Diary of Herbert Vincent Reynolds, 1917-1918 - Part 5

June 19^th Tuesday
Received my pass & with a mate set
out for Albert Station where we entrained at about
1 pm for Bolougne, arriving there about 8 pm we were
marched to a billet for the night.
20^th Wednesday
Was astir at about 6am & after
having a wash & clean up, had some breakfast, at
9 am our passes were stamped, & we marched down
to the boats. At about 10 30 am we left for Folkestone
a thick fog overtook us in the channel & delayed us
a good while & we arrived at about 1 pm, We disembarked
from the boat "Princess Victoria" & entrained on the wharf
we were put into 1^st class carriages & reached London
Victoria Stn at about 4 pm. Were marched along Victoria
St to headquarters where we had instructions read
out to us My mate & I then went to Vict Stn  where
I left my pack we then went to Euston by Tube & found 
a lodging house, a very homely place at 576 Barnby St
Easton owned by Mrs Hughes who treated us real well.
had a bath & some tea & went by tube to
then to Dalys theatre where The maid of the mountains 
was being produced.
Thursday 21^st
Spent a splendid night & after fixing up
my account went with my mate after breakfast to Vict
Stn where I got my pack & went to see R Clark at the
Pay book section at headquarters
 

July 1^st Sunday
A beautifull day. Took a walk
through Regents Park with Ms Key this morning. I
visited the zoo after dinner.
2^nd Mond
Met my mate on Euston station at 10 am
& we reported at Victoria Stn 10 30 am & got a
leave ticket for the day. we had dinner at the Victoria
League club & afterwards visited Westminster Abbey,

spent a couple of hrs looking over the place. At 7 pm
I met R Clark at the Anzac Buffet & we spent the
evening at the Coliseum where they are presenting
a pretty fine vaudavil show.
3^rd Tuesd
Reported at 7 am at Victoria Stn
& left by the leave train for Folkestone. We got out of the
train at Stonecliff & marched to a rest camp at Folkstone
where we stayed till 6 pm when we marched down to
the boat & left at about 8pm Disembarked at
Bologne at about 10 30pm & marched to H rest camp.
4^th Wednesday
The day has been anything but
pleasant rather wet. We were shifted from
H to L camp after dinner. At 8 pm we marched
down to the station & entrained.
Thursday 5^th
Arrived at Buirre Station at
4 30 am my mate & I got out & walked & through
Laverville to Henencourt where we found the unit
Friday 6^th
 

July 25^th Wed
The day kept fine fill about 6 pm
when one of the heaviest thunderstorms of the season
passed over here, the road through the village was
carrying a stream a ft deep after a few minutes.
I spent the afternoon with a couple of mates in
setting out a football field near the chateau.
Friday 27^th
All the transport was
loaded up during the morning & we left
Henencourt at about 4 pm marched through
Lavievelle & Biure & entrained at Edgehill
siding leaving there at about 4 30 pm, we
travelled in horse trucks.
 

Monday 6^th
Played in football match
A Sec against B at 5 30 pm we won by
5 points to nill. Played League.
Tuesday 7^th
Feeling rather stiff after the
match yesterday. Ran in the three mile 

run finished 17^th in 22m 45sec R M S
Mooltan reported sunk with our mails aboard
 

Wednesday 22^nd
Fine day. enemy aircraft bombed this district
again this evening Fine sight when a light found one plane.
Thursday 23^rd August
Parade at 9 20am in full marching
order. Kit inspection. Heavy artillery action been
heard all day. Leave from 2 pm, went to La Motte
with mate (F Flowers) hired bikes & rode to Merville
had photos taken, returned at 6 pm as rain set
in & we got rather wet coming back.
Friday 24^th
Went for a short march through
Sec Bois this morning. Third anniversary of the
formations of this unit. On guard from 6 pm to
6 pm tomorrow. picquet at A sec billet 6 to 10
Sat 25^th
Releived from guard at 6 pm.
Sunday 26^th
Went for a march through
Vieu Berquin this morning after spending half
an hour doing squad drill 

Friday 31^st
Went for a march through La Motte
this morning encountered extremely heavy showers
Went on duty at 6 15 pm with the guard, on post
at A billet 10 to 2am.
Saturday 1^st September
On post at A sect billet  10 to 2 pm
releived from guard at 6 15 pm.
Sund 2^nd
The day has been fairly fine, the
evening turned out a real beautiful one with
a full moon. Enemy aircraft bombed this district
at about 11pm.
Mond 3^rd
The day had been a beautifull
sunny one, aircraft have been exceptionally
active a few enemy planes appeared over here. We
spent the morning doing streatcher & squad 

September
drill
Tuesd 4^th
The day has been another beautifull
one, we set out with packs up, at 9 30am for an all
day route march, marched through La Motte, then
through the Neppe forest towards Merville & back
again arriving home at 5 15 pm. Enemy aircraft
bombed this district again tonight at about 11 pm.
Wednesday 5^th
Another beautiful day, spent the
morning doing streatcher drill.
Thursday 6^th
Went for a route march this morning
through La Mott & back. At 7 am parade we had the
new mustard gass explained to as by the Colonel.
The day has been very oppressive & at about 6 pm a sharp
thunderstorm passed over. There has been a violent
artillery action going on during the past 24 hrs at
times it attained to great intensity.
Friday 7^th
Spent the morning doing gass & streatcher
drill. Were paid at 2 pm. Went on duty at 6 pm, on
the guard for 24hrs
 

