April 1917

April 1917 
1st Sunday
Left and marched to Malonely Farm near Ham.  This is a fine Chateau surrounded with water, and has an old castle.  A party of 22 men of B Sect open up hospital.  Rest of Unit at Ecquedecques. 
2nd Monday/6th Friday
Night Hospital Duty. 
Football match with N Staffs, score, Staffs 7, Unit 0. 
13th Friday
March away from Malonely Farm, and Unit arrive at Béthune. 
14th Saturday
Béthune.
Company and Physical Drill during morning.  Germans shell the town at night, one shell dropped a few yards from hospital. 
15th Sunday
General duty.  Church service during afternoon in Hospital Ward, and I also went to a fine service at night, held in theatre. 
16th Monday
Company and Physical Drill in Hospital grounds, and in the course of same a German plane flies over us, and drops bombs in Béthune Square about 100 yards from Hospital, a few civilians and our soldiers killed and wounded, our Bearers turn out. 
17th Tuesday
Unit take a march out and pass through Hinges.   
18th Wednesday
Stretcher bearer at hospital for 24 hours. 
19th Thursday
Unit march away from Béthune to Aix-Noulette which is a shell ruined village, billeted in Brewery cellar.   
23rd Monday
Division make a Charge in front of Lens, Notts & Derbys & Leics, many casualties. 
26th Thursday
Staff Sgt Hiddins killed in action.
[Staff Serjeant Hidens, RAMC]