
Lens 2 miles.
26th Saturday/27th Sunday
At 12pm o’clock we left Lievin in small parties, and marched to Aix-Noulette. Germans shelled continually all the way and we arrived at the latter place at 3am o’clock 27th, and slept til 7am. At 8.30am marched away from Aix-Noulette for (blank, probably Labeuvrière) a 17 miles journey. The weather being extremely hot, we arrived at our destination at 4pm o’clock, all of us beat. Billeted at Hospital. C and part of B Sect run the Corps Rest Station, which is a lovely place. The village being nice country. The rest of the Unit work the line in front of Lens.
Rev Pratt Looses His Life. 29th June 1917.
June 1917
Friday/13th Wednesday
Day Hospital Duty.
14th Thursday/29th Friday
Changed from day to night Duty, extremely hot weather prevails.
30th Saturday
Night Hospital Duty.
Staffs Brigade make a raid into outskirts of Lens, each Bgde taking turns, so for last few nights terrible Bombardment continues throughout the night.
July 1917
This card sent by Frank to Sid, Ethel's younger brother
July 1917
1st Monday
Painting.
Left Hesdigneul by M.A. for A.D.S. Essars.
2nd Tuesday
Night Orderly and Gas Picket.
5th Friday
Left A.D.S. at midday and returned by Car to HQ Hesdigneul.
6th Saturday
Day’s rest.
7th Sunday
24 hours Guard.
8th Monday
Digging out ground to loosen Marquees in the ground. Defence Aircraft.
9th Tuesday
Line Orderly.
10th Wednesday
Digging in Marquees against shell fire.
12th Friday
Left Hesdigneul by M. Amb. for Gorre at midday and joined A Sect at brewery.
13th Saturday
Worked on supporting the Dressing Station with heavy props, and concreting the top.
14th Sunday
Gorre Brewery.
Same routine til 5pm.
15th Monday
Gorre.
Visited the Tuning Fork Post, which is situated one mile from A.D.S.
16th Tuesday
Part of B Sect. arrive at 4am, and relieve A Sect. Cellar flooded after the rain.
17th Wednesday
Orderly in Dressing Station.
Day Duty.
19th Friday
Volunteered to go to Gorre Chateau to bring in wounded which had been wounded there. The road and place was shelled all the time. After great excitement we brought them in Dressing Station.
20th Saturday
Recommended on the night of 19th for the M.M.
Painting.
Left Hesdigneul by M.A. for A.D.S. Essars.
2nd Tuesday
Night Orderly and Gas Picket.
5th Friday
Left A.D.S. at midday and returned by Car to HQ Hesdigneul.
6th Saturday
Day’s rest.
7th Sunday
24 hours Guard.
8th Monday
Digging out ground to loosen Marquees in the ground. Defence Aircraft.
9th Tuesday
Line Orderly.
10th Wednesday
Digging in Marquees against shell fire.
12th Friday
Left Hesdigneul by M. Amb. for Gorre at midday and joined A Sect at brewery.
13th Saturday
Worked on supporting the Dressing Station with heavy props, and concreting the top.
14th Sunday
Gorre Brewery.
Same routine til 5pm.
15th Monday
Gorre.
Visited the Tuning Fork Post, which is situated one mile from A.D.S.
16th Tuesday
Part of B Sect. arrive at 4am, and relieve A Sect. Cellar flooded after the rain.
17th Wednesday
Orderly in Dressing Station.
Day Duty.
19th Friday
Volunteered to go to Gorre Chateau to bring in wounded which had been wounded there. The road and place was shelled all the time. After great excitement we brought them in Dressing Station.
20th Saturday
Recommended on the night of 19th for the M.M.
Sunday 30 January 2011
August 1917
Greetings Card from Ethel on holiday in Blackpool to Frank 26th July.
Frank (right) David (left) Looking very smart with their newly issued gas masksAugust 1917
October 1917.
October 1917
2nd Tuesday
Stationed at Solent Post. Heavy artillery duels.
4th Thursday
Returned to Fort Glatz after dinner, and went on Night Duty in Dressing Station.
5th Friday
Fritz shells the village of Loos, 14 stretcher cases wounded from the line during the night.
8th Monday
A busy night, a fair number of wounded.
10th Wednesday
Left Fort Glatz at 3pm along with a squad of 4, and went to Natal Post, which is situated on the top of Hill 70, and which a few weeks previous was held by the Germans, but was captured by Canadian Div. This Dug-out is about 4-6 ft high, 4 ft wide and 7 ft long. The trenches here, thigh deep in mud and water.
11th Thursday
Artillery activity.
Rain.
14th Sunday
Digging large sump hole in trench to drain same, which is 2 ft deep in mud and water.
16th Tuesday
Left Hill 70, and returned to Fort Glatz, from there we proceeded to Philosophe by Motor Amb, there to Labourse by horse Amb.
