29th November 1914 (Sunday)

Take over as Sgt Major of camp.
Tent boards placed in tents, busy day.  Letters from Lena and Emma.

28th November 1914

 Departure of S Sgt Jones, Sgts Truscott and Poole. Receive photo of family, gloves, handkerchief, Daily Mirror, People and Weekly Sketch. Had a fine walk along the sea front. Letters to Fred and Lena. 

Out here the scenes since I left Dublin have been many and varied. Scenes of peaceful tranquility and scenes embodying all the horrors of war. Scenes of triumph and scenes of defeat. The joy of welcome and the sorrow of departure. The invasion of armies and the flight of refugees, the honourable service of the patriot and the black dress of the widow, the gay fluttering of flags, through towns and villages, the ambulance and train loaded with shattered humanity. The glorious flight in the blue overhead, the scrap iron and wood splinters in the stubble. The long march, the screeching of shell and the boom of cannon, the bivouac in the cornfield, the quiet night, the sky overhead spangled with its myriad stars. The joyous song in the sunshine along the pretty roads of Normandy, the solemnity of the night march along the road past the silent dead laid reverently on the side. The twittering of birds in the dawn, the glorious sunshine, the mangled living and dead in road, field, wood, village and vineyard. Overwhelming odds and brilliant retirement.

27th November 1914

Went to Les Phares.  Sent letter to Lena re. grant.  Received letter from Lena.

26th November 1914

The Forts of Ste. Adresse and De Tourneville were built by Russian prisoners  1855/56. Took a walk to Graville. P.C.s to Lena, Ada, Emma. Received letters from Fred, Arthur, and 3 from Lena with 2 back ones and the memo from Company Paymaster.

25th November 1914

Mild morning. Had a most enjoyable walk to Ste. Adresse via the Fort. Counted 41 boats in harbour also a large number of fishing boats. Bathed my feet in the sea, returned along sea front. The sun shone quite warmly all the time. In afternoon had another walk to the Fort and met 5 Belgian refugees. Sent letters to Lena and Albert. This view from the Fort of Ste. Adresse makes a glorious picture; the sun flashing over the sea, the vast shipping in the harbour, the extensive docks, the circular sweep of the bay, the town of Le Havre far below on one side and Ste.Adresse on the other, the trim hotels and houses ans gardens perched picturesquely on the steep slope, the high cliffs beyond Ste. Adresse with the fluttering flags of the Signal Station sharply outlined at the top, makes a picture vivid, full of life, colour and grandeur.

24th November 1914

Cold and damp, rain starts at 10.30 am. Read of cases of loss of reason through exploding shells. Hear of Lt Baines 3^rd Hussars being wounded.  5 German submarines sunk in Channel. Went to Dentist, obtained teeth, 5 francs. Had a collision with tram, very narrow escape but caught the tram, Sanvic- Bleville, all the same. Saw Baron Rothchild’s yacht ‘Atman’ in the docks.

23rd November 1914

A severely cold wind blew all day. Kept awake by rheumatism.  Continues dry and cold.  Broke tooth so visit dentist, Rue Marie Therese.  Letters to Emma and Lena.  Went to town in the evening and had most painful march back.