Diary of Experiences and Events of my period in the Army during the great European War 1914 -18

Enlisted in Brisbane 21st of August 1915 Went into camp 1st Sept. Nothing of much interest took place up till 30th of Sept when I volunteered to sail in 4 day’s time with the 10th of the 9th Btn. Sept 30th Transferred to 9th Btn Rfts at Frasers Camp.

1916 Feb28. Fatigue work all day. Allotted to C Coy 49th Battn just formed.

-> March 14th Transferred to Artillery 11th Brigade 4th Division

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June 1st Embarked SS Haverford for .

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th June 8 Sighted coast of France. Received news of Lord Kitchener lost at sea. Commented [j1]: In the icy waters of the North Sea on Arrived Marseilles 5 pm. Anchored in harbour all night. June 5, 1916, the British cruiser Hampshire strikes a German mine and sinks off the Orkney Islands; among the passengers th June 9 Proceeded up to wharves. No accommodation. Went back to harbour. and crew drowned is Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the British secretary of state for war. June 10th Proceeded up to wharves and disembarked at 8.15 am. Entrained 12.30 pm for 3 days journey. Arrived at Avignon 7 pm. Left 9.15 pm watered horses. June 11th Arrived Lyons 7.30 am. June 12th. Arrived at Montese 4.15 am. St Pierre – du-Vauwray 10.15 am. Rouen 12.15 am Yvetot 1.45 pm. Arrived [Le] Havre 4 pm disentrained and walked to camp 4 miles. June 13th Very cool weather fixed up horse lines. June 14th Went to Remount Depot for horses. Thursday preparation for moving near to firing line. Left Le] Havre at 9.0 arrived 9 am next morning. 16inst Noyelles 9.35 Rue 10.20 am Etaples 11.45 am Bolougne 12.30 pm. Calais 1.45 pm St Omer 2.15 pm Caestre 4 pm detrained watered horses at farm house & went to billet in centre of village of Caestre. June 17th Picquet June 18th Went round Batteries with Vet [Veterinary] Captain June 19th Inspection of Bde by Army General. Aeroplane raid 1 am on Tuesday morning. June 21st Aeroplane duel British & German planes June 23rd Went down to A.V.H. [Australian Veterinary Hospital] near Hazebrouck. Big storm. Got wet through. June 25th Went to lecture on Gas. June 27th Six signallers went up to firing line. June 28th Went out to DAC. [Division Ammunition Column also Division Artillery Column] June 30th Sick all day. July 3rd Left Caestre 11.30 am. Passed through Strazeele. Vieux-Berquin. Neuf- Berquin arrives at Estaires 3.30 pm. Sailly [Sailly-sur-la-Lys] 7pm. Camped on Bsc St Maur Road [Rue de Bac Saint-Maur] 10 pm. Violet bombardment by British till early morning. July 5th Went down to 49th Battn and saw some old pals. July 6th Went into Sailly. Billet area shelled. July 8th Went to Sailly. Received parcels. July 13th Shifted camp to Croix- du-Bac near Steenwerck July 15th Moved back to old position. Violent bombardment during night. July 19th. Big battle on our Front 4 lines of trenches taken & lost again heavy casualties of Australians. Aeroplanes fell nearby. July 21st Shells bursting very close to billets. July 23rd Moved to Armentieres arrived 12.30 & camped in Cotton Spinning Mill. Band playing in one part of town. War raging on the other side. 7.30 pm. Went round town viewing ruins of church & other buildings met a few New Zealanders & had a good time. July 25th Received 12 letters. Moved to 41st Battery lines. July 26th Went into Armentieres. July 27th Nothing doing during day. Gas alarm at night. July 28th Nieppe town area & station bombarded. July 29th Went to Armentieres for mail. Had a look through Spinning Mill. July 30th Went to Baths at Pont Nieppe. July 31st Nieppe again shelled. Good few casualties. Went to H.Q. in Armentieres received letter & parcel from England. Aug 1st Very hot. Went into Nieppe & had a look at damage done by bombardment. Went to Pictures at Pont Nieppe. Aug 2nd Took horses out for exercise. Had a swim in R. Lys in evening. Walked to 41st Bty Gun-pits through Armentieres arrived home 9.15 pm Aug 3rd Exercising horses Aug 4th Moved off 7.30 am passing through Estaires [Eaires], Merville halted for dinner 1 ½ hours. Passed outskirts of Hazebrouck bivouacked for night near Wallon-Cappel. Aug 5th Reveille 5.30 am moved off 8 am passed through some villages scenery very pretty. Camped for dinner on banks of La-Bassee Canal. Continued journey 12.30 through Au-St.Sebastian. “Equestre “arrived at Lombrès [Lambres] 5 pm & went into good billets off town square. Aug 6th Went for a good walk. th st nd Aug 8 Went up to 41 lines & 42 . Commented [j2]: • 11th Field Artillery Brigade February th 1916 – past November 1918 Aug 9 Went for a swim in R. L’Aa. o 41st Field Artillery Battery Aug 10th Went into St Omer afternoon had a swim. o 42nd Field Artillery Battery o 43rd Field Artillery Battery Aug 11th Went as far as Wizernes exercising pony. Had photos taken. Village o 111th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery market day outside billet yard. o 11th Brigade Ammunition Column Aug 12th Went to St Omer had a good day. Aug 13th Went to 41st Bty & out exercising on picquet. Aug 14th Went to Setques Aug16th Went exercising. Afternoon for a ride through Elnes “Wavran” to Cantamerle & home evening went for walk along river. Aug 17th Went out for a ride. Aug 18th Went to D.A.C. at “Acquins” for horses. [DAC: Division Ammunition Column also Division Artillery Column Aug 19th Went out to D.A.C for a horse. Picquet at night. Aug 20th Went out to Wavrans Aug 21st Went to Acquins to D.A.C Aug 22nd Went exercising & gra__ing Aug 24th Left Lombres [Lambres] 12.15 am bivouacked at River for dinner. Camped at Wallon-Cappel for the night. On picquet. Aug 25th Continued journey 8.15 am passed Hazebrouck, Caestre 11 am camped for dinner continued journey across Belgian Frontier & camped at Ronüghelst [Reningelst] Aug 27th Moved quarters to a farm house nearby. Aug 28th Received nine letters Aug 29th Raining nearly all day. Gas alarm at night. Aug 30th Still raining & blowing terribly. Aug 31st Went for a bath. Later to 9th Btn Sept 1st Went to 110th Wagon Lines and 9th Btn. Sept 3rd Fleet of British aeroplanes over for a raid. Germans bombarding them heavy. Sep 4th Went to 110th Bty & 48th Bty also 103rd Bty and saw old mate. On picquet. Sept 5th Went to Caestre for horses. Raining all day. Arrived back 6.30 pm. Sep 6th Went out to 41st, 42 & 43rd Btys Sept 7th Went to 110th & 48th Bty W.L.S and to A.S.C.Lines and Westoutre [Westouter] Sept 8th Went out to 48th Bty Afternoon went out to Westoutre. Sept 9th Up to 44th W.L’s