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Extracts from Diary number one - page 3 3/1/19 Morning a little brighter, with welcome sunshine. Went for a stroll through the camps, which cover many acres of land. Later wrote a letter to my sister Doris and a postcard to Mlle Danielle. In the afternoon lay down for a nap. Went with my chum in the evening to the cafe, which we prefer and which is called “cafe de l’avenir”. We are to continue are journey tomorrow, a long list of units to go on parade at 7.45 am is stuck up on the notice board. Shall be really glad to get a move on, as things are by no means pleasant here and the wretched weather does not tend to improve matters. Lying in bed, I cannot escape the drops of water, which come dripping down through the tent and splash my face incessantly. I consider this sort of thing is down right shameful, in all probability these old tents have sheltered Tommies since the war began and no effort even after 4_ years of war has been made to provide more suitable accommodation for the common soldier. What a difference to be sure between the lot of the poor Tommy and the luxurious billets of the German soldiers, and then again, why should officers be provided with all the best of everything obtainable. Some of these questions will have to be answered one day. 4/1/19 Owing to some reason the 7.45 parade was cancelled until further orders. The bugle sounded “fall in” at about 10 am and off we went to the ‘new siding” to embark on route for Germany, am writing this en route. We have four days rations with us and we are packed into cattle trucks. We were allotted to truck no 118, but could not find an inch of room there, so I went back to the R.T.O and explained matters, he sent us then to no 127 and we have fixed up as comfortably as possible under the circumstances. I notice that several trucks have been reserved for officers only (six in each), while the Tommies are overcrowded and the floors of their trucks are in a most horrible filthy condition. A corporal of the Manchester’s whom I heard complain to the officer in charge, that the truck he was in was not fit for men to be in, met with the usual reply, which useless British Officers generally give, which was to the effect that he could do nothing. He had he said been put in charge of a certain number of trucks, but he was sorry he could do nothing in the matter, and forthwith put an N.C.O in charge of the said truck and himself disappeared. Tommy may be hard done to, but he is perfectly capable of looking after himself, some go scrounging round for tins, or buckets, with which to make fires, while others go to seek for fuel, and it is necessary to say that they get all they want. Quite a busy scene may be witnessed on these occasions, amateur tinsmiths are hammering holes into improvised braziers, others buying provisions at the YMCA or canteen and some are filling up petrol tins with water for boiling. The train started off at 11.30 am and except for a few short stops, we went along at a good speed, running right through Boulogne and on to Valais without drawing up once, which is certainly an exception to the rule, as almost all trains stop at Boulogne. Picked up more troops at Calais and then resumed our journey to the frontier. We stopped at several places during the evening including Bethune. Our train of at least 134 wagons presents a remarkable spectacle as it rushes along through the country districts. From one end to the other, the glowing braziers hang just outside the doors, and behind these, clustered closely together are our khaki clad Tommies taking a dreamy but interested view of the ever changing landscapes. 5/1/19 Could not rest easily, owing perhaps to the heavily smoke laden air in the carriage, which is not at all pleasant at the best of times, and the absence of hot grub is another item, which produces a sickening effect, especially after 4 years of rough wear and tear in different climates and under all sorts of conditions. Was awakened about 7 am by my chum, who handed my a welcome drink of hot tea, at this hour we were standing in a suburb of Lille and now at 10 am we have only advanced a little further towards this well known city, the Manchester of France. For breakfast had a couple of slices of toast and bully beef with half a Dixie of strong pick-me-up tea. It is remarkable that wherever one travels in France there are sure to be littered about great numbers of discarded tins of every description, and all along the rails, one notices bully-beef tins, sardine tins and others, which have contained jam, pork and beans and other tinned stuff. Approaching Lille and beyond, one sees plainly the system of destruction, which the Germans carried out in their retreat. The rails for instance had been blown up by a small charge at the point where they are joined up, which either bend the two ends very badly or breaks off a portion of each. The telegraph poles for the most part have been thrown to the ground, while on others the wires have been cut. It is now midday and we have just crossed the Scheldt and standing outside Tournai, which is in Belgium. The bridge over which we have just passed is a splendid bit of work constructed by our Engineers with massive wooden beams on concrete beds, which has been erected to replace the one destroyed, by the enemy. The countryside is terribly flat and marshy and one wonders how we could have crossed the Scheldt in face of any resistance. Entered Tournai station where we stayed for a while. Proceeding on our journey we passed through a number of stations all demolished by the barbarian in his retreat. At ATH where we arrived at about 5.30 pm several of us made a raid on an engine standing by in a siding, and took from it several boxes of small coal and also an oil lamp with its glass broken, which I commandeered for the purpose of illumination as we are without light. My friend and me made are way out of the station to a cafe opposite, where two bonny Belgium girls stood in the doorway. I asked them if they could oblige me with some bread and a candle, they brought a candle for which I paid them six sous and following their advice, I went to another cafe two doors away where an old woman, said she would be pleased to give me a loaf of bread, although she had not much herself as it was still difficult to obtain. I gave her 2 francs and she was satisfied. Had a last cup of hot tea and a piece of toasted bread before getting down to it for the night. A few visitors branded us during the evening including a tall Belgium youth of 18 years, who was returning to his family at Roux. He had been forcibly sent to Germany to work and is very bitter against his country’s enemy’s for the indignities inflicted upon his countrymen and especially his own personal experiences during his 12 months sojourn in Germany
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Stapleton
Cap Badge
Signals
The Basilica in 1916
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