Saturday
1st June, 1918
Was not called out last night, but did not sleep too well as was expecting
a call all time. Fritz planes were about for over two hours hovering about,
dropped bombs some distance away. Up at 5 a.m. got hot water for sick
chaps to have a wash then had my breakfast. Lay down after breakfast again
as feel a bit worn out, feeling bit better of myself. Hot day, after dinner
went out for walk and got my washing. Back for tea, had yarn, read paper
and in bed 9 p.m.
Sunday 2nd June, 1918
Up at 5 a.m., got some hot water for sick chaps to have a wash. Had shave
and clean up before breakfast. After breakfast made out full list of men
sick with treatment etc. also wrote out an indent for some drugs. Very
hot day again. Fritz planes over again last night. Had a nap this afternoon,
seem to be getting done up and tired. After tea went for walk by myself
to river and watched chaps fishing. Back and camp and in bed 9 p.m.
Monday 3rd June, 1918
Up at 5 a.m. and got hot water for sick chaps to have a wash then had
breakfast at 7 a.m. After breakfast not much doing so took my washing
out. After dinner gave medicines out to sick chaps then borrowed a bike
and went about eighteen miles to 2 Y.M.C.A.s to buy a writing pad as am
out of paper, could not get one. Very hot and dusty riding. Back for tea
and after tea raked up a field service book and wrote a letter home and
one to Dais. In bed at 9 p.m.
Tuesday 4th June, 1918
Up at 5 a.m. and got some hot water for sick chaps, had a cup of tea off
cooks. Breakfast at 7 a.m., had nothing to do this morning but had to
keep out of the way till inspection of huts was over at 11 a.m. After
dinner had read and a sleep. Tea at 5 p.m. then wrote a letter and at
7.30 p.m. went out and had some eggs and chips and a bottle of cider (home
made). Back at camp and in bed 9 p.m. Very nice day. Rumours of an Anglo-French
success.
Wednesday 5th June, 1918
Up at 5.30 a.m., got some hot water for sick then had breakfast. Went
round with doctor after breakfast. 48 men on sick roll, lot malingering
but doctor smelling them out as they are making it too hot. Arranged for
tucker for those really sick. After dinner gave out medicines, rubbed
a few with bad backs and drew their tucker. Took half doz. temperatures
after tea. Had leter from W. Hill from Eng. Wrote back to him and in bed
at 9 p.m.
Thursday 6th June, 1918
Up at 5.30 a.m., got hot water ready, had breakfast, took some temperatures
and gave out medicines. Went round with doctor at 11 a.m. Only about 25
sick today, a number put on light duties. After dinner gave out medicines
again and arranged for light tea. Our chaps started trenching our camp
today, orders from Hdqrtrs in case of plane raids, making real good trenches.
Had walk along river and some eggs and chips after tea and in bed 9 p.m.
Friday 7th June, 1918
Up at 5.30 a.m., got hot water ready and after breakfast took temperatures
and gave out medicines. Went round with doctor at 11 a.m., most of sick
better, only about 10 now. Have had about 160 altogether, very few have
escaped in the camp. Arranged for light tucker and gave out medicines
after dinner. Our chaps made fine job of trench for cover for us during
air raids. Wrote letter this afternoon and couple more after tea. Orders
for all of us to be supplied with rifles etc. Turned into bed at 9 p.m.
Saturday 8th June, 1918
Up at 6.30 a.m. and had breakfast 7 a.m. then took medicines round. Most
of sick almost well again. Very nice day with cool breeze. Went round
with doctor at 11 a.m., not necessary for him to come again so sick parades
will go as usual. Had various calls for medicine from chaps during day,
mostly laxatives. Received parcel from Cousin Mirrie, some cake, tea and
lollies. Had a yarn and read after tea and turned into bed at 9 p.m.
Sunday 9th June, 1918
Reveille at 6.30 a.m. and breakfast 7 a.m. Day off today so nothing doing.
Was nice this morning but threatened later to rain and eventually had
couple of sharp showers, they just laid the dust nicely. Wrote some letters
and cleaned up my things. After tea started out for a walk but had to
return as started raining pretty hard. Spent evening reading and yarning
and turned in at 9 p.m.
Monday 10th June, 1918
Reveille 6.30 a.m. and breakfast 7 a.m. Nothing doing for me this morning,
am having a rather easy time just now. Washed and cleaned my leggings
before dinner. Received fine parcel from Aunt Edith. After dinner took
out my washing then fixed up a chap's leg, cut and badly bruised through
sleeper falling on it. Our chaps had to go to work again after tea, fixed
up three of them with cut hands, wrote a letter and into bed 9 p.m., fine
day again.
