Scores of Norwegian vessels along the Seine. Lovely sunny on both banks. Caves, Chateaux etc. arrive at Rouen 4 pm and marched 4 miles to camp, in canvas tents
Sent 30 postcards off
Monday 16 August 1915 – showers
My name goes in for the draft for the front.
Passed [farcial?] Medical Officer and served out with full kit.
Have orders “not to leave the lines”. Went on parade (ceremonial) for inspection by Duke or Prince of Teck and others
Went into Cheriton and bought a pair of boots.
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.
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 30 June 1915 – Rain
In front of Medical Officer – a different one again – and he passes me as FIT for active service over-ruling yesterday’s eye specialist report.
I send letter to Doctor Millar acquainting him of the fact.
Tuesday 29 June 1915 – showers
Appeared before eye specialist and pronounced unfit for service left eye no use and right eye defective.
Wrote letters to Nurse Smith, Harry, Ernest and “Seagrave”.
Tuesday 15 June 1915 – fine
Went for cycle run with Harry to Gateacre and Huyton.
Farmers praying for rain. Our casualty list at the War totals an average of 1500 each day.
Russians are retiring all along the front – short of shells
Thursday 13 May 1915 – raining hard
863 men and Officers left here this morning to fill up the gaps in the Princess Pats!!! Doctor grants me light duty and for Medical Board. Refused to send me back yet.
Wednesday 12 May 1915 – fine
Passed Doctor but nothing definite is done.
Walking exercise in afternoon.
‘Tis rumoured that Princess Pats have been completely wiped out at Ypres and only one Lieutenant and 120 men left.
Saturday 8 May 1915 – fine
Lusitania torpedoed and sunk by German submarine off Kinsale. 1250 lives lost.
Bought Edith a present. Work box.
In afternoon, take a walk with Mr Banks, Miss Graham and Cyril and Ede to Milton, 7 Springs and Little Haywood and Colwich. Returned at 8 pm. Lovely outing. Showed picture postcards at night to the above party.
*RMS Lusitania – The RMS Lusitania was a British civilian ocean liner. It was briefly the world’s biggest ship and was known for its luxury, capacity and speed due to its revolutionary turbine engines. On May 7th 1915, while on its way from New York to Liverpool, the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat. The ship quickly sank and 1,195 people died including 128 Americans. Americans were outraged by the attack on the Lusitania as the U.S. had not yet joined the war effort and the Germans had breached the Cruiser Rules, an agreement that passenger ships may not be sunk. This incident helped motivate the US to join the war effort 2 years later in April of 1917.
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