Frank Swannell Diaries: Part I
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Revision as of Sep 17, 2015, 2:29:42 PM, edited by 65.61.234.59
55 Neuf-Berquin to Billets La Maison Blanc
27th, Full Moon 4.27 a.m.] JUNE, 1915. [2nd, Sun rises eh. 50m. SUNDAY 27 [178-187] 4th after Trinity
at Neuf Berquin -- church, old mill shelled by English 7 German officers at our billet 10-14 October -- French at Merville, English at Hazebrouch -- 32000 Germans German machine guns in
MONDAY 28 [179-186]
granary windows -- 75 m.m. guns threw 40 shells into the farm -- round holes -- through door. -- one shell exploded in kitchen midden & another in chimney. Told that 600 Germans buried near burnt farm close by. Move out 8 pm & march to old billeting area. -- Sleep with Dan McGregor in waggon box -- very cold & stiff Visiting old friends all day -- made very welcome everywhere
Wrote Noakes enclosing duplicate copy of will
TUESDAY 29 [180-185] St. Peter
Usual parade, but with Findley go to Steenwerck & review acqaintanceship with the Touquets, Olivers . Mme Chieux & Jeanne & old M. Charles
Battalion Parade with usual medieval drill & respirator & helmet inspection -- Told no retirement allowable on account of gas
WEDNESDAY 30 [181-184]
Writing letters all my spare time today. Write Mitchell to ascertain the steps necessary to take in order to obtain a commission in the Imperial Army Obtain correspondent for Ada in the person of Mlle. Alida Bouquet -- a refined well educated girl of about 18 in the Bureau de Poste. (See photo pge 42) Got me in wrong with Ada as she forward a letter from me thru the French P.O , in which I had told Ada the girls in Flanders were homely as mud fences Alida slipped a note in with my letter & enclosed her photo. She was pretty!
BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1, Volume 4/FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS Diary and enclosures, 1915.