and Popperinghe [Poperinge] to 2nd D.A.C. Sept 10th Went 2nd D.A.C. & 47th Btn. On Pqt. Sept 12th Went to 110 & 48th W.L.S. Pictures at night. Sept 14th Raining all day. Light bombardment. Received 2 letters & 1 paper. Sept 15th Went to Divnl Baths. Very cold all day. Went to C.C.H. near Popperinghe [Poperinge]. Returned 11 p. On picquet. Sept 16th Went to C.C.H. & 47th Bttn. L.T.M.B. Sept 17th Went to Popperinghe [Poperinge]. Sept 18th, 18th & 20th Raining all day. Sept 21st Went to 110th, 48th & 103rd Bty. W.L’s Sept 22nd Went to C.C.H. & Boeschepe then up on Mont-des-Cats. Highest peak in vicinity. View of Ypres from summit. Sept 23rd Went to see old pals in 49th Battn. Heard news of Tom Dunham. K.I.A at Moquet Farm Battle of Sept 3rd. Sept 24th Went to “Steenvorde” through “Abeole”. Sept 26th Went to H.Q. at “Boeschepe” Sept 27th German aeroplane pursued by British but escaped. Later observation baboon got away & was brought down by aeroplane. Sept 28 & 29th Went down to Boeschepe. Oct 3rd Went to D.A.C. & Boeschepe. Oct 6th Went to Boeschepe & 40th Bty Oct 10th Went to Band Concert at night (Birthday) Oct 12th Went to Boeschepe Oct 16th Went exercising through Ouderdom. Oct 17th Went exercising. Saw German Prison Camp. Oct 19th Very cold at night. A little frost. Oct 20th Heavy frost & ice. Oct 21st Went out to Ouderdom. Oct 22nd Went for ride round district. Oct 23rd, 24th, 25th Raining all the time. Oct 26th Went to Popperinghe [Poperinge] Station Oct 27th Still raining Oct 28th Went to Popperinghe [Poperinge], Still raining. Oct 29th Went to Popperinghe [Poperinge] on leave. Oct 31st Went to 41st Battery. Evening to Popperinghe [Poperinge]. Nov 1st Went exercising through Westoutre to Boeschepe Nov 2nd & 3rd & some Nov 5th Popperinghe [Poperinge] & Boeschepe on leave. Nov 7th Westoutre & Boeschepe exercising. Nov 19th Went to pictures at night. Bombardment during night by British. Nov 12th Went to Poperringhe Nov 13th Moved off from Renninhelst down to Boeschepe for one night. Nov 14th Proceeded on journey passing Goedeswlde, Mt-des Cats, Fletre, Strazeele, Vieux-Berguin camped at Neuf-Berquin for one night. Reviewed during journey by Generals Cox & Rosenthal . Nov 15th Continued on passing through Merville, S[ain]t Venant camped on La. Bassee Canal for lunch. Continued journey through Busnes, Lillers camped at Lieres for one night. Nov 16th Moved off 8 am through Ames, Amettes, Ferfay, Aumerval, Pernes, Valhuon, La-Thieloye. Camped at Monchy-Breton for the night. Nov 17th.Moved off 8 am through Bailieul-Aux-Corneilles, Maizères, Averdoingt, Magnicourt-sur-Canche, Canettemont, Rebreuve, and camped at Rebreuviette for the night. Very cold during the night. Saw snow for the first time. Nov 18th Continued on passing Oboquemaison, Port Haute-Visse (Doullenes city) Amplier & camped at Orville for the night. On picquet. Nov 19th Proceeded on journey passing through Authole, Beauval, ; & camped at Villers-Bocage. Nov 20th Proceed on journey back through Talmas to til orders to move. Nov 22nd Went to to A.A.C. Nov 24th Went to through Wargnies & . Nov 25th Went to Field Service Dump. Nov 27th Went to Vignacourt with sick reports Vtny. Nov 29th Visited famous French caves at Naours where refugees hid from Prussians during invasion 1870. Caves contain 100 galleries 300 rooms chapel & stables. Museum & old relics dating to 1808 inside. Nov 30th Went for ride through Flesselles & Havernas Wargnies to home afternoon out to Val Heareaux. Dec 1st Nothing doing – on picquet Dec 2nd – 7th In bed sick Dec 9th Went to . Had a good day. Dec 10th Went to Vignaeoust. Dec 14th Went exercising to Val Houseaux Dec 15th To Vignacourt Dec 17th To Flesselles Dec 18th ditto Dec 19th Preparing to leave for action in Somme area. Dec 20th Left Naours 7.30 am through Hesselles Villers-Bocage, Milliens, Béhencourt, camp at Buise [Buire-sur-l’Ancre] for night. Dec 21st Continued on through , Meaulte, , Mametz, Montauban, Bernafay arrived at Wagon Lines near Trones Wood. Dec 22nd Wagon Line shelled. Dec 23rd Blowing a gale & plenty shells coming over. Shells bursting close to dug-out during night. Dec 24th Christmas Eve amongst mud. Fine day. Made small standing for horses. Lines again shelled. Dec 25th Christmas Day 1916. Rather windy. Nearly a casualty. Shrapnel all around me & missed. Dc 26th Wagon lines again shelled. Dec 27th Plenty airation work on. Went to Pommiers Redoubt Dec 28th Same place Dec 29th Made new dug-out. Dec 30th Dug-out fell in. Made another. V O went to hospital. Dec 31st Three mates HQ K.I.A. day before

Jan 1st 1917 Wizz bangs coming over. Improved dug-out. Jan 3rd Viewed ruins of old sugar factory. Met old maid [mate] of 49th Btn Jan 4th Went to Albert. Miserable day received 10 letters and papers. Jan 6th Wagon lines shelled. 7th More rain more shells. 9th Went to Albert & 1st A.R. Stn 10th Went to Albert and A.D.V.S. Returned 4.30 pm. 11 &12th Snowing. 14th Fritz shelling close to W. L. lines 15th Moved W.Ls to 1st Brigade position 16th More shelling 41st Bty. 1 killed 1 wounded. 17th Wounded man died Heavy snow fall. 18th Went to Albert Roads very slippery 20th Laid up with Trench feet. 21st to 24th Still laid up. H.Q. breaking up 25th Going to hospital. Brother going to England on leave. Reported to 12th F.A. Put on train and came to Becordel A.C.S. from there to A.R.S. arrived 6 pm. Jan 26th Nothing doing. Awaiting inspection. Inoculated labelled C.C.S Jan 27th Left C.C.S. for Edge Hill F.H. 28th Boarded Hospital train for Rouen. Arrived there 2.30 am and sent to No 5 General Hospital. Jan 29th Booked for England. 30th Placed on Hospital Ship and left 9.30 am proceeded down River Seine via Haevre to Southampton breaking ice down river. Anchored in harbour all night, very rough trip. Jan 31st Boarded Hospital train and proceeded to Edmonton Hospital London. Feb 1st & 2nd Doing fine. Feb 5th Went to Concert. 8th Went to Convalescent Home Rosehill Hoddeston. Fine place. Had a walk through village. Feb 8th. Had a visit from brother. Concert at night. Feb 9th Went ice skating. Afternoon pictures. Feb 11th Went to St Paul’s Church. Morning & evening service. Feb12th Went out to tea. Feb 13th Went to Wormley Village. Had afternoon tea. Feb 16th Out to tea. 17th To pictures. Whist drive at night. 18th Went to Church. Afternoon walk around Broxbourne and Canal. Feb 19th Out to tea. 20th Went to Dentist. 