On bus in Locre to rejoin rgt. We are told rgt. Left Dranoutre for Fletre or Mont des Cats. Back to Bailleul & report to Can. camp Commandant at 11 am.
Get into motor lorrie for Meteren & then walk to billets near Mont des Cats, arrive about 1:15 PM. A great greeting by the troops who afterwards informed me I was in orders as struck off the strength of battalion active list. Should have gone to Folkestone or Shorncliffe.
Archives for March 2016
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.
Thursday 9 March 1916
Up at 7, have breakfast at Spiers & Pond then take taxi to Victoria Station arrive 8:15 am. Visit R.T.O. [Rail Transportation Officer] who sends me on to Charing Cross Stn. Train cancelled at Victoria (9:30 am) & train at C.X. [Charing Cross] goes at 11:05 arr. Folkestone 1:15 left Folkestone at 2 PM on S.S. Invicta arr. Boulogne 4:10 PM. Reported to R.T.O. 4:30. He orders me to return to him at 8 PM then afterwards changed to 10 PM. Move off 4 am arr. St Omer 7:15 am & changed for Hazebrouck left 11.
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.
Tuesday 7 March 1916
Snows heavily practically all day. I write letters.
Monday 6 March 1916
I go to the store and say goodbye to all. Ada Southam is madly in love with me – we kiss. Miss Kidd gives me a royal send off at the station.
Arr. London at 12:15. To Waterloo to take 1:15 train for Gosport. Arr. at 4:30 PM in a snowstorm. Go straight to Ernests & find both at home. Zepps kill 12 people & 33 injured (5 Children 4 Women).
Sunday 5 March 1916 – frost
Frost. Up at 9 am for a walk along river. Send telegram to Leicester. Leave Stafford at 2 PM for Leicester. Tony, Betty and Eileen see me off. Arr. Leicester at 4:30 go to aunts & stay night. Visit Miss Kidd & John Draycot. A zeppelin raid is taking place at 7 PM. All lights are put out but nothing happens.
German Airship Raids – On the evening of the March 5th into the morning of the 6th Germans sent 3 Zeppelins to bomb Rosyth, however high winds forced them instead to bomb Hull. The attack resulted in 18 deaths and 52 injuries with £25,000 worth of damage.
Saturday 4 March 1916 – fine
To Stoke on 1:18 train. Weather fine in morning. had fine interesting chat with Tony (Mr [N or W Hulme?]). Arr. Stoke 2 PM. Went to see Thomas I. Draycot. Back to Stafford 5 PM. To Betty’s for tea & after to doctors for medicine. At 8 PM to Betty’s for supper with Tony. Tony leaves for doctor at 10. Betty & I have interesting chat …. To bed at 11 PM at Mrs. Webbs Pvt. Boarding house where Tony stays.
Friday 3 March 1916 – snow flurries and cold wind
Snow flurries and cold winds. Up at 10:30 am and catch 11:25 train for Gnosall in company with Miss Eileen Smith. Went to Gnosall church & saw interior. An effigy to one of the Brough of Brough Hall is in the church. On to Ede’s & had dinner. Afterwards went to Coton for walk, visit the farms of Malpass & had enjoyable chat. Had tea at Malpass in [Glumpit?] farm thru to station. Left on 6:29 train with Eileen & Miss Gilbert. To Betty’s for supper & stayed until 11 PM.
Thursday 2 March 1916
To my digs at Mrs Webbs. Eileen & I go shopping during day, & pay visit to Sergeant Walkers fiancée. Snows heavily. Germans make 2nd assault on Verdun frightful losses at Douaumont.