William (Bill) Maloney
The war journal of Private 350008. William Maloney (aka Adcock)
1/1st Field Ambulance. A.Section.
42nd East Lancashire Division. 1914 - 1918
This is a photograph of Bills war journal, it traveled with him throughout the first world war, in Gallipoli, Egypt and then France. You can see that it must have meant a lot to him as he kept it in remarkable good condition considering the dreadful conditions he and the rest of his comrades were all experiencing. Also note that at the back of the book you can see that the writing is upside down, this it where he started from the opposite end of the book on his return to the fighting after being injured.
Bills Journal
I have copied the notes exactly as Bill wrote them in his journal, starting on the 15th June 1915 to the end of the journal on the 13th June 1917.
I have still to copy up the journal from November 1914 to June 1915 and will then download to this site.
I have made a few notes and have written them in red italics, I have also yet to work out a few words, I will fill them in as I work them out.
Keith Maloney.
On the inner cover of the book is a list of places he visited.
Turton From around August 1914 till September 1914
Southampton September 1914
Alexandria September 1914
Ismailia September 1914
Gallipoli May 1915
Mudros July 1915
Naples
Southampton
Aintree
Liverpool
West Derby
Man
Southport
Codford Wills
Alexandria
Moustapha
Suez’s
Port …………
Ballah
Kan-tara
Pelusium
Ras el Tim
Romari
Katia
Side-Bishr
El Arish
Magar
Moascar ………
Cairo
Marseilles
Pont Remay
Aberville
Hamel
Cappy
Perronne
Templeux La Fosse
Villur Faucon
Somme
Lquancourt
Newville
Rauyalcourt
Page 1.
Reg No8 350008
Pte W. Adcock.
1/1st Field Amb A.Sec
42nd East Lancs Div
(Egypt)
B.E.F
Page 2.
1914.
Left Turton Wednesday September 9th 12.30pm arrived Southampton docks September 10th 2.30pm lay on platform till six went aboard HMS Aragon RMSC left Southampton September 10th 1914 at 11pm
Arrived Alexandria
Left boat for Ras-el-tin
Reached Ras-el-tin at ___ got blankets issued to us, struck friends with the Suffolk’s, smart lot of chaps got a billet job ration carrying, lived under canvas gloriously fine. The natives to us were very funny, a bit of a devil getting used to the Gypoe money filoone
So many went doing duty in military hospital, remaining in married quarters, told off for cooking for camp having some fine sport with Chisel & Co concert in canteen by transport boys.
Forty of us, picked out to go on active service, Johny Turk trying for the Canal.
Nov 1914
Went to Ismailia, very nice place took over an old French Château, got no cooking utensils, pinched the French mans crockery & water. Cooking in the café yard, having some fine sport with some Gypoe’s, old man locked his place up and can’t use his things or get water. SM Bennett gets permission. Officer of navy & gentleman gives Cpl Bagshaw & myself a good time, drunk on port. Shifted so many to Kantara 20 mile out port, we all go under canvass in park, beautiful scenery.
Took over mess cook, cooked the boys 3 eggs & plenty of burgue (Porridge).
Wednesday rice pudding 15 eggs in it. Went down to station for rations with Black Jack, got well away cognac, nearly run over Col Beach & Capt Douglas.
Sarg Dedow gives spread to 5 Sargs, wetting his 3rd stripe, gets 4 hens, apples, custard, whisky, port, beans, spuds, tomatoes, eggs etc, Josh & I get busy killing hens right up goes its head & cops one of the chaps.
Had feed & was very very tight, mail in and none for me, won a bet.
Played the Ismailia Football Town Club & won 7.0 none, had a good time afterwards got very chummy with the Ghurkhas, fine body of little chaps, learning Hindustani Larocha.
November 1914 to June 1915 still to be transcribed.
June 15 – 1915.
Very slack a little fatigue in morning, digging new latrine in afternoon, stood a leg up in middle of incinerator cracking jokes, just been amputated.
June 16 – 1915.
Getting all necessary things ready, going up at night. Sent up to Clapham & relive 2nd F am (2nd Field ambulance) sent right on to trenches nothing doing all night.
June 17 – 1915.
Cold morning. Very quiet in morning plenty of heavy shelling from Turk nobody hurt
June 18 – 1915.
Usual shelling down gully every body dashing for cover E L S & L F advance a little.
June 19 – 1915.
Very busy all morning plenty of wounded. Just hell in the gully, wondering when is our turn. Oh for a rest we’re beat.
June 20 – 1915.
Nothing doing got relieved & back again to the cliffs. Had a good nights sleep.
June 21 – 1915.
Lovely morning. Old Bill woke us up by throwing our issue of bread at us, then got busy hunting the chats & cleaning up & washing shirts, had a concert at night, heavy firing on our right French advance in trenches.
June 22 – 1915.
Very hot & still enjoy rest, just a little fatigue, carry water, Manchester’s come back.
June 23 – 1915.
Still resting swimming & Major Fitry ??? gone to Alex, got a sub of 1£.00
June 24 – 1915.
Mac & I have eggs & bacon for breakfast & think we are in the Midland made our dug out nice & cosy.
June 25 – 1915.
All the boys have copied how to make the fancy cakes Mac & I make. Swim in morning & afternoon, sea champion, received letters from Rusholme & home.
June 26 – 1915.
Fatigue carry water, running all over the show for it, sing song at night in dugout Mac, Nob, Roberts, myself & nobly, Barratt.
June 27 – 1915.
Plenty to do digging all morning, nothing in afternoon but swim.
June 28 – 1915.
Lovely morning, very heavy bombardment on the left, swim after dinner, packed up and left at 5 o clock for the trenches, very hot weather, our left, advance in trenches
June 29 – 1915.
Not much doing in centre, heavy artillery fire during night few cases during night.
June 30 – 1915.
French gained some ground, not much work all day. T Kennerdy got bullet in back while sat in trench, very quiet night, 12 o’clock night heavy artillery.
July 1 – 1915.
Lovely morning very hot weather, went across to Walter got some onions & bacon, tea & sugar. The usual firing going on, not many cases.
July 2 – 1915.
Fine day still warm, Turks shelling us heavy with shrapnel all afternoon & night, got issue of cigs 20.
July 3 – 1915.
