Up at 7 am. Left Draycots @ 8:10. Visit the shop & said good bye to all. Miss Southorn sees me off at station. Arr London @ 11:30 AM but find boat train departed @ 8:30. R.T.O. given me.
Leave London @ 12 noon for Ashford, arr 3 PM visit Ms Ansell @ the Harmer family. Leave Ashford for Shorncliffe 6:30 to see Ms Ashmore @ Lord Roberts Club and Miss Cornwall @ the Rectory, Cheriton.
To Folkestone @ 10:30. Stayed the night at Hotel Foster.
Wednesday 18 August 1915
Passionate letter from Starking No. 1 by express post. I sent kit bag to Harry my bro.
To Rifle range at 1:30. A march of 10 miles to fire 10 shots. I make good score. No mention of draft departures. A Zeppelin drops bombs on ASHFORD Canterbury Kent where I was stationed 3 weeks . 39 casualties.
*German Airship Raids – The Germans again attempted to bomb London on the 17th and 18th of August, sending four Zeppelins. Two had to turn back due to technical problems, one bombed Ashford, Kent mistaking it for Woolwich. Another reached London but still was unable to bomb London as it mistook the Lea Valley reservoirs for the Thames and dropped its bombs on Walthamstow and Leytonstone, killing 10 and injuring 48 people. The Zeppelin was able to get away but two weeks later the same airship was struck by lightning and caught fire killing the entire crew.
Sunday 15 August 1915
To post office and sent letters away. Said good bye to Miss Rusell and others.
Left Ashford 11:34 train arrive 12:15 pm
Not reported absent. Writing letters in afternoon.
Saturday 14 August 1915
My pass for Ashford and Canterbury is not granted. Reason given am attached still to Headquarters.
Left Shorncliffe for Ashford at [3] pm.
To the Harmon family and had tea. With Miss Lawrence (Jessie) and William Harmon.
To post office at 8 and stayed till – 9 pm. Chatting with the girls
Friday 13 August 1915
Put in a pass for Ashford to fetch kit back.
Wrote letters in morning.
Went for walk with Private Master and got back at 8:30 pm.
Thursday 12 August 1915
Worked up till 2 pm when an order came to pack up and rejoin my unit the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry. I refused to transfer into the Canadian Ordnance Corps but did not mind being attached.
Left Ashford at 5:56; train to Shorncliffe arrived at 7 pm. Quite a change.
Escorted Miss Challis home from C of E Soldier’s Club.
Tuesday 10 August 1915 – fine
Vivian is reported absent from Monday morning. I commence searching investigation
Result is I give information to the police in Ashford.
In afternoon I write letters
Ernest Draycot writes from Chester on his holidays. Intends visiting Draycot in Moores and Leicester
Saturday 7 August 1915 – showers
To work at 8 am till 12 noon. Go by train to Shorncliffe at 3 pm. Visit Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry camp. Return to Ashford at 8:35 pm. Am suffering with terrible headache and hayfever. Officer Commanding of the Canadian Ordnance Corps wishes me to transfer into Canadian Ordnance Corps.
Saturday 29 July 1915 – showers
At work as usual.
My Sister Martha is suffering from a painful affliction of the eyes.
Have usual walk around the town of Ashford.
Monday July 26 1915
To D.A.A.G[Deputy Assistant Adjutant General] Office for papers to proceed to Ashford.
Miss Cornewall leaves for South Wales.
Left Shorncliffe Station at 12:55.
Arrived at Ashford at 1:45. Interviewed Ordnance Officer at 4 pm. To Billet at 4:30. At 6 to Barrow Hill Terrace (Mrs Harmer). To bed at 10:15
