18th September 1914 (Sunday)

Received Lena's letter dated 10th October, ditto 13th.  Have read in the Daily Mail Paris Edition the heart-rendering scenes seen amongst the refugees from Antwerp and Ostend, and it reminds me of the many pitiful parties leaving their homes during our retirement from Mons.  Families trudging along the road with a few belongings done up in a bundle.  Babies, young children, old men and women.  How different to the joyous greetings they received us with on our advance.  Read a paragraph in Lloyds re. Sgt Prince, with an account of his death by treachery and an account of his athletic record. (Since awarded the Medale Militaire.)

17th October 1914

Very cold, damp day.  It is pitiful to see cases of rheumatism hobbling along and bent almost double.  Letter to Lena with particulars of Allotment and Separation Allowance.

16th October 1914

Very cold morning. The office of the Director of Medical Services will be situated at 13 rue Etienne Dolet,  Villenue St George.  Col Lyden Bell as ADMS to Port B.  Lt Col LeQuesne VC SMO St Nazaire.
Visited St Nazaire and walked down the front along the pier, back through the town by the docks.  As I stood watching a boat moving by,  Frenchmen came up and I found they had come home from Panama after an absence from their country of 13 years, with the object of joining their country's forces on the front.  Went into bazaar where I bought a few purchases.  This was a finely built large building, well lit and most things sold.  Received a letter from Lena dated 11th.  Received a letter from May. 3957 (men) have passed through No.1 Convalescent Depot.

15th October 1914

Morning damp and showery, wet weather continues during the day.  Made out roll in office of 167 sent to Segregation Camp.  No.6 Stat Hospital left for Boulogne also No.10 General Hosp, and 182 Sanitary Section. No.11 General Hosp to Roen on 13th.
Post Card to Lena.  Very cold day.  Read Army Orders re Allotment and Separation Allowance.

14th October 1914

Letter to Emma, ditto to Lena.  Visited No.3 General Hospital, a girl's college.  Letter received fro Emma dated 9.10.14.  Met Sgt Freeman and Sgt .... No.6 General Hospital and hear that 3 or 4 letters of mine were sent to....

13th October 1914

Heavy rain in the evening and tent swamped.  Sgt Coate,  Northants Rgt showed me his cap with bullet holes and also the place on his head where struck.

12th October 1914

Hear how a large force of Germans evaded disaster in retirement by crossing the marshes, along which it was thought by us that they would be captured, by passing at night time, over a line of slates covered with phosphorous placed over the only route that was safe.