Very warm day. Digging all day, digging new aid post, sniper trying for us while on top digging.
July 4 – 1915.
Nothing doing as regards cases but still digging, transport in harbour sunk by submarine.
July 5 – 1915.
Up very early johny turk tries to advance just as day breaks and he got mowed down, very quiet all day, got relieved at 5 o’clock, back to Cliff for a louse & wash.
July 6 – 1915.
Sea very calm, got a new shirt, had plenty of sport in sea, got a couple of letters, concert at night in gully.
July 7 – 1915.
Got up at 8 o’clock, little fatigue, swim in morning & afternoon, very quiet afternoon.
July 8 – 1915.
Still enjoying rest, playing whist, carrying cases to Base for Hosp Ship.
July 9 – 1915.
7.18 L F S leave for a rest to imbros, nothing doing all day, wrote letters home.
July 10 – 1915.
Fine morning had a good swim, got heavy shrapnel fire over the dugout one of our chaps got badly wounded.
July 11 – 1915.
Shrapnel all morning not many cases.
July 12 – 1915.
Lovely morning, we give the turks a very heavy bombardment, big advance all along line, attack all night.
July 13 – 1915.
Still bombarding johny, no news from trenches, little advance done in afternoon.
July 14 – 1915.
Still enjoying rest, nothing to do only light fatigue.
July 15 – 1915.
Quiet day making journeys, wrote 3 letters, johny shells the base all morning & at night our battleship bombarding in the narrows, during the night went out to station, relieve 2nd Fant Clapham.
July 16 – 1915.
Johny turk trying to find guns on top, we hug the trench, shrapnel falling in trench but lucky all get to safe position, very lucky escape shell burst on parapet nobody hurt only one slightly.
July 17 – 1915.
Lovely morning, no cases during night, not many during morning & afternoon but plenty at night.
July 18 – 1915.
Church service in trench, nothing doing.
July 19 – 1915.
Fairly busy with cases, 2 of our chaps go off sick.
July 20 – 1915.
Still at Clapham, play little hell over rum issue, very busy near dinner, quiet night
****The journal stops till April 1916, according to my Dad, Bill got injured by shrapnel, so I think its a fair guess that this is when it happened. The journal starts again on Tuesday, April 11th 1916 from the other end of the book and Bill is on his way back to Alexandria, from the UK after receiving treatment and convalescence.
Tuesday April 11th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 on guard 8am till 10am & 2pm till 4pm. Sea still rough plenty of dinner.
Wednesday April 12th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 Parade 9.30 Sea calm, all eyes on Gibraltar. Past Gib at 12 o’clock no call, 12.30hrs dinner. Parade 3 o’clock inoculations Cholera.
Thursday April 13th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 Parade 9.30. Boat rocks feeling queer due to inoculation.
Friday April 14th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 Parade 9.30, passing Algiers Morocco & Cape Tunis. Sea calm
Saturday April 15th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 Sea rough. Parade 9.30. Past Malta 10 o’clock, no call, on guard at night 12 o’clock till 3 am. Finished 4 years service.
Sunday April 16th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 Sea calm. Church parade 10.30. Start an extra 12 months.
Monday April 17th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 dull & calm parade 9.30 boat going slow, Capt did not like getting in port at night, had a concert.
Tuesday April 18th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 Breakfast 7.0 cleaning up the wards, landed in Alexandria harbour 9 o’clock alongside No 49 dock at 10 o’clock, dinner 12.30 disembarked 3.30 marched to Rhamleh, ride by train to Mustepha details camp 4.30 got messed about awful sand gale and heavy breeze blowing from sea, all old lads, got our tent up after a lot of tries at 7.30 pm got no tea. Was asked how’s other ??????
Wednesday April 19th 1916.
Reveille 6.0 but did not get up & all tent got in trouble. Breakfast bit of dry bread & if it tea. Parade 9.0 route march on Chatby sea front. Dinner 12.0. Parade 2.0 – 3.0 signalling. Tea 4.30 went to see old friends dodge all fatigues.
Thursday April 20th 1916.
Reveille 6.0. Dirty parade till 7.15. 8.0 Breakfast. Parade C/o 9 o’clock kit inspection, taking all extra articles off us. Dinner 12. Parade 2.0 till 3.0. Drill at four, tea 4.30 still no fatigues.
Good Friday April 21st 1916.
Reveille 6.0. Dirty parade 7.15. 8.0 Breakfast. C/o parade 9.0. Finished for day but not allowed out of camp under orders.
Saturday April 22nd 1916.
Reveille 6.0. Dirty parade 7.15. 8.0 Breakfast. C/o parade 9.0. Company drill till 12 o’clock, very warm, tea 4.30, went touring round.
Easter Sunday April 23 1916
Reveille 6.0. Breakfast 8.0. Church parade 9.0 till 10
Easter Monday April 24th 1916
Reveille 6.0. Dirty parade 7.15. Breakfast 8.0. C/o parade 9.0 marched onto sands, lay down till 2hrs plenty of visitors, easy day. My birthday 24yrs & no money.
Tuesday April 25th 1916.
Reveille 6.0. Dirty parade 7.15, breakfast 8.0. C/o parade 9.0 company drill, gruelling time in the heat, dinner 12 o’clock, 2 o’clock all got sand glasses, tea 4 o’clock, marched to Sidi Gaber with full pack, Blanket & oil sheet & kit bag, got train & left Sidi Gaber at 8 (pm) o’clock for Port Suez, very warm packed in carriage like sardines
Wednesday April 26th 1916.
Landed at Suez after having some fun all night, landed 7.30am Cpl Harrop met us to guide us to camp, arrived at camp and all the boys turned out to see us. Some handshakes by the old boys but what a lot of fresh faces, met Tom who was very pleased to see me, dinner 12.0 Saw uncle & night
April 27th 1916
Reveille 5.30 dirty parade, breakfast 8 o’clock, Sgt major asked me to go in Serg’s mess.
April 28th 1916
Reveille 5.30 went on divisional route march past saluting base General Douglas, highly commended on march, very windy, sand choking us, wearing our sand glasses. Took over in Sgt Mess as orderly, cushy job.
April 29th 1916
Reveille 5.30 breakfast 9.0 went buying in for mess in Suez, twisted Gypoe of 3pts.
April 30th 1916
Reveille 5.30 breakfast 9.0 very hot day, usual work.
