56 Billets at La Maison Blanche

Sets 8 h. 18 m.]     JULY, 1915.    [DAy 16 h. 28 m. long

Hopes dashed -- La Bascule was the weighing machine! Sleep in a shed with "la bascule, but too near the pigs -- the good lady at the house gives me a pile of sacks for a mattress

THURSDAY 1 (31 DAYS)  [182-183] Dominion Day, 1867

Paid 25 francs -- Company drill & route march -- Half holiday Harry, Henny, & I get out photos taken -- Maurice Dere --Rue de l'Hospice, Steenwerck -- 16 francs for 2 dozen -- Have the inevitable payday feed at l"Estaminet du Cerf -- Mme Chieux attend concert in barn at La Blanche Maison -- Regimental Minstrel troupe very comical -- One song, improvised for the occasion "I stand in a land of roses, but dream of a land of snow" "Old Black Joe" best quartet. Sleep under a cherry tree, but am bothered badly by mosquitos & half frozen -- sacking for blanket. Pay back 10 fr. to Tucker & 2 to Jack Ensch

FRIDAY 2   [183-182]

Findley, Bateman & I have our photos taken at Maurice Defer, Rue de l'Hospice, Steenwerck -- Prints to be mailed to me -- Paid 16 f. for 2 doz.

SATURDAY 3   [184-181]  27th Week

Taken to Bailleul Light marching order for a bath -- Tubs in an old brewery -- Men run wild on English ale & the march home is terribly straggly -- Muster parade at 9:30 catches the latecomers --

59

BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1, Volume 4/FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS, Diary and enclosures, 1915.