Fine day. We have a holiday. Officers play the Sergts at Football in the afternoon, former win by 4-1, very cold. Heavy rain at night. Quiet time.

Wet again. Not much doing. Offrs [Officers] dinner at night Hotel-du-Flandres, plenty of singing etc. but I have a good nights sleep.

Wet day. Not much doing. A Coy play A Seaforths in the afternoon Semi final Bgde Cup. A win 3-0 good game. Whist drive at night Offrs & Sgts [Officers & Sergeants] 32 play, very nice evening.

Fine day. Church service at 10.45 very nice. Nothing in the afternoon so I go to hear the band at the theatre, very nice indeed. Get a bottle at night Martells

Wet again, awful day. CO’s inspection of Bks [Barracks]. Quiet day.

Wet day & we can’t do much at all. Quiet day.

Fine day. Nothing much doing. Whist drive at night & we have a very good party, Band to play & everything all serene.

Fine day. We have a very good time. Troops dinner at 1.0 pm. General & Col [Colonel] go round. Sgts [Sergeants Mess]  Dinner at 6.0 pm. Gen & Col come along also several other officers. I keep the menu as a souvenir. Very good time. Finish up about 1.0 am. *

*this menu is in the Dorset History Centre with the Beck Diaries. D-1820/1/16

Fine day but dull. Very busy preparing for Xmas. Rehearsal of concert in the morning. Concert at night which went off very well.

Wet miserable day. Leave Lille at 9.0 am Miserable journey roads very bad. Arrive Mons 2.15 pm. Leave again about 3.0 pm arrive Val [Valenciennes] at 5.0 pm & fed up.