Diary of Oberlin Herbert Gray, January to August 1918 - Part 11

1918  MONDAY 24  JUNE

S. John Baptist. Midsummer (British Isles)
searchlights which were seeking
an unwelcome visitor -
English leave reopened the
other day - 2 of our men
have gone - it is 14 days
now. 

JUNE  TUESDAY 25  1918
Meeting of the Literary circle,
A debate on "Should we have
Reprisals" - there were 3 speakers
on each side Roberts MacI.
& Dixon v. Holt & S & I.
It was almost a foregone Conclusion
that the affirmative would win,
still it provided an interesting
evening with plenty of argument.
O.L. Holt appointed Editor of the
"Chatte" -
A Cricket Match with a team from
2^nd C.C.S. at Blendecques, We won.
by an innings & 15 runs.
Paris leave has reopened, men
can have their 14 day "Blighty"
leave in France if desired.
Men may draw up to ₤28 or in
same proportion if for 4, 6 or 8
days - I hope to see Paris
later on. 

1918  WEDNESDAY 26  JUNE
A party under Corp Pollock
was digging a big dug out
near our tents, & one of
B. Sect. threw a piece of clay
at Ct Lilford who was passing.
He was naturally very
annoyed, & as noone would
confess, he placed Corp Pollock
under "open arrest", in which
he made a mistake.
A Fritz machine was right
above us shortly after 9.30, all
the m.g.s in the district
were firing but failed to do
any damage - A piece of
shell came through the
tent near me (one of our Antis) 

JUNE  THURSDAY 27  1918
Case against Tom Pollock dismissed 

1918  FRIDAY 28  JUNE
A Soccer Match between SAfrican
Med Corps & an Eng team -
The former lost, they were
very much "off Colour". 

JUNE  SATURDAY 29  1918

S. Peter
2 Fritz machines over us in the
evening. Scores of shells fired
at them, but they disappeared
finally in the distance. 

1918  SUNDAY 30  JUNE

5^th After Trinity
A heavy bombardment early
morning & a shorter burst
of firing soon after noon. 
JULY  MONDAY 1  1918
Very warm, the warmest
day this year -
I commenced S.Duployan Shorthand.
a dozen chaps are taking it - 

1918  TUESDAY 2  JULY
About 6.30 PM one of our planes
was downed by a Fritz, about
a mile away - It dived nose
first with terrific force, The
Fritz was very high, he made
top speed back to safety, as
there were several others of ours
in the vicinity 

JULY  WEDNESDAY 3  1918
Shorthand English & Arith in evg. 

1918  THURSDAY 4  JULY
Held Sports in afternoon, all
team events - In tug of-war each
State was represented Queensld.
first & Tas. second - Stretcher
Squad race, team race, wrestling
on "pick-a back. Wheelbarrow race
boat race - teams of 6 running
backwards astride pole with a
cox to direct, & 4 legged race
2 outside men facing opposite direct.
to centre man - also Band
race. -
Several competed for the most
consistent fancy dress - Packg McF
as a Chinaman was voted
the best, but the 1st was given to
Les Frane (as a female)impersonator)
with "her" little boy Willy, our
despatch rider who was very
funny. The "negro fire brigade"
was good, the chariot was a
French 3 wheeled farm wagon
drawn by a draught horse,
which was also decorated -
the wagon was ornamented with
"stars & bars" in honour of the
Yanks. 

JULY  FRIDAY 5  1918
The Sports were concluded in
the afternoon. The most
interesting event was the wrestling
on horseback - Rule that any
man touching ground with feet
was out of action - 4 teams
competed S.Rixon & 3 Tasmns
represented C sect. They were beaten
by the Transport sect after an
exciting contest. The men were
stripped to the waist & it looked
like some mediaevel combat
when the 2 opposing sides bore
down on each other - B sect.
won from A sect, & then B met
the transport & after a very
exciting battle won, only 2 men
remaining on the backs of
their steeds.
Several American officers &
men of the Med Service are
attached to the unit. 

1918  SATURDAY 6  JULY
General Glasgow, one of the
new Austn leaders - called
in, & had a look round the
camp -
The higher ranks of British
Officers with the Austn army
are being attach replaced
by Australians -
General Monash has taken
Birdwoods place.
Rumors that we will be in
the Line some time longer -
The 1^st Fd are still running
the ADS & posts.
3 wks Austn. mail arrived up
to May 8^th All well. 
JULY  SUNDAY 7  1918

6th after Trinity
The rumor is: that Birdwood
said its no use looking forward
to going out for a rest
as they have no one to relieve
us - It is very "rough"
the infantry, as they
have been in & out at short
intervals all the time -
There have been 800 Killed in the
1^st Div. during the last 2 mths
Writing in the aftn., found
a quiet corner in the trench,
out of the breeze. 

1918  MONDAY 8  JULY
Fatigues in morning -
On duty from 6 to 10 in evg.
The tadpoles have dropped their
tails & the young frogs are
hopping all over the country. 
JULY  TUESDAY 9  1918
The transport brought several
loads of old bricks from
Caestre. 

1918  WEDNESDAY 10  JULY
I went to Caestre with others
to get bricks for the roadway
& car stand at the M.D.S.
The appearance of Caestre
has changed very much since I
saw it last in April - It has
been shelled heavily & many of the
houses are in ruins while the
Church has many holes in its
roof, & every window is shattered.
A 4.7" "dud" lay on the floor
at the base of one of the pillars.
We found some fruit in the
Priests garden - black, white & red
currants, wht & red raspberries
& a few strawberries - We had
lunch in a house, that had been
occupied by a wine merchant -
with a nice garden in the rear -
Visited a shop once occupied by
a refugee from Ypres, who has
now once again had to flee from
her home. 

JULY  THURSDAY 11  1918
O's birthday.
I went down to 1^st CCS beyond
Blendecques, the HQ of the 2^nd Army.
Delivered patients, then looked up Ferg
Duff & had a chat with him of old
friends - Also found & introduced myself
to Ted Inches of Shipwrights Pr.
He is in charge of X Ray & Electric Lt
plant there. I had a good chat
& went over to the Sgts Mess with
him to dinner. It came on to rain
so waited till 2 PM, then walked
across the hill towards St Omer - From
the top, of the hill, on which stood a
large aerodrome, a beautiful view
of the surrounding country is obtained -
A large white chateau standing
amongst the dark green of an extensive
wood lay beyond the valley &
turning I saw the towers of St Omer
rising from the next valley.
I walked in by the main highway
from the East, & after spending a few
hours walking round the streets
public gardens & by Canal, I walked
towards Argens but fortunately
caught a lorry & came through
Hazebrouck to within 2 Kilos of
the Camp. 

1918  FRIDAY 12  JULY
Helping with roadway for
Motor Amb. car Stand, &c.
Moved marquee for the ART
sports to-morrow. 

JULY  SATURDAY 13  1918
In afternoon played cricket
with 102 Howitzer Bty. & won
Also had a tug of war, which
we won on first pull but
lost on second & third pulls
A concert in the evening given
by the "Sentimental Blokes
a touring party of Australians
They were very good, & gave
a most amusing entertainment
lasting until the twilight
deepened & the moon had
risen.-