13th August 1914
Mobilisation (of his unit the 13th Field Ambulance) concluded at Phoenix Park, Dublin.

14th August 1914
Ready to start. Severe thunderstorm at night, like South Africa

15th August 1914
Reveille 4am. Left park at 7am. North Wall at 8.05 am. Embarkation on SS Archemedes (Lamport and Holt Line tonnage 3396).  Large number of horses. HQ 5th Division arrive.  Motor cyclists, R.G.A. Visited by Lord and Lady Aberdeen. Embarked at same time on other boats.

16th August 1914 (Sunday)
Boat left 3am.  Passed Smalls Light Lands End.

17th August 1914
Passed Channel Islands.  Arrived at Booths Line at 7pm at LE HAVRE. Austrian cargo boat laden with wheat captured by French destroyer and taken to harbour. Passage very smooth.  Length of journey 40 hours.

18th August 1914
Slept on boat in dock.  left quay at 7.20am for wool sheds, distance half a mile.  Visited town of LE HAVRE with Staff Sgt Bain.  Warm sunshine, streets very neat and pretty and shops attractive.  We were given a wonderful reception by by the people who were eager to obtain from us some souvenirs.  The streets were brilliantly decorated with flags, the children stopped to shake hands or be kissed. We walked along the sea front, the beach was of pebbles and there were many bathers.  We enjoyed our walk, 4 to 6pm, very much. We rode part of the way by trams which were crowded.  The trams were without a top floor.  Of course normal traffic was mixed with the streams of the various military movements.