August 1915

Wolverhampton Company Sergeant Major John Forrester Killed by a Shell
See Frank's entry in diary 16 August 1915



August 1915

1 Sunday

Church Parade morning.

Sewing buttons on my clothes.

2 Monday

Usual routine.

Washed my clothes.

3 Tuesday

Reveille 5.30.

6.30 til 7.30 digging trench for shelter from shell fire.

Returned to W’hampton 12 months today.

4 Wednesday

Line orderly.

5 Thursday

Left in the evening by waggon to our clearing hospital near Flamartinghe.

6 Friday

Erected bivouac.

On duty at night.

Brandhoek.

7 Saturday

Brandhoek.

Memo: Money due to me £7.3.0.

8 Sunday

Morning rest.

Walk to see Humfrey Fox at Staffs camp 2 miles away.

9 Monday

Day break we had a charge carrying 3 lines of trenches capturing over 100 prisoners, they passed our hospital. Busy day. Stitched dead man in blanket.

10 Tuesday

Night duty.

Rest day.

11 Wednesday

Cooks assistant.

12 Thursday

Usual routine.

13 Friday

Night duty in hospital.

14 Saturday

Line orderly.

Memo:

23 weeks.

Tuesday 3rd lent Wilson & Wood 1 Franc each.

15 Sunday

Worked all day on incinerator.

Lent Douglas 1/2 Franc.

16 Monday

Rest.

Jack shot through head.

Jack Forrester killed & Albert Welch in trenches.

Lent Ratcliff one Franc.

17,18 Tuesday

Usual routine.

19 Thursday

Returned to Poperinge.

Lent Bottwood 1/2 Franc.

20 Friday

Moved from Poperinge to Wippinhoek Farm, North Midland rest station: 200 patients.

21 Saturday

48 hours rest.

22 Sunday

Rest Boeschepe.

Church Parade on afternoon on field by Canon Hunt.

23 Monday

Usual routine.

270 sick patients.

12 months today since the commencement of the retreat of Mons.

25 Wednesday

Sent Ethel apron.

26 Thursday

Usual routine.

A Zep went over our camp at 10 o’clock at night: dropped bombs.

27 Friday

Went on duty at No 10 Clearing Hospital, convoys of wounded coming in throughout the night. Duty from 7pm til 7am next morning.

28 Saturday

Still at Boeschepe, night duty at No 10, 9 English nurses or sisters.

Large India marquees double walled.

29 Sunday

Boeschepe. Rest by day.

Service in the afternoon by Wesleyan Chaplain.

30 Monday

Laurie wounded.

Boeschepe clearing up camp, from rationing parade, inspection, new grocery ration, socks. Walk to Boeschepe at night.

31 Tuesday

Sent Laurie letter.

Rest.