DAVIDSON, George Leslie - Diary part 4

Sat 21 July. Sports all day & a concert in the evening. I got second in a weight pulling competition by pulling a 25 lb weight 21 ft 9 ins.
Sun 22 July. Church parade in the morning. Rest afternoon & after tea marched back to Avesnes les Bapaume to rejoin our unit as we were required to take part in a stunt tomorrow morning. Lt Col JJ Nicholas today taking over from Lt Col JH Phipps D.S.O.
Mon 23 Jul. Reveille 1:15am & went out on a stunt which lasted until 7am. Arrived back in camp at 10am & rested for the remainder of the day.
Tues 24 to Fri 27 July. At Avesnes les Bapaume waiting on orders to leave for the North.
Sat 28 July. Orders received to leave tomorrow.
Sun 29 July. Reveille 4:30am. Unit moved off at 6am & we marched with full pack to Beaucourt where we entrained after dinner and moved off at 1pm arriving at our destination St Omer, Belgium during the early hours of Monday morning. The route was through Albert, Amiens, Doullens & St Pol. We saw the country at its best (summer time)
Mon 30 July. Arrived at St Omer about 1am & after receiving a drink of cocoa from the Aust Comforts Fund marched to our camp - Arques - about 2 miles - and relaxed for the rest of the day.
Tue 31 July. Moved off again about 6am per foot westwards and arrived at Fromentel - our destination near Alquines Harlettes distance about 15 miles at 5pm
Wed 1 Aug. At Fromentel raining heavily all day.
Thur 2 Aug. At Fromentel. Raining all day.
Fri 3 Aug. At Fromentel. Raining all day, paid 40 franc.
Sat 4 Aug. At Fromentel. Raining all day. Route march to Alquines after dinner & got drenched.
Sun 5 & Mon 6 Aug. Brigade stunts.
Tue 7 Aug. Marched out from Fromentels at 9am to Arques where we arrived at 6pm & were put up in billets.
Wed 8 Aug. At Arques on fatigues fixing up a rest station.
Thur 9 Aug. At Arques. Swimming parade before lunch and route match after.
Fri 10 Aug. At Arques on piquet duty.
Sat 11 Aug. Off piquet at 9am & after lunch went to 8th F. Amb. & saw Ralph Mole & Bill Williams.
Sun 12 Aug. Church parade at Arques then to St Omer.
Mon 13 Aug. Piquet duty from 9am.
Tues 14 Aug. Off piquet duty 9am.
Wed 15 Aug. On leave in St Omer.
Thurs 16 Aug. Paid 20 francs.
Fri 17 Aug. Route march all day in full marching order.
Sun 19 Aug. am Church pde at Arques and St Omer in the afternoon.
Mon to Thur 23 Aug. At Arques.
Fri 24 Aug. Stretcher drill then on piquet from 6pm.
Sat 25 Aug. At Malhove (Arques).
Sun 26 Aug. Spent the afternoon in St. Omer.
Mon 27 Aug. 2nd Div Review practice.
Wed 29 Aug. 2nd Div Review by Sir Douglas Haig.
Thur 30 Aug. Shifted to Head-quarters for Sanitary fatigues.
Sun 2 Sep. In St Omer for the afternoon. Enemy planes bombed St Omer during the night which caused some excitement but little damage.
Mon 10 Sep. At Malhove (Arques) preparing to leave for the front line.
Tue 11 Sep. Orders received to leave for the line early tomorrow.
Wed 12 Sep. Left Malhove for Steenvoorde Belgium at 9am arr. Bur Ridge Collecting Post N.W. of Ypres. We were then in fighting order. The day was dry & the roads very dusty. We finished up very tired when we settled in at Bur Ridge more commonly known as Belgian Battery Corner. Shells were arriving at intervals during the twilight but not enough to concern us.
Fri 14 Sep. At Bur Ridge Collecting Post. Lots of heavy guns in the area so there was plenty of noise.
