October 15th - 21st - The Heat

October 15^th Thursday

A chap in ‘H’ Coy is knocked over.  His head is turned by the sun.  Later on he is sent to England.  Eyesight is ruined.  Came out of Hospital and put on light duty. 

October 16^th Friday

Am feeling much better now.  Resume duties tomorrow.  Busied myself with cleaning my bayonet up which is now rusty.

October 17^th Saturday

Lost my purse with 6/6 in it, also the pair of gold cuff links that Annie gave me before the war.  Wild as a devil.  It is raining cats and dogs.  Parades impossible.  Got swamped out, mud and slosh galore.

October 18^th Sunday

Church Parade at 6.30am.  As I was practically broke to the wide, it was no use for me to go out.  Stayed in Camp all day and wrote more letters.

October 19^th Monday

Started to be instructed in the new Army Musketry Course by Sergeant Instructor Stacey (Royal Marines).  First thing we learn is Standing Position. 

October 20^th Tuesday

6 hours instruction on parts of a rifle and care of arms.  This is much more interesting and preferable to drill. 

October 21^st Wednesday

Adjutants Parade at 6.30am.  Then went on the Naval Range and had instruction and visual training that is finding hidden objects representing snipers

Sept 19th - 25th 1917. Boils, Mosquitoes & 1st Birthday Away from Home...

September 19^th Saturday

Doing drill all day up till 3.00pm and then on for guard.  Mounted at 5.00pm on the Coast Station, Eagle Bay.  RGA men in charge of outpost telephone station here.  Got wet through with the dew.  Many fellows were bitten by mosquitoes.

September 20^th Sunday

Have got a lovely boil on my neck.  Can’t move my head.  First I’ve had in my life.  So went sick with it and struck lucky.  Am now excused all duties.

September 21^st Monday 

Had my neck fomented, then mouched about all day.  Took RGA operators food down to them to pass time away.

September 22^nd Tuesday

Had boil cut and core squeezed out.  A bit of a relief for me.  Some Electric French submarines came into St. Pauls Bay and a party of Froggies visit the Palace and try to make themselves understood a bit.  Showed them round and drank each others health.

September 23^rd Wednesday

 My first birthday away from home.  No presents, letters, cards or anything.  Am awfully disappointed.  Relieved by ‘F’ Coy and go back to Ghain Tuffieha.  As I felt rotten I traveled in Red Cross van.

September 24^th Thursday

Went on Sick List, I don’t like Major Parr’s treatment, he’s too fidgety for me.  Nothing to do all day so wrote a few letters.

September 25^th Friday

Everyone excused parades today, why I don’t know.  We get an extra 2d per day here to pay for extra cleaning material etc.

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Dan Notes: Quite possibly on the waiting list as information came through, in one of the phases: The Battles of Ypres 1917 ("Third Ypres")...