Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1917 - January 1918 - Part 2

exorbitant. We arrived
back at Tunbridge
Wells at 3 p.m.
Friday 16^th Nov 1917
Left T.W. by the 6.50. a.m.
train arrived Charing
Cross station about 8.45.
After some trouble
caught buss to Chelsea
Town Hall and then
walked back to to
Hed Mrs Walcott's place
at 1 Rosette Garden Mansions.
Nina came down about
10.30. a.m. from the
hospital where she is nursing.
Had to leave at about 11.30.   
We walked down to
Salone Square. I caught
a taxi there and
drove to Paddington
just in time to catch
12.20. train to Warminster,
We travelled via Readings
Newbury Devizes and
Wesbury. changed at Westbury
for Warminster. On the
Hills at Westbury there
is a white horse carved
in the chalk to commemorate
King Alfreds victory over the
Danes. Arr. Warminster about
4 p.m. and were immediately
marched to the Camp
after the usual amount
of standing round
we were given blankets
and told off to huts.
W And were free till
next morning.

Saturday 17 Nov 1917
Today we paraded at
9 a.m. and were inspected
by the Dental Officer
and Medical Officer for
classification. I'm marked
4.3 which means one foot
in France and the other
on a greasy banana skin
in France England.
After being classified
we drew our clothing
from L.M. and were
then free till 9 p.m.
At that hour we fell in
and marched to our
new quarters in No 9
Camp. Several of us
are marked O.T.B we
move there on Tuesday.
Sunday 18^th Nov 1917
Having been enoculated
on Saturday we did not
have to attend church
Parade this morning.
at 2 p.m. We were free
to go out. Several of us
Went to Warminster. I wanted
to find church Street
and St Boniface college
where Willie Willis is at
school. While looking
round for them I spotted
a place where tea was
being served to Soldiers
I went in and while there
I enquired from a young
fellow where St Boniface
College was. 'Just round the
corner' he said and pointing 

to a man sitting at a
desk close by he said
that is the Head master.
So I went and spoke to
him and he invited me
to the college to t
tea on Saturday.
Afterwards I walked
back to camp round
and found the college
and church street
and started back for
camp when it entered
my head that I had
a film I wanted developing
so I entered a photographer's
shop, close by,
and to my great surprise
found Ted there.
I had no Idea he
was in England, much
less near Warminster
He is with the Artillery
Reinfs at Haytsbury.
We had a great deal to
talk about so spent the
afternoon in talking
and eating afternoon teas
Drawing - see original document
Monday 19^th Nov 1917
To day is my birthday
22^nd not that is any
different to the other days
there certainly has 

been nothing to mark
it except that I met
Mr MacKinley my old
platoon officer.
We had another medical
and dental examination
today and it was
while we were waiting
that I happened to
see Mr MacKinley
We only had a kit
inspection this afternoon
and when that was
over I decided to look
up the Rev Daimpre
I found his lodgings
but he was out so
I decided to look up
Mr McKinley. I went
to the quarters where
I thought he would be
billeted and sure enough
I found I had not made
a mistake he was there.
He seemed glad I had
called in. He was able
to give me a lot of news
of the battalion and
after tea I went round
again and we went down
to the T.B. to look up
Cpl Cook He was out
however.
Tuesday 20^th Nov 1917
Fell in at 9 a.m. this
morning and handed
in our blankets. Fell
in again at 1 pm and
after having put our 

packs on a G.S. waggon
we marched to this camp
Here we were told off
to our various training
battalions. As soon as
I had got my bed and
blankets etc I set out
to see about putting
in an application for
a transfer to the
A.F.C. F I tried the
Coy Orderley room, B.O.R
and Brigade O.R. but
could get fo no forms.
However I wrote out
an application and the
Orderley Corporal has
promised to try and
get it recommended
by the O.C.
The weather is very
blustery, grey, and a light
drizzling rain
Wednesday 21^st Nov 1917
Fell in about 8.30. all Btn
Lewes gunners were
called out, so out I
went. Getting instruction
on the Lewes Gun is
better than physical
jerks and bayonet
exercise. Had a route
march in the afternoon
out through Longbridge
Deverill. Had the bad
luck to loose a purse
with 13/- shillings in.
last night.
Still drizzling a bit 

