Up early. Took tour of farm for eggs. Only got two as poultry are scarce. The Germans took them all when they came thro’ here. Mostly Flemish farmers here. Visited church. Very old, 1600 circa. On guard over orchard and kitchen garden. Caught sitting down on “sentry go”. Tried and admonished. Freed by Captain de Balinhard. Company inspected by Gen. Smith-Dorrien Commanding the Army Corps – gives speech. The 5th Canadian Battalion passes thro’ Pradelles to Arras? Have bath at Brasseries and wash clothes.
*Brasserie- A small informal French restaurant or pub.
*General Horace Smith-Dorrien – General Smith was already a distinguished soldier by¬¬ WWI, he had fought in the Zulu War, Boer War and had been posted in India. He was given command of the British Expeditionary Force II Corps by Lord Kitchener at the outbreak of WWI. Smith led the Corps during the first few years of the war including the Battle of Ypres. However during the Second Battle of Ypres after the Germans had used gas, General Smith requested a retreat. Field Marshal Sir John French, who disliked General Smith, used this event as an excuse to request to have him removed from the corps command. General Smith was later sent to East Africa to lead troops there but caught pneumonia and returned to England for the remainder of the war.
