Major A Adamson, a gentleman, & Major D. B. F. Grey get D.S.O. The latter very haughty over it.
Receive telegram from Miss Kidd re Fergie, I answer “unfortunately yes (killed) deepest sympathy. Draycot”
Tuesday 13 June 1916
Major Grey PPCLI visits the BDE office.
Have a devilish attack of neuralgia.
We (the office staff) secure a room for cooking purposes at 15 Rue De Mandelette, Steenvoorde.
Neuralgia – Pain in a distribution of a nerve or multiple nerves. This could involve anything from a head ache to ear aches or neck pain.
Friday 11 February 1916
Wet and miserable, lots of mud. Private Mackenzie and I make tour of trenches. We are subject to pesky bombardment and snipering. Relieved by 49th Regiment at 6 PM and march to Kemmel hill to huts.
Major Grey goes to England on leave.
Wednesday 9 February 1916
Froze hard all night. Feet of boys very cold. Huns very lively last night.
French mortar bombs, rifles, grenades, etc. are sent over by us.
Lively bombardment this morning whizz-bang shells from Huns come over about noon. Nose cap from one narrowly misses my head and bores its way into tree in front of me. At 2 PM to firing line from trench supports. At 3:15 I cut the hair of Major Grey and Capt Cornish in their dug out, Major Curry returns from leave to England, lively bombardment in evening.
Friday 1 October 1915
Pay day drew 15 Francs. Got Major Grey to sign pension papers and posted them same day. Orders made to troops re sleeping on duty (sentry-go) penalty hereafter is DEATH.
Saturday 25 September 1915 – rain
Rifle inspection at 9 am. Major Grey taken over Command of No. 4 Company. We parade at 5:10 pm in full marching order for a march to the support trenches in a pouring rain. Left Froissy at 5:30 for Cappy. Roads muddy and full of pools of water. Troops cursing and very miserable, wet through, slipping and sliding from side to side. Arrived at Eclusier Sur-Somme about 8:20 pm –and RATS and fleas. Consigned to Billets – tumble down barns not fit for cattle. Never in all my life have I seen such a quantity (and so large, being nearly size of fox terriers) of rats. When lights were extinguished the rats swarmed over the troops. Sleep was impossible. So a party of us went rat hunting. Kings Royal Rifles are in the trenches. Rain ceased during the morning of the 26th.
