21 1916 31 days 9 THURSDAY [69-297 [9 to 12] March

False German report of the taking at Vaux Fort

To Chapel Bay + South Hook on Satellite with fire Commander -DRF at Chapel Bay in shocking state - arrive South Hook Noon -Major Gordon apparently just up - very white and pasty-faced -Drinking very hard lately. Colonel + I put my case strongly before I.G. who admits the unfairness of Brodbelt going - Am granted week's leave and then to go to Defensible awaiting next Lydd course. Walk home via. St. Brides - beautiful spring day - birds singing everywhere. Evening spent signalling - telling puzzles like a parcel of children.

10 FRIDAY [70-296]

Assault on Mort Homme + Vaux. Germans take the Bois de Corbeaux. Thornton sent to West Blockhouse a Beckett to Shoeburyness to anti aircraft. Warring posted to a Siege Battery in France. - Write letters today in the FC Cell. Cold and windy. Germany declares war on Portugal yesterday.

11 SATURDAY [71-295]

6h 33 m PM (Greenwich) No infantry attack. Note: Canada in Flanders "Sir Max Aitken Father of Cloth 3/6 Hodder + Stoughton, Publishers Warwick Sq. London EC Walk with Coe in afternoon to hunt up the Vicars Bruidical clock - Find three boulders along are of a circle - Up till midnight talking with the colonel. Send in for Feb. allowances 5-13-1 all told.

12 SUN - 1 in Lent [72-294]

Ember Week On Duty, but relieved by Coe in afternoon + go for a walk to Rath the other side of Gateholm Island - a ten mile walk.

BC Archives, MS-0392 FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS

Box 1 Diary and enclosures, 1916 Volume 5