June 1915

1 Tuesday

Kitchener’s Army go up the trenches with Staffords for instruction. Humfrey came to tea. Afternoon march 6 miles.

2 Wednesday

Light duties. Went on Guard for 24 hours, heavy cannonade all night.

3 Thursday

Rest all morning, afternoon march out 6 miles. Germans shelling. Went to Pierrot concert at night at Staffs, Bulford camp.

4 Friday

Water guard, went on duty 9 am.

5 Saturday

Messenger for taking dispatches to and fro to Infantry Brigade Headquarters. Listened to Staffs band.

6 Sunday

I was on duty all day in Officers’ mess, Humfrey Fox came to tea. Ethel’s letter.

7 Monday

Guard at gate, 9am til 1pm. Staffs band playing all morning across the way.

8 Tuesday

Coffee stall. Staffs shelled. 14 wounded. Humfrey came to tea.

9 Wednesday

Coffee stall.

Staffs came out of trenches. 1,200 drinks served out from 11 o’clock up til 3am next morning, bed 4 o’clock.

10 Thursday

Went to Bailleul by motor with Joyce. Kitchener’s Army billeted with us. Hot weather prevails.

11 Friday

Coffee stall. Company Drill before breakfast and short march around Neuve Eglise & walk at night with David.

12 Saturday

Motor coffee. Staffs came out of trenches commencing 12 pm. Motor caught fire in which I had a narrow escape. I served all drinks.

Mem: Received mother’s parcel.

13 Sunday

Church Parade Aldershot camp. I had Humfrey to tea. I was taken ill at night, and was very sick and ill throughout.

14 Monday

I was moved to hospital first thing Monday morning after being examined by Major Hodder.

15 Tuesday

Still in hospital, Len Burrows was in same time. We had lovely weather.

16 Wednesday

Came out on Wednesday. Still under medical treatment.

17 Thursday

Rest. Neuve Eglise.

Shelled practically every day by Germans.

18 Friday

Neuve Eglise. Ordinary course of work again.

19 Saturday

Smoke helmets served out.

March out full pack in afternoon - 8 miles Bailleul

Memo: Early morning parades 6.45am. Lovely morning; physical Drill.

20 Sunday

No Church Parade owing to Staffs preparing to leave the huts at Bulford Camp.

21 Monday

Letter from WH Smith Pearl.

Went down to ASC dump at 6.45am.

Guide for new Field Ambulance Northumberland .The whole division came to Neuve Eglise to take Staffs off

22 Tuesday

Gate guard from 1 o’clock pm ‘til 5 o’clock pm.

23 Wednesday

Packed up in readiness to go, but the order was cancelled, we had to stand to.

24 Thursday

Left Neuve Eglise at 8 o’clock at night, marched 10 miles, arrive on the outskirts of Poperinge 1 o’clock Friday morning. Lay down in the open field all night.

25 Friday

Reveille 8 o’clock, spend the day in building canvas shack. Me, David & Harold Jordon keeping together. Erected a bell tent.

26 Saturday

Gate guard for 24 hours two of us commencing 9am, they returned from Ypres at 3am o’clock next morning while I was on guard. I had no sleep.

Memo: Passed through Locre & Dranoutre 24/6/15.

27 Sunday

Reveille 6.30. Rest for me on account of previous day’s work. Church parade 6 o’clock at night by Wesleyan Chaplain.

28 Monday - 1 July Thursday (Maple Copse)

Reveille 5.30, parade 6.30, I had a rest all day on account of visiting the trenches at Ypres at night for collecting the wounded. Left camp 9.45pm, arrived at Ypres in Cars. Heavy artillery engagement taking place, and the place being terribly shelled all the way to the aid post 2 miles through the town, we were forced to shelter in ditch for 1/2 hour. In that time a shell burst in the road lifting a large piece of earth which struck my hip; we afterwards sheltered in a dugout, along with regular infantry. Our party got broke up, and two lost our way, and found ourselves by Wiltshire Reg line of trenches, arrived back 3.30.