Sat 15 Sep. Off piquet 6pm. Much bombing & resultant noise. 4 C Section bearer squads went into action.
Sun 16 Sep. At Bir Cross Roads Collecting Post preparing a walking wounded post. Obviously extensive activity ahead! Many shells falling in the vicinity. B Section Tent Division warned to proceed up the line early tomorrow.
Mon 17 Sep. Left Belgium Battery Corner at 3am for Bir Cross Roads Post where we worked all day loading wounded. At 2pm left for 2 posts further up (Supports) Bellevaarde Ridge. On Engineer fatigue 6pm till M.N & finished very tired.
Tue 18 Sep. Arr back at Bir Cross Roads about 1am for sleep but we had very little as the area was being too heavily shelled. Up again for Breakfast & worked all day carting stores to Chateau Post, Bellevaarde Ridge & Simon Post. Moved to Simons Post where we had a busy time with local casualties. Saw Aub. Wear near Chateau Post. Heavy shelling all day and night.
Wed 19 Sep. At Simons Post carrying wounded to Bir Cross Roads. Heavy artillery duals. Very busy handling wounded. Received orders to shift further on to Bellevaarde Ridge at 2am tomorrow.
Thur 20 Sep. Shifted to Bellevaarde Ridge 2am. Very heavy artillery fire. Waiting there for a guide to Westhook. No guide available. Our barrage opened at 5:10am & advance commenced. Our wounded began to come through & our squad was kept busy picking them up. About 7:15am our squad had picked up a wounded man near by & started out for Simons Post. After going only about 10 yeards 2 of them were hit by a HE Shrapnel shell - a coal box - and were both temporarily disabled. I received a pellet in the right leg below the knee. It entered the calf from behind, went through the leg & bulged out alongside the shin bone. My wound was bound up by Bill Spooner - later a federal Politician and with the aide of a spade walked down about 3 miles to an Advanced Dressing Station at Ypres, where a motor lorry took me to a Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe. After being dressed there was placed in a hospital train for the coast. The other man wounded was Chad Wright of Geraldton. Whilst waiting at Ypres Dressing Station for my wound to be dressed I saw Col JJ Nicholas the C/O of 5th Fld Amb. with 2 other officers standing with him killed by a shell, splinters of which hit others & narrowly missed me.
Fri 21 Sep. Admitted to No. 2 Canadian Gen Hospital Triport on the coast about 7am. Had a shrapnel pellet extracted during the morning with local anaesthetic.
Sat 22 Sep. At No. 2 Canadian Gen Hosp. Triport.
Sun 23 Sep. Ticket marked for Blighty. Left Triport per Hospital Train at 8pm. Travelling all night.
Mon 24 Sep. Arrived at Havre early am but no ship available, so we were put up in Hotel D' Immigrants for the night.
Tue 25 Sep. Boarded Hospital Ship Warilda and waited for night fall to cross the Channel.
Wed 26 Sep. Arrived Southampton Roads early am, docked just after noon, disembarked & our wounded were loaded on to a Hosp Train for Alexandra Hosp Cosham Hants.
Thurs 27 Sep. At Alexandra Hosp Cosham. Today the doctor probed around my wound with an instrument & eventually pulled out a piece of my trousers about the size of a shilling, this was retarding the healing progress.
Sun 7 Oct. Still at Alexandra Hosp. Cosham. I was up & about today for the first time, had a car ride to Portsmouth & Southsea. Had tea at Portsmouth & later went to a concert at Southsea.
Mon 8 Oct. Went to Portsmouth again & had tea there.
Tue 9 Oct. Discharged from Hospital at Cosham & went per train to a Deport camp at Dartford Kent arriving at about 9.30pm to recuperate.
Wed 10 Oct. In Ward A12 Aust Auxilliary Hospital at Dartford. Had leave 1.30pm & went to Baxby for the afternoon.