******** No entries for May, June and July, the journal starts again on the 30th July.**************
July 30th 1916
Reveille 5.30 packing up, left Ballah 5.0 (pm) train on baggage guard unloaded Kantara & bivouac for night.
July 31st 1916
Reveille 4.0 loaded up & crossed canal, joined up with unit had breakfast, bully & biscuits, tea without milk & sugar, unit marched off for Hill 40 we dumped till 4pm train then left for hill 40 to hill 70.
August 1st 1916
Reveille 5.0 unloaded wagons made canvass camp, breakfast 7.30 biscuits & bacon, fatigues, 12 o’clock lunch, fatigues to dinner.
August 2nd 1916
Reveille 5.30 fatigues, 7.30 breakfast, under orders, got parcel from home.
August 3rd 1916
Reveille 5.0, breakfast 7.30, fatigues, lunch 12.30, Tea 6.0, 170 camels attached to us.
August 4th 1916
Reveille 5.0, breakfast 8.0, bacon, bully, biscuits, lunch 12.0, pack up, left hill 70 4pm. Told off to take charge of officers mount, rough road, arrived at 3rd field Pelusium 2am stop for night, 2yr of war.
August 5th 1916
Reveille 4.0 march across desert with camels & pack, terribly hot A.D.M.S. (Assistant Director Medical Services) orders C.O. to let us take our packs off, put them on camels, got nothing to eat, marched 8 miles fed up and done up, got 1pt of water & bit of broken bread, bully beef, rest 1hr, attended to Turks wounded, 8 men took down 800 prisoners, left again & trekked on few more miles then camped for night, got tea, no milk, no sugar, sent camels back for more water to Pelusium.
August 6th 1916
Reveille 5.0 breakfast 7.30 biscuits & bully, tea no milk & sugar, lunch eat our iron rations, dinner bully beef & biscuits.
August 7th 1916
Reveille 3am, breakfast 4am, left 5am, trekked 4 miles, passed plenty of dead Turks & horses, camels. Halted for two hrs waiting for convoy, got 1pt of water, took horses to oasis for water, got 2 biscuits & bully beef then trekked on for Katia, arrived at Katia 9 o’clock pm, unloaded camels got our packs, all dead beat, got drink of tea, 11.30pm got down to it.
August 8th 1916
Reveille 5.0 made bivouac shade from hot sun, lips all blistered, breakfast 7.30 biscuits & bacon tea with milk & sugar, made camp decent, lunch 1.0, fatigues.
August 9th 1916
Reveille 5.0 fatigue duty, 6.30 aeroplane bombing us, no one hurt, breakfast 7.30, attending sick & wounded, lunch 1.0, went on camel to 7th man, (7th Manchester regiment) saw Walter & enjoyed ride, had some fun Mush Hannah & Cobber Hughes racing, dinner 6.0, tea, bully beef, 1 potato.
August 10th 1916
Reveille 5.0. Aeroplane over dropping bombs on us again, such a scatter, no damage, breakfast 7.30 biscuits, some Australians wounded, got issued with canvass water bottle, satchels we call them, got bombed again.
August 11th 1916
Jony over again, 4 men wounded.
August 12th 1916
Reveille 5.0 fatigue, breakfast 7.30, few wounded, 1st line convoy left us at 8.30am for Ogratinener, more fatigue, lunch 1.0, took camels to water.
August 13th 1916
No bombs this morning, a fine warm day, 1st line convoy captures 5 bints, 1 age 90, 20 head of goat and sheep, lunch 1.0, one of lads kills a goat for dinner, keep a small one for mascot called it Katia.
August 14th 1916
Got bombed this morning, gypos running away, packed up, left Katia, 4 o’clock for Romani arrived Romani 9pm rotten march 7 miles.
August 15th 1916
Reveille 5.30 fatigue round camp, breakfast 8.0, fitting camp up, lunch12, riding horses to water, dinner 6.0, lights out 9.30.
August 16th 1916
Reveille 2.30am, parade 3.0 with full packs, manoeuvres 4F brigade against man.trs (Manchester Terriers??) position Roystons Hill, left 7.30 arrived in camp 10am dead beat & very hot, breakfast 10.15, lunch 1.0, fatigues, dinner 6.0.
August 17th 1916
Reveille 5.0 drill, breakfast 7.30, lunch 12.0, riding horses for water
August 18th 1916
Reveille 1.30am got tea, parade 2am, march to Mamohaiith, attacking railway line got back to camp 10.30
August 19th 1916
Sargs orderly, resting day.
August 20th 1916
Reveille 5.0 fatigues, breakfast 7.30, getting ready for another big route march, parade 2pm. 2.15pm left camp supposed Turks landing from the sea, repulsing.
The next entry was undated and separated from the last one with a small line, also from now until Jan 1st 1917 the journal entries are a little spasmodic and some dates a little vague.
Packed up, loading Camels, worked till 2am left Romari open trucks, landed Kantara 7.30 stayed in hut for brekkr, came down line for rest, on guard.
Sept 1916.
Straightening up & made camp, canvas, Sergs Mess
Sunday
5.0 reveille, 6am church service, parade, bathing in canal.
Mon Tues (days entered but no entry)
Wed 1916
Left camp 8.30am for Kantara station, left Kantara 10am for Sidi Bishr, landed Sidi Bishr 5pm got in tent had tea went to concert. Lena Ashwells in Albert Hall.
Thurs
Got up 7.30am had breakfast, medical inspection & lecture on venereal disease, fine lecture had & fine time swimming in sea. Had dinner, went in Alex 8 of us, tram ride 8 miles for ½ pisatre, almost wild after dessert, had good time touring round, got boots blacked. Dinner at French hotel, went to casino at night, singing all night, got back in camp 2.30 should be in 11pm
Fri
Got up 10am had brekkr in café, bathing by Turkish prisoner camp. 2pm went down Alex & seen some old faces at 15 Gen Hosp Station, at 7 had bed for a 1hr then tripped of with Penky & all to French hotel, 5 course dinner, good trip round, what fun, then finished at Kersal, got back 1am.
Sat
Got up at 8.0 had breakfast, swimming, some fun at piano in café, cleaned up, down town & Hotel again for dinner, finished up at the Iris & cake shop.
