Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1919 - Part 5

CHATEAU D'ANSENNES.

MARS

19 MERCREDI.

Ground white with snow this morning The grounds

of the chateau with the trees laden were very beautiful

The sun came out and the morning proved bright & fine.

 

 

CHATEAU D'ANSENNES.

MARS

20 JEUDI.

Slight snow in night.

Temporarily to Command Division.

With Paterson in afternoon by car to FEUQIERES

(35 Bn) Coghill out at Abbeville. TO. Chépy 33 Bn

Saw Goldrich Leut. Major Wheeler was at Gamaches

Called at Acheux where Paterson wanted to

get some gear he left behind, from there

we went on to Yonville where we had tea.

back to Hqrs 6.15 p.m.

Capt. Mackay reported to Col Woolcock to as

Staff Officer 9th Demob. Regt.

 

CHATEAU D'ANSENNES.

MARS

21 VENDREDI.

Cold dull day. Leo came up in morning and I walked

through the woods with him They are very beautiful

even though the trees are still bare. I regret I shall not be

here to see them as they will look in the spring.

In afternoon with Paterson to Div Hqrs BLANGY signed

up some papers and discussed Staff of quota and

concentrations with Col Bruggy, then to GAMACHES. Saw

Col Woolcock & Major Fry. The latter is very bitter about

his being suspended. He wants to get on a further leave

which is very awkward. Col Woolcock is still lame. We are

badly off for Senior Officers. Had tea at 34 Bn Mess.

Back to Hqrs about 5 p.m. Very cold.

 

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

22 SAMEDI.

Cold day. Snowed a bit in afternoon.

After lunch I motored to Blangy to attend

to Div Matters. Saw Bruggy. A wire has

come through suspending all oversea movement

& demobilization movement owing to threatened

Railway Strike. Saw Coleman & signed up

his papers. Had Thomas & White with me.

After dinner we spent the eveng with the

Collinis They have a relative

who husband was killed at the front. She has

bought a property near here.

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

23 DIMANCHE.

A fine bright morning I took a walk through the

woods & took a picture or two.

In afternoon the Band of the 39^th Bn came up

to play at the Chateau. The Collinis had several

visitors. Colonel Paterson & one of his 10 Bde Right

Officer were up. Af We all had afternoon tea with

the Collinis and some music.

 

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

24 LUNDI.

Heavy snow all day - almost a blizzard

Div Commander returned today and I relinquished

command of the 3 Div. Feel off colour

Madame Collini asked us to spend the evening with

them. I dropped in about 9. but did not feel

much up to it.

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

25 MARDI.

After breakfast rode through the Bois de la Croix

with Capt. Paterson to Blangy to see Div Commdr

but found he had gone to Chepy. Waited 

till noon then back. Very cold with snow falling.

 

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

26 MERCREDI.

Sat on Field General Court Martial this morning

(as President) at Bouillancourt to try Capt Gunn _^Fd Amb

for drinking in an estaminet at with soldiers and

Lieut Wyndyer of the Artillery for absence without

leave. Back to Hqrs 1.p.m.

Rode with Capt Paterson to Div Hqrs Blangy

Saw Gen. Gellibrand discussed with him

personnel of units. He wants me to remain

until the 3rd. Called at Capt. Nowlands hqrs

ANSENNES on way back. Hqrs. 6.15 pm.

Did not rain to-day & once or twice the sun

showed through the clouds.

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

27 JEUDI.

A fearsome morning. Wind hail, snow & rain.

but about 4 p.m it cleared and the sun came

out. I seized the opportunity and walked round

the wood overlooking the valley. It is very beautiful

The gale was still blowing and the noise of the

wind in the pines facinating.

In the evening we all dined with the Collinis

a dainty dinner She had invited Col. Paterson

Lt. Brown, the M.O. 39^th. Mackie Paterson Gamble

& White. In the evening they played billiads

& cards & I chatted with Madame who 

showed me photos etc.

 

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

28 VENDREDI.

Windy day with a little snow, but mostly

fine. In morning went for a quick walk in

woods for exercise.

Spent an hour with the Collinis in the evening.

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

29 SAMEDI.

A wild miserable day. Rain, snow & sleet.

Wrote Gen Rosenthal re command No 3 Group.

Feel unwell. Madame Collini asked Capt White and

self in after dinner Spent evening in room. Slept

badly.

