Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917-1918 (Vol. 2) - Part 8

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on a hill overlooking the camp

where we repaused with directors

but it was too cold to stay dry

so we schurmed to more cheery

surroundings [?]

Tomorrow morning we have 1/2 an

hours physical exercises and

to pave the way we’ve rescheduled

a walk of half an hours [?]

evening after Albert is over

meanwhile  we have [?] of

Getting leave on the near future

9/1/18. I was quite right in my

Summing up as to the state of the

[?] yesterday has

Happened that it was the coldest

Day of the year so far [?]

Of the [?] the [?] I’ve 

Objected to getting out. If around

Nearly so cold today this we had

[?] fall of snow during the

[?] [?] physical exercises

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[?] splendid innovation and

we enjoyed them immensely. The

instructor is well known in the

Physical culture world. [?] hannah

A squad who performed before the 

King was probably happiest

Man in camp at midday because

[?] four letters from “home” I

Couldn’t wait even until reached

My quarters to read them so pleased

[?] to get them putting two

And two together I still have

Easter letters to receive

And they may come along any

Day - probably by some vessel

Via the cape and those received

Today have come via America

It’s a very pleasing sensation to

Hear from home. We just

Continued with more work

In the school and it’s getting more interesting as the days

Go on.

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10/1/18 today turned out to be one

One of the mildest since we arrived in

Italy.     It was [?] last night rather

Than frosty and this morning

Clouds commenced to roll up but

They disappoint and the sun came

Out so it was quite a decent day

We went out with directors and 

[?] [?] out of doors

Contrary to the usual I enjoy

The patrol for we have two

Fine instructors and they make

The work extremely interesting

I was fortunate [?] in equal

To letters for I found four from

[?] and two from [?]

[?] for one and the mess they

Can come in just as such as

They like. One does appreciate news

My brother in camp at [?]

And [?] he is most 

Anxious to see me I propose

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While over there in Saturday afternoon

It’s 15 miles away but that won’t

Matter with the [?] we have

Is equal to horses. I must try

And have him transferred to the

Artillery but there are many difficulties

Is in the way

11/1/18 we are Still thriving on

Physical jerks and lectures 

And we haven’t much time to 

Ourselves. When we go to an 

Advanced school elsewhere I’m

Told that for the whole 5 weeks

We haven’t even a minute to

Ourselves unless it’s cribbed

From sleep. But why anticipate 

Events let the future lark 

After itself. They have a

Remarkable aptitude for keeping

[?] time here the [?]

Declares the [?] minute and

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Seconds at any given time and

Everybody else is doing it so

Happened this morning our

Instructor was duly [?] for

Not having us at work at 845

Precisely. Such is the army.

We indulged in [?] drill during

[?] of the lunch hour much

To the delight of those lorry’s we

Brought over. They rather enjoyed

The prospect of seeing their

Former officers [?] about

The sun but we must be

Practised in the elementary as

Well as the advanced [?] but

It’s good for us and we enjoy it

 

12/1/18 Saturday is usually an

Off day as it was at [?]

But set down for us was riding

Drill. We knew that wounded

Be difficult and we haven’t had

Aside since leaving Victoria 

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Some of us except on donkeys at

[?] but we enjoyed the novelty 

Of that rather than the ride itself 

The latter part of the [?] we

Spent getting acquainted with the

4.5 [?] a [?] very much

In use at the front and in its

[?] and construction simplicity

Itself. I was indeed interested

In it and fell rather more deeply

In love with it than [?] in the

18 par our Vietnam type of field 

[?] next Wednesday we are to

Be taken to Louvre hill to witness

Live shell practice and I for one

Am looking forward to the excitement

First we have seen and if our

Luck is one probably I won’t be

The last. This [?] several

[?] commandeered [?] and

Went for a side [?] after

Some 5 miles from here it gave

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Us further opportunity of seeing the

Beauty of England we even saw

A flock of sheep in a field they

Are very like what were used to 

Except that they have extraordinary

Short legs. It was a good ride and

We enjoyed it. It’s remarkable how 

The red [?] houses have decayed

Nearly all those [?] we have

Passed out of the lands of owners

And used as houses for 

Their wives. I found out [?]

Was too far away to visit [?]

[?]o f horseback so have

Put it off for the time being

13/1/18 Arthur Landry at [?]

[?] and our tenth once [?]

Good old Victoria. This time 

[?] have to get up at 6 30

And as on last Sunday and we

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Took our time as long as we

Reached our [?] office

In time for 845 [?] church

Parade was the first [?]

The performance after that please

Ourself. At home we would be

Spending a very agreeable week

End at a [?] more agreeable

Home here there’s nothing to do

But go for a side a walk or 

[?] in your down beside 

A glowing fire. It’s too cold to

Do anything. This

Morning there was a fire first

And we think there will be 

Further one on the [?] I hunted

High and low for a [?] to [?]

And to [?] so [?]

Crest fallen to my down and a

Fire. To work and work [?]

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14/1/18 We suffered a relapse of the pleasant

Memories we had of Italy and France

This morning. When I came out 

There was snow. Quite 6 inches deep

[?] where and the wood running

The whole length of the camp on the 

Eastern boundary presented a 

Truly wonderful sight. She was bereft

Of leaves were just coated with snow

And the rocks [?] in them

In [?] looked such a 

Contrast to the whiteness everywhere

[?] [?] usually to be 

New here but we m he’s to 

[?] a swap on the quiet. It

Is without doubt a pretty sight 

Tho. Not by any means a novelty

To such old hands as we are

Loud cheers!!! Long [?] in 

Camp declares that they have never 

Seen a full so heavy here before

And of course elsewhere in England.

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It’s likely to be even heavier. It’s

Quite warm while the snowing process

Is on but when it begins to throw

Then the fireside is most acceptable

Besides ones feet get so terrible 

Cold it’s a relief to remove your boots.

We have gone back to [?]

[?] of [?] and spend about

An hour a day on that [?] for

Revision purposes and in some cases

It’s new to us having been recently

Asked to suit the conditions of the

[?] but on these cold days it

Spells exercise and sudden outbursts

Of energy. Much to our regret we 

[?] today that we would have [?]

To [?] over the bleak spots.

Of the United Kingdom for our advanced

School we were to go to [?]

Near London and we saw acceptable 

Weekends there but now alas!

On the [?] book