Diary of George Booley, 5th Battalion, AIF, 1918, Part 8

MAY—1918. 
25 Saturday - Sun rises 3.58, sets 7.56 
10h 32m After. 

Another quiet day for  
us, in the evening  
went up to the Refuge 
place from Cul-de-sac. 
  
MAY—1918. 
26 Sunday - Trinity Sunday. 
Queen Mary born 1867 
Mg.— Is. vi. 1-11. Rev. i. 1-0 
Evg. — Gen. xviii. or Gen. i. & ii. 4. 
Eph. iv. 1-17, or Mat. iii 

Moved to a camp near  
Sercus a distance of 
about 9 Kilos, we had  
our packs carried for us 
& we got through in  
good style. The Camp is  
of tents pitched around  
a Field in the shade 
of some fine big trees  
& is a pretty little  
spot.

MAY —1918. 
9 Thursday - Sun rises 4.20, sets 7.32. 
Ascension Day.  Holy Thursday. 
Half-Quarter Day. 

Moved in the evening a distance 
of about 2 Kilos to a  
farm not far from North Borre 
siding. It was funny to  
see our fellows, they salvaged 
a hand cart which they 
call the mess cart, on it 
they packed all the cooking 
utensils & the piano,  
they had some experience  
crossing trenches etc, when 
the Major saw them coming 
he near took a fit. 
In the evening the Hun 
shelled all round 
our new area.  
  

MAY —1918. 
10 Friday - Sun rises 4.18, sets 7.34. 
1h 1m After. 

Spent a quiet day & in the  
evening Bill & I went to Bde 
& the wagon lines also to 
Hondeghem. At night we 
had a good sing song & 
just when we were at our 
best a shell burst in 
the roof of another part 
of the house, we all stole 
quietly away from the 
Piano & looked silly until 
he stopped shelling when 
the concert proceeded,  
no one was hit although 
some had lucky escapes.

MAY —1918. 
23 Thursday - Sun rises 3.59, sets 7.53. 

Parade in morning at 
which we all slept. 
Nothing doing in the  
afternoon, in the evening 
we went up to see some 
Refugees who came from 
the place we used to 
Billet at near Cul-de-Sac. 
  

MAY —1918. 
24 Friday - Sun rises 3.59, sets 7.55. 
Empire Day. 

It commenced raining in 
the early morning & kept  
up all day, no parades. 

MAY —1918. 
27 Monday - Sun rises 3.56, sets 7.58. 

The ordered parade was 
cancelled owing to all  
available men having to 
go out on a big cable burying  
party. 
We played cricket & 
football most of the day.  
  

MAY —1918. 
28 Tuesday - Sun rises 3.54, sets 8.0. 

Parade in morning, in 
the afternoon our team 
played A. Coy & were 
defeated, first time for 
a long time. 
Paid in the evening.

MAY —1918. 
29 Wednesday - Sun rises 3.53, sets 8.1. 

As I have been suffering 
from Piles for some time 
I went to the M.O & he  
evacuated me, left the  
Bn in morning & went to 
2nd F.A after dinner went 
to 15th C.C.S 
  

MAY—1918. 
30 Thursday - Sun rises 3.52, sets 8.2. 
Corpus Christi. 

Went before MO & he marked 
me for operation, no clearance 
from here today. The Hun 
was up in swarms during 
night.

MAY —1918. 
31 Friday - Sun rises 3.51, sets 8.3. 

The only evacuations from 
here today were stretcher 
cases so we are again 
held up. A N number of 
Bosche planes over again 
in the night. 
  

JUNE—1918. 
1 Saturday - Sun rises 3.51, sets 8.5. 

Lay in bed all day again 
no evacuation from either 
No 2 or 15 so our place is 
getting a bit congested 
especially with sitting up 
cases.

JUNE—1918. 
2 Sunday - 1st after Trinity. 
Mg. — Josh. iii. 7 to iv. 15. John xiii. 21. 
Evg. — Josh. v. 13 to vi. 21, or Josh. zziv. 
Heb. ix. 
4h 20m Morn. 

Moved away from CCS at 
about 5. PM arriving near 
Boulogne about midnight 
& was taken to No. 2. AGH 
my old hospital in Egypt 
after a warm bath & change 
of clothes got to bed about 
2. A.M. 
  

JUNE —1918. 
3 Monday - Sun rises 3.49, sets 8.7. 
King George V. born, 1865. 
  
Spent a good deal of the  
day renewing old acquaintances 
with Sisters & others. 
In the evening was invited 
out for a little party with 
the Sisters tomorrow. 
I am marked down for 
Con Camp awaiting a bed 
for operation.

JUNE — 1918. 
4 Tuesday - Sun rises 3.48, sets 8.8. 

Was warned to draw 
clothes & proceed to Con 
Camp but Sister had the 
Card held up so that I  
could go to the party we 
went & had a fine time 
at Happy Valley arriving 
back about 9 oclock. 
Was offered a good job in 
the Hospital. 
  

JUNE —1918. 
5 Wednesday - Sun rises 3.47, sets 8.9. 

Wandered round from ward 
to ward yarning & listening 
to a fine orchestra belonging  
to 7. Bde Aussies, they gave 
a fine Concert in the YMCA 
both last night & tonight. 
The evening I spent 
yarning to some of the 
Sisters. 
They were looking for me 
to go out in the afternoon 
but could not find me. 
Boulogne Bombed in 
night.

JUNE —1918. 
6 Thursday - Sun rises 3.47, sets 8.9. 

Warned for Con Camp in 
morning & about an hour 
before time to go Sister said 
the Dr. had arranged for me to 
wait here for the operation & in 
the meantime I am to do a  
little work (clerical) for the 
Pardre. I volunteered as a  
blood donor but the Dr would 
not stand it as I am on 
for the operation. 
In the evening some 
Sisters took us to Happy 
Valley for another picnic 
& we had an enjoyable  
time. 
  

JUNE —1918. 
7 Friday - Sun rises 3.46, sets 8.10. 

Commenced my job as 
assistant Padre today & found 
it rather easy, the Sisters 
are highly amused at me 
& my job & call me Pardre. 
Two Hun planes were round 
having a look over Boulogne 
in the morning.

JUNE —1918. 
8 Saturday - Sun rises 3.46, sets 8.11. 
10h 3m After. 

Just wandered round  
doing my job with the 
Pardre & in evening had 
supper with Sister Walsh 
in her ward. 
  

JUNE —1918 
9 Sunday - 2nd after Trinity. 
Mg. — Judges iv. John xviii.28. 
Evg. — Judges v. or Judges vi. 11. James i. 

Did nothing out of the ordinary, 
the Pardre will be giving 
me the sack for not going 
to the services as I did 
not attend either.