22nd Had teeth attended to. 23rd Out to tea. Went for walk around Highleigh Estate 24th Out to tea. 25th Went for walk around woods. Afternoon Broxbourne and Canal. Feb 26th Out to tea. March 12th Left Hoddesdon and walked to Broxbourne Stn arrived at Edmonton Hospital 11.30 Left (discharged) for Horselferry Rd [Horseferry] via Silver St [London Commented [j3]: Cowpunt Road Horseferry Road, the Over-ground station]. Granted 14 days furlough. location of the A.I.F. H.Q. in London and abhorred by the fighting forces. th March 13 Went out to Stockwell. At night went sightseeing around London. Went to Horseferry Road, London, was set up as AIF headquarters in Palace Theatre. Caught Manchester train at Euston arrived Manchester next morning 1916. It dealt with all the paperwork relating to AIF and caught train to Blackburn. Went out to Mellor. personnel. Soldiers on leave in London went there to collect pay and a new uniform. The Oxford Companion to Australian March 15th Went to Mellor Brook. Had a nice walk around village and over moors. Military History records the following verse from an Australian World War I song that illustrated the soldiers th March 17 Left Blackburn for Glasgow via Hellifield arrived 4,45 pm and went out to feelings about Horseferry Road: Bellshill. Went to show. He went up to London and straight away strode To Army headquarters on Horseferry Road, To see all the bludgers th March 19 Went to Glasgow. Viewed National Art Gallery also went to Alhambra. who dodge all the strafe th By getting soft jobs on the headquarters staff. March 20 Glasgow again to Empire matinee March 21st Glasgow again to Princess Theatre Tommy Trotter pantomime March 22nd Left Bellshill for London arrived 7.40 pm March 23rd Went to Stockwell. Night to play at Lyceum. Seven days leave March 24th Went out to Hoddesdon and stayed at High Leigh farm March 25th Went to St Paul’s church afternoon out to tea March 26th To pictures at Hoddesdon March 27th Left Hoddesdon to Perham Downs arrived at 4 pm March 28th Medical Inspection. Transferred to No 3 Camp March 29th Physical drill and a game of handball. Afternoon classification Luggershall [Ludgershall] pictures at night March 30th Route March. Night pictures March 31st Route March afternoon off. Went to Luggeschall to private baths April 1st Went to Tiddworth Barracks. April 2nd Route March Luddershall pictures a night Same next day and night April 4th Physical drill. Garrison theatre Tiddworth at night April 5th Classified A1 pictures at night April 6th Moved to No 2 Camp April 7th Parade 8am marched to Tiddworth Stn Entrained for Larkhill Camp via Andover & Salisbury. Arrived at camp 2,30 pm. Night YMCA. Met old Brisbane mate April 8th Went for a walk. Night pictures April 9th Parades during day. Concert at night April 10th escort during day. Concert at night April 11th Fatigue : Guard 4 pm April 12 & 13th Went to pictures at night. April 15th Went to Amesbury Palace at night April 16th Fatigues. Pictures at night April 17th Revielle 4.45 am. Fall in 6.15 am marched to Bulford Plains Review by King George. Cinema at night Commented [j4]: The King made over 450 visits to troops th and over 300 visits to hospitals visiting wounded servicemen, April 18 Medical Inspection. Left Larkhill 6.15 pm for France. Entrained at Amesbury he pressed for proper treatment of German prisoners-of-war changed at Salisbury arrived Folkeston 4 am went into billets and he pressed also for more humane treatment of conscientious objectors. April 19th Reveille 6.35am Breakfast 7am Embarked at 1230pm Arrived Boulogne 4.45pm Marched to Blanket Hill Camp April 20th Reveille 6.am Parade 9.30 Marched to station Entrained for Etaples Kit inspection. April 21st Route march. Medical Inspection. At night went to lantern feature entitled Twice through the German Lines. Very good April 22nd Church parade. Warned for draft. April 23rd Gas test parade. April 24th Musketry practice at range & bullring April 25th Anzac Day celebration. Sports held in Canada Park April 26th Reveille 4.45 am left Etaples 8.0 am passed through “Rue” “Noyelles” “Abbeville” “Pont Remy” “Hangest-sur-Somme” “Ailly-sur-Somme” “Amiens” arrived at Albert 2.30 pm marched to Reinforcement Camp. April 27th Marched off 10.30 am passed Pozieres Le-Surs Butte-de-Warlencourt Favroul arrived 4th D.A.C. allotted to No 1 section Went to 41st Bty at Ecoust April 28th Parade 7 am Fatigues April 29th Picquete at night May 1st Fatigue on Dump May 2nd Fatigues base Bomb carrying for stunt (cancelled) May 3rd Detailed for Forward Ammunition Dump at “Vaux” Loading timbers & unloading trains on guard May 4th Nothing doing. Night big bombardment May 7th Four Taubes over. One brought down May 10th Fitz shelling quite close also Hospital close by Many casualties May 11th Transferred to 41st Bty May 12th Detailed for Remounts. Marched to Achiet-le-Grand entrained for Abbeville. Waited at Candes 3 ½ hours for train arrived Abbeville at 12 pm Slept on station May 13th Went to Remount Depot &got horses started back via road through “Ballancourt” Moullens Vignacourt & camped May 14th Reveille 5 am moved off 8 am passed through Flesselles “villers Bocage” “Septonville” “Rubempr” “” “Bavadencourt” Warley-Baillon Albert arrived at W. L.’s at La Boisselle 8.30 pm May 16th Left La Boisselle & entrained at Albert arrived at Caestre 3pm next day proceeded to Neuf-Berquin and camped May 19th On Guard May 20th Bty moved off 10,30 am passed through Dollieu Steenwerck & camp at Westook farm May 24th Gun teams & Firing Bty Teams went to forward lines near “Dranoutre” Spares etc to W.L.’s near Baillieul May 27th British aeroplane fell while practicing May 28th Went exercising. On picquet at night One of our Balloons brought down in flames May 30th Fritz shelling W.L. area Stand to ordered June 3rd Fritz shelling area. Farm house struck and burnt to ground. June 5th Dump & two munition trains blew up by Taube near Baillieul More shells near lines June 6th Waggon Lines again shelled On Pqt June 12th On picquet June 13th Moved WL’s to Baillieul – Armenteriers Rd June 14th Went to A.S.C. Dump June 15th Exercising & grazing. On picquet June 17th Went to Fwd L’s & Baillieul & 14th A.S.C. near Steenwerck Beck to Fwd Lines June 18th Moved W.L.’s Went for bath & ‘Nauve Eglise” th June 19 On guard. Six Taubes over at dawn Commented [j5]: Etrich Taube first military aeroplane to be mass-produced in Germany. June 20th Two balloons down in flames June 23rd Two germans down. One Taube June 24th One balloon down one Taube. On guard. During night hostile air raid on near W.L’s June 27th Route march full marching order June 28th Leave to Baillieul. Went to theatre. Big storm one balloon struck by lightning July 2nd Moved off at 2.45pm for new W.L’s near Nieppe On