Thur 11 Oct. Had a stroll round the town - Dartford.
Fri 12 Oct. Late pass until 8pm. Visited Mrs Glenn, 94 Manor Rd, Brockley London SW1 & had a good time. Saw Harrison of 5th Fld Amb.
Sat 13 Oct. At Dartford. Wound still discharging. Went to a concert in the evening.
Sun 14 Oct. All day leave 9am to MN. Went to Brockley again & had a nice time. Back into the Depot 11.45pm
Mon 15 Oct. Chas Wright who was wounded with me & Lt Jacobs of the 5th Fld Amb arrived at Dartford.
Tues 16 Oct. At Dartford met Andy Cummings of Fremantle in hospital here.
Wed 17 Oct. Went to Dartford with C.H. Wright & A. Cummings then a concert at the YMCA in the evening.
Thur 18 Oct. Went to visit Glenn's in London again. The usual good time.
Sat 20 Oct. Went to Grove Park to a tea given by the WAAC's & had a good time.
Sun 21 Oct. Spent the afternoon with the Glenn family at Brockley near Lewisham London.
Tues 23 Oct. Drew kit after lunch in preparation for departure tomorrow. Concert in the evening.
Wed 24 Oct. Left Dartford at 8.30am for AIF Headquarters London. Received a 14 days furlough pass. Received pd15 pay & pd2.4.0 ration money. All clear at 1.30pm. Had dinner at Tottenham Court Rd YMCA with H. Morrison - 5th. Called on Mr Gambles manager McIlraith McEacharn Ltd London. Went to Glenns for tea & the night. After tea to pictures in Brockley with Glenns.
Thur 25 Oct. Went with Glenns to National Art Gallery London & Regents Park Zoo. Caught 6pm train at Paddington for Swindon arriving there 8pm & settled in with them for a few day. The family comprised Mr & Mrs Beasant and daughters Amy & Winnie.
Fri 26 Oct. Had a look around old & new Swindon with Win & after tea went to the theatre - 'The Deep Purple'.
Sat 27 Oct. Introductions to family & friends and pictures after tea.
Sun 28 Oct. Had a look round the Gardens & Town & after tea Church.
Mon 29 Oct. At Swindon met Jack Viner on the train from Weymouth and all went after tea to a review 'Half past eight'.
Tue 30 Oct. At Swindon Church social after tea.
Wed 31 Oct Left Swindon per 10.45pm train for Yeovil Somerset. Arr 1pm & was met on the Station by my Grandfather Vini's sister or my Mother's Aunt. She was a fine old lady - 95 - and our pleasure in meeting was mutual.
Thur 1 Nov. At Yeovil had a look over the church - C of E - met the Organist who played some nice music for me.
Fri 2 Nov. left Yeovil 5.15pm arr London 8.15pm & went to Glenns at Brockbey about 8 miles SE of London for a few days.
Sat 3 Nov. At London. Went to Woolwich & after tea the 'Bing Boys'.
Sun 4 Nov. London. Church.
Mon 5 Nov. London. Still looking round. Went to Grand Opera 'Faust' at Drury Lane.
Tue 6 Nov. Went through Tower of London & had the evening at home with the Glenns.
Wed 7 Nov. Left Paddington Station by Train for No. 4 Command Depot at 12.30pm arrived at Codford on Salisbury Plains at 2.30pm but found the Depot had moved the previous day to Hurdcott also on Salisbury Plains. Left Codford 5.40pm by train & arrived at Wilton at 6.45pm. Walked about 5 miles to Hurdcott & arrived about 8pm. Was put into No. 4 Camp D Coy.
Thur 8 Nov. At Hurdcott. Medical Examination and classified B1 A3 which means not fit yet pending further examination. Went to a YMCA concert in the evening.
Fri 9 Nov. At Hurdcott. Met Alf Neave & Sgt Cummings both of WA.
