April 1918.

 
1st Monday/6th Saturday
Day Duty in No. 2 Surgical Ward.
 
7th Sunday
Heavy fighting continues.  Wounded coming in all the time.  We are
 
10th Wednesday
The Germans are still placing overpowering numbers against this front.  Heavy casualties on both sides. 
 
12th Friday
Lillers.
We sent all the wounded on tractors and the C.C.S. packed up to evacuate.  I had a good time for last day.  Fritz bombs here at night.
 
13th Saturday
We left at 2am by M.A.C. and rejoined Unit at Labourse at 3am.  Reveille 5.30am, then Unit leave the above place at 8.30am.  March to Divion a distance of 8 miles.  Billeted in old barns. 
 
14th Sunday
Divion.
Standing to for the line.
 
16th Tuesday
Heavy bombardments continue.
 
17th Wednesday
The Unit march away from Divion at 11.30am and arrive at Bruay at the old C.C.S.
18th Thursday
Bruay.
Still standing to for the line.
 
21st Sunday
Bruay.
 
22nd Monday
Bruay.
Admitted to hospital.
 
23rd Tuesday
Sick.
 
24th Wednesday
Ditto.
 
25th Thursday
The Unit march away from Bruay to Hesdigneul.  I went by Amb. waggon.  We erected camp, billeted in Bell tents.
 
26th Friday
Hesdigneul.
Ex. Duty.
 
27th Saturday
Unloading Medical Stores Waggon.
 
28th Sunday
Hesdigneul.
Church Parade.
 
29th Monday
Usual routine.
 
30th Tuesday
Left Hesdigneul for the line A.D.S. at Essars, our post at farm house at Le Hamel.
Gas picket.
 

March 1918

 
6th Wednesday
Walk out into the town of St Pol, and had a good time.
 
7th Thursday
Discharged from Hospital, entrained for my Unit at Béthune arriving there at 4pm.  By R.T.O. Orders I had to return to Labourse.  Private room.
 
8th Friday
Spent a good night and left Labourse at 10.30am for Béthune, arriving there 12 midday, rejoined my Unit at Institute St. Vaaste.
 
9th Saturday
Béthune.
Nothing much doing.
 
10th Sunday
Church Parade.
 
11th Monday
Dining Hall Duty.
 
14th Thursday
Inoculated at night.
 
15th Friday
No Duty, bed. 
 
17th Sunday
Béthune.
Route March during the morning, and then Units team play 1/1 NMFA at Fouquières.  Result 3rd 3-2.
 
18th Monday
Dining Hall Orderly.
 
19th Tuesday
The town shelled during the morning.  Children, women, and a few soldiers wounded.
 
20th Wednesday
Same routine.
The town again shelled.
 
21st Thursday/23rd Saturday
Myself included in a party of 18 B Sect march to Lillers for temporary attached Duty with No. 58 C.C.S.  The place bombed at night and the Station by Hospital also one train of ammunition blown up, and fired.  Shells blown all over the town and into Hospital.  Many casualties.  Nurse killed and Matron badly wounded.  We turned out in Stretcher Squads to the scene, the bombing continued for hours.
Albert returns from leave on the 19th.
Ward Duty in the No. 2 Serious Surgical Wounds.
 

Pte Frank Ward RAMC Honoured.

On the 21-23 March 1918 Frank was commended for his conduct by a French General {General De Laqohe} who wrote to his C.O. praising him for his daring during an air raid “He exhibited the greatest courage” says the French General and showed wonderful activity searching smoking debris with extreme devotedness under fire, withdrawing the wounded and bearing them to hosp

 
24th Sunday
Ward Duty.
Terrible fighting.
British fall back on Somme.
 
25th Monday
Same Duty Routine.
German offensive continues.
 
31st Sunday

February 1918.

 
 
February 1918
 
3rd Sunday
I had a pass out from 1pm o’clock for the purpose of visiting Albert, entraining at Berguette Station.  I had a good time, having to walk 2 1/2..
 
8th Friday
Annezin.
Wet weather.
Loading ready to move.
9th Saturday
The Unit march away from Annezin at 9am, and arrive at Nédon at 4pm, a distance of 12 miles, billeted in old barns.
La Lacque Camp.
Passed through Marles & Auchel.
 
10th Sunday
Wet weather.
Marched away from Nédon at 9am, arriving at Prédefin at 3pm, billeted in Barns, the houses here being at intervals of 1/2 miles.
 
11th Monday
Prédefin.
David and I take over duties at YMCA Canteen, which is in Marquee.  We lived in bell tent alongside same.
 
14th Thursday
Frost.
 
17th Sunday
Prédefin.
YMCA Canteen Duties.
Frost.
 
20th Wednesday
Wet weather.
 
21st Thursday
Same duties.
Feeling rotten.
 
22nd Friday
Still feeling rotten
Temp 100.4
 
23rd Saturday
Prédefin.
I was seen by M.O. in my tent and was found to be suffering with German Measles.  I was sent by Motor Amb. to No. 12 Stationary St. Pol. 
Bed patient milk diet.
Temp 102.8
 
24th Sunday
No. 12 Stationary St. Pol. 
Bed, milk diet.
temp am 101.6, pm 102.8
 
25th Monday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
Temp am 99.6, pm 100.4
 
26th Tuesday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
 
27th Wednesday
Sick.
Up.

January 1918.

January 1918
 
1st Tuesday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly in Surgical Ward.
Still sweating on duration of War.
 
3rd Thursday
Snow storm.
 
6th Sunday
Orderly Duty.
I had a pass out for the afternoon, & visited a few of my old acquaintances at Labeuvrière.
 
13th Sunday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly Surgical Ward. 
 
15th Tuesday
Heavy Storms.
Preparing to move.
 
16th Wednesday
Orderly Duty.
 
21st Monday
My Section march away from Fouquières at 1.30pm to Annezin & the Field Amb. stationed there had not moved. Still we had a good billet.
 
22nd Tuesday
Annezin.
The Section had a Route March to Labeuvrière.  During the morning the weather being mild and fine, no duty for afternoon.
 
23rd Wednesday
March out to same place, the weather being fine, no duty afternoon.
 
24th Thursday
My Section take over Hospital, and I carry on with Orderly Duty in Ward
No. 3.  The remainder of the Unit arrive here during the afternoon.
 
25th Friday
Nice weather.
 
26th Saturday
Ditto.
Nice weather. 
 
27th Sunday
Annezin.
Hospital Duty.
Nice weather.
 
28th Monday
Hospital Duty.
Bombing at night.  Many Casualties at our Station.  10 French men killed.
Nice weather.
 
29th Tuesday
Hospital Duties.
 
31st Thursday
Annezin.
The Unit attend the military funeral of the ten French men killed in air raid.
 
 

Post Card

This Greeting Card was sent from Ethel,(Frank's wife to be)to Frank.The pencil writing is now to indistinct to read.