guard. Hostile air raid during night July 6th On telephone duty. Air raid over billets July 8th Exercising morning afternoon off July 11th Left Nieppe 7.0 am for new position passing through “Neuve Eglise” “Dranoutre” “Locre” “La Clytte” to near Confusion Corner. Two German planes over. Three of our balloons down July 14th Went up to Gun Pits with ammunition. Terrific bombardment by both sides. Gas & H.E. Got home 1.0 am Big storm on July 16th On picquet. Two German planes over one balloon fired The two planes downed July 17th Went exercising round Kemmel Hill July 18th Same as usual at night Up to PITs July 20th Went to Reninghelst July 24th On Guard July 25th Went up to Forward Pits with ammunition through “St Eloi” July 28th Up to forward pits July 30th Went to Reninghelst July 31st Mounted orderly for gun pits. On guard at night Aug 3rd Went to Baillieul Aug 4th Out grazing Aug 7th Battery moved out to Baillieul through La Clytte Dranoutre arrived at 4.30 pm Aug 8th Bty moved into action again at 2.15 pm through Dranoutre & camped at Kemmel Hill. Went up to new position near “Whyescheate” [Wytschaete]. On picquet. Heavy rain storm on Aug 14th On picquet Aug 22nd On picquet Aug 24th Went to Baillieul with G.S. Wagon Aug 25th Bty came out of action back to Baillieul Aug 26th Bty into action near “Wulvergem” Heavy downpour of rain on way up Aug 27th Harness cleaning & grazing Aug 30th On picquet Sept 2nd Air raid on Bailleuil. Three officers of 11th Bde wounded. One killed 14 houses destroyed in one street. Three horses of 111th Bty killed Sept 3rd Went exercising Sept 5th Battery moved off 8.45 am for spell passed through Caestre to Pradelles & camped. Sept 6th On picquet Sept 9th Left Pradelles for action passed through Caestre Eecke Steenworde Abele Poperinge Busseboom to Vlamertinghe Road & camped Sept 11th Went to pits on Birr Cross Roads through Vlamertinghe & Ypres Sept 15th Left 1.45 pm for trip to Boulogne from Bailleuil Stayed in Bailleuil one night & left next morning. Went to theatre at night Sept 16th Left at 8.8 am passing Strazeele Hazelbrouck Elbingheur St Omer Wallon Runningham Audrincque Northerque Pont de Ardres Cailais arrived Boulogne 2 pm. Reported No 7 General Hospital then to A.M.FO. Left midnight arrived Poperinge next day. Sep 20th On picquet Sept 27th On picquet Oct 5th Moved guns up to Zonnebeke On picquet Oct 6th Up to pits. Captain killed. Oct 7th Up Packing A.M.N Raining all day Frost Commented [j6]: th Oct 8 To Captain’s funeral at Reninghelst Up to pits. Held up through shell fire Commented [j7R6]: Australians move up past Hooge to th th take over positions captured on Broodseinde Ridge on 4 Oct 9 Took gun up to 38 Bty 1.30 pm returned 10.30 pm October 1917. Oct 10th Up for gun. Birthday Oct 11th Up to pits packing Oct 12th A day off. Bdr Mills wounded Oct 13th Raining all day. Sgt Major killed Oct 14th Up with rations to gun pits. Battery moved to Hell-Fire Corner Oct 15th Remainder of battery moving up Oct 16th Went to old W.L’s for Limbers. On picquet. Waggon lines shelled Oct 17th Up packing. W.L’s again shelled Oct 18th Went up with wagons. Road under heavy fire Oct 20th Roads under fire. Wagons unable to get through. Detailed to get through with packs. Arrived safely. One driver killed. Oct 22nd Up packing again. Horse lamed. Returned for another one. Up again on returning three times escaped bursting shells on roadside Oct 23rd Went out with water-cart Oct 24th Up packing again passed through barrage on part of road up. Got through nd rd safely. Raining hail in morning 42 & 43 Bty W.L’s bombed. Many horse & men Commented [j8]: killed & wounded Commented [j9R8]: normal_18_pounder_near_Zonnebeke Oct 25th Battery coming out of cation after two months in hottest part of Western _1917 https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/units/225 Front. Went to old W.L’s with crippled horses. Commented [j10]: Battle of Broodseinde th Oct 26 Raining all day. Received 12 letters. Went to Renninghelst Remembered with Honour th Reninghelst New Military Cemetery Oct 27 Bty came down from Hell Fire Corner Captain Geoffrey Erskine Wells Oct 28th Went up to H.F.C with G.S. wagon 11th Bde., Australian Field Artillery who died on 06 October 1917 Age 26 Oct 29th Had a bath. Harness cleaning Son of Alfred and Gertrude Wells, of Rathmines, Collinswood, South Australia. Born Adelaide, South Australia. Grave 7 Oct 30th Harness cleaning On picquet Oct 31st Exercising & harness cleaning At night to a show “The Anzac Coves” Nov 1st Harness cleaning went to Renninghelst at night Nov 2nd Bty moved off 8.30 am for a long promised spell past Renninghelst Abeele Steenworde & camped near Eecke Nov 3rd Continued journey through Eecke St Sylveste Cappel Hazelbrouck to Morbecque & camped Nov 5th Sick Parade off duty for a week Nov 11th On duty again Went to D.A.D.O.S. at Aire through Steenbecque Nov 14th Review by General Birdwood & presentation of honours On picquet Nov 15th Battery moved off 11am past Steenbecque Borghesse Aire St Quentin Blessy Estee-Blanc to Flechin & camped Nov 18th Moved off 7am through Laires Lugny Fruges Crequory to Torcy & camped 1 ½ days Nov 19th Clipping & harness cleaning Nov 20th Bty moved off 8am passing Royon Headmond Loison to Boaurainville & camped in big hotel. On sick parade. Ordered to hospital Nov 21st Reveille 5am Battery moving on to Mosinaires as destination. Went in ambulance car through Hesdin to St Pol No 12 Stationary Hospital Nov 22nd Light fatigues concert at night Nov 26th Transferred to Barrack Room Nov 28th Whist Drive at night Dec 5th Evacuated to Base arrived Etaples 4am next morning Dec 7th Left Etaples for Le Havre by Rouen admitted to hospital same night Dec 11th Discharged from hospital & marched to Base camp at Honfluer Dec 12th Inspection & Classification Dec 13th Gas Tests & warned for draft Dec 15th Marched out to Havre at 2.30pm entrained & left at 9.30 pm arrived at Amiens 7am next morning on to Peronne then marched to Woingt & rejoined Battery Heavy snow falling during night Dec 17th Exercising morning. Afternoon bath Dec 21st Went into Peronne Dec 22nd on picquet Dec 25th Xmas Day. Very quiet Dec 27th Met old mate in Peronne. Went into pictures Dec 30th Battery moved off through Peronne Mt St Quentin Sailly Saillissal Le Transloy to Rocquigny & camped on picquet Dec 31st Moved off 9.45 pm to entrain at Bapaume. Snow storm on Left at 3.30 am on New Years Day passed through St Pol Lillers Hazelbrouck arrived at Bailleul at 11.45 am marched to Fletre to billets. Went into Caestre 1918 Jan 2nd Exercising & harness cleaning