A Rifleman's Journal

14th April 1917

Sick parade. Three blisters lanced and bandaged.

Original diary entry

13th April 1917

All day route march with packed rations. Not a good day – the o/c misjudged the direction at a cost to the weary of several miles and blistered feet.

It was Friday 13th!

Original diary entry

The issue of draft kit gave us the clue to our destination.

Not for us the khaki shorts, the pith helmets or the sands of the deserts. The long woolly pants, the thick shirts and the overcoats could only mean the Western Front and with the newspapers making the most of the victory of the Rimy Ridge we had no qualms – the war was nearly over. The embroidered QWR shoulder flashes, the insignia of the overseas man, were sewn on with schoolboyish enthusiasm. The stiff Broderick cap was converted into the overseas ‘soft’ variety by removing the stiff wire with less enthusiasm. The packet of first field dressing complete with iodine phial was stitched up in the small pocket at the bottom of the uniform jacket.

Original diary entry

11th April 1917

Our allotted ‘six weeks’ were up and at the first parade came the anticipated preliminary warning.

Those who fell out for the overseas draft were in theory highly trained men, physically fit and in all respects qualified to do battle with the foe. We ourselves had no doubt on the question of health and strength (that much at least was owed to the army) and it may be assumed that our youthful exuberance refused to admit any deficiency in the military sphere. On dismissal little groups of excited men foregathered to discuss the one overriding question – not when but where? The scheduled night hops were cancelled for the overseas men and apart from the issue of another new rifle we were free to ponder upon the future and to stock up on the minor necessities for travel that were not provided by army issue.

I took the opportunity to clear up a little matter that had bothered me for several weeks past. Before joining up I had purchased a wristwatch – “one which would stand up to really rough treatment”. Unfortunately the glass was soon broken in the course of training. Behind the counter of a small watch repairer shop a very old man with a long grey beard made several attempts to fit a new glass but regretted he had not one in stock. If I would return next week he would “contact the wholesalers for the correct size”. The watch was returned to the makers to be delivered next week. By the time I was free to visit the old man again we had been warned for overseas draft on the following day but the watch “had not been returned from the makers, the war you know”. I had been slow on the uptake but at last the penny dropped. My immature appearance was perhaps mistaken and I had been subjected to gross trickery. The little bit of Irish came to the fore and I demanded my watch immediately or I would “fetch the Gang”. Without a word the old man opened a drawer and handed over my watch complete with fitted glass for which, incidentally, I refused to pay. I wonder how many Queen’s Westminster’s at Redhill went overseas never to return - with their watches still in the possession of that old man. I might perhaps add that my ‘Cyma’ with its solid steel case, now pitted with rust, gave sterling service and survived the mud of Flanders.

Warned for Draft. France or Mesopotamia?⁽¹⁾
Gas drill all day.
New rifle D.P.
No night hops.
France.

Original diary entry

(1) Wikipedia entry for Mesopotamia here

10th April 1917

Dental parade all day. Two teeth extracted.
Rifle and sword No. 939.

Original diary entry

9th April 1917

Squad drill morning.
Afternoon free.
Offer and Smith.
Great advance - Vimy Ridge captured. 11,000 prisoners, 100 guns.⁽¹⁾

Original diary entry

(1) Wikipedia entry for Battle of Vimy Ridge here

8th April 1917 (Easter Sunday)

Church Parade at St. Matthews.

Original diary entry

7th April 1917

Paraded full pack, etc.
"Lecture" from Captain Martin.
Transferred. E Company 18 Platoon.
Billet. Empty house. "Ellora", Devon Crescent.
Smith and Offer.