January 1916

1st Saturday to 4th Tuesday

Isbergues. Gale.
B Sect running Hospital
Billeted in good barn

5th Wednesday
Major Hodder promoted Lieut. Col. (RAMC doctor)

9th Sunday/10th Monday
Left Isbergues and marched to Berguette Station, entrained 16 men per truck, left the latter station 10 o’clock am, had a good journey, and a fire in truck to cook our food. We passed through Paris goods station getting on the main line for Marseilles. passed through Lyons, fine weather prevailed, and scenery was beautiful as we travelled south.

11th Tuesday
Arrived South Marseilles 4 o’clock pm. Unloaded train and marched to Borley Camp, billeted under canvas, 3 miles out of town. Marched passed German prisoners. Cut my left hand.

12th Wednesday
Borley Camp.
Fine weather prevailed.
Walk on sea front.

13th Thursday/ 14th Friday
Camp.
Rough weather.
March out along seafront.

15th Saturday
Camp.
First pass out into Marseilles.
Visited -.

16th Sunday
Camp.
Went to Services at night, preacher Bishop of Trafalgar.

17th Monday
Police duty.
24 hours on and off.
Fine weather prevails.

19th Wednesday
Marseilles.
March out visited Notre Dame De La Garde Marseilles, full birds eye view of town and sea

20th Thursday/ 22nd Saturday
Police duty.

23rd Sunday Marseilles.
Daily routine.
March out along sea front and up the cliff.
Lovely weather prevails.

24th Monday
March out along sea front in the morning.
Lying outside all afternoon in lovely sun.

26th Wednesday
Marseilles. Pass out into town. B Sect leave Borley camp and ride by tramcar to Soute Camp, 3 Miles the other side of Marseilles. 8 men to a Bell tent, Hospital run by the Sect.

27th Thursday/28th Friday
Soute Camp. Last pass out into town, B Sect leave camp at 10pm and march to Marseilles station at which the unit entrain, horse and motor transport, leave Marseilles at 3 o’clock am, 32 men in a truck first night and 20 afterwards. None of us knew our destination, whilst on the journey, as it was carried out under sealed orders.

29th Saturday
We arrived at Pont-Remy at 5 o’clock am at which place we disembarked, and at 8am we marched away and had breakfast in a field, after which we marched to Maison Roland 8 miles.

30th Sunday
Maison Roland, billeted in Chateau, all the Unit. A Section run Hospital. Small country village with only a few scattered houses.

31st Monday
Maison Roland.
Usual routine.
Wet weather.
Fred (Frank's younger brother) called up on 20th under group no 2 of Lord Derby's ; he visits Lichfield , Aldershot and finally staitioned at Salisbury