LINK BELOW

Extracts from Diary number 4

23/2/17

Rose at about 8 am and had a good "bath" in hot water, which my landlady brought to me. Afterwards changed into clean things and feel nice and comfy once again. I change by the way all my underclothes once every week for clean ones. It is awfully dull and miserably damp today. Received 3 letters from my Aunt Ada, Miss Dorothy Roberts and my wife Elinor respectively. On duty 1 pm until 5 pm. I will now give my adventures or at least some of them for the rest of the day and the following morning. In invitation had appeared in last nights "orders" inviting officers and men of the British army stationed hereabouts who understood French to attend a lecture by Germain Bapist on "Britains effort in the air" to be held at the "Cinema omnio, ue des vers aubnois Amiens", commencing at 8.30 pm. The idea struck me to make some endeavour to attend and with that view I approached the signalmaster upon the subject as it would be necessary to be relieved from duty in the evening. The signalmaster gave me his permission to be absent and I thereupon request at the orderly room that I should be given a special pass for the above purpose, which was also granted. Owing to the fact that automobiles are forbidden to run upon the roads at present owing to the thaw precau-tions still being in force. I had in conse-quence the prospect of a long walk in front of me into Amiens, a distance of about 11 kilometres, which is by no means a small feat during these days of poor and insufficient rations. As luck would have it however I managed to pick up a Red Cross ambulance, with a load of parcel mails, which was going in my direction and was soon whizzing at between 30 and 40 miles per hour. We reached Amiens shortly after 6 pm, although I did not finish work until 4 pm, and had changed my clothes, had tea (piece of bread and butter and cheese) and was obliged to wait sometime for my pass. Walking down the principle streets of Amiens, I was astonished at the large number of prostitutes. In fact nearly all the women and young girls appeared to be in the streets for no other purpose. I was personally accosted continually. One woman grabbing hold of my sleeve, really would not let me go, at least for sometime. I went into a flash sort of dining room and found therein rather a good looking girl and well dressed, another woman who was with her and who owned the place, was a little older. Almost the first question put to me was a proposition of familiarity with Mademoiselle. I admit that I thought the idea a good one, but I did not intend to accept all the same. I explained that I had come into Amiens to attend a conference and that at the moment I needed something to drink. I asked for tea, but was persuaded after they had numerated a list of strong wines to accept Benedictine.

Stapleton

Cap Badge

Signals

The Basilica in 1916