The Battalion moves to Fletre again. I go to hospital for wound to be dressed and follow up later on. Call at several cafés en route and have coffee. Also take short cuts across fields. Arrive at billet at 12:30 (noon).
Am feeling very unwell after march. Bad cold on chest. Carried pack (80 lbs) for 12 kilometers. Lie in bed until 11 am next day.
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Thursday 30 December 1915
The Artillery are quiet. I go to hospital to have my wound dressed then on to [Ville? Kruis]. Germans did quite a lot of damage and many houses are destroyed.
We are now in 7th Brigade 3rd Division. General Mercer in Command.
Wednesday 29 December 1915 – fine
Score of aeroplane flights. About 15 aeroplanes make a raid over Messine and Menen. They are heavily shelled by the Huns. I go to 5th Field Ambulance for operation on my finger. Sent there by our own Officer (Medical). I faint twice during the operation. The splinter is then taken out.
Later, I return to camp, pay to Captain Barclay 4 Francs. In afternoon go for a walk to Kemmel as I am feeling restless after the operation. Cross fields, dykes, and hedges, very muddy. Outskirts of Kemmel is [pitted] with large shell holes. Huns busy shelling us. Anywhere is safe so what’s the difference. The trenches around Kemmel are named after Vancouver and its Streets, Winnipeg and its streets.
The village is badly shelled and majority of houses and shops in ruins. Strange enough the church has only been struck once in the tower but churchyard is torn up by shells and lots of graves have been blown up. Crosses and monuments scattered. I return to camp same way.
Huns drop few shells in La Clytte killing two civilians and wounding two of our transport men seriously. I was only at La Clytte a few hours before having my wound dressed. The rats torment us at night.
* Mont Kemmel – A large hill hear near the municipality of Heuvella in West Flanders. It was an important battle site during the war held by the Allies during most of WWI but taken by the Germans in mid-1918 during the battle of Lys. However it was quickly recaptured in September of that year. The hill was extremely battered by shells during the war.
Tuesday 28 December 1915 – rain and fair
Corporal Griggs and party of six men go to farm to arrest two men, one woman and one girl. Take them to Westoutre and hand them over to police as spies. The women are put in cell with drunken soldiers – a damned shame reflecting discredit on the persons responsible.
All quiet on front.
Monday 27 December 1915 – rain
To shoemaker to repair my shoes. Takes two hours.
Sunday 26 December 1915 – fine day
Walked into Bailleul for boot repairing and haircut, but nothing doing. They do not work on Sundays but will sell anything.
Sent ring to Miss Alwyn Browne as souvenir of Belgium (Ypres). Had eggs and very tough steak also some coffee for dinner.
Bought ring souvenir for Miss Alwyn Browne and forwarded it on to her. Also 2 for self, 3.50, 4.00 and 2.50 [£]. Got a lift to Belgium border on motor lorry and then to Locre. Kept fine in afternoon.
Saturday 25 December 1915 – Christmas Day
The Germans were silent all night, also our gunmen. Rains heavy all morning. Private David Young, Private Walter Durham and myself assay a march into Ypres. We start at 11:20 over a very muddy and hard cobble stone road. Arrived at Dickebusch at 12:20 noon got “dinner” after a deal of trouble – two eggs and some chopped potatoes. No coffee nor tea. The Military Authorities have banned the sale – suspicious of rum etc being in it – until 6 pm. Left Dickebusch at 1 pm for Ypres. Awful road to travel on. Five kilometers from Dickebusch to Ypres. Large shell holes cover the fields on either side, trees cut down by shells etc. Pass several sentries. Cross bridge over the canal or moat. Everywhere is ruin and desolation. Not a house habitable. We pass the Railway Station on our left and ramparts on right and enter street covered with brick and masonry. Arrive at Cloth Hall and Cathedral. We go inside to inspect. Only two minarets standing. We pass over the market square [and enter] Convent of St Maria in ruins. After, to Church of St Jacques. Pass pile of debris whereon is a cross with words “Under this debris lie the bodies of 6 men of the K.O.Y.L.I (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry)”. Near Church of St Jacques is grave to two “unknown friends”. Pass up Rue de Beurre and see Church of St Nicholas with roof completely off. Was bombed April 22. Visit another Convent and yet another. There were 20 Convents in Ypres before the war. Plenty of troops have had more than they can carry of wine and beer and are [rolling] a good bit. On way back we met several parties going to the trenches, carrying Christmas parcels and looking rather moody and thoughtful about their present and past Christmas.
Corporal Lightbody held Service in [hut] with gamblers on opposite side.
Friday 24 December 1915
Rained frightfully all night but ceased in morning till boys went digging then it poured.
No. 3 and 4 companies shift their billets. No. 4 Company go to Mont Noir and take over [huts] where there is lots of mud and plenty of rats. A windmill still in action is above us on top of the hill. We receive Christmas presents – packet or box of cigarettes and tobacco from “friends in Montreal”, a book and packet of Player Cigarettes from “Canadian Field Comforts Commission” of Moore Barracks Shorncliffe, a field service writing pad from Major Gault’s Mother a Christmas pudding. I walk into La Clytte with Wallach. The Huns are busy with their blue lights. Plenty of rats run around us at night.
*Canadian Field Comforts Commission- A Canadian government agency whose aim was the distribution of extra clothing and comforts to Canadian soldiers in England and the front. The commission sent goods such as clothes, food, hygiene products and tobacco directly to soldiers.
Thursday 23 December 1915
Battalion goes digging in morning and night by half companies. The Huns do very little shelling. The rain still comes down heavily. Lance Corporal Alec MacQueen and I walk to Dickebusch. To see grave of Lance Corporal W J Huston of Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry. Died of wounds last January. Also Sergeant Mansbridge. Both graves are grass covered with a cross on top and one at the head. The inscription is of zinc with letters embossed. The grave of Captain Newton is ready for another corpse as his body has been removed. There is a hole 15 feet in diameter in the church wall caused by shell of Germans. Ypres is deserted except for Burgo-master.
*Burgo-master – The leader of the town i.e. the Mayor.
Wednesday 22 December 1915
Fair in morning but rain later on. Company goes out digging trenches near firing lines. I cut Captain Stewart’s hair and also Lieutenant MacKenzie (who gives me 5 francs).
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