Jan 3rd Same as usual. On town picquet Jan 4th Moved off 9.0 am through Fletre Metoren Bailleul Locre Ly Clytte to stables near Kemmel. Went to Reninghelst Jan 6th on picquet Jan 7th Went to Reninghelst Jan 10th Went to 42nd Bttn at Loere Jan 11th Bath Parade Jan 14th Went to variety show. On picquet Jan 19th Went to show at Kemmel Jan 20th To Reninghelst Jan 21st To pictures Jan 22nd Up to Pits Jan 23rd On picquet Jan 27th Harness cleaning competition won by Left Section Jan 28th Went to Neuve Eglise with a gun. At night to Reninghelst Feb 3rd Went to 1st PNRS at Butterfly Farm camp Feb 4th To pictures On picquet Feb 5th Went to Reninghelst Feb 6th To 52nd Bttn & 4th PNRS Feb 7th To pictures Feb 10th Leave to England Caught train at Baillieul for Calais Stayed one night at Calais Feb 11th Left at 3 pm for Dover arrived London 7.5 pm Left 11.30 pm for Glasgow arrived 10.30 am on 12th Went to Bellshill Feb 13th Went to Glasgow Feb 14th Into Alhambra Glasgow Dick Whittington pantomime Feb 15th Left Glasgow 10 am arrived Preston 3.45 pm arrived Burnley 6.5 pm Feb 16th Went to Townley Hall Palace Theatre at night Feb 17th Went to Gannow and Brierfield Feb 18th Went for a walk around Burnley and went out to Blacko Feb19th Went for a walk around hills Feb 20th Went to Queens at Nelson Feb 22nd Went to Palace at Nelson Feb 23rd Left Blacko caught train for London arrived 6.45 pm Went to Hoddesdon Feb 24th Went to a walk through woods. Out to tea had a walk through Hoddesdon and Broxbroune Feb 25th Left Broxbourne for London. Stayed at Buckingham Palace Hotel. Went to Lyric Theatre Romance Feb 26th Left London for France via Dover. Stayed at Calais that night

Feb 27th Left Calais arrived Caestre Went through to Baillieu Got to camp 5pm Feb 28th On picquet Mar 3rd Moved to Vierstratt Mar 5th Went to Gun Pits Mar 7th Went to Reninghelst Mar 10th On picquet Mar 13th Went to Reninghelst Mar 14th Up to pits with Ammunition Mar 16th Up to pits Mar 19th On picquet Raining all day Mar 23rd Preparing to move. Left Vierstratt 8pm past ‘Kimmel’ Neuve Eglise to near Stunje arrive 12pm and bivouacked. Mar 24th Moved off 1230 passed through Neuf-Berquin Merville and camped near Haversque Mar 25th Moved off 10am through St Venant Robeq “Gonneheuc” “Chocques” Lapugnay. Gosnay. Hesding-neul-Labrussier. Brusy to Houdain &camped Mar 26th Moved off 8.45am through Revreuve. “Hermin” “Gauchin” Cancourt Villiers. Latel “Mingoval” “Aubigny” “Hermaville” Harbarcq “Wanquetin” Fosseux” Barly Bavincourt” Saulty and camped for the night Mar 27th Moved off 6.20am through “Gauchie” Humbercamps ”Pommier” Bienvillers” St Amand” Sousctre to Henkhancourt and bivouacked. Very ill. Mar 28th Battery into action near “Millancourt” wagonlines moved back to “Freshencourt” Went to Sth Afr Mil unit evacuated next day to to 3rd C.C.S.Hospital train to Ruoan arrived on 30th to No 6 Gnl Hptl Mar 31st Marked for Con Camp April 1st Left Rouen 1015 arrived at Trouville 3pm & sent to 15 Con Camp April 5th Went into Trouville April 6th Dance held in Dining Hall April 7th Church parade April 8th Dancing class April 9th Physical Training Cross Country Run 3 miles April 10th Left Con Camp marched to wharf at Trouville arrived at Havre 1.45pm Marched to Base Camp April 11th Classification Went to pictures at night and concert April 12th Went to Gas school. Pictures at night April 13th Fatigues all day. Pictures at night. April 14th Church Parade April 15th On draft. Fatigues. Pictures April16th Went to pictures & concert April 17th Left base 9.30 marched to station April 18th Arrived at Hallon- at 9am & marched to “Bertesucourt” April 19th Left “Bertesucourt” passed through Visnacourt “Flosselles” to Villers- Bocage” April 20th Marched through Reinville Cordonette to and camped the night. April 21st Marched off 10.15 am arrived at Bty Lines Freshencourt 1pm on picquet. April 23rd Up to Bavencourt refilling wagons April 26th Up to forward W.L’s & D.A.C. April 27th Moved camp to Bablincourt April 30th Went to Fwd.line’s relieved gun teams. Night harnessing with gas masks on. May 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grazing on picquet May 4th Battery pulled out of action & moved down to Villers Brettoneaux May 5th Moved W.L’s near Glissy. On picquet. May 7th Up to Gun Pits May 18th On picquet. May 19th Up with Ammunition May 20th Up to Gun Pits May 23rd Went to Flesselles through Lamotte “Allonville” ” Came back through Villers Bocage Rainville Cordenette Allonville. May 24th Went our reconnoitring gun positions in case of further retreat. May 27th Up to Gun Pits with AMN at 3 am. May 31st Went to Aill-ser-Somme through Amiens. On picquete. June 3rd Battery moved out 7.45am Relieved by 3rd Division Bty. Passed through Longeau Camon. Amiens Ailly-sur- Somme. Piequigny to Hangest – sur – Somme & camped. June 4th Continued journey through Souevs “” Sorrel Pont Remy to Epagne” & camped. June 5th Harness cleaning & stables June 6th Equitation drill no vehicles June 7th Practice of a General review June 9th Review by General Birdwood of Divisional Artillery June 10th Went to show at Pont Remy – The Smart Set. June 11th Grazing on Riverside June 12th Divisional Races held at Epagne. Very good day. June 13th Equitation drill will gun-limbers O.P. June 14th Had Bty photos taken. Equitation drill June 15 (16?) Went to Cricket Match at Abbeville 41st V 3rd AGH June 18th Left Epagne “for action passed through Eaucourt” Pont Remy Cocqeral “Longuete” Long “l’Etoille Flixecourt” to Bourdon & camped. June 19th Battery moved off through “Belloy-cur-Somme” la Chaussee Tirancourt “” Brielly Ailly-sur_Somme” drill “& camped in factory yard in Amiens“June 20th Moved off 1.20 pm to new position near Pont Noyelles. Passed through Querrian” Relieved 51st Bty. June 22nd Up to pits with water carts June 23rd Up with ammunition June 24th Up with ammunition June 25th Up with ammunition June 26th Changed over with gun teams at forward lines at Bonney Rear of guns doing excavating dug-outs at pits June 30th Supplied leads to teams 11 pm July 1st Moved guns up to new position at Vaux 10. Pm July 1st (sic) Teams changed over. Up with ammunition to forward pits. July 2nd Harness cleaning etc July 4th Big attack on our front Hamel captured. Big counter attacks at night. Up with ammunition. Heavy bombing of roads on way up. Machine guns turned on roads from planes. Very exciting. July 5th Harness cleaning & Inspection. July 6th Captain severely wounded also Cpl & one Gnr wounded one killed July 7th Went to funeral of Gunner C R Marr at . Afternoon free. MARR, CLIFFORD ROY Rank: Gunner Service No:1000 Date of Death: 06/07/1918 Age: 19 Regiment/Service: Australian Field Artillery 42nd Bty. 11th Bde. Grave Reference: C. 41. Cemetery: QUERRIEU BRITISH CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of John Thomas and Susan Marr, of 7, Lockner St., West Hobart, Tasmania. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war dead/casualty/76605/MARR,%20CLIFFORD%20ROY