Sun
Still having a glorious time, rowdy tent at 10am so got up and slept in next tent but got rowdy there so as usual went bathing, wrestling horse back in water & few mouthfuls. Sg Ashworth horse I the man, won 3 games lost 1, then scrapping anybody, glorious time in town
Mon
Champion day, bathing & in café, cleaned up, went round sea front & seen spouting rock then a donkey each & round Nhooza gardens, had tea in gardens, went to Alhambra at night.
Tues
Got up 7.30, breakfast 8.0, wrote few letters, had a good time in café then bathing, making a good day of it last day in town, said goodbye.
Wednesday
Got up 7.30, breakfast 8.0, medical inspection 8.30, left Sidi Bishr camp 9.0, entrained for Kantara 9.30, left & arrived K 4.30 dead tired sick of R journey, arrived in camp 5.0, had dinner then told tales of how we had a good time.
Thursday.
Reveille 6.0, Oh after that glorious week, fatigues whishing ourselves back at Sidi Bishr.
Up to Nov 1st
Reveille as usual, usual fatigues & parades with so many men at Ballibriniue, Pelusium, Duirdas & Hill 70
Nov 1st
All out lying stations recalled in ready for going up line.
Nov 2
Reveille 5.30, fatigues, B.sec moved off to Mohamedieth . Headquarters still Kantara carrying on.
Nov 3 to 14
Still fatigues & parades nothing of any note.
Wed Nov 15th 1916
Reveille 5.30 busy packing up& cleaning camp, left Kantara 4.0 arrived Romani 7.30 had tea, unloaded train finished 9.30pm got bed lights out 10pm.
Nov 16
Reveille 6.0 fatigues, break 8.0 making camp, dumping the dump, carrying on sick parade for brigade
Fri Dec 1st 2nd 3 4
Mobile & Convoys getting ready for another stunt, getting cacolup right, lights out 9.15
Dec 5
Mobile & convoy moves off, headq still at Romani, left Romani for Kilo 128, arried 8.0 morning, Johy air bombing, got rum issue, one chap ps up in f tuk found next morning chewing bully beef.
Christmas Eve
Moving back to mayor
Dec 25
Reveille 6.0 cleaning.
Jan 1st 1917
Reveille 6.30, still at Mayor, cleaning lines, footballing, How dys to give concert in YMCA, seen Walter
7 Man, spent all afternoon trekking desert to find him. Mobile 4.2 (football score?)
Jan 2
Mayor. Reveille 6.0, resumed duties ordinary fatigues, convoy came in dumping dump
Jan 3rd
R 6.0 nothing but fatigues, mobile came in.
Jan 4
Reveille 6.0, moved camp 100yds, digging bushes up to make road for camp, return match with mobile won 2.1
Jan 5-6.7 1917
Still waiting orders to move, football RAMC v Fusile won 3.1
Jan 8th
6.0 Fusilers want return match before moving to take El Arish, finest game played, last match lot of excitement, lost 4.1, paid day
Jan 10
Reveille 5.30, mobile & convoy move off 9.15
Jan 11- 12 - 16
Packing up to join convoy. Headq RAMC v engineers football 3.2
Jan 17
Rev 6.0, brekkr 7.0, loading camels, take to station, loading trucks, got on train 6.0 open trucks slept there
Jan 18
Still on open trucks, arrived El Arish 7.30 unloaded, marched to mobile camp, bivouacked, very windy.
Jan 19
Very windy had swim in sea, got very stormy & windy, bivouac fell down, rotten weather.
Jan 20
Re 6.0 Rotten night, raining heavily during day, still windy, shovelling sand out of our ears, removed dump further on, Johy bombing.
Jan 21 1917
Still bad weather, sea very rough, all food tasted very sandy, again bivouac blown down so slept in Sg mess tent, awful night.
Jan 22
Bombed, removed camp 800yds & put canvass tents up busy all day.
Jan 23
Reveille 6.30 lights out 8.30, Johny over dropping bombs, aircraft guns have hard luck in not fetching him down
Jan 24
Very windy & cold opened out hospital fatigues
Jan 25
Johny Turk over two ……….. and having hard luck simply surrounded with shots no luck.
Jan 26
Reveille 6.0 excitement in camp heard 42nd Division moving to Mouskin, concentrating them for France, close hospital.
Jan 27.28 & 30
Packing all up & returning stuff to ordnance
Jan 31st 1917
Reveille 6.30, fatigues, transport leaves by road 8.30am, all stuff over on station dump, rugby match clobber 3rd Fuz 1/1 E.L.F.A Border Regt, fatigues
Feb 1st
Reveille 6.30, parade 6.45, fatigues, break 8.0, 9.15 parade, 10.0 bathing, 11.0 fatigue, 12.0 lunch, 2.0 parade, 3.0 went to 7th Man & saw Walter, bad news, Johny Turk over, two air (planes) our scout brought one down.
Feb 2nd
Reveille 6.30, fatigues, brekkr 8.0, 9.15 drill, very windy, sand storm tent going up like a balloon, advance party of 3 welsh T.A come to take over our camp. Serg Golden & few men going on in advance of our unit 2.0
Feb 3rd
Reveille 6.30, fatigues, brekkr 8.0, parade in lines, cleaning camp up for party taking over, left camp 11am, arrived at dump 12.0. had Maconachie’s & tea, loaded train, first party 3.20, second part left 6 o’clock, 30 in open trucks, arrived Kantara 2.0 got cup of cocoa, bedded down 4 o’clock.
Feb 4th
Reveille 6.30 tired, fatigues, brekkr, swim in canal, went to Kantara, went station for our kit bags for kit inspection, Had good nights enjoyment.
Feb 5
Reveille 6.30, Brekkr 8.0. fatigues on dump, all surplus stuff to be taken to ordinance, swim in Suez canal. Manchester brigade moved off by road to Moascar, Serg Major gave me photo.
Feb 6
Reveille 5.30. Blankets rolled up in tens, brekkr 7.0, fatigues, strike some canvass, left Kantara 9.0 & marched to
El Ferdan, pack, shorts & tunic over pack, arrived 4.0 bivouac night, got letters at last, one from Rush & Lily
Feb 7
Reveille 5.45, Breakfast 7.0, Rolled blankets up put on station, marched off 9.15, arrived Mouscar 3.30 dead beat & foot sore, with hard roads every body sore blistered feet, done up 3rd Field put canvass up, General complemented us on march.