Sat 10 Nov. At Hurdcott. YMCA concert in the evening.
Sun 11 Nov. Went & had a look over Barford & Wilton with Alf Neave. Evening church service at Wilton.
Mon 12 Nov. At Hurdcott. On piquet No. 12 camp mounted 4pm.
Tue 13 Nov. On piquet No. 12 camp Hurdcott, dismounted 4pm.
Sat 17 Nov. Started with No. 4 Command Depot Band - 3rd Cornet.
Sun 18 Nov. Morning church at YMCA. Afternoon walked to Fovant & back via Barford about 8 miles. Met JH Astill & G Shirt of 5th Fld Amb.
Tues 20 Nov. Transferred from D Company to Staff Coy - Band. With the Band on a march to Wilton.
Wed 21 Nov. At Hurdcott on duty with the Band.
Thur 22 Nov. Ditto. AM led a draft to Barton, PM Guard - Evening officers mess.
Fri 23 Nov. Our band played a draft to Fovant then retreat at 4pm and officers mess 6pm. Met Wilf Morton of F'tle in YMCA. Also saw Major Adey of 5th Fld Amb.
Sat 24 Nov. Band played a draft to Fovant & went with them in the train as far as Dinton where we picked up a draft from Weymouth for our Depot.
Sun 25 Nov. Church parade in the morning and off to Salisbury in the afternoon with JH Astill. Had a look over the cathedral, & went to a Congregational service in the evening & made the acquaintance of a family with whom we became very friendly - Mr & Mrs Diffey & 2 young girls.
Mon 26 Nov. With Band playing draft to Wilton. Had dinner at YMCA there & returned to Hurdcott in time for Retreat. Keith Harris of 5th Fld Amb came into No 4 Depot today.
Tues 27 Nov. At Hurdcott with Band. Played the Wilton draft as far as Barford St Martin & after dinner went to see an eye specialist.
Thur 29 Nov. With Band, played a draft as far as Barford. Guard at 4pm then officers mess for tea. Saw Curly Chambers of Fremantle.
Fri 30 Nov. Same.
Sat 1 Dec. Same.
Sun 2 Dec. Went to Salisbury & had tea with Diffeys in their house, then to Congregational Church.
Mon 3 Dec. With band usual duties.
Thur 6 Dec. 6 of Bandsmen warned for draft. Band duties still for me.
Sun 9 Dec. To Wilton with Joe Astill.
Sat 15 Dec. Went for a walk in the afternoon with Joe Astill to Barford.
Sun 16 Dec. First heavy fall of snow.
Tues 25 Dec. Band duties at officers mess for dinner and a concert in the evening.
Wed 26 Dec. Sports. Went in for the euchre & Billards tournaments but won nothing.
Thur 27 Dec. 4 days leave granted 28 Dec to 1 Jan.
Fri 28 Dec. Decided to spend the leave with the Glenns at Brockley, a suburb of London S.E. near Lewisham. Left Hurdcott at noon on 4 days good conduct leave. Got into the train at Wilton with W.G. Whiteside of Frem. & we spent the afternoon together in Salisbury. Caught the 4.13 train from London & arrived at Glenns 8pm.
Sat 29 Dec. Went to theatres in London. 'Carminette' in the afternoon & 'Peter Pan' in the evening.
Sun 30 Dec. Went to St Martins in the Fields & also heard the Welsh Guards Band in Trafalgar Square.
Mon 31 Dec. Went to London again in the morning, had lunch with Frank Barnard, called agin on McIlwraith McEacharn Ltd. Went to Anzac open air pictures in Trafalgar Square in the afternoon and a theatre 'Arlette' in the evening.

1918
Tues 1 Jan. Met Jack Viner in London in a strange way. Was browsing round London, got into Trafalgar Square & was listening to a Guards Band playing & found Jack standing alongside me. We went together to a matinee 'Pamella'. I took Jack to Brockley where he met the Glenn family and after tea we caught our respective trains to camp.
