September 1917

September 1917
Left Willenhall on Friday night September 14th, at 10.55pm, arrived Euston at 3.30am of the 15th.  Conveyed by Motor to Victoria Sta., left the latter at 6.30am for Folkestone, disentrained at Shorncliffe.  Marched to R. Billets, and embarked at 1.30pm, landing at Boulogne at 3.45pm.  Marched to St Martins Rest Camp 3 miles out.  Reveille 12 midnight, breakfast 12.30.  March to Station at 2.30am Sunday morning 16/9/17.  Entrained, arriving at Béthune at 12 midday.  Had dinner, and rejoined Unit 6 miles away at Labourse.
 
17th Monday
Labourse.
Working on transport lines and went up to trenches at night.
 
18th Tuesday
Labourse.
Sand bagging for reserve Dressing Dug Out Station.
 
19th Wednesday
Labourse.
Working on Dug-out.
 
23rd Sunday
Labourse.
Dining Hall Attendant.
 
24th Monday
Dining Hall, and at night a party went to Philosophe along with party of 32 men by Ambulance Waggons.  From that place we marched to front line trenches along with Batt of Infantry, who were carrying in Gas cylinders.
 
28th Friday
Left Labourse by Horse Ambulance for Philosophe, and motored by Ambulance to Fort Glatz Loos, which place owing to excessive shelling by the Germans and us at different times has been blown to bits, simply piles of bricks and rubbish, not a house left standing.  This place has been reduced to the ground practically worse than any other. 
From the above Fort, we a part of 4 men and a Sergeant marched to Solent post, which is a fine deep dugout, situated at the far side of Loos. 
 
29th Saturday
Great aerial activity takes place here.  I witnessed many duels in the air.  Taking wounded from here to Fort Glatz, which is the Advanced Dressing Station. 
 
30th Sunday
Gas Picket to be done each night between us.  Heavy shelling in this area.
 
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              Diary of Frank Ward Diary 1917 
June