46

"Three-Shell Billet" Richebourg to Oblinghem

Billet or Gopher hole all day

Working party 8-2 am night fixing communication trench in front, disagreeable as dig out dead Germans - Only got 3 or 4 shrapnel slung at us - As we are only seven in the section every man is taken - Beautiful moonlight light, Green-red rockets & machine gun, musketry & artillery fire very violent at midnight - evidently an attack. Hear news of Jack Milligan being killed at Ypres

In the billet all day - Kept standing to from 8 to 11 then marched thru Bethune to the hamlet of Oblinghem 4 kilos away - Arrive very tired at 2 am The major & I go prowling at 5 and find a bake shop where we get "cafe sur le plat" - pommes de terres frites - Refugee from near La Bassie - Get our first good wash for a week

Wander down to the coal mine--with Kennie & Findley Nice woman this billet - Husband with French Transport, little boy Gaston & girl MarieLouise Mme Colle Williart a Oblinghem par Choques Pas-de-Calais (see letter page 56)--

Full kit parade with respirators - then noble feed chez le boulanger - soupe legumes - vin blanc, salade, radis, et paurets (leek), all over the country foraging the latter. Miss muster parade & get orderly room, but make good before the adjutant as never warned

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