17th Wednesday
Washed the mud off my clothing during the morning, and worked the afternoon on transport lines.
18th to 20th Thursday
Labourse.
Worked the Transport lines.
21st Sunday
Left Labourse at 1pm Horse Amb, which took us to Philosophe, and from there we marched to Fort Glatz Loos, in the course of which we watched a duel in the air by one of Fritz’s latest machines, and a one seater of ours, the latter bringing the Bosch to the ground smashing the plane entirely and killing Pilot and Observer, the corpses being taken to our Station at Philosophe. From there we went to Solent Post, near Slag Heap.
22nd Monday
Solent Post.
We had two stretcher cases during the night to take to Fort Glatz.
23rd Tuesday
Fritz shells a Ration party of the 7th S. Staffs near out post by the slag heap. We immediately turned out, dressed the wounds and took the cases later to Fort Glatz. It was a pitch dark night and we had to cross many trenches, we got down to sleep at 7am on the 24th. At 3pm we left Solent Post for Natal Post on Hill 70. We turned out at night to fetch in 6 wounded which we had to take to Tunnel Post.
24th Wednesday
Natal Post.
27th Saturday
Left Natal Post at 4pm and walked to Fort Glatz, continuing to Philosophe, leaving that place by Horse Amb, for HQ at Labourse.
28th Sunday/30th Tuesday
General duties.
Thursday 20 January 2011
December 1917
1st Saturday/20th Thursday
Orderly Duty in Medical Ward.
21st Friday
Changed over my Orderly Duties to Surgical Ward.
24th Monday
Quite happy.
25th Tuesday Christmas Day
Had a decent time.
26th Wednesday/31st Monday
Orderly Duties to Surgical Ward.
Monday 17 January 2011
January 1918.
1st Tuesday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly in Surgical Ward.
Still sweating on duration of War.
3rd Thursday
Snow storm.
6th Sunday
Orderly Duty.
I had a pass out for the afternoon, & visited a few of my old acquaintances at Labeuvrière.
13th Sunday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly Surgical Ward.
15th Tuesday
Heavy Storms.
Preparing to move.
16th Wednesday
Orderly Duty.
21st Monday
My Section march away from Fouquières at 1.30pm to Annezin & the Field Amb. stationed there had not moved. Still we had a good billet.
22nd Tuesday
Annezin.
The Section had a Route March to Labeuvrière. During the morning the weather being mild and fine, no duty for afternoon.
23rd Wednesday
March out to same place, the weather being fine, no duty afternoon.
24th Thursday
My Section take over Hospital, and I carry on with Orderly Duty in Ward
No. 3. The remainder of the Unit arrive here during the afternoon.
25th Friday 26th Saturday
Nice weather.
27th Sunday
Annezin.
Hospital Duty.
Nice weather.
28th Monday
Hospital Duty.
Bombing at night. Many Casualties at our Station. 10 French men killed.
Nice weather.
29th Tuesday
Hospital Duties.
31st Thursday
Annezin.
The Unit attend the military funeral of the ten French men killed in air raid.
February 1918.
Post Card to Frank from his elder sister Ada ,hoping he is feeling better.
3rd Sunday
I had a pass out from 1pm o’clock for the purpose of visiting Albert, entraining at Berguette Station. I had a good time, having to walk 2 1/2..
8th Friday
Annezin.
Wet weather.
Loading ready to move.
9th Saturday
The Unit march away from Annezin at 9am, and arrive at Nédon at 4pm, a distance of 12 miles, billeted in old barns.
La Lacque Camp.
Passed through Marles & Auchel.
10th Sunday
Wet weather.
Marched away from Nédon at 9am, arriving at Prédefin at 3pm, billeted in Barns, the houses here being at intervals of 1/2 miles.
11th Monday
Prédefin.
David and I take over duties at YMCA Canteen, which is in Marquee. We lived in bell tent alongside same.
14th Thursday
Frost.
17th Sunday
Prédefin.
YMCA Canteen Duties.
Frost.
20th Wednesday
Wet weather.
21st Thursday
Same duties.
Feeling rotten.
22nd Friday
Still feeling rotten
Temp 100.4
23rd Saturday
Prédefin.
I was seen by M.O. in my tent and was found to be suffering with German Measles. I was sent by Motor Amb. to No. 12 Stationary St. Pol.
Bed patient milk diet.
Temp 102.8
24th Sunday
No. 12 Stationary St. Pol.
Bed, milk diet.
temp am 101.6, pm 102.8
25th Monday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
Temp am 99.6, pm 100.4
26th Tuesday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
27th Wednesday
Sick.
Up.
Marcd 1918
March 1918
6th Wednesday
Walk out into the town of St Pol, and had a good time.
7th Thursday
Discharged from Hospital, entrained for my Unit at Béthune arriving there at 4pm. By R.T.O. Orders I had to return to Labourse. Private room.
