Fine morning but dull. We get in a full morning parade. Fritz sends over about 8 or 10 heavy shells into Arras but I don’t think he did much harm. Fine at night.
Oct 25 RONVILLE
Fine morning, showers later & strong wind. Not much drill, lecture in afternoon. Get my months leave washed out “rotten luck” but it can’t be helped. Wet at night.
Oct 24 ACHIECOURT
Fine morning. Cav Draft pde for inspection by C.O. We send 80 OR to NZ Tunnelling Coy. Bttn parades for Trenches (Reserve Line) at 4.0pm. I take a party of NCO’s to RONVILLE for instruction. Get a billet rather poor, but better than line. Wet & stormy night.
Oct 23 Y HUTS
Wet morning. Coys do 1 hrs training. Bttn pdes ready to march 3.45pm. Proceed via ARRAS to ACHIECOURT arrive about 6.30pm, very good billets, good sleep fine night.
Oct 22 Y HUTS
Fine morning. Coys do training. Maj Gen R.D. WHIGHAM visits Bttn looks well. I visit 8 CCS at night very good time. We get orders to move tomorrow.
Oct 21 Y HUTS
Fine morning Coys do 1 hours training & Box Resp [Respirator] inspection. Church parade 11.30 am. One Hun plane over about 11.35am. Visit ALISS (?) at night nice walk
Oct 20 Y HUTS
Fine morning Coys do 3 hours training. Platoon Drill. C.O. & Adjt. Go on leave. Nice day ALISS (?) comes up at night & we manage a bottle of whisky.
Oct 19 Y HUTS
Fine morning but dull. We have kit inspections etc & general clean up. Application for leave forwarded. Fine night we go & visit ALISS (?) & have a very good time.
Oct 18 EN ROUTE
Bttn parades ready to march off 4.30am, cold & windy but no rain. Arrive at HOPOUTRE siding 6.0am where the men get tea. Entrain about 7.0am. Train left 7.55am & after a very cold miserable journey we arrive at AUBIGNY about 3.0pm & march to Y Huts arriving about 6.0pm, very poor accommodation, quiet night & poor sleep, woke up by Maj. WALKER (Pig) & no sleep afterwards.
Oct 17 K CAMP
Fine morning, Bttn has inspection parades. Several Fritz planes over & one appeared to be brought down. We get orders to move at 7.0am tomorrow. Very cold & windy at night, heavy rain. Adj.[Adjutant] tells me to send in for one months leave (done)