Thursday 22 Nov 1917
On Lewes Gun again today
Had to go to L.M. and
get fully equipped before
dinner, that is had
in my extras, like raincoat
1 Kaki uniform, kit bag
etc and draw, blankt
full webb equipment
two gass helmets etc.
Lewes gun again this
afternoon.
Met Corporals Bisdoe
and Whiteside today
both from B, 11^th but
been in England for
some months.
No luck with my
transfer, wouldn't look
at it. Still cloudy
but no rain and have
had a good deal of
sunshine today
Friday 23^rd Nov 1917
Went on sick parade this
morning, am getting
fomentations on the cyst
and the Doctor is going
to take it out for me
on Sunday. Fell in
on parade as usual.
Went on the range this
afternoon morning
with the lewes guns.
During afternoon parade
men were called out
to go to a signal
school. I went out, wont
know for several days
whether I am going or 

not, school lasts 14 weeks

I jumped at it as it will

assist me in getting into

the Flying Corps.

Been cloudy and drizzling

all day.

Forgot to mention that

some General came

round at dinner time

and we had to fall in

to be inspected. Somthing

wrong with our stove

it is nearly suffocating

us with smoke tonight

Saturday 24 Nov 1917

On fatigue in the Canteen

this morning. This

afternoon went into

Warminster. Walked

round looking for 

Ted but as he did not

appear walked to 

the photographers got

the film and then

walked to St Boniface

College and had tea

with the Headmaster.

Left Warminster at 8.30

Sunday 25^th Nov 1917

Nothing much to enter

today. Church parade

this morning. Did not

go any where this afternoon

As I was broke, and it

was too cold. Frightfully

cold wind been blowing

away all day, it tried

to snow once

Monday 26^th Nov 1917

Our fatigue at the Salvation

Army hut all day to day.

An excellent job, not

much work and scored

a cup of tea and cakes,

both in the morning and

afternoon. Was paid 

this evening but only 

drew 10/- as credit in

book was only 8/-11.

Tuesday 27^th Nov 1917

On fatigue again today

but my work was not

 nice. I was detailed to 

help the camp pioneers,

and as the fellow

detailed to work

with me did not turn up

I had it all to do myself.

Had the snaps I took of

Donhead and left at 

Tunbridge Wells to be

developed sent to me today

they are very good.

Hut orderley made me a

present of a very decent

printing frame this

evening.

Mapstone came into this

camp today. This is the

first time I have seen

him since he was  wounded

on the morning of the 

20^th. This is what happened

to him after he crawled

back into the trench.

Deciding he would try

and crawl to the dressing

station he started off

but only managed to

get about five yards, not

long afterwards a shell

burst just where he

had been lying, killed

three men and blew

the arm  off a fourth.

Later on he was buried

by a shell  where he 

was lying but his tin

hat saved him from

suffocation. Two German

prisoners and two

12^th Btn men dug him

out, he was then carried

as far as the prisoners

cage by four prisoners

and after trying to

crawl from there to

an aid post he was picked

up by an ammunition

carrier, who slung him

over one of the horses

and carried him to the

aid post. Of course he

was taken on from there

by motor.

Wednesday 28^th 1917

Detailed as fatigue to the

Canteen today. had to

fall in at 10.45. and

do bayonet exercise

and bombing as some

Red Cap was expected
He did not turn up however.
In the afternoon

all the men on cushy

fatigue jobs, except

the three of us on the

Canteen, came a gutza

and had to go on parade.

After tea this evening

walked down to Longbridge

Deveril post office and

sent off a couple of

papers.

Today has been cloudy,

but has not rained, and

has been quite warm

Thursday 29^th Nov 1917

On Canteen fatigue again

today, but this afternoon

we had to go on parade

and were detailed for

guard. We dismissed

had to dress for guard

and and fell in at

20 to 4 p.m.. This is the

first guard I have done

in England. Guardroom

and quarters are very

decent so is the food.

This camp so far

has been much better

than Salisbury in

food, in fact in every

way. Today has been

quite mild, Cloudy but

no rain.

Friday 30 Nov 1917

As number five post

was only on at night

I had very little to do

today. Came off guard