Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1917 - January 1918 - Part 3

at 4/15 p.m.
After tea Mapstone and
I went round to look up
Peter, we found him at
tea in the Sergts Mess.
He came to the Y.M.CA.
with us, we sat and
yarned and then Peter
and I went to a concert
in 13 camp. It was the
Boomerang concert party
and was very good.
Forgot to mention that
parcels have been sent
on from the Btn. I
received two yesterday
one from Doocksey the
other from home, sent
for my birthday.
Saturday 1^st December 1917
Todays parade began
with a blanket parade
We were then on fatigue
I struck cook house
About 10.30 all Signallers
had to parade we were
given a short test in
writting and spelling
and dismissed. Had to
fall in again at 1.30
we were then told who
had been picked for
the school. I had the
luck to be one of them
We next paraded to
the QM to hand in
some of our overseas
kit such as, blanket, jerkin
gas helmets etc and to
 

draw, kit bag extra pair of
boots, tunic and breeches
and singlet.
This afternoon, Gazely
and I walked into Warminster
intending to meet
Ted, but he did not turn
up. I am going in again
tomorrow.
Sunday 2^nd December 1917
Usual church parade
this morning. The same
Pardre preached that
preached last Sunday.
He preaches an excellent
sermon.
This afternoon I walked
to Warminster going
round by the Pioneer's 

Camp to see the Rev
P.W. Daimpre, but he
was not in.
Met Ted at Warminster
We stayed the afternoon
there and took a couple
of snaps. While having
tea at the Church tea
room I met Lang of 22/11.
It appears he did send the
films I left with him to
be developed, but they
must have gone astray.
Wrote home this evening and
sent the snaps of Donhead
Monday 3^rd Dec 1917
Today we have shifted
to the 2ⁿ. T. B to the
Signal School. I will
 

outline the days proceedings.
We fell in on the usual
morning parade. All
signallers were then
called out. After about
15 minutes waiting we
were then paraded to the
M.O. for medical inspection
Then dismissed to our
huts to pack our kits
About 10.30. we were
marched to the Draft
Office and were there
taken over by another
N.C.O. We left our kits
there to be brought
down by the transport.
We marched down
to 2^nd T.B. and after
having to certify
at the B.L.M. that
our kit was correct we
marched to the M.O.
but as it was 12 noon were
told to go back at 1.45
Were taken and handed
over to C Coy. After
some trouble we secured
some bread and jam
for dinner. At 1.45 we
went through another
Medical and Dental
inspection, were then
taken and allotted to
a Hut. Blankets and
mattresses were unobtainable
till about
6 p.m. but with the usual
red tape we got them.
Paraded before the O.C.
 

this afternoon and
about a transfer to
the A.F.C. An Am getting
the application forms
tomorrow.
Since coming into
this camp have met
Lang, Timperley and
Withers of the 22 Reinfs
Tuesday 4^th Dec 1917
Were put on fatigue this
morning but started
at the signal school
this afternoon.
Filled in the transfer
forms for the A.F.C.
this evening will not
know for a week
or so whether it has
gone through or not.
Wednesday 5^th Dec 1917
PT. and Signalling today
nothing of interest to enter
up. Weather extremely
cold and this evening
very foggy. any amount
of ice about now
Thursday 6^th Dec 1917
Very severe frost last night
everything white this
morning. The day has
been extremely cold.
Nothing to enter up just
carried on the usual routine
of the school
 