September
Saturday 8^th
On post at the guard tent 2 to 6 am &
2 to 6 pm. Releived at 6pm.
Sunday 9^th
Revallie at 5 am packed up ready to
move off. Parade at 7 am of A & C sections, marched
to a convoy of Motor wagons on the Vieux Berquin road
& set out in them for Dickebush passing through Veuix
Berquin, Outtasteene, Bailleule & arrived at the main
dressing station outside Dickebush. At about 12 noon
about a dozen enemy planes bombed the vicinity of
this camp there were a few casualties. The day has
been a beautifull fine one. A mate & I went
to the picture show in the village at 7 pm.
Monday 10^th
Another beautifull day enemy aircraft
have been very active. Have been fitting up an
officers cookhouse today. One of our balloons was
punctured by a shell at about 6 pm & descended.
Tuesday 11^th
Have been working on the cook house
job again. The majority of cases from the line
 are gassed patients & a good number are RAMC
Wednesday 12^th
I am having considerable
trouble with a boil which is behind my left ear
have been doing odd jobs today. Our aircraft
have been extremely active lately.
Thursday 13^th
Had a very bad night, the boil
prevented me from resting, extremely painfull
especially at night, done very little work today
The day has been rather boisterous,
Friday 14^th
Had very little rest during the
night one of our doctors cut the core out of the
boil on my neck this morning. I was given no
duty for the day & turned in.
Sat 15^th
A mate & I went to the pictures
this evening.
Sunday 16^th 
Have been working on the bomb proof
dug outs today. At about 11 am fifteen enemy
aeroplanes flew over here at no great height
 

Two of the number were exceptionally large planes
as big again as the others they dropped no bombs in
this vicinity. At about 5 pm we were warned
to pack up & move up towards the line. At about
7 pm, seven sqds of A & five of B moved off we
marched to the ramparts of Ypres where we
billeted for the night in the tunnels which are dug
into the city walls.
Monday 17^th
My squad turned out at 7 & went
up to the A D S at Mennin Rot where we were
set at work doing sandbag shelter work. A couple
of barrages were put over by our field guns today.
Two of the chaps who went up to the RA Pon ration
fatigue got wounded (Algy & Milchell). We returned
at about 6 pm to our billet in Ypres.
Tuesday 18^th
At 4 am four other squads & mine
turned out & went up to the A D S where we
loaded rations for the PA Pin cars, we then went
to the waggon collecting post & unloaded them, &
carried them to the Hooge tunnel post where we
picked up a streatcher case & carried it to the
waggon collecting post. At 6 am our artillery
put over a barrage for about an hour. On getting
back to the A D S at about 9 am we discovered
that 20 out of 23 of our chaps had become
casualties 3 being killed. The party of 23 had
just arrived at the A D S to start work on a
new gass proof dug out when the shell got
them. Our party returned to the ramparts
on the completion of our job & rested for the
rest of the day. C sect went up to
the line this evening.
Wednesday 19^th
We have been resting all
day. At 7 pm we left the ramparts, &
went up to the A D S where we
picked up tins of tea to take up to the
line. One of C sect lads was killed this
morning & another wounded. After
leaving the A D S we proceeded in partys
of four along the Ypres - Mennin road.
My party got almost as far as the waggon
collecting post, when I got knocked with
a whiz bang. I was carried along to
 

the aid post & there put on a car &
brought to the A D S. Then from there
by car to the 3^rd Canadian C C C at
Remny siding.
Thursday 20^th
Was operated on early &
was feeling slightly sensible after coming
too. I received a severe wound in the left
ear. Just after service I was put on board
hospital train No 31 & arrived at the 18^th
General Hospital at  Comiers sometime about
midnight.
Friday 21^st
This hospital is an American 
place the officers Nurses & orderlies are
all americans & they treat us pretty well.
Tuesd 26^th

A party of singers gave a few
selections in the ward this evening. I have
been feeling considerably better today
Thurs 27^th
I was booked for transfer by the 
Dr this morning received second injection
of A Tetnus serrum today.
Friday 28^th
The convoy arrived at about
5 am & we were taken by ambulance car
to the railway & placed on board the
hospital train No 27 & reached Calais at
about midday. The huns bombed the town
last night & killed a number of children.
The ambulance transport was
late in arriving owing to mines being loose
in the channel & we did not get on board
till 3 pm. Arrived at Dover just at dusk
was placed on hospital train No 89 brought
to Birmingham to 2/1^st Southern General
hospital Dudley Rd.
Sund 30th 
Got up after dinner but am not
able to walk around much owing to dizziness. 
so had to get back to bed again.
October
Wed 3^rd 
Got up, feeling much very much better
though extremely shaky on it still.

October
Thurs 4^th
A convoy of new patients arrived
just after midnight, several of us were, put
in beds on the balcony to make room for the
new patients in the ward. it was extremely
cold out there. The day has been a bitterly cold
one & there are no fires in the ward at all. At 10 am
I went to B1 ward where Cpt Seymore Jones
examined my ear. At about 7 pm I was transferred
No B 1 ward.
Friday 5^th
This as a bitterly cold ward, though I
slept much warmer than I would have done on
the balcony of A 11.
Saturday 6^th
We have a fire in the ward today
& it makes a great difference to the temperature
in here. They took an xray of the wound to
my head this morning. I have not been feeling
at all well today  my face has been all swollen
up on the right side have been having it  fomented
Sund 7^th
Have remained in bed been feeling
anything but well.
Monday 8^th
Spent a very bad night the pain
in the face was worrying me a great deal.
Wed 10^th
Received a visit from a Miss
Thompson this afternoon, was very pleased to see
her as she is the first visitor I have had to see me
since being in here.
Thursd  11^th They are talking of operating on
the wound in my head on Mond next, the doc
examined it thoroughly this morning.
Mond 15
Orders have came up stating
that all Ausies have to be transferred
to their own hospital so the doctor
did not operate on me as he intended
doing.
Tuesd 16^th
My mate was transferred
to Harefield today
Wed 17^th
I got my uniform issued