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.
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.
Friday 6 August 1915 – showers
To work at Canadian Ordnance Corps making fixtures.
Sent cap badge to Mrs E.S. Seares of Thurnby Vicarage Leicester.
Thursday 5 August 1915 – shower
Working at Canadian Ordnance Corps.
Warsaw taken by the Germans. Russians evacuated it and only destroyed the 3 bridges over the Vistula. Lublin in Poland taken by the Austrians
*The Great Retreat – The buildup of forces from the Central Powers on the eastern front was very effective at pushing the Russian’s back during the summer of 1915. Germans started their offensive in June of 1915 and gained ground in Poland through must of June and July of that year. On August 4th /5th German troops took Warsaw and Russian troops quickly retreated further east. This retreat caused Tsar Nicholas II to dismiss Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich as leader of the war effort and to take control of the military directly.
Wednesday 4 August 1915 – shower
Working at Canadian Ordnance Corps.
Have had attack of hay fever.
To cinema in evening to see Charlie Chaplin
Tuesday 3 August 1915
Working at Canadian Ordnance Corps.
Received an apology from Reverend J. Sheare of Thurnby Leicestershire.
Monday 2 August 1915
To work at Canadian Ordnance Corps.
Steamer Eastland overturns (turns Turtle) at entrance to Lake Michigan and drowns 1810 people.
*SS Eastland – Was a passenger ship based out of Chicago that was used for tours. On July 24th 1915 while the Eastland was on its way from Illinois to Michigan City, Indiana, it overturned. The boat was already known to be top heavy and this was made worse by new laws, brought about by the Titanic disaster, calling for a complete set of life boats on every ship. The added weight of the life rafts and the movement of passengers aboard caused the ship to roll over killing 844 people. On August 14th 1915 the SS Eastland was recovered, the ship was sold to the Naval reserve and recommissioned as the USS Wilmette. The USS Wilmette was used as a military training vessel.
