Diary of Oberlin Herbert Gray, January to August 1918 - Part 12

1918   SUNDAY 14   JULY

On stretcher duty at

Receiving room

A meeting in the evening, singing

& a simple service led by 2

or 3 of the fellows - The Sunday

evg meetings are usually well

attended, about 50 or more -

In the tent I am in, there are

all kinds of beliefs - One (a

Uni student) is a Theosophist

Others R.C. Church of Eng, Meth.

Presbyterian Ch. of Christ, Soc. of Fds.

JULY   MONDAY 15   1918

French Conversation Class

M'. Minstre the interpreter is

giving 2 evenings a week -

Several of the fellows are well

advanced, only French is

spoken in the class.

1918   TUESDAY 16   JULY

A humorous evening of

Literary Circle - Dave Rees

acted as Chairman, he is

very dry - Harry McNeil -

MacIlroy & James. gave contributions

Decided to hold a mock

trial next Tues evg. if we are still

here.

Barlow & Ted Farrel returned

to the unit -

Went to Caestre for bricks,

returned after lunch. Very warm.

JULY   THURSDAY 17   1918
Germans have commenced an
attack on 50 mile front near
Rheims.- On our right, there
has been heavy artillery fire
for 2 days, - Rumors of a
coming attack here.
Thousands of fresh troops have
been coming into reserves lately

1918   THURSDAY 18   JULY
Watched one ^of our baloons,

drifting by overhead - It had

escaped, & we were firing at

it to try & destroy it - failed

to do this.

JULY   FRIDAY 19   1918

French & Americans have made a

big push towards Soissons,

4000 prisoners.

Several of 12^th Bn came through

they are supporting Scotch near

Meteren - We have taken

Meteren - compar. few casu.

JULY   SUNDAY 21   1918

Church parade in the morning

at the Nucleus Camp near

Borre beck - glorious day.

1918   MONDAY 22   JULY

Cross country race between

South Africans & 15 of

our chaps - 5 kilos.

One of our men came first-

SA. came 2nd & 3rd.

JULY   TUESDAY 23   1918

Rained off & on all day -

1918   WEDNESDAY 24    JULY

Several of C Section went to

Sec Bois for it is about 4 

Kilos from the front line but

very peaceful at present.  After

finishing the work F.W. & I walked

over to the Canal - I had come

along this same road last Feb.

Now the whole place looks neglected 

The canal had a bridge thrown

across it, & the stream is not

flowing - Fields of Wheat oats

etc ripening .. grass 3 ft. high

everywhere, wild flowers in

abundance, & air soft & warm

with the sweet scent of mingled

wildflowers, One large field

near the Canal seemed to

reflect the sky, scattered over

with flowers of a cornflower blue

shade the size of a briar rose

white marguerites & smaller daisies

Another wild flower a mass of

soft creamy white bloom &

the waving corn glistening

in the sunshine - There are

other fields where a purple thistle

like flower predominates or

the gold of danelions & other

yellow flowers. The defences
JULY   THURSDAY 25   1918

of Hazebrouck trenches & barb wire

etc. are very strong.

1918   FRIDAY 26   JULY

The 12^th Bn had a number 

of casualties

Raining. our tent leaks

like a sieve !!!!
JULY   SATURDAY 27   1918
Very showery - Went to
Sec Bois, retd to dinner
Saw R. was the cause of
many rumors going around
the Camp re. his falling
into the hands of M.Ps.
it even reached the Colonels
ears.
W. Riordan left for Paris on
8 days leave.

JULY   MONDAY 29   1918

Alf Clemes passed through on

his way to C.C.S. he was badly

wounded in the side, but

was very cheerful - It's only

3 mths since he was wounded

last & had only just retd.

to his unit -

Good news from the South -

The Americans & French are

advancing from the Marne

1918   TUESDAY 30   JULY

The 9^th 10^th & 12^th "went over"

& helped take Merris -

Sgt Whittle of 12^th & Vic

Wooley were among the

wounded -

Heavy mist early morning till

8 o'c folld by

A glorious day -

Preparations being made

to take over A.D.S. from

1^st Fd A - The 2^nd are

coming here from the

DRS

Andy Chalmers who is away

on leave is going to 11^th as

W.O.

JULY   WEDNESDAY 31   1918

Orders to move, cancelled

Rumors that we are going 

to Somme shortly.

Parcel Mails June 9 to July 2 were

lost at sea - (outward)

Coal in Paris is £7/4 /- ton

1918   THURSDAY 1   AUGUST

The 29^th Dn AMC took over

from us during morning -

struck tents & packed all

belongings on GS. Wagons -

Waited till 7 PM to leave

the camp - then shouldered

our Kit & marched to 

the railway - very dusty

There we waited till dusk had

fallen; the 10^th Bn. were also

assembled there, & at 9 PM a long

line of Motor lorries drew up, &

we boarded.  They brought us

through Arques to Blendecques -

Enemy planes were over, & the

numerous searchlights in the

St Omer district were busy.  Later

we learnt that 2 bombs dropped 

in our old camp, & 5 others near.

One aerial torpedo fell in a 

wheat field & beheaded a great

area.  After a drink of cocoa

at a temporary kitchen, we

set out for Quiestede, arriving

there before 3 AM. & found a

comfortable billet in a barn.

We slept well, it is the same

farm we stopped at on the

AUGUST   FRIDAY 2   1918

way to Boulogne last Nov.

Raining most of the morning, & very

wet & muddy about the place.

We slept well, were awakened

by barking of dogs & bleating of

a small mob of sheep.  In the

evening went for a walk with

[[Aich?]] S. to Quiestede village, on

to Roqueton, a small town

where we saw several Portugese (Pork

& beans" or "Pork & cheese" is their usual

name from Austns. with whom

they don't get on very well)

They are able to pick up the

French language much quicker

than British people. - Retd

to the farm by a different

route, through pretty country

crops of corn, changing to gold

The women & old men left

on the farms are commencing

the harvesting.  This is

a nicer part of the country

than we have been in,

not so flat, & more distant

from the track of war.

This farm is an old one &

rather larger & more substantial 

than the average -