Feb 8
Reveille 6.30, Brekkr 7.30, fatigues, few tents up, feet a little sore, resting all day.
Feb 9
Reveille 6.15, Parade 6.30, fatigue, went into Ismailia had a good feed & good walk.
Feb 10
Reveille 6.15, Fags all day
Feb 11th
Reveille 6.15, parade 6.30, drill, brekkr 8.0, parade, 6.0 clean up buttons, got pay, 1-0-0.
Feb 12
Reveille 6.15, parade 6.30, drill, CO inspections, transport arrived in, raining all day.
Feb 13
Reveille 6.15, parade 6.30, brekkr 8.0. CO’s parade, drill 12.0 dinner 12.30 Parade at 2 o’clock
Feb 14
R 6.15, Parade 6.30, roll call, physical drill, brekkr 8.0, CO’s parade 9.15, drill till 12.0, 12.30 dinner, went in town
15
Reveille 6.15, roll call 6.30, dirty parade, brekkr 8.0, CO’s parade 9.15, drill.
16
R 6.15, roll call 6.30, usual parade nothing changed.
17
Rel 6.15, roll call 6.30, dirty parade, inspection by General Dobel, fine turnout.
Feb 18
Got up at 4.0, left Ismailia 6.0am, pass for Cairo, arrived in Cairo 10.30am went to Anzac Hostel booked for bed, had feed, 6 eggs, 4 rashers bacon, 10pts, a good wash then off to pyramids had a guide, seen the 3 pyramids, & sphinx, & temple, largest pyramid 470ft high, went in temple of sphinx, seen tomb of King Cheops, very large red granite pillars, saw two new tombs only been opened a fortnight ago, new excavations floor & ceiling & walls all alabaster, inside big pyramids very stuffy hot & slippy, all carvings, Egyptian writing, guide explained all King Chiefs built big pyramid by aid of 2,000,000 slaves, with a whip, 30yrs & all the stone carried from by the Citadel part of which is now called dead city, all round tomb carvings of King Cheops & his Queen showing them offering to their God the Sphinx, carving of him driving the slaves.
Went to the Zoo which is so called the biggest in the world, some fine animals of all sorts, umpteen Giraffes, funny birds, delightful big gardens, quite a very busy day, went to hostel which as all the conveniences of an up to date hotel, had a good tea, went to picture empire, got a box, walk round met one of the old boys then turn in to hostel had a good hot bath 10pm needed it too then went to bed & oh we bounced in it.
Feb 19 1917
Got up 7.30, had a clean up & brekkr, set out 10 o’clock to various places, Citadel Mohamed Ali & Sultan Hassan Mosque, Muski, saw everything, went to top of tower of mosque, quite a busy day, Ali Mosque finest in world 2 large chancels 29 large chains in each, each weighing 100lb. One large chancel with 71 extra long chains & each weighing 200lb. 2 large brass & gold doors, beautiful 5 doors.
Feb 20
Reveille 6.15, parade 6.30, dead tired, missed that good bed, usual parade, got conduct stripe on inspection, march port by all division, fine crowds turned out of Ismailia to see it Saltinary base, Gen Douglas & Murray & etc.
Feb 21
Reveille 6.15, parades as usual, went in town in afternoon got p cards & brooch, easy day, C section left 7.0pm.
Feb 22 1917
Reveille 6.15, dirty parade, all busy packing up & cleaning camp, A section left Ismailia 7 o’clock for docks Alex arrived in docks Alexandria Gaborri 1.0am dead tired. 7-8 L.F.S on train & all embarked on HMS troopship Transylvania 3am.
Feb 23
East Lancs came on board nothing to eat only bit of bread & jam all day, left quayside five o’clock with escort of
T B D 2 all men will be crime walking about without life belt.
Sultan Hassan buried in Sultan Hassan Mosque, beautiful masonry building, inside the dome are 100 long gold chains at the end of each a lamp, the highest part of mosque 308ft we went to top, this is the mosque Napoleon bombarded, the citadel built by Mohamed Ali & finished by his son Alba Pasha in 1811, the floors and walls are of alabaster brought from the pyramids by slaves, as soon as you come to gate one comes to Ablution fountain where all have to wash there hands and feet before entering, after entering door of mosque you come to Mohammed Ali tomb, immediately right h side which is of gold t expensive tapestry, the first Kethive of Egypt. This mosque is exact copy of the one at Constant, it is illuminated with 2,000,000 lights, electric hanging from heavy braije?? chains & light up 5 times a year, the chandelier & clock presented by Phillip King of France, underneath pulpit where parson preaches is the wishing porch also beautiful gold description of sun rise in case, over the door you enter is beautiful leaden glass window & the sun set, the domes are all gorgeously painted and ornamented there being 5 in all, the length of the chains (2,0000) of chandelles 250ft each. The citadel as six gates four of which are only open twice a year and we also saw the private entrance and gallery of the Sultan, where the old tree stands is the place where a Capt Turkish officer spy got shot, opposite fort napoleon & near the quarry where the stone of the pyramids were got from & carried by slaves a distance of 15 miles to the site now occupied by pyramids, Palace of Mohamed Ali & feasting place of the Mamaluks at the time of persecution of the said race, one escaped by jumping over the gate on horse back, the horse was shot under him & he escaped, two sentry’s still await his return. Walk round citadel and general view of Cairo, we see from there a very short distance of the place where Moses was found in the bull rushes on the Nile, from there we could see the pyramids also of the biggest of Rameses 2nd & 5th & stone was carried by slaves from Mecca also 3 pyramids of the Mameorks , from there we walk to Josephs well, where it supposed is coat of many colours was found, dept 250ft or more, from there to museum where we saw the principle things of interest, Rameses 2nd & 5th embalmed. King Cheops & his father & two daughters also saw the Holy rams embalmed which were six in all that was worshipped by the Israelites on the desert, we saw the crown of Kings & Queens of Egypt, also rings which were many & ornaments of the Queens, also two links of Sapphire beads would cost to buy £1,000,000 each, the value of the jewel room is estimated at £25,000,000 sterling and is very well guarded
Feb 24 at sea.
