More diary entries -
May 31, 1918, Friday. Fair. Very Warm. France
Good stiff drill first half of morning - then had monthly muster. Billet Commanders meeting at 1:00 on future plans. Lecture by English Sergt. on the Short Enfield Rifle 2 -3. Cal. 303 Mark IIII. Went to a canal for a swim 3 -4. Good supper. Went down and changed money for french values (20 cents = 1 Franc) Air raid expected tonight. Wrote a few letters - bed fairly early.
June 1, 1918. Sat. Warm. In France.
Drill both a.m. & p.m. with reg. Sat. a.m. insp. this a.m. Not very interesting today. Air attackers very near us last night. Many Boche planes directly over us last night. Several bombs struck within a half mile of us. Jarred us nearly out of bed. Bed before the Boche arrived tonight. Had some corking fine old champagne tonight.
June 2, 1918, Sun., Warm. In France
Got my guard out this a.m. - then played cards with Markham until noon. Good luncheon. Wrote letters in p.m. "Jerry" didn't come around last night. Great day. All sorts of birds and flowers here - great crops, especially grass and fruit. Slept part of p.m. - after had Corp. M. shave my head. Surely looks as funny as it feels good. Down to (?) - wrote a bit - then - bed early.
June 3, 1918, Mon. Warm. Pont Remy. At musketry school.
Up at 6:00. Reported at Batt. H.Q. at 9:00 a.m. Jeal & I have our Co. detached to school (Divisional) og musketry and patrolling, observation & sniping. Came through Noyelles to Pont Remy along down the line toward Paris - about 32 miles - in motor lorries. Arrived at rifle range camp about 5. In metal huts. Pretty tired - bed early. (Special N.C.O.'s qrtrs. & mess)
June 4, 1918, Tues. Pont Remy. Cloudy. Cooler. At musketry school.
Up a 7. Bkfst. at 7:45. Out at 8:30 in line. Lectures on scouting, sniping & patrolling all day. Took up definitions, objects, range estimation practice & methods, lecture on different planes, Indication, recognition, on telescopic sights, and final lecture by Commandant on "Observation". Wonderfully interesting day. Lunch at noon, tea at 4:30. Dinner at 7:30. This is English Army training camp for officers & N.C.O.'s
June 5, 1918, Wed. Fair. Warmer. School. Pont Remy.
Up at 7:20. "jerry" gave us a devil of a go with his planes last night. Sure was an awful racket around. Had classes in fine points of shooting, prismatic compasses, and some real fine observation practice. Fair luncheon. Went over to range in p.m. for grouping practice. Made 2 - 4" groups at 100 - one 4-45 & 1-5 and 4'5's & 14 = 46 ax 50. Shot Win. made 1914 R.E. 303 Eng. Rifle. Fair tea. Wrote & strolled into town. Bed early. British wild over our shooting! Congrats!
June 6, 1918, Thursday. Quite warm. Pont Remy. S.O.S. School.
Had lecture on map reading & sketching this a.m. followed by a 3 hour compass hike - with prismatic compasses - did 800 yds 1 L, 1350 at 2nd and 1800 yds at 3rd. coming out mostly OK. No "parade" this p.m. Shaved, bathed and wrote up notes. Attended a concert by an Australian band & theatrical party of soldiers from Australia. (13th Battalion). Was simply immense - woman impersonator, wonderful music & clever vaudeville.
June 7, 1918, Frid., Very warm. Clouded at night. Pont Remy. S.O.S. School.
Had school in enlarging maps, contours, protractors, orienting, resection, and making range (defense) charts for snipers & O.P. this a.m. Very good. Had range practice with 10 shot application at 200 yards. Shot fair - then had lecture in message writing in p.m. Pretty hot day. Bum eats. Went out for a bit - wrote notes - played rummy - bed early. Fritz around last night, but not tonight. Went to Smart Set (Australian) show again. Certainly fine! Pretty fine singing, etc.
June 8, 1918, Sat., Cloudy a.m. Warm in p.m. At S.O.S. School.
Had interesting morning over air photos & their study, dope on their use, etc. - and finished a.m. by enlarging a map. Had some interesting observation practice & a lecture on German organization this p.m. Fair supper. Wrote notes - a few letters - played rummy with Jeal. Bed early.
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