July 8th Changed over at forward lines. July 9th Got a couple of loads of hay for the horses. July 11th Moved forward lines to Vaux Wrong position. Moved back to old Gunpits position. July 12th Moved guns forward July 13th Late in evening a visit from Fritz. Two aeroplanes over Two of our balloons (sic) down in flames. July 15th Another balloon down Moved back to rear lines. July 16th Moved to Franvillers and took over from 7th Battery July 17th Harness cleaning July 18th Same as usual. Went to Pont. Noyelles & Frechencourt [Fréchencourt] July 19th Grooming & harness cleaning July 29th Went to Frechencourt then to Bussy & met an old pal. Court in a storm in returning. July 21st Went to Frechencourt Dump then up to pits. July 22nd Balloon down. Likewise two of Fritz’s July 24th Down to dump at Frechencourt and up to pits July 26th Went to dentist at Frechencourt Up to pits. July 28th On picquette July 31st Went to mobile Vet Hospital with horses near Amiens. Four balloons down in flames. August 2nd Went with gun to Calibration range near Amiens sur Vaux passing through Querriu “Allonville” Returned via Bertangles, Coisy Allonville” Raining all day. August 3rd Left Franvilliers at 3pm for new lines passing Querrieu, Bussy & camped on Somme Canal. August 4th Harness cleaning & grooming. August 5th News of a big victory down south. Preparations for an advance on our sector S Went up at 9 pm with ammunition Returned 3.15 am. Enormous amount of traffic on roads Blocked for 2 hours on Railway Bridge August 6th Fine in morning afternoon showery Moved out at 9 pm to forward position at Hamelette. Roads under fire. Two gunners and one driver wounded. On picquette. August 7th Grooming & preparing for advancing August 8th Battle starts 4.15am on 28 miles front. We go forward at 6.5 am. Advance 8 miles at one point capturing many guns and army material and thousands of prisoners. We halt at mid-day. Germans out of range on our Sector. The battle goes on our Brigade under fire from German guns on our left flank. Three German planes down on our route. Moved back to Sailly-Laurette and camped the night. Very quiet night. August 9th Very quiet. Barrage opened up on our left at 5.30 pm. Attack on Mallard Wood. Chippilly taken and all objectives gained. Up with ammunition. Returned 1.30 a. Heavy bombing all around. August 10th Nothing much doing during day. Went up with AMN to new position through Chippilly “through . Saw old pals of 49th going into action. August 11th Battery to near Chippilly. Went up with ammunition. August 12th Nothing doing. Very hot. Had two swims. August 13th Moved out from Chippilly at 4am back to Cailly stayed there til 2pm and moved farther south through Vayonvilliers, Harbonnieres to Rosieres and camped. Went with ammunition to new position. On picquette. Bombs dropped very close to lines. August 14th Went up with more AMN August 15th &16th Grazing very Hot August 17th Moved out to new position at head of River Luce. Went up with wagons and shifted AMN to new gun position. August 18th Grooming and harness cleaning August 19th Same as usual. On picquet August 21st Harness cleaning. Up with AMN. August 24th Went up and brought ammunition back from pits. Heavy bombing of area. Relieved by the French. August 25th Bty moved off 1.30pm passing through outskirts of . Warfusse. Fouley to and camped. Met old mate of 46th Bttn. August 26th Moved in morning through Corbie, Fouley “Aubigny” Daours Lamotte & camped near Camon on Somme River. Good camp. August 27th Grooming and harness cleaning. On picquet August 28th Same as usual. Afternoon off. Went to show in “Camon” Smart Set August 30th Half holiday. Went to 4th Pioneers. Met two old pals. Sept 1st Church Parade at Camon Sep 2nd C/O’s inspection of Battery turnout. Unsatisfactorily. More harness cleaning. Sep3rd March past Reviewed by G.O.C. 4th Division Sep 4th Went to Longeau. Manoeuvers Sep 5th O/C’s Inspection Half Holiday Sep 6th Battery Manoeuvers Mobile action Afternoon off On picquet Sep 7th Battery moved off 8.30am for action. Passed through Dauors Aubigne Fouloy “Cerisy” Morcourt to Ployart & camped. Sep 8th Nothing doing afternoon off. Sep 9th Battery moved off 8.30am passing through and other demolished villages and camped on Somme Canal. Sep 11th Battery moved off passing ruined villages of “Brie” le Mesnil to east of Cartigny & took over from 53rd Bty Went up to forward pits Got home at 4 am. Sep 12th Moved W.L’s further over Sep 13th Went up to pits & to D.A.C Three Gotha’s down in flames Sep 14th Went to Dump Sep 15th Went up to Fwd. gun pits with ammunition twice Returned 3 am O.P. Sep 16th Went to Fwd. PITS Sep17th Preparing to move forward. Moved wagon lines forward to Desert Wood. Wagon Lines shelled all night also bombed; 25 horses and mules killed & wounded. Gas alarm during night. Helmets worn for first time. Sep 18th Battle starts 5.20 am. We move forward 9.10 am & advance a long way. Guns to action east of “le Verguer” [Le Verguier] Went back to old pits for ammunition. Came back to camp 9.30 Heavy rain on Sep 19th Went up with ammunition Up again on the 20th Sep 21st Guns pulled out Sep 23rd On picquet Sep 24th Went to Peronne for Remounts. Battery moved out to new position arrived there 10 pm Called out 2.30am 25th to go up with ammunition Returned home 5.30am Sep 27th Big Battle on. Terrific bombardment. Went with AMN Heavy shelling on roads. Many wagons & horses destroyed in Ronnsoy Sep 28th Went to FWD PITS 400 yds from front line. Gas barrage over. Very unpleasant. One driver in team gassed Returned 1.30 am Sep 29th Big battle commenced. Battery moved up to advance. American’s fail to clear Hindenburg Trench. Orders cancelled for the day. Bivouaced at Ronnsoy. Everything going well. 2nd 3rd & 4th Divn Inf pull through and gain objectives Went up with ammunition. Roads under fire H.E. & gas. Not able to pass. Second attempt got through. Returned to camp 11.30 Raining like fury. Sep 30th Standing by with teams Moved back to Rear Lines nears Villers- Faucon Oct 2nd Battery moved out 4.30 am & went to Bellicourt into action. Came back to Hargicourt Oct 3rd Nothing doing on picquet Oct 4th Battery moved forward