Leave Boulogne @ 4:40 am, arr Hazebrouck (after changing @ St. Omer) at 11. Arr Poperinghe @ 12:10 noon. To “a” camp only to find it empty. To brigade transport & report to Captain Temlin.
I got to Ypres @ night arr @ 7:30 PM. Great reception. Capt MacDonell has a boil on his left knee, incapacitated. My box of cyan arrives from L’Pool.
Friday 10 March 1916
Stayed in train from 10 PM (Thursday) till 4 am without moving. Arrived Saint Omer 7:30 & changed here for Hazebrouck arr. 8:15 am. Here we get orders to change again & take train for Bailleul at 6:29 PM, arrive Bailleul 7:30 PM. Taken by M[ilitary] Police to billets & stay night there to await orders.
Monday 13 December 1915
Battalion goes route marching 18 kilometres. Private Wallach and I jump on motor lorry intending to go to Bailleul but go (by mistake) to Hazebrouck instead. Purchase souvenirs and postcards (leave Hazebrouck at 3 pm for Bailleul by motor lorry. Arrive at 3:30. have tea at a pokey little place. I nearly collapse am very ill, sick headache and stomach. Walk home 15 kilometres.) Of all the pokey holes Hazebrouck [is one] for getting something to eat. We visited every shop in Hazebrouck for a dinner but could find none. Could get lots of soup, bread, accompanied with beer or coffee.
No. 4 Company are soccer champs, beat 13 Platoon.
Saturday 18 September 1915 – fine
Left Billets (kissing good bye to Petit [Madlel]) for Hazebrouck at 3:30. Distance 5.5 kilometer. Halted in front of church. I sneaked in, lovely interior. Entrained at 6 pm. Left at 6:15 pm after partaking of tea on platform. Ride in Horse Cars. 40 men with full marching order on rifle.
Rotten idea. Passed [pink] night in “Black Hole” and at 6 am we left train at Guillencourt and had breakfast. Bread cheese and tea. Marched 6 miles to Merricourt and stayed for dinner. I went into a cottage and had café au lait and bread and butter. To farm for bread and apples “quatre – sous”. Packed up again in full marching order for change of Billet. We encamp and bivouac in a grove of Balm O’Gilead trees all night. Wander around for 2 hours trying to find a farm. Lovely country but farms very distant.
*Bivouac – An improvised camp site or shelter constructed of natural materials such as a lean-to made of tree branches.
