Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 27

YONVILLE

NOVEMBE

24 DIMANCHE

Milder & raining a little.

With Captain Pallersaw to C Frucourt to attend

Church Parade of 34th Padre Calder took the

service - Col. Woolcock missed us - should 

have bee made better arrangements.

After service inspected transport. The transport

of this Bn is the most consistently good of any

in the Brigade.

Recd orders to attend conference of General

officers at Corps Hqrs. at Le Cateau on

Tuesday.

Les up in afternoon.

 YONVILLE

NOVEMBE

25 LUNDI

Severe Influenza cold cough very bad.

33rd Bn in morning.

 

 

YONVILLE

LE. CATEAU

NOVEMBRE

26 MARDI

Left by car for Div Hqrs 8.a.m. Passing through

[[?lerne]] the door came open I was sitting in the front

and leaned over to shut it, when the car bumped I

struck a rib - it is very painful.

We left Div Hqrs together at 9.30. Gen Gellebrand

and Cannan in our car & Jess & self in other. The

distance is about 100 miles, pretty rough going too

The country is absolutely desolate a good deal of

traffic on road mostly Australian Artillery moving 

forward. it must be rough going for all villages

& towns on route all destroyed. We reached Le

Cateau 12.45.p.m. It is a large town but very

badly knocked about. The Corps Hqrs are at the

Chateau attached to a high factory. The Chateau

is knocked about and stripped. The mirrors &

walled have been shot at by pistols by the Huns

The factory is ruined. They say the damage to their

place is £10,000,000. We lunched in the G.O.Cs

Mess and the pow wow started at 2. there

were present all the Div Australian Generals. excepting

Rosenthal (on leave) Martin (hospital) & Phillips.

Gens. Birdwood & Monash were there. Birdwood

LE CATEAU

NOVEMBRE

27 26 Contd.

first addressed the conference on the changes re the

remains G.O.C. A.I.F. Monash goes to England as

Director General repatriation. Hobbs takes the Corps.

Gen Monash made in a wonderfully clear manner

all the repatriation & demobilization arrangements.

At about 5.p.m. we had tea - my cough

was very bad and the pain in my chest sears.

After dinner the Corps Pierot troop - "Anzac Codes"

gave some music. I was glad to get away for

the fire was smoky & my cough a nuisance

Two windows in my room had been b[[?]]ed

out, but linen was nailed over them. There

was no bed, but I was able to borrow enough

blankets and slept well.

27. Wednesday.

Breakfast 8.30. said good bye to General

Monash. We were late starting. First Jess was

late then there was something wrong with the

car. We got away finally about 10.30

Passed through the ground where we had our

big fight Apl 4. Warfussee, Villers Brettonneux.

 

LE CATEAU

YONVILLE

NOVEMBRE

28 77 27 Contd

The town is a pitiful sight. I would have liked

to try and get some snap shots but weather too

bad. We arrived at Amiens about 1.30. and

had lunch there. Walked down main street with

Gen Jess after. The people have returned and

it is now drier again The shops goin and

the streets crowded. We pushed on at 3.3..

and got back to fonville about 5.

Cough very bad. Straightened up notes &c.

and got to bed about 11.30. but could not

sleep for cough and pain. A very bad night.

28. Thursday

Mail day. Cough very bad and pain in

chest unbearable. another sleepless night.

YONVILLE

NOVEMBRE

29 VENDREDI