Reveille at 6.30 a.m., breakfast at 7 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed. Went over to doctors for some gauze and iodine, nothing else doing till about 4 p.m. except parade and roll call at 12.45. About 4 p.m. a chap was knocked over while unloading wagons and got nasty cut just over the eye. Cleaned and dressed it for him. After tea wrote couple of letters to Mam and Dais., had hand at bridge and in bed at 9 p.m.
Wednesday 12th June, 1918
Up at 6.30 a.m. and after breakfast on parade at 7.45, roll call and dismissed to duties. Had nothing to do today but re-dress chap's head, but can not leave camp. Took my new tunic over to an old lady's to have sleeves shortened and colours sewn on. Wrote some letters. On parade again at 12.45 noon, roll call and dismissed. Had game of bridge after tea and in bed at 9 p.m.
Thursday 13th June, 1918
Reveille went at 6 a.m. for some of our boys who are going to "Hesdin" a town about 8 miles away to lay in a light Rly. spur from main broad gauge line to hospital. Rest of us on parade at 7.45 a.m., roll call, orders and dismissed. Dressed chap's head again and gave out various tablets (drugs). Had sleep after dinner. After tea went to concert in a field given by some Canadians, very good indeed. At camp and in bed 9.30.
Friday 14th June, 1918
Reveille 6.30 a.m., breakfast and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed. Nothing doing today except gave out few tablets. One of our chaps named Logan was court-martialled yesterday for cowardice under fire, got off. On parade again at 12.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed. Had lie down and read this afternoon. Am having a very easy time just now, but feel I need it so am saying nothing. After tea had game of bridge and in bed 9 p.m.
Saturday 15th June, 1918
Reveille at 6 a.m. and breakfast 6.30 a.m., some of our men on parade at 7 a.m., rest of us at 7.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and dismissed to duty. Gave out a few tablets and kept out of sight of the officers. On parade again 12.45 noon, roll call and dismissed. Had lie down and read this afternoon. Just sat down to tea at 5 p.m. and had to rush away, one of our chaps fell off train coming from "Hesdin", severely lacerated lip and extensively bruised down left side, fixed him up then took him on motor lorry to hospital near "Montreul", back at 7 p.m., had tea and in bed at 9 p.m.
Sunday 16th June, 1918
Reveille 6.30 a.m. and breakfast 7 a.m. Got shaved and cleaned as have to go to hospital to make some arrangements about chap injured yesterday. Waited till 2 p.m. before car was ready, after seeing chap went on to Montreul but could not get in town as did not have a pass. Back for tea, then went for walk to village of "Maresqueil" about 2 1/2 miles, walked back along river bank. Have bad headache tonight, tied up cut hands for couple of chaps and in bed 9 p.m.
Monday 17th June, 1918
Eight years today since our family sailed from England for Australia. Reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed to duty. Very little to do again today, just kept out of way and fixed up one or two chaps who are bit off colour. After dinner took my washing out and had a sleep. We are having very fine weather lately, but seemed inclined to be stormy today, but passed over, hope fritz got it instead. After tea did some writing, had a read and in bed at 9 p.m.
Tuesday 18th June, 1918
Reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call, orders and dismissed to duty. Had about half a doz. chaps whis morning with cut hands to fix up. On parade again 12.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed again, wrote a letter and had a sleep. Very nice day again. After tea went for walk to Maresquel and bought a writing pad, very lucky. Walked back along the river and watched the trout rising. Back at 8 p.m. and in bed 9 p.m.
Wednesday 19th June, 1918
Reveille at 6.30 a.m., on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and orders. One of our chaps was fined a days pay for being one minute late on parade, read out in orders, dismissed to duty. Had very little to do today. On parade again 12.45 p.m., roll call and dismissed. Wrote a letter to Dais. An Aust'n mail in but none for me yet, a bit disappointed but hope to get some tomorrow. After tea some Canadian Jocks came round and gave us a very nice concert. Turned into bed at 9 p.m.
Thursday 20th June, 1918
Up at Reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and dismissed to duty. Fixed up a couple of cut hands then took an R.E. to his billet who collapsed in our camp and fixed him up. On parade again 12.45 p.m. Nothing doing this afternoon so made an aluminium souvenir identity disc out of Canadian water bottle, cut it out in shape of Australia and engraved my No., name and unit on it. After tea had read and wrote a letter then turned in at 9 p.m.
