On Sat evening I walk to Ash, a large village 6 miles from Betteshanger Camp where we are in training. It was a lovely evening, and as I walked I had no idea that on the morrow I should be marching away on active service, and equipped sufficiently
3.30 am. News is received at headquarters that all of the Brigade is to proceed upon active service at once. Reveille sounds; in order to rouse the men out as quickly as possible, the "Band" in charge of the "bandmaster" is got out, and with barely
it will go. There is not enough for every man to receive the full complement , so each man gets 50 rounds and are told there is plenty on board of the transport. After receiving a "sandwich" apiece, which consists of half a loaf of bread, and 1/2
given half a pint of ginger beer, and a piece of cake, also a good rest, we embark on the transport "Oxonian", belonging to the Leyland S.S. Co. At 11.0pm we get under weigh in company with the transport "Mount Temple"  - C.P.R. liner - and es
a greatcoat, also those who have no jersey receives an extra flannel to put on over the one he is wearing then, as the weather was pretty cold. When all are "kitted up" we commence to serve out biscuits and rations also ammunition to last us at lea
through at any cost. He requested our motto to be - "Sobriety, courtesy, and devotion to duty." To this we loudly cheered our answer. 11.0pm after waiting an hour or two for the train, we fall in again, and march off to the carriages. The train i
headcover. Night passes away, nothing occurs, beyond that the train stops at every station to learn if possible, whether or not the line is clear. During all these stops, the poor Belgian peasants are bringing us out hot coffee, bread, beer, ciga
population with presents of hot coffee, bread, butter, chocolates, sweets, beer, milk, cigars, cigarettes,  tobacco, fruit, - in fact everything. It was quite amusing to see the men trying to accomplish the acrobatic feat of drinking a cup of
then march off to the trenches to relieve the marines. On obtaining leave, I, with P.O. Learmouth - machine-gun section - and a jolly good fellow, endeavour to get a shave, and I in addition a haircut, as we thought it would be quite some time ere
prev / next