Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1917 - January 1918 - Part 4

come away over  not having

a late pass.

Sunday morning (30) had to

parade before the C.O. for

transfer to AFC. Got his

reccomendation.

On Monday I should have

gone before the Brigadier

but the Corporal never wared

warned me until 11 am.

I went down but had to go back

again at 2 pm. I was paraded

before the Staff Capt. He told

me the Big was ill at hospital but

he would forward my application

Tuesday 1st New Years Day.

was a holiday but was not able

to leave camp until 2pm

Went to Heytesbury and spent

afternoon with Ted.

2n JAN 1918

Hard at work at signalling today

again. This evening walked

to Sutton Very Post Office

a sent four films to

Tunbridge Wells to be developed.

Weather has been extremely

cold with frosts & snow but

is warmer tonight

9th JAN 1918 Wednesday

Very little to write up, weather has 

been extremely cold and

everything except running

water is frozen hard.

Is just a year today, since I landed

in England.

Was at Artillery Camp last Sunday

and saw Jeff Sherlock & Stuart

Mills who have just arrived over

in latest Artillery Reinfs.

Received several letters from

Australia today the first I have

had for two months

Thursday Jan 10/1918

This morning had to parade

at R.Q.M at 8.45 and

be fitted with a g box

gas respirator and afterwards

went through lacrimatory

gas and then chlorine.

this took up the best

part of morning so did

not report back to the Sig

School th till this afternoon.

The afternoons work consisted

of buzzer reading and a

lecture on the duties of

a D.R.

Weather much warmer today

and everything in a state

of mud in consequence 

Friday Jan 11th 1918

Much warmer today mornings

work consisted of buzzer

reading and a lecture on

the remainder of a DR's duties

This afternoon we were on

terminal stn. work.

Rumours going round that

we are all going to Egypt

in six weeks time.

Saturday Jan 12th 1918

Flag wagging this afternoon

morning. Nothing on

this afternoon, being Saturday.

Have only been down to

Bishopstrow to get my

washing. Weat made inquiries

at Group Hdqrs concerning

my transfer and found

it had gone through

to Tidworth on the second

of January.

Weather still very mild

Received two more Aust letters

dated 9th and 13th of Nov.

Sunday 13, Jan 1918

Church parade as usual.

this morning

This afternoon Ted I and

Collin Gibbs walked into

Warminster. While having

tea at one of the tea rooms

met Godfry Stables, brother

of Dollys.

At 4PM Ted and I went

round to Mrs Micklethwaite

We had afternoon tea there.

Miss Smith was there also

and we saw her home and

as she very kindly asked us

in we stayed for a while.

We had told Collin Gibbs we

would meet him at the

Post Office at 6pm but

not to wait if we were

late. It was 7PM when we

passed there so of course

he had gone on.

Weather very mild and it

is starting to snow.

Monday 14 Jan 1918.

Snowed heavily last night

snow about 6 inches deep

been nothing but snow

fights all day long.

Officers getting their share

of being snowballed.

Took several snap of

the snow.

Monday Tuesday 15 Jan 1918

Weather very mild not a

vestige of snow left except

of the very large snowballs

made. Has been raining

all day so our work has

all been done in doors.

Lectures, buzzer reading etc.

---Sunday 20th Jan 1918---

Nothing very much to write

about since Tuesday.

The weather has been very

changable one day snow

and the next rain. The last

two days have been quite

mild, almost warm. Went to

the Artillery Camp to see

Ted yesterday afternoon

and this afternoon we went

to Heytsbury and spent

the afternoon there.

Have had an invitation to

go to Beckford Lodge

Hospital to play in a whist

Drive, next Saturday so we

are going if we can get off.

All no