61 Trench 128 near Seaforth Ave Ploegsteert 19th, Mn's first qu. 9.9 p.m.] JULY, 1915. [23rd, Sun rises 4h. [?]

SUNDAY 18 [199-166] 7th after Trinity Blazing hot in daytime and plagued by hordes of 'bluebottles" I am cook and obtain marvellous results by combining MONDAY 19 [200-165] "Maconochie" (M. + V. Ration) "Bully Beef" & Pea-soup Tablets with Oxo thrown in for luck. Order comes to cut-out niches for rifles - I get jumped on for telling Lieutenant that rifles - bayonets fixed, in niches will be dangerous in case a wiring party has to suddenly retire over the parapet - am told " Wiring parties have proper means of entrance" - Common-sense + shrapnel to the contrary. Jack and I go rustling & steal boards from the engineers for firewood

TUESDAY 20 [ 201-164] Pretty jaded & tired on account of insufficient sleep - & can't sleep well when off guard in the daytime on account of heat & flies. Germans throw 4 shrapnel 250' to our left - Get one of our company - thru the knee - am on water fatigue & meet the stretcher-bearers parking him out. - Very cheerful - "Got a Blightie one" Much fusillading on our left & right tonight.

WEDNESDAY 21 [202-163] Relieved today by 1st Brigade, and batt. put in canvas huts near Neuve Eglise. Am instructed by Maj. Peck[?] & Capt. Morison to survey trenches - choose Bagster [?] as assistant Move down to dugout near Prouse Pt & draw rations from Red Cross 3rd Batt. Get a bullet thru the hair while standing "sizing up" on the Messines Road - arrested as German spies & haled before Col. of the 8th - Insult to injury! Rustle up 6 tins "Maconochie" - Fine dugout, with a table and gunny sack doors.

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