Friday 7^th Dec 1917
Warmer again today
Making some progress with
the signalling. Heard this
evening that the application
I had lodged, since I have
been attached to this T.B.
has be recommended
by the O.C. and gone on
to Brigade.
Were paid this evening, have
a frightfully bad system &
it took hours.
Saturday 8^th 1917
Mess orderly today so I
missed the PT in morning
Went into Warminster
this afternoon and met
Ted. We both went to
tea with the headmaster
of St. Boniface College.
Afterwards went to the
pictures. Have just arrived
back from Warminster 9 PM
Raining a steady drizzle
Sunday 9^th Dec 1917
Church parade this
morning and afterwards
a muster parade, nearly
got nabbed for picket
This after noon I took
some clothes to be washed
to one of the Cottagers and
then walked on to the
cross roads to meet Ted.
We were going into
Warminster, As he did
 

not turn up I guessed
he was on duty so
walked to the artillery
Camp it is about 2½ or 3
miles from here, just
past the village of
Heytsbury. Found him
on 'Stables' However they
came off duty a few
minutes later. We had
some tea at the Canteen
and then return went
to church at Heytsbury
I arrived back in Camp
about 9 p.m. Saw Sig Chandler
this evening of 22/11. was wounded
on 20^th Sept
MONDAY 10^TH DEC. 1917
Frightfully Cold today
quite like last February
making fair progress in signalling.
Wrote to Adjutant of 11^th
about the application I had
lodged. Quite a number
of Motor and Omnibusses
are fitted up to use coal
gas and look very queer
with the balloon like arrangement
on top.
TUESDAY. 11^th DEC. 1917
Weather very changeable
cloudy this morning
Cleared up and
became quite warm
about 11 pm. While this
afternoon has been
freezing cold.
While signalling
this morning an
aeroplane flying
 

overhead suddenly
did a corkscrew dive
which quite took our
attention from signalling
Walked across to the
6TB this evening to see
Peter but he had gone
to France.
WEDNESDAY 12^th DEC 1917
This evening I biked into
Warminster to a sort of
concert given by the
boys at St Boniface, it
was very good indeed.
Ted also went in.
Thursday 13^th Dec 1917
This evening I again
biked into Warminster
to the College as the
boys were having a
dance. Ted went in too and
had several dances.
I met a Mrs Tomlin. she is
wife of the principal of
the College. Have and
invitation to go and
see them any Sunday
I can get off.
Friday 14 DEC 1917
Went to the Quack this
morning to get let off
PT as I was feeling a bit
off. Got sent to hospital
instead as my temperature
was over 101°, not much
of a hospital. Beds comfortable
but don't think the
blankets have ever
been changed. However
its warm which is the
 

main thing in this
miserable country.
Tuesday 18 Dec 1917
Came out of hospital
this morning. The food
there was very poor. First
two days I was on light
diet, which consisted of 1 slice
of bread & butter 1 cup of tea
and a little porridge for
breakfast. Dinner
consisted of. Cup of soup &
half a slice of bread also
some maizena pudding.
Tea consisted of 1 slice
of bread & butter 1 slice
bread & jam, 1 cup of tea.
After two days I was put
on full diet which meant
I received meat for breakfast
and dinner but did not
 

get any pudding.
Managed to get discharged this
morning and came back
to Camp. Got all my kit again
and this afternoon continued
on with the signalling.
Wednesday 19 Dec 1917
Usual run of signalling we are
on signal forms, Prefixes.
Miscellanous sigs and
have also had some lamp
reading. Weather extremely
Cold. has been freezing ever
since the snow fell on
Saturday.
[*D.R.L 3660(3d)*]
 

Thursday 20 Dec 1917
Usual routine.
Another Dental parade this
afternoon. I was marked fit
however.
Pay this evening. Feel quite
in funds as I have drawn a
pound.
Writting up my Sig notes t
tonight as I am behind hand.
Still very cold also very
foggy. Sun rises at nine
and sets at four now.
Thank goodness 22 Dec is
the shortest day
2ⁿ Jan 1918
Have not written
up any thing since
20 Dect.
22^nd 23 and 24^th
that is Sat. Sun
and Xmas Eve
were half holidays
and I went across
to Heytesbury each
afternoon also on
Xmas day.
Boxing day was also a holiday and
Ted came over and we both went
into Warminster. On the 28^th
we both went into to an evening
at St Boniface College Had a
very pleasant time - had to