Wed 2 Jan. Arrived in camp at Hurdcott at 1am. Played 1st Tenor today, as a fill in.
Fri 4 Jan. Playing 2nd baritone for a week. Went with the Band leading a draft for Barford.
Sat 5 Jan. Still at Hurdcott. Now playing 2nd baritone with the Band. Route march & Guard.
Tues 8 Jan. Now playing B flat base with the band. usual Musical duties.
Fri 11 Jan ditto.CH Wright sailed for Australia per Port Darwin.
Mon 14 Jan. Heavy fall of snow.
Tues 15 Jan. Heavy fall of rain.
Wed 16 Jan. Cold & wet. Band photo taken.
Thur 17 Jan. Another heavy fall of snow. Red Cross gifts received belated today.
Fri 18 & Sat 19 Jan. Heavy rain.
Thur 24 Jan. Went to a funeral with the Band to Bavistock.
Sun 27 Jan. Went to Salisbury on a visit to the Diffey family.
Mon 28 Jan to Tue 4 Feb. Usual Band duties at Hurdcott Depot.
Tues 5 Feb. With Band. Funeral Inspections followed by physical jerks.from Fovant Hosp to Bavistock.
Sat 9 Feb. Warned for Draft to Overseas Training Depot, Sandhill camp, Longbridge, Deverill near Warminster.
Sun 10 Feb. Went to Wilton.
Mon 11 Feb. Marched out of No. 2 Depot Hurdcott to Overseas Transit Base at Deverill Warminster No. 11 Camp.
Tue 12 Feb. Medical and Dental inspections followed by physical jerks.
Wed 13 Feb. Equipped with pack and necessary gear for overseas.
Thur 14 Feb. Physical Training & Cookhouse fatigue.
Fri 15 Feb. On escort duty to Leeves a detention camp.
Sat 16 Feb. Muster parade & physical jerks.
Sun 17 Feb. AM church parade PM escort duty from Warminster to camp.
Mon 18 Feb. Transferred to D Company.
Tue 19 Feb. Gas drill test then bombing instructions.
Wed 20 Feb. Mini rifle range & physical jerks.
Thur 21 Feb. Physical jerks. Warned for draft for Parkhouse camp.
Fri 22 Feb. Went on draft from - Training Battn Sandhill to No.2 camp Parkhouse. A.M.C. Details.
Sat 23 Feb. Medical inspection. Marked A Class.
Sun 24 Feb. At Parkhouse. Went to Shipton for a look around.
Thur 28 feb. At Parkhouse camp. Fatigues & Route march. Going on 4 days leave tomorrow.
Fri 1 Mar. On 4 days leave. Arr Swindon 6.30pm. Went to pictures. saw Will Wilkins.
Sat 2 Mar. At Swindon. Went to theatre 'Liza comes to stay'.
Sun 3 Mar. After lunch caught 1.30pm train for London & stayed with Glenn family.
Mon 4 Mar. Went to Trafalgar Square where there was great activity re raising War Loan. Went to Opera 'Samson & Delilah' in the evening.
Tue 5 Mar. Went to Madame Tousauds, had good look through & caught 6pm train from Waterloo & arrived at Parkhouse camp 9.30pm. Saw Geo. Hay, Will Owens & Dick Scott all of W.A.
Wed 5 Mar. At Parkhouse camp. Fatigues & Route march.
sat 9 Mar. Warned for O'seas draft. Went to Tidworth Theatre 'The Manseman' with Joe Astill.
Sun 10 Mar. On draft for O'seas.
Fri 15 Mar. At Parkhouse still on Overseas draft & waiting. Went to Cholderton for a look around
Sat 16 Mar. Draft warned to move off 7.15am tomorrow.
Sun 17 Mar. Marched out of Parkhouse camp at 7.15am to