Up at reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call, orders and dismissed to duty. Fixed up a few sore fingers and gave few tablets out. Weather getting a bit unsettled, had few showers. On parade again 12.45 p.m., nothing doing this afternoon so had a read and fell asleep. Chap woke me up at 5.30 p.m. to fix up his fingers which he had jambed. We are not getting too much tucker lately again, bread being very short. Had read after tea and into bed 9 p.m.
Saturday 22nd June, 1918
Up at Reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call and orders then dismissed to duty. Few sore hands to attend to and tablets to give out. Very windy day and pretty cold. Good news of offensive on Italian front. On parade again 12.45 p.m., roll call and dismissed. Wrote a letter and had a sleep before tea. Am taking things easy as I am feeling a bit weary and done. After tea had a read and turned into bed at 9 p.m.
Sunday 23rd June, 1918
Up at 6.30 a.m., day off today so got a pass and three of us went to "Hesdin", a town about 8 (eight) miles away. Got there for dinner and had eggs and chips, then had look round. Bought some post cards and service stripes. Very dull and slow place, but some pretty scenery on the outskirts and along the river. Had some tea and biscuits at Y.M.C.A. and caught train home at 6.30 p.m. In bed at 9 p.m., called up at 11 p.m., one of our chaps, tight, had fallen and hurt his shoulder pretty badly.
Monday 24th June, 1918
Up at reveille 6.30 a.m. and after parade went on sick parade as my ears are getting dull and want syringing out. Waited all morning for doctor, then got my ears done, feel much better. Wrote letter after dinner. Very cold and wet day, not like summer at all. 1st Canad. Wing came and gave us very nice concert in our mess hut at 7.30 p.m., it was very good and as they are about to go back in the line we afterwards entertained them to a smoke social, very pleasant night and turned in at 11.30 p.m.
Tuesday 25th June, 1918
Up at reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call, orders and dismissed. Fixed up few minor ailments and kept out of way while camp inspection was on. On parade again 12.45 p.m., roll call and dismissed again. Settled down and wrote a letter this afternoon, then sewed my service stripes on tunic, one red 1914 stripe and three blue ones. After tea wrote another letter and had read, have got a rotten cold, in bed 9 p.m.
Wednesday 26th June, 1918
Up at reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade 7.45 a.m., roll call, orders and dismissed to duty. Fixed up few chaps and bathed a toe that is giving me some trouble. Received word at 11 a.m. to be ready for inspection by Gen. Birdwood. On parade at 12.45, put into platoons, inspected at 1.30 p.m. The Gen. spoke and chatted to several chaps then made nice speech, dismissed at 2.30 p.m. Am not feeling too good so lay down till tea time. Went to concert in a barn at 7 p.m. by A.S.C. (M.T.). In bed 9 p.m.
Thursday 27th June, 1918
Up at Reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade as usual. Fixed up few chaps this morning, sore fingers, pills etc. On parade again 12.45 p.m. and dismissed, spent afternoon writing to Dais. Much nicer day today. Am not feeling really well at all, think I'm beginning to give out to it, its just a worn out feeling. News getting brighter in the papers, more Italian successes and news from Germany more re-assuring for us. Had read after tea and in bed 9 p.m.
Friday 28th June, 1918
Fritz planes over bombing about 1 a.m. but I never heard a sound and did not wake till reveille at 6.30 a.m. On parade as usual and then fixed up about half a dozen chaps. Fine day but rather cloudy. On parade again 12.45 p.m., fixed up couple of chaps and then had read and sleep. Our rifles and bayonets arrived today, will be issued to us in few days time. News still better in the papers again today. After tea had yarn, wrote a letter then got into bed and read till 9.30 p.m.
Saturday 29th June, 1918
Up at reveille 6.30 a.m. and on parade as usual. Put foments on couple of chaps with nasty boils on their faces. Weather fine again and pretty warm. Dug up some potatoes that are being covered by Rly. track, very small. After midday parade cleaned the potatoes and got few onions ready for boiling for supper. After tea went out for walk and tried to get in barn to a concert but full up. Had good plate mashed spuds, onions and bully beef and in bed 9.30 p.m.
Sunday 30th June, 1918
Up at reveille at 6.30 a.m. and on parade as usual but only few chaps wanted, day off for everyone else. Fritz planes were hovering about at from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. this morning and bombs were dropped some distance from here. Hot day today. Fixed up two chaps with boils this morning. Had a sleep after dinner, feel very weary and longing for home. After tea went for walk along river with couple of pals. Had mashed potatoes etc. for supper and to bed 9 p.m.