More diary entries - August 23, 1918, Frid. Left Chile farm - through Abeele [Abele (also spelled Abeele) is a small village or hamlet in the city of Poperinge, in the Belgian province of West Flanders.] to Watou, where we went into the same camp we left Aug 12th. Arrived after noon - had good meal. Jeal & I in pup tents - rained in night - feel rotten - diarrhea and sore throat. [perhaps from gas exposure] Bed & asleep early. Some peaceful place, this! August 24, 1918, Sat. Slept until 10 a.m. Sick - didn't make formations - felt slightly better at noon. Sewed, wrote mother & Anna in p.m. and played cards. Were paid after supper - 265 francs - Jeal & I went into town - bed rather late. Felt pretty bum all day. Rotten night. Letter to Aunt Nell - Somewhere "over here? August 24, 1918 Dearest Aunt Nell - After asking me so many times of my impressions of the life of a soldier in the front line trenches, I believe the time has come when I can tell you something
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More diary entries - August 15, 1918, Thurs. Up 6 a.m. Slept good. Sent out on early salvage detail and a working party. Later, Roger & I cooked breakfast, cleaned up, etc. in a.m. Nice day. Hiked to B.H.Q. [British HQ] in evening, then into the front line trenches, left of Kemmel [Belgium]. In full command of my platoon. Just as my last section was about to step into the trench a Boche M.G. [machine gun] bullet caught Roger Smith thru the chest. Sent him back at once. Made reports and staid up all night. August 16, 1918, Frid. Slept from 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Visited my men & cheered 'em up a bit - are well situated. English units changed tonight - now C.S.M. (?) fine chaps (Sherwood Foresters ) [The Sherwood Foresters - Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment - was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for just under 90 years, from 1881 to 1970.] Quiet day - few shells near, plenty of sniping - 2 hour patrol at night. Roger died this a.m. August 17,
More diary entries - August 5, 1918, Mon., Rain. Marched to a rifle range. Shot on 300+ & 500+. Good shooting. Rotten eats. Rained nearly all day. Not back until 7 p.m. Take charge of my platoon again tomorrow. Rec'd 8 more letters tonight. Signed pay role. Have 8 Francs due me from Hagen and June & July pay due. Rained most of night. August 6, 1918, Tues. A few showers. Cooler Took command of my platoon again at reveille. Bunch were mighty glad to welcome me back. Drill this a.m. - good - gas work & drill in p.m. All very good. Rec'd 7 more letters today. Wrote a few letters in evening. Bed early. August 7, 1918, Wed. Fair all day. Hiked to rifle range - marking targets all day. Co. K fed us lunch - rotten. Back at 6:30. Great feed at night. Old platoon - "Terrible Tigers" in great spirits again. I am in sole command of platoon again. Played rum, talked in eve, Bed early. August 8, 1928, Thurs. Cool. Partly cloudy. Left at 7 a.m. for range. Shot in 500+
More diary entries - August 1, 1918, Thursday Up 5:30 a.m. Made pack & (?) & hiked back to Abbeville. Washed up & had breakfast of corn willy, 'tack & tea. On train - box cars (of course!) at 9:15. Left Abbeville - going NW at 10:24 a.m. Arrived in Etaples [Étaples or Étaples-sur-Mer is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is a fishing and leisure port on the Canche river.] at 12:07. Marched up to British rest camp on hill for over night. In a tent. Loafed all p.m. and cleaned up. Chatted with a Marine from Château-Thierry. Spent night here - Jerry attacked us - close chance from shrapnel. Warmer. Slept fine. August 2, 1918, Frid. Up 5 a.m. On train at 7. Left 7:30. Reached Boulongne at 9 a.m.; Calais - 10:30; St. Omer 1:10; Cassel 3:30 and at Esquelbecq [Esquelbecq is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.] at 5. Spent the night here in a camp for casuals. Fine night's rest. August 3, 1918, Sat. Up 5:45. Made ad-d (?)