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| Original diary entry |
31st March 1917
General Musketry Course finished.
Mad minute etc.
1st Class shot. 95 points.
Rifle 426.
3rd in Company.
Mad minute etc.
1st Class shot. 95 points.
Rifle 426.
3rd in Company.
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| Original diary entry |
29th March 1917
General Musketry Course
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General Musketry Course.
Beat Morgan and Reese.
First in D Company.
Classification began.
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| Original diary entry |
28th March 1917
General Musketry Course
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General Musketry Course.
Ahead in D Company.
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| Original diary entry |
27th March 1917
General Musketry Course
General Musketry Course.
Parcel from home.
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| Original diary entry |
26th March 1917
General Musketry Course (GMC)
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General Musketry Course at Westcott.
B and D Companies.
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| Original diary entry |
23rd March 1917
New range at Redhill.
5 rounds ball ammunition alone with B Company.
30 yards. 3 bulls, 1 inner. 19/20.
5 rounds ball ammunition alone with B Company.
30 yards. 3 bulls, 1 inner. 19/20.
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| Original diary entry |
22nd March 1917
"To Richmond" official.
Dentists. Two teeth stopped.
Road Pass granted.
Bombing (dummy).
Lecture at market hall.
Dentists. Two teeth stopped.
Road Pass granted.
Bombing (dummy).
Lecture at market hall.
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| Original diary entry |
21st March 1917
Physical and musketry.
Musketry in full pack and rifle.
Measles!
Night hops.
Route march to Redhill Common.
Musketry in full pack and rifle.
Measles!
Night hops.
Route march to Redhill Common.
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| Original diary entry |
20th March 1917
Route march 14 miles, full pack and rifle - Reigate, Betchworth, etc.
Gas practice.
New short rifle No. 426.
Gas practice.
New short rifle No. 426.
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| Original diary entry |
19th March 1917
Applied pass (road) to Daisy's. (sister)
Squad physical, bayonets, musketry.
Lecture by Lt. Larens (?) - "Drill pack".
Squad physical, bayonets, musketry.
Lecture by Lt. Larens (?) - "Drill pack".
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| Original diary entry |
18th March 1917 (Sunday)
The snow and ice of the past few weeks had practically disappeared and in brilliant sunshine the company fell in and marched to the assembly ground for church parade at Holy Trinity.
Church parade was always regarded as an occasion for emphasising ‘Pride of Regiment’ and spit and polish was at a premium. In due course the RSM reported all companies present and correct and ready to march off. The colonel followed by the adjutant, impressively mounted on glossy chargers, cantered briskly down the line and back to the head of the column adding a final touch to the dignity of the parade. In a few moments the band would strike up and the march to the town commence. D Company was positioned half way up the column and from the upstairs windows of the shops and buildings onlookers were watching the spectacle. Precisely as the colonel and adjutant passed by a chamber pot was lowered on a line strung from a first floor window. The perpetrators of this monstrous contempt were, in fact, certain members of B Company held in quarantine following an outbreak of spotted fever in the middle of February. That day they were untouchable but even quarantine would end in due course.
Church parade was always regarded as an occasion for emphasising ‘Pride of Regiment’ and spit and polish was at a premium. In due course the RSM reported all companies present and correct and ready to march off. The colonel followed by the adjutant, impressively mounted on glossy chargers, cantered briskly down the line and back to the head of the column adding a final touch to the dignity of the parade. In a few moments the band would strike up and the march to the town commence. D Company was positioned half way up the column and from the upstairs windows of the shops and buildings onlookers were watching the spectacle. Precisely as the colonel and adjutant passed by a chamber pot was lowered on a line strung from a first floor window. The perpetrators of this monstrous contempt were, in fact, certain members of B Company held in quarantine following an outbreak of spotted fever in the middle of February. That day they were untouchable but even quarantine would end in due course.
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| Original diary entry |
17th March 1917
Squad and physical.
Anti-gas.
Bapaume captured.
Anti-gas.
Bapaume captured.
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| Original diary entry |
Capture of Bapaume described here
16th March 1917
Bayonet course - parries, butt tricks, etc.
Whole final assault course.
Zepps.
Russian Revolution.
Whole final assault course.
Zepps.
Russian Revolution.
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| Original diary entry |
Russian Revolution on Wikipedia here
15th March 1917
Bayonet course continues.
Parries and short points, etc. Games, etc.
Vaccination a failure.
Soldiers Rest.
Parries and short points, etc. Games, etc.
Vaccination a failure.
Soldiers Rest.
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| Original diary entry |
14th March 1917
3 day bayonet course began.
9 foot trench jump with swords fixed; also high parapet trench.
Parries - Rings, etc.
9 foot trench jump with swords fixed; also high parapet trench.
Parries - Rings, etc.
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| Original diary entry |
13th March 1917
Route march to Horley, about 8 miles.
Cookhouse fatigue.
Moved to close billets - 61 Frenches Road, Mrs Elsey with E.J.Smith.
Cookhouse fatigue.
Moved to close billets - 61 Frenches Road, Mrs Elsey with E.J.Smith.
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| Original diary entry |
61 Frenches Road, Redhill on Google Maps in 2017
12th March 1917
Miniature range all day.
3 inch group application 18/20.
3 inch group application 9/20.
Snap shooting and rapid fire.
3 inch group application 18/20.
3 inch group application 9/20.
Snap shooting and rapid fire.
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| Original diary entry |
11th March 1917 (Sunday)
No church parade - church full.
Cranfield died.
Moving to Richmond?
Cranfield died.
Moving to Richmond?
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| Original diary entry |
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