Reveille 5.45, brekkr 6.15, clean up bunks, 1st class travelling, very stormy raining heavily & lightning the boat tossing, nearly everyone with bad head, change of climate, I near rolling up, reported sea hospital got 10grs caramel & mag sulf (magnesium sulphate??)
Feb 25 1917.
Reveille 5.45, Brekkr 6.0, Land, Malta in sight, got in Malta 7.0 anchored in St Pauls Bay where he was wrecked, plenty on mine layer & mine sweepers knocking about, stopped here.
Feb 26
Reveille 5.45, Brekkr 6.15, still anchored in St Pauls Bay, Malta, sea still rough, nothing to note, parade on deck with bare feet, saw seaplane. How age do’s 7 ??? give concert in officers mess, left Malta 10.30pm with 2 destroyers 69 & 74.
Feb 27 open sea rough.
Reveille 6.30, Brekkr 6.45, clean out bunk, got in straight of Messina, Italy & Sicily, very nice sailing beautiful scenery, Towns of Reggio and Messina past Mount Stromboli, very dull morning, afternoon raining heavy very rough sea.
Feb 28
Reveille 6.0 overslept myself & was mess orderly, very dull morning, sea very rough waves dashing over the boat. Playing push penny on floor of bunk. 62 bunk No3 bed with Tom & Cpl Blore & L J Root in bunk.
March 1st
Morning sea very rough, out on open sea, boxing on board by platoon v platoon of 7th L F S, afternoon past St Alba turned out nice usual parade, very cold to us gyppios, got in bed 10.30 playing chess & sing song.
March 2 1917.
Got up 5.30, clean up, brekkr 6.15, very calm & dull & very cold. 8.0 France in sight, got to Marseille 9.0, boat alongside quay 9.20am, unloading equipment, we left ship 6.0pm ten minutes march to station, entrained at 9.0pm left Marseille 10.10pm, 8 in carriage.
March 3rd.
Still in train first halt 5.55am to 6.35am got issue ration and tea, no sleep, got a cold, next stop Valence 1½, stopped 8.15 – 8.45 Les Lume
March 4th Sunday.
Still in train, had a halt for 1hr got tea & rations for day, biscuits, bully beef, beans, ………. & butter, had stop Lyon, plenty of widows all in black quite noticeable plenty of French soldiers about coming from & going to trenches, cheered & waves to us as we passed.
March 5
Arrived in Pont Remay 6.15 woke up first sleep in train for 3 nights, very cold our first sight of snow, very thick, disembarked 6.30, marched off to a country place village Abbeville then commandeered some barn houses etc filthy & wet, turned the pigs out of 1 lot so as we chaps could live in it, thawing and the road very slushy, clean out our billet got something to drink if it tea, managed to get some straw to put on floor my cold very bad.
Tuesday 6
Reveille 7.0 brekkr 8.0 biscuits & tea, had a good nights sleep cold much better, parade 2,30pm kit inspection, place we are on the line of Somme, dinner 1 tin machonsnie between 4, lights out 8pm, mail in got 5 letters, 4 football papers.
Wed 7.
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0am march to S.M billet for it, very cold, brekkr 8.0 reported sick 9.0 cl with bad ear, do look a rum bloomer with bandage round my face, M.O says a boil inside my ear, received two parcels one from home & from Lily a good feed at night.
March 8th
Reveille 6.30 roll call brekkr 8.0 parade sick, still like a brainsfather, dull day, snow & very cold, a march round got very warm, fine march, tea 5.0 lights out 8.0
March 9 Friday
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0 fatigues, dull day, snowing & sleet, sick parade, dinner12.30, bully beef piece of bread for day, filling water cart at brook, sloppy under foot, I went for rations, got issue of oranges 1 each, had the village some sport, lights out 8.0pm
Sat 10 March
Reveille 7.0 breakfast 8.0 dull day, sick parade 9.00 syringe hot forments 3 times day, nice morning, barn inspection by CO 10oc dinner 12.30, 2.0 parade, route march with wagon in attendance, raining very muddy the idea to keep rheumatism away, got some new straw, tea 5.0, bed 8.0pm
Sun March 11.
Reveille 7.0 breaker 8.0 sick 8.30 dull day a little warm, nothing doing, motor ambulance 7 attached to us, getting equipt, dinner 12.30, church parade in village school 3.0 ration fatigue 4.0 tea 5.0 lights out 8.0 received 2 letters.
Mon 12
Reveille 7.0 brekker 8.0 sick parade 8.30 dull morning, raining, fatigues, fatigues all blasted fatigues.
Tuesday 13 1917
Reveille 7.0 roll call, brekkr 8.0, 8.30 sick parade plug boil up, dinner 12.30, 2.0 parade loading wagons ready for move, tea 5.0 fatigues loading till 7.30, lights out 8.0pm, fed up, kit inspection.
Wed 14
Reveille 6.0 loading up, brekkr 8.0 fatigues, treated damn shamefully, all lads down, H transport move off, drilling 10-12.0 messing about with kit, dinner 12.30, parade 3.0c with full pack & two Blan, raining all day, lights out 8.0
Thurs March 15 1917
Reveille 5.15am fatigues, breakfast 6.30, fatigues loading up, got steel helmets, left village of Brays 8.0 & marched to station Longpre marched 8 miles with full pack, two blankets & oil sheet & overcoat rolled, forced march, shoulder fair aching with weight of pack, up to our eyes in mud, got ½ cup of tea & little packet of biscuits, got on train & arrived at Corbie, marched again to Hamel, treated like dogs every one of lads fed up& hearts broke, some cursing, nothing to drink but water, 8.0pm up to our eyes in mud shoving the carts, horses stuck in mud, very cold all night the guns very plain.
Friday March 16
Reveille 7.0 feeling very sore & stiff, rotten nights sleep, very cold, guns going like mad all day over, got breakfast 1.0oc a loaf between 8 men, fatigues unloading, plenty of airplanes up, dinner 6.0 stew, lights out 9.30pm good nights sleep.
Sat March 17
Reveille 6.30 roll call 7.0 guns going like blazes, brekkr 8.0, sick parade 8.30, 9.0am fatigues & drill 12.0, 12.30 dinner, parade 2.0, tea 4 oc lights out 9.30.