 

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

30 DIMANCHE.

Snow fell early in morning but sun came out later

Feeling very unwell. Tried to walk it off. Walked

through villiage Ansennes - Met Capt Nowland

who walked with me for a bit.

Madame Collini asked me & White to take

afternoon tea with them. I went but felt so

ill and was in so much pain I was glad to get

away. Wild afternoon of alternating snow

storms and sunshine.

Spent evening in room in much pain.

 

ANSENNES.

MARS

31 LUNDI.

Snow in the night.

Pain not so bad.

Col. Farrell J. 43 Bn reported to take command

9^th Div Embarkation Regt. Instructed him with details.

A fine bright day. Some snow in afternoon.

which turned into quite a heavy fall.

Have a further attack of flue.

 

 

ANSENNES

AVRIL

1 MARDI.

With Capt. Paterson to Ansennes Villiage in morning.

It was a beautifully bright spring morning and

the villiage looked quaint and pretty in the sunlight

It is really two villiages the river BRESLE dividing

them. that on the North being ANSENNES, that on

the South MONCHAUX. It is in the latter our Hqrs

billets are. We called at Capt Nowland's and

he joined us. Found Lieut Thomas down with

Flue. Ordered them to get a Dr to him at once

He is not likely to stand the epidemic well

We then walked on to the other side of the

railway where the remnants of an ancient

castle stand. from the hill this is sited on we

took some photos of the church and villiage

The we visited the church, which has a

fine old archway over the door Inside and

some very fine carved beams &c. Back to

hqrs noon - Very nice morning but it is very

cold. Hard frost at night. The Collinis asked

us to spend the evening with them but I was not

up to it & spent it in my room

 

 

ANSENNES.

AVRIL

2 MERCREDI.

A beautiful spring morning Walked a bit

with Leo. The buds are beginning to show on

the trees and bushes and the birds to make

themselves heard.

With Paterson in car to 34 Bn & 9^th Demob

Regt Gamaches Saw Col Farrell & Major Fry

thence to Feuquieres 35 Bn Saw Major

Wheeler. Capt Coghill, Tumbril, de Vere,

& thence to Chepy saw Capt Douglas.

Discussed History etc. Back to Hqrs 5.30 pm

To Blangy to dine at Div Heaqrs at

invitation of Div Commdr. Cannan was

there. He left after dinner & then the

Gen started his gambling school Crown &

Anchor, &c. it was rather disgusting but

I had to play. About 10 p.m. I crossed

over to his quarters. There were many

things I would have talked with him

but his excentric & indefintie manner

decided me not to. His legs were as

usual shaking & out of control. Back

to Chateau about 11 p.m.

 

ANSENNES - BOULOGNE - LONDON.

AVRIL

3 JEUDI.

Said goodbye to the people at the Chateau

and to my horses. Madame broke down

and cried when I left. I was indeed 

sorry for they have all been very kind

At 11 a.m. I left in the car which took

me to Abbeville I caught a train leaving

about 1.20.p.m I took Leo with me

Sayers, de Vere & the M.O. 33 were on

the train. We reached Boulogne in about

3 & sailed about 4. A beautifully

smooth crossing. Reached London

about 9. p.m & put up at Berners Hotel

I shared a room with Leo. Feeling very

ill and cough bad.

 

 

LONDON.

AVRIL

4 VENDREDI.

With Leo to Hqrs. in morning. Saw

Gens White & Griffith. Then we walked to

the Lord Chamberlains Office & got

tickets for the Investiture tomorrow.

Leo went over to the Browns in the

afternoon. Was not back till late in

evening.

Cough very bad & feeling very ill did

not go out in evening.

 

LONDON INVESTITURE

AVRIL

5 SAMEDI.

Attended at Buckingham Palace at 10.30 and

was invested by H.M. the King with the C.M.G

and D.S.O. Leo was there. Ant there also

Genl Wisdom & Col Watson who were both receiving

the C.M.G. the latter has done little enough for

his decoration.

In afternoon Leo went to Brightlingsea

I stayed in afternoon & evening feeling very 

unwell. After dinner yarng to Gen Robertson

until 9.30 or 10.

 

 

LONDON

AVRIL 

6 DIMANCHE.

In hotel until 11.a.m. then with Gen

Robertson took a run to Hampstead

Did n We were back for lunch. He left

after. I did not again leave the hotel.