through Nauroy to Right flank. Up with AMN Oct 5th Up with ammunition Oct 7th Up with ammunition Oct 8th Up again. Road shelled on crossing over a ridge. Three wagons overturned own turned completed over. Had narrow escape. One driver wounded. Went forward to Montbrehain through Rammicourt. Returned to Bellicourt. Oct 9th Moved further forward. Came back to Montbrehain Oct 10th Birthday. Battery moved forward a long distance to Busigny. Cheered by civilians on passing through. Oct 11th Battery area shelled with gas H.E. also at night heavy Oct 12th Came back to Rear Wagon Lines Oct 13th Went up to forward pits near Escafourt. On picquet Oct 15th Went to Premont also up to forward position A.M.N. Oct 17th Up to forward pits came back to Busigny & went up again at night Oct 18th Advance continues. We move forward also On picquet on 19th Oct 20th Went to Premont for supplies. Battery moved forward to St. Souplet Oct 21st Went to pits with AMN Oct 22nd Went to M.V.S at Maretz with sick horses Oct 23rd Up with ammunition at 6 am Oct 25th Up to new position in front of Bazeul Oct 27th Went out around St Benin & Le-Cateau Oct 28th On picquet Nov 1st Battery lines move forward through Le-Cateau. Went up to new gun pits near Pommereuil Wood. Awful cold Nov 2nd Up with AMN Nov 4th Went to Busigny via Honnechy back up to pits Nov 5th Last battle 4th Division Artillery were in & which was the end of the war practically. Brought back all ammunition through Bazeul to le Roix Farm. Raining all day. Went to Variety at night in Town Hall Le- Cateau. Very good nights entertainment. Nov 6th Raining all day on picquet Nov 11th Conclusion of hostilities. Armistice on whole Western Front Nov 13th On picquet Nov 14th Harness cleaning and grooming back to normal Nov 18th Leave to England. Snowing during day. Stayed on Busigny station all night Nov 19th Train a few hours late. Left at 11,30 am arrived at Boulonge 4.14 am on 20th Embarked 9.15 am arrived at Folkestone 11.30 am London 3.50 pm Left for Nelson 11.40 am Arrived Preston next morning 5.40 am Burnley 9.30 am Nov 22nd Went to Nelson Palace. Nov 25th Went to Burnley in afternoon Palace at night Nov 26th Went to Mellor via Blackburn Nov 27th Nelson Palace Nov 30th Went to a dance also a birthday party Dec 2nd Left Nelson at 9 pm arrived in London 5.30 am Went out to Hoddesdon Dec 4th Left Hoddesdon at 4.30 pm Stayed at the Marquis of Bristols Place in St James Square Dec 5th Left for France 8.30 am Arrived Boulogne 1.30 pm & stayed the night in one blanket camp. Dec 6th Left at 9.10 am passing through Abbeville, Amiens, Villers Brettoneaux Rosieres St Quentin Bohain arrived Busigny 1230 am on 7th Left Station 7 am went to Le-Cateau. Caught motor through to Catillon Moirelles Landrecies Auesnes Sains Ramousies to Liessieres and rejoined battery Dec 8th Grooming etc on picquet Dec 13th Battery moved off 9.30 am Cross Belgian Border through Renee to Froid-Chappelle and camped Dec 14th Battery moved off at 10 am passing Carfontaine Villers Eglises to Phillipville and camped in big school house Dec 15th Battery moved off 11.30 passing Rosee Gochenee to Agimont on Meuse River in the Ardennes and here ended our move forward. Went into Givet a French fortified town on Meuse River. Dec 16th All horses stabled. Harness cleaning etc Dec 19th 41st Bty played the 111th Bty rugby Won by 41st 13 to 0 Dec 20th 41st played 42nd Won 50 to 8 Australian Rules Dec 21st Went for ride along Meuse to Hemerton 41st played 42nd rugby Won 12 to 0 Dec 24th Went exercising through Givet. Afternoon plays a game of rugby Mugs v Mugs result draw O.P. Dec 25th Christmas Day very quiet but had a good dinner

1919 New Years Day Went to Mesnil-St Blesse via Givet. Had a good dinner with old pal in 46th Battalion Came back through Hastieres Hermeton Herr-Agimont Jan 6th 11th Bde played 10th Bde. One by 10th 8 to 6 Went to 45th Btty Jan 11th Went to Mesnil Eglise through Givet Faschaux Finne-Vaux. At night farewell dance in Hotel Bruxlles at Herr-Agimont to 1915 men Jan 12th On picquet Jan 13th Bde played D.A.C. rugby Bde won 9 to 0 Jan 15th Went to Florennes with a gun. Raining all day. Went to show The Smart Set Jan 19th On draft to Return to Australia Jan 21st Left the Bty at 8am foe Florennes. Went into billets there for one night. Met old pals who came away from Brisbane on same boat SS Warilda (since torpedoed in English Channel 120 lives lost) Jan 22nd Left Florennes at 11.45am arrived at Charleroi 4.20pm. Camped in a big factory Jan 23rd Left Charleroi 10am arrived at Mons 4.30pm Douai 6am on 24th. Held up in one place 4 hours. Arrived at Arras 11am Achiet-le-Grand Miramount Albert Corbie Amiens Abbeville Rouen Arrived at Honfluer 8am on 25th Marched to Base Camp. Got an issue on new under clothing Had breakfast and a bath. Went to a play at night Jan 26th Medical Inspection Jan 27th Left Base Camp at 1.30pm for Havre. Embarked on SS Mona’s Queen. Left France forever. Anchored off Weymouth about 3.30am next morning. Marched to station & entrained for Sutton Veny Camp. Arrived at Warminster 1.30pm & were welcomed in by Camp Band & marched to No 5 camp Jan 29th Medical Inspection. Moved to Sandhills Camp, Longbridge-Deverill Jan 30th Went to pictures Sutton Veny Jan 31st Pictures again Feb 3rd Fourteen days leave. Left Warminster for London. Went to Glasgow Arrived next morning Bellshill 10am. Went to pictures S at night Feb 5th Went to Glasgow Alhambra Jack in the Beanstalk pantomime Feb 7th Left Glasgow 10am for Nelson Arrived 7pm Feb 11th Went to Cinderella pantomime Feb 12th Went to Blackpool. Had a good day. Came back next day and went to Burnley Queens Theatre. Nelson at night Feb 15th Went to Burnley Feb 16th Caught train to Preston for London. Returned to camp on 17th Feb 18th Went to pictures Feb 25th Went to Sutton Veny March 1st Sick. Sent to convalescent hospital March 3rd Doing Guard March 5th Fatigue work in Medical hut March 6th Went to a concert March 8th Went to Garrison Theatre Play Peg O’ my Heart March 15th To pictures March 16th &17th To pictures March 26th To a play in Tiddworth The Freedom of the Seas March 28th To a Concert April 16th A play at Tiddworth The Scarlet Band th April 26 To a play Cash on Delivery Commented [j11]: Seymour Hicks musical comedy, Cash on Delivery (1917) April 29th To a play The Outcast May 1st To a concert May 30th Four days leave to Blacko June 13th Went to Tiddworth to a play The Land of Promise June 27th Went to Salisbury via Newton Long July 5th Went to Tiddworth to a play Fall In th July 7 Went to a play Fair and Warmer Commented [j12]: Fair