Sun March 18
Reveille 6.30 roll call, brekker 8.0, fatigues, parade 10-12.0 dinner 12.30, church parade 2.0, tea 5.0 - Arthur 22
Monday March 19
Reveille 6.30, roll call, brekkr 8.0, parade 9.30,inspection drill 10.0-12.0, 12.30 dinner, cleaning all wet straw & dirty part of billet, got pay of 20 francs, tea 5.0, went in village had port wine & champagne, no letters.
Tuesday March 20
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 8.0, fatigues 9.0. 10.0 drill, 12.0 -12.30 dinner, 2.0 parade lecture on gas attack tear shells, pouring rain & good lecture, tea 5.0, lights out 9.30.
Wed March 21
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 8.0, parade 10, fatigues, 12.0-12.30 dinner 2.0 drill, 5.0 tea, light out 9.30pm
Thursday March 22
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 8.0, cleaning up hut, 10.0am parade route march, dinner 12.30, 2.0 fatigues & drill, tea 5.0, lights out 9.30.
Friday March 23
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 8.0, fatigues & drill, dinner 12.30, washing cloths & a bath, removed equipment to another hut busy till 8.0pm, lights out 930.
Sat 24
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 8.0, cleaning up new hut. A section take over hospital for the week, dinner 12.30, usual parade, tea 5.0, lights out 9.30, nearly dead with a cold, put clock on 1hr
Sunday March 25
Reveille 4.30am, sudden move to W Pirrone packed up left Hamel, march 8.0am pulled up for lunch 12.30, set off 1.30, feet sore arrived at Cappy 3.30pm stopped night in hut, fatigue place everywhere severely bombarded, 4 mile from front line, got down to it 9.30pm dead tired.
Monday 26 March
Reveille 6.30, roll call, brekkr 8.0, fatigues loaded up and took over hospital a mile away, raining heavy roads awful, fatigues using us for horses, church shelled all holes
Tuesday March 27th
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 7.45, serg cook house, nobby little range, fatigues, dinner12.30, tea 5.15, lights out 9.15.
Wed March 28
Reveille 6.30, usual parades, building walls & such like, heavy fatigues, usual fatigue.
Mar 29 - April 5th
Usual fatigues, leave started Sg Golden & Crofts 1 month. Serg Mager J Harrop 15 others
April 6
Reveille 6.30, usual fatigues, no parade in afternoon, Good Friday service.
April 8
Easter Sunday, fatigues, church parade, enemy aircraft over every night bombing & early morning
Mon April 9
Usual parade, remainder of Amb joins up, A sec have a whist drive, invited all officers, I made coffee, French coffee.
April 10 - 17th
Usual fatigues & men going home on leave, umpteen of the brigade coming down the line with trench feet
April 14th
Time expired.
April 18 1917
Reveille 6.30, cooking for Serg’s, make custards for ourselves, eggs 4 for a franc, got chewed up by the CO for larking, lights out 9.15.
April 19
Reveille 6.30, still cooking
20, 21, 23
April 24
Reveille 6.30, Birthday 25. Tom goes home on 10 days leave, J Walker, Nib Heap, & Gilbert & myself have tea together, eggs custard & jelly fruit & cold meat, decent tea.
April 30
Usual workings
May 1st 1917.
Reveille 6.30, B section move up the line to Villers faucon, we packing up, lights out 9.15.
May 2nd
Reveille 5.0 cleaning up, very hot day, brekker 7.0, parade marching order 9.0, left Cappy 9.30am stopped for dinner just outside Perrone a welcome rest, shoulder sore with pack, set off again & met in Perrone some of the boys back from leave & some of the old boys who left us on Gallipoli, marched on to Templeux 16 miles, feet sore & shoulders dead beat got down to it heavy firing going on.
May 3rd
Reveille 6.30, very sore all over, unloading wagons, cleaning up, dinner 12.0, fatigues, tea 5.0, champion weather very warm, Lights out 9.15pm. 10.o’clock Stombas horn & bells going, gas alarm, all wearing the gas masks, German attack failed, we put up barrage fire.
May 4
6.0 Reveille, breakfast 7.0, 14 off up to advance station, German taube over all day, one shot down in flames a captive scout balloon of ours, plenty of excitement, lights out 9.15
May 5 1917
6.0 fatigues, brekkr 8.0, fatigues 9.0 till 12. 12.30 dinner, no letters for me, 2.0 packing up for another move, saw Royce chat, tea 5.30, lights out 9.0,
May 6
Heavy bombardment, raining heaving all night, Reveille 6.30, packing up, 7.0 brekkr, packing up, moved up line, left Templeux La Fosse to Villiers Faucon, tired but had to dig dug-out, got down 9.15pm & some digging, our guns bombarding, got letter from Lily.
May 7th
Raining very heavy all night, all in dug-out wet through, sleeping in water, blankets sopping wet all cloths & shirts too everything wet, up to our eyes in it, roll on Apres Le Gerrue, fed up 12mth to-day since poor old Fred got killed.
May 8th
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekker 8.0, drying our blankets etc, digging up dug-out, dinner 12.0, fatigues, not many cases, buried 2 eight Mancter. Tom rejoins us & downhearted he was, got cigs from him, got dug-out ready, fine day, 7 o’clock raining heavily, dug out champion, had a good night see, not been at all busy this last week.
May 9th
Dull morning, heavy shelling by Germans, all last night heavy gun fire, to-day one of our captive balloons drawing a lot of German fire, fight in air, German brought down our machine proper cheeky & smart, flying low over German trenches & cant hit them, not many cases, though one of our lads. T Aufforer wounded, shrapnel in both thighs.
May 10th
Sleep till breakfast 7.0, Germans lobbing over big shells on the road & in village, trying to hit HQ killed 4, many wounded, hellish morning, glorious day, nothing doing relieved party comes, rest for 3 days.
May 11
Reveille 6.30, gloriously fine, not feeling well, dizzy feeling, managed 1hr sleep, Bocks shelling again, orders to keep cover, all gas masks worn at alert, no letters.
May 12th 1917
Reveille 6.30, dull morning, brekker 7.30, getting short rations, plenty of excitement, guns going like mad, not many wounded, plenty of shrapnel over head, dash for cover, rumour that we are moving to another part of line, Arras, German Taubes trying hard for our balloons.