8th Friday
Spent a good night and left Labourse at 10.30am for Béthune, arriving there 12 midday, rejoined my Unit at Institute St. Vaaste.
9th Saturday
Béthune.
Nothing much doing.
10th Sunday
Church Parade.
11th Monday
Dining Hall Duty.
14th Thursday
Inoculated at night.
15th Friday
No Duty, bed.
17th Sunday
Béthune.
Route March during the morning, and then Units team play 1/1 NMFA at Fouquières. Result 3rd 3-2.
18th Monday
Dining Hall Orderly.
19th Tuesday
The town shelled during the morning. Children, women, and a few soldiers wounded.
20th Wednesday
Same routine.
The town again shelled.
21st Thursday/23rd Saturday
Myself included in a party of 18 B Sect march to Lillers for temporary attached Duty with No. 58 C.C.S. The place bombed at night and the Station by Hospital also one train of ammunition blown up, and fired. Shells blown all over the town and into Hospital. Many casualties. Nurse killed and Matron badly wounded. We turned out in Stretcher Squads to the scene, the bombing continued for hours.
Albert returns from leave on the 19th.
Ward Duty in the No. 2 Serious Surgical Wounds.
[On the 21st March Frank had been commended for his conduct when a French General (General De Laquiche) wrote to his C.O. praising him for his daring during an air-raid'' He exhibited the greatest courage said the General,''and showed wonderful activity , searching the smoking debris with extreme devotedness under fire, and withdrawing the wounded and bearing them to hospital.'']
April 1918
Advanced Dressing Station (ADS)Frank mentions in the diary on 30th April that he attends the ADS at Essars, it may have been similar in appearance to this one.
Note, on the far left of the photo are two solders recording details of wounded being treated.
April 1918
1st Monday/6th Saturday Day Duty in No. 2 Surgical Ward.
7th Sunday Heavy fighting continues. Wounded coming in all the time. We are
working day and night.
10th Wednesday The Germans are still placing overpowering numbers against this front. Heavy casualties on both sides.
12th Friday Lillers. We sent all the wounded on tractors and the C.C.S. packed up to evacuate. I had a good time for last day. Fritz bombs here at night.
13th Saturday We left at 2am by M.A.C. and rejoined Unit at Labourse at 3am. Reveille 5.30am, then Unit leave the above place at 8.30am. March to Divion a distance of 8 miles. Billeted in old barns.
14th Sunday Divion. Standing to for the line. 16th Tuesday Heavy bombardments continue.
17th Wednesday The Unit march away from Divion at 11.30am and arrive at Bruay at the old C.C.S.
18th Thursday Bruay. Still standing to for the line. 21st Sunday Bruay. 22nd Monday Bruay. Admitted to hospital. 23rd Tuesday Sick.
24th Wednesday Ditto.
25th Thursday The Unit march away from Bruay to Hesdigneul. I went by Amb. waggon. We erected camp, billeted in Bell tents.
26th Friday Hesdigneul. Ex. Duty.
27th Saturday Unloading Medical Stores Waggon.
28th Sunday Hesdigneul. Church Parade.
29th Monday Usual routine.
30th Tuesday Left Hesdigneul for the line A.D.S. at Essars, our post at farm house at Le Hamel. Gas picket.
Note, on the far left of the photo are two solders recording details of wounded being treated.
April 1918
1st Monday/6th Saturday Day Duty in No. 2 Surgical Ward.
7th Sunday Heavy fighting continues. Wounded coming in all the time. We are
working day and night.
10th Wednesday The Germans are still placing overpowering numbers against this front. Heavy casualties on both sides.
12th Friday Lillers. We sent all the wounded on tractors and the C.C.S. packed up to evacuate. I had a good time for last day. Fritz bombs here at night.
13th Saturday We left at 2am by M.A.C. and rejoined Unit at Labourse at 3am. Reveille 5.30am, then Unit leave the above place at 8.30am. March to Divion a distance of 8 miles. Billeted in old barns.
14th Sunday Divion. Standing to for the line. 16th Tuesday Heavy bombardments continue.
17th Wednesday The Unit march away from Divion at 11.30am and arrive at Bruay at the old C.C.S.
18th Thursday Bruay. Still standing to for the line. 21st Sunday Bruay. 22nd Monday Bruay. Admitted to hospital. 23rd Tuesday Sick.
24th Wednesday Ditto.
25th Thursday The Unit march away from Bruay to Hesdigneul. I went by Amb. waggon. We erected camp, billeted in Bell tents.
26th Friday Hesdigneul. Ex. Duty.
27th Saturday Unloading Medical Stores Waggon.
28th Sunday Hesdigneul. Church Parade.
29th Monday Usual routine.
30th Tuesday Left Hesdigneul for the line A.D.S. at Essars, our post at farm house at Le Hamel. Gas picket.
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