Enemy threaten to use horrible methods if we don’t accept their peace terms “dropping germ bombs on London, Paris, etc. & also an increase in “U” boat campaign. Our dugout is severely shelled.
Wednesday 25 October, 1916
We leave for trenches at Neuville St Vaast. Our rear Bde HdQrs are at Mont St Eloy. It rains heavily and we march through it. The 180th Imperial (London) Brigade 60th Div do not move until tomorrow.
At 7 PM we move. Night very dark, walking is difficult. Very little shelling. Arr dugouts @ Aux Rietz 9 PM.
Officers dugouts are splendid, the mens – as usual. I sleep down a chalk mine close handy where 2,000 Germans were once gassed by the French.
Saturday 12 August 1916 (New Diary)
Up at 7 am. Left Draycots @ 8:10. Visit the shop & said good bye to all. Miss Southorn sees me off at station. Arr London @ 11:30 AM but find boat train departed @ 8:30. R.T.O. given me.
Leave London @ 12 noon for Ashford, arr 3 PM visit Ms Ansell @ the Harmer family. Leave Ashford for Shorncliffe 6:30 to see Ms Ashmore @ Lord Roberts Club and Miss Cornwall @ the Rectory, Cheriton.
To Folkestone @ 10:30. Stayed the night at Hotel Foster.
Saturday 5 August 1916
Leave Poperinghe at 6:18 am, arrive @ Boulogne 1:30. Boat (Victoria) does not leave until 4 PM. Go into Boulogne & have dinner. Back to boat and arrive at Folkestone 5:45.
Train for London leaves @ 6 PM arrive London @ 8:10 PM. Catch train for Stafford @ 8:50, arr Stafford @ 12 midnight.
Wednesday 8 March 1916 – snow
Leave Gosport for Farnboro at 2:32 PM. Arr. Farnboro 5:10 PM & met on station by Miss Alwyn Browne who has taxi cab waiting for me. We drive & after entertaining them also initiating them into the game of Rummy I take leave of the family Root. Alwyne & I go to north camp. Alwyne kisses me and I board train for London at 9:40, arrive London 11:30 PM go to Union Jack Club.
Saturday 31 July 1915 – fine
Working up till 12 noon and at 3 pm take train to Shorncliffe. Met Riley and had coffee with him. He goes to London for 3 days. Arrive at camp at 4:30 pm and see the boys.
Have an awful headache.
Met Miss Challis and had chat. Had tea at Salvation Army.
Wrote letters in evening.
Paid £8 by pay master.
Monday 28 June 1915 – showers
Left Sileby at 10:57 am and Leicester at 11:32 for London.
Called at Aunts in Leicester and said good bye.
Saw Joe Inglesant at Hyde Park Corner and had ice cream with him.
Left Waterloo Rd. Stn. at 4:14 pm and changed at Cannon St.
Arr. at Shorncliffe at 6:30 pm. Saw Sergt. Bradley re absence of leave.
Tuesday 25 May 1915 – fine
Am granted a pass for a month and so are all others of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in order to clean out the camp.
Leave Shorncliffe at 4:36 and arrive in London at 7:30. Stay at Union Jack Club.
*Union Jack Club – An Armed Forces Club in London. It is used by the members/veterans of the British Armed Forces and their families. The club has accommodations as well as a restaurant and bar. The club is still open to this day though it is housed in a new building as the original building was demolished in 1971.
Monday 10 May 1915 – fine
Said good byes after patching up and left Seagrave for Leicester and Shorncliffe. Had to sprint across London to catch trains. Arrive in Shorncliffe at 6:30 (caught 4:25 from London). Nothing is said regarding days absence. Before leaving Leicester I called at John and Almena Draycot and Mrs Greene of Eastleigh Road.
Tuesday 27 April 1915 – Drizzle in morning. Fine in afternoon
Went for walking parade at 7 am. Bitterly cold. Got pass from Orderly room and left in time to avoid getting quarantined for measles. Boarded 11:28 am for London. Arrive at 2 pm. Went to Westminster House regarding pay and to see Paymaster Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He will send on £10.00 to War Office. Fill up a pass and get an Army Form Mt 393. Left Euston for Leicester at 5:30, arrived at 8:40. To supper with a Mr Starmer (2) East Park Road Leicester. Entrain for Sileby 10:40 pm arrive in Seagrave at 11:45 pm. Slept in the Out House all night
*MT 393 was a military form used to apply for appointment to a temporary commission.