May 13
Reveille 6.30, brekker 7.30, 13 out of 16 RE got killed with one shell, bockes lobbing them over like fury, hellish time, 2 Manter got killed 4 wounded, 2 died on way to base hospital, plenty of wounded to-day considering quiet, glorious day very hot, this time last year we were 120 in shade, champion quiet afternoon, handed winter clothing in, good riddance.
May 14
Heaviest rain ever I experienced, up all night, every dug-out full with water, ours fully 3 ft deep, ladled it out with buckets, every thing wet, no sleep, rain on & off all day, Germans shelling us like fury, feeling very tired.
May 15
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekkr 7.30, tin of manchonices between four & biscuits, rotten rations, not enough to eat. Germans shelling, plenty of duds, The Queen of the Earth sends some back in return. Received letters from nobody, raining 1hr, managed to get a dry place to sleep.
May 16
Reveille 6.30, brekker 7.30, got a bit of bacon & bread, better than biscuits. Raining hard all day, very miserable, quiet day as regards firing, feeling queer.
May 17th
Missed reveille, still out of sorts, dull day, shelling like the devil, plenty of work, look round the grave yard, Germans graves, plenty of them & some English. 2nd Division Cavalry regmts & mounted amb relief come to take over our positions, packing up to go on another part of line, lights out 9.15
May 18
Reveille 6.30, roll call, brekker 7.30, fatigues packing up 9.0, 11.30 gas helmet drill, 1.0 dinner, packing up, tea 5.0 still more work, got down early for early reveille handed 1 blanket in to q.m.s
May 19
Reveille 3.30am brekker 4.15am, loading wagons moved off from Vellies Faucon 5.45am, shankes pony, full pack & blanket, marched to Fin 9 o’clock, put up in rest camp Equancourt, rested for day, some sport.
May 20
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, saluting till breakfast, doing penance, Church parade & drill, dinner 12.30, little fatigue, marched off 4 o’clock to B sec, taken over line, heavy storms, relieving 62nd F Amb, Cpl Spencer & Sgt Hamilton come back from month leave, very light & lights out 9.0, rain heavy, officers get tents put up for them & never bother about how we were.
May 21
Reveille 6.0, roll call 6.30, fatigue, brekkr 7.30, cleaning up & general fatigue, very dull, played 62nd field amb, football, rousing game, hardest of luck 2.1, 8.0pm rain all night.
May 22
Reveille 6.0, roll call in tent, rained all night & day, very mud up to eyes, 12 in tent, 30 more men gone up line, Took my pay book enter 15£ bounty, return match with 62nd F amb, two strong eleven & we won 3.1, lights out 9.0, dam it search lights flashing a lot during night enemy aircraft.
May 23 1917.
Reveille 6.0, roll call 6.30, fatigues tent, Sub division take over main dressing Co rest station plenty of excitement, aircraft over, duells & Germans trying to fetch our down but they are too clever. 62 f amb move off, we unloading wagons, 5 men to go on leave, a fine day, 30 of us share in a bit of cover, like sardines, lights out 9.0pm, Australians go over top, gas alarm, stand to.
May 24
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7.0, brekker 7.30, fatigues 8.30 till dinner, another tent Sub division go to Maricout Co rest station, guns fairly going it, champion day glorious.
May 25
Reveille 6.30, Air fights going on all day long, very dangerous shrapnel & shells, brocks firing at our airplanes, which fly very low & clever. Lancs fus just got relived in trenches by the Middlesex & 30 of Middlesex got capture but brocks got it very hot, lift many dead, not many cases though, lights out 9.0.
May 26
Reveille 6.30, fatigues etc, 4 men warned for leave, plenty of gun firing, usual excitement of our planes, glorious weather, beats the desert all this green. 2/2nd N Maitland F A, come to take over, beat HQ football 2.0.
May 27th
Reveille 6.30, Whit Sunday, another ideal day, 4 men go on leave, fatigues 9.0 church parade, resting, lights out 9.15pm.
May 28
Reveille 6.30, roll call 7., brekker 7.30, fatigues 9 o’clock till 12.0, dinner 12.30, had a good bath, champion day warm, busy day washing clothes.
May 29
Reveille 6.30, parade 7.0, brekker 7.30, loading up wagons, party moved off to Rauyalcourt, another glorious day
May 30
Re 6.30, still packing up for moving.
May 31st
Reveille 6.30, parade 7.0, brekkr 7.30, fatigues on dump & general clean up camp ready for handing over to Mid F d, played football, lights out 9.0
June 1st
Reveille 5.30, loading up wagons, brekkr 7.0am moved off 9.0, I rode took a pair of horses, arrived Ruayalcourt 10.30, unloading. What a rotten show, village had awful backing, working to death 8.0am till 8pm, making places to sleep in & for equipment, reception places for wounded, dead tired bed 10pm, suppose gas attack by us, guns bombarding like fury.
June 2nd
Reveille 6.30, & dead tired, guns playing little hell, brekker 7o’clock – 8o’clock work dammed hard filling up brocks latrines & various work, decent dinner to-day saw some spuds, lights out 9.15pm usual firing aircraft as well.
June 3rd
Reveille 6.30, roll call 6.45, & feeling very tired, gas alarm 12.0 mid, we making gas attack & had to put gas helmet on in case wind changed, usual work 8.30 till 12.0. 1.30pm till 5.0 all work & very hard digging, received letter from Lily, fine & very warm day, saw Uncle Walter he all tanned, lights out 9.15 but its that light that no one has got a light.
June 4.5.6.7.8 1917
Usual fatigues, digging new dressing station
June 9th 1917
Reveille 6.30, roll call 6.45, fatigues, bokes dropping them over
June 10th
Heavy thunder & lightning pouring down in rain, worse I have ever seen, everything floating, cleared of 4pm in afternoon.
June 11th
Resumed fatigues, heavy gun firing, we put out an enemy train of food stuff & ammunition, gain 400yds of ground, only 5 casualty’s.
June 12
Col Bentley preparing to leave us.
June 13 1917.
Reveille 6.30, roll call 6.45, brekkr 7.30, so many detailed for duty in firing line digging, Col Bentley leaves us at 9am. Major Callum 2nd Field Amb takes over as CO. fine day air very heavy, not much gunfire by us but Bochs lobbing them over all morning no damage.
This is the last entry in the Journal as the little book is full, and W H Smith was closed!
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