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+ & 600+ and saw combat problem. Had a rotten luncheon. In about 7 p.m. Good supper. Smoked a bit. Bed early.


August 9, 1918, Frid. Fair

Hiked to range this a.m. Shot on 600+. Did pretty good. Back at 1:30 for luncheon. Good feed. Loafed, cleaned up, etc. all p.m. Had retreat. Borrowed 10 Francs from H.G.M. 'til payday. Expect to leave here tomorrow. Drew [issued] my pistol tonight.


August 10, 1918, Sat. Fair. Warm.

Hiked to town near St. Omer [Saint-Omer is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department in France. It is 68 km (42 mi) west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais, and is located in the Artois province.] and boarded a train for the front. Came to Winnezeele [Winnezeele is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.] by train then hiked up to Mont des Cats [Mont des Cats is a small hill (alt. 164m) near the town of Godewaersvelde, France. Located in the Nord department, its Flemish name is Katsberg. The hill is seat of the Mont des Cats abbey] and went into bivouac for the night - in pups. (?) near artillery lines - in gas zone - one hellish noise! Good sleep - but cold.


August 11, 1918, Sun. Very hot.

Up early. Made packs - had church service - moved out at 10 hiked to Watou [Watou is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and a district of the town of Poperinge.] then to a field near Mont De Cats [Mont des Cats is a small hill near the town of Godewaersvelde, France. Located in the Nord department, its Flemish name is Katsberg.] a mile from Watou. In pups with Jeal as usual. Lots of artillery activity and Boche planes all night. Fine rest.


August 12, 1918, Monday.

Hiked out of Watou camp at 3 p.m. and were on road all p.m. Reached reserve trenches about 11 p.m. My platoon has a 100+ sector, next to a platoon of Tommies. Lots of artillery all night - near shells from Jerry all duds - no near gas shells. Cold night.


August 13, 1918, Tues.

Up at 5:30. Nice day. Changed sox, arranged equipment, organizing my platoon sector, gave day's orders, sent in reports, washed up from water in a shell hole - loafed in reserve trenches all day - making our own meals. Pretty lively shelling in evening - slept some after rations & water party got back.


August 14, 1918, Wed.

Up 3:10. Out with 21 men on working party. 15 mins. walk from front line - in town of Dickebusch [Dickebusch, a former village in Belgium, now part of Ypres. Ypres is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders.] - building trench. We returned at 7. No casualties but hit some sneezing gas. Not bad. Came back - cooked good breakfast - washed 7 shaved. Fine day. Rec'd a bunch of mail from rear. Wrote mother & Anna. Meeting on future plans in p.m. Gas attack in evening - lasting 1/2 hour. Water in - rations at night.


Comment - So there it is - a simple notation in his diary - the gas attack that had little effect at the time, but would result in a long term debilitating lung disease that would result in Clyde's death on May 30, 1924.


Up next - More diary entries and perhaps another letter to Aunt Nell (there is one undated with the notation "In the trenches") that I intend to transcribe where it seems to fit best amongst his diary entries.





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