and Warmer is a 1915 comedy play th by the American writer Avery Hopwood. It was first staged at July 8 Went to Sutton Veny Camp via Luggershall & Andover & Salisbury the Eltinge Theatre in New York City on November 15, 1915, July 13th Went out to Shearwater Lake running for 377 performances, well received by critics. It is a farce about a mild-mannered banker who becomes embroiled July 18th Seven days leave to Blacko via London Rugby Crewe Stafford Nuneaton in an innocent scheme to rekindle the romance in his marriage & Wiggan Preston to nelson Arrived 9.10 pm using his best friend's wife. July 19th Peace Day Celebrations at Blacko. Went to Palace Odds & Ends July 20th Went to Burnley July 21st To Burnley Empire July 24th Went to Brierfield. At night to Queens July 25th Went to Nelson Palace Gay Bohemia July 26th Went to Roughlea & Nelson to Electric Cinema July 27th Went to Brierfield July 28th Went on a walk. Left Nelson 8.50pm arrived back to Camp 4 days over July 30th Transferred to 62 Quota Aug 1st On fatigue Aug 2nd On isolation picquet Aug 7th Went on 14 days leave Aug 9th 1919 Married at St Thomas’s Church Barrowford. Beautiful day. Had tea in Club Rooms. Concert and dance at night. Aug 11th Went to Blackpool for five days. Went to numerous places of amusements including Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom Tower Palace & Picture Palace Tower Circus Wax Works South Shore Earls Court Centre Pier Pierottes. Returned to Blackburn on 16th & went to Mellor. Peace Celebrations on. Fireworks at night Aug 17th Return home 8pm Aug 19th Went to Burnley Aug 20th Left for Warminster via London arrived 7.30pm Aug 22nd Put in application for passages on Family Ship & transferred to No 6 Camp Aug 27th Returned to Blacko on indefinite leave Aug 30th Went to Palace Sept 9th Went to Mellor for afternoon Sept 20th Went to Palace Sept 21st Out to tea to a farm Nov 5th Received orders to be ready for return to Australia. Left Nelson 9.50pm arrived in London 5.15am on 6th.Went out to Hoddesdon & stayed the night Nov 7th Returned to London & entrained at Waterloo Stn for Southhampton. Embarked on SS Marathon & left Quay at 5.30pm. Anchored in Solent till noon & sailed. Very pleasant. On picquet Nov 9th A little rough. Distance travelled for 21 hours 43 minutes 272 miles av 12.5 passed C. Ushant Nov 10th Still rough passed C. Finnisterre distance travelled 24 hours 276 miles av 11.4 Nov 11th Celebration of Armistice Day. Very calm. Distance 292 miles average 12.1 per hour Nov 12th A little rough but fine distance 287 miles average 11.9 Nov 13th Very rough all day. Distance travelled 266 miles av 11 knotts Nov 14th Very fair. Distance 270 miles av 11.4 Nov 15th Very fair weather. Distance 273 miles average 11.5 Concert on board Nov 16th Very fine day. Church Service. Distance 289 miles average 12.4 Nov 17th Very hot all day. 286 miles average 11.91 Nov 18th Very cool day Distance travelled 259 mile av 10.9 Nov 19th Very cool weather distance 281 miles 11.4 Sports held in afternoon Nov 20th Crossing line. Sports etc distance 288 miles av 12.1 Nov 21st Quoit Competition. Distance 278 miles average 11.6 Nov 22nd Very cool day distance 287 miles average 12.1 Nov 23rd Very cool day. Slightly rough. Church services during day distance 285 miles average 12.0 Nov 24th Very nice day Distance 281 miles average 11.9 Nov 25th Still good sailing very cold distance 286 miles average 12.0 Nov 26th Very cold & blowy distance 280 miles Nov 27th Distance 262 Nov 28th Rough all days 248 miles Nov 29th Distance 280 miles sighted land towards night Nov 30th Rounding Cape of Good Hope. Church Service. Passed big steamer distance 281 miles Dec 1st Passed Port Elizabeth close to shore Dec 2nd East London. Cool day Dec 3rd Pulled into Durban 7am Leave granted. Went to Zoological Gardens. Very interesting day. Stayed at Bencorum Hotel. Went to Criterion Theatre Dec 4th Went to Indian Market & had a walk round town. Afternoon to Marine Parade. Came back on board Dec 5th Sailed 1.30 pm for Fremantle Dec 6th Splendid sailing. Very hot 275 miles Dec 7th Church Service distance 307 mile average 13k Dec 8th Very cold wind all day. Distance 312 mile 13.22 Sports in afternoon. Concert at night Dec 9th Raining nearly all da. Rough sea 300 miles Dec 10th Very nice day. Sports in afternoon. Distance 294 miles Dec 11th Raining nearly all day distance 297 miles Dec 12th Raining again. Received message from King & Queen distance 298 miles Dec 13th Very cold day Distance 306 miles Dec 14th Very fine day but cold distance 365 miles Dec 15th Very cool day foggy distance 315 miles Dec 16th Same as usual distance 308 miles. Fancy dress ball held. Splendid display of costumes. Won by an old Sundowner (lady) Rickshaw Puller gent. Prize 1-0-0 each Dec 17th nothing unusual occurred distance 309 miles Dec 18th Very calm day 310 miles Dec 19th Arrived in Fremantle anchored in mid-stream. West Australians disembarked. Distance done 315 miles & left 8pm. Storm on. Very rough all down to Cape Leuwin distance for 12 hours 170 miles up to 12pm on 20th Dec 21st Very fine after 5pm. Rough during day 308 miles Dec 22nd Calm all day 306 miles Dec 23rd Heavy head wind in morning 300 miles Dec 24th Christmas Eve arrived Port Adelaide 1pm 316 miles disembarked Sth Australian soldiers wives & children sailed again 5pm Dec 25th Christmas Day. Had a good dinner. Done 242 miles up to 12 noon. At dusk passed a sailing vessel. Coastline in sight all day. Dec 26th Sighted Port Phillip heads 7am proceeded up to mouth of R.Yarra. Moved up to No. 9 Wharf leave in afternoon. Went up town & out to St Kilda to see old pals of 41st Bty. Returned to boat 11pm Dec 27th On picquet to 9am. Leave went to Federal Coffee Palace to rooms. Went to Bijou Theatre Dec 28th Went out to St Kilda Raining Dec 29th Went shopping & pictures. Came back on board 9.30pm Dec 30th Sailed 7.30am. Very rough outside heads. Passed Wilson Promontory 8pm Dec 31st Fine day. Land in sight all way up. Passed Cape Howe about 11am 1920 Jan 1st New Years Day. Arrived at Sydney Harbour. Anchored in harbour. Pulled up to wharf & disembarked & taken on cars to Railway Station. Boarded Brisbane Express & left at 3.30pm. Arrived at Newcastle 6.45 pm & had dinner Jan 2nd Arrived at Glen Innes 8.10am Tenterfield 9.5 am Wallangarra 9.25 & changed trains. Had a grand reception at Stanthorpe Warwick Toowoomba Ipswich. Arrived at Brisbane 7.40pm after 4 years & three months service away. Taken out to Rosemont Hospital & had dinner then boarded & paid. This concluded my experiences of over 4 years of Warfare.