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...
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+ ...
[ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Dec. 13, 1917, Thur., Sleet part of the day. Cold. Cloudy. Had hike & tent inspection this a.m. Had lecture on gasses & use of gas masks this p.m. and a half hour of close order - also some tent instruction and study. Selee detailed today for skipping school. Cold at night. Wrote Uncle D. Bed early. Dec. 14, 1917, Frid., Fair. Sunshine. Cool. Had 1 hour hike this a.m. Then school in tents on wig wag - and drill in close order from 11 to 11:30. Snow is beginning to melt. Did not drill until 3 p.m. Then had close order from 3 - 4. Prepared for inspection tomorrow. Letters from Sis, Dot, Margaret, Grandma Spoor & Rev. Moody. Bed late. Dec. 15, 1917, Sat., Fair. Quite cold but clear. Had regular inspection this a.m. by Major Sherman. Was mighty stiff inspection. Sgt. Turner & I went to town this p.m. for a bath and I sent for my Xmas photos. Were back fo...
[ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Dec. 7, 1917, Frid., Partly cloudy. Heavy frost last night. Ground very white this a.m. Close order drill all day. Went very well. Was all alone with platoon today. Selee, St. Sgt. & Mac sick. Very interesting school in wave formation tonight. Prepared for inspection & wrote Anna this evening. Bed 10. Dec. 8, 1917, Sat., Cold. Rainy. Cloudy. Windy. Rained this morning. Did not have reveille, nor regular inspection. Just tent inspection. Loafed around. Went over & visited old 1st in afternoon. Rec'd $16.80 from Piers. Bed early. Dec. 9, 1917, Sunday, Terribly cold. Coldest yet. Froze stiff last night. Water works out of business. Ruller & I went for a walk this a.m. I called on Ernest Auger in forenoon, too. Coldest weather seen in S.C. yet. Went to lunch - had cold salmon, cold cabbage & bread. Rotten as hell! Cook out of sorts, over theft of wood, etc. so take i...